Chapter 69: Editors and Creators

Although Akiwara Yuto had considered creating an original work of his own, he also believed his creative ability was limited and the possibility of a flop was high, so it was not suitable for serialization in the next issue of *New Novel*; instead, he should use a pseudonym and submit it elsewhere to see the reaction.

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

He temporarily set aside this plan, walked into his room to change into more formal clothes, then walked out the courtyard gate and slipped into the passenger seat of Imamura Yuto's black sedan, buckling his seatbelt.

With the "hum" of the engine starting, the sedan began to move slowly, leaving the street where Akiwara Yuto currently lived.

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

Before this, he had read the works published by that Seto-sensei and knew she was a contracted writer for *Tokyo Literature* and had been serializing for many years, rather than like some other writers who, after becoming famous in a periodical, chose to leave the periodical and publish a standalone book directly.

While driving attentively, Imamura Yuto explained it to Akiwara Yuto, letting Akiwara Yuto understand 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 dreams of being a writer; after many failed submissions, she was discovered by the current editor-in-chief of *Tokyo Literature* and guided step by step to where she was today.

To repay the kindness of this editor-in-chief for discovering her, this Seto-sensei chose to remain at Mantan Publishing and refused many other opportunities.

In the current *Tokyo Literature*, her position was equivalent to the status Kadowaki Yuzen previously held at *New Novel*, belonging to the writers the magazine supported most strongly, and because of 20 years of writing day in and day out, this Seto-sensei had also accumulated a massive reader base.

Akiwara Yuto nodded; upon hearing these deeds, he couldn't help but develop a slight fondness for this Seto-sensei, feeling that the other party was a person who knew how to repay kindness just like himself.

After finishing the situation regarding the other party, Imamura Yuto said again: "Akiwara, do you know? When Seto-sensei first debuted, her writing level was not mature enough, and she once received a large number of letters of opposition from readers; if it weren't for the full support of her editor, she might have been canceled and left the literary world long ago."

Pausing, he added: "To be honest, Seto-sensei being able to reach today is inseparable from the guidance of her editor."

Akiwara Yuto nodded, not surprised.

In the publishing world of Japan, the relationship between an editor and a creator is inherently delicate; some are partners, some are benefactors, and some eventually... become enemies.

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

By the time *Dragon Ball* first started serialization later on, its popularity was actually always unsatisfactory; the editor in charge of him at this time proposed letting the protagonist possess powerful combat strength and adding the element of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Only then did *Dragon Ball* become an overnight success, and its popularity grew higher and higher in the future.

Therefore, for a creator, meeting a good editor is a very precious thing, which is also an important reason why he himself was currently unwilling to choose anyone other than Asano Aiko.

After all, the other party not only had the grace of discovering him but also did her utmost for him in all matters.

He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Imamura Yuto say: "Akiwara, if nothing goes wrong, the Grand Prize for this Mantan Publishing Literary Award will be chosen between you and Seto-sensei."

He turned the steering wheel, letting the car drive to the right.

"However, I hope you are mentally prepared; as it stands, the other party's probability of winning is undoubtedly higher."

Akiwara Yuto nodded; after all, whether it was past precedent or this year's cumulative sales, the advantage of *Tokyo Literature* was far from something *New Novel* could compare to.

He nodded and said with a smile: "It's fine, I only need a Gold Prize."

Imamura Yuto was a bit puzzled 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: "Imamura-san, we are still young; the future of the literary world is definitely 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 to 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 of Tokyo; besides that, 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, then led Akiwara Yuto toward a residential area; after walking for less than 5 minutes, he brought him to a villa.

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

The footprint of this villa was at least around five hundred tatami mats (equal to 800 square meters), and the main body of the building consisted of a main building, a side building, and a sukiya-style structure nearby, paired with traditional wooden eaves and blue-gray stone, giving it a low-key yet luxurious feeling.

Moreover, the two 7- or 8-meter-tall Buddhist pines extending over the wall further highlighted the wealth of the homeowner—in his past life, he had heard people say that a Buddhist pine that had grown to such a height had already been growing for at least a hundred years; calculated by valuation, each tree could sell for at least 10 million yen, equivalent to the royalty income of a standalone book with 100,000 copies sold and a price of 2,000 yen.

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

Akiwara Yuto didn't expect to be comforted by a friend like this, but he was only surprised. To be honest, he felt that if he could recount all the works he remembered from his past life, then he could also quickly make a fortune.

However, he still felt that money was something that was enough as long as it was sufficient; why couldn't one be content and happy with an ordinary life?

Just like now, because of the arrival of the economic crisis, too many Japanese families couldn't even get by; compared to their plight, he was already too happy.

He shook his head, not refuting Imamura Yuto, but signaled for him to hurry and press the doorbell.

Imamura Yuto curled his lips and walked forward to press the doorbell. With the sound of a "ding," footsteps were soon heard.

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