As Rito stepped back into the house, he felt a wave of cool air wash over him. The contrast between the morning heat and the air-conditioned home was refreshing. He took off his shoes and stretched his arms, feeling the slight soreness from his morning jog.
"Man, my stamina really needs work... but at least I got the Running skill."
With a small nod to himself, he headed straight to his room, determined to make good use of the rest of the morning.
Sharpening His Writing Skill
Settling into his chair, Rito booted up his laptop and opened a blank document. If he wanted to improve his [Writing] skill, he needed to practice consistently.
"Copying existing works is still the best way to train."
With that in mind, he pulled up a few well-known light novels and began typing, mimicking the sentence structure and style while making small changes to challenge himself. His fingers danced across the keyboard with steady rhythm, occasionally pausing to read over what he wrote.
🔹 [Writing (Lv. 3)] – Your writing speed and fluency have improved. You can now craft sentences more naturally.
A small smile crept onto his lips. "That was fast."
Even though the skill had just levelled up, Rito knew this wasn't enough. He wanted to create something unique, but for now, building technical mastery took priority.
As he continued typing, he occasionally glanced at financial news websites, another interest that had started tugging at his mind.
A Trader's Instinct
"The stock market here is almost the same as the one back on Earth."
That realisation had dawned on him when he casually browsed the business section of a news site the night before. The terms, market structure, even the rise and fall of stocks—it all followed familiar patterns.
Rito had dabbled in trading back on Earth, and while he hadn't been a pro, he knew enough to make consistent profits. If he played his cards right, he could build up a good source of passive income here.
"But first, I need capital."
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. Right now, he had zero money to invest. Even though the system gave him ways to improve his skills, it didn't hand him free cash.
"Maybe I should try finding a way to earn first."
As he pondered this, an idea struck him—freelance writing.
If he could use his improving [Writing] skill to make money online, that would give him the starting funds he needed.
Excited by the thought, he started searching for platforms that offered paid writing gigs.
🔹 [Financial Awareness (Lv. 1)] – Your understanding of economic trends and investment opportunities has improved.
"Now we're talking."
He grinned, feeling a sense of motivation surge through him. This was just the beginning.
+++++
After returning home, Rito settled at his desk, stretching his arms before placing his hands on the keyboard. The glow of the monitor reflected in his eyes as he scrolled through a list of light novel publishers.
"If I want financial stability, I need something that can keep generating income without constantly trading my time for it."
Freelancing seemed like a decent option, but after researching, he realized that getting a job as a beginner was tough. Clients often preferred experienced writers, and competing in an oversaturated market wasn't ideal.
That's when another thought struck him—light novels.
The industry in this world followed a pattern eerily similar to his past life. Web novels, serialized fiction, and print publications were thriving, and thanks to his past-life knowledge and his [Writing (Lv. 3)] skill, he had a solid foundation.
"I don't have to start as a low-level freelancer. If I create a compelling story, I can submit it directly to publishers."
He browsed through various submission guidelines, noting the different contests and open calls for new authors. Some publishers even had digital platforms where writers could serialize their stories, allowing them to build a fanbase before getting an official deal.
"This could actually work."
Rito took a deep breath, flexing his fingers. What kind of story should he write? He had a wealth of light novels, anime, and manga in his memory, but copying directly wasn't an option.
"I need something unique, something that fits this world's trends but still carries my personal touch."
His thoughts swirled as he began typing.
Rito leaned back in his chair, scrolling through different writing competitions online. To his surprise, there were plenty—some hosted by big-name publishers, others by smaller indie platforms, and even a few international contests accepting submissions in English.
"So it's not just limited to Sakura Country... light novels have become a global trend."
Most of these competitions were held monthly, providing a perfect opportunity for newcomers to showcase their work. Some offered cash prizes, while others promised publishing contracts or royalty-based earnings if a novel performed well.
🔹 English was the dominant language for published light novels, making stories accessible to a global audience.🔹 Physical and digital sales were booming, and some authors had even broken into the mainstream book industry.🔹 Web novel platforms acted as stepping stones, helping authors build a fanbase before traditional publishers picked them up.🔹 Many well-known anime adaptations came from popular web novels, solidifying the industry's influence.
Rito's eyes gleamed as he read through the submission guidelines. If he played his cards right, this could be his ticket to financial stability.
🔹 Step 1: Choosing a CompetitionHe bookmarked three promising contests—one hosted by a major publisher, another by an international web novel platform, and a third that offered a direct contract for the winner.
🔹 Step 2: Understanding Market TrendsHe analyzed the best-selling novels of the past few years. From what he saw, genres like fantasy, isekai, romance, and slice of life performed the best.
🔹 Step 3: Story DraftingBefore submitting, he needed to prepare an outline. He couldn't just write blindly—world-building, character depth, and plot twists were key.
"Should I go for a classic reincarnation story, or maybe a modern fantasy?"
He scribbled down a few rough ideas, feeling an excited rush as his [Planning (Lv. 2)] skill helped him organize his thoughts.
As he continued working, a new notification popped up.
🔹 [Language Proficiency: English (Lv. 1)] – Allows the user to read, write, and comprehend English at a native level. Higher levels improve fluency and expression.
🔹 [English Communication (Lv. 1)] – Enables smooth spoken English conversations, making it easier to interact with international audiences.
It made sense—before reincarnation, he had been Indian, and English had been a second nature to him. Now, as he read through documents and analyzed industry trends, his past knowledge was resurfacing in the form of system-acquired skills.
"This is perfect."
His confidence grew as he typed away, preparing the first draft of his story.
Rito tapped his fingers against the desk, deep in thought. Isekai was the dominant genre, and considering his [Planning] skill, he already knew why.
🔹 Escapism – People loved the idea of being transported to another world, breaking free from their mundane lives.🔹 Wish Fulfillment – Overpowered protagonists, beautiful heroines, and grand adventures always sold well.🔹 Harem Appeal – The rise of multiple love interests was undeniable, and publishers were embracing the trend.
"Slime-based reincarnation stories have already been done, but what if I make something unique?"
Instead of blindly copying, Rito started drafting his own take.
His [Writing (Lv. 3)] skill made everything flow naturally. Sentences formed with perfect clarity, descriptions were vivid, and dialogues sounded authentic. He barely had to edit—every word seemed to click into place.
"Damn, this skill is too good."
By the time he finished, he had already written two full chapters—about 10,000 words in total.
A system notification popped up:
🔹 [Writing EXP +20]🔹 [Planning EXP +15]
"Looks like longer projects give me more experience."
With his Study Enhancement skill, recalling past novels and understanding storytelling techniques became second nature.
"I should let this sit for a bit before editing. Maybe tomorrow, I'll refine it and look for beta readers."
Satisfied, he saved his work and leaned back, stretching. The journey to becoming an author had truly begun.