I am a literary giant in Japan

Chapter 227 The Girl Who Stayed in the Circus and the Writer Who Kept His Promise

The next morning.

Kitagawa Hide and Yumeko got up early, declined the invitation of the pastor and his daughter to have breakfast together, and took a car back to the foot of Mount Amagi with the touring artist group.

Kaoru and her friends had to go to other villages and towns to perform in the next few days, so they had to say goodbye to Kitagawa Hide and the others reluctantly, and agreed to send them off from Izu in three days.

After returning to the hot spring hotel, Kitagawa Hide took a short rest and then immediately devoted himself to the creation of "The Strange Bird Chronicle".

Next month he will serialize two books at the same time. "The Strange Bird Chronicle" will release another seven chapters in one go, directly completing the first part of the Thief Magpie chapter, and "Assassination of the Knight Commander" will also release the first six chapters of the first part of the Manifestation Concept chapter, allowing readers to enjoy it directly!
Therefore, although there are still more than 20 days until the release date next month, he does not have enough time to create - he still has to submit the new book to Rena Saito for review as usual, and waiting for the finalization of typesetting and printing will waste another week or so.

Time is running out!
While Kitagawa Hide was typing frantically, "Wenyi" and "Literary World" were selling like hot cakes all over Japan.

After the first print run, the daily sales of "Wenyi" has remained stable at more than 10 copies per day. Moreover, after becoming popular on the Internet, the sales rate has not increased but decreased, achieving a rare "reverse growth".

The last time this happened was when the reputation of "No Longer Human" turned around and sales made an ultimate comeback.

"Literary World" is not to be outdone. Arima Yoshiyoshi's reputation as "the best magazine in the world" for more than a decade is not in vain. With the dual support of industry connections and readers' reputation, although the subsequent sales are not as terrifying as at the beginning, it still leaves other pure literature magazines far behind.

8 month 22 day.

The August issue of "Bungei Kyou" has been on sale for exactly one week, and the Oricon chart shows that its total national sales are about 8 copies. The estimated monthly sales will exceed 65.1 million copies, which will 200% break the historical monthly sales record of pure literature magazines set by the July issue of "Wenyi" supplement!
With monthly sales of 200 million copies, it can be compared with those well-known comic magazines.

The sales of "Wenyi", which has only been published for five days, are even more terrifying, with a total national sales of 62.3 copies, and a very good upward momentum. It looks like it may surpass "Wenxuejie" within half a month and become the sales champion of pure literature magazines this month!
Shincho, which was once the unshakable No. 1, wisely stopped its activities this month and has no intention of competing with Kawaide Shobo and Bungeishunju.

It was on this day.

Kawaide Shobo headquarters has dropped another bombshell!
The Nikkan Sports Newspaper, which has a close collaboration with Kawade Shobo, published a shocking secret on the front page:

The new "number one in the world" Mr. Hide Kitagawa will begin serializing another new novel "Assassination of the Grand Commander of the Knights Templar" in "Wenyi" to be released next month!
This news stunned nearly ten million pure literature readers in Japan.

"The Strange Bird Chronicle" has only started serialization this month. On "Kitakawa's Little Bookstore", readers have already learned that this novel is a large volume and is expected to be divided into three parts. The currently serialized chapter "The Thief Magpie" is the first part.

This is just the beginning, how come a new pit is opened? !
Along with the surprise came panic and doubt.

Is it possible that Mr. Kitagawa is going to castrate himself and give the currently serialized "The Strange Bird Chronicle" to a eunuch?
Although the eunuch rate of literary writers is much lower than that of failed authors, there are still many who decisively castrate themselves for reasons such as not being able to continue writing.

Moreover, two novels are serialized at the same time, so how many words do I have to write every day?
Kitagawa-sensei should have no problem with his mental and physical stamina, but is it really enough?
Despite their doubts, readers still have a strong interest in the upcoming serial "Killing Commendatore".

In order to give back to the Nikkan Sports News for its strong support, Kitagawa Hide specifically authorized it to reveal the information in his new book.

President Ken Matsuyama was also very smart. He immediately postponed all the news and reserved the largest section and the best position for "Killing Commendatore".

In a comprehensive newspaper, one eighth of its page is used to introduce Kitagawa Hide's new book!
The information currently known to readers shows that "Killing Commendatore" is also a novel with an anti-war theme, and the total number of words will be much longer than any previous book written by Kitagawa Hide!

Moreover, its background is chosen from the neighboring country that Japan’s right-wing forces dare not mention the most, the massacre that was deleted from the textbooks!

If "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" still cannot reveal Kitagawa Hide's true stance, then "Killing Commendatore" can basically confirm that he is an unwavering anti-war activist!
On the day the news was released, the morning edition of the Nikkan Sports News experienced a strong rebound after its sales hit a low point.

Seeing the business opportunity, Ken Matsuyama immediately called the editor-in-chief Yamasaki and asked him to print various flyers and posters, and to spend a lot of money to promote Mr. Kitagawa's new book!
These contents were not included in the cooperative project between them and Kawaide Shobo, and were entirely paid for by Ken Matsuyama out of his own pocket, which shows his courage in doing things.

Just like that, before "Killing Commendatore" was serialized, advertisements and promotions were flying all over the Tokyo area.

Arima Yoshiyoshi, who has been living a decadent life in Ueno Toru's private villa these days, is completely unaware of this.

Assistant Riko Kawata hurriedly went to find him with the poster, but found that he was still sleeping soundly with the geishas in his arms, and she left in extreme disappointment.

The explosive news related to Kitagawa Hide these days is not only this, but also the filming of "Long Vacation" which he wrote has officially started at Toei Filming Base.

The script of this TV series was written by Hide Kitagawa, and the main creative team is the Iwai Shunji team under Kitagawa Entertainment Co., Ltd., and the partners are well-known entertainment companies such as Toei and Johnny's Office.

The total cost of the investment has not been announced yet. We only know that the male and female protagonists are Takuya Kimura and Shizuka Kudo, who became famous through the movie version of "No Longer Human".

It has also been confirmed that popular singer Izumi Sakai will compose the theme song for it!
What's even more outrageous is that the crumbling Tsuburaya Productions suddenly announced that it would launch a new special effects drama project called "Heisei Ultraman", and the first drama would be called "The Legend of the Giant of Light ~ Ultraman Tiga".

Special effects dramas are at the bottom of the industry, with children and teenagers as the target groups, and their main revenue coming from peripheral products. They are not even valued by the industry and literary circles.

But Tsuburaya said that the script of the play was written by a well-known young writer. Although he did not mention the other party's name, at this point in time and with such an ambiguous tone, it is hard not to think of Kitagawa Hide who was on vacation in Izu.

"It can't be really Mr. Kitagawa!" Kawata Riko felt like she was going crazy.

Ever since she read Kitagawa Hide's book, she has completely fallen into his shoes. She is impressed by his hard work, perseverance and creative genius, and feels that there is nothing he cannot do.

But this is still a bit too exaggerated.

Last month, he was still writing "Confessions", when "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "Killing Commendatore" were not yet released.

Now, not only is he working on two full-length novels, but he’s also found time to write a TV series and a special effects drama?

Is that human being?
It was also on this day that Kitagawa Hide and Yumeko finally ended their long vacation in Izu and were preparing to go to the Isaku Circus again before leaving Izu.

Kitagawa Hide still remembers this circus vividly. One is the creepy smiling face of the circus leader Isamu, and the various high-priced services that were extremely evil.

One is Mitsuko, a girl who is as innocent as Kaoru.

There were many girls like this who were sold to circuses and performing troupes. The youngest was only seven or eight years old, and the oldest was only seventeen or eighteen years old.

If possible, Kitagawa Hideya would also like to give them new life choices, just like Kaoru and the others.

However, when he arrived at the Izak Circus, Izak seemed enthusiastic, but was actually very wary of him and did not want to transfer the girls to Kitagawa Hide.

"Teacher Beichuan, we appreciate your kindness, but if everyone leaves, won't I, the circus leader, starve to death?"

Yi Zuo likes to draw out funny long tones when he speaks, and his accent is very much like a clown in an amusement park.

He was wearing a men's yukata, waving a round fan, and looking at the timid girls behind him with a smile.

"Captain Izuku, employing child labor is illegal in Japan. Although you said this is an apprenticeship system, you can't force them to stay, right?"

Kitagawa Hide has inquired about the reputation of Izuku Circus these days. The villagers have a bad opinion of Izuku, but he is generous, so selling his daughter to him is much better than selling her to a poor troupe of artists.

Yi Zuo's eyes flickered several times, but considering Kitagawa Hide's powerful connections and popularity, he finally gave in.

He agreed to let any girl go as long as she was willing to go with Kitagawa Hide.

But taking all the costs into account, the starting price for one person is at least 15 yen.

Kitagawa Hide and Yumeko went around and did some ideological work on the girls. Those who were only seven or eight years old would not be spared. As for the older ones, it would be up to them to make their own wishes.

After some lobbying, almost half of the girls were willing to leave the circus with Kitagawa Hide, which immediately made the confident Izuku look upset.

But the words had already been spoken, and Kitagawa Hidetoshi took out his checkbook, so he could only swallow his anger.

What made Kitagawa Hide helpless was that the girl he was most familiar with, Mitsuko, resolutely chose to stay in the circus and refused to live in Tokyo no matter what.

She had made up her mind, so Kitagawa Hideya had no choice but to say goodbye and take the nine girls to the port of Minamiizu.

On the way to the port, Xiao Mi, who was only seven years old, told the story about sisters Mengzi and Guangzi in a baby voice.

It turned out that during an equestrian performance the next day, Mitsuko accidentally bumped into the top rider Sakurako while riding horses.

According to the girls, Guang's horse was frightened that day, raised its front legs high, and ran away quickly, accidentally brushing the belly of Sakurako's horse.

When the bellies of the two horses touched, they swayed slightly, and the circus star Sakurako fell off the horse's back along with the halo of fire, and her leg was broken by Guangzi's horse.

It was impossible for Izaku to spend a lot of money to treat Sakurako's leg, so he gave the top position to Mitsuko, gave Sakurako only 10 yen, and sent her back to her hometown.

The girls were confused and said that they felt sad to see the once glamorous star limping away in such a lonely manner.

But they were also happy for Guangzi from the bottom of their hearts.

Maybe it would be better for Photon to stay in the circus and be a star!
The girls were chattering. They were all poor children who were sold to the circus by their rural parents. They didn't like Yi Zuo, who only forced them to learn acrobatics on weekdays and occasionally came to "check their dormitories" at night.

They are innocent and naive, and those who are willing to follow Kitagawa Hide are all such pure and ignorant girls.

On the contrary, older girls like Guangzi felt that Tokyo, with its uncertain future, was not as stable as the circus.

Because in Tokyo they might have to please more people, but in the circus they only have to please Izuku.

"Will it really be better to stay there?" Kitagawa Hide himself couldn't explain it clearly, and could only pray for Guangzi in his heart.

He looked up and could see several large ferries docked at the port - this time he and Mengzi chose to take the ferry back home, which would allow them to experience a new means of transportation and make them less conspicuous.

The girls smiled brightly, looked around curiously, and were extremely happy in the sea breeze.

Kitagawa Hide and Yumeko looked back at Mount Amagi again, then headed towards the port without looking back.

"I told you that Mr. Kitagawa would definitely come!" Kaoru rarely smiled and shouted to her brother Rongji.

Rongji, the aunt geisha and others were stunned.

Yesterday, Kaoru told them that Kitagawa-sensei and Yumeko wanted to take them to Tokyo, but they just thought that Kitagawa-sensei was just drunk.

But no matter how much they didn't believe it, they still followed obediently, and kept begging in their hearts, hoping that Mr. Kitagawa and his wife would show up at the port.

As the ferry was about to set sail, their hearts almost sank to the bottom of the sea, but unexpectedly, the person they had been thinking about day and night came.

"What a good man." The geisha didn't know what adjective to use to best describe Kitagawa Hide, so she could only say simply that he was a good man.

(End of this chapter)