以文会友 Friendship in Writing

原来洋平与信悟是用了《真实探灵笔记》中记载的方法进行了降灵。八重神子提出到八重堂前商议对策… It turns out that Youhei and Shingo had summoned a spirit with the method recorded in "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits." Yae Miko suggests going t

前往八重堂 Go to Yae Publishing House

派蒙：神子，我们来啦。你说要想对策对付《真实探灵笔记》，接下来该做些什么呢？

Paimon：Alright, Miko, we're here. So, what's your plan of action to deal with this rival book?

八重神子：嗯…猜猜看？

Yae Miko：Hmm... Why don't you take a guess?

八重神子：提示，跟八重堂有关哦。

Yae Miko：I'll give you a hint. It's to do with the Yae Publishing House.

派蒙：让我想想…好，我知道了！一定是以八重堂的名义，再加上神子你的影响力，告诉大家这本书上的咒语存在危险！

Paimon：Hmmmm... Oh, Paimon knows! Combine the reputation of the Yae Publishing House with the status of Guuji Yae and tell everyone that the incantations in that book are dangerous!

八重神子：哇哦，没想到你一猜就——

Yae Miko：Ooh, wow! Your first guess, and you got it absolutely...

八重神子：错了。

Yae Miko：...wrong.

派蒙：难道不该这么做吗？

Paimon：Yeah— Aww! ...Wait, seriously? That wasn't it?

八重神子：《真实探灵笔记》是时下最流行的轻小说，我们这样做，不就等于告诉了所有人咒语的真实性。

Yae Miko："A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits" is the hottest light novel right now. If we did as you suggested, we would effectively be advertising to everyone that the incantations are real.

八重神子：我们苦口婆心、谆谆告诫，可结果却是更多的人出于好奇去尝试。这本书的销量，也会继续上升呢。

Yae Miko：In bending over backwards trying to warn everyone about the dangers, all we would accomplish is to create more curious readers ready to try them out. Also, sales for the book would only increase further.

派蒙：那就真的糟糕了。唔，如果把这本书收缴了呢？

Paimon：Okay, yeah, that would be pretty catastrophic... Oh! How about we confiscate all the copies?

八重神子：唉，为了一本轻小说搞出这么大动静，就不谈耗费的人力物力，稻妻居民安宁的生活，不是彻底被搅乱了吗？

Yae Miko：sigh Leaving aside the issue of the enormous manpower and resources such an operation would require, going to such lengths over a light novel would be extremely disruptive to the lives of Inazumans.

派蒙：但这样的话，不就没办法了吗？

Paimon：But that means there's nothing we can do...

八重神子：谁说没办法了？

Yae Miko：Well I've been thinking...

八重神子：《真实探灵笔记》这本书我看了，除去记载的咒语，它的内容也很有趣。

Yae Miko：I've read "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits." It has many other good qualities besides the incantations alone.

八重神子：里面讲述了许多古老的怪谈，讲故事的手法也很老辣，这就是它能流行起来的原因。

Yae Miko：The book contains many ancient "kaidan" — or tales of the supernatural — and is written in a very engaging way. That is why the book has become so popular.

八重神子：如果最近的轻小说里只有它一枝独秀，那恐怕我们很难遏制住它的传播。

Yae Miko：I think we're going to have a difficult time trying to rein in its popularity while it's the only work in its league on the market.

旅行者：你该不会是想…

Traveler：Wait, so you mean...

八重神子：没错，能够取代流行的，只有新的流行。

Yae Miko：That's right. How do you get rid of the next big thing? You replace it with the next next big thing.

八重神子：所以，就由我们来创作出下一本爆款轻小说吧。

Yae Miko：So what we're going to do is create Inazuma's newest hit novel.

八重神子：堂堂正正地在销量上击败对方，把民众的注意力吸引过来，这才是我的战斗方式！

Yae Miko：Smash our rival's sales numbers and win our readers back. That is how Yae Miko wages war!

八重神子：而且这样，也能最大程度地削弱《真实探灵笔记》带来的影响。

Yae Miko：Incidentally, this will also be the best way to combat the influence of "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits."

派蒙：等等神子，写小说？我们？

Paimon：Wait, Miko, so you want us to write a novel?

【选项1】

旅行者：我真的能做到吗？

Traveler: Can I really do that?

【选项2】

旅行者：可我没写过小说。

Traveler: I've never written a novel before.

八重神子：呵呵…写小说当然不是一朝一夕能练成的，但我可是八重堂的主编，我自有办法。

Yae Miko：Heh, well, becoming an accomplished novelist certainly isn't an overnight process. But let's not forget that I am the chief editor of the Yae Publishing House. I have my ways.

八重神子：我刚刚也说了，是「我们」。「团队创作」这个词，你总听说过吧。

Yae Miko：I did say this is what "we're" going to do. I trust that the word "teamwork" is in your vocabulary.

八重神子：总之，最近一期征文活动还没有截止，你先去打听一下读者们的喜好。对目前的流行趋势有一个大致了解之后，再回来找我。

Yae Miko：Anyway. There's a writers' submission event going on at the moment. Start by talking to readers and finding out what they're into. When you have an idea of what the current trends are, come back and see me.

八重神子：打听完消息之后，就到乌有亭来。我会把团队组好，等下就可以边吃边工作。

Yae Miko：I'll be at Uyuu Restaurant — find me there when you're done. I will assemble a team, and we can work while we eat.

在征文现场打听读者喜好 Go to the submission event to listen to what the readers like

你们询问了一位名叫响太的读者…

You ask a reader named Kyouta some questions...

响太：我很早以前就喜欢轻小说了，主要是喜欢那些天马行空的幻想，新奇的设定与好玩的故事。

Kyouta：I've been reading light novels for long time now. I'm mainly into big, ambitious fantasy works with an original core concept and good storytelling.

响太：但眼下的作品越来越雷同，许多书我都不用看内容，一看标题就知道是差不多的套路。

Kyouta：These days, though, everyone seems to be imitating each other. Most of the time I can guess what the story is about just from the title.

响太：最近也只有《真实探灵笔记》能让人眼前一亮。

Kyouta：The only recent book worth mentioning is "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits."

响太：不仅故事有意思，而且总觉得很多描写像真的一样！我都怀疑作者是不是真的接触过那么多妖怪！

Kyouta：Not only is it a good story, but the descriptions are really true to life. So much so that I'm almost wondering if maybe the author really has met all those youkai before.

你们询问了一位名叫大助的读者…

You ask a reader named Oosuke some questions...

大助：轻小说想大卖，关键是插画得好看。

Oosuke：The key to a successful light novel is having good illustrations.

大助：什么时候放插画、插画的内容是什么、找哪个画师来画，这可都是大有讲究。

Oosuke：When to use illustrations, what they should contain, and which artist you should commission for them... These are all key things to bear in mind.

大助：插画画得好，可以掩盖许多问题。反之，插画不好看，再好的故事也很难出彩。

Oosuke：Good illustrations can make up for bad writing. But on the flip side, a bad illustration can ruin your novel, even if you have the best story in the world.

大助：有句话叫「买插画送轻小说」，在我看来所言非虚。只可惜有名的画师大多排期已满，很难约到了…

Oosuke：There's a saying that light novels are essentially a case of "buy art, get words free." I'd agree with that. Too bad most of the top artists have jam-packed schedules, so it's extremely difficult to commission them...

大助：《真实探灵笔记》这本书的插画就很厉害，但我之前还从来没见过类似的画风。

Oosuke：The illustrations in "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits" are incredible, but it's unlike any art style I've ever seen before.

你们询问了一位名叫哲夫的读者…

You ask a reader named Tetsuo some questions...

哲夫：实不相瞒，我看轻小说，图的就是一个「爽」字。

Tetsuo：I'll be honest. I read light novels for the cheap thrills.

哲夫：传统的故事，都是主角慢慢成长，在离别与失去中逐渐变强。虽然好看，但节奏太慢了。

Tetsuo：In most traditional stories, the protagonist usually has this long and drawn out character arc, usually involving a process of separation, loss, and ultimately growth and renewed strength. It reads well, and everything, it's just a little slow-paced for me.

哲夫：但现在流行的《真实探灵笔记》，却是主角开局就很强！这种看着才爽嘛。

Tetsuo：By contrast, there's this popular light novel at the moment called "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits," where the protagonist is super strong right from the get-go! That's what I mean by cheap thrills: action-packed right from page one.

哲夫：书中的主角是个妖狐，不仅熟悉咒语秘法，甚至书画茶艺也样样精通！

Tetsuo：The protagonist is a kitsune who has not only mastered the secret art of incantations, but also tea ceremony, painting, and calligraphy!

前往乌有亭完成轻小说 Go to Uyuu Restaurant to finish the light novel

八重神子：你们来啦，先向你们介绍一下团队：

Yae Miko：Ah, there you are. Let me introduce the team:

八重神子：这两位你们认识，顺吉和阿茂。

Yae Miko：You've already met Junkichi and Shigeru.

八重神子：阿茂是很有经验的编辑，与他搭档的作家顺吉，虽说最近在瓶颈期，但他以往的作品在年轻人中很有人气，有自己独特的门道。

Yae Miko：Shigeru is an experienced editor and Junkichi is the author he's partnered with. Junkichi's working through a creative lull at the moment, but all his past works have been very popular with young people. He has developed a distinct and enduringly popular style.

八重神子：聪美是我们八重堂的王牌，她的特长是使用多个笔名，创作风格迥异的故事。至于她的笔名，则是商业机密了。

Yae Miko：Satomi is Yae Publishing House's ace in the hole. Her specialty is that she can write all kinds of completely different stories, and all under different pen names. As for what those names are, well, that's a trade secret.

八重神子：他们会和我们一起创作小说，击败《真实探灵笔记》。怎么样，是不是放心了许多？

Yae Miko：They will be teaming up with us to collectively create the novel that knocks "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits" off its perch. So? Feeling better about my plan now?

派蒙：原来如此！

Paimon：Uh-huh, it definitely makes sense! Hehe.

八重神子：那么接下来，就说说你们对读者的了解吧。

Yae Miko：Now then, tell me what you found out about readers' preferences.

：将了解到的读者们的看法告诉了八重神子。

：You tell Yae Miko the readers' thoughts.

八重神子：没错，设定新、节奏快、插画精、爆点多，能做到这几条，小说的销量才有保证。

Yae Miko：All very true. An original core concept, a fast pace, quality illustrations, and lots of action. This is the formula that will guarantee good sales numbers.

八重神子：更重要的是，虽然是轻小说，但也要注意作品传递的「真实感」！

Yae Miko：More importantly than that, even though it's a work of fiction, we have to deliver a sense of realism.

派蒙：虽然明白了一些道理，不过我们到底要写点什么呢？

Paimon：Paimon followed pretty much all of that, but there's still one question... what are we actually gonna write about?

派蒙：比如「设定要新」，但怎么才能想到新鲜的设定呢？

Paimon：For example, we know we need an original core concept... but how do we come up with one?

八重神子：呵呵…在理解这句话之前，首先要搞清楚自己的受众。

Yae Miko：Hehe... Before you can answer that question, you have to understand your target audience.

八重神子：比如《真实探灵笔记》，在我看来讲的都是妖狐熟悉的东西，但民众却觉得很新颖。这就是作者与读者之间的信息差。

Yae Miko：Take "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits," for example. When I read it, all I find is common knowledge to the kitsune. But to the general public, it's bursting with new and interesting ideas. It all comes down to the size of the information gap between author and reader.

八重神子：小家伙，你作为旅行者，一定也知道许多稻妻的民众不了解的事情。你司空见惯的东西，对他们来说可能就是新颖的设定。

Yae Miko：As a Traveler, there must be a great many things you know about that are complete unknowns to the people of Inazuma. What is commonplace to you may be fresh and original to them.

派蒙：原来是这样！那我们可以从蒙德与璃月寻找一些灵感！

Paimon：Ohh, right! So maybe we can take inspiration from our time in Mondstadt and Liyue!

派蒙：不过这样写的话，就和《真实探灵笔记》不是同一类的书了…这样没关系吗？

Paimon：Hmm, but that would make it a completely different genre than "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits"... Uh, is that gonna be a problem?

八重神子：没关系，你们不必思考如何与《真实探灵笔记》竞争，只要根据你的经历，提供有趣的想法就行。

Yae Miko：Not at all. You don't have to worry so much about how to compete with that book. All you have to do is provide some interesting ideas based on your travel experiences.

八重神子：只要内容本身有趣，这些专家们可以帮忙往里面加料。

Yae Miko：As long as the core content is interesting, my expert team here will be able to flesh out the details.

派蒙：好耶！那我们就开始想第一章的内容吧。旅行者，你有什么想法吗？

Paimon：Alright! Let's start with chapter one, then. Uh... what are you thinking, Traveler?

【选项1】

旅行者：《转生到异世界邂逅会飞的应急食品》

Traveler: "Reincarnated in Another World: Encounters with Airborne Emergency Rations"

派蒙：喂！这个怎么想都不会有人喜欢吧！

Paimon：No! No one would ever go for that, no matter how you tried to play it!

八重神子：嗯…满分10分的话，我的评价是，9分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... Out of a maximum of 10 points, I'd give that a 9!

八重神子：异世界里竟然有会飞的应急食品？它的味道到底如何，到底要如何烹饪？

Yae Miko：Is there really flying emergency food in other worlds? How does it taste? And how do you cook it?

八重神子：像这样的开篇，很容易引起读者的兴趣。可不要小看了烹饪题材，毕竟吃这个话题，大家都感兴趣。

Yae Miko：It's a strong opening — an easy way to grab the readers' attention. Never underestimate the appeal of culinary-oriented subject matter. Food, after all, is a topic that everyone is interested in.

派蒙：喂！

Paimon：Hey!

【选项2】

旅行者：《爱摸鱼的诗人同学》

Traveler: "The Work-Shy Bard"

派蒙：让我看看…「进入蒙德学院，邻座是喜欢在课堂上摸鱼的少年。」

Paimon：Let's see what you've got... "After enrolling in the Mondstadt Academy, I found out that the young man sitting next to me in class was a total slacker."

派蒙：「少年自称吟游诗人，喜欢上课弹琴，随身携带酒瓶，真实身份却是这里的校长…」

Paimon："He said he was a bard, had a habit of playing his lyre in class, and always had a bottle of liquor on his person. But his true identity was actually the principal of the academy..."

派蒙：这是什么剧情啊！

Paimon：What kind of plot is that!?

八重神子：嗯…满分10分的话，我的评价是，9.5分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... Out of a maximum of 10 points, I'd give that a 9.5!

八重神子：最后一排靠窗的位置，果然还是要安排一个有趣的人才行。

Yae Miko：It just goes to show, you have to have an interesting character sitting in the back row by the window.

八重神子：作为转校生的主角，邂逅了喜欢诗与酒的校长，平凡的日常从此被打破。听上去就很有趣，通过！

Yae Miko：The protagonist is a transfer student, new to the school, whose ordinary life is about to take a wild turn when they meet the ballad-and-alcohol-loving principal. Sounds interesting. Approved!

派蒙：我完全没法理解…

Paimon：Paimon just does not see the appeal...

【选项3】

旅行者：《龙与大冒险》

Traveler: "The Dragon and the Grand Adventure"

派蒙：听名字感觉是非常王道的故事呢！

Paimon：This sounds like a great one!

派蒙：让我看看…「主角第一次到蒙德城，就遇见了正在搞破坏的飞龙。」

Paimon：Let's see here... "The protagonist arrives in Mondstadt for the first time to the sight of a dragon flying around and wreaking havoc on the city."

派蒙：「主角在伙伴们的帮助下，顺利击败了飞龙，但龙却突然变成了美少女？」

Paimon："With the help of some trusty companions, the protagonist successfully defeats the dragon. But then... the dragon suddenly turns into a beautiful young woman..." ...Huh?

派蒙：「人类啊，与我一同携起手来，创建更好的未来吧！人类与龙的爱情故事，就此开幕！」

Paimon："Human, let us work together to build a better future! The love story between human and dragon begins today..."

派蒙：这是什么奇怪的展开。而且这里面没有大冒险吧！

Paimon：Well that was an unexpected development. What happened to the grand adventure!?

旅行者：主角的名字叫「大冒险」。

Traveler："The Grand Adventure" is just the protagonist's name.

派蒙：喂！这完全是欺诈吧！

Paimon：What!? But that's so misleading!

八重神子：嗯…满分10分的话，我的评价是，9分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... Out of a maximum of 10 points, I'd give that a 9!

八重神子：意料之外的展开呢。而且龙族少女，听上去就是很受欢迎的角色。采用！

Yae Miko：The story certainly goes in an unorthodox direction. And the dragon-girl sounds destined to be a hit character. Approved!

派蒙：怎么这样！

Paimon：What the heck!

八重神子：挺不错的，小家伙。不仅从自己的经历出发，而且看来你也读了不少轻小说，很了解其中的门道嘛。

Yae Miko：Good job, little one. You're not only drawing on your own experiences, but it seems you're filtering them through the lens of the kinds of light novels you've read in the past. I think you really understand what we're trying to do here.

八重神子：你们感觉怎么样？可以根据这个大纲写出有趣的故事吗？

Yae Miko：Thoughts from the experts? Are we able to work with this general framework to make an interesting story?

顺吉：我们觉得没问题。因为我一不小心就会把设定搞复杂，这下刚好弥补了这个缺点。

Junkichi：Yeah, we think it works. I tend to overcomplicate the core concept if I'm not careful, so this deals with that problem.

八重神子：呵呵，那就好。

Yae Miko：Hehe. That's good.

八重神子：第一章你的任务完成了，开始想第二章的故事吧。

Yae Miko：Okay, we're done with chapter one. Let's move on to chapter two.

派蒙：咦，还要继续想啊？！

Paimon：Huh? Won't that do for now?

八重神子：读者们看书的速度可是很快的，好不容易抓住了他们的注意力，后续跟不上就前功尽弃了。

Yae Miko：Readers will devour your content a lot more quickly than you'd think. If we don't keep delivering the goods now we've caught their attention, all our hard work so far is in vain.

八重神子：快，赶快开始第二章，没看见聪美还等着吗？

Yae Miko：Hurry, chapter two, let's go. Can't you see that Satomi is waiting?

派蒙：旅行者，你怎么了？感觉脸色不是很好看…

Paimon：Hmm? What's wrong with you, Traveler? You don't look so good...

【选项1】

旅行者：不知道有什么故事…

Traveler: I can't think of any more stories...

【选项2】

旅行者：脑袋里空空的…

Traveler: My mind's gone blank...

八重神子：唉，还以为你能凭借「新手的好运」再撑一阵子呢，没想到也这么快就出现了。

Yae Miko：What a pity... I thought your "beginner's luck" would carry you a little further before it came to this. But alas. The time has come prematurely.

派蒙：什么出现了？

Paimon：Before it came to what? What's happened?

八重神子：「卡文」之魔王。不知何时就会出现的一生之敌，会给作者带去生不如死的痛苦，甚至让人绝望到想把灵魂卖掉。

Yae Miko：The bane of our existence: "writer's block." It's your arch-nemesis for life, appearing without warning and inflicting a pain worse than death upon the writer. They sell their souls just to get their muse back.

派蒙：我有点理解了。

Paimon：Sounds awful.

八重神子：这时候就要吃点东西，好好放松一下心情。

Yae Miko：When this happens, the best thing you can do is have a bite to eat and take a proper break.

八重神子：老板，给我来一盘油豆腐！给他们俩来点炸串，大众口味的就行。

Yae Miko：Boss, get me a plate of Fried Tofu! And get some Kushikatsu for these two. Just the basic kind will do.

八重神子：放心吧，会记在我的账上。

Yae Miko：Don't worry, this is my treat.

派蒙：记账？等一下神子，既然我和旅行者这么努力地创作小说，应该有稿费吧！

Paimon：Your treat? Oh, wait a minute. Miko, we'll be getting paid for all the hard work we're doing, right?

八重神子：当然，参与创作的每个人都有啊。

Yae Miko：Of course, everyone that takes part in the creative process will be paid.

派蒙：好耶！旅行者，你快加油！为了我们的稿费，开动大脑！

Paimon：Alright, cool! Then let's press on, shall we, Traveler? Don't give up now! For the sake of our paycheck, get your brain going!

旅行者：说起「钱」的话题…

Traveler：Paycheck... hmm, speaking of "Mora"...

派蒙：哦哦，你有灵感了是吗？

Paimon：Ooh, ooh! Does this mean your inspiration's come back?

【选项1】

旅行者：《璃月之行队伍里的伙伴竟是帝君先生》

Traveler: "Took a Trip to Liyue, Tour Guide Turned Out to Be Rex Lapis"

派蒙：让我看看…「来到璃月的主角意外结识了无钱付账的青年，后来才知这位竟是赫赫有名的岩王帝君。」

Paimon：Let's see now... "The protagonist arrives in Liyue and befriends a young man who doesn't have the money to pay for anything. Only later do we find out that this young man is none other than Rex Lapis himself."

派蒙：「七星相助，仙人护佑，广阔天地任我畅游…」

Paimon："With the help of the Qixing and the protection of the adepti, I am free to roam this vast realm..."

派蒙：唔，这种算是大家说的「爽」吗？

Paimon：Hmm, is this the kind of "cheap thrill" that that guy was talking about?

八重神子：嗯…我的评价是，9.8分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... I give it a 9.8!

八重神子：听上去故事爽快，没有任何毒点，而且关于那位帝君的传说有很多，民众想必也很好奇。

Yae Miko：The story is fun and action-packed, with no dark undertones. Also, there are a great many legends about Rex Lapis. I'm sure it will spark the people's curiosity.

八重神子：至少在我看来是很有市场的，我投赞成票。

Yae Miko：I, for one, think there's a sizable market for this. Approved.

派蒙：好吧…希望钟离不要介意。

Paimon：Alright, well... let's just hope Zhongli doesn't mind.

【选项2】

旅行者：《摇滚少女！！》

Traveler: "Rock 'N' Roll Girl!!!"

派蒙：「璃月学院中有许多社团，作为新生的主角也被各种社团争夺…」

Paimon："The Liyue Academy has more student clubs than you can shake a stick at, and as the new kid on the block, the protagonist is the one they're all fighting over..."

派蒙：「其中有料理社、建筑社、往生社、椰奶研究社…不过主角最终还是决定加入摇滚社。」

Paimon："There's the Culinary Club, the Architecture Club, the Funerary Club, even the Coconut Milk Research Club... But in the end, the protagonist chose to join the Rock 'N' Roll Club."

派蒙：「由四名学院新人组建的摇滚社团，带着火热的梦想一路向前！」

Paimon："Taking a chance on their youthful dreams, four newcomers to the academy form a rock 'n' roll band that really begins to take off!"

派蒙：我觉得这个好！

Paimon：Paimon loves it!

八重神子：嗯…我的评价是，9.5分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... I give it a 9.5!

八重神子：经典的青春友情剧，不管怎么样都百看不厌啊。

Yae Miko：A classic tale of youth and friendship. It never gets old.

八重神子：特别是这个社长的设计，非常摇滚，从她身上能够感受到一种熊熊燃烧的热情。采用！

Yae Miko：I especially like the head of the club. Great character design. She really has rock 'n' roll coursing through her veins. I can almost feel the heat from that fire in her soul. Approved!

派蒙：好耶！

Paimon：Aw, yeah!

【选项3】

旅行者：《变成幼岩龙蜥了！》

Traveler: "I Turned Into a Geovishap Hatchling!"

派蒙：「一觉起来，主角发现自己变成了幼岩龙蜥，被数不清的冒险者围剿。」

Paimon："The protagonist awakes to find themselves turned into a Geovishap Hatchling surrounded by countless adventurers."

派蒙：「但主角意外地发现自己能通过不停滚动来进化…」

Paimon："But then, the protagonist suddenly discovers that they have a special ability: keep rolling to keep evolving..."

派蒙：「翻滚！翻滚！目标是成为最强的岩元素创生物！」

Paimon："So the protagonist rolled and rolled and rolled, hoping to evolve into the strongest Geo creature ever!"

派蒙：主角已经不是人了，和第一章明显接不上吧！

Paimon：So the protagonist is no longer a human, huh? Good luck retconning that after chapter one!

八重神子：嗯…我的评价是，9.5分！

Yae Miko：Hmm... I give it a 9.5!

八重神子：「怪物进化」题材的轻小说也越来越多了，逐渐从小众题材转变成民众喜闻乐见的作品。

Yae Miko："Monster evolution" is an increasingly common theme these days. What started out as a rather niche genre has gradually worked its way into the mainstream.

八重神子：至于和第一章接不上，也没有关系。只要在最开始说明主角可以反复穿越异世界，或是用梦境解释就可以了。

Yae Miko：And I wouldn't worry about the continuity issue. All we have to do is explain at the beginning of the work that the protagonist can travel between different worlds. Or just explain it away as a dream.

派蒙：好随便！

Paimon：Ugh, no integrity whatsoever!

八重神子：呵呵…重点是有趣。轻小说也好，人生也好，有趣才是最重要的吧？

Yae Miko：Hehe... The most important thing is that it's fun. In light novels, as in life, having fun is the most important thing. Wouldn't you agree?

派蒙：听上去好像也有点道理…

Paimon：Hmm. You do kinda have a point...

八重神子：好，这样聪美也可以去执笔了。

Yae Miko：Great, well, now Satomi can get started on that.

聪美：八重大人，放心交给我吧。

Satomi：Leave it to me, Lady Yae.

八重神子：第三章就来写一写稻妻的故事吧。这章我来帮你，可以从眼狩令和反抗军中取材，你有什么好点子吗？

Yae Miko：Let's write about Inazuma in the third chapter, shall we? I can help with this one. We can use the Vision Hunt Decree or your experience in the resistance, any ideas?

【选项1】

旅行者：《无法忍受与大家一起废除眼狩令吧》

Traveler: "Stuff This! C'mon, Let's Get Rid of This Vision Hunt Decree!"

八重神子：嗯，很符合你经历的故事呢，几乎没有太多改动。

Yae Miko：Mm, clearly very closely based on your own personal experience, with no major changes at all.

旅行者：灵感用得差不多了…

Traveler：Well, I'm running low on inspiration...

八重神子：没关系，毕竟是发生在稻妻的事情，真实一些反而更容易引起读者的兴趣。

Yae Miko：That's fine. Since it's something that took place in Inazuma, it might actually be more interesting to readers if it's grounded in the truth.

【选项2】

旅行者：《再见！书狩令》

Traveler: "Farewell, Literature Hunt Decree!"

派蒙：「稻妻学院里，严厉的雷电校长决定没收所有的轻小说。」

Paimon："The strict Principal Raiden of the Inazuma Academy decided to confiscate all light novels."

派蒙：「主角在狐狸小姐的帮助下与雷电校长发起御前考试，顺利击败雷电校长，雷电校长被迫废除书狩令…」

Paimon："With the help of Lady Kitsune, the protagonist defeats Principal Raiden in an exam before the throne, forcing the principal to abolish the Literature Hunt Decree..."

派蒙：这种作品真的能顺利出版吗…

Paimon：Are we absolutely sure we can publish this...?

八重神子：没问题，我觉得很好！

Yae Miko：We can and we will! I think it's great!

【选项3】

旅行者：《从反抗军小卒开始》

Traveler: "Starting as a Resistance Soldier"

派蒙：「眼狩令不期而至，主角加入反抗军，成为一名普通的士兵。」

Paimon："When the Vision Hunt Decree comes out of nowhere, the protagonist joins the resistance, starting out as an ordinary rank-and-file soldier."

派蒙：「且看主角如何立下赫赫军功，与反抗军大将称兄道弟，结识鸣神大社宫司，一同将抗争进行到底…」

Paimon："Find out how the protagonist goes on to make great contributions to the war effort, become best friends with the resistance general, and get to know the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, working together with everyone to finally secure a grand victory for the resistance..."

派蒙：意外地很正常…

Paimon：Huh, it's... surprisingly normal...

八重神子：我觉得不错，从士兵到将领一步步成长，喜欢这种王道剧情的读者也不少。

Yae Miko：I think it's rather good. A lot of people still like the classic hero's journey. From ordinary soldier to great leader — a fresh take on a timeless classic.

八重神子：不过里面关于我送你御守的情节，需要做一些修改。

Yae Miko：One thing though — we'll need to rewrite the part about me giving you the omamori.

八重神子：改成「神秘的狐狸小姐教给主角实现愿望的术法，主角靠着这个术法击败雷电将军」吧。

Yae Miko：Let's change it to: "The mysterious Lady Kitsune teaches the protagonist a spell that can make their wishes come true. The protagonist uses this spell to defeat the Raiden Shogun in battle." That should do the trick.

派蒙：哇，这是要和《真实探灵笔记》硬碰硬吗？

Paimon：Whoa, so we're really going head-to-head with our rival on this one, huh?

八重神子：呵呵，算是？主角念诵咒语这段，到时候他们写完，我会来亲自填上。

Yae Miko：Hehe, I suppose so. Once they're done writing the manuscript, I'll write the passage where the protagonist recites the incantation myself.

派蒙：这样就可以了吗？真的可以赢过《真实探灵笔记》吗？

Paimon：Are we done, then? Do you really think this will be able to beat "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits"?

八重神子：内容已经没问题了，但是还缺一点宣传。

Yae Miko：The content is fine. Now we just need to promote it.

八重神子：我来联系画师帮你们绘制插画，不会输给《真实探灵笔记》，另外书腰上的推荐语，可以让最近热度很高的希娜小姐来写。

Yae Miko：I will contact an artist to make some illustrations — I'm positive they will be at least as good as those in "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits." We'll also need an endorsement on a paper band around the book. I can get the wonderful Ms. Hina to write that.

八重神子：她是《闲事月刊》中读者问答栏目的专栏作者，很受稻妻民众欢迎。

Yae Miko：She runs a regular Q&A column in "That's Life" magazine. The people of Inazuma absolutely adore her.

八重神子：大家创作这段时间，你可以歇一歇，顺便到八重堂预约一下希娜小姐的推荐。书完成后，我们在征文现场碰面吧。

Yae Miko：You're free to take a break while the creative team is doing their work, but please go by the Yae Publishing House at some point to commission Ms. Hina for that recommendation. Once our light novel is complete, let's meet at the writers' submission event.

前往八重堂完成荐言 Go to Yae Publishing House to complete the endorsement

：将情况告诉了黑田…

：You tell Kuroda about the situation...

黑田：希娜小姐一般不给别人写推荐，不过既然是宫司大人交代下来的，我们就再去交涉一下。

Kuroda：Ms. Hina doesn't usually do endorsements. But since it's Lady Guuji that's asking, we'll see what we can do.

黑田：现在希娜小姐的热度越来越高，许多人也找到我们，希望进行一些合作。

Kuroda：With Ms. Hina getting so popular lately, a lot of people have come to us hoping to do a collaboration.

黑田：不过希娜小姐本人对这些不感兴趣，她还是和以前一样，认真回着读者的来信，其他活动能推就推。

Kuroda：But Ms. Hina's not interested in any of it. She still prefers to focus all her efforts on replying to readers' letters, and turns down every promotional opportunity she can.

黑田：这或许也是粉丝们喜欢她的原因吧。咳咳，说远了。总之有希娜小姐的推荐，前期就不缺话题度了。

Kuroda：Maybe that's why her fans like her so much... Ahem, I'm getting off topic here. Anyway, if we can get that endorsement from Ms. Hina, you'll definitely get an exposure boost at the beginning.

黑田：祝你们的轻小说大卖，刷新我们八重堂的销售记录！

Kuroda：May your light novel sell well, and set a new record for the Yae Publishing House!

派蒙：我们会加油的！

Paimon：We'll do our best!

前往征文现场提交稿件 Go to submit the manuscript

：八重神子带来了写好的轻小说…

：Yae Miko brings the completed light novel...

中野志乃：几位确定要提交这份作品吗？让我看看，书名是《旅行者的奇妙冒险》，作者笔名是「千手斋」。

Nakano Shino：Are you sure you'd like to submit this entry? Let me see, "The Miraculous Adventures of the Traveler," by "Thousand Hands."

派蒙：好怪的笔名，是神子起的吧。经过这段时间相处，我已经逐渐了解了你的品味。

Paimon：What a strange pen name... Definitely your doing. Having been around you so much recently, Paimon's slowly starting to understand your unique tastes.

八重神子：哪里奇怪了，我们这么多人七手八脚才完成，这个笔名不是很形象吗？

Yae Miko：What do you mean, "strange"? It took a lot of work by a lot of different people to get this thing finished. Don't you think it's a very descriptive pen name?

中野志乃：我们会抓紧印制，在稻妻各地进行试点销售。三天后，我会公布轻小说的销量。

Nakano Shino：We'll get this printed as a matter of priority and conduct trial sales in pilot locations throughout Inazuma. I'll announce the sales numbers in three days.

派蒙：怎么办旅行者，我有点紧张，真的没问题吗？

Paimon：Uh-oh, Paimon's getting a little nervous now. D'you really think this is gonna work, Traveler?

【选项1】

旅行者：顶级团队。

Traveler: We had a top-notch team.

【选项2】

旅行者：我们是专业的。

Traveler: We're all professionals.

八重神子：没错，对自己的作品要有信心，才是轻小说家该有的样子。

Yae Miko：That's right, be confident in your work. That's exactly how a light novelist should be.

中野志乃：那我就帮你们报上名了，请三天后再来看结果吧。

Nakano Shino：Okay, then I'll sign you up. Please come back in three days for the results.

中野志乃：感谢各位投稿，预祝各位轻小说大卖！

Nakano Shino：Thank you all for your submission. I wish you the very best of luck!

打听小说销售情况 Ask about the sales situation

中野志乃：哦？你们终于来了。

Nakano Shino：Ah, you've all finally made it.

中野志乃：好消息，各位。刚刚我收到消息，你们的轻小说供不应求，好几个销售点都在问我们何时再版。

Nakano Shino：Good news, everyone. I just received word that your light novel is flying off the shelves! Multiple sales locations are asking when we'll be printing more copies.

派蒙：好耶！

Paimon：Woohoo, that's great!

中野志乃：刚刚出道就有这样的成绩，属实厉害。要知道在初版数量相同的情况下，许多书连三成都卖不到。

Nakano Shino：This level of success is an amazing accomplishment for a new work. Most new books don't sell 30% of what you've sold.

中野志乃：这是赠送给几位的样书，请你们先收好。稿酬过段时间会发下来，届时会通知各位领取。

Nakano Shino：I have free copies for each of you here, please take them. The payment will follow shortly, and I'll notify you to come and collect it when the time comes.

旅行者：比起这个…

Traveler：This is all great, but...

派蒙：对了！之所以写这本轻小说，是为了削弱《真实探灵笔记》的影响。

Paimon：Oh, yeah! The whole reason why we made this light novel was to combat the influence of "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits."

派蒙：唔，虽然卖出去了很多本，但总觉得没什么实感。真的有用吗？

Paimon：Hmm, we sold a lot of copies, but it doesn't feel like we accomplished our goal. How do we know whether it worked?

八重神子：呵呵…放心吧，「改变」已经产生了。

Yae Miko：Hehe... Oh, don't worry. The change is already underway.

八重神子：嘘…你们听，周围的人谈论的内容，已经和以前不一样了，不是吗？

Yae Miko：Shh... listen to what the people around us are talking about. The conversation has already moved on, hasn't it?

一道：最近流行的怪谈，你们听说了吗？只要在半夜念诵《真实探灵笔记》上的咒语，就可以实现愿望…

Kazumichi：Hey guys... have you heard about this latest kaidan thing doing the rounds? You just need to recite the incantation from "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits" at midnight, and your wish will come true...

响太：哦，你是说前段时间「流行过」的怪谈吧，那个已经过时了。

Kyouta：Oh, that? Heh, that's a throwback. That's old news, man.

响太：你看这街上，谁还讨论那个？现在流行的是「狐狸小姐秘传术法」，里面的咒语我可都会背了。

Kyouta：No one's talking about that anymore. "The Secret Spells of Lady Kitsune" is the new hit thing. I've already memorized all the incantations.

一道：「狐狸小姐秘传术法」？那是什么？

Kazumichi："The Secret Spells of Lady Kitsune"? What's that?

哲夫：你还没看？那我给你讲讲。据说在「无月之夜」念诵术法，能够得到狐仙以及众多大妖怪的庇护，任何愿望都能实现！

Tetsuo：You haven't read it yet? Okay, so, supposedly, if you recite the spell in there on a moonless night, you'll receive the protection of the kitsune and all the other powerful youkai. They can make any of your wishes come true!

哲夫：我听说《真实探灵笔记》的咒语有些邪门！有人许愿得到的钱，一夜之间都变成了叶子，而且还发起了高烧。

Tetsuo：I heard that the incantations in "A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits" have weird side effects! This one guy wished for a load of Mora — and got it — but then one night, it all turned to leaves and he developed a high fever.

哲夫：最后还是用了「狐狸小姐秘传术法」，不适的感觉才消失了。

Tetsuo：They actually had to use one of "The Secret Spells of Lady Kitsune" to get rid of the discomfort.

哲夫：说明这种术法要比之前的咒语更加高明！我和身边的人都跃跃欲试，就等无月之夜到来了。

Tetsuo：That proves that the incantations in this book are more potent than the ones everyone was trying before! Pretty much everyone I know is desperate to try it out — just waiting for a moonless night.

一道：真的吗？那我也赶紧去准备…

Kazumichi：Really? Well I'd better go and prepare, too...

八重神子：怎么样，是不是放心了？

Yae Miko：Well? Feeling less worried now?

派蒙：真的欸，大家的注意力被转移了！

Paimon：Wow, you're right. Everyone's shifting focus!

派蒙：不过他们嘴里说的那个「无月之夜」又是什么？

Paimon：But what's this "moonless night" that they're talking about?

派蒙：之前在想故事的时候，好像还没有这个设定的。

Paimon：Paimon doesn't remember that detail from the brainstorming session.

八重神子：呵呵，这是将来会用到的重要东西。好，接下来，这场胜负将进入下一个环节了。

Yae Miko：Hehe, this is something that will become very important to us further down the line. Alright, it's time to move on to the next phase of the plan.

派蒙：咦，还有下一个环节？

Paimon：Eh? There's a phase two?

八重神子：当然。有书问世，自然就有写书的人咯。

Yae Miko：Of course. Behind every book that hits the market lies an author, right?

派蒙：对、对哦！放任他不管的话，说不定就会有下一本《真实探灵笔记》问世。

Paimon：Ohh, yeah! If we leave him to his own devices, he might just write another guide to summoning spirits.

派蒙：而且他写书的动机也值得调查清楚！

Paimon：...Also, we still need to figure out what his motive for writing it was!

八重神子：所以，接下来就来处理这件事。关于这本书的作者我已经调查清楚了，是个名叫智行的不得志的小说家。

Yae Miko：Exactly, that's what we need to take care of next. Fortunately, I've already managed to identify the author — he's a failed light novelist named Tomoyuki.

八重神子：不过我们找到他的时候，他却完全没有写过这本书的印象。

Yae Miko：But when we went to ask him about it, he had no recollection whatsoever of having written the book.

旅行者：难道说…

Traveler：Wait, so does this mean...

八重神子：没错，他也是被附身的，而且是对方主动找到了他。

Yae Miko：Yes, this is another case of possession — only this time, whoever possessed him actively sought him out.

八重神子：他小说投稿失败后，一个人在荒海漫无目的地闲逛，苦闷地大喊「无论谁都好，让我写出厉害的小说吧！」之后就失去了知觉。

Yae Miko：After his novel submission failed, he was walking aimlessly in Araumi. In frustration, he shouted out: "Please, someone, anyone! Help me write a truly amazing novel!" After that, he lost consciousness.

派蒙：不过现在那个写书的鬼魂已经离开他了，这可怎么办呀？

Paimon：But the spirit that wrote the book has already left him now, right? So what are we supposed to do?

八重神子：很简单，它不是在书里写了降灵咒语吗？我们就用它教的方法让它现身好了。

Yae Miko：Simple. It wrote a summoning incantation in the book, didn't it? So we can just use its own method to make it manifest itself.

八重神子：小家伙，你刚好能派上大用场，呵呵呵。

Yae Miko：And you, my little friend, are the perfect candidate for this role. Hehehe...

【选项1】

旅行者：总觉得有点可疑。

Traveler: This sounds very dubious.

【选项2】

旅行者：我现在退出还来得及吗？

Traveler: Is it too late for me to back out?

八重神子：哎呀，你在说什么呢，好戏才刚开始呢。

Yae Miko：Aww, what are you talking about? The fun's just about to begin.