'Kiyozawa Library?'
Haruto froze for a moment when he heard those words.
In Japan, the light novel industry was dominated by seven titan publishing houses.
The undisputed Big Three were Kiyozawa Library, Seisawa Books, and Hoshizora Novels.
These three possessed distribution networks that reached every bookstore and convenience store in every prefecture across the country.
The remaining four, Minazuki Press, Dawn Publishing, Genshu Books, and Hamon Novels, were respectable but operated on a smaller scale, covering only a handful of regions.
It was a clear hierarchy of three giants and four challengers.
Among these seven, the two most powerful entities headquartered in the Tokyo metropolitan area were Seisawa Books and Kiyozawa Library. Konning was a rising star groomed by Seisawa Books. His rapid ascent was partly due to his undeniable talent, but it was common knowledge that his father being an Editor in Chief at Seisawa played a significant role. Meanwhile, Fuji, who took third place in the Ascent of New Gods competition, was a prodigy backed by Hoshizora Novels.
As for the second place winner, Aika, she was the top tier newcomer nurtured by Kiyozawa Library. If Haruto had not appeared out of nowhere to disrupt the status quo, Aika was guaranteed to win the Ascent of New Gods award, solidifying her reputation as the strongest newcomer in the industry over the last two years.
Haruto opened the door to find a woman in her thirties. She possessed refined features and a sharp, professional air. Standing beside her was a young male assistant who looked like a fresh university graduate, appearing a bit lean and nervous.
"Hello. I am Ms. Sato from Kiyozawa Library, and this is my assistant, Tanaka."
The woman offered Haruto a brilliant smile the moment she saw him.
"Please, come in," Haruto said after a brief hesitation, stepping aside to let them enter.
Ms. Sato scanned the three bedroom apartment. While the renovation was modest and the space was not particularly vast, it was tastefully arranged and immaculately clean. Even though Haruto lived alone, the air did not carry the stale scent of stacked takeout containers or unwashed laundry. She gave a small, approving nod.
This was a massive improvement over the environment she had encountered when she tried to poach a college author from a university dormitory in Tokyo. She could still vividly recall the four person dorm room where the pile of trash was as high as her waist. The smell had been a core memory she wished she could forget.
Haruto poured tea for his guests and then sat down, waiting for them to break the silence. The reason for their visit was obvious to everyone in the room.
They knew Haruto had already guessed their intentions, yet neither side wanted to be the first to speak.
After a tense thirty seconds of silence, Ms. Sato realized that Haruto had no intention of opening the conversation. He simply watched her with a calm expression. Feeling the awkwardness, she finally spoke up.
"Shiori-sensei, how have you been faring lately?"
"Quite well," Haruto replied. "No back pain, no sore legs, and no need for calcium supplements yet. After all, I am only seventeen."
"Haha, you have a good sense of humor, sensei,"
Ms. Sato said, her smile fading into a more serious expression. "I have heard that you are currently not signed to any long term exclusive contracts with a publisher. Is that correct?"
Haruto paused for a beat before nodding. 'That is correct."
"Then, sensei, have you considered moving beyond Minamijo? Have you thought about leaving a small company like Crimson Maple Literature to pursue your career on a much larger stage?" Ms. Sato asked, finally revealing her purpose.
"I find my current arrangement with Crimson Maple quite comfortable. The people there are kind and have treated me very well," Haruto said, choosing not to give a direct answer.
"I understand. I am not suggesting that Crimson Maple has any issues with their management. I am simply saying they are too small in scale"
Both were speaking politely. Haruto was definitely interested in the olive branch from a giant like Kiyozawa, but he knew that appearing too eager would weaken his negotiating position.
Furthermore, Kiyozawa was only one of the Big Three. He expected the others would come knocking soon.
Following a signal from Ms. Sato, her assistant Tanaka hurriedly handed a formal letter of intent to Haruto. Authors signed to the Big Seven were not just writers; they were treated like idols. They participated in book signings, fan meetings, and appeared on variety shows. In Japan, light novel authors possessed massive commercial value and fame, often enjoying a higher social status than pop stars. Because they were considered part of the literary elite, they were respected as intellectuals regardless of their popularity.
For an author with Haruto's potential, a major publisher would assign a personal manager to handle both their business and personal affairs. During the Ascent of New Gods ceremony, Aika Miyamoto only had to follow her schedule and eat when told; Haruto, on the other hand, had to plan his own travel and logistics. If a dozen such tasks piled up, he would spend all his time on chores and never have a moment to write.
The contract offer focused on a few key points.
First, it was a ten year exclusive deal. Second, it promised one of the industry's top managers to groom him as the ultimate rising star. Third, the publisher would provide top tier marketing resources for his next work, with the budget increasing as his sales hit certain milestones. They assured him that even if he became a superstar within that decade, the contract would be adjusted to reflect his status rather than trapping him in a low paying newcomer deal.
Haruto read the document in silence.
"Every major publisher has their own set of standards for nurturing talent," Tanaka added at Ms. Sato's prompting. "Our standards are largely similar to the others."
"Exactly," Ms. Sato continued. "Even if other houses like Hoshizora or Seisawa reach out to you, you should be wary. While they are slightly larger than Kiyozawa in terms of sheer revenue, their internal structures are incredibly complex. They are riddled with nepotism and corporate politics."
She stopped there, but the implication was clear. A talented person does not fear a challenge, but without a background or a powerful patron, a lone dragon would be picked apart by the vultures in such an environment. Aika had her connections through Kiyozawa, and Fuji's background was a significant factor at Hoshizora.
"Resources are finite in any company," Ms. Sato said firmly. "At Kiyozawa Library, you only need to demonstrate your talent to receive the support you deserve. In other places, that might not be the case."
Haruto continued to study the letter of intent.
"I am still very new to this industry," Haruto finally spoke. "There is much I do not understand. However, I am sure a prestigious company like yours would not try to swindle a minor author like me. I trust that these terms are a fair reflection of the current market."
Ms. Sato smiled and nodded. She appreciated his pragmatism.
Too many newcomers were paranoid, thinking every publisher was out to exploit them.
A company does not reach a billion yen valuation by being a common crook.
However, Haruto's tone shifted.
"I need some time to consider Kiyozawa's offer. And even if I decide to move forward, there is one condition in this document I cannot accept. A ten year contract is simply too long."
'Ten years is too long?' Ms. Sato narrowed her eyes.
"Then what duration do you find appropriate, Shiori Takahashi sensei? Eight years? Nine?"
"No. I value my freedom above all else," Haruto said while shaking his head. "I do not want an exclusive long term deal. I want to sign on a per book basis."
"You do not want an exclusive contract?" Ms. Sato's smile returned, but it carried a hint of condescension, as if she were looking at a naive child. "But sensei, if you refuse to commit to the company, why would the company commit its best resources to you?"
An exclusive contract was the equivalent of being a permanent employee.
The longer the commitment, the more the publisher was willing to invest in the author's brand. It was like the difference between a tenured government official and a freelance contractor. If a freelancer showed ten times the talent of a regular employee, they still wouldn't get the same long term career development opportunities because they could leave at any moment.