"The Deity Creation Plan?"
Upon hearing this somewhat familiar name, Sonoko's expression hinted at confusion.
"Yes, precisely, the Deity Creation Plan."
The middle-aged chief editor nodded in agreement and proceeded to explain thoughtfully.
"Ever since Dengeki Bunko secured Senju Muramasa, the reigning champion of light novels, it not only attracted a surge of new talent submitting their works to Dengeki Bunko but also caused many veteran authors to switch allegiances.
Over the past two years, even Kadokawa has lost thirty of its distinguished authors, not to mention other publishing houses."
"This is the advantage of having a 'Pillar' in the realm of light novels. Presently, Dengeki Bunko commands a staggering 40% market share."
"So, in an effort to reclaim our market share, I, along with a few directors, conceived the 'Deity Creation Plan.'"
"As soon as an author achieves daily sales exceeding 8,000 copies, the publishing house will promptly initiate the 'Deity Creation Plan' with the objective of cultivating a light novel 'Pillar' capable of rivaling Senju Muramasa."
"Consequently, now that Wakamono-sensei has achieved this level of success, our publishing house will spare no effort in providing support."
"I understand now." Grasping the concept of the 'Deity Creation Plan,' Sonoko nodded and then recalled something.
"By the way, Chief Editor, Wakamono-sensei forwarded the manuscript for the fourth volume of 'Sword Art Online' to me last week. I've thoroughly reviewed it, and there are no issues with the text."
"The fourth volume is already completed? So quickly?"
Upon learning that the fourth volume of "Sword Art Online" was finished, the middle-aged chief editor displayed a fair amount of surprise but promptly initiated necessary actions.
"If there are no issues with the text, let's commence preparations for publication without delay. As the buzz surrounding this omnibus volume reaches its zenith, we'll unveil the release of the new volume to elevate it even further."
"By the way, now that the first three volumes are completed, we can also notify the manga department to begin preparations for serialization."
"Manga adaptation? So soon?" Sonoko found it somewhat surprising that, with only three volumes in, a manga adaptation was already in the works.
"Yes, given Wakamono-sensei's exceptional talent, our publishing house aims to offer him top-tier resources in every aspect. Moreover, the present wave of excitement presents an opportune moment for a manga adaptation. With Wakamono-sensei's writing speed, I'm confident we can stay ahead with serialization progress." The middle-aged chief editor radiated even greater confidence than Sonoko, who served as Hachiman's editor.
"Very well, I'll initiate the necessary arrangements immediately."
Seeing that it was advantageous for Hachiman, Sonoko had no reason to decline. She nodded affirmatively and promptly exited the office to deliver the favorable tidings to Hachiman.
...
At 8 PM, inside the Hikigaya residence.
The fourth volume had already been completed, and Hachiman had commenced work on the fifth installment. However, as he revisited the original novels with his enhanced memory, he couldn't help but notice the original author's inclination toward some rather peculiar themes.
Many sections contained elements of NTR, not of the mild variety but rather explicit and explicit in nature. Moreover, the narrative was peppered with numerous bizarre plot twists.
Naturally, he had no intention of incorporating such content into his writing. With his current skills, he could completely reimagine the storyline without deviating from the core framework.
Just as he was preparing to unleash his creativity to overhaul the narrative, his phone rang, and Sonoko's name flashed on the screen.
"Sonoko, what's going on?" He casually inquired as he answered the call.
Sonoko's voice on the other end brimmed with excitement as she spoke, "I'm calling to share some fantastic news with you, and it's not just one piece of good news."
"Good news? Is it about the sales of my new volume?" Hachiman seemed to have a hunch.
"That's one of them," Sonoko chuckled, "But let me share them one by one."
"First and foremost, congratulations, Hachiman..."
"Congratulations? Congratulations for what?"
Hachiman was perplexed, not quite comprehending the reason behind the congratulatory tone.
"Oh, don't rush, let me share the news slowly," Sonoko replied with a touch of playful complaint in her tone.
"Alright, my apologies, go ahead," Hachiman acquiesced with a shrug.
"First of all, congratulations, Hachiman. You've achieved a new record for daily light novel sales."
"The daily sales of 'Sword Art Online' reached 15,600 copies, surpassing the previous record held by Senju Muramasa's 'The Legend of the Phantom Blade' at 10,000 copies."
"15,600 copies!"
Upon hearing this number, even Hachiman was taken aback.
He had anticipated around 5,000 to 6,000 copies on the opening day, even with Kadokawa's robust promotion efforts.
However, the actual figure exceeded his expectations threefold.
"That's correct, it's 15,600 copies, and the publishing house has decided to print an additional 200,000 copies. I now have full confidence that you can reach the ten-million sales mark."
"But don't rush, that's just the first piece of good news," Sonoko continued with excitement.
"Is there more good news?" Hachiman began to feel a sense of anticipation.
"The second piece of good news is that the publishing house is fully implementing the 'Deity Creation Plan' to support you."
"The 'Deity Creation Plan'? What an intriguing name," Hachiman couldn't resist commenting, aware that such "deity creation" plans often led to major disasters in movies.
"The so-called 'Deity Creation Plan' is..." Sonoko proceeded to explain the plan to Hachiman, essentially reiterating what the chief editor had briefed her on earlier.
"So that's how it works." After comprehending her explanation, Hachiman finally grasped the implications.
He could also anticipate the level of support and treatment he would receive from Kadokawa in the future.
"Exactly, there's more. Can you guess what the other piece of good news is, Hachiman?" Sonoko playfully teased, relishing the suspense.
"Come on, Sonoko, don't leave me hanging. Just spill the beans," Hachiman urged.
"Haha, I won't keep you guessing any longer. The third piece of good news is that your fourth volume has already been scheduled for publication."
"So soon? Thank you so much, Sonoko," Hachiman expressed his gratitude genuinely.
He had submitted the fourth volume just last week, and now it was already slated for publication. He knew that Sonoko must have put in significant effort for this to happen.
"Haha, you're welcome. And, Hachiman, your excellence plays a major role in why I'll be getting promoted."
"In that case, congratulations in advance, Sonoko."
Hachiman extended genuine congratulations. If she was getting promoted, it was certainly a reason to celebrate.
"Thanks to you, Hachiman. I should be thanking you," Sonoko Machida reciprocated the sentiment.
"But for now, the publishing house is still building up anticipation. The fourth volume is expected to be published by the end of the month."
"That's perfectly fine. Releasing two volumes in a month is already remarkable."
Indeed, irrespective of one's writing speed, publishing two volumes in a month was a feat many light novel authors aspired to achieve.
But before Hachiman could fully bask in the positive news, Sonoko's voice carried on through the phone.
"And there's one more piece of good news."
-----------------------
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"Do not rush; there's one more piece of splendid news," Hachiman was told.
"One more..." He was overwhelmed by the continuous surprises.
"That's correct; the publishing house intends to begin the manga adaptation of 'Sword Art Online' immediately," he was informed.
"Manga adaptation? But we've only released three volumes so far, haven't we?" Hachiman was genuinely astonished.
Typically, light novels waited until at least the fifth or sixth volume before considering a manga adaptation to ensure the storyline could keep up and avoid potential issues leading to the manga's hiatus.
"It's true. You should know that the publishing house is ready to dedicate all resources to promote you. Not only manga adaptation, but also the animation adaptation is on the agenda."
"Hachiman, you have to give it your all," emphasized Sonoko Machida, his editor.
"Don't worry, Sonoko. You know my typing speed, right?" Hachiman was quite confident about his typing speed.
His typing speed was something that Sonoko Machida, as his editor, was well aware of.
"Haha, I'm definitely not worried about that. When it comes to typing speed, you're like a monster."
"Tch, daring to call me that, be careful I might switch publishers," Hachiman, in a good mood, also joked.
"Don't do that, my great author. If you switch publishers, I won't be spared."
"Haha, trying to make me stay? Well, it depends on what benefits you can offer me, Sonoko."
"So, Hachiman, what benefits do you want?"
"Benefits? Let me think... How about you let me 'bend the rules' with you, Sonoko?"
"Get out of here, you cheeky kid! You're about ten years too early for that. Besides, shouldn't it be me 'bending the rules' with you?" Although she knew it was a joke, Sonoko found herself having some shameful thoughts.
However, she quickly scolded herself for even entertaining the idea of pursuing someone so much younger than her.
"Atchoo!"
Meanwhile, back in her apartment, Shizuka lay on her bed, engrossed in her phone, when she suddenly sneezed.
"Haha, alright, enough with the jokes. Actually, I've been thinking about the anime adaptation," Hachiman shifted back to business mode after their playful banter.
"We can kickstart the anime adaptation, but my suggestion is to have the first season encompass the story from the first six volumes. Volumes 4 to 6, the 'Fairy Dance' arc and ALO's background, share similarities, and the storyline flows seamlessly. This way, we can create a 24-episode half-year series."
"With my typing speed, producing two volumes per month is entirely feasible, and we have a good shot at meeting the release dates for either July or October for the new anime season."
Undoubtedly, the content of the first six volumes could be smoothly interconnected.
After Kirito discovers Asuna's predicament in the ALO game, the narrative revolves around his quest to rescue her.
However, beginning with volume 7, the 'Phantom Bullet' arc introduces a wholly new story within a different gaming environment.
"I'll definitely convey this to the chief editor," Sonoko nodded. When it came to the anime adaptation, Hachiman's recommendations, as the original author, held substantial weight.
"Thank you so much for that, Sonoko. I'll diligently work on my end to send you the manuscripts as soon as possible."
"Haha, then go ahead and give it your all. I won't keep you any longer," Sonoko encouraged him before ending the call.
Putting down his phone, Hachiman reclined in his chair, staring up at the ceiling.
He hadn't anticipated that Kadokawa would decide to adapt his light novel into both a manga and an anime.
It was a delightful surprise. While he had contemplated these possibilities, their swift realization had caught him off guard.
Nonetheless, it was a favorable development. Both the manga and anime adaptations promised increased income for him. It brought him closer to his goal of accumulating 10 billion yen, though he recognized there was still a considerable distance to cover.
"'Deity Creation Plan'..." Hachiman mused, recollecting Sonoko Machida's words. Despite the somewhat chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) tone, he found the title of "God of Light Novels" quite appealing. He embraced it.
Since Kadokawa was committed to investing fully in him, he knew he had to seize this opportunity. At the moment, the most critical task was completing volumes five and six and keeping pace with the progress of the manga and anime adaptations. Other matters could wait.
"Never mind, stop dwelling on it, and return to writing promptly," he muttered to himself. Hachiman once again immersed himself in his writing.
......
Time passed swiftly, and before they realized it, early July had arrived. Hachiman's "Sword Art Online" series had surged ahead with its sixth volume in publication.
The pace of releasing two volumes each month not only left industry experts impressed but also left readers in exhilaration, albeit with lighter wallets.
While the price of a light novel was typically around 800 yen, many of the readers were high school students with limited monthly allowances. On top of that, they needed to budget for manga and merchandise related to the series. Consequently, in recent months, the student readers found their wallets considerably lighter, with their funds predominantly flowing into Kadokawa Bunko and Hachiman, the author – a classic example of "evil" capitalists at work (laughs).
Backed by Kadokawa's unwavering support, "Sword Art Online" was achieving outstanding results. The sixth volume had already sold nearly five million copies.
Furthermore, news of the upcoming release of the seventh volume was spreading, set to officially hit the shelves in mid-July.
Within the realm of light novels, Hachiman had earned a prominent reputation, considered one of the most promising authors poised to surpass the ten million sales milestone, following in the footsteps of Senju Muramasa.
Furthermore, it wasn't limited to just the novels and manga adaptations. An anime adaptation of "Sword Art Online," encompassing the content from the first six volumes, was set to premiere in July.
Hachiman had undoubtedly accumulated a substantial fortune through royalties from his novels, manga adaptations, and the income generated from his financial ventures. His net worth now stood close to 2 billion yen.
Nonetheless, he was well aware that he still had a long journey ahead to reach his goal of amassing 10 billion yen.
In a bid to expedite his wealth accumulation, Hachiman made the decision to redouble his efforts. While continuing the serialization of "Sword Art Online," he intended to embark on a new literary venture.
As he pondered the theme for his upcoming work, Zaimokuza, seated nearby, asked with enthusiasm, "Hachiman, summer vacation is just around the corner. Any plans?"
Despite the impending major exams, there was a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. Students congregated in groups, engaged in discussions on various topics, fully aware that once the exams concluded, the most enjoyable days of the year would commence: summer vacation.
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