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Chapter 37 – The Road of Legends
After a friendly exchange, Ayano Iida handed Lucien D. Blackthorn her business card before taking her leave.
Once she was gone, Lucien leaned back into his hospital bed and picked up the sample issue of Manga Jump she had left behind.
The magazine was thick—more than 400 pages. In addition to his own "Attack on Titan," more than a dozen other titles were featured within.
Lucien flipped through the pages, absorbing the weight of the publication.
Despite its length, the issue was sold for just 230 yen, a price point so reasonable that it equated to the cost of a modest student lunch. For most students across Japan, buying Manga Jump every week was as routine as breathing.
The circulation? A staggering 2 million copies per issue.
Lucien assumed the system wouldn't base its Influence Rating solely on those circulation numbers. Still, serialization in a nationally acclaimed magazine was undeniably a significant milestone.
As he scanned the table of contents, Lucien noticed a trend: the majority of serialized stories leaned toward school romance, with a few dabbling in workplace drama. Only one stood out as a classic shounen action series—"Legendary Boy of Mars."
This long-running series followed a passionate protagonist's bold adventures on the red planet. It had already been serialized for five years and was considered one of Manga Jump's major pillars.
The genre, often dubbed "Wangdao," followed the tried-and-true formula of dreams, friendship, rivalry, and triumph. The plots were simple, the conflicts clear-cut, and the morals always uplifting—making them timeless favorites for readers of all ages.
While some critics dismissed such tales as predictable, their charm lay in that very simplicity. They served as uplifting stories for readers looking for inspiration and comfort. These works were also favorites for animation studios due to their broad appeal.
In contrast, rival magazine Weekly Shonen Magazine boasted over five shounen-action serials per issue, two of which had been running for over a decade with major anime adaptations.
While Manga Jump held similar circulation numbers, its influence was still catching up. But that gap was slowly narrowing—especially now, with Lucien's "Attack on Titan" debuting.
Just as he was contemplating this, something caught his eye—a familiar name.
> "Mashiro Shiina's Cabbage House?"
Lucien blinked.
> "Shiina Mashiro is here too?"
The name stirred memories. Shiina Mashiro—the soft-spoken, brilliant artist from "The Pet Girl of Sakurasou."
Just like Eriri Spencer Sawamura, Mashiro was a mix of British and Japanese heritage, known for her flowing blonde hair and surreal painting talent. But unlike Eriri's proud and fiery personality, Mashiro was quiet, pure-hearted, and completely absorbed in her art—often to the point of social cluelessness.
Lucien opened her manga, "Cabbage House."
It was a slice-of-life comedy set in a shared student dorm. The main character, Yui, navigated quirky and absurd adventures with her fellow residents.
The story itself? Mediocre. The humor was hit-or-miss, and the pacing slightly off. But Mashiro's technical artistry was undeniably top-tier.
Her panel composition, linework, and visual storytelling were near flawless—rivaling even Lucien's own.
> "She's a genius," Lucien admitted.
"But… she's more suited for traditional art than comics. If she devoted herself to Western-style painting, she'd probably be one of the greatest artists of the modern era."
He closed the magazine and leaned back. His body ached more than usual. His stamina was declining again.
---
[Status – Whale System Interface]
Host: Lucien D. Blackthorn
Remaining Lifespan: 13 Days
Health: 7/100
(Can maintain extended consciousness for 2 hours daily)
New Achievement: Volume 1 of Slam Dunk successfully completed and published.
Pending Reward Settlement...
---
Lucien exhaled. He knew the second volume of "Attack on Titan" would be finished within the week, but the full serialization would span a month or more.
In the meantime, Slam Dunk was still being serialized online.
Oddly, the system hadn't assigned him a new project. And frankly, he was grateful.
Even drawing two titles was pushing the edge of what his body could handle.
> "If people knew I was terminally ill and working on two major manga at once… the backlash would be overwhelming. My doctor would chain me to the bed."
Though he laughed inwardly, the thought was true. This kind of load wasn't even something most healthy adults could handle—let alone a high school student with advanced cancer.
Then again, there was precedent.
Lucien recalled the legendary Osamu Tezuka, revered as the God of Manga. Tezuka had created over 150,000 pages of manga in his lifetime and, at one point, juggled 13 manga serializations at once.
His output was inhuman.
He carried manuscript paper with him everywhere—drawing on airplanes, cars, even in waiting rooms. Some days, he drew over 50 pages. He barely slept. He never stopped.
> "Was Tezuka-sensei granted a system cheat too?" Lucien joked silently.
Still, Lucien wasn't Tezuka.
He was just Lucien D. Blackthorn, an ordinary high school student with only 13 days to live, pouring what little time he had left into his comics.
He picked up his pen again.
The world was waiting.
End of the chapter
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