Chapter 330 - 329: Ambitions and a Journey

By now, the fact that Hunter x Hunter had reached the summit was no longer a surprise to everyone, even if they remained in awe.

What truly stunned them was that with this achievement, Haruto had officially completed a Grand Slam, becoming the first creator in history to hold the number one spot simultaneously across all three major fields: light novels, manga, and anime.

In truth, the industry had been mentally preparing for this moment for over six months.

Given Haruto's current popularity in Japan and the undeniable quality of Hunter x Hunter itself, this milestone felt less like a shock and more like an inevitability.

Of course, as Hunter x Hunter ascended, Haruto's partner, Shizuru, found herself thrust into the spotlight of the industry as well.

Photos of the two of them together began circulating through television news, magazines, and the internet, following the announcement that the Hunter x Hunter tankobon volumes had officially topped the sales charts.

With this, Haruto's status in the world of ACG was no longer just that of a superstar. He had become a legend.

In a parallel world, people might argue over whether the great masters of the past held the most influence or fame. Since they operated in different eras or specific niches, fans could never reach a definitive conclusion. But here, there was no longer any room for debate.

The undisputed king of the ACG world was Haruto.

Even though he was still a few months shy of twenty-two, and strictly speaking, had only graduated from university a week ago, he was the practical ruler of the industry. He commanded a following of tens of millions of fans within Japan, and tens of millions more scattered across the globe.

What made it even more terrifying was that he had built this empire in less than six years. From his debut as a standout talent in his second year of high school to his graduation from university, Haruto had started as a mere sapling in the industry.

In less than six years, he had grown into a giant cedar that towered over the entire landscape. Even the word "miracle" felt insufficient to describe how industry insiders felt about him by the end of June. It was, quite simply, monstrous.

[The sales of Hunter x Hunter reaching the top signifies that Japan's genius creator, Haruto, has officially established total hegemony over the ACG industry. We are perhaps living in the Era of Haruto.]

[On this day, not a single soul contested Haruto being called the number one figure in the industry. Even the anti-fans who had spent the last two years vocalizing their complaints fell silent in unison.]

[Is the sales record for Hunter x Hunter the end? No, it is only the beginning. With the Phantom Troupe arc reaching its climax, a massive influx of fans from the anime and novel sectors are sweeping the markets for the manga volumes. In the coming years, we may very well witness the birth of a masterpiece that sells over thirty million copies per volume.]

[Shizuru is undoubtedly the luckiest person in the manga world. While her skill is formidable, one must admit that luck played a massive role in her ascending to a legendary status alongside Haruto. Then again, luck is often just another form of strength.]

While the sales record of Hunter x Hunter was massive on its own, its true impact lay in the fact that it was the final piece of the puzzle for Haruto. It solidified his standing and drew intense scrutiny from every corner of the professional world.

Consequently, the news remained the hottest topic in the industry for over a week.

However, Haruto, who had been preoccupied with graduation formalities throughout June, did not pay much attention to the noise. When he first entered the industry, his thought was that with so many masterpieces from a parallel world at his disposal, becoming number one in Japan was a reachable dream.

But the more he understood the gap between the works of that world and the current standards of this one, his goal shifted. He no longer cared about just being number one in Japan; he wanted to see how far he could expand his influence beyond that peak. Becoming the top figure in the industry at twenty-one was merely a preliminary milestone. His new goal for the coming decades was to expand his influence from Japan to the entire world. But things had to be taken one step at a time.

During the final week of June, Haruto received a notice to return to his classroom, a place he hadn't visited in over six months. The entire class of forty people gathered that day. The class president and the academic representative began distributing graduation certificates and the official class portraits. Because of Haruto's presence, this class was treated with special importance. The university leadership made an appearance, bringing along a professional photography crew specifically to take a commemorative photo with him.

The valedictorian for the year was Reina, a choice that was beyond dispute. Her grades, appearance, academic record, and character were all impeccable. Furthermore, in her own right, she had grown to become one of the top five most popular authors in the light novel industry.

On the day of the department-wide graduation ceremony, Haruto looked at the stunningly beautiful and serene Reina, and the same thought crossed his mind once more.

If he didn't exist, this girl, who had reached the top five in the industry by age twenty-one, would have undoubtedly been the sole protagonist of the ACG world.

After seeing Haruto's success in manga and anime, Reina had developed a deep interest in those fields as well. She had even hired tutors to teach her the necessary technical knowledge. While manga was a grueling medium that she might not handle entirely on her own, it wasn't impossible for her to find a partner just as Haruto had.

In a way, Reina was currently tracing the path Haruto had already walked. But even without his influence, given her natural talent, she would have eventually looked toward anime, manga, and even the gaming industry once she achieved success in novels.

She was a natural-born genius. It was only because she had encountered a "bug" like Haruto that her fame seemed somewhat overshadowed.

Thinking of this, Haruto let out a soft sigh.

Reina noticed his gaze. Normally, if Haruto didn't make a move, she would remain indifferent and composed, showing no emotion. But today was different. After exchanging a few words with the dean and her advisors, she quietly walked over to his side.

"What is it? You don't look particularly happy," Reina said. Her voice was as cool as ever, but it carried a faint, gentle warmth reserved only for him.

"It's nothing. I just realized that after over ten years of schooling, I'm finally losing my status as a student. I suppose I'm just feeling a bit melancholic," Haruto replied, offering a plausible excuse. He certainly couldn't tell her what he was actually thinking.

"Then you should just apply for grad school. That would make you a student again."

Haruto looked at her. Four years later, and Reina still had no idea how to make small talk.

"What about you? Your grades are good enough to get you a recommendation for grad school here or even overseas. Why aren't you..."

"Studying is no longer my primary focus," Reina said softly as she stood beside him. "I might spend my entire life working as hard as I can and still never surpass the achievements you have now. I can't afford to distract myself with a higher degree. While I'm not entirely satisfied with my current education, I'll consider your suggestion once I've either reached my goal of surpassing you or once I've reached eighty and can no longer hold a pen."

"You're always so serious," Haruto sighed. "That's what makes you less 'cute' in the traditional sense. Very few men can handle that level of intensity. You're going to have a hard time finding a partner."

"Is that why you chose Yukino over me?" Reina paused before asking the question directly.

"Because my personality makes you uncomfortable?"

It had been a long time since Haruto and Reina had laid their cards on the table. While things had been awkward at first, they could now discuss such topics with relative calm.

"That's not it," Haruto said with a bitter smile.

"Or is it because Yukino stays with you at the office all day, so you simply spend more time together?" she continued in a low voice.

"Reina, why are you asking these things?" Haruto asked.

"No reason. I'm just curious."

Curious? Haruto sighed. His friend was brilliant, but her thought process was truly alien. Most women would have given up after being rejected, but she was simply biding her time, waiting for an opening.

Just like her obsession with competing against him in the world of novels, once she identified Haruto as her target, she didn't care about the ridiculous success of Sword Art Online. She was simply calculating how long it would take: three years, five years, ten years, or until she was eighty and her hands failed her. She applied the same stubborn, single-minded intensity to both her work and her feelings.

This was quite troubling for Haruto.

"What are you so anxious about? What are you afraid of?" Reina sensed his wavering and spoke provocatively. "If you truly have no feelings for me, then you don't need to pay me any mind. Unless, of course, you don't even trust yourself."

Who could possibly be confident in that situation?

Haruto screamed internally.

Even by his standards, Reina was an incredibly attractive and charming woman. To be honest, if he weren't already dating Yukino, and if he were faced with a confession from Reina while single, he knew he would have likely agreed.

Aside from his achievements, he was just a twenty-one-year-old man with functioning eyes and a normal heart. He couldn't imagine what kind of man could easily reject Rein's advances.

Reina watched the emotions flickering behind his expression, her mind whirring with unknown thoughts.

"What do you plan to do after graduation?" she asked, choosing not to press him further on the previous topic.

"Well, I've already submitted the scripts for several new projects to the production department. Once I finish handling a few things this week, I'll probably go traveling with Yukino for a few months."

"Traveling?" Reina frowned.

"Yes, a couples' trip," Haruto emphasized the word "couples." He still hoped she would take the hint and give up..

Reina remained silent for a moment. "I see. You are a couple, so that is your right," she said softly. As long as they weren't getting married right after graduation, she could accept it.

Even though she wasn't like other women, she could only justify her persistence while he was still just in a relationship. If he were married, she wouldn't allow herself to pursue him. It wasn't about whether she liked him or not; it was her final moral line.

Haruto saw her expression and sighed. She was incredibly stubborn.

In July, Haruto officially graduated, transitioning from a student to a full member of society. By this point, he was already the chairman of Haru-Yuki Animation, a major studio with an annual profit exceeding ten billion yen, ranking fifth in size in the country, and holding over forty billion yen in cash reserves.

He was the pillar of Japan's top light novel publisher, Kiyozawa Library, and the star of the leading manga magazine, Prime Manga. He was universally recognized as the number one figure in the ACG industry, not just of this era, but of all time. And he was still making history.

But what comes after reaching the summit?

After the initial half month of celebration, many people in the industry began to harbor secret expectations, though they were too afraid of Haruto's fans to say them out loud. They were waiting to see his new works.

Can anyone stay on an upward trajectory forever?

It was like the hundred-meter dash. If a person runs a ten-second flat, the fans expect a 9.9 next time, then a 9.8, a 9.7, and a 9.6. Eventually, that person reaches their absolute limit, and from there, their performance can only decline until they can no longer break the ten-second barrier. The myth shatters, people lose interest, and they move on to the next legend.

Currently, Haruto was at his peak, his influence at its absolute maximum. At the same time, this was his most dangerous moment. Following the conclusion of Code Geass, the anticipation for his next work had reached an exaggerated level. Some rational fans might accept that his next project might not be as good as Code Geass, but what did "slightly worse" actually mean? Was 99% of the quality enough? What about 90%? Or 80%? Even the rational fans knew deep down that they would likely complain online if the quality dropped too far. The only ideal scenario was for him to produce something even better.

With tens of millions of fans, this expectation placed immense psychological pressure on the creator. Any ordinary creator would be paralyzed by the fear of loss. A good work might not surpass the previous peak, but any flaw would instantly jeopardize their reputation and make them a laughingstock for anti-fans.

However, Haruto was not among those people. Strictly speaking, these works weren't his own original creations, so he didn't feel that specific type of anxiety. If a work received some negative reviews, he would simply choose a top-tier masterpiece for the next one to shut them up.

Still, Haruto preferred to play it safe. Fullmetal Alchemist and Slam Dunk had the highest investment and required more polish, so their release dates were pushed back. To prevent anti-fans from gaining traction, he scheduled Fullmetal Alchemist for a January release, Slam Dunk for April, Gurren Lagann for July, and Bakemonogatari for October.

The premieres of these four works were spread across four quarters. Given their lengths, except for Gurren Lagann, most were long-running series that would span over a year.

If anime fans thought Code Geass was the peak, Fullmetal Alchemist was about to redefine that perception. While Code Geass and Madoka Magica were commercial juggernauts of their respective eras, in terms of critical acclaim and storytelling depth, Fullmetal Alchemist was arguably a step above. It was the eternal masterpiece in the hearts of most anime fans. Slam Dunk was equally legendary; once the story moved past the early delinquent subplots and focused on basketball, it was an indisputable masterpiece. Gurren Lagann and the Monogatari series were perhaps a tier lower in terms of broad commercial appeal compared to the others, but the gap between them and local works was still massive. They were guaranteed to succeed.

Once the schedules were finalized, Haruto cancelled all his public appearances for the next three months. He took Yukino and a single suitcase, and under the protection of a few bodyguards and guides, they set off.

To make up for the year they had spent dating with almost no actual dates, they planned a three-month itinerary covering seven countries.

He had made the money; it was time to enjoy it.

While making money wasn't his only goal, enjoying life was certainly a life objective on par with spreading great works.

Of course, with Haruto away, the serialization of Sword Art Online and Hunter x Hunter hit a snag. They shifted to a bi-weekly schedule, leaving fans in a state of constant lamentation.

But Haruto didn't care. In his six-year career, he hadn't been self-indulgent once; he was going to see this through. Besides, Hunter x Hunter fans would eventually have to get used to indefinite hiatuses in the coming years. A bi-weekly update was a luxury compared to what was coming.

Time flowed into autumn.

Although the serialization was slow, the tankobon sales for both series continued to climb. Haruto had been practically mythologized, and his works followed suit. Newcomers to the ACG scene were almost always directed to his works first, and even those who had previously looked down on him began to buy his books. This was the power of stardom.

While the novel and manga sectors remained stable, the anime world was different. With Code Geass finished, the autumn market was once again dominated by the three major studios.

The highest-rated anime of the season saw a viewership drop of over 3% compared to Code Geass. Three weeks after its premiere, the top show only managed a 3.1% rating. It might seem like half of Code Geass's rating, but the gap in influence was much wider. It was like the difference between a twelve-second runner and a nine-second runner; the numerical difference was small, but the difference in ranking and prestige was astronomical. The industry was practically begging for Haruto's return.

At that moment, Haruto was busy with souvenirs, exotic cultures, and spiritual healing.

He had forgotten all about deadlines and scripts, immersing himself entirely in his "honeymoon" with Yukino. Making money didn't feel real, but spending it certainly did. Both of them had entered a state of complete relaxation.

On a private yacht, there were only Haruto, Yukino, and a female captain. The two of them were in swimwear, looking out at the azure sea and the seagulls drawn by their food. Yukino stretched her arms, her slender waist and white skin basking in the sea breeze. Haruto was focused on grilling some large, freshly caught fish. This was their dinner.

"Ah, we've become such lazy bums," Yukino said, leaning back into Haruto's arms. A faint floral scent drifted over him. From his angle, he could see her smiling at him, and he felt a sudden surge of heat.

"It's not so bad," Haruto said, trying to maintain his composure in broad daylight.

"But it's about time we went back," Yukino said softly. "Sword Art Online hasn't been updated in three weeks. You really have no interest in writing, do you? At least for the Hunter x Hunter manga, you can send the drafts back for Shizuru to finish."

"Go back..." Haruto felt his laziness creeping in. "Let's stay for another half month."

"It's already September. Don't be lazy, or your fans might actually riot." Yukino hugged his arm. "And besides, with both of us gone, the company can't move forward with a lot of its business. The hidden losses in revenue are probably in the hundreds of millions. The department heads are worried sick. They don't dare report to you, so they've been calling me ten times a day to drop hints."

"Hey, if I don't play enough now, who knows when I'll have time to take you out again?" Haruto countered.

"There will always be time," Yukino smiled, leaning up to kiss him. "The amount of money we make isn't the point. But if you stay silent for too long, the competition will take back the market share. That would cause losses for our partners, and the families of their employees would suffer."

"Haruto, you are the core of multiple industrial chains in the ACG world. A lot of people rely on you for their livelihoods. They aren't like us; they can't afford to stop working and still live comfortably." ℴ

"A short period of indulgence is fine, but if it goes on too long, small business owners who bet on our company and our own employees might face bankruptcy or struggle to pay their mortgages," Yukino explained.

"Alright, fine." Haruto fell silent for a moment, finally feeling the weight of his responsibility. He hugged Yukino and took a deep breath.

He didn't care about how much money he was losing personally, but the thought of his partners and employees' families being affected was enough to snap him out of his lethargy.

Just like the massive franchises in a parallel world, these works became too big to fail because they supported massive industrial chains. To keep the revenue flowing, the stories had to continue.

Haruto looked out toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the next chapter of his journey.

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