Although, when you are doing something, the difference between people can indeed be greater than the difference between people and dogs.
But in reality, for most people, it's actually difficult to reach a point where talent is needed. What is called talent is more like an excuse for the mediocre to slack off.
Izumi Chihiro explained this principle to Gokou Ruri, in order to re-energize her.
When doing something with passion, efficiency will undoubtedly increase a lot. This was also his experience from nearly two years in the industry.
"I understand, Izumi-sensei, I will pull myself together!"
Gokou Ruri pursed her lips, muttering to herself while typing her reply.
Izumi Masamune: Good, I've pretty much figured out your problems. Next, you'll start reconstructing from this aspect according to my ideas, and you must read these few books...
Black Cat: I understand!
Izumi Masamune: If you have any questions during this period, you can ask during lunch break or after school. I will try my best to answer as soon as I see the message.
Gokou Ruri was immediately encouraged, emerging from the shadow of her previous failures.
Compared to Nayuta's unconstrained guidance, this structured, step-by-step plan was clearly more suitable for an author like her who hadn't even debuted yet.
Black Cat: Izumi-sensei, thank you! If I get the chance, I'll wear Homura's cosplay costume and show it to you in person!
Izumi Masamune: Wait! That's not my request! Don't misunderstand! That was Nayuta's unauthorized request!
Black Cat: Hai!
...
Izumi Chihiro: "..."
He wondered if Gokou Ruri had actually believed him.
He hadn't been seeking any reward; he just wanted to help her a little, but she had mistakenly thought he was helping her with that intention.
Wouldn't that make him seem a bit...
Though he actually did want to see it.
"Ahem... I should probably tell Nayuta now."
Izumi Chihiro re-clicked Nayuta's chat window and told her about it.
"With Senpai on the case, success is guaranteed! But it seems I owe Senpai more and more. I wonder how I'll ever repay him? What a headache~"
As Kani Nayuta spoke, a smile reappeared on her face. "It doesn't matter, I guess. I already owe him my entire life, so it doesn't really make a difference."
It had to be said, Kani Nayuta's decision to entrust Gokou Ruri to him was definitely the right move.
Although Kani Nayuta's grades were slightly better, she truly didn't understand light novels as well as Izumi Chihiro.
Kani Nayuta's style was unique in the light novel world, more like a literary work with a distinct personal flair, acclaimed simply because it was written exceptionally well.
Izumi Chihiro was clearly different.
Whether in the quantity or variety of his reading, or his understanding of the industry, he surpassed Kani Nayuta.
He had also risen from the bottom, so all the problems he encountered and the solutions he found during that time became part of his growth, making him more than qualified to mentor Gokou Ruri.
Under his guidance, Gokou Ruri indeed made astonishing progress.
After all, she only needed to go from receiving bad reviews to being competent. Hard work combined with reasonable guidance was truly effective, and in just half a month, Gokou Ruri underwent an amazing transformation.
During this period, Gokou Ruri would start writing whenever she had free time, whether after class, during lunch breaks, or after school, always with enthusiastic dedication.
"This is excellent! You're almost ready to debut!"
When Kani Nayuta received the manuscript from her Senpai, she also exclaimed in admiration.
It really was her own problem.
Thankfully, she had entrusted it to Senpai; otherwise, she would have crushed a young girl's dream!
The guilt that might have arisen from that would have been unimaginable.
"If this level of writing debuts, there's definitely a chance."
Seeing Nayuta's evaluation, Izumi Chihiro also nodded thoughtfully.
So, he contacted Gokou Ruri again.
Izumi Masamune: After all this hard work, Gokou Ruri, you've pretty much reached the level where you can debut. But before that, I have a question: Do you want to earn money, or do you want to stick more to your own ideas?
This was a question.
Gokou Ruri: Can't I have both?
Gokou Ruri was already very happy when she saw the first part of the evaluation, but the subsequent question puzzled her.
Izumi Masamune: You can, but some genres are more friendly to new authors and much less difficult, while other genres, if you don't have deep skill, are very likely to be cut short.
In other words, is my skill still not enough?
Gokou Ruri understood his implied meaning.
She thought about it again for a while, but not for long, because it wasn't really a multiple-choice question.
"My abilities aren't strong, and the fact that I improved so quickly is thanks to Izumi-sensei's help. Otherwise, debuting would be extremely difficult, so I choose..."
Gokou Ruri gritted her teeth.
Although she was very unwilling, she didn't stubbornly believe that she could quickly impress Izumi-sensei with her own abilities, so she complied with the arrangement.
For now, she just needed to satisfy the need to earn money; she would temporarily forget her whimsical ideas.
Izumi Masamune: Very good. In life, you have to give and take. And only by trying to complete a work yourself can you truly grow. So, continue to construct the story you're currently writing!
"Eh?"
Gokou Ruri's expression froze, then she suddenly realized, "I see, it's actually quite simple..."
The short story she had just completed was entirely constructed under Izumi-sensei's guidance. The outline was already designed, as were the characters, and the genre was an easy-to-start-with otherworld fantasy. She just needed to slightly modify it to turn it into a long-form light novel, which was the only real challenge.
"Is this the final test Izumi-sensei is giving me?"
Gokou Ruri asked herself, then shook her head with a light chuckle.
"No, it's a reward, isn't it?"
As the eldest daughter in her family, this was the first time she had felt cared for, and a warm current flowed through her heart.
She owed a great debt of gratitude.
...
Outside the window, night stars twinkled.
"Haaah..."
Izumi Chihiro yawned and stood up.
He had stayed up late for a while, having almost finished the first volume, and had just completed the last section.
During this time, although he had spent a little energy helping his future junior, he had also submitted his own work on time.
Compared to the speed of other light novel authors, there was no need to even mention it.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter