At the back of the room, Mori, the lead animator, hesitated for a moment before addressing the teenage boy standing before her. These people weren't old-fashioned academics; they lived and breathed the industry and read plenty of light novels themselves. Naturally, they were well aware of Haruto's true identity and his standing as a rising titan in the publishing world. However, they were still caught completely off guard.
They hadn't expected Haruto to be quite this committed. Three hundred million yen. That was a life-changing sum of money, enough for an average person to retire and live comfortably.
Yet, here was a university student, demonstrating enough audacity and vision to put it all on the line.
"That is correct," Haruto said, casting a glance at Yukino, who remained composed beside him.
He had discussed the investment amount with Yukino beforehand. Based on this capital injection, the studio's ownership structure would shift drastically.
Over the next few days, Yukino's total control would be diluted, though she remained the primary executive. After all, in its current state, the studio's physical assets and remaining lease were dwarfed by the new cash injection. The nine people in the meeting looked at one another in stunned silence.
From their perspective, a boss with this much capital was a godsend. With fresh funding, the studio wouldn't have to dissolve, meaning their livelihoods were secure and they wouldn't have to go through the grueling process of job hunting in a competitive market. They had zero reason to refuse. After thirty seconds of processing the shock, the room erupted into thunderous applause.
Unanimously, the team pledged their support for the "Madoka Magica" project, officially adding it to the studio's production pipeline.
Two weeks slipped by, and the second and third installments of Parasyte were serialized. These chapters focused on the daily school life of the protagonist, Shinichi, and the slow development of his relationship with the heroine, Satomi.
They also showcased his enhanced physical capabilities after Migi took over his right hand, as he demonstrated superhuman reflexes and athletic prowess that left his classmates baffled.
Furthermore, the narrative began to deepen the lore of the parasites. They inhabited biological hosts solely for survival. Whether it was murder or cannibalism, their actions were driven by a primal, biological necessity rather than malice. The general public remained unaware that monsters had infiltrated their ranks, masquerading as neighbors and coworkers.
Shinichi, however, was aware of the ticking clock. He realized that for every moment he remained silent just to protect his own life, more innocent people were being slaughtered and devoured.
"Is it really okay to stay silent like this? To just let it happen?" Shinichi asked.
"Is it okay to stay silent? What do you mean by 'let it happen'?" Migi countered.
"If I revealed your existence and let you be studied, we could save countless people."
"I do not understand your logic, Shinichi. My kind are simply feeding. Is that not the most basic biological instinct? Why do you harbor such a deep hatred for the act of eating one's own kind or being eaten by another?"
"Because human life is precious! That is common sense."
"I do not follow. The only life that is precious is my own. I do not consider any life outside of myself to be precious in the slightest."
"You are a monster."
"Shinichi, I looked up the definition of the word 'demon.' I believe the being that most closely fits that description is the human race. Humans devour every kind of living thing on this planet, often for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger. My kind only eats one or two species. Compared to you, we are quite modest."
This sharp, intellectual clash between Shinichi and Migi, though spanning only a few hundred words, sent shockwaves through the readership.
As humans, the readers naturally wanted to dismiss Migi's logic. Yet, upon deeper reflection, they found his arguments disturbingly difficult to refute. As the plot progressed, the diversity of the parasites became apparent. One parasite took over a human brain and became a fitness fanatic, adhering to a strict diet and a "sleep early, wake early" routine, driven only by the desire for a long life. Another parasite took the form of a teacher at Shinichi's school.
She was highly intelligent, possessed a keen social sense, and maintained a flawless human facade. This teacher parasite didn't just mimic human behavior; she had moved in with another of her kind and was now pregnant. She was certain that if she let the pregnancy proceed naturally, the child born would be 100% human.
A human child born from monsters.
By the end of the third chapter, Shinichi's contact with the teacher and her partner led to a lethal confrontation. Sensing Shinichi was a threat, her partner decided to eliminate him.
In broad daylight, the creature stormed into the school, intent on ending Shinichi's life.
After the initial world-building of the first chapter, Parasyte had immediately shifted into high gear. Whether it was the philosophical musings of the creatures or the combat between Shinichi and his own kind, the story felt completely different from any other action novel. By the third installment, the discussion on Kiyozawa Library's website had exploded, despite the lack of formal promotion.
"My god, Shiori-sensei's new book is incredible. The pacing is so tight, there is absolutely no filler."
"The teacher parasite is fascinating. She is logical, sexy, and beautiful. Unlike the others who only care about eating and surviving, she has a third instinct: she wants to bring a new life into the world. It is clear she has developed a genuine curiosity about our world."
"Is Shiori really only eighteen? How can a teenager write something with this much depth?"
"Honestly, I am starting to envy the parasites. No stress, no malice toward the world; just eat when you are hungry and sleep when you are tired. Their lives are so much simpler than ours."
"Migi is the only sane one in the story. He is a master of philosophy. If humans are the closest thing to demons, then the parasites, who only kill to eat, are far more honest than we are."
"I wonder if we look as terrifying to pigs, cows, and dogs as the parasites look to us?"
"When Shinichi argued about the value of human life, I couldn't help but think: what about the value of a parasite's life? We say our lives are precious because we are sentient and self-aware. But if another sentient species appeared that was just as smart as us, would we protect them? Or would we just try to wipe each other out?"
"My favorite part isn't the protagonist; it is Migi. His dialogue is so detached and insightful. He is a breath of fresh air."
"Me too! Who wouldn't want a sentient right hand that can talk and shapeshift? That is the coolest power ever."
"I thought Shiori-sensei was just experimenting with a new genre, but this is shaping up to be another masterpiece."
"The shock factor isn't as high as To the Moon yet, but I am officially addicted to this plot."
By the third issue, Parasyte had surged to the tenth spot in the Azure Kiyozawa rankings. The total vote count for the chapter hit 136,589, and the story's rating climbed from an 8.8 in the first week to a solid 9.0.
This rapid ascent did not go unnoticed by the editorial and management teams at Kiyozawa Library. Marketing resources were a zero-sum game; the company couldn't afford to push every title. Many high-quality stories were left to wither because they lacked corporate backing.
Parasyte was a prime example. While everyone agreed the quality was exceptional, Haruto's refusal to sign an exclusive contract meant the publisher had withheld its top-tier support. As of now, the magazine hadn't even featured a single color illustration or cover tease for the series.
When the first chapter debuted at fourteenth, the staff assumed it was just the "Shiori brand" at work, loyal fans of To the Moon and Anohana showing up for the first week before dropping off. But now that the series had clawed its way into the top ten based purely on narrative quality, their perspective began to shift.
"This year's Ascent of New Gods winner is something else," one editor noted.
"The competition has been running for decades and has produced dozens of winners, but we haven't seen a truly top-tier legend emerge from the first-place spot in a long time. Historically, it is the authors who finish in second, third, or fourth who usually have the best careers," another added.
"That is true. But Shiori... I feel like he is the real deal. If he were willing to sign an exclusive deal, his growth within the company would probably eclipse even Aika Miyamoto's."
"If ten years is too long for him, why not offer him six? Everything is negotiable. But he won't even entertain the conversation. He is far too confident for his own good."
"With results like these, he has earned the right to be confident."
"It is only three chapters. Let us wait another two weeks before we make a final judgment."
In the manager's department, Ms. Sato stared at the latest rankings for Parasyte, her irritation mounting.
To break the top ten of Azure Kiyozawa by the third installment was no small feat. The authors in this magazine weren't like the rookies from the Ascent of New Gods competition; they were seasoned professionals.
Even Aika, who had dominated the newcomer scene, had only reached the third spot once with her previous work. Most of her chapters hovered around the sixth or seventh rank, and that was with the full weight of the publisher's "High School Prodigy" marketing campaign behind her.
For Parasyte to hit tenth place in three weeks without a single yen of promotional spending was practically unheard of.
Even for a gold medalist like Shiori Takahashi, these results were an overperformance.
Meanwhile, Haruto's manager, Ms. Hime, was lost in thought. While it was true that Haruto hadn't signed an exclusive deal with her, the current trajectory suggested that her decision to partner with him was already paying off handsomely.
In less than a month, Parasyte had built a dedicated following and generated significant buzz within the community. It had even caught the attention of professional critics. The story was a stark departure from the mainstream "battle" tropes of the era, offering something visceral and thought-provoking.
However, the industry veterans remained cautious. The story was just beginning. A great start didn't guarantee a great finish. They decided to observe for a few more issues before giving the series their full endorsement.
Haruto finished his work before midnight. He felt that this new balanced routine was much better for his long-term health and creativity. He didn't know how long he could maintain this discipline before his old habits of procrastination returned, but for now, he was determined to keep his momentum.
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