Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 25 The Editor's Concern
Ken Sakamoto is also watching "The Young Lady, the Sniper Rifle, and the Pantyhose!"

Even each compartment offers a unique and delightful experience.

It's quite an amazing feeling to see someone else redraw the work I published last week.

I got to experience being a "victim" in the works of a plagiarist.

What's more, the author was one of the three assassins who gave him a second chance at life...

Although Ken Sakamoto also engages in plagiarism, he is ultimately copying works that haven't even been created yet.

Even if Fujimoto Itsuki himself saw it, he, who is still creating short stories, could only sigh, "Sakamoto Ken-senpai's manga is so good!"

Haruna copied his manga, and the original author, Haruna, has a complete memory of it...

I watched helplessly as she copied my comics.

The current offense is classified as such.

Surprisingly, I actually quite enjoyed it.

The plot and character designs are largely the same throughout the comic, but the artwork has clearly improved significantly.

Simply put, the female protagonist designs that Ken Sakamoto drew back then were only barely passable.

The heroines in Haruna's works can make people stand up involuntarily.

Maybe if she redraws my comic, it will actually become a hit...

Just after midnight, all the works scheduled for today on the JUMP+ platform were released and updated.

Ken Sakamoto is still in the store right now.

Mio Natsume only comes to work on weekends, but he comes every day before the start of the school term.

There was still an hour left before closing time, but there weren't many customers in the store. Shota Miyamoto, who was supposed to pick up the night shift, had already arrived ahead of schedule.

With his mind on updating his work, and knowing that the store required employees not to take out their phones during work hours, Ken Sakamoto took his phone to the restroom.

Open the JUMP+ webpage.

Just a few minutes later, Ken Sakamoto saw that someone had commented in his comment section.

"First!"

This is a very common post to reserve a spot, but it also shows that the comic already has readers who are following the updates in real time.

I opened Haruna's manga update page again, and there were already several comments in the comment section.

"Great, there's an update to watch!"

"Author, please draw faster! I'll be following every single chapter!"

"A work written in one's own blood was published in Weekly Shonen Jump!"

"This installment is undoubtedly number one!"

Ken Sakamoto was also somewhat surprised, not expecting that his manga would gain loyal readers so quickly after Haruna's modifications.

Just as he stepped out of the restroom, Shota Miyamoto, who was sitting in the dining area playing on his phone, called out to Ken Sakamoto.

He arrived at the store early, but it wasn't his shift time yet, so he hadn't changed into his uniform.

"Ken, you're pretty good, your comic is excellent." Miyamoto Shota waved his phone at Sakamoto Ken.

"Are you already following the story?" Ken Sakamoto walked over.

Shota Miyamoto chuckled and said, "I even helped you post in the comments section."

Oh, so it was you who posted it.

I was just saying, even a super popular work might not get any comments after only a few minutes of updates.

In that case, Haruna's manga is even more impressive; she has several chapters in a row.

Ken Sakamoto sat down opposite Shota Miyamoto: "What are your thoughts after watching it? Tell me."

Shota Miyamoto chuckled and said, "When will the male lead get together with Machima?"

"That's all you want to see?"

“Of course, Miss Machima is so adorable.” He scrolled through a few pages on his phone and then asked, “By the way, is Machima a bad woman?”

"What, you don't like bad women anymore?" Sakamoto Ken asked. "Then I like them even more," Miyamoto Shota said, his eyes shining.

"You'll find out if you keep following the updates."

"Tsk tsk, don't want to give away any spoilers?"

"No comment," Sakamoto Ken said with a shrug.

Shota Miyamoto shrugged lazily and said, "Stop acting mysterious. You haven't even figured out the plot yet, have you? I've heard that authors usually only know the latest plot an hour before readers."

“What you’re talking about is web light novels, manga isn’t like that,” Sakamoto Ken said. “Manga takes a week because there are more steps involved in the process.”

"Alright, anyway, once you're on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump, I'll put the magazine in the most prominent spot in the store every day to boost your sales," said Shota Miyamoto, giving Ken Sakamoto a thumbs-up.

"Thank you then."

Kenya Sakamoto knew he was just joking.

After all, JUMP now has a weekly circulation of over 200 million copies, so it would be good if this store could sell 20 copies, which wouldn't affect sales at all.

Moreover, it's uncertain whether it will be published in JUMP soon; it might lose to the work from the previous week.

Soon it was time to hand over the work. Sakamoto Ken took the rice balls he had gotten for free at the store home, intending to have them for breakfast the next morning.

He didn't continue working on his manuscript that night and slept until the next morning, when he was woken up by a phone call.

I glanced at the time; it was just past 9:30.

"Mr. Ken Sakamoto, I'm sorry to bother you so early in the morning. Are you up yet?" Keiko Kaji's voice came from the phone receiver.

This is a completely pointless question. How could I possibly answer your call if I wasn't awake?

Ken Sakamoto was still sitting on the bed, his hair a little messy, but remembering it was his editor calling, he said, "I'm up. What's up, editor-san?"

"I've already read the first seven chapters you sent me, and the content is quite good, so I won't offer any suggestions. Besides, it's already enough manuscript for a single volume."

"Can it be published as a standalone book?" Ken Sakamoto asked immediately.

“Ah… the single volume won’t be released anytime soon, but given Chainsaw Man’s current performance, it’s only a matter of time,” Keiko Kaji said. “I’ve already seen last week’s reader poll results. Sakamoto-sensei is far ahead in the new series, with over 6700 votes, while the second place only got 2800. At this rate, the serialization in this magazine should be a sure thing.”

"So, today I wanted to talk to Sakamoto-sensei about the design of the color page cover, so that it can be used directly when it is published in the main magazine and promoted for the new serialization."

Color brochures...

Sakamoto Ken immediately had a picture in his mind, just like the content of the manga; he just needed to replicate the scene from his memory.

Moreover, it's not limited to Fujimoto Itsuki's own creations, but also includes various fan art and even doujinshi.

He was a big fan of Fujimoto Itsuki back then, and he still has some treasured Machima photos in his browser bookmarks.

For example, in one work, when Makima was performing the skill "Heavenly Justice," she used that gesture to do something else with Denji.

Denji transforms into a chainsaw man using traditional methods, turning his head and hands into chainsaws. Is it possible that he can also transform small chainsaws in other parts of his body?
Of course, Ken Sakamoto wouldn't draw these...

However, there are still many beautiful designs in serious fan works, which are perfect for use as promotional brochures.

After a while of silence from the other end, Kaji Keiko took the initiative and said, "Sakamoto-sensei? I don't know if it's convenient for you, but if it's alright, how about we discuss the color pages and the design of the subsequent storyline in person?"

She paused for a moment, then said, "Sakamoto-sensei, there's no need for you to come all the way here. I can come to your place."

An editor's home visit?

This kind of thing is actually quite common in the industry. Some editors who are responsible for famous writers will even move near the writer's residence in order to urge them to submit their manuscripts.

They even booked hotel rooms for writers, prepared coffee, Red Bull, Liposuction, and nitroglycerin tablets, and squatted inside them to create, providing physical care for the writers.

It is said that during the bubble economy period, there were even instances where writers were invited to experience Kabukicho firsthand to gather material.

Ken Sakamoto immediately replied, "No, it's not convenient for us to meet here!"

It's not that I feel embarrassed living in a run-down apartment, it's mainly that I'm subconsciously wary of revealing my address to women...

The psychological trauma hasn't been eliminated yet.

"Oh dear, I was just about to go get the keys to the club's shared car," Kaji Keiko said. "It's not convenient to talk on the phone, so I'll have to trouble you to come in person, Mr. Sakamoto?"

“It’s alright, we have plenty of drafts saved up, so there’s no rush,” Sakamoto Ken said. “I’ll come to the editorial office this afternoon.”

(End of this chapter)