Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 108 Moving
The initial cost of renting the apartment was nearly one million.

However, there will be another 6 yen in royalties from the first printing of the single-volume edition, which, according to Jia Zhi's estimate, should amount to around 240 million yen.

The royalties received from Shueisha are taxed in advance. Sakamoto Ken can also deduct a portion of his taxes from expenses incurred by his personal business owner, such as rent for his studio, various equipment, supplies, and assistants' salaries.

Kaji would help with these tasks, so Ken Sakamoto didn't have to worry about them himself.

He explained his requirements for the studio to Editor Jia Zhi, and she quickly provided a table with the estimated price in the price section.

Keiko Kaji worked on the Excel spreadsheet on the computer. After a moment of contemplation, she stroked her chin and said, "Ms. Sakamoto, how about we consider purchasing some first?"

Ken Sakamoto checked it in the morning, and Keiko Kaji's cursor was hovering over the estimated total price.

The total price of all the items is estimated to be 150 million yen.

"So expensive?" Sakamoto Ken was slightly surprised; he only had a little over 200 million yen left.

“This is based on the usual standard plan, and I don’t really recommend reducing the specifications any further,” said Keiko Kaji.

“Then let’s buy according to this list. I can still afford it.” Ken Sakamoto nodded in agreement.

Although it seems expensive, it's actually just a one-time expense for today, and you only need to purchase consumables regularly in the future.

However, once this money is spent, the furniture in the other rooms will have to be put on hold for the time being, and only the bedroom will be furnished according to the simplest needs.

For the specific procurement matters, Keiko Kaji called in two interns who had just finished sorting out reader letters for other authors.

They would contact art supply suppliers, go to the mall to confirm the price of each item, and be responsible for transporting everything to the studio and installing it.

Ken Sakamoto left one of the three keys the agent had given him with Keiko Kaji, and then took a taxi home.

I'll still have to stay in the old apartment for the next few days, and I'll have to move all the usable items from the room back there.

Not to mention the waste, discarding these tables and bedding requires buying special bulky waste disposal coupons.

Alternatively, you can buy tools to cut large items into smaller pieces at home and put them in regular garbage bags, which is extremely troublesome.

Over the next few days, Ken Sakamoto packed up his belongings from the old apartment and moved them to the new house.

The entire first floor is now neatly arranged, with a total of five tables. One table is temporarily empty and leaning against the wall, while the other four are already set up with tools and equipment.

In the past few days, Keiko Kaji has also contacted three assistants: Nobuyuki Tatsuyuki, Tomoharu Kaku, and Tatsuya Endo. The three of them happened to be available recently and readily agreed to come to Ken Sakamoto's studio as assistants.

……

The day before moving, Ken Sakamoto brought a hand-drawn sketch of the interior of a convenience store and went to the convenience store one last time.

The hand-drawn illustration shows him standing with the store manager, Mr. Sakamoto, at the cashier, with his name signed next to him: Ken Sakamoto.

The elderly shopkeeper was slowly wiping the cash register when she saw him come in and greeted him.

"Jian, what do you want to buy?"

Ken Sakamoto casually grabbed a bottle of iced oolong tea and placed it on the cashier's counter: "Actually, I'm here to say goodbye to the manager. We're moving out tomorrow."

"Ah Jian is moving away..."

“Yes, we rented a new house to use as a studio. There’s no place for my assistant to work in this apartment right now,” Ken Sakamoto said.

The shopkeeper, an elderly woman, smiled and nodded, saying, "That's true. Ah Jian is a great cartoonist now; he should have a proper studio."

After exchanging a few pleasantries in the store, Ken Sakamoto gave the painting to the store manager and left.

After leaving the convenience store, Ken Sakamoto turned into a side alley and arrived at Myōō-in Temple.

The temple was very quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Daigo was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard with a large broom, his movements appearing somewhat lazy. This guy would inherit the temple, and the adjacent cemetery wouldn't need much maintenance; it was practically a job where he could earn money while lying down.

"Daigo," Ken Sakamoto called out.

"Huh? Ken?" Daigo stopped what he was doing, chuckled, and said, "You kid, you're a big manga artist now. I've been following your manga every week lately."

"That's great! When the collected volumes come out, you have to buy a few more to support me," Sakamoto Ken joked.

"You want me to buy it again? Aren't you going to give me a signed copy?" Daigo said.

“Alright, then you wait here,” Sakamoto Ken said. “But I’m here today to say goodbye.”

"Goodbye?"

"I've rented a studio and will be moving there soon in Taito Ward," Ken Sakamoto said.

"Great job, Ken!" Daigo patted Ken Sakamoto on the shoulder. "So now you're a full-fledged manga artist teacher?"

"By the way," Daigo asked, "didn't you get accepted into Kanzaki Art Academy? If you move to the studio, will you still be able to go to school?"

“Of course I have to go to school,” Ken Sakamoto said. “The studio is very close to the school, and Kanzaki mainly uses an elective system, so the art school’s schedule is very flexible and won’t interfere with my creative work.”

"I really envy you. You have a job as a cartoonist and you can go to university. Unlike me, I can only be a monk in the temple at home, just waiting to die..."

"..."

Ken Sakamoto had lived here for several years, and before moving, he only visited the shop manager and Daigo.

On Friday night, Ken Sakamoto moved to his studio in Taito Ward and slept in his new home for the first time.

On the first floor, there are brand-new drawing tables, ergonomic chairs, and high color rendering lamps. Several boxes for storing art supplies are piled up against the wall. All kinds of equipment are readily available, making it a very professional comic studio.

However, apart from his own room on the third floor, the other rooms on the second and third floors are still empty.

Ken Sakamoto lay on the bedding he had moved from his old apartment; the room contained no other furniture besides this bedding.

The account only had about 500,000 yuan left, and the utility bills and assistant's salary all had to be paid from this money.

The tight economic situation will continue until the 25th of next month, after which things will improve once the new royalties arrive.

He looked at the empty ceiling and suddenly thought of Natsume Mio.

Today is Saturday, and Natsume Mio is going to work at the convenience store this afternoon. She doesn't know that he's moving in.

Ken Sakamoto thought about it and decided to tell her anyway.

Anyway, she'd find out sooner or later even if she wasn't told. The store manager would tell her this afternoon. Besides, she's already in contact with editor Kaji and has met Mikazuki Haruna.

Unbeknownst to me, the entire network of relationships has become completely different from the previous game.

Rather than letting her find out from someone else, it's better to tell her yourself.

Taking the initiative is the core of all strategies.

Ken Sakamoto picked up his phone, tapped on Mio Natsume's profile picture, and sent her two words.

Ken Sakamoto: "Good morning."

He continued typing in the input box when the other party's reply popped up.

It wasn't text, but a voice message.

Ken Sakamoto clicked play, and the girl spoke quickly, clearly in a good mood: "Good morning! Ken! You actually messaged me first! Are you up already? I got up really early, practiced my voice this morning, and am preparing today's bento~"

(End of this chapter)