["Ah, ah, ah, this is raising my blood pressure! Having Rem personally execute the protagonist, this is too outrageous, isn't it? This reminds me of when Homura Akemi executed Madoka. Is there some kind of similar ingenious parallel here?"]
["The first volume is torturous, the second volume continues to be torturous... As expected, the power of Return by Death is great. The Old Thief used to have to consider how the plot would proceed, but now he doesn't have to worry about it. He can torture mercilessly! Until everyone's scalps tingle!"]
["This volume is making me a bit scared... It's not just a suspense drama, but it's also turned into a horror novel, making people's hearts pound."]
["Hmm? That's strange. Rem died from a curse, which means someone else cursed the protagonist?"]
["This is a bit annoying to watch, so frustrating! Homura Akemi didn't suffer this much back then, did she? Though she also never achieved her goal."]
["No choice. Natsuki Subaru is just an ordinary person, not like Reinhardt's setting before, so he can't just push through. Moreover, if he were that powerful, wouldn't the Return by Death ability become useless? That wouldn't fit the theme of the work."]
["It seems the Old Thief wants to write a growth story about an ordinary person struggling to survive... Hmm, compared to the current trend, it's another kind of special."]
["This kind of unique characteristic is not easy to write, only a master like the Old Thief, who takes an unconventional approach, has the courage to try."]
["Natsuki Subaru still decided to go back and save Rem in the end, repaying evil with good, so to speak."]
["I think it's more like lust!"]
["Is Natsuki Subaru another kind of true goodness and beauty, similar to Madoka? (Laughing crying) (Dog head)"]
["Before, I was still wondering why Natsuki Subaru didn't tell the truth, which would make passing the challenges easier... Well, now, the explanation is coming right away."]
...
The appearance of the second volume struck many people, but because their resistance had gradually increased, after a brief period of discomfort, they once again plunged into discussions about the plot.
Out of trust in the Old Thief, they also chose not to give up because of such painful points.
[From the current plot, it can be inferred that the Return by Death ability is very likely related to the Witch, because Beatrice said that Natsuki Subaru has the Witch's scent on him. Currently, only the Witch of Envy Satella has appeared, so it's hard not to associate some connection... And it was also the Witch's scent that made Rem identify Natsuki Subaru as an enemy. It seems there's a hidden story here, layered and interconnected, where one action affects the whole. I think this is the true highlight of the story!]
[So this isn't Izumi-sensei's skill being out of balance, writing such a handling method, but because he just wants to write an 'interesting' story... Hmph, what a twisted sense of humor! I'll go complain to the teacher himself later and give him a headache!]
Shiina Mafuyu once again posted her thoughts on her blog.
Compared to the plot of the first volume, the content of the second volume had even more explosive points, whether from the perspective of torturing people, or the design of the plot, or the vivid emotional expression of various characters, all described to just the right degree.
["Pain! So much pain! Piercing pain!"]
["When Mafuyu-chan puts it that way, the plot suddenly makes a lot more sense."]
["The detestable Old Thief is still at large in this world! I suggest Mafuyu-chan initiate a holy war to defeat the Old Thief!"]
["The Old Thief tortures Mafuyu-chan a thousand times, and Mafuyu-chan treats the Old Thief like her first love~ So Mafuyu-chan, you're the one who loves deeply after all!"]
...
"Uh..."
Izumi Chihiro scratched his head.
He had a rare half-hour chat with Mafuyu-chan just now, but rather than a chat, it was more like she was venting her emotions.
This wasn't the first time he encountered this; after all, there were quite a few people on his friends list who read his novels. Besides Sagiri, Eriri, and Takasago Tomoe, who would actually explode in reality, others could only voice their opinions through the internet.
To some extent, they also represented the feelings of many readers, so he would listen carefully, and then... not change anything.
Since the main plot and theme had already been established, it was too late to completely change it. Otherwise, further revisions would result in a messy, unrecognizable work.
For example, Kasumigaoka Utaha, whom he had helped.
If he had given her guidance after the first volume of 'love metronome' was released, no matter how much she changed, she wouldn't be able to break through the inherent limitations. The first volume would become a hidden danger, creating a sense of disconnect with the subsequent plot.
But now, the sales momentum of 'love metronome' was already quite strong. Clearly, although everyone liked the content that was initially serialized, they had also accepted the revised content.
Of course, this was also inseparable from Kasumigaoka Utaha's own efforts.
Considering her schooling, she was still able to exceed the normal serialization schedule. Judging from the two manuscripts she sent him, her enthusiasm and perseverance were also very astonishing, not necessarily inferior to his.
Similarly, his other disciple, Gokou Ruri, although her aptitude was average, after putting in effort, she also achieved rapid improvement, finally reaching the first place, with prospects for publication.
Just one week later.
Gokou Ruri finally received contact from her editor, Kagarigawa Ayame.
"We can start considering publication matters."
"That's great! It's finally come to this day! The Nightmare Queen's great journey is about to begin!"
Gokou Ruri was so excited that she couldn't control herself, jumping up and spouting a chuunibyou line.
"Strange Ruri-nee."
"Ruri-nee?"
Her two younger sisters looked confused.
"Ahem, it's none of your business. Go watch your TV."
Gokou Ruri coughed, then, asserting her authority as an older sister, pointed at the television.
Gokou Ruri went into her room and sent the news to Kani Nayuta and Izumi Chihiro.
Izumi Masamune: "Hmm, congratulations on your debut! But this was also expected. The road ahead is even more difficult. Don't think that successfully debuting means you can rest easy; the risk of being canceled still exists."
"Thank you for your guidance, Izumi-sensei. I will remember it well."
Gokou Ruri replied.
The path in this industry is truly like treading on thin ice; one wrong step could lead to failure. This is a lesson left by those who came before, and she would not arrogantly ignore it.
She would definitely cherish this hard-won opportunity!
Nayuta: "Congratulations, Miss Black Cat ~ Although there were some twists and turns, you still successfully debuted. I hope Black Cat can fulfill our previous agreement when the time comes!"
"Of course, I will fulfill my promise. I won't let Nayuta and... Izumi-sensei down."
Gokou Ruri smiled calmly after seeing Nayuta's message.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter