Chapter 82: The Quiet Fermentation of a White Album
After her conversation with Yuta, Sonoko began reading the novels Yuta sent her. Both of Yuta's works are considered by the editors to be highly promotable pieces.
The relationship between an editor and an author is quite unique. In this country, most light novel authors aren't particularly adept at negotiating with others, which makes the role of an editor even more crucial.
A good editor not only provides help and guidance with the work itself but also offers advice in other areas.
This is not only true for novels but also for the manga industry. Most novelists and manga artists have quite good relationships with their editors.
A good editor always has a few familiar authors working under them, and some authors are very reluctant to interact with new editors.
There are quite a few authors who stop writing altogether because of a change in editors. With someone like Utaha, who is constantly prodded by Sonoko for manuscripts, switching to someone else abruptly might be so uncomfortable that she might give up writing.
As a responsible editor, Sonoko takes Yuta's work very seriously. Among the authors she works with, she feels that she pays the least attention to Yuta, yet he is the most promising one.
He never needs to be reminded to submit work, doesn't bother with questions, and delivers complete novels all at once. What's most important is that he produces excellent work that boosts sales performance.
This year's bonus depends largely on Yuta. So, Sonoko is keen to fully explore the potential of these two works!
After finishing the last chapter, Sonoko sighed.
"How does this person manage it? Not only can he write light-hearted novels with a comedic otherworldly setting, but he also achieves top-level quality when writing school romance novels!"
Sonoko is now certain that Yuta did not reference Utaha's works.
A school romance novel with one guy and multiple girls is a tried-and-true formula. Many use it, but there are very few truly excellent works!
"With this year's new talent award competition, we can basically decide on the first place!"
Sonoko couldn't find a work better than Yuta's. Not only is the writing outstanding, but the illustrations are also excellent!
"But... why does this novel feel like the script of a 18+ game?" Sonoko thought with a sense of resignation. The next day, she discussed it with the other editors.
"Everyone has briefly reviewed August Sensei's work. The submission contest is about to conclude; what are everyone's thoughts?" the editor-in-chief asked the other staff members from their seat.
Even though it was phrased as a question, the editor-in-chief already considered Yuta's work as the winning entry.
An editor raised a hand and said, "August Sensei's work is excellent, but this is a new talent award. August Sensei is already known to some people for 'KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!' Is it really suitable for him to win?"
This was indeed a valid point: the purpose of the new talent award is to uncover promising new authors, a category Yuta does not fit.
"That shouldn't be an issue. We can use it as a promotional angle, explaining to readers that 'KonoSuba' was completed on the day of its submission. This new work was previously agreed upon for submission to our library, thus reassuring those who prefer to buy only completed series," said the marketing head, focusing on potential sales rather than the newness of the author.
The editor-in-chief nodded, "Let's settle it this way; it seems everyone has high hopes for this work."
Sonoko explained, "This piece is somewhat different from past works. Typically, light novels have romance as a secondary element, supplemented by other events and daily life. But this work stays true to the main storyline, keeping readers' attention without distraction."
Another editor, who also focuses on school-themed stories, added, "I think the best aspect isn't the plot control but the characterization. Readers today aren't fond of the same old tsundere characters. They prefer characters with positive qualities, like loyalty. Personally, I really like Kazusa Touma." This editor was a Kazusa supporter.
"I like Setsuna Ogiso. Although Touma is a good girl, maintaining a vague relationship with the protagonist after knowing he's dating her friend is a bit off," said another editor, supporting Setsuna.
"I favor Mari Kazaoka, who appears later on. It's perhaps the most healing volume," mentioned another editor, briefly expressing their preference.
If Sonoko had to express her support, she would definitely be on Team Kazusa, but the character who made the best impression on her was Mari Kazaoka, who appears later in the story.
Mari Kazaoka is a character in the story who works as a magazine editor at a publishing company called Kaiou Publishing.
She's a young adult, successful among her peers, and extremely competent. She's a workaholic to the point that others have no clue when she might take a break. She commands respect, admiration, and sometimes even a bit of awe from those around her. Due to her excellence, people are hesitant to approach her, and she's not the type that is easily approached by men.
In the book, she is the protagonist's direct superior after he graduates from college. She is known as a "fearless, exceptional woman whom even men don't dare to approach." The protagonist becomes her subordinate because, during his initial interview, he expressed his wish to be assigned under someone who would give him the most challenging tasks.
It goes without saying that, because of her professional role, she catches attention.
In Mari's storyline, it's slightly lighter compared to other routes but still quite intense emotionally. Across the entire work, various brilliant maneuvers ensure Sonoko and the others believe that this novel could become a phenomenon.
"I've also read the novel, but it's more suitable to adapt only the prologue into an anime. Unlike otherworldly genres, realistic stories don't work with a harem ending," said one editor.
This opinion was met with agreement from others. Nowadays, creating a harem ending is only viable in superpower or ancient/alternate world settings. It's too troublesome for school themes to pass with a harem resolution.
Dating can involve multiple people, but marriage is one-on-one.
Another editor smiled and remarked, "August Sensei's command over writing is the best I've seen. It's not so much about literary flair but about character creation. Take 'KonoSuba,' for instance—while we know Aqua is the female lead, August Sensei makes us see her more as the protagonist's friend rather than his girlfriend. In this new work, he pushes this ability to influence readers to its limits."
Aqua, despite being beautiful and capable, is portrayed as someone who's more like a bro to the protagonist rather than a typical light novel heroine.
The editors continued to discuss the work, and meanwhile, many well-known bloggers on the internet were recommending the novel on their platforms.
[The prologue is just an appetizer! The real emotional rollercoaster is later! I will always love Kazusa Touma! Setsuna is such a jerk!]
[Kazusa is a homewrecker! I only care about Setsuna's chapter!]
[Why are you guys so experienced with this?!]
[For me, you'll remain a loser forever; for me to really strive, always be my burden— I love Kazusa!]
[I love the worst version of you in this world, truly the most. — I love Kazusa too!]
[It was me, I was first. I was the one who kissed first, who hugged first, who fell in love with him first.— Setsuna Ogiso.]
While Yuta remained blissfully unaware, many equally naïve individuals encountered readers driven mad by the novel. Out of curiosity, they searched for the origins of these passionate declarations, and they too proudly joined the faction wars!
This world has many excellent romance works, but it lacks a story capable of provoking such strong emotions and igniting fierce faction battles among readers!
Such a work is more likely to generate buzz and become a phenomenon!
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