Uneasy daily life

It doesn't mean anything by it; it's just about what my colleagues think.

written request for leave

Ugh... How did time just fly by? How did it suddenly get to six o'clock? It's almost eight and I still haven't finished writing...

I took the day off today; I just couldn't come up with anything.

I feel like my writing rhythm has been off lately. Every day I'm scratching my head trying to write something interesting, but the number of posts tells me I'm forcing humor where there isn't any. It feels like I'm trying to be melancholic. I have something in my head to write about, but it always ends up feeling rambling and uninteresting. The worst part is, it's neither enjoyable nor funny... *sigh*

Hands clasped over head.jpg

Am I really a hero in the early game? Why do I always seem to get stuck in a dead end while writing?

Oh me, how could you be so depraved? The college entrance exam is coming up soon, quickly think back to the determination you had when you took the exam!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Human joys and sorrows are always intertwined.

"It's not a good thing."

Bai Ying turned her head and whispered.

"?" Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai) sized up the guest. "What's wrong with this person coming here with ill intentions?"

"I mean I have ill intentions toward the one who came."

"It's as if you've ever been compassionate."

"Your criticism isn't sharp enough. Be more aloof, with a sharp, jarring edge. Don't look so gentle; your gaze should convey a coldness that, while not necessarily showing contempt, still appears contemptuous to others..."

"Heh, how about you show us your acting skills, which are beyond human comprehension?"

"This line is pretty good, 8 points."

"So?" Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai) muttered softly, "This student was also one of your previous clients? Why is she acting so hostilely?"

Bai Ying said in a deep voice, "Didn't you feel it? That very conspicuous aura."

Are you playing a role-playing reading comprehension game again?

Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai) observed for a moment—the gesture was hands on hips, the expression was a wide grin, the posture was a bit exaggerated, and coupled with the few words just said…

"The aura of chuunibyou?"

"The aura of invincibility," the white figure murmured. "That arrogance that nothing in the world can defeat me, that confidence that I am a genius, that haughtiness that the word 'difficulty' doesn't exist in my dictionary, that smile that says 'creating is as easy as pie,' that words like 'Keyboard, is your lifespan still long enough?'..."

"So lifelike, it must be because you felt the same way?"

"Watching others write fluently and beautifully is more painful than not being able to write a single word yourself. This is what it means to empathize with someone else."

The two whispered.

I am invincible!

The wooden base of Yi Hui exudes an imposing aura.

"This... your novel, can it be published?"

Yui Yuigahama held the light novel, her expression a complex yet perfectly nuanced one.

"That's it! Let us offer our reverence and admiration to the light novel master, General!"

With a smug grin, Yoshiteru crossed his arms and let out a hearty laugh that perfectly suited his physique: "Hahahaha—!"

"That's not what I meant..." Yui Yuigahama quickly found a substitute to say, "Shiro! You tell me what I meant!"

Bai Ying peeked out and glanced at it, then said knowingly, "There's a sense of awe towards books and knowledge. Since students are used to textbooks all year round, it's inevitable to have this feeling. And since this book comes from General Yi Hui, the sense of awe feels strange, like seeing a dog walking upright..."

"Mmmmmmm!"

Yui Yuigahama nodded and said, "That's really strange!"

Yoshiteru Zaimokuza's smile froze as he tried to explain himself with his hands: "What's so strange about this? I wrote a light novel, got picked up by an editor, the first volume got good reviews, and then it was published!"

"Generally speaking, unless you're an insider..."

Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai) glanced at the cover of the light novel and said subtly, "Otherwise, wouldn't it be a little strange to give a classmate this kind of gift?"

"This isn't a gift, it's a light novel I wrote!" Yoshiteru Zaimokuza loudly protested. "I wanted everyone to give it a look, just like with the last request, and offer some feedback..."

"Yuigahama, there's no need to feel awe or shock about this." Hachiman Hikigaya pretended to fiddle with the light novel in his hand. "What era are we living in? Books aren't that prestigious anymore. You can publish your own books at a copy shop as long as you spend some money. The illustrations are quite good, though. Perhaps your talent lies in drawing?"

"Although I've tried drawing, but... no! This isn't personal publishing, it's publishing by a publishing house!"

Yoshiteru Zaimoto quickly emphasized, "It's true! My light novel was chosen by an editor and successfully published!"

Hachiman Hikigaya didn't continue to insult people, but instead looked at the light novel in his hand with some disbelief.

The illustrations on the cover and inside the book are indeed of the quality of the artists who illustrated the original light novels. There are also the marks of the publisher and other companies in the corners. It's just that the name doesn't sound like a light novel. "The Brave Demon Seal Record"?

Why isn't it titled "About the Story of My Chuunibyou Classmate Actually Writing and Publishing a Light Novel?!"

Hachiman Hikigaya felt his sarcastic spirit burning.

"I never imagined that Zaimozuka would publish a book..."

Yui Yuigahama remarked with a sigh, then asked curiously, "Since it's already been published, there's no point in seeking help and advice, is there?"

"Hmph, that's not quite right!"

Yoshiteru Zaimoku pushed up his glasses and put on a reserved smile: "These are samples for now, and they haven't been officially put on the shelves for sale yet. I asked the editor for a few copies to give to everyone as a thank you for your help, and also to allow you to preview my work in advance. Secondly, it's also to solicit your opinions so that the subsequent creation can be smoother! A master of light novels will not be satisfied with his existing achievements!"

My dream is to reach for the stars and the sea!

The fat man, looking excited, raised his hands high. Up close, it had the feel of Shawshank Escape; from afar, it had the feel of French cultural tradition.

The confidence and aura of a powerful figure revealed in his words suggest that he was a great emperor who swept across the eight wastelands, ascended to the throne, and was confident that he was invincible in the world.

The sky seems to drop three feet in the eyes, and the ground seems to sink, making it difficult to bear weight.

Despite having powerful enemies on all sides and a long-standing reputation, can you accept my contribution?

Inflation.jpg!

"Praise my meticulously crafted settings, commend my sculpted characters, and admire the captivating plot I've created..."

The solemn and majestic chanting echoed in the activity room, adding a touch of sublimity and grandeur to the sound of the wooden stool.

The voice was like a poisoned arrow piercing the heart, invisible and formless, yet it struck the mark instantly, causing Yoshiteru Zaimoto to sway and freeze in his expression.

The white figure chanted in a low voice, as if reciting the Bible: "Offer your sorrow, worship your joy, and you shall have no other author but me."

"Xiao Bai is saying weird things again."

Yui Yuigahama made a comment.

In short, praise me! Praise me lavishly!

Bai Ying raised her thumb and pointed it at her face.

In the midst of laughter and conversation, Bai Zhizun unleashed his invincible technique—Heart Slash!

Arrogance, jealousy, greed, and vanity are the seven emotions that ultimately lead to fear.

A single thought can give rise to a demon, and the Great Emperor can transform into a feather.

Even within the same realm, there are differences in status.

If you don't go mad, you'll remain an ant!

puff--!

His Dao heart shattered, his soul exploded, and his Emperor Realm was tainted with a flaw. His invincible nature was broken by his own actions, causing his limbs to tremble uncontrollably.

Yi Hui, the woodworker, trembled a few times, then remained stiff and motionless, with what appeared to be blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Um……"

Yui Yuigahama suddenly realized, "Zaimokuza-kun came here seeking praise?" Upon reflection, it did make some sense; writing a light novel and getting it published certainly deserved praise.

She flipped through the light novel briefly and nodded, saying, "It's good. There aren't any obscure words or phrases that I don't understand... Hmm? It's just that when these understandable words are strung together, they sound a bit strange, like how you usually talk... Is this a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) novel?"

The Venerable One, amidst the ordinary, grasps the essence of creation—the present moment is the time to understand reality, to discard falsehood and return to truth.

This method has three unique aspects: first, the realm of enlightenment, where a hundred years of arduous cultivation vanishes; second, the supernatural power, where all other wondrous methods pale in comparison; and third, the soul, where boundless passion is left behind in the mortal world.

puff--!

Yi Hui, sitting on the wooden platform, swayed and staggered, his state of mind plummeting. He felt a burning bitter fire in his heart, burning him until his body and soul were scattered.

"In ancient times, gods and demons fought for supremacy, the gods severed the ages, and thus began the age of swords and magic; the Demon Lord looked back from the other side, and all races under heaven were never at peace again; a young man, holding a broken sword, walked out of a desolate village, and among the Seven Heroes of Destiny, none of them bore his name..."

Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai) did not comment, but simply read the introduction and part of the content in a serious manner, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised.

The demon whispers, possessing the body, and awakens the demonic forces. If one claims to be invincible, can one defeat the ego within one's own heart?

puff--!

Yi Hui, the woodworker, felt a demon rising in his heart, with whispers in his ear disturbing his mind and making him want to kill himself.

"The title of your light novel is very retro... 'The Hero's Demon Sealing Record' sounds like a hero fighting dragons. Although it's only been ten or twenty years, it's already an aesthetic of the last era and it's hard to meet market demands."

Hachiman Hikigaya flipped through the novel and offered a tentative, serious commentary: "The boy who always wanted to become a hero and trained diligently wasn't chosen by the goddess. Instead, the kingdom welcomed seven otherworldly beings chosen by the goddess—they are the true heroes… While it's a bit of a subversion of tropes, this subversion has recently become a trend… The boy fell off a cliff during a battle and pulled a broken sword from a rock. Within the sword was the soul of a being named Haku, who claimed to be a previous hero…"

"This passage... once fought a three-hundred-round battle with a demon king named Yuki, but due to the betrayal of his teammates, he was ultimately sealed within a broken sword by the demon king... There is also a flashback-style battle narration..."

As Hachiman Hikigaya watched, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. Why did he have such a subtle sense of déjà vu?

Yoshiteru Zaimoto exclaimed in surprise, "You read so fast! No wonder you're my comrade-in-arms, Hachiman Bosatsu..."

"Because you have to sift through countless light novels to find the ones that suit your taste, as a seasoned light novel reader, speed-reading skills are indispensable, especially for those ridiculously similar plots that feel like toilet paper." Hachiman Hikigaya paused in his reading, then asked strangely, "You didn't write the argument between the club president and Yukinoshita last time into a story, did you? The Shiro and Yuki in the book..."

Yoshiteru Zaimokuza made a last-ditch effort: "This is called a flash of inspiration! Becoming a master of light novels is just around the corner!"

The image of the minister sitting in front of the computer, gazing intently at the white screen, flashed through my mind.

Hachiman Hikigaya casually guessed, "You don't know how to write the rest, so you haven't started writing the second volume yet?"

Yi Hui, the woodworker: "I'm writing it."

Hikigaya Hachiman: "..."

Yuigahama Yui: "..."

Yukinoshita Yukino (Mai): "..."

A somewhat familiar reaction.

"Wonderful!"

Bai Ying said with relief, "Seeing you run out of ideas but gradually take on the look of an author, I truly empathize with you."

"Please! Give me some advice and ideas. The first volume hasn't even been released yet, and the editor is already urging me to submit the manuscript for the second volume, but I have absolutely no idea what to write!"

Yi Hui, the timber supplier, popped up a task prompt.

Yukino Yukinoshita (Mai): "I'll accept this request. I'll read your novel as soon as possible and get back to you."

Bai Ying: "If you don't know how to write it, draw lots to decide which character dies, then work backward from the result of the death, and then write it in sequence."

Yui Yuigahama: "It's a bit strange, but I should be fine after watching it."

Hachiman Hikigaya: "Don't worry, the illustration is very good."

With answers that were both reliable and unreliable, Yoshiteru Zaimoto left disappointed, his back heavy with sorrow.

Human joys and sorrows are always intertwined; joy gives rise to sorrow, and sorrow gives rise to joy. Only smiles remain constant, shifting back and forth without ever changing.

Bai Ying shook his head with a sigh, feeling deeply moved.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Let Me Tell You My Words

[Bai Ying's Acting Skills Corner]

To keep each other informed and help one another, the group agreed to exchange information about what they had encountered that day and ask the person in charge for their thoughts.

To avoid any strange historical issues arising after switching back.

For example, if Mai Sakurajima, as Yukino Yukinoshita, made a few friends at school, when she switched back, Yukino Yukinoshita would definitely not recognize these inexplicably new relationships, would give her a cold shoulder, and would immediately cut ties with them...

[White Warrior: Two-faced, arrogant at first but obsequious later, deceiving feelings, stabbing his sisters in the back—one label after another is slapped onto the Warrior. From now on, among the Seven Heroes of the Grand Martial Arts Academy, the Warrior's ranking rises to second place, second only to me. Victory!]

[Yukinoshita: @Sakurajima Mai, I don't think I have any extra random friends, do I?]