Otaku Translation: Literary Genius: This Kid Was Born Smart C100

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Chapter 100: A Story That Sends Chills Down Your Spine

" in a White Room and ? What strange titles…" , the chosen worker bee, began reading.

At first glance, the names didn’t align with the usual style of . Stories like "Human Skin Talisman" or "Knit a Sweater to Bind You" were more typical submissions for the magazine.

The two stories combined were only a few ten thousand words long, so Xiao Xue finished them quickly.

"They’re not in the same vein as , but they still evoke that creeping sense of dread," Xiao Xue mused after finishing.

He realized was exceptionally skilled at creating atmosphere. In Listening to Moon Songs, the protagonist is born with a spiritual body, allowing them to guide vengeful spirits into the "white room."

Ghost-banishing tropes were common in horror publications, and Xiao Xue could think of countless examples. But Listening to Moon Songs had an entirely different core—though he preferred the second story.

Iron Pillar left Xiao Xue feeling bone-chillingly cold. It followed two office workers from bustling cities who, after being worn down by urban life, retreat with their wives to a remote, picturesque mountain village. The village prided itself on being "the happiest little community in the world."

To be honest, Xiao Xue felt deeply immersed at the start. Even as a perpetual worker bee, one couldn’t help but dream of poetry and distant horizons.

But then…

["You might not have heard of this, but…" the village chief said with a hint of pride, "we have a custom here: when someone passes away after leaving behind a short poem, their funeral is celebrated extravagantly—more so than weddings. After all, they’ve chosen to end their life at the peak of happiness, satisfied with how it turned out. Isn’t that worth celebrating?"]

Happiness was often described as "dying happy." And in this small mountain village, death truly came hand-in-hand with happiness.

The title Iron Pillar referred to an inverted "L"-shaped iron pillar standing in the center of the village—a designated spot for hanging suicides.

The protagonist’s wife’s grandmother had hanged herself, her legs fitted with rings before the act.

"How can someone commit suicide by putting rings on their own legs? This must be murder," Xiao Xue thought. And indeed, the story revealed that the grandmother’s eldest daughter had helped secure the rings.

The village chief’s attitude was dismissive—"If an elderly person is about to cross the road, shouldn’t we lend a hand?"

Assisting someone in committing suicide equated to helping an elder cross the street?

Xiao Xue understood why he felt a chill run down his spine. Beyond the intense immersion, the horror stemmed from the "core of Chinese-style terror": unfamiliar villages (or secluded mansions), normalized customs, oppressive isolation, no means of seeking help, and no way to change reality.

What a great story! But was this author allergic to happiness? Xiao Xue wondered.

"Both stories explore happiness, but Listening to Moon Songs has an even crueler core than Iron Pillar," Xiao Xue reflected. Still, he preferred Iron Pillar. Its Chinese-style horror struck straight at the soul.

His initial reaction, however, was whether to hold back a bit. What if the author demanded too much?

It wasn’t entirely Xiao Xue’s fault for considering such tactics—it was a common ploy in both print and online publishing industries.

First, you’d hype the author up, coaxing them to produce their work, then bombard them with revision requests—a classic workplace PUA tactic.

Even if the work were flawless, you’d find something to critique. But before Xiao Xue could act, he noticed a message from the writer on QQ.

[: Editor Xue, I bought your magazine to take a look. I feel the style might not suit me.]

"...!"

Xiao Xue’s heart sank. Fear Guest’s reputation was roughly on par with .

And Gu Lu had excellent stories under his belt. Though not yet a famous writer, he was a polished craftsman with several notable works. Other magazines aside, Story Digest would leap at the chance to publish him.

Xiao Xue sprang into action, dialing the editor-in-chief’s number minutes later.

Fear Guest’s editor-in-chief was in his fifties, fond of playing with prayer beads during holidays, which he usually spent relaxing.

"What’s the matter? We’ll talk about it on Monday when I’m back at work..."

Before the editor-in-chief could finish, Xiao Xue interrupted, "Chief, what’s more important—vacation or work? This is a pivotal moment for our magazine, Fear Guest, during its transformation phase. Sacrificing a holiday isn’t a big deal, is it?"

"?" The editor-in-chief froze.

"A friend in the industry introduced me to a writer who could change the fate of our magazine. I’ve already contacted the deputy editor-in-chief and secondary review editor. We’ll hold a video conference soon. Based on this writer’s skill, our magazine could reach new heights!"

"I’m traveling without my laptop."

"That’s no excuse. No laptop? There are internet cafés everywhere! Chief, this is a critical moment. Focus! Video conference in five minutes."

With that, Xiao Xue hung up, leaving the editor-in-chief no room to refuse.

Though was a heavyweight in the industry, his judgment had faltered. Gu Lu was a natural-born horror genius; his talent for fairy tales paled compared to his mastery of horror. Xiao Xue felt he’d found the ultimate answer to the industry’s demands.

However, even the so-called "ultimate answer" faced some turbulence in the writing world.

"The phone won’t connect—" tried again but still got no answer. He glanced helplessly at the editor-in-chief.

"I called the editor-in-chief of . They said it was mutual hype," explained.

Filthy commercial hype. Upon hearing this, Han Cang cursed inwardly.

The incident stemmed from The World of Detective Fiction holding a -themed essay contest. Nothing particularly remarkable emerged from it.

Meanwhile, published a story featuring a 93-year-old Sherlock Holmes, whose once-sharp deduction skills had eroded with time. It caused quite a stir in the detective fiction circle.

"We discovered a great work, Mr. Holmes, serialized in Chronicles of Mystery. Our Sherlock Holmes fanfiction contest also yielded many brilliant stories—purer detective tales with more captivating plots."

The editor-in-chief of The World of Detective Fiction posted this update on . Back then, Weibo wasn’t dominated by celebrity ads but was filled with real users, including stars who would occasionally engage in heated arguments.

"If it were just the first half, it’d be pure promotion. But with the second half, it’s veiled criticism," Han Cang remarked. "‘Purer detective tales’—well, yes, our Mr. Holmes might not be heavy on deduction, but it’s certainly engaging."

"Little Gu probably doesn’t carry his phone to school," Chief Editor Gao recalled. "He doesn’t even have a Weibo account. Remind him to register one."

Back home from , Gu Lu updated his research on his cheat system.

"So far, the synthesis list hasn’t triggered outside teachers and students. It’s possible the system grows alongside my age, associating triggers only with people relevant to my current stage of life—teachers and classmates."

If it weren’t growth-oriented, and the system tied works strictly to dialogues spoken by teachers and classmates, Gu Lu decided he’d aim to become a teacher after graduating university...

Of course, that depended on becoming a highly renowned writer first. Otherwise, why would any school hire him?

With six or seven years ahead, Gu Lu had plenty of time to make it happen.

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