"What a messed-up conclusion."
Rubbing her aching temples, the emotions from the story surged once more from the depths of her heart.
"Damn it! Why did I have to read this story?"
When she first finished playing "The Witch's House," the only character she hated was Ellen.
But after reading "The Witch's Diary," she suddenly realized... there was no one she could truly hate.
All the misfortune stemmed from this twisted world.
But this twisted world... is completely fictional!!
Frustration filled her chest, with no target to vent on, leaving her feeling even more miserable.
"No wonder he is called the Master of Depression."
Feeling the magical-level stomachache that came not from physical pain but from emotional turmoil, Machida bitterly shook her head.
"I feel like I just saved money on today's meals."
Since Machida read the story at a normal pace, by the time she finished, most readers had already done the same.
And right at that moment, the online community exploded.
"Waaah, why does this hurt so much?! Why is this so heartbreaking?!"
"I feel like my soul is shattering!"
"At first, I only hated Ellen, but after reading this, I can't bring myself to hate her anymore!"
"Because Ellen is pitiful too!!"
"You can't judge others without understanding their suffering."
"She was abandoned by her mother, and her father never cared about her. If I went through that, I wouldn't fare any better."
"It's just too tragic..."
"The devil's appearance was like a rope thrown to a drowning Ellen. If she didn't grab it, she'd be swallowed by the abyss."
"But Ellen's crimes are unforgivable! Over hundreds of years, she lured countless people into the house and killed them! And what she did to Viola..."
"Wake up! No one is trying to justify Ellen's actions. It's just that, after understanding her past, we realized the true source of hatred isn't her, but something else. That's why this hurts so much!"
"I feel so conflicted and miserable."
"I regret reading this..."
"Regret +1!"
"What kind of mental state that someone need to be in order to write this?!"
If players of "The Witch's House" felt pain...
Then after reading "The Witch's Diary," that pain was replaced by endless emotional turmoil.
Don't think that feeling conflicted is better than feeling pain.
Because while feeling conflicted, the original pain from the game didn't lessen at allin fact, it only intensified over time.
Emotionally, they understood that Ellen's choices were inevitable.
But logically, they couldn't forgive her actions.
As this emotional turmoil twisted and tangled in their hearts, the game sales of "The Witch's House" skyrocketed.
Monday morning.
Akifumi Mugiho had just taken his seat when Kato called out to him.
The usually emotionless girl wore a rare expression of concern.
"Akifumi, are you okay?"
"Huh? What do you mean? What's wrong with me?"
"Didn't you release that game 'The Witch's House' on Friday?"
"Oh? Did you play it too, Kato?"
Kato shook her head. "For various reasons, I didn't get to play it."
'What a shame.'
Akifumi couldn't help but wonder what kind of expression Kato would make after playing it.
Just imagining it filled him with anticipation.
"Then why are you asking me this?"
"Because everyone online is worried about your mental health."
Before Akifumi could respond, Kato added, "But seeing how you're talking now, I guess you're fine. That's a relief."
"..."
What the heck?
Why is everyone worried about my mental health?!
Confused, Akifumi took out his phone.
The top trending post immediately made his expression twitch.
"Exposed! Warrior of Love and Hope-sensei is Having a Mental Breakdown Led to the Creation of 'The Witch's House'!!"
[200] A Small Shock of "Love" for Everyone!
"You're the one who's heartbroken! You're the one with mental issues! You're the one who's gone through some unspeakably tragic event!"
Akifumi grumbled as he closed the post with frustration.
Taking a deep breath, he forced a smile and turned to Kato. "Kato, give me a moment."
With that, he reopened the post, copied the link, and sent it to Mihari via LINE.
Stepping out into the empty corridor, he dialed Mihari's number. The call was answered with a surprised tone from the other end:
"Akifumi-sensei? Calling me this early? Is something wrong?"
"I just sent you a post on LINE. I need you to get a lawyer and sue them."
"...Huh?" Though bewildered, Mihari didn't hesitate to agree. "..Okay. By the way, do you have time this afternoon?"
"What's the matter?"
"There's something important I need to discuss with you in person."
"Alright, I'll come by after school."
"Thank you."
Hanging up, Akifumi glanced at the post title once more, his expression darkening.
"Do these people really think the internet is a lawless place? Let's see who's laughing now."
The school day passed swiftly.
On the subway platform:
"Take care on your way home."
"Mm." Mashiro nodded.
Mahiru smiled, "You too, Mugiho-kun."
Akifumi smiled back and parted ways with the girls.
He then headed to Shueisha's office. In the familiar meeting room, Mihari was already waiting.
As he sat down, Akifumi glanced around and commented, "The office seems quite empty today."
"It's Monday. There are several meetings and preparations for the next issue. Naturally, you won't see many people around."
Considering the occasional late-night and weekend overtime, the life of an editor was indeed tough.
"So, what's the reason for calling me here today?"
Mihari handed him a prepared document with a smile. "You'll understand once you read this."
Curious, Akifumi opened the file.
A moment later, he exclaimed, "This is quite the surprise!"
Mihari chuckled awkwardly. "It's not really surprising. This is a benefit you rightfully deserve, Akifumi-sensei. If not for an unexpected issue with the previous partner, this contract would've been signed last year."
"Well, better late than never."
Without hesitation, Akifumi signed his name on the document.
It was a contract authorizing the overseas publication of his works.
Due to additional taxes and expenses, the royalty percentage was reduced to 8%, but the potential revenue from the international market was massive.
While manga, light novels, and anime were pillars of the Japanese economy, the domestic audience was limited.
Overseas, with a larger population and growing interest in otaku culture, even an 8% royalty could surpass the total revenue from multiple works in Japan.
"Akifumi-sensei, your works will be officially released overseas this Thursday. However, due to translation progress, only the first six volumes of 'Your Lie in April' and none of 'Akame ga Kill' will be available for now."
"'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' and 'Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day' have been ready since last year but were delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."
Akifumi nodded in understanding.
"I'll keep you updated with the latest feedback from overseas readers."
"I appreciate your effort, Mihari-san."
After some casual conversation, Akifumi bid farewell and left the office.
In a high school classroom on a foreign country, an ordinary student named Alex overheard an exciting conversation between classmates.
"This is awesome! Sensei's works are finally being released here!"
"Sensei? What works?"
"Warrior of Love and Hope! A rising mangaka who debuted last year!"
"Why bother with a rookie?"
"Rookie? All of their works have sold over a million copies each!"
"A million? Big deal."
"In Japan, even top-tier manga like 'One Piece' only sells around a million copies per volume annually. That's a huge achievement!"
"Wait... Isn't 'One Piece' selling millions per volume here?"
"Exactly! The market dynamics are completely different. This new mangaka's sales are already on par with veteran artists. I'm hyped!"
"Have you read their works?"
"Of course! I saw them at my brother's place. The art is incredible, but I couldn't understand the text."
"So, when will it be available in stores?"
"This Thursday! I just hope my wallet survives."
"Come on, a manga volume is only about 30 yuan."
"But... there are 15 volumes across three completed series!"
"...Wait, you said this mangaka debuted just a year ago?"
"Yeah, but they work insanely fast!"
"Well, I'll just buy one volume to see if I like it."
Alex, who had been quietly listening, couldn't help but feel intrigued.
"A rookie author? Million-copy sales? Fifteen volumes in a year?"
As a closet fan of Akifumi, Alex fully understood the significance of these numbers.
"If this data is legit, this person is a rising star in the manga world!"
"Warrior of Love and Hope... Thursday, huh?"
Alex made a mental note to check out the series the moment it hit the shelves.
Daily uploads will resume as usualexcept on Sundays!
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[201] Reigniting Popularity! A Sales Explosion!!
Time flew by, and soon it was Thursday.
As the lunch bell rang, Alex left school, taking advantage of the brief window when students were allowed to go out.
He headed straight to the nearest bookstore.
At the entrance, three large promotional posters and their accompanying taglines caught his eye:
"Miracles aren't free. If you wish for hope, you must also be prepared to spread equal despair." Puella Magi Madoka Magica
"I have known the meaning of flowers, but never their names. When I see them bloom again, my tears fall like rain." Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
"The moment I met him, my life changed. Everything I saw, felt, and experienced became colorful. The whole world began to shine!" Your Lie in April
Staring at the beautifully illustrated covers and the deeply meaningful taglines, Alex found himself in a dilemma.
After much internal debate, he finally reached for Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
"Even if I don't end up liking it, I can always give it to my sister as a birthday gift."
Genius moveone purchase, two uses!
Grabbing a takeaway on the way back, Alex returned to his dormitory.
His roommates were either still at the cafeteria or busy elsewhere, leaving the room empty.
After quickly finishing his meal, he tore off the plastic wrap and climbed onto his upper bunk, book in hand.
"Over 200 pages?"
No wonder it was so expensive!
One volume had cost him 10$equivalent to his entire day's meal budget!
Still, since it doubled as a gift for his sister later, the sting of the expense faded quickly.
Flipping through the pages, he admired the exquisite artwork but couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"How did a magical girl series manage to sell over a million copies in Japan?"
If it had appealing characters and fan service, he could understand it selling well in Japan, given the sheer amount of the market around them.
Time passed unknowingly, and soon, the afternoon class bell rang.
"Alex, class is starting! Get up already!"
His roommate's voice called out, and Alex lazily responded, "Yeah, yeah, I know. You go first, I'll be right there."
"Don't be late!"
Once his roommate left, Alex quickly flipped through the last few pages.
Staring at the cover, where a cheerful blonde girl smiled brightly, his expression turned complicated.
"She just... died like that?!"
"What about the other girls? What fate awaits them?"
With a lingering glance at the cover, he knew he couldn't afford to dawdle any longer. He left the dorm, making a firm decision in his heart:
'After class, I'm buying the next volume no matter what!'
"That means an extra 10$ spent today..."
Hiss.
Alex sucked in a sharp breath.
That was hard-earned money he had been saving up!
But the thought of knowing the story's continuation made his heart itch with anticipation.
In the battle between financial pain and the urge to finish the book, the latter won.
The afternoon classes felt like an eternity.
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, Alex bolted out of the school.
Only to be met with a cruel reality...
"Sold out?!"
Alex stared in shock.
The bookstore owner shrugged helplessly. "I didn't expect it to be this popular either."
"They were all gone before the first afternoon class even started."
"But don't worry, I'll restock soon. Check back next week."
'No way...'
He had finally worked up the resolve, spent the whole afternoon looking forward to itand now he had to wait an entire week for the ending?!
This was even worse than dropping out of the top ten in his grade!
But no matter how frustrated he felt, he had no choice but to accept it. Dejected, he left the bookstore.
As time passed, something unexpected happened.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Anohana, and Your Lie in April were sold out in bookstores nationwide!
A trending topic exploded on social media: "Top-Selling Light Novel and Mangas Completely Out of Stock!"
Below the post, countless frustrated readers shared their grievances:
"I just finished Volume 1 of Madoka Magica and went to buy the second oneonly to be told it's out of stock. My heart is shattered."
"That's exactly how I felt when I couldn't find the next volume of Anohana!"
"You guys are lucky. At least your series will be restocked next week. I just finished Volume 6 of Your Lie in April, and who knows when the remaining five will even be released?!"
"These bookstores are ridiculous! Why stock so little of such good titles? Don't they want to make money?!"
"Glad I bought the whole set. My weekend is booked!"
"As someone who already read the raw versions, let me warn you: If you've only finished Volume 1, do yourself a favordon't read the next volume. Trust me!"
"Nonsense! The later volumes are where the real masterpiece begins!"
"If you don't read the next volume, you're missing out on the essence of all three series!"
"If you love this mangaka's work, check out The Witch's House on Steam. It's his latest project!"
"Wait... are you serious?!"
"Damn, even Satan would bow to you for this recommendation!"
"Isn't Steam a gaming platform? What does it have to do with this manga author?"
"Some of you might not know this, but the creator, Warrior of Love and Hope, originally debuted as a manga artist. However, his works span multiple fields, from light novels to anime screenwriting and even indie game development. The Witch's House was his first-ever game, and it's fantastic!"
