--------------------------------------------------
Thank you for the kind words yesterday, they really motivated me to keep working on this story! So, I'm introducing a new event with even more bonus chapters:
Milestone Bonus Chapters: For every 500 Power Stones, there will be 2 additional bonus chapters.
So for example: 500 Power Stones = 3 bonus chapters total
The same applies to 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000, and so on.
--------------------------------------------------
As the person at the center of all this hype, Kai remained completely and utterly unfazed.
If anything, he was quietly admiring Sonoko Machida's sharp eye for talent. She really was a heroine capable of triggering the System's questlines for a reason.
In his original world, the KonoSuba light novel series had easily sold tens of millions of copies. But in this massive, crossover anime universe, practically no light novel had ever broken the ten-million sales mark. Guessing it would sell a few million was already considered an incredibly bold prediction.
"Thank you, Editor Machida. I'll do my best," Kai accepted with a confident smile.
"Please wait here just a moment, I'm going to get your contract prepared immediately."
Acting as if she were terrified that a genius author like him might suddenly get up and run away, Machida didn't waste a single second.
"Please rest assured, Fujikawa Fantastic Bunko deeply respects every genius author who walks through our doors. Even though you are a completely new writer, with my current seniority, I can absolutely secure you a top-tier contract."
Geniuses always received preferential treatment.
Sure, Kai's primary motivation for writing this novel was just to establish a legitimate, real-world cover for all the cash he was printing through the System.
But then again, who would ever complain about making even more money?
"I'll leave it in your capable hands, Editor Machida!"
"It's no trouble at all! Just sit tight and relax for a few minutes!"
With that, Machida practically sprinted out of the waiting room to print the paperwork, absolutely refusing to waste a single second.
Once she was gone...
Utaha Kasumigaoka turned her gaze toward Kai, her burgundy eyes practically glowing with a dark, complicated intensity.
"Were you doing that on purpose, Kouhai-kun?"
As the undisputed number-one student in her entire grade, Utaha's intelligence was unquestionable.
She had instantly put the pieces together. Kai's entire act earlier had likely been completely intentional. He knew perfectly well that his manuscript was an absolute masterpiece, yet he had deliberately played the role of the nervous, unconfident rookie.
Thinking back to just a few minutes ago—when she had smugly offered to "Mentor" him if he got rejected—her face began to burn.
As it turned out, his writing was leagues beyond hers.
Just the thought of it made a rare, genuine blush of embarrassment creep up Utaha's neck.
She hadn't humiliated herself this badly in her entire life. As a defense mechanism, her signature venomous tongue instinctively took over.
"You really have a wicked personality, Kouhai-kun. Were you deliberately playing dumb just to catch your Senpai's attention? Well, I have to admit... you definitely succeeded!"
Utaha was genuinely intrigued.
She was incredibly curious to see exactly what kind of novel could possibly eclipse hers so completely.
"Kai isn't like that!" Yui Yuigahama instinctively fired back, jumping to his defense without a second thought.
"..."
Seeing the fiercely protective, utterly devoted look in Yui's eyes completely derailed Utaha's train of thought.
Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?
————————————————————
Before long, the paperwork was finalized and signed. Sonoko Machida hadn't been exaggerating, she had genuinely secured Kai an S-tier contract, complete with the absolute highest royalty split available.
In comparison, Utaha had only secured an A-tier contract.
For a complete rookie, an A-tier contract was an incredible, highly coveted achievement. Under any other circumstance, Utaha would have been overwhelmingly satisfied. But with Kai's flawless masterpiece sitting right next to hers, Utaha—who had literally never lost at anything in her entire life—felt an incredibly uncomfortable knot of frustration tightening in her chest.
She had actually lost. And to a boy a year younger than her, no less.
'Just wait until it gets published. I'm definitely buying a copy. I refuse to believe whatever you wrote is actually that much better than mine.' She silently made a vow to herself.
Having finalized both contracts, Sonoko Machida stood up and stretched her stiff shoulders. After a chaotic morning, she finally had a moment to breathe.
"To celebrate you both officially joining the Fujikawa Fantastic Bunko family, let me treat you to lunch today."
When she wasn't completely buried in editorial work, Machida was actually a remarkably great person to be around. In the original canon, it was entirely due to her relentless backing that Utaha's novel hadn't been axed early on, paving the way for it to eventually hit five hundred thousand sales.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?" Yui asked hesitantly, her people-pleasing nature making her terrified of being a burden.
"Of course not! As a senior editor, I have a corporate expense account for meals just like this. So please, don't feel bad about making me spend money."
As one of the top three publishing titans in Japan, Fujikawa Fantastic Bunko's employee benefits were top-tier.
"Or is it that you're worried I'm crashing your sweet little date, Yui-chan?"
Now that the formal business was out of the way, Machida's naturally teasing, easygoing personality began to show.
"Um..."
That single teasing remark instantly turned Yui's face bright red, leaving her staring at her shoes, completely unable to formulate a comeback.
"Well, naturally."
Unlike Yui, Kai wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed by the teasing. He smoothly wrapped an arm around Yui's shoulders and pulled her close.
He smiled effortlessly.
"Today is actually our very first date. We were originally planning on heading to a nice couples' restaurant, but since Editor Machida is offering such a generous invitation, I obviously can't refuse."
"K-Kai!" Yui squeaked, her face practically steaming, but she made zero effort to pull away from his embrace.
"..."
Being force-fed this nauseatingly sweet display of teenage PDA left Machida completely speechless.
'I never should have opened my mouth.' Dammit. Were high schoolers really this smooth nowadays? Why was she pushing thirty and still completely incapable of even finding a boyfriend?
"Tch..."
Reading the exact despair playing out across Machida's face, Utaha Kasumigaoka suddenly clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"You just clicked your tongue, didn't you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Utaha replied, her face the picture of absolute innocence. "I was merely lamenting the fact that some people, despite not even having boyfriends of their own, still insist on actively volunteering to be force-fed other people's PDA."
"Hey! How did you know that??"
'Was I really being that obvious?'
Machida shot Utaha a highly suspicious, teasing look.
"Don't tell me... was that the sympathetic resonance of a fellow perpetually single woman?"
"...Please don't use such childish internet slang at your age."
What did she mean, 'perpetually single?' She simply had zero interest in dating right now, and she refused to settle for mediocrity.
"You're incredibly mean, little Utaha!"
Having her age weaponized against her, Machida shot Utaha a dark, resentful glare.
Despite the sharp banter, the short interaction completely dissolved the professional tension. Machida didn't put on any overbearing "corporate senior" airs, she joked and laughed with them like they were friends her own age. Even when the jokes bordered on being a bit sharp, she never actually took offense.
————————————————————
After finishing lunch, Machida quickly took her leave.
She still had a mountain of editorial work waiting for her back at the office, after all.
"Are you two heading anywhere specific next?"
Setting down her cutlery and picking up a napkin, Utaha casually threw out the question, clearly preparing to say her own goodbyes.
They had basically just met today, it was only natural that they would all go their separate ways after the meal.
Kai casually grabbed a napkin and gently wiped a small smudge of sauce from the corner of Yui's mouth before replying in a breezy, effortless tone.
"We're going to hit up a movie theater first, kick back and relax for a bit, and then probably do some more shopping." He paused, flashing a highly sarcastic, sympathetic smile. "I'm genuinely so jealous of you, Senpai. Getting to spend your entire weekend completely by yourself... it must be very peaceful."
"..."
--------------------------------------------------
~ Every 100 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Every 10 Reviews = Bonus Chapter!
~ Add to your Library!