Living in the bubble economy of Tokyo, I became a literary giant through lotteries.

"I've already separated from them. Once things are settled here, I'll bring my sister over."

Guan Gufeng's first words completely stunned Kurokawa Akuta.

Split up?

The word that the young man uttered so casually is almost equivalent to "break up" in the context of Japanese family life.

Guan Gu Feng didn't look at him and continued speaking.

"Less than three months after my mother passed away, Koji Sekiya brought Yuko Matsumoto home and told my sister and me that she would be our new mother from now on. We also had a younger brother, Aki Sekiya."

"I can barely understand his desire to find someone to live with," Guan Gufeng said in a flat tone. "But the first thing this stepmother did was steal the money my sister and I had for college."

"Our names were on the bankbook, but she took it, and Koji Sekiya didn't say a word."

"So, neither my sister nor I were able to go to university. We wanted to go out and work to earn money, but those two people stopped us from leaving."

Kurokawa Akuta's brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"Later, in order to make quick money, Matsumoto Yuko started stocking books of very poor quality and raised the prices. All the old customers left, and Sekiya Koji also became addicted to gambling at some point."

"That's how the bookstore ended up like it is now."

Guan Gufeng stopped and took a sip of soda water.

"Our daily expenses consisted of Koji Sekiya occasionally taking my mother's belongings out to sell. My sister and I ate nothing but white rice and pickled vegetables. Anything better was given to Aki Sekiya by Yuko Matsumoto."

"After returning from Shinchosha that day," Sekiya Kaze said, finally looking up at Kurokawa Akuta, "my sister felt I had been wronged and spoke up for me. Sekiya Koji hit her."

"He's... a beast!" Kurokawa Akuta could no longer hold back, and the words were squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"yes."

After a few seconds, he whispered, "He's a beast."

"I blocked that slap, preventing him from hitting my sister. Then I said I was leaving this house."

"I left that very night. I took with me the 50,000 yen I had saved myself, the money my sister and I had saved for three years, originally intended for my university education, which she had ultimately given me..."

He paused.

"418,232 yen."

Kurokawa remained silent for a long time.

He looked at the young man opposite him, whose shirt was faded from washing and a button was missing from his cuff. When he talked about those things, his expression was as calm as a stagnant pool.

It's not that it doesn't hurt.

It hurt, and now it's scabbed over.

Kurokawa Akuta recalled his youth when he moved from the countryside to Tokyo, lived in a four-and-a-half-tatami mat apartment, and survived on instant noodles. Back then, he was stubborn and greeted everyone with a smile, but he had built a wall around his heart.

But Guan Gufeng's wall was much thicker than his back then.

"So..." Kurokawa Akuta cleared his throat, not wanting the atmosphere to remain heavy, "that's why you published under a pseudonym? You didn't want them to know?"

Guan Gu Feng nodded, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Pretty much. And I think the name 'Guan Gu Shenqi' sounds pretty good."

Kurokawa Akuta paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly.

"This doesn't sound like a writer, it sounds like a cartoonist."

The two of them laughed at the same time. The laughter wasn't loud, but it was enough to temporarily push away that heavy feeling.

……

After laughing, Kurokawa Akuta steered the conversation back on track.

"Guan Gu, there's a problem now." He glanced at the empty glass in front of Guan Gu Feng. It was already the third cream soda. He couldn't resist and ordered one for himself as well.

"The company values ​​this grand prize highly and has high expectations for you."

His tone became serious.

"I'm not trying to put pressure on you. But I've been in the publishing industry for twenty years and I've seen too many authors who write one amazing book and then disappear."

"I'd like to know what your next plan is. To write a sequel? Or a new idea?"

Looking at the remaining cherries in his cup, Guan Gufeng restrained his urge to pay homage to Kakyoin Noriaki with his tongue and took out two manuscripts from his bag.

In fact, after submitting the manuscript, he began writing the second volume of Sword Art Online.

"I won't follow in the footsteps of those writers." Guan Gufeng handed over the manuscript. "Editor Kurokawa, this is the second volume, still the story of Aincrad."

Kurokawa Akuta gave Sekiya Kaze a deep look. He had thought Sekiya Kaze would take a break before writing again, but unexpectedly...

He took the manuscript and turned to the first page.

"Aincrad, the 2th floor, February 2024."

"Please... don't leave me alone, Bina..."

……

Fifteen minutes later, Kurokawa Akuta finished reading the first three chapters.

"call--"

He let out a long breath and put the manuscript back on the table.

"That was great to watch."

He wasn't someone who would use such words, but at that moment he felt there was no more accurate expression.

"In that case, I'm not worried anymore. Just write at your pace." He pushed the manuscript back and was about to serve coffee.

"It's not over yet, Editor Kurokawa."

Guan Gufeng smiled, with the composure of "I have something even better."

He handed over another manuscript.

The cover reads four characters: "The Twelve Kingdoms".

Kurokawa Akuta was utterly shocked the moment he opened it.

There are twelve countries in this world, each ruled jointly by a king and a Qilin.

The Qilin was born in Pengshan, and it was the one who selected the king of each country.

If the king's actions violate the Way of Heaven, the Qilin will suffer from the disease of losing the Way. If the king does not correct his mistakes in time, the Qilin will die of the disease, and the king will also die within a year after the Qilin dies.

Kurokawa Akuta's fingers stopped, and his gaze lingered on that page for a long time.

Then he continued reading.

The setting of "Eclipse", the "Riki" and "Sacrifice Tree", and the geography and history of the Twelve Kingdoms.

He watched faster and faster, but his breathing became heavier and heavier.

Ten minutes later, he closed the manuscript.

He didn't speak, leaning back on the red velvet sofa, closing his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

Guan Gufeng didn't rush him, quietly drinking his cream soda and poking at the cherries at the bottom of the cup with a long spoon.

"Guan Gu".

Kurokawa Akuta opened his eyes.

"Do you even realize how terrifying your premise is?"

His voice sounded a little strained.

"This is not just a fantasy story. It has a complete political system, a philosophical core, and moral dilemmas. The relationship between the Qilin and the King is a metaphor more profound than any real-world politics."

"This could win a literary prize if written down."

Guan Gufeng put the cherry in his mouth, chewed it, and spat out the pit.

"certainly."

He looked at Kurokawa Akuta, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"I'm the genius who won the first Fantasy Novel Award!"

Kurokawa Akuta was taken aback for a moment when he saw Sekiya Kaze's slightly arrogant smile, but then he smiled happily as well.

"You're full of vigor, Mr. Guan Gu."

……

It was already dark when I came out of the coffee shop.

The wind was still cold in late winter, but it no longer had that biting chill. The streetlights came on, turning the night in Shinjuku orange-red.

Guan Gu Feng returned to the capsule hotel first. He packed all his luggage: a bag, a few changes of clothes, a stack of used manuscript paper, and a few pens.

The old man at the front desk glanced at him, didn't ask any questions, just grunted and took the key back.

Guan Gufeng, carrying a bag, walked down that familiar street.

The 7-Eleven green sign was still lit, and through the glass window, he saw the store manager tidying up the shelves.

He pushed the door open and went in.

"Store Manager."

The store manager turned around, saw it was him, and his expression changed from surprise to understanding.

"Here to resign?"

"Um."

The store manager put down the rag he was holding, walked behind the counter, and took an envelope out of the drawer.

"This is my salary for the past few days. I've calculated it."

Guan Gufeng took the envelope but didn't open it.

"Manager, during this time..."

"Alright." The shop manager waved his hand, interrupting him. "Don't say thank you. You write your novel, I'll run my shop. When your book is published, just send me a signed copy."

He paused, glancing at the display shelf against the wall behind him.

"I'll reserve this space for you."

Guan Gu Feng looked into the shop manager's eyes and nodded.

"must."

He turned and pushed open the door to leave, and the store manager's voice came from behind him.

"Go for it, Mr. Guan Gu!"