The quiet night flowed on with the ticking of the clock.
Under the dim light of the desk lamp, the soft sound of turning pages slipped from the old woman's fingertips.
Watching Yumi read in silence, Nia found herself unable to sit still.
For so reason, she felt even more nervous than when she handed her manuscript to her editor for review.
About ten minutes passed before Yumi finally set down the manuscript and slowly let out a breath.
"H-How was it?"
Nia asked anxiously.
"Mm… It was very interesting."
Yumi nodded with a smile.
However, before Nia could relax, Yumi tilted her head in slight confusion and continued,
"But… Fatima feels a little lost. She does not have her usual force. Is this foreshadowing for sothing?"
"—Guh."
Hearing that, Nia guiltily clutched her chest.
To be honest, she had still been holding on to a tiny bit of hope, thinking that maybe her editor had simply been too picky. But if even Yumi, who rarely read manga, could notice the problem, then it could only an that there really was sothing wrong with her idea.
"I'm very sorry… There isn't any foreshadowing here. I simply couldn't find inspiration, so Fatima's characterization ended up feeling awkward."
"No inspiration… In what way, specifically?"
After thinking for a mont, Yumi asked.
"Mm… How should I put it? I couldn't think of Fatima's answer. I drew the chapter according to my usual sense, but once I compared it to the new villain's speech, Fatima's side started to feel a little childish and naive."
Nia scratched her head and answered with a conflicted look.
"Is that so…? I actually think childishness and naivety can be good too."
Yumi sighed helplessly, as if she had realized sothing.
"I see… I think I understand where the problem is."
"Eh? That fast?"
Nia widened her eyes in surprise.
"Mm. The problem is not that complicated… You are simply too close to it, so you fell into a blind spot."
Yumi nodded and explained gently.
"Nia, in my eyes… the reason you cannot give an answer is not because of Fatima. The problem lies with this villain."
"The villain?"
Nia could not help feeling confused.
"That is right. Actually… you understand Fatima very well. You know what choice she would make when faced with hardship and difficult questions… But you are not sure whether this villain would accept Fatima's choice. Fatima does not try to explore the reason behind his ideals, and instead falls into doubt about herself. That is why you feel like you have nowhere to go."
Slowly stating her opinion, Yumi looked at Nia and softly asked,
"Nia, what do you think of this villain?"
Hearing that question, Nia hesitated.
"Mm… How do I say this… He's smart. Rational. His thods are sowhat cold, but they're also very realistic and reasonable."
Yumi smiled helplessly.
"Is that so? But to … everything this villain does is only a kind of compromise."
"…Compromise?"
Nia repeated the word, faintly feeling as if she had grasped sothing.
"I see… The reason the villain can refute Fatima so accurately is because he once walked the sa path. It's just that, because of so factor, he failed and moved toward a different choice. Even though victory in the War of the Gods changed the situation of the exorcist world, everything he has carried no longer allows him to take risks or turn back. That's why he…"
Nia lowered her head and muttered to herself.
As if she had finally understood the key point, her voice gradually beca excited.
Seeing that, Yumi smiled with relief.
"It seems… you have figured it out."
"Mm! You helped a lot, obaa-chan! I'll go ho and work on the manuscript right now!"
With that, Nia stood up excitedly.
But right after that, she realized it was already late at night and awkwardly sat back down.
Once the excitent passed and she cald down, Nia rechecked her idea, only to feel a new unease rising in her chest.
"But… if that's the case, Fatima is carrying out the hope that this villain once failed to achieve. Does that an he hates Fatima?"
"I think… he probably does not. Soone who chose that kind of goal is unlikely to be narrow-minded or petty."
Yumi smiled and shook her head, speaking with certainty.
"Seeing Fatima continue forward for her own ideals… perhaps, to him, that is exactly the proof that this world is slowly becoming better."
…
Not long afterward, the newest chapter of Silver Bullet was published in Weekly Shounen BLAST. It successfully reversed the previous decline and received an enthusiastic response and high praise.
"Souji-sensei! The new chapter this ti was really interesting. I didn't expect the story to develop in that direction. The readers are all saying they're looking forward to what cos next!"
Hearing her editor's praise, Nia could not help raising the corners of her mouth proudly.
"Hmph, hmph~ As long as I bring out my true strength, sothing like this is nothing more than a piece of cake!"
"Hearing you say that puts at ease. In that case, I'm sure you've already planned out the next story developnt too, right?"
"Ugh— Haha, of course, no problem!"
Hearing that question from her editor, Nia's expression stiffened. Then she laughed loudly and made a confident promise on the spot.
(Well, I'll leave the remaining problems to the of that ti!)
———————
Ti pass....
"Ah~ This is paradise. Hokkaido hot springs really do live up to their reputation."
After leaving the bath at a hot spring inn, Nia, dressed in a yukata, had a healthy flush on her face. It was as if she had beco ten years younger.
"Hmph, hmph~ What should I do next? First, of course, a bottle of coffee milk. Then for lunch and dinner, I'll try the local seafood. Tomorrow, I'll go sightseeing around Lake Toya—"
Just as Nia was happily arranging her travel plans, the backup phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated.
"Mm? A ssage from Nattsun? Let see… 'My editor just ca to collect my manuscript. Yoshino has already told him that you ran away to Hokkaido. Good luck.' …N-No way!"
After reading the ssage, Nia instantly shuddered and vigilantly looked around.
Only after confirming that she did not see anyone who looked like her editor did she let out a slight breath of relief.
"Forget it… It's been a while since I ca here for research anyway. It'd be awkward if I ran into my editor here. I'll buy so souvenirs and go back early to work on the manuscript."
After convincing herself, Nia adjusted her mood. Then she bought a return ticket, packed her luggage, and prepared to leave.
[…You win, Fatima.]
Just as Nia was about to leave, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Following the sound, she saw several children watching the ani version of Silver Bullet together with their parents in the lobby of the hot spring inn.
[I hope that from now on… you can prove to that this world is not as cruel as I believed.]
"Ah, she won! I knew Fatima was the coolest!"
"I told you, Fatima couldn't possibly lose!"
"Mm… I actually think it would've been interesting if the villain won."
The story ca to an end with the villain's withdrawal.
Listening to the audience discussing it, Nia felt both pleased and sohow a little sentintal.
"…You did well, Fatima."
Looking at the "hero of hope" she had created on the television screen, Nia took a deep breath, picked up her suitcase, and prepared to work overti on the next chapter of Silver Bullet.
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