Chapter 86: For fans, this was, of course, full of temptation.
This day, the sun was bright.
On the ridges, the fragrance of flowers could be smelled.
In her ears, there was the incessant chirping of cicadas.
"You can't see scenery like this at home at all…"
The girl turned her head, saw a beautiful blue dragonfly fly past her eyes, and couldn't help but sigh.
Today, Shino Aki had come to the samurai mansion in Chiba countryside again. This time, she was very confident that she could get closer to Senju Muramasa, because she had undergone some intensive study during this period and believed that she now had common topics with her.
In addition, she was carrying a gift in her hand.
She glanced at the bag in her right hand, a smile beaming on her face, and walked into the open gate.
"Knock knock…"
She knocked on the wooden door and announced.
"Senju Muramasa-sensei, I'm here to visit."
However, no one answered, which made her a little puzzled.
"Could she have gone out?"
Shino Aki wondered to herself, but she didn't plan to wander around. Instead, she sat down to wait.
Before coming, she had naturally sent a text message to Umezono Rintaro, so it definitely wasn't a situation where she had gone on a trip and wouldn't be back for several days.
About five minutes later, footsteps sounded at the entrance.
"It's you."
Senju Muramasa appeared before her, still in her light pink kimono, holding a bamboo cup filled with clear water.
"Huh? Senju Muramasa-sensei, where did you just go…?"
Shino Aki's big eyes twinkled with confusion.
"To get a cup of mountain spring water."
Senju Muramasa replied as she placed the cup on her small table, then took out a stack of papers from a nearby table, densely covered with neat and beautiful writing.
Unlike others, Senju Muramasa, who was not accustomed to modern machines, wrote her manuscripts entirely by hand.
However, it was clear that there were no traces of deletions or revisions on the original manuscript, which indicated that the creator was writing under very clear and focused thought.
Otherwise, typos or writing that one was not satisfied with are common occurrences in long-form writing.
This was very impressive.
For example, Shino Aki herself had kept a diary for a while, and looking back, she often found typos.
Shino Aki reached out and took the manuscript, beginning to read.
Because she couldn't communicate at any time, she could only come every two or three weeks, after Senju Muramasa had made some progress, and then consider her work as an illustrator.
It took her about two hours to finish discussing the illustration placements with Senju Muramasa.
She wrote down the key points in her notebook, then put it back in her backpack. There was still plenty of time left for them to chat.
Senju Muramasa took a sip of the clear spring water to quench her thirst, her phoenix eyes drifting to the girl in front of her, seemingly in confusion.
The work is done, why are you still here?
"Senju Muramasa-sensei, I've recently finished reading all of demon slayer, you know."
The girl in front of her said with a tone of boastfulness.
The tone wasn't important, the content was.
For Senju Muramasa, no one had ever talked to her about her favorite works.
None of her classmates had ever discussed such topics with her, and she wasn't the type to bring them up herself, so she couldn't share them with others.
She was a reader of demon slayer, a loyal fan of Izumi Masamune, and the desire to share with fellow book lovers who had similar interests actually existed, but there was no one to talk to.
So, when Shino Aki proactively talked to her, her emotions immediately fluctuated, and her outward composure even seemed to melt.
"It was really good, but it made me cry a bit. I cried several times… However, I finally understand what Senju Muramasa-sensei meant by 'catalyst' before."
Shino Aki cupped her cheeks with both hands, saying with a beaming smile.
After reading demon slayer and fantasy demon blade chronicles, you can find many similarities between these two works. If someone is unaware of their publication dates, they might think the former is a poor imitation of the latter. However, Shino Aki clearly knows one thing: Senju Muramasa-sensei is the true newcomer, and she greatly admires the other author.
"Is that so? Some plotlines are indeed hard for those with fragile hearts to bear. Those who can't accept it should give up early."
Senju Muramasa said without reservation.
"Sensei, you really are a bit unsympathetic."
Shino Aki pouted, her expression aggrieved, "I came here today to bring Sensei something."
"Bring something?"
Senju Muramasa's eyes shifted.
"Here."
Shino Aki held up her bag.
"This is…"
Senju Muramasa watched as she successively took out two books from her bag. Seeing the familiar covers, she immediately became excited.
"These are the demon slayer setting book and art book… Senju Muramasa-sensei probably doesn't have these, right?"
Shino Aki asked tentatively.
Senju Muramasa shook her head.
She was mainly interested in the light novel as the main body. As for the supplementary illustrations, they were just used to leave an impression of the characters in the book, and she didn't care much about them.
So, it was understandable that she hadn't noticed the publication of these two book sets.
"My purpose for coming today is to bring these to Senju Muramasa-sensei. I think Sensei will be interested in them, right?"
Shino Aki asked with a smile.
"How much?"
Senju Muramasa got straight to the point, ready to take out her pocket money to buy them.
"No, Miss Ayame asked me to bring these. I also have a copy. There's no need to pay, as the bunko has plenty of these books."
Shino Aki waved both hands, refusing.
"Is it that woman?"
Senju Muramasa murmured.
Kagurazaka Ayame, her editor-in-charge, whom she had met several times. Because she writes on paper, the editor had to personally come all the way from Tokyo.
If Senju Muramasa weren't so important, normally the bunko would never grant such a privilege.
"...Thank you."
Senju Muramasa pursed her lips, then accepted the items.
She couldn't help it; she was genuinely tempted.
The illustrations weren't important; what mattered was the setting collection. She could get some information she wanted, answers to questions she couldn't ask in fan letters, perhaps.
Thinking of this, a bright smile appeared on her face.