บท 96: [96] Hachiman's Desire for the Unspoken Rules
"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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