Crossover Anime: The Heroine is in Trouble? I Take Advantage of the Situation

These two pieces of information were like a depth charge, creating a huge uproar in the minds of the five judges.

They realized it instantly.

Behind this work lies unparalleled commercial value and topicality!

What amazing chemical reaction would occur if the highest honor in the mystery genre were combined with a light novel commercial success story?

The prestige of the Edogawa Rampo Prize may break through traditional literary circles and reach millions of young readers!

The immense profits and prestige behind this made the five judges' hearts burn with excitement.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Thank you to the generous contributors "丿慕米", "a3498..", "笛怀", and "飞卢书迷3318276" for their monthly tickets!

Thank you so much to the generous donor "笛怀" for the donation!

Chapter 44 Seiji Fujiwara wins the award! The entire audience is astonished! (2/4)

more importantly.

The quality of "After School" is so high that it completely surpasses all other submissions this year, including Tetsuya Nishio's "The Lament of Nothingness"!

No one could find fault with the award for "After School".

This means they can share this huge pie without any risk—simply by awarding this year's Rampo Award to "After School".

The choice doesn't seem too difficult?

……

……

Time quickly came to the day of the final review meeting.

An amazing scene happened.

The conference organizers and Kodansha staff distributed the two final works and author information, and the expected heated debate did not occur at all!

The five final judges merely glanced at the manuscripts and then proceeded directly to the voting stage.

"I choose 'After School'."

“After School, one vote.”

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

……

"Unanimously approved. 'After School,' by Seiji Fujiwara, has been selected as the winner of the 61st Edogawa Rampo Prize!"

The whole process was incredibly fast!

The whole thing took less than ten minutes!

Tetsuya Nishio's "The Lament of Nothingness," which was lauded by the media, was abandoned without even receiving a decent review.

The conference organizers and Kodansha staff were completely dumbfounded!

They looked at each other, completely bewildered.

……

At four o'clock in the afternoon.

Everyone in Japan who cares about literature—readers, authors, editors, and the media—held their breath and focused their attention on the same place: the homepage of the Edogawa Rampo Prize official website.

There, the bright red countdown is ticking away for the last time.

3...

2...

1...

Page refresh!

The winners of the 61st Edogawa Rampo Award have been officially announced!

[Winning entry: After School]

[Winner: Seiji Fujiwara]

These two short lines of text were like a nuclear bomb that detonated across the entire internet!

In an instant, everyone who saw the result was stunned.

Then came a deafening uproar!

"Holy crap?! Seiji Fujiwara?! Who is this?!"

"Where's Tetsuya Nishio?! Where's my Mr. Nishio?! He didn't make the cut?!"

"What a joke! There's an inside story! There's definitely an inside story!"

"A dark horse has made a comeback?! That legendary, mysterious dark horse has actually defeated the chosen one?!"

"Wow, this is the most exciting thing I've ever had in ages!"

"Fujiwara Seiji... I'll remember that name!"

"Once the book is published, I will definitely buy 'After School' to read!"

Among the numerous online comments.

As usual, Kodansha also issued a congratulatory message and announced the release date.

The Edogawa Rampo Prize is managed and maintained by Kodansha, so Kodansha is responsible for publishing the works of all past winners—this is written into the submission agreement.

Seiji Fujiwara's "After School" is no exception.

……

……

the other side.

At Seiji Fujiwara's home.

The atmosphere, however, was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside; it was serene.

On the giant LCD TV, the official online press conference of the Rampo Award was being broadcast live.

The host, in an excited tone, had just announced Seiji Fujiwara's name: "Let us congratulate this year's Edogawa Rampo Award winner, Seiji Fujiwara!"

"The winning entry is 'After School'!"

The applause was like a tidal wave, surging as if it were about to burst out of the television.

Seiji Fujiwara, on the other hand, simply leaned lazily against the sofa with a calm expression, as if he himself hadn't won the award.

next to.

Shi Yu looked surprised, her eyes wide, her wine-red pupils fixed on the television.

The moment the name "Seiji Fujiwara" was announced on television.

Her world was silenced.

The sound of the wind, the sound of my heartbeat, the sounds from the television... everything vanished in an instant.

"You won an award?"

"Did he really get it?"

"Edogawa Rampo Award!"

Shi Yu's brain seemed to freeze.

This highest honor in the mystery novel world was actually won by Seiji Fujiwara!

How old is Seiji Fujiwara?!

18 years old!

They debuted less than a year ago, and their debut was in light novels!

This……

Shiyu felt dazed, with a strong sense of unreality, while at the same time she couldn't help but feel admiration and worship—even though she still thought Fujiwara Seiji was a scumbag.

But it's hard to hate a talented scoundrel.

……

……

Meanwhile, inside the editorial department of Shinazugawa Bunko.

"Very good!!"

Machida Sonoko was so excited she wanted to jump up.

"We won! We won! Fujiwara-sensei has won the Edogawa Rampo Prize!"

Machida Sonoko jumped and danced with abandon.

This outburst of behavior did not elicit a reprimand, because Aida Ryuji was equally excited and unable to remain calm, his lips curling into an extreme grin.

"Genius...no...a god!"

"Teacher Fujiwara is a god who has descended upon our time!"

He clenched his fist tightly, then immediately released it, turning around excitedly and urging, "Quick! Call Professor Fujiwara to congratulate him! Then execute our next plan!"

"Yes!"

Machida Sonoko quickly took out her phone and dialed Fujiwara Seiji.

"Hello, Fujiwara-sensei?! It's me! Machida! Congratulations! That's amazing! We..."

……

……

Inside a private room in a high-end tea house.

Tetsuya Nishio, editor Onizuka, and Professor Watanabe were sipping tea, their faces bearing calm, calculating smiles as they awaited good news.

Tetsuya Nishio's phone screen lit up briefly.

He calmly picked up his phone, opened the news notification, and the smile on his lips froze in the next second.

"impossible……"

He jumped to his feet, letting out a low growl of disbelief.

"Nishio-kun, what's wrong?" Professor Watanabe noticed that something was wrong with him.

Nishio Tetsuya didn't answer. Instead, he smashed his phone on the ground like a madman!

boom!

The phone screen is shattered into pieces!

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!!" he roared hysterically. "How could I possibly lose?! Especially to someone I've never even heard of?! There's something fishy going on!!"

Editor Onizuka and Professor Watanabe were startled.

But soon, Tetsuya Nishio's words made their hearts sink, and they quickly took out their phones.

Check the announcement of the Edogawa Rampo Prize results.

The unfamiliar name "Seiji Fujiwara" and the unfamiliar book title "After School" caught their eye.

The two were instantly petrified, as if struck by lightning!

Onizuka's face turned deathly pale. He muttered to himself, "We lost...we actually lost?"

Professor Watanabe's face turned a deep shade of liver. He slammed his fist on the table and roared furiously, "Outrageous! Are those old fogies on the judging panel blind?!"

……