Next Bonus Chapter At 900 Power Stones
Support me at patreon.com/CulturedOne and read 50 Advanced Chapters
_______________________
According to the protocols of Kiyozawa Library, any work that consistently ranks in the bottom three of the flagship Kiyozawa magazine, shows mediocre market performance, or exceeds a specific threshold of negative reader feedback is subject to a downgrade.
Such works are transferred to the secondary magazine, Azure Kiyozawa, to finish their run. This was precisely the fate of series like Azure Sigil, which had been surpassed by Parasyte.
However, a starved camel is still larger than a horse; while these works might fail to compete in the main magazine, they usually possess enough residual power to dominate the top ranks of Azure Kiyozawa.
Conversely, the regulations also state that if a novel in Azure Kiyozawa manages to climb to the number one spot, provided it was not a series previously downgraded from the main magazine, the publishing house must convene a formal meeting. The purpose is to discuss whether the work should be "upgraded" to the flagship Kiyozawa magazine.
In the meeting room today, the members of the editorial department were locked in a heated debate.
"Looking at the raw data, the performance of Parasyte more than justifies its place in the main Kiyozawa magazine. However, we must consider that the author intends to conclude the series within the next two months. Is there truly a necessity to transfer it under such circumstances?" one editor questioned.
"Even if it is nearing its end, the tankobon volumes are about to be released. Transferring it to Kiyozawa now will expose the work to the vast flagship audience, significantly boosting its sales. Since Parasyte achieved this level of success without any initial backing from the company's resources, and since its data and ratings meet every requirement, we must uphold our promise to the authors," another countered.
"Exactly," an older male editor added in a deep, resonant voice. "Many novels have been downgraded from Kiyozawa to Azure Kiyozawa due to lack of popularity, but not a single one has successfully earned an upgrade in the last four years. If a work with the results and critical acclaim of Parasyte is denied its 'promotion,' then our entire system of advancement becomes a joke in the eyes of the industry. Our credibility would vanish."
"Indeed. We cannot dismiss the transfer as meaningless just because the series is ending soon. This is about the integrity of our institution. Thousands of light novel authors across Japan believe that if they can just secure a spot in Azure Kiyozawa and reach that top rank, they have a shot at the big league. If we reject Parasyte now, their faith in that dream will crumble."
A large group of editors continued to argue back and forth. Everyone understood the logic, but some were hesitant because a serialization slot in the flagship magazine was a prize of immense value. If they blocked Parasyte, that slot would become available for a new work from one of their top-tier veteran authors.
The Editor-in-Chief was a man with thinning white hair named Arata. He sat in thoughtful silence, carefully reviewing the information regarding Parasyte and its creator, Shiori Takahashi.
"He is not one of our long-term contracted authors, is he?" Arata mused with a faint smile before looking up at the room.
"That is enough."
"Two weeks from now, the twentieth chapter of Parasyte, this week's number one in Azure Kiyozawa, will swap places with the forty-third chapter of Throne of the Dragons, which currently sits in last place in the flagship Kiyozawa magazine."
"Throne of the Dragons will be downgraded to Azure Kiyozawa, and Parasyte will be upgraded to the flagship."
The moment the Editor-in-Chief spoke, the room fell into an immediate silence. His authority was absolute, and speaking out now would only be asking for trouble.
"By the way," Arata continued, "I believe Parasyte has also been nominated for the Naoki Awards this year, hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has."
"Very well. Being in the flagship magazine will provide a massive boost to its popularity and influence. By the time the final selection for the Naoki Awards happens in April, Parasyte will be finished. We shall see what rank it manages to achieve then," He said with a grin. "Many people in the industry have been praising both the work and its creator, Shiori Takahashi, in my presence lately. I am quite excited that our company has attracted such a promising young talent. Let's take this opportunity to see just how high his ceiling truly is."
Once the decision was finalized internally, the gears of Kiyozawa Library turned with remarkable speed.
By the afternoon, the promotional campaign had already taken over the front page of their official website. Temporary announcement pages were added to the upcoming issues of both magazines to inform the readers of Parasyte and Throne of the Dragons.
By that evening, a significant portion of the light novel community had learned the news through various channels.
Among the fans, the reaction was swift. "It doesn't matter to me. Actually, it's better; I don't have to buy Azure Kiyozawa anymore. I only bought that magazine to follow Parasyte anyway."
"Most people who buy the secondary magazine buy the flagship one too. The overlap is huge, so it won't change much for me. I'll just keep reading it there."
"How can you say it won't change much? Being in the flagship Kiyozawa means the popularity of the series is going to explode."
"But wait, won't the flagship readers who haven't been following Azure Kiyozawa feel lost? They missed several chapters of the story. Will they accept it?"
"That's a valid point for an upgraded series. It might feel abrupt to some, but the first tankobon volume goes on sale next week. New readers can just use that to catch up on the plot."
"Don't worry about it. The popularity of this series is only going to go up. Even if some flagship readers haven't seen it yet, there are plenty of Shiori fans ready and willing to explain the back story to them."
While Haruto's fans were buzzing with excitement, the news sent shockwaves through the wider light novel industry.
Between the "Big Three" magazines, there are only thirty serialization slots in total. These thirty spots represent the pinnacle of status in the literary world. If you have a novel serialized in one of those magazines, you are considered a top-tier author for at least two years after the work concludes. Essentially, these thirty slots are the ultimate certification of professional quality.
If someone claims to have talent or weight in the industry, people simply look at their professional resume to see if they have ever successfully finished a series in one of the Big Three.
Historically, the youngest author to ever successfully serialize a work in the Big Three without being cancelled or moved was nineteen years old. That record had stood for eleven years.
But today, the announcement from Kiyozawa Library told the entire industry that the age floor was about to be shattered.
Shiori Takahashi.
Real name: Haruto.
Age: Eighteen.
A first-year student at Minazuki University.
Author of To the Moon, Anohana, and Blue Spring Ride.
When these details were made public, many people were left in a state of sheer disbelief.
They had assumed he was a newcomer out of nowhere, but To the Moon and Anohana had been incredibly famous the previous year.
Looking at the sheer impact Parasyte was already having, no one in the industry could find a reason to complain about the publisher's decision. Haruto had more than earned his place.
It was still too early to tell what kind of legacy Parasyte would have in the light novel world, but its creator had already secured his name.
At just eighteen, being published in the flagship Kiyozawa was a feat that ensured he would be remembered.