Chapter 12: Novice Author
Upon hearing Sonoko Machida's words, Yuuta happily asked, "Miss Machida, how much do you think my manuscript could sell for?"
"It's hard to determine for now, but based on the content of the first two volumes, it should sell at least fifty thousand copies, possibly more than a hundred thousand. After taxes, the income will be a bit less. If it gets adapted into an anime, it could be even more," Sonoko Machida said.
Sonoko Machida had high hopes for this novel. From an editor's perspective, it was light-hearted, had various appealing moe elements, and skillfully avoided many pitfalls.
Hearing the possibility of over a hundred thousand in income, Yuuta simplified it to a hundred thousand.
With a hundred thousand, he could manage through his college years and improve his current living conditions. While not a vast fortune, it was already quite good.
"Thank you. When can I expect to receive the money?" Yuuta was in dire need of funds.
Sonoko Machida realized that this person was truly a newbie and had no understanding of industry regulations.
"You'll have to wait for a while after the book is published and sold before you can settle your accounts. However, if the work doesn't align with readers' preferences, it's also possible to have dismal sales," Sonoko Machida explained briefly before asking, "Has this book been submitted to other publishers before?"
Yuuta shook his head.
Sonoko Machida expressed her satisfaction, saying, "A wise choice. Our publishing house primarily focuses on works by award-winning authors and those with a background in writing novels. Since our inception, we've been actively discovering new talent, with a higher ratio of newcomers than other publishers. Our Light Novel Newcomer Award, which has the most submissions, is also the most challenging, resulting in higher recognition for award-winning works."
"Ah, I didn't know all that. I came here because it's the closest place to the train station where I got off..." Yuuta awkwardly replied. He was unaware of these details.
Sonoko Machida struggled to find the right words. After calming herself, she said, "I'll take you to meet the chief editor now. If he's satisfied with your work, he'll sign you up, and you'll become an author under our publishing house."
Yuuta was a bit concerned, "Do I need to leave the manuscript here and sign a contract for it to be published?"
"Is it all here?" Sonoko Machida quickly glanced down at the manuscript, flipping through it until she reached the final chapter. Then she looked up at Yuuta and asked, "Did you finish writing it before submitting it?"
Yuuta nodded, "Isn't that how it's usually done?"
"It's good if everyone did it this way; it would save me from having to nag authors about missed deadlines," Sonoko Machida rubbed her forehead. "Leave me your contact information. I assume you didn't bring any identification with you?"
Yuuta quickly responded, "I did bring it. I know what's needed for signing contracts. Verbal agreements aren't enough."
As a working adult, Yuuta might not know the ins and outs of the novelist's profession, but he wasn't completely clueless either.
Yuuta was well-versed in the typical requirements for documents and proof necessary for tasks such as signing contracts between companies or securing loans for various business purposes. Despite his inexperience in this particular field, he possessed a clear understanding of the essentials.
With patience, Sonoko Machida inquired, "So, has your novel been published elsewhere? Is it genuinely your original work?"
"No, it's entirely my own creation," Yuuta responded, fully grasping the significance of his words.
Sonoko Machida examined Yuuta closely, seeking confirmation, "So, you're telling me that you wrote an entire book entirely by yourself at home and submitted it without sharing it with anyone else?"
"Yes, you're the second person to lay eyes on it; the first was myself," Yuuta affirmed this assertion.
Because the novel had been granted to him by the system, and he remained oblivious to its origins, Yuuta naturally assumed it was his reward, which seemed perfectly reasonable to him.
Without delay, Sonoko Machida ushered Yuuta to meet with the chief editor, who, like her, found the novel impressive and regarded it as an excellent piece of work.
And thus, Sonoko Machida officially became Yuuta's editor.
"It's rather convenient because I am your editor, and everything has been resolved. Allow me to treat you to a meal," Sonoko Machida proposed, noticing Yuuta's attentiveness to the time. She added, "Do you have any other plans?"
Yuuta nodded, explaining, "I'm sorry, but I have three children at home who need looking after, and I can't help but worry about them."
"Children? Are you married?" Sonoko Machida inquired, recalling Yuuta's earlier comments about his eventful life experiences.
Yuuta explained, "No, I'm taking care of my sister's children. Unfortunately, my sister and her family passed away, so I'm looking after those three kids."
"Oh, that must be tough," Sonoko Machida replied, starting to understand why Yuuta had mentioned his eventful life experiences earlier. She raised her hand and said, "Then next time when it's time to receive your payment for the book, you can treat me to a meal. If you have any issues, feel free to call me. After all, I'm a bit older than you."
Just a bit.
"Thank you!" Yuuta breathed a sigh of relief and quickly headed towards the train station.
Watching the young man depart, Sonoko Machida casually found a place to have her meal.
Eating alone was a bit boring, so she called one of the authors she was responsible for to remind them about their pending manuscript.