The day after the debacle.
That night, I found myself at a bar lounge in a hotel downtown. “Yo! Mitsuhiko, over here.”
A handsome man was sitting at the counter. Hajime Oshiro.
He was a super-popular author, widely regarded as the number two in the light novel industry. His masterpiece was AMO.
Hajime and I had been friends since college, and we were now business partners as well. “Sorry for making you wait.”
“Nah, I just got here too.”
I took a seat at the counter.
We ordered cocktails and clinked our glasses together.
“So then… to celebrate my friends officially getting tied the knot… Cheers!” “Ah, y-yeah…” Clink.
“I mean it, really. I wholeheartedly congratulate you and Ichika on your union.”
Hajime was also friends with Ichika.
The three of us had been classmates in the same Takahara lab back in college.
“Here, a small gift from me.” He flicked his fingers.
The bartender retrieved a bottle of fine wine from the counter.
“That’s an aged vintage. That stuff is outrageously expensive. Are you sure?”
“Pfft… my best friend is going to be happy. I simply must do this much for her.”
“Thanks, Ikka and I will drink to it carefully.”
We chatted while sipping our cocktails.
“But it took more than ten years of hardship just to get together. It really was a long time.” “Yeah… another ten years gone by.”
On the flip side, that means Prince has been an active light novel writer for over a decade now.
He made his debut in his first year of university and continues to this day.
“If you think about how long it took for you to become super famous as a light novel author… it’s pretty significant.”
“Ha ha… don’t flatter me with ‘super famous.’ I’m… Number Two, after all.”
Prince’s AMO series sells quite well.
To be more precise, within the world of Japanese light novels, there is no one who does not know the name Arts Magic Online.
The stage is a virtual reality world, where magic swordsmen embark on their adventures.
Even if you don’t know the story, you’ve surely seen the character of the Black Magic Swordsman.
A massive piece of content loved by countless people… that is AMO.
But… even so, it’s only number two in the industry. “Professor Kamimatsu, huh.”
“That’s right… I have my eternal rival to contend with.”
Professor Kamimatsu. Rising from the web scene, his representative work Digimas has become an unprecedented, once-in-a-generation mega-hit.
The recent anime film adapted from a light novel broke the 60 billion yen mark in box office revenue.
The long-awaited second season of the anime will air starting next January.
“Everyone is looking forward to Digimas Season 2.”
“No… everyone is looking forward to the AMO film too. I am, too.”
The AMO theatrical version will hit screens nationwide in November. The anticipation building up for it is huge.
“Ha ha… Yes, I suppose so. I’m thrilled. The readers, the fans, the staff, the cast… and because of those two editors, we’ve made it this far. All I can feel is gratitude.”
I also serve as AMO for Prince.
It wasn’t from the beginning; I’m the second generation.
“Then… why do you look so sorrowful?”
Prince lowered his eyes and elegantly drained his cocktail. He let out a breath. Phew…
“I’m only saying this because you are my dearest friend…”
It’s scary. Prince murmured softly. “Scary?”
Without compromising his elegant composure, Prince looked at me and said.
“AMO’s movie releases in November. Professor Kamimatsu’s anime is two months later, in January. And… my new work will be released simultaneously with Professor Kamimatsu’s…”
I understood what he was trying to say.
“Are you afraid… of losing to Professor Kamimatsu?”
Prince nodded faintly, barely perceptibly.
In front of everyone, and of course before Mr. Kamimatsu… I put on a brave face, but Prince Ouma is scared too.
That monstrosity of a light novel author… Mr. Kamimatsu.
“Please don’t go spreading it around. I don’t want the people who believe in me and support me to see me looking anxious.” When you hear Shirouma Oujin’s name… White suit, flax-colored hair.
His bright white teeth sparkle dazzlingly; he truly looks like a prince.
He never stops smiling before his fans, always acknowledging the other creators and the fans who help with production.
And above all else, for the fans who support him… he remained [Shirouma Oujin]. But I know the truth.
He’s just a human being too. He has his insecurities. “There’s no reason to say that.” “Thank you. You’re kind.”
Smiling with a tired expression, Prince downed his cocktail in one go.
“It’s fine, Prince. Your new work, AMO, the movies—they’re all wonderful achievements.”
“Ahh, I know that. The best people brought their A-game. They are my treasures… That’s why.” “That’s why,” Prince continued.
“It’s frustrating to lose, isn’t it…!”
Prince gripped his glass tightly. His shoulders were trembling.
“You… did you read Professor Kamimatsu’s new romantic comedy…”
“Ah, yeah. I asked Sakuhira, his editor-in-charge, to let me see it. It was off the charts.”
Only the Prince, possessing more skill as a light novel author than anyone else… could truly understand.
The new work Professor Kamimatsu is scheduled to release at the end of August…
Is an absolute masterpiece. An outrageous one.
“My rival is truly a genius. To be able to write that story at such a young age… And moreover, fantasy and romantic comedy are completely different genres…”
There are genres that come naturally to writers and those that don’t. AMO specializes in sci-fi fantasy.
The Prince is skilled in that kind of slightly logical, analytical storytelling.
On the other hand, he has never really written a romantic comedy. …No. Only I know about it.
About Shirouma Prince’s phantom, unreleased manuscript.
“Did you also want to write a rom-com?”
”…No. I know myself. I just can’t write romantic comedies.”
Once, with the sole goal of defeating Mr. Kamimatsu, I attempted to write a romcom that he had never before tackled. Unquestionably, it was hilarious.
But…… it didn’t come close to matching the divine. Both Prince and I came to understand:
In this genre, no one can surpass God.
As a result of our deliberations, Prince scrapped the manuscript.
Of course, this fact is classified information, known only to me, his editor and friend.
“I lose on AMO. I lose at romcoms…… How am I supposed to measure up to him?……” My friend slumped in despair.
I…… as his friend, spoke to him.
“It’s too early to give up.” “Mitsuhiko……” I took Prince’s hand.
“The match isn’t over yet. It will continue from here on out, for all eternity. If you quit now…… that’s how it ends.”
Bitter memories rising, I told him:
“Prince…… you have talent. No mistake about it. I never had it…… the ability to craft stories that let others dream. You are…… a chosen genius.”
The talent for being a light novel writer—something I lacked. He possesses it.
And that is precisely why I am able to fight on the front lines.
“Professor Kamimatsu is an off-chart freak of nature. An extraterrestrial. Challenging a transcendental being beyond logic and reason would be foolish… There might be those who say such things.” But, I continued.
“I am the challenger who will continue to defy God despite it all… I will support you with everything I have, forever.”
Rushia Aida and Hakuba Oujisama both possess unique, one-of-a-kind talents.
I truly feel that they hold the potential to reach out and touch the divine.
”…Will you stay by my side? Even if I recklessly challenge God and end up broken and utterly defeated… even if I eventually perish?”
“Yes. If it comes to that, I’ll join you in taking our lives together. But… I won’t let it come to that.” I thrust my fist out.
“I don’t know when it will happen. But… absolutely, we are going to defeat God together.”
Oujisama’s eyes widened… and he let out a soft… laugh.
“You sound just like the protagonist of a story.”
“What do you mean? Protagonist? This is the story of you challenging God and winning, isn’t it?”
“Fu… fu, fuhahaha! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The prince stood up and swept his hair back with a dramatic whish gesture.
“Exactly right! You get it, don’t you!”
His white teeth sparkled under the light, his face radiating supreme confidence.
There he was—someone everyone knew well—the super light novel author… the White Horse Prince.
“I am the one! The only man capable of slaying the god!” “Ah, quite right.”
The prince laughed and clapped his fist against mine in a hearty handshake.
“Thanks, Mitsuhiko. You’ve really pumped me up.”
“You’re welcome. I’m your friend, after all.” He gave a small smile before taking a seat on the stool. He apologized to the bartender.
“I apologize for raising my voice and causing such a disturbance.”
“Not at all, White Horse-sensei. Please don’t worry about it.”
The bartender smoothly placed two cocktails on the counter with a clink.
“This is on the house. Sensei… I’m rooting for you!”
The bartender, it seemed, was a fan of AMO as well.
He smiled with a hint of shyness, then broke into his usual confident grin.
“Thanks! Do you have anything to get signed? I’d love to sign it!” “I didn’t expect you to ask so suddenly…”
I pulled a marker and a framed picture out of my bag and handed them over.
“Oh, wow! You’re always prepared. Just like an editor should be.”
During meetings, fans occasionally spring on us asking for autographs, so I keep a standard set on me just in case.
The Prince finished the signature with a flourish and handed it to the bartender.
“Thank you for always supporting me. From now on, I will continue to be the Prince!”
“Ahh, that’s exactly how a prince on a white horse should sound.”
We laughed and drank some more.