Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
"What's wrong with wanting to buy a villa in Tokyo?"
"So you're planning to drag me over to admire your newly renovated house again?"
"What's that supposed to mean? I bought a villa in Tokyo. As my loyal servant, shouldn't you at least come celebrate my housewarming?"
"It takes an hour to get there from Chiba by train," Ishikawa Hikaru complained lazily. "I'm not like you, Lord Fairy. You dropped out of middle school to become a full-time creator—the strongest, super-genius, beautiful-girl light-novel author who can summon manuscripts from the Demon Realm in a single day. I'm a high school student. I'm busy."
"You have time to 'observe humans,' but you don't have time to congratulate your master?"
"Servants need to eat too," Hikaru replied. "I can't just casually write erotic heroines like you do. If I could, I'd just observe people and turn that into novels."
"Liar."
Yamada voice came through the headset, full of disbelief.
"I finished reading all your novels a while ago. There's no way someone who writes like that needs 'human observation' for inspiration. Are you looking down on me?"
"Don't you always say sales numbers are a writer's combat power?" Hikaru said. "My level hasn't even hit a million copies yet. That's nowhere near Lord Fairy's level of over a million sold. Would someone like you even bother reading something so far below your level?"
"Well, you're my servant," Yamada said proudly. "As your master, it's my duty to make sure you don't embarrass me in public."
"So what kind of work do you mean by 'that kind of work'?"
"Anything I like inevitably gets an anime adaptation," she declared. "My work got adapted first, but yours probably will someday too."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"But honestly, you probably won't enjoy it as much as people think. Once something becomes work, your motivation disappears."
"You're the type who wants to enjoy life to the fullest. The moment it becomes an obligation, you lose interest."
"But strangely enough… you're not actually a hedonist."
Hikaru gasped theatrically.
"To analyze a writer's personality just from his novels and a few conversations… Lord Fairy, your talent is terrifying!"
"Hahaha! Of course! I am the strongest, super-genius, beautiful-girl light-novel author!"
---
23. So, Will the Problem Child Really Spend a Fortune Just for Fun?
In the game, Hikaru controlled his avatar as Yamada dragged him around her elaborate virtual house.
She made him stop at scenic spots, take screenshots, and wander around while chatting over voice chat.
Eventually, Hikaru's preset writing alarm rang.
"That's my alarm," he said. "I'm logging off. Time to work."
"Eh? It hasn't even been an hour!"
"Next time."
"Then hurry up and finish your novel!" Yamada protested. "Otherwise I'll just go spend money pulling gacha in mobile games!"
"Sure, sure. Bye."
Hikaru disconnected from voice chat, stretched his arms, and removed his headset.
"Still… Yamada Elf really is impressive," he murmured.
"For someone that young to see through people so clearly."
Hachiman Hikigaya had once said:
"You're pretty satisfied with your life."
But Yamada wasn't even fifteen yet.
And yet she had managed to grasp Hikaru's personality simply by reading his novels and talking to him.
No wonder people called her the strongest beautiful girl light-novel author.
Her success wasn't accidental.
There was nothing wrong with pursuing a happy life.
Sure, what he did might look strange to ordinary students. Some people might even think he enjoyed embarrassing others or stirring up trouble just to watch the chaos.
But that wasn't really the case.
Happiness didn't need to come from other people's misery.
Nor did it need to come from standing on the sidelines and provoking two people into fighting just for entertainment.
It wasn't that he couldn't do that.
He simply had no interest in it.
The joy he got from writing novels was far greater than anything he could gain from manipulating others.
Happiness should come from within—like creating something yourself.
It really was that simple.
"All that's left is finishing a half-year stockpile of drafts," he said quietly.
"Then I can finally relax and enjoy my high school life."
Hachiman Hikigaya.
Yukino Yukinoshita.
Hayama Hayato.
Miura Yumiko.
They were all interesting people.
Spending time with them would probably make his already comfortable life even more enjoyable.
At least, that was what he thought.
And honestly—
It was a lot more fun than playing games alone.
---
Meanwhile, after the game session ended, Emily Granger removed her headset with a dissatisfied pout.
"Honestly… he logged off again after less than an hour."
"Now all I can do is play mobile games and spend money on gacha."
Because of her upbringing, she had always lived under strict expectations.
After her father passed away, her mother devoted herself to raising her properly—teaching her music, cooking, languages, and even bridal training.
On top of that, she started writing Blazing Dark Fairy at the age of eleven.
Naturally, she never had time to make friends.
If she hadn't happened to meet Ishikawa Hikaru and his editor, Kagurazaka Ayame, at the Dengeki Bunko office…
If Ayame hadn't introduced them as fellow writers…
If Hikaru hadn't immediately started praising her work and joking around with her like a fellow chuunibyou…
She probably still wouldn't have a single friend she could casually talk to.
And she definitely wouldn't have someone to play games with.
Many of the games she played now were recommended by Hikaru.
Even though she could play them alone—
It just didn't feel the same.
Something was missing.
"A train ride from Tokyo to Chiba takes an hour…?"
She opened a map on her computer.
"Chiyoda to Soga… yeah, about an hour."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Maybe I should just buy a house in Chiyoda Ward."
"That way it'd be easier for him to visit."
She checked housing prices.
And froze.
"Two hundred million yen?!"
"And that only gets seventy tsubo?!"
It wasn't that she couldn't afford it.
With anime royalties, she could buy it easily.
But the price was ridiculous.
Buying a house there just to make it easier for Hikaru to visit felt wasteful.
Then a thought occurred to her.
"If the goal is just convenience…"
"Wouldn't it make more sense to buy a house in Chiba?"
From Chiba to Tokyo was only about an hour.
If she needed to attend meetings in Tokyo, she could stay in a hotel.
Or rent an apartment temporarily.
She could even buy a small property in Tokyo as a backup.
Then she could live comfortably in Chiba most of the time.
And when she needed to go to Tokyo—
She could just drag her servant along.
After all, once his novel got animated, he'd need to attend meetings too.
Thinking about it, she opened Line and messaged her brother.
[Chris, help me find a cheap property in Tokyo. Around six or seven million yen should be fine.]
Chris replied quickly.
[For animation meetings?]
[I'll keep an eye out.]
[Okay.]
Then she messaged Hikaru.
[By the way, your family lives in Inage Ward in Chiba, right?]
---
24. So, Does the Problem Child Have an Eye for Talent?
On his way to school, Ishikawa Hikaru casually scrolled through his chat history with Yamada Elf from the previous night.
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[By the way, your family lives in Inage Ward, Chiba City, right?]
[That's right.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[How are housing prices there? Have you checked?]
[About thirty million yen for a detached house on roughly a hundred tsubo of land, including the cost of the land and construction.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[That's so cheap!]
[Why are you asking?]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[I'm thinking of moving to Chiba and living near you long-term.]
[Weren't you planning to buy a place in Tokyo?]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[I'll buy in Tokyo too! And in Chiba! Life is about doing what you want!]
[Property taxes are going to give you a headache if you do that.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[I'll just register it under my company! It's the same way I reduce the taxes from my novel income!]
[What a shameless capitalist move.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[It's called legally minimizing taxes!]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[By the way, are there any houses for sale near your place? If there are, I'll just buy one.]
[I haven't seen any. Most houses around here are twenty or thirty years old. Buying them wouldn't be a good investment. If you care about appreciation, it's better to buy a newly built house.]
[Besides, why do you need to live near me? If your brother knew you were moving here because of me, he'd come after me.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[Why would Chris stop me? If we live nearby, we can discuss novels more easily and play games together. And it would also make things safer for me. I'm a genius, but I'm still only fourteen. If some stalker fans show up, I won't be able to deal with them myself!]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[At that point, my servant will have to deal with them!]
[If you really move here, Chris will probably think I'm the problem.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[Then I'll tell Mom that Chris is bullying me! I'll make Mom fly back from overseas and beat him up!]
[…]
[My mom often gives the neighbors souvenirs my dad brought back from overseas, so she's pretty well known around here. When I get home today, I'll ask her to see if any of our neighbors are thinking about selling their houses. If I hear anything, I'll let you know.]
[But there's no guarantee anyone wants to sell.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[Then it's settled!]
[I have school tomorrow. Good night.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[Good night.]
---
"Has this kid really gotten so carried away by my flattery that she can't tell the difference between games and reality anymore?" Hikaru muttered.
"Buying houses everywhere in real life…"
He sighed.
"Looks like I'm a man burdened with sin."
After grumbling, he glanced at the LINE group chat with Hayama and the others. They were discussing trivial everyday topics.
Seeing nothing interesting, he slipped his phone back into his uniform pocket and slowly walked toward school as if he were just taking a leisurely morning stroll.
It was worth mentioning that a month ago, on this very road, he had been knocked down by Hachiman Hikigaya, who had been riding a bicycle while shouting "Waaagh!" like a rampaging green monster. Immediately afterward, he was struck again by the luxury car carrying Yukino Yukinoshita, creating a perfect chain reaction of "if the first disaster doesn't kill you, the second one will."
—Fortunately, he hadn't been sent to another world.
As he approached the school, more and more students appeared on the road, walking in small groups. Naturally, the chances of running into acquaintances increased.
"Teacher Ishikawa?"
A gentle voice called out from behind him.
Hikaru paused slightly and turned around.
Ebina Hina was hurrying up beside him.
"Good morning, Student Ebina."
"Good morning," Ebina replied with a relieved smile. "I was worried I might have mistaken you for someone else. It would have been embarrassing if I greeted the wrong person on the way to school."
"Even if you had mistaken someone, it wouldn't be a big deal," Hikaru teased. "After all, you're a beautiful girl. Most high school boys would be thrilled if a pretty girl accidentally greeted them on the street."
"I'd rather avoid disappointing strangers once they realize I'm a fujoshi," Ebina said with a cheerful smile. "But Teacher Ishikawa really likes complimenting people."
"Did you know?" Hikaru said casually. "Even in ancient times, the ability to recognize other people's strengths was considered rare."
"There's an old Chinese saying: 'A thousand-mile horse is common, but a Bole is rare.' It means that while talented people are everywhere, those who can recognize talent are extremely uncommon."
"So if someone possessed the ability to discover talent, they could survive quite well in society—something like a modern-day headhunter, recommending talented individuals to powerful figures."
"Eh?"
"I'm sure even if you haven't read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you've at least heard the famous name Zhuge Liang, right?"
Ebina's eyes immediately lit up.
"Teacher Ishikawa knows Romance of the Three Kingdoms too!"
"I have my own interpretation of it," Hikaru replied with mild surprise that she had read it as well.
"You know how Liu Bei heard about the 'Crouching Dragon' and went with his sworn brothers to visit Zhuge Liang three times at his thatched cottage, inviting him to become his strategist, right?"
"But do you know how Zhuge Liang gained the title Crouching Dragon?"
"I know!" Ebina said excitedly. "Liu Bei heard about the Crouching Dragon from Mr. Water Mirror, so he went to find Zhuge Liang!"
"Exactly," Hikaru nodded. "Which means the key lies in Mr. Water Mirror's recommendation."
"Mr. Water Mirror's real name was Sima Hui. He was known for his wisdom and his ability to judge people's character and recognize talent."
"He was highly respected in his time."
"Because Sima Hui recommended Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, Liu Bei spared no effort in visiting Zhuge Liang three times, eventually inviting him to join his cause."
"So from ancient China onward, people who had the ability to judge character—those who could recognize the strengths of others—often lived quite comfortably."
"In fact, Sima Hui himself became famous in history simply because he recognized and recommended Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong."