["Heh, as expected, my previous worries were unnecessary. The sixth volume's performance is still stable, completely unaffected by the reduced time. This doesn't seem to be the Old Thief's limit yet... Brothers, I have a bold idea."]
["The Old Thief is still the Old Thief. Although his character isn't great, his professional ethics are truly top-notch."]
["After finishing the sixth volume, I felt a long-lost sense of loss..."]
["Honestly, Natsuki Subaru's performance before was annoying, so I didn't feel anything when he died a few times, and even wanted to laugh a little. But this time, his death did have a sense of helplessness. If I didn't know he had Return by Death to save his life, I would have been depressed on the spot!"]
["The so-called 'knives' in the previous parts were nothing, but the story of the Sword Demon old man in this volume made me want to cry. It was the same when I watched Demon Slayer before; it seems these kinds of stories are my weakness."]
["The story is great, and the writing is not bad. Compared to a few years ago, the growth and change are quite significant. The Old Thief hasn't slacked off, unlike those 'toilet paper' creators. Do they ever use their brains to think about their stories or ponder the expression of their words?"]
["Well, Upstairs,you can't ask for too much. After all, not everyone is as talented, persistent, and energetic as the Old Thief."]
["Phew, the sixth volume is finished again! Has time passed this quickly? I really, really want to see the next volume right away! Old Thief, can your body handle it? If it can, please continue with this update speed!"]
["Upstairs, you have committed the sin of greed!"]
Carried away by a whim, a beautiful young author who considered herself the savior of the light novel industry glanced at the comment section of "Re:zero - Starting Life In Another World" and fell silent.
"How can this guy's comment section be so harmonious? How can it be filled with praise? This... it's impossible!"
Yamada Elf unconsciously bit her fingernails.
She looked back at the comment section of her own completed debut work, and the comparison made her feel even more disheartened.
["Why does this trashy novel sell so well?"]
["This person writes terribly, full of lewd garbage, constantly making characters completely nude. The readers are all low-class!"]
["Tch, isn't it just because he has a great illustrator? Otherwise, with such descriptions, how could it become popular?"]
["Alright, alright, that's enough. What's wrong with reading a novel for entertainment? Why be so particular? If it sells well, it sells well. Don't be jealous!"]
Her own comment section was mostly filled with doubts about herself, with very few people speaking up for her. Some might have been burner accounts of jealous people, but most were expressing their true opinions.
"Phew..."
Yamada Elf took a deep breath, then suddenly exclaimed loudly, "You guys, don't think writing a book is that easy! People like Kani Nayuta and Senju Muramasa are truly rare, and even someone like Izumi Masamune is uncommon! I really want to write works that satisfy everyone, but I, I, I..."
At this point, she couldn't continue speaking, as it might involve the girl's most genuine inner feelings.
However, after venting, Yamada Elf's mood changed quickly, and her face brightened again.
She was always so positive and optimistic.
"Oh, right, I'm moving tomorrow. I need to prepare well..."
Her attention quickly shifted, refocusing on herself.
Because staying at home always made her feel restricted, after receiving the copyright fees for her novel's anime adaptation and her accumulated manuscript fees, she decided to move out on her own.
With her highly developed domestic skills, she didn't have to worry about not being able to live independently.
Then, through diligent searching online, she found a target: a large house that had been uninhabited for many years due to rumors of being haunted.
This way, she could also save a considerable amount of money.
"Haunted? Only children believe that!"
Yamada Elf scoffed.
Afterward, she simply informed her family and Elmi, then, with such a good mood, arrived at a large house decorated like a white Western-style mansion.
"Hmm, it looks quite good. I'll tentatively make this my base of operations!"
Yamada Elf took out the key and entered the villa. After observing, she was very satisfied. It had everything she needed, and even a piano room that she could occasionally use to relax.
"I don't have much money left. If I don't prepare a new work soon, I might..."
Yamada Elf thought with a serious expression, then played games for a few hours at home.
"Ah, no, no, I can't be lazy anymore! I need to prepare for work!"
She did a carp jump and got up from the bed.
"Gugu..."
Suddenly, her stomach made an embarrassing sound.
"I'm hungry. I'll go buy something to eat and fill my stomach first~"
Yamada Elf walked out of the small courtyard with light steps.
"Speaking of which, after moving, I think I need to greet the neighbors, right?"
She suddenly remembered this as she walked by the roadside.
This was not common knowledge for her, but something she had learned from a romance light novel she had recently read.
"Hmm?"
Yamada Elf's gaze flickered over the nameplate on a neighbor's door, and then she thoughtfully rubbed her chin, saying, "Is it Izumi? It reminds me of a hateful guy's pen name... Is this surname so common?"
However, she didn't take this matter to heart.
"How can there be such a coincidence in this world?"
Yamada Elf shook her head and chuckled, turning the corner of the street.
As dusk fell, she remembered what she had planned earlier, so she prepared some fruit to visit the neighbors on both sides.
"Ding-dong."
Yamada Elf pressed the doorbell.
"Someone's at the door? Did Chihiro come back after buying things?"
Mashiro, who was watching anime in the living room, heard the sound and wondered.
"Click."
She opened the door, but the person who appeared was not the one she was thinking of.
"Elf?"
Mashiro tilted her head.
The golden-haired beautiful girl who appeared before her had pure white skin, sapphire blue eyes, and long, pointed ears, exactly like the elves that appear in fantasy stories, almost without any sense of incongruity.
Except for the red and white, frilly Lolita dress she was wearing.
Due to her intensive study of anime and manga knowledge, combined with fairy tales she had heard, Mashiro mistakenly thought that the girl in front of her was such an anime character.
Even so, Mashiro's expression management was quite good, as calm as ever.
But Yamada Elf was so shocked that she stammered.
"Shiina... Mashiro!?"
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter