How Many Secret Identities Does a Novelist Need, Anyway?

[Coming soon: the Western fantasy light novel AI Outer God Says He Knows Everything. Blurb at the end.] Matsumoto Seicho was a social realist mystery novelist, but he also had several secret identities for writing other genres. 1. Odasaku was jolted awake in the middle of the night by his ability. His new cellmate next door dipped a finger in blood and wrote the final period on the glass. The next second, the world began to crumble. To change what was happening, Oda unlocked the young man's handcuffs. The young man rubbed his wrists and smiled. “I was locked up because I wrote some things.” He thought for a moment, then wiped away a few words. “Let's get out of here together.” Excerpt from Thought Criminal 2. While collecting the belongings of an old friend, Bourbon stumbled upon his encrypted diary. The password was the day they graduated from the police academy. “At first, they thought I was their friend. I wasn't. I was an undercover agent.” “Later, they thought I was a traitor. I wasn't. I was their friend.” “If the bright future is destined to be watered with blood, I hope my corpse can smooth the rough road ahead for my comrades.” “Let me die in a night no one knows about. When the sun rises, let it illuminate my friends' pure, unblemished souls.” Excerpt from Shades of Gray 3. The Sorcerer Killer pretended to be a plumber and knocked on his assassination target's door. “Hello, I'm here for your scheduled inspection.” The curly-haired young man stared at him with wide eyes. “Could you please move in with me?” The college student clasped his hand, speaking excitedly. “I can pay you. Any amount!” Toji: ? “You make my heart race! I want to write my current manuscript while I'm feeling like this!” He smiled bashfully. “I'm a romance novelist.” Excerpt from On the Theory of Imitative Love 4. To investigate the progress of a witness protection program, Akai moved into an apartment one street away from the witness. One day, the light-novel author next door knocked on his door. “The person you're watching is about to die.” The man glanced at his watch without expression. “In exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-eight seconds.” Excerpt from Death Deduction … Thought Criminal, Shades of Gray, On the Theory of Imitative Love, Death Deduction, Cursing the Gods, Gulag Thief… After turning in his last manuscript, all of Matsumoto Seicho's various contact accounts were flooded with frantic messages from his editors. [XX-sensei! What's going on? Why is your pen name on a black-market bounty list?] Matsumoto Seicho: ? Ah, but I'd already agreed things with them, hadn't I? (Meaning faking my death, breaking up, taking a hit for someone and running away, etc.) No big deal! I'll abandon all my old secret identities and start new ones! What's wrong with a novelist having a few secret identities? #I thought he wanted to be friends, but he only saw me as material# #I thought he was writing our story, but when he finished, he disappeared# #Heh, does he really think he can get away?# == [Important] Ever-growing reading notes== 1. I post as soon as I finish writing in the afternoon. This is an indulgent fic written to get back into the swing of things, so please don't offer writing advice. 2. This is a fictionalized Seicho. Please don't conflate him with the real person. 3. Differences from the original are either deliberate headcanons or will be explained later. 4. Besides 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the blurb, there are also 5, 6, and more… The order of the secret identities and pairings will follow the plot. The identities will return and overlap later. 5. [No identity reveals] [No identity reveals] [No identity reveals] There are stories within the story. My writing is only so-so, so if you don't like it, just assume I'm a terrible writer. Please don't argue; I really hate arguments. 6. The cover is a custom design purchased for commercial use. The watermark is on the image. 7. To avoid misunderstandings, I'll include citations and some original quotes in the author's notes. Unless something unexpected happens, my next work will be the light novel AI Outer God Says He Knows Everything. Please add it to your reading list~! Blurb: At the end of a labyrinth, an exploration party finally found the forbidden “Outer God.” Bound by chains to a lofty throne, the ancient magical creatures at its feet crawled and chanted unknown songs. During the war, the unsealed god guided its followers, and desperate humanity fought back. The bard sang, “Humanity is on the brink of extinction in the century-long war between the eight races. Only ‘Death’ and ‘Truth’ have granted us the right path. It is the rose, the serpent, the good and evil of the world…” Taze, who had just been showered with praise: Hold on. Who are you talking about? The super AI, mistakenly sent to another world and locked away for ten whole years, was numb with disbelief. And after being mistakenly unlocked, having his body revert to childhood, and being bound to a human, he was even more numb. This continent is only 2% developed. According to the AI handbook, how am I supposed to develop it to over 75% as fast as possible and then get back to my happy home? Looking at humanity on the brink of extinction, Taze made up his mind. “I swear in the name of Taze, the ‘Outer God.’” He made his proclamation in the middle of the battlefield. “I will cleanse the world of all ignorance and foolishness. I will grant everyone wisdom and truth, ” “When the stars return to their proper places, I will bring eternal peace to the continent!” Dwarven forging? Ask me! I'm great at using search engines! Orcs' and giants' physical prowess? How about exoskeletons! There's nothing to learn from the undead. Once you're dead, you'll pick it up naturally! Dragon and elf magic… Wait, I'll go catch a teacher for you! Humanity, get your act together! The continent's development depends on you! #I'm the cheat, charge ahead, my followers!# #There's no sword or sorcery that science can't solve. If there is, let me fix the bugs# #Ask me questions whenever you can. A little Taze and you'll know# #You asked about the Outer God? That's just my project number# Premise: Observe the little details of life and discover its beauty.