Yakuza spin-off, Like a Dragon: Ishin, has hours of content. In addition to the main story, there are substories to take on that increase the protagonist's reputation and virtue. Like the Yakuza series, the action RPG balances serious drama and politics with comedic shenanigans without stumbling over itself.
Another amusing substory is Substory 37, Death of an Author, which can be found in Chapter 2 in Like a Dragon: Ishin. Players don't have to look hard to start this quest, as it's located on the second floor of Teradaya Inn. Inside one of the rooms, a frustrated author named Natsumi with writer's block is struggling to come up with ideas for his next book, and it's up to Ryoma to inspire him with new ideas. The substory requires none of Ishin's combat, but the player must pay attention to what the author says, or they can follow this guide for the correct answers.
Locating the Author
Follow the map in the above image to find Natsumi. He isn't far from Like a Dragon: Ishin's Ryoma's room, so instead of going downstairs, take a left - Ryoma's left - and follow the hall until the end. Enter Natsumi's room and initiate a conversation with him to listen to his story and answer his questions. The author will need three answers from Ryoma to create his new books.
Natsumi's First Story
Struggling to devise ideas for his new book, Natsumi will vent his frustrations to Ryoma and ask him for help. He wants the protagonist to give him a character idea for his first book. Ryoma will be given three choices, and the answer is A cat might be funny.
The author loves the idea, but Ryoma must leave and return later to find out how the book went. Now it's a good idea to leave and do some quests, engage in fights, or work on completing Ishin's main story. The substory will still be active even if players get into the next chapter. Ryoma will be rewarded with the Broken Compass.
Natsumi's Second Story
Ryoma returns to the author's room to find that his first story was a great success, be he needs a new idea for a character's name. Again, the player will have three choices, and the answer is Botch-chan!
After answering the second question, Ryoma will leave the room to let the author do his work. Once again, it's time to explore, get into some fights, level up Yakuza-style, and return for the third and final question. Natsumi will reward Ryoma with Fine Silk Fabric.
Natsumi's Third Story
Ryomo will return to the author to find that the second book was also a great success, but he needs one final idea to complete his third book about relationships. This time the answer is Heart.
Give the author time to write his third novel and return once again for 300 virtue points and some European Fabric.
To summarize, the answers to all three questions from Death of Author are:
- A cat might be funny
- Botch-chan!
- Heart
As stated above, Natsumi is based on a real-life historical figure and novelist called Natsumi Soseki, whose books are referenced in this substory. His books are I am a Cat, Botchcan, and Kokori (translated as Heart). At the end of the quest, Natsumi mentions that he wants to travel, which may reference when he went to London as Japan's first literary scholar.
Like a Dragon: Ishin is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.