NOVEL NEXT Volume 1 - Chapter 1.1
Chapter 1.1 – Manager Monou’s Request
[Translation By Divinity]
“Sanezawa-kun, what is the meaning of this?”
Manager Monou said, glaring directly at me with her dignified eyes.
The location—the sales department office.
A tense atmosphere ran through the room in response to her quiet but stern rebuke.
“You haven’t even reached half of this month’s sales quota yet.”
Saying that, she pointed to the sales performance chart posted on the wall.
Rows of bar graphs.
Only the one with my name was drastically sunken.
“The era when books would sell themselves at major publishing houses is long gone. In this age of increasing entertainment diversity… If we in sales don’t use our heads to sell, no one will buy books.”
Having received guidance from my direct superior, all I could do was lower my head and say,
“I-I’m sorry…”
“I tried my best, but it didn’t go as well as I thought…”
“Being evaluated for your effort is something that ends in school.”
With a sharp snap.
The heavy truth felt like it was gouging my stomach.
Once again—I looked at her.
Lustrous black hair and sharp eyes. Her gaze wasn’t harsh, but it held an overwhelming power and dignity that intimidated others.
She was a beauty recognized by everyone, and her figure was outstanding. The intense prominence of her chest couldn’t be hidden even under her suit.
Even during a lecture, I almost found myself captivated, but I desperately managed to restrain myself.
“You’re in your second year now, so have some awareness as a working adult.”
After saying that, Manager Monou turned her back on me and started walking away.
“…Phew.”
Released from the pressure, I let out a small breath.
All the strength drained from my body.
“Manager Monou~”
Just as she was leaving the sales department, a female employee called out to her.
It was my colleague, Kanoma Miku.
We were assigned to the same sales department, but in different sections.
“Um, the department head invited me to play golf this weekend… He said I can’t refuse because it’s entertaining a client… And it’s an overnight trip…”
She said in a voice close to tears.
Manager Monou furrowed her brow, a hint of displeasure showing on her face.
“…I’ll decline the invitation to the department head on your behalf.”
“Thank you so much!”
“The department head is at fault, but you also need to be more assertive. They take advantage of you because you act so weak.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
As Kanoma nodded timidly, Manager Monou left the sales department with a brisk air.
“…Sigh.”
As I let out a small sigh and returned to my seat,
“You got it rough, Sanezawa.”
My colleague at the next desk, Kutsuwa Shougo, said with a grin.
“Can’t be helped. It’s my own fault.”
“Our ‘Empress’ of the sales department is as scary as ever.”
Kutsuwa said, shrugging his shoulders.
He’s saying that so boldly just because she’s not here…
Monou Yuiko.
Her position is Section Manager.
An overwhelming beauty who carries herself well in brand-name suits.
To me, she’s my superior and someone who has been taking care of me since I joined the company.
Her age—I hear she’s thirty-two.
In our company, she’s the only one in her early thirties holding the position of ‘Section Manager.’ In other words, she’s incredibly capable at her job. I heard she was called the ace of sales when she was younger.
She’s undeniably excellent in her work.
On the other hand, she’s famous for being strict with both her superiors and subordinates.
Within the company, she’s called the “Empress” with a mix of respect and fear.
And.
As for me… I’m a very ordinary second-year employee who often gets scolded by that Empress.
My name is Sanezawa Haruhiko.
A very ordinary twenty-three-year-old with no particular distinguishing features.
‘Maruyama Publishing’
It’s one of the major publishing houses in Japan.
Novels, manga, picture books, light novels, business books, diet books, and so on… They publish almost anything that can be called a book.
I somehow managed to slip into such a large company as a new graduate.
When people hear I work at a publishing house,
“So you’re an editor. What kind of books do you make?”
I’m often asked that. For most people, a publishing house is literally a company that makes and publishes books.
But naturally, there are many jobs at a publishing house besides editing.
Sales is one of them.
It’s our job in sales to do our best to ensure that the books created with heart and soul by authors and editors reach as many readers as possible.
Even if we’re not recognized by the readers, it’s a rewarding and respectable job.
Everyone in the sales department takes pride in their work—
“Ugh, I can’t stand working in sales.”
—Or maybe not.
It was lunchtime.
I was heading out with my colleague Kutsuwa to get something to eat. As we were going down in the elevator, Kutsuwa continued with a sigh.
“I want to go to the editorial department and make books already.”
“Did you want to be in the editorial department, Kutsuwa?”
“Of course. No one joins a publishing company wanting to work in sales.”
He declared it flatly.
It’s probably not an exaggeration…
Most people who join publishing companies want to be in the editorial department.
After all, the star of a publishing company is—the work of creating books.
But not all new graduates can go to their desired departments, and they end up being assigned to sales or other departments based on personnel decisions.
Many people, even after being assigned to sales, don’t give up and keep submitting transfer requests to the editorial department.
But even then, not everyone can work in the editorial department.
Someone recently transferred from sales to the editorial department, but that was a case where they finally got to their desired department after working in sales for ten years.
“It’s the same for you, Sanezawa, right?”
“Me…”
I thought for a moment before continuing.
“…I don’t have the luxury of thinking about transfers right now. I’m not good enough to choose my job, so I’ll just do my best with the work in front of me.”
“Huh. You’re still the same well-behaved honor student.”
Kutsuwa said, teasing me.
“How can I get those damn personnel people to put me in the editorial department? Should I achieve overwhelming results in sales?”
“I hear they don’t let go of people like that from the sales department.”
“Then, I’ll slack off in sales, do things half-heartedly, and get crappy results.”
“They probably won’t let someone like that go to their desired department.”
“Right? So what the hell, am I screwed? What should I do to go to my desired department?”
Kutsuwa scratched his head in distress.
Not being able to work in your desired department.
It’s a problem that many working adults seem to have.
As for what to do… There’s no way I, a second-year employee, would know.
And that’s when it happened.
“—Excuse me.”
We were called out to just as we got off the elevator and started walking.
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