Fushikawa Bunko's editorial department.
Sonoko Machida hung up the phone and sighed.
She felt like some lovestruck girl who'd just been dumped—her enthusiasm had been met with nothing but cold rejection.
"Well? Did Prince Warukawa-sensei agree?"
The colleague at the next desk leaned over, curious.
Machida shook her head with a bitter expression. "He… he turned me down."
"What? He refused? He doesn't want such a golden opportunity?"
"He said… he wants to write a full-length novel," Machida admitted, rubbing her temple.
"Hah?!"
Gasps erupted from all around. Every editor within earshot turned their eyes on her.
"Machida, you're sure you didn't mishear? Warukawa-sensei's going to write a long novel?"
"Seriously? Is he switching genres? What's next, straight-up pure romance? That's so off-brand!"
"The risk is insane! Do you know how many geniuses have crashed and burned trying to switch styles?"
Voices rose in a flurry of disbelief.
Almost no one had faith in Seiji Fujiwara's decision.
"…I'll have to report this to the Editor-in-Chief."
Still massaging her aching temples, Machida got up and walked toward the chief's office.
She had no strength left to argue with him. The only thing she could do was hand off this hot potato to the boss.
Inside the Editor-in-Chief's office.
Ryuji Aida frowned deeply after hearing Machida's report.
"He's rushing it."
His voice was low and stern. "He's still just a newcomer. Without a large enough fanbase, the backlash from a failed transition could crush him."
"Machida, give me your phone. I'll talk to him myself."
Aida knew: in business, you don't think about victory first—you think about what happens if you fail.
The market doesn't bend to wishful thinking.
"Yes, sir." Machida handed over her phone.
Aida pulled up the call log and dialed.
In Seiji Fujiwara's apartment, the phone rang again.
He glanced at the caller ID, frowning in puzzlement before picking up.
A steady, commanding male voice came through the line.
"Warukawa-sensei? This is Ryuji Aida, Editor-in-Chief of Fushikawa Bunko."
The voice was firm, heavy with authority.
"Good morning, Chief Aida," Seiji said, surprised but polite.
"Good morning, Warukawa-sensei."
After the greeting, Aida went straight to the point. "Machida informed me of your intention to write a full-length novel. Forgive me for being blunt, but this decision is extremely unwise."
"The market and our readers are expecting another short story in the style of 'Prince Warukawa.' We invested significant resources to establish that brand for you."
"Switching now means destroying the brand we just built. This isn't only your personal loss—it's a loss for the company. I urge you to reconsider carefully."
His words carried persuasion, pressure, and a clear breakdown of consequences.
Enough to make any rookie writer hesitate.
But Seiji only chuckled lightly.
"Chief Aida, I have a lot of confidence in myself."
"And you? Don't you have confidence in me?"
Arrogant.
So arrogant!
Utaha Kasumigaoka, listening nearby, felt her heart leap.
He was actually speaking to the Editor-in-Chief of a major publisher like that?
Did he want to get blacklisted?
On the other end of the line, Aida was momentarily stunned into silence.
In over thirty years of editing, he'd met plenty of geniuses. But none as brazen as Seiji Fujiwara.
Taking into account the boy's talent and track record, Aida inhaled deeply and changed tactics.
"Very well. I respect your creative freedom, Sensei."
His tone softened. "However, according to company policy, for a major project like this, you'll need to first submit a detailed story outline, worldbuilding notes, and character bios. These materials must be reviewed by the editorial board."
"Would that be acceptable?"
If force wouldn't work, then procedure would.
Aida's calculation was simple: preparing outlines and world settings is a massive undertaking for a newcomer. Time-consuming, exhausting.
Once Seiji got into it, he'd realize firsthand how hard writing a long novel really was.
Then he'd come to his senses and return to short stories.
"Sure," Seiji replied without hesitation.
"…Then we'll look forward to your submission, Sensei." Aida's voice didn't betray a thing. He hung up calmly.
Back in the office, Aida handed the phone back to Machida and shook his head.
"Geniuses always have their pride. Let him stumble a little—it might be good for him."
Machida opened her mouth as if to object, but in the end, all she let out was a weary sigh.
What neither of them noticed was the man passing by the office door at that exact moment.
Ken Saki, a contracted author at Fushikawa Bunko.
He had been on his way to hand in a new manuscript when he overheard the chief and Machida through the half-open door.
"Prince Warukawa… switching styles… long novel…"
A spark of burning envy lit in his eyes.
Why?!
He, Ken Saki, had worked diligently at Fushikawa Bunko for five years.
And yet his career remained lukewarm, unremarkable.
But that Prince Warukawa? One short story and suddenly the Chief himself was personally coaxing him, even softening his stance just to keep him happy?
The difference in treatment was night and day.
Jealousy coiled in him like a poisonous snake, gnawing at his insides.
Slipping away quietly, Ken Saki's resentment only deepened with every step.
He thought for a moment, then pulled out his phone. With a twisted little grin, he logged into the industry's most notorious anonymous forum, "Writer's Break Room," under one of his sockpuppet accounts.
"So, he wants to switch genres?"
"Heh… let's see how his reputation looks by the time his new book comes out."
His fingers flew across the keys.
Before long, a "leak post" appeared online, written as if by an insider:
[Title: Shocking scoop! A certain rookie who blew up with a dark short story is letting fame go to his head—planning to ditch readers and switch to a fantasy long novel!]
[Content: Hey fellow writers, I overheard some insider info at the publisher. Take it with a grain of salt, just sharing for laughs. That hotshot newcomer with the pen name 'Prince Warukawa'? Word is, thanks to his short story selling well, he's gotten cocky. The editors wanted him to strike while the iron's hot, but he flat-out refused. Instead, he's bragging about writing some kind of school fantasy novel.]
[LMAO, does he really think he can write anything? Does he even understand worldbuilding? Character arcs? Mark my words—if he actually publishes this, it'll be axed within three volumes. Just wait. He'll flush all his hype down the drain in one go!]
The post dripped with sarcasm and mockery, spiced with a bold prophecy.
Like a stone dropped into still water, it sent ripples racing across the forum.
[1st reply: First! No way, really? I just became a fan of Prince Warukawa, his short story was fire. Please tell me he's not self-destructing!]
[2nd reply: Ha, typical. Every year there's some rookie drunk on success who crashes hard. Writing a long novel's way tougher than he thinks.]
[3rd reply: Switch to fantasy? Can he even pull it off? Bet he'll end up a laughingstock.]
[4th reply: I mean, I get it. Short stories do have a ceiling. But if you bite off more than you can chew, you choke. Not optimistic.]
[5th reply: Always thought his short story was just a fluke. No real skill. This'll expose him. Bring on the flop, I can't wait to watch him crash!]
Watching the replies climb, the thread filling with scorn and ridicule, Ken Saki's lips curled into a warped smile.
Prince Warukawa.
You think you're so great?
Let's see how you win this time.
----
Powerstone goals: 200 p.s for extra chapters
----
🔹 Read 20 chapters ahead! → patreon.com/NiaXD