“I’m so tired!”
The next day, Yotsuya Miko, radiating the same aura of a dried-up fish, arrived at Ruri’s apartment.
“What’s wrong?” Ruri asked while brushing his teeth.
Yotsuya Miko sighed, “My mom and Kyojui kept asking me questions. By the way, are we going to slay evil spirits during the day?”
“Uh…” Ruri’s expression faltered, a hint of helplessness in his voice, “Ordinary people can’t see ghosts. If we run around wielding swords, they’ll probably think we’re crazy.”
Yotsuya Miko’s face drooped, “You’re right! Then what do we do today?”
“You can do whatever you want during the day,” Ruri pondered. “You can go shopping with Yurikawa Hana. If you can, try to bring her into our Family.”
Ruri couldn’t possibly refuse such an opportunity to recruit a Family member with powerful fortune. Each Family member with powerful fortune granted 100 points of divine power.
“Huh?” Yotsuya Miko’s expression turned ambiguous. “My divine lord, are you trying to get your hands on Hana again?”
“That’s right,” Ruri didn’t shy away. “There’s no harm in joining a Family anyway.”
“Humph!” Yotsuya Miko didn’t believe him.
Joining the Family would ultimately lead to being consumed by the divine lord.
Despite these thoughts, Yotsuya Miko expertly started preparing breakfast.
Just then, the phone rang.
“Is this Divine Lord Sensei?” A pleasant female voice came from the other end of the line.
“It’s me.”
“This is the Fushikawa Library. When would Sensei be available to discuss the novel contract?”
Ruri pondered, “Today.”
“Okay.” Machida Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief, “Shall we meet at the Rokutenma Shopping Plaza then?”
“Okay.”
Yotsuya Miko watched as Ruri hung up the phone and curiously asked, “Who was that?”
“It was the editor from the Fushikawa Library. They want to talk about the contract for my novel.”
“Fushikawa Library?” Yotsuya Miko was shocked. “Light novel? My divine lord, you’ve written a light novel?”
Ruri explained, “I didn’t actually write it. It’s just a novel created using divine power.”
“Divine power is that convenient?” Yotsuya Miko envied him, bringing breakfast to the table.
Ruri smiled, “Divine power is omnipotent.”
After breakfast, Ruri and Yotsuya Miko parted ways, heading towards the agreed meeting place.
…
Nine in the morning.
The Rokutenma Shopping Plaza was bustling with people.
Ruri quickly found Machida Sonoko.
Beside Machida Sonoko, a familiar figure appeared—Kashiwagi Shizuka.
At that moment, Kashiwagi Shizuka looked troubled, her brows slightly furrowed.
“Machida Editor…”
“Who are you?” Machida Sonoko looked at the young man in front of her, somewhat surprised. “Are you Divine Lord Sensei?”
“That’s me,” Ruri nodded.
Machida Sonoko was stunned.
Are light novel authors this young now?
With that thought, she quickly invited Ruri to sit down.
Kashiwagi Shizuka looked over, surprised. “Kohai-kun?”
Machida Sonoko, “Shi-chan, you know Divine Lord Sensei?”
Ruri said, “Kashiwagi Senpai and I are students from the same school.”
“What a coincidence.” Machida Sonoko smiled, “You two can interact more from now on. Divine Lord Sensei’s novel hasn’t been published yet, but it’s incredibly impressive. It has great potential to be a hit.”
After the pleasantries, the two formally discussed the contract.
“10% royalty, initial print run of 20,000 copies. How does that sound?”
The royalty for light novels is usually 8%-14%. For a newcomer, Machida Sonoko was offering a very generous 10% royalty.
Ruri nodded lightly and signed the contract, “Thank you, Machida Editor.”
Machida Sonoko reminded him, “One more thing, don’t delay the manuscript.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Kashiwagi Shizuka, a little headache.
Ruri laughed, “Don’t worry, one volume every two months, it’s very easy.”
Machida Sonoko nodded, “Hopefully.”
After the negotiations, Ruri didn’t linger, getting up to leave.
As he walked out of the cafe, his phone rang.
【Divine Lord, I found a place with lots of ghosts, let’s go together tonight?】
The message was from Yotsuya Miko.
At that moment, Yotsuya Miko and Yurikawa Hana were standing in line at a pastry shop.
“PP Daifuku, I’m so happy, I finally got to buy some today.” Yurikawa Hana looked content. “Miko, are you chatting with your boyfriend again?”
Yotsuya Miko, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Don’t say that,” Yurikawa Hana didn’t believe her. “Don’t worry, I won’t fight with you for him.”
Yotsuya Miko was speechless. Suddenly, she remembered Ruri’s instructions and said, “Hana, do you want to experience something mysterious?”
“Mysterious?” Yurikawa Hana was puzzled.
Yotsuya Miko, “Let’s talk after we buy the pastries.”
Moments later, the two bought several PP Daifuku and found a quiet spot.
Yotsuya Miko asked, “Hana, do you believe in ghosts?”
“Ah!” Yurikawa Hana’s expression changed, she looked around suspiciously and complained, “Miko, don’t scare me!”
Yotsuya Miko shook her head, “I’m not lying…”
She then told Yurikawa Hana about her experiences over the past period.
“Everywhere is full of evil spirits?”
“No wonder Miko has been like a dried-up fish lately. Could Miko be telling the truth?”
“But deities and things, it’s too unbelievable!”
After a moment of hesitation.
Yurikawa Hana said, “Miko, I want to see Ruri-kun before I believe you. Let’s go now!”
If she was alone, she would have been scared of being tricked.
But Miko was her best friend, and her trust was immediately earned.
Yotsuya Miko nodded and sent a message, “I’ve already told Divine Lord, let’s go.”
…
“Ruri-kun, we’re here!”
“It’s so small!”
Yurikawa Hana looked at the tiny apartment and started commenting like she was on a tour.
Ruri was speechless, “No money, what can I do!”
“Divine Lord is so poor!”
Yurikawa Hana sighed, “Is Ruri-kun really a deity?”
“Of course,” Ruri nodded. “Want to join the Family? There are many benefits!”
Yurikawa Hana hesitated, “You’re not lying?”
“Of course not.” Ruri looked at Yotsuya Miko. “Don’t believe me? Ask Miko. When has Miko ever lied to you?”
“Then I’ll join the Family too,” Yurikawa Hana’s eyes lit up. “I want that blessing too. They say it can keep you eternally young, right, Divine Lord?”
“You have to reach a higher level for that,” Ruri explained.
Yurikawa Hana was curious, “How do we do it now?”
“Divine Lord, step aside for a moment, I’ll get Hana ready.” Yotsuya Miko stepped forward and quietly gave instructions.
When Ruri came back out of the bedroom, Yurikawa Hana was already lying on the couch, ready.
“This is so embarrassing, why does the blessing have to be on my back?” Yurikawa Hana exclaimed.
Ruri smiled, “It’ll be over soon.”
He took out a steel needle, gently pricked his finger, and a drop of divine blood fell onto Yurikawa Hana’s back. Instantly, the Family pattern and various data appeared.
Yotsuya Miko watched from the side, surprised. “Amazing, is this granting blessings?”
Yurikawa Hana was curious and started shouting, “I want to see too, Miko, record a video, I want to see!”