Chapter 69: Editor and Creator

Although he thought about creating an original work, Akiwara Yuto also believed that his creative ability was limited and the possibility of failure was very high, so it was not suitable for the next serialization of *New Novel*, but should change his vest and cast it elsewhere to see the reaction.

However, before that, he still needed to conceive carefully and further hone his writing style.

He temporarily put aside this plan, walked into the room, changed into a more formal suit, walked out of the yard gate, got into the passenger seat of Imamura Yuto's black sedan, and fastened his seat belt.

With the "buzzing" sound of the engine, the sedan began to start slowly, leaving the street where Akiwara Yuto currently lived.

Akiwara Yuto glanced at Imamura Yuto who was driving and asked a question casually: "What kind of person is that Teacher Seto?"

Before this, he had seen the works released by that Teacher Seto and knew that she was a signed writer of *Tokyo Literature* and had been serializing for many years, rather than like some other writers who chose to leave the journal and publish collected volumes directly after becoming famous in the journal.

Imamura Yuto explained to Akiwara Yuto while driving seriously, letting Akiwara Yuto know more.

That writer named Seto Tamae was already nearly 50 years old this year. More than 20 years ago, she was just an ordinary convenience store employee with a writer's dream. After many failed submissions, she was dug out by the current editor-in-chief of *Tokyo Literature* and guided step by step to today.

To repay the kindness of this editor-in-chief, this Teacher Seto chose to stay in Mantanshe and refused many other opportunities.

In the current *Tokyo Literature*, her position is equivalent to the position of Kadowaki Yuzhen in *New Novel* before, belonging to the writer most supported by the magazine, and because of 20 years of writing, this Teacher Seto has also accumulated a huge reader group.

Akiwara Yuto nodded. After hearing these deeds, he couldn't help but have a slight good impression of this Teacher Seto, feeling that the other party was a character who knew how to repay kindness like himself.

Imamura Yuto finished talking about the other party's situation and said: "Akiwara, do you know? When Teacher Seto first debuted, her writing level was not mature enough, and she once received a large number of opposition letters from readers. If it weren't for the full support of her editor, she might have been cut and left the literary world long ago."

He paused and added: "To be honest, Teacher Seto can reach today, which is also inseparable from the guidance of her editor."

Akiwara Yuto nodded, not surprised.

In the publishing world of Nihon, the relationship between editors and creators is very subtle. Some are partners, some are benefactors, and some finally... become enemies.

Like in his past life, the author of *Dragon Ball*, Toriyama Akira, was evaluated as not even qualified for the "Newcomer Award" when he first debuted. Later, under the guidance of his editor, it took a full 2 years to draw *Dr. Slump*.

Later, when *Dragon Ball* first started serialization, its popularity was actually not satisfactory. The editor in charge of him at this time proposed to let the protagonist have powerful combat power and join the World's Strongest Martial Arts Tournament element.

This made *Dragon Ball* a hit and became more and more popular in the future.

So for creators, meeting a good editor is a very rare thing, which is also an important reason why he doesn't want to choose anyone other than Asano Aiko.

After all, the other party not only has the kindness of knowing him but also does her best for him in all matters.

He was thinking in a daze when he suddenly heard Imamura Yuto say: "Akiwara, if there are no accidents, the Grand Award of this Mantanshe Literary Award will be selected between you and Teacher Seto."

He turned the steering wheel and let the car drive to the right.

"However, I hope you are mentally prepared. Currently, the probability of the other party winning the award is undoubtedly higher."

Akiwara Yuto nodded. After all, whether it was the previous practice or the cumulative sales this year, the advantages of *Tokyo Literature* were far from what *New Novel* could compare to.

He nodded and said with a smile: "It's okay, I just need to have a Gold Award."

Imamura Yuto was a bit confused and couldn't help but look at Akiwara Yuto, seeing that the other party's expression didn't look like he was lying. Immediately after, he heard another sentence, "Mr. Imamura, we are still young, the future of the literary world must be ours!"

Hearing such confident words, Imamura Yuto couldn't help but smile, but he didn't reply, just turned his head and continued to drive silently.

Akiwara, the future of the literary world belongs to geniuses like you, not ordinary people like me...

After a car ride of about 45 minutes, the sedan soon arrived in Setagaya Ward.

Setagaya Ward is located in the southwest of Tokyo and is a traditional wealthy area in Tokyo. Besides, it is also the most populous and second-largest area among the 23 wards of Tokyo.

Imamura Yuto found a parking lot to park the car and took Akiwara Yuto to a residential area. After walking for less than 5 minutes, he took him to a villa.

Akiwara Yuto looked up, a bit surprised at the grandeur and luxury of the building itself.

The area of this villa is at least 500 tatami (equal to 800 square meters). The main building consists of the main building, side buildings, and the Sukiya next to it. Paired with traditional wooden eaves and blue-gray stone, it has a low-key and luxurious feeling.

And the two 7 or 8-meter-high Podocarpus trees sticking out of the wall highlight the wealth of the house owner—in his past life, he heard people say that a Podocarpus tree that grows to this height has already grown for at least a hundred years. According to the valuation, each tree can be sold for at least 10 million yen, which is equal to the royalty income of a collected volume with a sales volume of 100,000 copies and a price of 2,000 yen.

Imamura Yuto patted Akiwara on the shoulder, "Akiwara, what Teacher Seto has, you will also have."

Akiwara Yuto didn't expect to be comforted by a friend like this, but he was just surprised. To be honest, he felt that if he could repeat the works he remembered from his past life, he could also get rich quickly.

However, he still felt that money is enough to use. Why can't a person be content and happy in this life?

Just like now, because of the economic crisis, too many Nihon families can't even live their lives. Compared with their encounters, he is already too happy.

He shook his head, did not refute Imamura Yuto, but signaled him to press the doorbell quickly.

Imamura Yuto curled his lips, walked up, and pressed the doorbell. With a "ding" sound, footsteps soon came.

As the front door slowly opened, Akiwara Yuto saw the owner of this house, who was also his main competitor in this selection—Seto Tamae. ===== CHAPTER 70 =====