After a session of soul-cleansing reflection and a thorough condemnation of the story's serial killer, Masao closed the book.
His thoughts turned to the System. Why had it given him this particular novel?
'The System must have a deeper purpose for this,' he concluded.
One thing was crystal clear: publishing this book would grant him a substantial windfall of Corruption Points and a hefty royalty check.
The real question was how to publish it.
Should he use his established identity, Takeda, the infamous doujinshi artist? The irony of an ero-manga maestro releasing a pure love story was undeniably appealing. It would certainly give his fans a shocking, if not wholesome, experience.
After a moment's consideration, he dismissed the idea. The System was offering a new path, so a fresh start was in order. He would publish this novel under a new pen name: Kuro.
As for his Takeda account, now that his drawing skill had reached Level 3, it was time to deliver some original artwork to his patient fans.
'No time like the present.' Masao immediately began sketching out a storyboard—though "sketching" was generous.
It was more a process of dredging up and adapting works from his past life. The only thing missing was his drawing tablet. Buying a new one felt like a hassle, but then a brilliantly convenient solution came to him.
'I'll just use Eriri's "studio" tomorrow. I can probably 'borrow' a few supplies while I'm at it. It's the perfect excuse to drop off these new doujinshi for Sayuri-san, too.'
He pulled out his phone and dialed.
"Masao-kun! It's been a while. How were your exams?"
"They went well, thank you. Actually, I've... completed a few new works. I thought I'd bring them tomorrow."
"A few new works...?" There was a weighted pause on the other end. "Masao-kun, your diligence is commendable, but you must be mindful of your health. In every conceivable way."
Masao offered a dry chuckle. "Haha, don't worry, Sayuri-san. These are just old projects. I just gave them a final polish."
"I see," she replied, her tone not conveying any real relief.
While Masao may not have overexerted himself recently, she now faced the daunting task of appraising multiple works in a single sitting. She would need a full night's rest to prepare.
"In that case, I'll see you tomorrow, Masao-kun."
"Looking forward to it, Sayuri-san."
—
—
Meanwhile, in Shinomiya Kaguya's room.
Kaguya slumped in her chair and released a sigh heavy with exhaustion. Every ounce of her, body and spirit, felt drained.
"Hayasaka. Your report."
Hayasaka stepped forward, a neat stack of printed files in her hands. (A tablet was out of the question; her Kaguya's technological aversion was legendary, and paper was perpetually in vogue.)
"All the information you requested, Lady Kaguya."
"Good." Kaguya took the files, her controlling nature demanding a full dossier on anyone who entered her sphere.
"Yukinoshita Yukino... Daughter of a prefectural assemblyman. Demonstrably competent. An acceptable family background. A viable candidate for recruitment."
By the time she finished the file, her mind was already weaving strategies. A powerful family needed capable subordinates, and Yukinoshita fit the profile.
"Jahy... A stray taken in by the Tanaka household. Primary motivation appears to be gourmet food." A single glance was all it warranted. Kaguya tossed the file aside with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Unworthy of further attention."
Her attention settled on the final dossier, the one that piqued her interest the most. 'Who was this Tanaka Masao character, and how had he managed to become so familiar with Fujiwara-san?'
She scanned the pages, her brow furrowing in disdain. "This is... a trifecta of obscurity: no pedigree, no discernible talent, and forgettable looks. By any rational measure, he shouldn't even register on my radar."
A second pass through the file revealed a single point of interest. "He's published manga?"
"Indeed," Hayasaka confirmed. Masao's publications were handled by the discreet Sayuri, but his public social media account under the name Takeda had left a digital footprint.
"Bring me his work," Kaguya commanded.
Hayasaka's expression tightened. Her professional duty had required a thorough review of Masao's artistic portfolio.
She conceded the man had technical skill; he simply channeled it in the most unorthodox directions. Having endured his entire catalog as part of her investigation, she was left with a visceral urge to have him preemptively vanished.
He was a walking hazard, and she feared the day his fictional plots might inspire reality. For this reason, she had deliberately not brought the physical copies of his works.
"Lady Kaguya," she ventured, her voice carefully neutral, "his work is... rather unrefined. It may be best to forgo a review."
"Unrefined?" To Kaguya, this simply implied a lack of polish, not the content's true nature. Her gaze turned icy. "Hayasaka, 'refinement' is irrelevant. We must review all available intelligence. Ignoring a potential resource due to aesthetic bias is a critical oversight."
"But—"
"That is an order. Bring them to me."
Hayasaka suppressed a sigh. "Understood."
'If this is her command, I have no choice. I can only hope her will is stronger than her internet literacy.'
She retrieved the concealed stack of doujinshi. The one on top, Hydrangea, featured a deceptively beautiful cover.
"The artwork is passable," Kaguya remarked, accepting it. "A romance manga, I assume?"
A spark of genuine interest kindled within her. Perhaps within these pages lay some knowledge about love, a subject that often left her perplexed.
—
One minute later.
Kaguya was splayed on the floor, her face scarlet, her eyes swirled into dizzy spirals. A soft whimper escaped her lips.
"What... in the world... is this...?"
The offending "manga" lay beside her like a fallen enemy.
Hayasaka rushed to her side, gathering her incapacitated mistress.
"The Lady has been compromised! Secure the perimeter!" she shouted into the void, a practiced protocol activating despite the absurdity of the situation.
Kaguya's mind, overloaded with a torrent of illicit and unsolicited "knowledge" and "culture" had short-circuited completely.
Today's Verdict: Shinomiya Kaguya's Defeat.
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