How to raise a random guy's wife

Kato Megumi looks so cute when she's shy!

Why am I only feeling shy now?

She looks so cute curled up in Kobayashi Sora's arms!

This feeling...

Eriri felt something stirring within her.

It was a powerful impulse.

She wanted to use her paintbrush to depict the adorable appearance of Kato Megumi.

"I...I want to go home!" Eriri suddenly stood up, packed her things, and left like the wind.

"It seems to be working." Kasumigaoka Utaha coughed twice. "Um... I... I'm leaving too. Cough, you guys continue."

That's why I should take the initiative to make this request.

Why don't you just let Eriri see it herself?

They usually try to be a little more discreet...

"They've already left." Kobayashi Sora gently pushed the little ostrich in her arms.

"It's all your fault..." Kato Megumi complained softly.

"You started it first..."

"Don't say it."

"Things you're not allowed to say..."

"Hmm~"

Chapter 303 Inexplicable

Folds of drawing paper were scattered on the floor. Eriri's mind was still filled with the image that had made her blush, and her hand gripped the paintbrush, sketching smooth lines...

but......

"No, no, no..." Eriri muttered almost irritably, "That's not right!"

I wanted to draw a scene, but I couldn't capture the feeling.

The idea in my mind is wonderful, but it looks different when it's put on the drawing paper.

Some of the works discarded on the ground had reached the previous standard, but it was still not enough.

Compared to the beautiful images in my mind, what I actually drew felt like a desecration.

"What... happened to me...?" Eriri leaned helplessly against the picture frame. "What should I do...?"

Eriri's phone beeped, and she casually opened the message.

It was an email.

From... Akane Akasaka.

-

The third meeting room of Shinazugawa Bookstore.

“Malts?” Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated the name.

"Yes, it's that game company in Osaka." Machida Sonoko nodded. "You've heard of it, haven't you?"

“Although I rarely play games,” Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly matched the information in her mind, “I still know it.”

"Among the games that Maltz is developing, there is a series called Chronicles of the Universe, and they are looking for people to participate in the production of that game."

"who are they?"

"Malts".

Who should be involved?

"Teacher Xia Shizi".

"..." If it were anyone else, they would probably be overjoyed, but the first thing that came to Kasumigaoka Utaha's mind was doubt.

why?

"Ah... Speaking of why we approached Shinazugawa about this, our company was already involved in the 'Chronicles of the Universe' series." Seemingly noticing Kasumigaoka Utaha's confusion, Machida Sonoko added, "We're the ones who adapt light novels and publish magazines—it's quite profitable."

"That's not what I wanted to ask, you understand, right?"

"...I understand."

Maltz, a home video game company located in Osaka, is a well-known name among gamers. Their "Chronicles of the Universe" series is a fantasy RPG masterpiece that is famous among RPG players.

RPGs that sell hundreds of thousands of copies of each work will seek out light novel authors whose books sell hundreds of thousands of copies per volume... Although Kasumigaoka Utaha's new work has broken this record, in the eyes of major publishers, it's just so-so.

Moreover, "Chronicles of the Realm" is a fantasy RPG, while Kasumigaoka Utaha is a romance light novel author; this combination is a bit too much of a mismatch.

Why did the Chronicle of the World approach me?

This is Kasumigaoka Utaha's question.

"Could it be that they want to commission me to adapt a light novel that focuses on the characters?" Kasumigaoka Utaha guessed, "like a heartwarming story that depicts the daily life of the main characters' group."

It's quite common to find light novel authors to help write side stories and derivative novels.

For light novel authors, this is basically a side income source, like "a gift from nature."

"No, if it were something trivial, I would easily decline," Machida Sonoko winked cutely, mimicking a tone of refusal. "I can take this job, but the book won't be released until a year after the game!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed, "Please don't reject manufacturers that way, because it will affect the author's reputation."

This is basically saying, "My author is very willing to work with you, but she takes a long time to write and has a habit of delaying her submissions, so I, as the editor, can't do anything about it."

Machida cleared his throat, toning down his previous frivolous attitude. "They want you to be the lead screenwriter for their latest work."

“…Huh?” Even Kasumigaoka Utaha stared in surprise.

"This news is already spreading like wildfire among the upper management of our company."

"So, why did that happen?" Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't understand why the other party would entrust her with such an important script.

If I were a manager at a large company, I would never do that.

"After all, the copyright to the Chronicles of the Universe series is something that all the publishers are fighting tooth and nail to get. If Shinazugawa's exclusive writer could participate in the production of such a cash cow game, the benefits would be endless."

“That’s not what I was asking about…” Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn’t do anything with Machida Sonoko; this woman was a master at playing dumb. “And how come you just naturally treat me as Shinazugawa’s exclusive writer?”

"Huh? Xiaoshi and I are so close, I've always considered you family, didn't you?" Machida Sonoko clutched her chest. "Oh my god, it turns out it was all just wishful thinking on my part..."

“If you keep spouting nonsense like this, it’s just wishful thinking on your part.” Kasumigaoka Utaha pointed out bluntly, “It’s already absurd enough to put me in the same category as a fantasy RPG, and now you want me to be the lead writer of the script. There’s a limit to how absurd it can be.”

"Well..."

"Ms. Machida, you also think I'm not up to the task, right?"

"..." Machida Sonoko pursed her lips and remained silent.

"Ms. Machida?"

"It's so frustrating, but... I don't think Kasumi Shiko's talent is limited to such a narrow category," Machida Sonoko explained excitedly. "I know about your unseen hard work and dedication, managing to maintain your top grade in the whole school while writing novels. I'd also like to say things like, 'Writing fantasy RPGs is a piece of cake for her,' but..."

It feels like someone has found out that their child is involved in a multi-million dollar project.

As parents, we naturally want to say things like, "My child is amazing, this is a piece of cake."

However, if you calm down and think about it, if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Getting involved rashly is not a good thing.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at Machida Sonoko, "...Do you want me to take this job?"

Although I lack confidence, if Machida Sonoko has this idea...

"That's impossible!"

"Ms. Machida..."

Machida Sonoko looked aggrieved. "I'm the one who discovered you! We've worked hard from the very beginning until now, and we even survived the near cancellation. Now that I'm the editor-in-chief, I can secure more resources for you. But now you're going to be taken away by some guy who just popped up out of nowhere—how could I possibly accept that?"

Chapter 304 Don't joke around

"Alright, alright..." Kasumigaoka Utaha comforted Machida Sonoko like she was coaxing a child. "I know."

Both emotionally and rationally, Machida Sonoko did not want Kasumigaoka Utaha to accept this job.

“But the scale of this work…” Machida Sonoko said dejectedly, “I alone cannot give up on it.”

"So the question comes back to the beginning—why did they contact me?"

“I don’t know either,” Machida Sonoko pointed out. “So you can only meet with them first and ask them the reason directly.”

"But I write light novels, why would they ask me to participate in game production..." Kasumigaoka Utaha was taken aback, then suddenly remembered that she had made games before.

Eri Kasumi's "The Cherry Tree Promise".

So, those who have found themselves...

Who commissioned me?

Machida Sonoko's expression was somewhat complicated. "The other party is well-versed in everything in the doujinshi and business worlds, and even knows the shady stuff. He is an expert-level speculator."

Someone who knows they wrote a game script and who highly praises that game.

There's only one answer left.

“Akane Akane,” Kasumigaoka Utaha whispered the name.

She had heard the name a long time ago, but only recently has its presence become more and more prominent.

It has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored.

Machida Sonoko was somewhat surprised. "So you already knew."

"Does Kong Qing know about this as well?"

Do you think he wouldn't know?

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha recalled her conversation with Kobayashi Sora earlier. "I understand. When do we meet?"