[170] Sonoko's Request

Chapter 170: Sonoko's Request

"Gab, my apologies for keeping you waiting for so long."

Vignette, out of breath, raced to their meeting point. She bent over, gasping for air, then straightened up to find both Gabriel and Hachiman there, a surprising sight.

"Oh, Hachiman-kun is here as well."

"Good afternoon, Vigne-san," Hachiman greeted her, noting the surprise in her eyes. He swiftly clarified, "I was just on my way to buy some drinks when I happened upon Gabriel."

"I understand," Vignette nodded in acknowledgment.

"Gabriel mentioned it was your duty today, so I'd like to treat you to a drink. You must be exhausted," Hachiman offered with a warm smile, noticing the sweat on her forehead.

Vignette hesitated, waving her hand, not accustomed to accepting gifts and still retaining some self-respect, unlike the already weary Gabriel. However, Hachiman's next words wore down her resistance.

"It's okay. We're friends, aren't we? What would you like to drink?"

"Friends..."

Hearing this word, something deep within Vignette's heart stirred, and a smile graced her lips.

"In that case, I'll have a bottle of juice as well," Vignette replied.

"No problem." Hachiman obtained a bottle of juice from the vending machine and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Hachiman-kun."

Vignette expressed her gratitude and opened the juice, taking a sip.

After a brief conversation, Gabriel encouraged Vignette to go shopping, with Gabriel planning to return home for some gaming.

Hachiman also remembered his need to purchase drinks for Yukino and Yui. He swiftly acquired a can of MAX coffee and two bottles of juice before bidding the group farewell.

Upon his return to the clubroom, Hachiman discovered Yui, who had been acting somewhat silly, now sound asleep, leaning on Yukino's shoulder.

As the door opened, Yukino's gaze shifted toward Hachiman, and she acknowledged his presence. She placed a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet.

Witnessing this, Hachiman couldn't help but smile. Not long ago, Yukino had appeared hesitant about close contact with Yui, and now she was actively guarding her.

A gentle breeze wafted in, causing the white curtains to sway, while the evening sun's radiance streamed through the window, casting a picturesque, hazy ambiance in the room.

.....

....

It was 8 PM, and Hachiman sat at his computer, immersed in his usual writing routine. He was currently crafting the content for the 15th volume of "Sword Art Online." While the series retained its original title, he had made substantial alterations to the later parts of the storyline. He had removed the original NTR elements and various peculiar scenes, focusing instead on refining the descriptions of major events to enhance their impact. Essentially, he aimed to elevate the series, preserving its core while eliminating excess.

Given his writing module was nearly operating at its maximum capacity, this presented no significant challenge for him.

Just as he was deeply engrossed in his work, his phone began to ring.

"Hmm? Sonoko." He quickly answered the call upon seeing the caller ID.

"Sonoko, good evening. What brings you to me at this hour?"

"Good evening, Hachiman." Sonoko's cheerful voice resonated through the phone.

"I'm calling with fantastic news. Your 'Sword Art Online' Volume 14's printing batch number for the publishing house is ready, and it's set to be officially published by mid-month."

"The first batch is expected to print around 500,000 copies, and the publishing house predicts this volume's sales to reach approximately 1.5 million."

"And congratulations! Your 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' volumes one through six have surpassed the ten million sales record. It's a historic achievement in the light novel world!"

As she spoke, Sonoko's excitement was palpable in her voice.

It wasn't her fault. Even when Senju Muramasa's "The Legend of the Phantom Blade" achieved ten million sales, it took ten volumes to reach that milestone. Selling a million copies per volume was considered a myth at the time. However, Hachiman's "That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime" had accomplished over ten million sales in just six volumes, establishing a completely new legend.

This marked their first encounter with the main character (MC) transforming into a slime in a light novel, manga, or anime. This unique twist had become a trend thanks to Hachiman's groundbreaking work. Other authors had attempted to emulate the concept of the MC becoming a weak monster, and while it may not have reached the same phenomenal success as Hachiman's novel, it had found its own niche. The market had wearied of MCs transforming into vampires, elves, and demons in the isekai genre.

Thanks to the remarkable success of Hachiman's two novels, Sonoko had firmly established her role as the chief editor. Riding this wave, the position of deputy editor-in-chief was well within her reach.

"That's a good news. It's all thanks to your support, Sonoko," Hachiman replied with a smile, even though he wasn't particularly surprised. Breaking ten million sales for the first six volumes felt like a natural progression, especially considering that "That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime" had already exceeded nine million in sales by the fifth volume.

Nonetheless, he was pleased. Another volume meant more income, bringing him closer to his goal of reaching ten billion yen in earnings.

"By the way, Hachiman, there's another matter I wanted to discuss with you today," Sonoko shifted the conversation to the primary purpose of the call.

"What is it, Sonoko? Please, go ahead."

"Have you been in touch with Uta-chan lately?" Sonoko began with a question, keeping the reason for the call somewhat veiled.

"Utaha-senpai? I've only met her once recently. Why do you ask?" Hachiman found it curious that she was bringing up Utaha.

"Uta-chan has been acting strangely recently," Sonoko continued. "Her novel, 'Koisuru Metronome,' has recently concluded with decent sales, close to two million copies. You'd think she'd be happy, but I noticed she's not at all thrilled."

"Furthermore, when it came time to start work on her next book, she cut off all communication with me. I was concerned that she might be facing a creative block, so I went to her house to offer assistance, but she immediately declined my offer without a second thought. It's rather unusual," Sonoko said, her tone filled with worry.

Sonoko held Utaha in high regard, almost like a younger sister, and naturally, she didn't want anything to go wrong with her. So, when she observed this unusual behavior from Utaha, she became concerned.

Hachiman found the entire situation rather perplexing. Typically, if an author faced any writing difficulties, they would communicate with their editor. Utaha's direct rejection was indeed unusual. Hachiman also recalled their recent meal on the rooftop, where he had inquired about her new book, and she had seemed hesitant to discuss it.

"I have a general understanding of the situation. So, Sonoko, how would you like me to help?" Hachiman inquired, although he already had an idea of what she was going to ask.

"I'd like you to visit Utaha's house and confirm the situation. If she's truly facing difficulties in her writing, help her out, as you've done before. Remember, you've assisted her in the past," Sonoko suggested, laying out her thoughts on the matter.

"Of course, no problem," Hachiman replied. After all, he had planned to visit her after being reminded by Sonoko about Utaha.

Upon hearing his agreement, Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief and continued, her tone earnest.

"In that case, I'm counting on you for Uta-chan, Hachiman."

"You can count on me, Sonoko."

After his call with Sonoko, Hachiman visited his blog and came across messages from his fans.

Ainlion: "I've been reading through volumes 1 to 7 of 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,' and I'm loving it! Rimuru is such an endearing character."

Charlotte: "Totally agree! Rimuru's expressions as a slime are just too cute, and the way he interacts with the creatures in the world is heartwarming."

GrandpaImmortal: "I couldn't help but chuckle when Rimuru named all the monsters he absorbed. It's like creating a 'monster database' while gaining new friends."

MarvelousMilfHunter: "And the humor in the series is spot on. Rimuru's witty remarks and the situations he finds himself in are so entertaining."

PuppyLickerGod: "I heard that Rimuru's ultimate goal is to create a nation for all beings. That's quite an ambition for a tiny slime!"

FrictionOnlyReader: "Indeed! 'From slime to prime minister' - who knew that was a career path? Rimuru truly takes the idea of 'sliming your way to the top' to a whole new level!"

SirCuervo: "And let's not forget the other characters like Shion and Shuna. They add so much depth to the story."

Sixthsense029: "Absolutely! Shion's fiery personality and Shuna's elegance create a great balance. They're like the dynamic duo of the Tempest Kingdom."

DaddyBenny: "And how about Benimaru? He's like Rimuru's right-hand man, always ready for action. He's the 'hottest' ally you could have!"

AllenWarlord: "Haha, yeah! With a fiery personality and fire-based powers, Benimaru is 'burning' with enthusiasm to help Rimuru."

Dragon15618: "Oh, and how about Ranga and Gobta? They bring even more charm to the story!"

Nolan21: "Ranga, the loyal and powerful direwolf, is such a cool character. He's like Rimuru's trusty canine companion, always ready to lend a paw."

VeyRon: "Gobta, on the other hand, adds a touch of comic relief. His antics and quirky personality provide some of the best 'slime-stick' humor in the series."

Snollygooster: "Haha, Gobta is the 'clumsiest' goblin, but he's got a heart of gold. He's like the lovable goofball of the gang."

12345: "Rimuru has quite the 'colorful' cast of characters around him, from powerful allies like Ranga to humorous pals like Gobta."

Plati: "Indeed! 'One slime to rule them all' - Rimuru is the kind of leader you can't help but root for!"

Kid: "Absolutely! It's a testament to the series' brilliance that it can seamlessly blend heartwarming moments, epic battles, and hilarious hijinks."

Rye: "That's the beauty of 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.' A slime, a wolf, a goblin, and so many more - they all make it a wonderful and unforgettable journey!"

Gin: "Couldn't have said it better myself. I can't wait to see what hilarious and heartwarming adventures await our favorite slime and friends in the next volumes!"

Seeing their enthusiastic chat, Hachiman smiled and closed his blog. He made his way to his bed, ready to get some rest.