Not only had his culinary prowess soared, but his physical abilities module was also teetering on the edge of reaching level four, just a hair's breadth away.
Hachiman scooped a few strands of Misua into Kamakura's food bowl before shifting his gaze to Komachi and Shizuka, who were savoring his cooking with great enthusiasm. A faintly helpless expression played on his face.
"Komachi, I won't say much about you, but Shizuka-sensei, are you still a child? How did you manage to get food all over your mouth?"
Hachiman's words brought a blush to Shizuka's face, causing a hint of embarrassment.
"Well, it's simply because your cooking is exceptionally delectable," she replied.
"Yeah, Onii-chan's dishes are unbelievably scrumptious," Komachi chimed in.
Hachiman modestly smiled. Although his culinary skills had reached level four, surpassing most students at Totsuki Culinary Academy and instilling him with the confidence to challenge some of the lower-ranked members of the Ten Elites, he knew he still had a long journey ahead compared to outstanding Totsuki graduates like Shinomiya Kojiro, Mizuhara Fuyumi, and Hinako Inui. Not to mention culinary prodigies like Yukihira Joichiro and Dojima Gin, who stood at the pinnacle of culinary mastery.
"Both of you should sample some of the Bicol Express, shredded cabbage and Ensalada as well, not just the meat," Hachiman suggested.
Upon hearing his words, both Shizuka and Komachi momentarily set aside their skirmish with the asado and redirected their attention to the other three dishes.
Guided by the tantalizing aroma that drifted toward them, Shizuka was the first to dive in. She scooped a spoonful of the Bicol Express, ensuring it was generously coated with the spicy sauce and minced meat before taking her first bite.
The initial taste was searingly hot, but swiftly followed was a stimulating spiciness that tingled across her taste buds, enveloping her entire palate. Her salivary glands went into overdrive.
Second bite, third bite, fourth bite... and then a generous scoop of rice to quench the heat.
"Phew... that's incredible. Bicol Express pairs splendidly with rice," Shizuka exclaimed, a glimmer of sweat on her forehead after swallowing.
"Really? Let me give it a try."
Intrigued by Shizuka's reaction, Komachi mimicked her and scooped a spoonful of Bicol Express with the white sauce into her mouth.
"Ha~~ It's so spicy!" However, she struggled with the spiciness compared to Shizuka. Despite Hachiman having toned down the heat level in this Bicol Express dish, it still prompted her to stick out her tongue in discomfort. She had to take a mouthful of rice to soothe the spice.
Observing Komachi's reaction, Hachiman offered a gentle smile and passed her a glass of water.
"Don't worry, Komachi. If the spiciness is too much for you, there's no need to force it. Give the shredded cabbage a try instead."
"Mmm... I didn't expect it to be this spicy." After sipping from the glass of water, Komachi regarded the Bicol Express with caution. Her attention then shifted to the plate of shredded cabbage.
She selected a forkful and placed it in her mouth. The crisp cabbage leaves carried a subtle sweetness, and the pork slices had been cooked to a delightful crispiness, delivering a mouthful of rich flavors.
"This dish is amazing too! You truly are the best, Onii-chan."
"Haha, if it's to your liking, feel free to have more. In the future, I'll prepare whatever you desire."
"Yay, Onii-chan is the best!"
As Shizuka observed the heartwarming exchange between the siblings, a hint of envy washed over her. In recent times, she often found herself alone after work, either frequenting izakayas or ordering takeout when she returned to her apartment.
Whenever she visited her parents' home, they would persistently inquire about arranged dates. Each time she returned, her parents would subtly bring up marriages and her cousins starting families.
Shizuka felt a growing sense of frustration. It wasn't that she chose to remain single; she simply hadn't encountered the right person yet.
Yet, as she contemplated the idea of finding the right life partner, her gaze inevitably gravitated toward Hachiman. In her eyes, he possessed an admirable personality, cared deeply for his sister, held the status of a renowned light novel author, and, most importantly, exhibited extraordinary culinary skills. If only he were about a decade older, he would be the ideal candidate for a boyfriend.
She indulged in another delightful bite of the scrumptious dish, savoring it with her eyes momentarily closed, a sense of contentment washing over her.
If only she could enjoy such exquisite meals every evening after a long day at work. But alas, he was too young...
A trace of regret tinged Shizuka's gaze as it settled on Hachiman.
"What's troubling you, Shizuka-sensei?" Hachiman noticed her contemplative look and found himself perplexed.
"N-Nothing," Shizuka quickly averted her eyes, choosing to immerse herself in the meal. She inwardly chastised herself for entertaining such thoughts about her student.
Casting an inquisitive glance at Shizuka, Hachiman resumed his dinner. In any case, the evening meal at the Hikigaya household continued as usual...
.......
Tokyo, Kadokawa Bunko Publishing.
Sonoko, who had just concluded her day's work, stretched, displaying her attractively well-proportioned figure.
At that precise moment, a female administrative staff member, bearing a fairly pleasant appearance, entered the room and presented a document to her.
"Editor Machida, these are today's sales figures for 'Sword Art Online'!"
"Thank you, Kyoko." Sonoko expressed her gratitude and accepted the sales report for her perusal.
"Let's see... how many copies did Hachiman's latest volume sell today..." Her eyes widened upon glimpsing the sales figures.
"Over 15,000 copies in a single day!"
Selling over 10,000 copies in a day was already considered legendary in the industry. Even the esteemed author Senju Muramasa, known for "The Legend Of Phantom Blade," only occasionally surpassed that number on her best days. This was nothing short of miraculous.
With the potential for continued success, Sonoko clutched the sales report and rapped on the door of the chief editor's office.
"Knock knock!"
"Come in."
"Here are today's sales figures for 'Sword Art Online,'" Sonoko handed over the sales report and began.
"15,600 copies!" The chief editor was taken aback when he saw the sales numbers, a rare crack in his usually composed demeanor.
"Yes," Sonoko confirmed with a nod.
"I propose we initiate an immediate reprint. The initial batch of 50,000 copies won't last more than ten days."
"Absolutely. I'll notify the printing company to add another 100,000, no, make it 200,000 more copies." Upon hearing her suggestion, the middle-aged chief editor swiftly made a decision.
"Machida, you must monitor the book's sales meticulously. Report to me daily."
"Furthermore, instruct the publicity department to intensify their efforts. I want every teenager in Japan to be acquainted with the name 'Sword Art Online.'"
"I'm on the verge of launching Kadokawa Bunko's 'Deity Creation Plan.'"
Even though he was in his forties, the chief editor seemed to exhibit a touch of chuunibyou in this moment.
"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."
-----------------------
A/N:
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