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68.28% Life As Hikigaya Hachiman / Chapter 405: [405] Benefits of Fame

Chapitre 405: [405] Benefits of Fame

Chapter 405: Benefits of Fame

Early the next morning, after breakfast, Hachiman left home.

Whether it was the effect of the potion he drank yesterday, he felt exceptionally refreshed today, with a warm sensation flowing through his body.

His agenda for the day was straightforward: he needed to discuss the completion of "That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime" and the first volume of a new book with Machida Sonoko at Kadokawa.

Although Sonoko had come over yesterday, it was his birthday party, so Hachiman didn't feel it was appropriate to discuss business then.

Since he had some free time today, he decided to personally visit Kadokawa.

Arriving at the station, Hachiman boarded the train bound for Tokyo.

After over an hour of travel, he disembarked and made his way to the Kadokawa building, a route he was quite familiar with.

As soon as he entered the lobby on the ground floor, Hachiman was greeted by the sweet voices of the receptionist ladies.

"Good morning, Wakamono-sensei!"

Turning towards the source of the voice, he saw two stunning ladies at the front desk, both wearing smiles that could score at least eighty points on any scale.

Times had changed. Hachiman was now the pillar of Kadokawa, with the profits from his two best-selling novels reaching unimaginable heights.

And it wasn't just about profits. With Hachiman, the "King of Light Novels," at Kadokawa's helm, they could continually attract new authors.

In the past, when Kadokawa didn't have Hachiman, their competitor, Dengeki Bunko, led by Senju Muramasa, the former "King of Light Novels," had seized nearly forty percent of the market share.

Furthermore, with Senju Muramasa's leadership, Dengeki Bunko had attracted a large influx of fresh talent to submit manuscripts there, causing even many veteran authors to switch sides.

This had plunged Kadokawa into a period of decline.

But things were different now. With Hachiman, who had two best-selling novels, stabilizing against Senju Muramasa, Kadokawa had regained the upper hand in the market competition against Dengeki Bunko.

Therefore, Hachiman was undoubtedly someone Kadokawa both esteemed and wanted to keep happy. After all, if he were to switch allegiances one day, Kadokawa would once again decline.

Take these two front desk receptionists, for example. Even if it were just a sweet smile and greeting, it wasn't impossible for Hachiman to take advantage of them if he wanted to.

What? Not willing?

Hehe, the power of capital has its ways of making you yield.

But aside from that aspect, just looking at Hachiman himself now is enough to attract the attention of the opposite sex.

Young and wealthy, with a hint of handsomeness, and carrying a unique aura.

With these qualities combined, not to mention these two receptionist girls, even Hachiman's exclusive editor, Machida Sonoko, couldn't help but feel a bit moved.

...

"Good morning!"

Hachiman greeted the two front desk beauties with a smile.

"Could you please inform Editor Machida that I have something to discuss with her?"

One of the front desk beauties nodded in response.

"Of course, Wakamono-sensei. Please wait in meeting room three. We'll notify Editor Machida right away."

"Thank you."

Hachiman nodded and headed towards meeting room three.

Entering meeting room three and seeing the familiar setup, Hachiman felt nostalgic.

Back then, it was here that he first met Utaha.

Taking a seat on one of the sofas, Hachiman took out his phone and began scrolling while waiting.

Just then, the door of the meeting room opened again, and one of the reception beauties entered, carrying a cup of coffee.

"Wakamono-sensei, we've informed Editor Machida. She'll be here shortly. In the meantime, please enjoy this coffee."

"Thank you." Hachiman nodded.

Upon hearing his gratitude, the receptionist's smile became even sweeter.

"Don't mention it, please enjoy."

With that, she bent down to place the coffee on the table in front of Hachiman.

Whether intentional or not, the top two buttons of the receptionist's blouse were left undone, revealing a hint of black lace and a substantial cleavage.

Hmm, I'd say that's about a C+.

Just a quick glance, and Hachiman probably had a specific measurement in mind.

Unfortunately, it didn't affect his heart.

He'd seen plenty before.

Consider Saeko, Kotonoha, Shizuka, Utaha, and even Alice – none were smaller, and each had their unique traits.

Saeko's allure, Kotonoha's innocence, Utaha's charm, Shizuka's strength, and Alice's liveliness – each offered Hachiman a different experience.

After delivering the coffee, the receptionist didn't linger, bidding farewell before leaving the meeting room.

Picking up the coffee cup, Hachiman found a small note at the bottom with a name and phone number, presumably from the receptionist.

What was this? Trying to take advantage?

It was probably just a perk of fame.

However, he decided to let it go.

Feeling somewhat resigned, Hachiman prepared to discard the note.

But then, he had a sudden thought and kept it.

Well, even if he didn't need it, he could pass it on to someone else.

Like that guy from Zaimokuza.

And if he remembered correctly, Zaimokuza also submitted manuscripts to Kadokawa, right?

So, this phone number might be useful for him to network.

Keep it up, my good buddy.

With a mischievous smile, Hachiman sipped his coffee and furrowed his brows slightly.

This coffee was just average, nowhere near the quality of the mustachioed manager's blend.

It seemed his palate had become quite discerning.

But he didn't mind and continued to sip his coffee slowly, waiting for Sonoko's arrival.

Soon enough, before he could finish his coffee, his editor entered the room.

As she stepped in, Sonoko offered an apologetic smile. "Haha, sorry, Hachiman, got held up with something."

"No worries, it's mainly my fault for dropping by unexpectedly today. Plus, you're here pretty quickly, and I haven't finished my coffee yet," Hachiman shook his head.

"Oh, come on, Hachiman, you're a big shot at Kadokawa now. I wouldn't dare blame you," Sonoko joked.

"If I upset you, I'd be out of a job too."

Hachiman followed her lead and also joked, "What's there to fear about losing your job? I could always support you, Sonoko."

Although she knew it was a joke, Sonoko couldn't help but feel a slight flutter in her heart. To mask her embarrassment, she responded with a hint of disdain on her face, "Oh, come on, just a brat like you. Talking about supporting me? You're still ten years too early."

Hachiman shrugged, "Fair enough. If you're not interested, then forget it. But I was serious about supporting you."

Hachiman felt a sense of gratitude towards his dedicated editor. His success was not only due to his novels but also owed to Sonoko's efforts. Without her hard work, he might not have received as much publicity.

If she ever decided to quit her editing job, Hachiman wouldn't mind offering her financial support. Of course, it would be purely out of gratitude, with no ulterior motives.

However, Sonoko naturally wouldn't believe him and waved her hand dismissively.

"Enough with the jokes. Let's talk business."

With that, she sat on the couch opposite Hachiman, adopting a serious expression.

"I'm curious, Hachiman. What brings you here today?"

--------

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Chapitre 406: [406] The First Step of the Plan

Chapter 406: The First Step of the Plan

"What brings you here today, Hachiman?"

Seeing Sonoko Machida bring up business matters, Hachiman dropped his playful demeanor.

"Well, it's nothing major, really. As I mentioned to you before, my novel 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' is coming to an end, and I'm also planning to start a new book."

"I came today to discuss with you the completion of 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' and the first volume of the new book."

"Oh, I see. Those two matters," Sonoko nodded as she listened to Hachiman.

Being Hachiman's dedicated editor, she was already aware of these issues. She had even considered using them as a pretext to draw him out during his birthday party preparations, but was rejected by Utaha.

However, Sonoko wasn't worried about these matters. After all, considering Hachiman's character, he must have made thorough preparations before making any decisions.

After some thought, she decided to ask about Hachiman's plans: "So, Hachiman, what are your plans?"

"As for me?" Hachiman paused, then outlined his plan, "My plan is to conclude 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' by the middle of the month and release the first volume of the new book by the end of the month."

"So soon to release a new book? How have you prepared for the content of the first volume?" Sonoko asked.

"Don't worry about that, Sonoko. I've already written the first volume of the new book. Here, take a look," Hachiman smiled and pulled out a stack of A4 papers containing the content of "The Garden of Sinners," the first volume of the new book.

"You've already finished it? Your typing speed is truly remarkable, Hachiman."

Surprised to hear that the first volume of the new book was already completed, Sonoko expressed her amazement.

"Let me see."

Taking the stack of A4 papers from him, Sonoko began to read through them. As an editor, rapid reading was one of her key skills, and in less than half an hour, Sonoko had finished reading all the content of the first volume.

Setting aside the manuscript, Sonoko closed her eyes and savored it for a moment before reopening them.

"As expected of you, Hachiman."

"Thank you, Sonoko," Hachiman smiled and shook his head.

"What do you think of the overall quality of my new book's first volume?"

"Since it's your work, Hachiman, the quality of the manuscript is unquestionable. The world-building is grand, although the story in the first volume carries a somewhat dark tone, the plot is tight and highly engaging," Sonoko praised, then stood up.

"In that case, let's proceed with signing the contract."

It seemed that, compared to the conclusion of "That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime," Sonoko placed more emphasis on Hachiman's new book. After all, the old book was entering its final stages and just needed a normal conclusion, without any major issues. Moreover, she had just read the first volume of the new book, which had excellent quality at the beginning. She believed that with Hachiman's skill, the rest of the story wouldn't disappoint. As long as it was promoted properly, achieving sales in the millions wouldn't be a problem.

However, at that moment, Hachiman spoke up, "Wait a minute, Sonoko, about the contract for the new book, there's something I need to discuss with you."

His objection to the contract surprised Sonoko.

After all, the standard contract terms offered by Kadokawa to Hachiman were already comparable to those offered by a certain old thief who played mahjong, representing the highest standards in the industry.

"Hachiman, your contract terms are already the highest in the industry. If we increase them..." Sonoko hinted subtly.

But Hachiman continued to shake his head. "Sonoko, you misunderstand. What I want to discuss isn't the fee standards in the contract, but something else."

"Something else?"

"Yes," Hachiman nodded and explained his plan.

"What I want to say is that I only want to assign the rights of this novel, or rather, this series of novels, to Kadokawa's novel and manga divisions. I need to retain the rights for other aspects."

"Retain rights for other aspects?"

Hearing this request, Sonoko was puzzled.

After all, apart from novels and manga, the only profitable aspects left were games and merchandise. Was Hachiman planning to develop a game?

But she didn't dwell on it too much and paused before speaking.

"I can't make that decision alone. I need to consult the chief editor."

"Then please, Sonoko, could you help me inquire about it?" Hachiman asked.

"No problem. Just wait a moment, Hachiman. I'll go ask the chief editor right away," Sonoko nodded, then took the manuscript and left the meeting room.

Chief editor's office.

After knocking on the door, Sonoko entered.

Seeing her enter, the middle-aged chief editor asked, "Editor Machida, what's the matter?"

"Chief Editor, today, Wakamono-sensei is here," Sonoko replied.

Hearing that Hachiman was here, the middle-aged chief editor raised his head.

"Oh? Wakamono-sensei is here? Does he have something to discuss today?"

"He's here to discuss the conclusion of 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' and the start of a new book," Sonoko continued.

"Oh? A new book? Is that what you're holding?"

Like Sonoko, the middle-aged chief editor was more interested in the new book than the conclusion of the old one.

"Yes, this is the first volume of Wakamono-sensei's new book," Sonoko nodded and handed over the manuscript.

Taking the manuscript from her, the middle-aged chief editor quickly skimmed through it.

With a snap, he finished reading it quickly.

"As expected of Wakamono-sensei, grand world-building, and perfect pacing in the story. It's quite engaging," he said, placing down the manuscript and exhaling, echoing Sonoko's assessment.

"This fully meets the publishing standards. Is there anything else?"

"Yes, actually, Wakamono-sensei requested some changes to the contract," Sonoko nodded and explained Hachiman's request.

"Oh? Only allowing us to have the rights for the novel and manga? All other rights to be retained?"

Hearing Hachiman's request, the middle-aged chief editor pondered for a moment before making a decision.

"No problem, agree to it. After all, Kadokawa's main business is only in novels and manga. As for game and other rights, let Wakamono-sensei have them."

Although he had some reservations about Hachiman's additional request, the middle-aged chief editor wouldn't risk offending Hachiman over such a small matter. After all, with Hachiman's current status as the king of light novels, other publishers were eager to have him. If he got upset over this small request and went to another publisher, it would be a loss for Kadokawa.

"Alright, I'll go back and inform Wakamono-sensei."

Seeing the chief editor's agreement, Sonoko nodded and then left the chief editor's office.

Soon, Sonoko returned to the meeting room, holding the modified contract in her hand.

"Alright, Hachiman, the chief editor has agreed. Let's sign the contract."

Taking the contract from her, Hachiman glanced over the specific terms and then nodded.

"Alright, let's sign the contract."

Saying that, he signed his name in the signature column.

Watching him sign the contract, Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief.

With two copies of the contract prepared, she handed one back to Hachiman.

Taking the signed contract, Hachiman also breathed a sigh of relief.

With the game rights secured, this could be considered the first step of the plan.

Putting away the other copy of the contract, Sonoko smiled, "Alright, that's settled. How about grabbing lunch together?"

"Sure." Hachiman nodded without hesitation.

After some waiting, it was already 11 o'clock, just in time for lunch.


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