At this moment, Yamada Elf feels like she's itching with a mix of excitement and frustration.
She remembers last night. She was scrolling through Twitter, where her adorable servants were excitedly awaiting the anime adaptation of her work. A single reply caught her attention.
"If Yamada Elf-sensei and Eiri Kashiwagi-sensei were to collaborate, they would definitely take the work to new heights!"
Attached to the post was an illustration. At a single glance, Yamada Elf couldn't tear her eyes away from it. It was an 18+ illustration of the "abusive" genre. The art style might not have been the best in the world, but it was definitely first-rate. Most importantly, she felt like she was on the same wavelength as the artist. The artist, named Eiri Kashiwagi, perfectly captured the feelings of humiliation, reluctance, and feminine bashfulness. She knew right away that this was the perfect partner she had been searching for.
Illustrations are extremely important for light novels. The cover is the first thing a person sees when they look at a book on a shelf. In the industry, there's even a saying: "buy the illustration, get the toilet paper for free." Yamada Elf doesn't think her novels are "toilet paper"—she's a best-selling author who has been at the top of the sales charts. But she still wants to collaborate with a better illustrator to take her work to the next level. The quality of Eiri Kashiwagi's work doesn't look like that of a rookie; it looks more like a grandmaster using a side account.
Most high-level artists are in the same circle. So she used all of her connections and asked her artist friends, but she came up empty-handed. She asked her own publisher for information, but her request disappeared into the sea of silence. She even started to doubt herself, wondering if this really was an unknown genius rookie. But she quickly dismissed that thought. She had asked her servant about the illustration, and they told her they bought it at the Winter Comic Market last year from a middle-aged man. Japan's rating system is very strict, and minors can't sell these kinds of restricted items. It's not like a parent would sell a restricted work drawn by their child at a doujinshi event, is it? She'd never heard of a parent that ridiculous.
There was only one answer left. Eiri Kashiwagi must be a contracted artist for another publisher, and her publisher must have a competitive relationship with them. That's why she couldn't get any information. Finally, she offered to "defect" and called several rival publishers, hoping to get Eiri Kashiwagi's contact information and a collaboration. But they all played dumb, acting like she was crazy. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Ding-dong!
The sound of the doorbell interrupts Yamada Elf's thoughts. She shakes her head and walks to the door. When she opens it, she's surprised to see one of her few male friends. "Oh? What a surprise, Knight. Why have you come to my 'Crystal Palace' today?"
"Please stop calling me that embarrassing name, just call me by my name," Hiratsuka Ryosuke says helplessly, a faint dark line appearing on his forehead. Thanks to Shinka, Ryosuke and Elf have become good friends over the past year.
"Fine, Ryosuke. Come in," Yamada Elf says, genuinely happy about her friend's unexpected visit. "Who were you just talking to?" Ryosuke asks as he looks around the living room. He doesn't see anyone.
"Oh, I was just on the phone with my publisher. They're treating me like an idiot," Yamada Elf says, her brows furrowed. She stomps her foot and continues through clenched teeth, "It's just an artist. They're all playing dumb like they're protecting some kind of treasure." She then looks at Ryosuke curiously. "So, Ryosuke, why did you come to see me by yourself today?"
Ryosuke nods and takes out the printed manuscript. With a serious expression, he says, "Elf-sensei, I want to write a novel. Please take a look and give me some pointers."
"Oh? It seems you have excellent taste, Ryosuke. In that case, let me activate my 'Divine Eye' and read your work!" Yamada Elf says with a smug smile as she takes the manuscript. She claps her hands, a sudden thought striking her. "Oh right, since you don't have any experience, it's better to read some best-selling works to learn!"
Yamada Elf says and scampers upstairs on her two slender legs.
Thump-thump-thump...
She quickly comes back down with a book in her hand. Yamada Elf holds up the book in front of Ryosuke. With a look of confidence, she proudly declares, "When it comes to best-sellers, you have one right here! This is my million-copy masterpiece! And it even has my personal signature!"
"Thank you, Elf-sensei. I'll read your work carefully," Ryosuke says, taking the novel with both hands and speaking with sincere respect. After all, a friend who's willing to help you so wholeheartedly is rare.
Ryosuke's genuine thanks make Yamada Elf feel a bit embarrassed. She quickly waves her hands. "There's no need to be so formal, we're all friends. Before I use my 'Divine Eye' to evaluate your novel, you should read mine properly!"
Ryosuke nods and sits on the couch, starting to read the million-copy masterpiece. The title is The Explosive Dark Elf, which is very much in Yamada Elf's style. He opens the first page and his eyebrows slightly furrow. On the second page, they're tightly knit. By the third, his expression has changed completely. It's not until he gets to an illustration that he fully understands.
Is this what a million-selling light novel is like? The female lead is completely naked on her first appearance, and the story is full of suggestive content without much plot progression. But it is very alluring. If he didn't know the author, he'd think this was the fantasy of some sleazy otaku.
"So, what do you think?" Yamada Elf asks, her face full of anticipation.
Ryosuke nods and says calmly, "It's not bad." He knows that a book with a million copies in sales must have something he doesn't understand that he needs to learn from. Although the plot is a bit cliché, the writing is smooth and the content is easy to understand.
Hearing Ryosuke's positive feedback, Yamada Elf is on cloud nine. She puts her hands on her hips and says proudly, "Hmph, just you wait, Ryosuke. Times are changing. The novels I write will create a new world for light novels. I will become the savior of the light novel industry!" She then goes full chuunibyou, spreading her arms wide and shouting with increasing arrogance, "No, not a savior. I will become the God of the new light novel era!"
Ryosuke stands there frozen, completely unsure how to respond. While Yamada Elf's demeanor is very chuunibyou, her novels definitely have a market. Luckily, she doesn't let the awkwardness last. She suddenly remembers something she forgot and gasps. "Ah! I didn't get you a drink. How rude of me. Please wait a moment."
A moment later, she comes out of the kitchen. With an apologetic look, she says, "Ah, I'm sorry, I think I'm all out of drinks."
Hiratsuka Ryosuke waves his hand dismissively. "It's fine, I'll go buy some. I saw a convenience store nearby when I was on my way here."
"I'll leave it to you, then, Ryosuke. I'll start evaluating your work with my 'Divine Eye' right away," Yamada Elf says, her voice serious. She's decided to get down to business and help her friend see the commercial value of his manuscript. In her eyes, a work's sales are a measure of an author's strength. To become a best-seller, commercial value is the most important thing.
Twenty minutes later, Hiratsuka Ryosuke walks through the villa neighborhood. There aren't many people or cars, so he can walk and read at the same time. He holds a large bottle of a drink in his left hand and Yamada Elf's book in his right, reading it carefully. He has to admit that for someone so young to achieve such success, her book really does have something special, and he's learning a lot from it.
But accidents happen suddenly. When Ryosuke gets to a corner, his right arm is hit with a powerful impact, and he drops his book. This is followed by a girl's high-pitched cry.
"Ah! Ow, ow, ow!" A blonde girl in a green tracksuit is sitting on the cold pavement, rubbing her forehead.