"I don't know how familiar you are with our publishing house, so let me give you a general overview," Yukino said calmly.
"Crimson Maple Literature currently publishes one hundred and three different magazines of various types."
"We are one of the five major serialization publishers in this prefecture. Among those one hundred and three magazines, there are triweekly issues, weekly issues, monthly issues, and even annual releases."
Most of this information was already familiar to Haruto.
Japan's otaku culture was highly developed unlike the japan from Shiori's memories. Light novel magazines there were often biweekly or monthly. In that other world, japan was famous for anime and manga, light novels were usually released as standalone volumes with irregular schedules, while manga and anime were typically updated weekly.
Here, light novels were primarily serialized. The system resembled the way classic writers once serialized novels in newspapers, releasing new chapters daily.
Of course, once a light novel gained popularity through serialization, it would inevitably be published as collected volumes. If money could be earned twice, no publisher would turn that down.
From this perspective, light novel industry functioned very similarly to its domestic manga industry. The only real difference lay in the medium.
The more culturally developed a region was, the harsher its demands became regarding update frequency. Some popular magazines were even released every three days.
Each serialized novel in such magazines typically published several thousand words. Updating at that pace meant producing new content every three days, which was no less brutal than web novel schedules. The difference was simply that one was printed, while the other existed online.
In a country of over a hundred million people, there were plenty of writers who could write well, and plenty who could write fast. But to truly survive in such a ruthless industry, one had to do both. If you wanted to make a living from this profession, you needed to withstand that level of pressure. Otherwise, factories were always hiring, and those jobs had far fewer requirements.
"Given your current standing," Yukino continued, "our flagship magazine, Crimson Maple, is out of the question. The editorial board would never agree to let an unproven newcomer test the waters in our main publication."
Crimson Maple was Crimson Maple Literature's highest-circulation light novel magazine, selling around seven hundred thousand copies per issue.
It was a classic triweekly publication.
Technically, it was called a three-day issue, but in practice it was released every Wednesday and Sunday to build reader habits, alternating between three-day and four-day gaps.
Hearing this, Haruto felt a slight sense of disappointment, even though he knew it was reasonable.
"Honestly, from my personal perspective," Yukino said gently, "your Blue Spring Ride is more interesting than many of the works currently serialized in Crimson Maple. The problem is your résumé. Our upper management is cautious, not the type to gamble. So, young man, keep working hard. Build up a solid serialization record, and getting into Crimson Maple might not be an issue in the future."
She paused briefly, then continued.
"As for magazines within our company that suit Blue Spring Ride's genre and currently have vacancies due to series ending or being canceled, there are three options."
"First, Searching for Sound. It has one open slot. Second, Fleeting Blossoms, which has two openings. Third, Orange Heart, which currently has three vacant slots."
All three magazines specialized in shoujo romance light novels.
Searching for Sound sold around one hundred and thirty thousand copies per issue and was considered a fairly popular magazine under Crimson Maple Literature.
Orange Heart sold only around thirty thousand copies per issue and was considered a niche publication.
As for Fleeting Blossoms, it sold around two hundred and fifty thousand copies per issue and occasionally exceeded three hundred thousand.
It was Crimson Maple Literature's third-highest circulation magazine.
Most of its serialized works were high-quality submissions that had narrowly lost out at editorial meetings to even stronger competitors and therefore failed to secure spots in Crimson Maple.
Rather than abandoning those manuscripts, the publisher gathered them here.
It could be understood as a magazine for works that had competed for Crimson Maple and fallen just short.
Unlike Crimson Maple, which never serialized debut authors, Fleeting Blossoms was different. As long as the editorial meeting agreed that a work had potential, even a newcomer could be serialized.
After Yukino's explanation, Haruto gradually understood the relative standing of the three magazines.
Without question, Fleeting Blossoms was the best choice, followed by Searching for Sound.
Magazine circulation determined a work's reach. No matter how good a novel was, if it serialized in a magazine with only twenty or thirty thousand readers, its influence would be limited.
Manuscript fees were also tied directly to the platform where the novel was serialized.
"So," Yukino said, folding her fingers together and resting her chin on her hands as she looked at Haruto, "I will argue for Blue Spring Ride to secure a serialization slot in one of these three magazines at the meeting the day after tomorrow. Before that, I wanted to inform you properly. If you have any opinions or preferences, now is the time to say so."
"I'm fine with Blue Spring Ride being serialized in Fleeting Blossoms or Searching for Sound," Haruto replied. "But Orange Heart… I'd rather pass."
A magazine with only thirty thousand in circulation offered limited manuscript fees, and more importantly, it would waste Blue Spring Ride's potential.
This was a story that had broken through the same competitive industry in a parallel world, rising from a manga to anime, film, and novel adaptations. What Yukino had seen so far was only the early portion of the story. The true highlights had not even been written yet.
The actual depth and appeal of the work far exceeded the impression formed from the first three chapters.
In truth, Blue Spring Ride would have been more than worthy of serialization in Crimson Maple. Its quality was easily at that level. Unfortunately, Haruto's status as a complete newcomer made the upper management unwilling to approve it.
That reality would not change no matter which publisher he submitted to.
He could accept serialization in magazines with circulation in the hundreds of thousands, but if it were relegated to Orange Heart, he would rather submit elsewhere.
"I understand," Yukino said after a brief pause, nodding. "Your opinion will be respected."
"Then our preliminary cooperation agreement is settled," she said, smiling brightly. For a moment, the office seemed filled with a vivid warmth.
She extended her slender, pale hand toward him.
"I hope we work well together. If everything goes smoothly, in three days, you may officially become one of my contracted authors."
Haruto paused, then reached out and shook her hand.
"Although your work hasn't passed the serialization meeting yet," Yukino said with a smile, "from my position, I need to give you some early advice so you can prepare ahead of time. While you still have free time, you should thoroughly plan the remaining plot of Blue Spring Ride before serialization begins."
"The meeting result is still unknown, but you should assume your work will pass. Fleeting Blossoms and Searching for Sound are both triweekly magazines. They are released across the prefecture every Wednesday and Sunday. A fifteen-chapter novel would only take one or two months to finish serialization. When the deadline approaches, don't come to me saying you're stuck, out of ideas, and unable to submit."
"At that point, I will chase you relentlessly. No matter what it takes, even if I have to force you to stay awake for three days straight, I will squeeze every last drop of creativity out of you and make sure the manuscript is delivered on time."
She paused briefly, as if realizing her wording might be ambiguous, and added a couple of clarifying words.
"And one more thing. If your story collapses later on, the publisher may cancel it."
"But as a contracted author, you are absolutely forbidden from disappearing or abandoning the work mid-serialization. If you do…"
Her smile remained gentle, but her tone turned unmistakably dangerous.
"…I will not be this easy to talk to."
Haruto's heart skipped.
He knew very well that he only fully understood the first half of Blue Spring Ride's plot.
But at this moment, a man could not afford to lose momentum.
"Don't worry, Aoyama-san," he said confidently. "If I've stepped into the light novel industry, I never planned on getting stuck."
"So far, my creative process has always been smooth and uninterrupted. That was true in the past, and it will remain true in the future."
"Hiatuses, delays, cancellations, those words have nothing to do with me in this lifetime."
His voice was firm and spirited. Even he was carried away by his own confidence.
"Good," Yukino said.
She sat back down, tilting her head slightly as her clear eyes carefully examined his face.
In the end, she nodded with satisfaction.
"Also, don't call me Aoyama-san anymore. Just call me Yukino."
Seeing her expression, Haruto immediately corrected himself.
"Yukino."
She smiled, clearly pleased.
"Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. In at most three days, you'll know the result of Blue Spring Ride at our serialization meeting."
Haruto quickly left her office.
To be honest, the latter half of their conversation had placed considerable pressure on him.
Especially when she talked about delays and abandoned works, the threat in her tone was very real.
He felt guilty.
So distracted by his thoughts was he that he didn't notice brushing past a masked girl as he entered the elevator.
She was the same girl who had submitted her manuscript alongside him the day before.
Reina turned her head curiously and watched Haruto's departing figure until the elevator doors closed.
After thinking for a few seconds, she adjusted the revised Yesterday's Starlight manuscript in her hands and headed toward Yukino's office.
_______________________
[You can leave your power stones here.]
Support me at patreon.com/CulturedOne and read 50 Advanced Chapters