Chapter 12

Kōya Mitsuhiro, who used to be with Takanawa Books.

The man who was the editor there and had an affair with Kōya's wife... Kiso川 Kusumoto.

Kusumoto, who was in charge of the author and a top-three light novel writer in the industry, [Kaita Rushia], heads to her house.

It was because Rushia suddenly told him that she wouldn't write for the label anymore...

"What... what is this...? It's huge..."

Kusumoto found himself in one of the prime locations in the city.

There stood a massive, old-fashioned mansion.

"A house this big... I've only seen it in dramas..."

The nameplate at the entrance read [Kaita].

This must be Kaita Rushia's house.

By the way, the reason Kusumoto knew where the house was is that authors sign their real names and addresses in their contracts with publishers.

Since he had taken over Kōya's role as Rushia's editor, he knew where she lived.

"Anyway, I have to meet her and talk!"

Kusumoto tried to enter the house.

But...

"Arf arf arf arf!"

"Ah! What are these things...!"

The moment he stepped into the yard, several large dogs attacked him.

Dobermans, Mastiffs, Tosa Inus, Akita Inus, and more...

Big and aggressive dogs pounced on Kusumoto.

"It hurts! Stop...! Damn it, stop! Stop it!"

They weren't playing.

They saw Kusumoto as an intruder and identified him as an enemy.

Kusumoto was bitten and tackled, suffering greatly.

"Damn it! Don't underestimate me, you dogs!"

He kicked the head of an Akita Inu nearby with a thud.

"Yip!"

"Ha! Don't underestimate me, you damn dog!"

The Akita Inu staggered and ran back to the mansion.

The other dogs growled and glared at Kusumoto.

"What the hell is this place..."

Just then...

"Who are you?"

A muscular man in a black suit approached.

At first glance, he didn't seem like a regular person.

He wore sunglasses.

His bodybuilder-like physique was hidden under a suit.

He must be one of the people from this house. Thank goodness.

"Ah, sorry! I'm Kiso川 Kusumoto from Takanawa Books' editorial department! I came to see Ms. Kaita Rushia!"

"To the young lady...?"

Young lady? Who is he talking about...?

In context, it must be Rushia.

A muscular bodyguard, a samurai-like mansion, and a young lady...

Who is Rushia, really?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kusumoto, but I can't let you see the young lady."

"Huh? Why not?"

"The young lady told me not to let you in under any circumstances."

"What! No, no! I'm Ms. Rushia's editor!"

"I'm sorry, but please leave."

Why would Rushia do something to distance herself from him?

He didn't understand.

But he couldn't back down here.

"Please! We need Ms. Rushia to write for us! The company will be in trouble!"

...It wasn't the company that would be in trouble, but himself.

If a top-tier light novel writer stopped writing for Takanawa because of his mistake...

It was clear that Kusumoto would be held responsible.

"Please!"

"Please leave."

"Damn it!"

Kusumoto pushed the man and tried to enter the mansion.

But... his vision flipped.

"Huh? Gah!"

Suddenly, Kusumoto was flying through the air.

He then fell to the ground.

"Ouch..."

He turned around to see the large man in a fighting stance.

He must have practiced some martial art and used a technique to throw him.

The man grabbed Kusumoto's arm and applied a joint lock.

"Ouch! It hurts! You're going to break my arm!"

"If you continue to cause trouble, I'll have no choice but to break your arm."

Crack...

"Ouch! Stop! It hurts!"

Just then...

"Kusumoto, stop."

A girl's voice came from somewhere.

The large man, called Kusumoto, stepped back from Kusumoto.

"Ouch... my shoulder is dislocated... it really hurts..."

Kusumoto, lying on the ground, looked at the girl approaching.

There stood...

A young girl in an expensive kimono.

She looked to be in her early teens... no, around ten years old.

She wore a phoenix obi and a bright red kimono.

Her most distinctive features were her snow-white hair and bright red eyes.

She must be an albino.

"Are you Kusumoto?"

The girl said coldly.

"Y-Yeah... who are you?"

A vein popped on the girl's temple.

"...As an editor, you don't even know what the author looks like?"

"Huh...? Huh!? You can't be this kid... no, you are...?"

Kusumoto said, surprised.

"The young lady of the [Kaita Group], Kaita Rushia."

"Huh...? The young lady of the Kaita Group!?"

The Kaita Group.

It was the group formed after the dissolution of the Kaita Zaibatsu, one of the three major zaibatsu in Japan.

The Kaita Group still held significant influence in Japanese politics and economics.

(Why would a young lady from such a powerful family be a light novel writer!? She doesn't need to...! She's rich!)

But...

(No, this could be a chance! If I impress the young lady, I'll be set for life! Hehehe!)

Blinded by greed...

Kusumoto didn't notice the anger in Rushia's eyes.

"Sorry...! I'm sorry, Ms. Rushia!"

He smiled creepily.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Kusumoto! I'm sorry for not greeting you earlier, Ms. Rushia! You're so beautiful!"

Kusumoto tried to get closer.

He was a scumbag, but he had a good face.

He believed that any woman would fall for his charming looks.

He had seduced many women this way, including Misae and the editor from Jūnikan.

Rushia was just a woman, and with his looks...

"You're amazing! A young lady from a powerful family, so beautiful, and a genius writer!"

Rushia reacted strongly to the last part.

Kusumoto didn't notice her grinding her teeth.

"Wow, a genius young lady writer! The future of Takanawa, no, the light novel industry!"

"Kusumoto."

"Yes, sir."

Kusumoto approached and punched Kusumoto in the face.

"Ow!"

The punch was incredibly powerful.

Kusumoto, who weighed over 60 kg, flew through the air like a ball and crashed to the ground.

"What...? What...?"

His right face was dented.

When he checked with a hand mirror, it was dented in the shape of a fist.

Not because of the power...

But because his face was deformed from the punch.

"What did you do!?"

"Kusumoto. Silence that stray dog."

The large man cracked his knuckles and approached.

"Violence is wrong! If you come any closer, I'll call the police!"

But Rushia looked down at him coldly.

"Go ahead and call them."

"Huh?"

"Call the police. Kusumoto, don't lay a hand on him."

Kusumoto retracted his fist.

Confused, Kusumoto asked.

"Wh-What? You're going to call the police?"

"I'll call the police. The Kaita Group's influence is not to be underestimated, you know."

Kusumoto shuddered.

"Even the police...?"

"The Kaita Group has such strong influence in Japan. And... you've angered the granddaughter of the current head, [Kaita Takahara], [Kaita Rushia]. Do you understand what that means, even with your small brain?"

The Kaita Group had influence over the police.

Kusumoto had stepped on the tail of a tiger... no, a dragon.

"Why! What did I do!?"

Rushia held up three fingers.

"You've done three things to displease me. One, you kicked my important friend."

"Friend...?"

Next to Rushia sat an Akita Inu.

"You mean the dog...?"

The idea of a dog being a friend was so disdainful that it slipped out.

This further angered Rushia.

"Two, you insulted my work."

"I didn't insult your work!"

"Did you read the final volume of [Senmo]... even once?"

"Ah..."

...He hadn't.

"The final volume of [Senmo] was the best manuscript I created with [Okaya]. It was perfect, with no flaws. But you didn't even correct the typos, didn't comment on the content, and didn't give any feedback."

...That was true.

Rushia's manuscript was completed by Okaya.

Kusumoto had just published it. He wasn't interested in the manuscript.

To him, [Senmo] was just a cash cow, and the content didn't matter.

Rushia could sense his shallow feelings.

"Three. This is the worst."

Rushia's body trembled.

"You hurt and drove away someone important to me."

"Someone important to a young lady from a powerful family... I didn't hurt anyone!"

Who could it be!?

He didn't know anyone important to a young lady from an old zaibatsu!

While Kusumoto was in chaos, Rushia said.

"You hurt Okaya. Rushia's... second most important person."

"Okaya...? The window editor! Okaya Mitsuhiro!?"

Why was Okaya's name mentioned? Kusumoto was confused.

"Okaya respected me as a writer, not as a young lady from a powerful family or the granddaughter of [Kaita Takahara]."

A quiet anger overflowed from her small body.

Kusumoto was completely overwhelmed.

"I respected Okaya. I wanted to create more works with her... but you took her away from me!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but the aura of anger made Kusumoto wet his pants.

"Get lost, scum. I won't work with Takanawa anymore. And... I'll report this to my grandfather. You should tremble in your sleep."

Rushia left with the Akita Inu.

The top of a massive corporation with influence over the Japanese economy and even the police...

Kusumoto's foolish actions would reach her ears.

What would that mean?

"Wait! Please! Forgive me! I'll apologize!"

"I don't need your apology. Okaya's departure is your fault. That is a pure and unchanging fact. ...Remember that."

Rushia left without looking back.

"Wait! Wait! Gah..."

Kusumoto tried to cling to her, but Kusumoto was grabbed by Kusumoto and thrown over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, but please leave. ...If you come any closer..."

Kusumoto reached into his pocket.

"A gun!? Ahhh!"

Kusumoto cried and ran away.

What Kusumoto pulled out was... a mobile phone.

"Hello, brother? Yeah... I'm at work. Yeah... the young lady is doing well. Alissa is... okay. Yeah, see you, brother."

It was just a call from his family.

As for Kusumoto...

"Damn it! Damn it! What is this! What is this!"

He cried and left.

But... he didn't know.

He had not just stepped on a tiger's tail, but touched a dragon's scales.

By angering a young lady writer with influence over the Japanese economy...

He would bring misfortune not only to himself but to his company as well.