During class, Kotomi Izumi, as usual, picked up her phone and secretly played a game.
Just after clearing a dungeon and preparing for another run, a message suddenly popped up. Fortunately, she had learned her lesson and always put her phone on silent before playing in class.
"Is it a message from Haruno?" Kotomi muttered softly as she opened the message. She thought she was whispering, but the girl sitting in front of her, Yukino Yukinoshita, still heard her.
Kotomi often mumbled to herself while gaming in class. Yukino had long since grown accustomed to it. Perhaps because Kotomi's voice was pleasant, her soft muttering never became a distraction. Instead, hearing Kotomi's voice occasionally during class actually made Yukino feel refreshed.
She just never said it out loud…
When she heard Kotomi muttering again, Yukino, already used to it, didn't pay much attention. As she continued copying notes from the board, she suddenly felt as if she had heard Kotomi mention the name "Haruno."
Her sister?!
Upon hearing her sister's name, Yukino Yukinoshita instinctively straightened up and turned to look at Kotomi behind her. A stack of textbooks, piled up like a fortress, served as a barrier to Kotomi's secret gaming activities. Without craning her neck forward, she couldn't see what Kotomi was doing on her phone.
However, judging by Kotomi's intense concentration, she was probably playing a game again. She wasn't even this focused during exams…
Yukino didn't have the habit of peeking at others' phones. After glancing at Kotomi, who was staring intently at her screen, she dismissed it as a misheard word. Perhaps Kotomi had muttered something that merely sounded like "Haruno," and her mind had played tricks on her.
Yukino chuckled self-mockingly. Who would mistake Kotomi's murmuring for her sister's name?
If Haruno found out about this, she would definitely laugh uncontrollably for a long time.
Thinking of this, Yukino's expression turned cold. She turned back around and let out a soft snort. She would never tell anyone about this!
Meanwhile, Kotomi, engrossed in the message from Haruno Yukinoshita, was completely unaware that she had almost exposed her connection with Haruno in front of her sister.
However, speaking objectively, their known relationship at the moment was merely that of an author and an editor.
[Kotomi-sensei, we just had a brief meeting regarding your novel sales. The chief editor is very satisfied with the numbers. As long as the sales remain stable, we will gradually arrange for an audiobook adaptation, a manga adaptation, and even an anime adaptation.
Regarding your new book, "Redo of Healer," we discussed it in the editorial department and feel that since you have already written so many volumes of "Sword Art Online," you can consider starting a new series.
The chief editor hopes to continue signing contracts with you for your new book. If you are willing to keep publishing with Dengeki Bunko, the initial contract level will be a guaranteed A-rank.]
Chief Editor Hiratsuka sure is generous… Kotomi thought to herself. A deeper understanding of Dengeki Bunko's contract system revealed how much investment an A-rank contract entailed for an author.
Even professional authors who have consistently ranked in the bestsellers list usually only receive a B-rank contract for a new series. Compared to ordinary authors, they have a smoother path to higher contract tiers, but the highest they can reach within two months of good sales after the first volume's release is A-rank, at which point a manga adaptation would follow.
In contrast, her new book's contract was starting at A-rank.
[I applied to the chief editor to see if we could upgrade your contract to S-rank, but she put on an air of strict impartiality and said that unless your work gets an anime adaptation and reaches a phenomenon-level popularity, there would be no special treatment—no S-rank contract!
Sigh~ The chief editor really has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Just a few minutes ago, she was saying that once "Sword Art Online" gets an anime adaptation, she would allocate massive funding to make it a top-tier series. And now she's saying this. It's like she wants to make sure everyone knows she's dead set on getting your contract upgraded to S-rank.]
After reading another message from Haruno Yukinoshita, Kotomi was momentarily stunned. Then, she barely managed to suppress the urge to jump out of her seat in excitement, letting out a few muffled chuckles instead.
An anime adaptation? A top-tier series?! Hell yeah!
Kotomi had long been hoping for an anime adaptation, but since she had only published one volume so far, she knew she wasn't in a position to demand one.
Yet, before she had even said a word, the chief editor was already discussing an anime adaptation for "Sword Art Online." This meant that as long as her sales remained strong, she might receive confirmation of the anime adaptation by the first half of next year.
And not just any adaptation—this would be a well-funded production, aiming to become a top-tier anime.
Kotomi was filled with anticipation.
After all, who wouldn't want to see their novel or manga come to life in anime form?
Seeing the chief editor's sincerity, Kotomi decided to continue her partnership with Dengeki Bunko for her new book.
She was, after all, a lazy person.
Too lazy to constantly switch publishers.
Besides, with her current popularity, many light novel publishers had been reaching out via Twitter DMs, asking if she was interested in switching to their label.
The benefits they offered seemed generous.
But after skimming through the contracts filled with complex clauses, Kotomi found them too much of a headache to deal with, so she sought out a reliable lawyer to handle it professionally.
After reviewing them, the lawyer told her:
"Many of these contract clauses were added specifically for you. They look enticing on the surface, but in reality, eight out of ten are just empty promises. Their goal is obvious—they want to sign you without giving you actual benefits. Worse yet, they are signing you as a person, not just your books. Once you sign, your identity will be bound to this publisher for 30 years. If you ever want to terminate the contract, you'll face an astronomical penalty."
Upon learning this, Kotomi was furious and immediately blocked those publishers.
She then took to Twitter and posted a sarcastic remark.
Well… calling it "sarcastic" might be too generous. In reality, she was so enraged that she couldn't even be bothered to craft a snide remark and instead outright tagged the publishers, responding in the most straightforward way possible:
Izumi Ki: @xxxPublisher @xxPublisher @xxPublisher, you three absolute morons! Did you really think I wouldn't understand contract terms? Trying to scam me, huh? Well, guess what? I'm about to scam your entire family registry! May all your horses drop dead!
Your mothers will follow suit! A thousand-person communal meal, a worn-out shoe passed around by ten thousand—why is today's sunset so dazzling? Because it's the blazing fire of your entire family burning to ashes!
The tweet went viral, its insults so sharp and precise that they left no room for rebuttal. For most Japanese who only knew how to say "baka yarou," Kotomi's eloquent roasting was like an advanced-level attack.
A well-known Japanese game streamer, famous for his savage insults and entertaining antics, happened to come across Kotomi's tweet. After reading it, he was instantly in awe of her sharp wit, as if witnessing a master at work. Upon realizing she was a light novel author, he eagerly retweeted it with the caption:
[I always thought I was the best at trash-talking, until now. Now I realize that in front of Izumi Ki's talent for insults, I'm just a mere novice. Yes, my eyes exist solely to witness Izumi Ki's masterful roasts!]
This tweet brought another surge of attention to Izumi Ki's Twitter account, boosting her follower count to 470,000 and giving her book sales another significant spike.
The tweet, which most people wouldn't even be able to craft, let alone hurl out in anger, quickly shot up the Twitter trending charts.
Upon learning that these three publishers had attempted to scam Izumi Ki, her readers mobilized, flooding the official Twitter accounts of those publishers with "friendly greetings."
Dengeki Bunko also stepped in protectively, issuing a warning tweet. The underlying message of their statement was clear—poaching authors was fair game, but don't try to do it with deceptive contracts. Otherwise, prepare for legal action.
Legal battles and cease-and-desist letters were standard practices in the fierce competition between publishing houses, especially between Dengeki Bunko and Kadokawa Bunko, who practically treated legal threats like disposable napkins.
Moreover, Dengeki Bunko's legal department had been struggling with low activity recently. That very day, they eagerly combed through the contracts for any technicalities and drafted a series of legal documents meant to trouble those three publishers.
Back to the main topic—Kotomi currently had no intention of switching to another light novel publisher. The uncertainties involved were simply too many.
Some publishers had indeed approached her with genuine sincerity, particularly Kadokawa Bunko, whose contract practically screamed, "Please, we're begging you to join us!"
However, signing a new book with another publisher would inevitably mean facing a new contract.
Although she could always rely on professional lawyers to review contracts—saving her time and uncovering fine details she might miss—hiring a good lawyer was incredibly expensive.
Costly, yes, but absolutely necessary when dealing with new contracts.
That said, she was doing just fine at Dengeki Bunko, so why bother switching publishers? Contract negotiations alone would consume a lot of time.
With that in mind, Kotomi firmly decided to publish "Redo of Healer" under Dengeki Bunko.
"Sword Art Online," "Redo of Healer"—both of these are long-running light novel series. I might also release some short and medium-length novels in between. For example, I should find time to publish "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas."
Kotomi absentmindedly twirled her pen, murmuring softly to herself in a voice only she could hear.
"Sword Art Online" had already reached Volume 8. In just two more days, she would finish writing the outline, allowing her to start on the manuscript.
As for when it would end?
She already had a plan—once she completed the Alicization Arc, she would conclude "Sword Art Online." After that, she would write the Unital Ring Arc as a follow-up.
She also intended to release a few extra volumes focusing on Kirito and his life with the heroines post-marriage, as a side story.
This was her way of revising "Sword Art Online"—not just focusing on Asuna, but also deepening relationships with Sinon, Lisbeth, Silica, Leafa, and Alice. In her version, they would all enter relationships with Kirito.
She had already mapped out the romantic developments—Kirito would marry all of them.
No tragic endings, no toxic drama, just a true overpowered protagonist enjoying a full-fledged harem. Readers could enjoy the story without worrying that their favorite heroine would end up heartbroken. The day-to-day rivalry between the heroines for Kirito's affection would make for an entertaining read.
The smooth pacing and thrilling moments made the story increasingly addictive. This was precisely why Izumi Ki's version of "Sword Art Online" had become so popular.
Readers had grown tired of novels that constantly tormented their protagonists with tragedies. In contrast, Izumi Ki's "Sword Art Online" provided a sense of reassurance and satisfaction.
On a related note, the infamous Fairy King Oberon, or rather Sugou Nobuyuki, had also been revised. In Kotomi's version, instead of subjecting Asuna to torment, Sugou used his system privileges to impale Kirito into the ground and walked toward Asuna with a sinister grin.
Just as he reached her cage and was about to extend his hand, Kirito erupted in a burst of power, unleashing a slash that transcended time and space, decapitating Sugou instantly within the game.
This revision allowed readers to experience tension and anger while ensuring that Asuna remained unharmed. Kirito's counterattack became a moment of pure catharsis, delivering immense satisfaction.
Additionally, Kotomi revised the depiction of Asuna's hospital room in the real world, making it a completely sealed environment.
The medical staff responsible for her care were exclusively female doctors and nurses. Visitors, including her own parents, could only view her from outside the room.
This meant that Sugou had no way of entering, preventing him from carrying out any real-world threats against Asuna.
With this change, the first real confrontation between Kirito and Sugou was moved outside the hospital room rather than inside.
Now, readers could despise Sugou without fearing for Asuna's safety, eliminating a major frustration from the original story.
In short, Kotomi revised every "toxic" plot point she found problematic.
And after all the changes?
The result wasn't just a little bit satisfying—it was overwhelmingly exhilarating!
...
After class, Kotomi took out her phone and sent a text to Haruno Yukinoshita:
[After careful consideration, I've decided to continue publishing "Redo of Healer" with Dengeki Bunko. Also, please make sure Hanayui-sensei continues as the illustrator. I'll send you the outline and first volume manuscript in early November.]
The backlog for "Sword Art Online" was already substantial, allowing for a steady release schedule. However, Kotomi felt uneasy whenever she wasn't actively writing, so she decided to complete Volume 1 of "Redo of Healer" this month.
Almost as if she had been waiting for Kotomi's message all day, Haruno Yukinoshita responded almost instantly:
[No problem! There's no need to upload the new book to the official site this time. Just send it directly to me when it's ready. Once it passes the serialization meeting, I'll handle the proofreading immediately and aim to get it into the publishing process within two weeks.]
Even through text, it was obvious that Haruno was highly motivated.
Despite acting arrogant in front of Chief Editor Hiratsuka and gaining a reputation in the editorial department as "Mad Haruno," the undeniable success of "Sword Art Online" under her supervision spoke for itself.
In the world of publishing, sales and popularity were everything.
Next month's paycheck was bound to come with a massive bonus, and Haruno would likely be grinning ear to ear while counting her earnings.
[Oh, by the way, Kotomi, I just discussed with the chief editor—we're planning to release Volumes 2 and 3 of "Sword Art Online" together.]
Releasing two volumes at once?
Kotomi thought about it and found the idea reasonable. Now that Volume 1 was already out, the story was hitting its stride, and many readers had been flooding both her Twitter and Dengeki Bunko's official account urging for the next release.
This was the peak moment for hype and demand. Publishing two volumes simultaneously would not only satisfy eager readers but also generate a wave of positive reviews.
[Got it. Thanks a lot, Haruno-nee! ❤]
Kotomi smirked mischievously as she sent the message.
...
When Haruno Yukinoshita received the text and opened it, her brain froze on the spot upon seeing Kotomi calling her "Haruno-nee".
A few seconds later—
"Hehehehehehehe… Kotomi… she called me Haruno-nee! I want to hear her say it to my face!"
Haruno Yukinoshita lowered her head, staring at her phone with a seemingly composed posture. However, anyone who saw the expression on her face at that moment would probably be scared enough to call 110 immediately.
Such a twisted smile could only be found in the pages of Hyakki Yagyō.
Let's see, which page of Hyakki Yagyō are you on?
After sending the message to Haruno, Kotomi set her phone aside and picked up a pen, scribbling in her notebook.
While her next book was tentatively set as "Redo of Healer", another long-term serialization planned for 15 volumes, at her current writing speed, she could probably finish all 15 volumes in less than a year.
As for how long it would take to publish all of them, that depended on Dengeki Bunko.
Although she had many novel ideas, most of her well-developed concepts were short to medium-length novels.
Most ranged from one to two volumes, with a few extending to five or six volumes.
Kotomi desperately wanted to create an anime adaptation of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", but with the money she currently had, she probably couldn't even fund a single episode.
For now, she would have to release it as a novel and manga first.
However, Kotomi didn't want "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" to be shared with any publishing house, not even Dengeki Bunko.
This meant she would likely have to wait until her gaming company—"Type-Moon Realm"—was officially established before using her connections and financial resources to publish "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" as a novel and manga under her own brand.
If it gained enough popularity and sales success, she could then produce an anime and movie adaptation under Type-Moon Realm.
Of course, all of this would have to wait until Type-Moon Realm was up and running.
For now, her top priority was fattening her wallet.
To do that, she needed a long-term, high-revenue series.
Once "Redo of Healer" concluded, what long-form light novel should she write next?
After pondering for a while, Kotomi wrote down three titles in her notebook:
"Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation"
"Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash"
"Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina"
Tapping her pen lightly on the notebook, Kotomi murmured to herself:
"Which one should I write first after Redo of Healer ends?"
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