Chapter 5: A Brilliant Work
Sakamoto Ken kept smiling, stood up, and politely nodded to Editor Kaji.
The editor wore a beige short-sleeved shirt on her upper body, with sleeves casually rolled up to the elbows, khaki wide-leg pants on her lower body, paired with light brown canvas shoes, and her entire outfit was in the MUJI minimalist style.
Long hair, fair skin, slightly slim, with a thin-strap small watch on her wrist, giving off a somewhat artistic vibe.
“Hello, are you Sakamoto Ken Sensei?” Kaji asked with a slight smile.
Sakamoto Ken nodded and replied, “Please take good care of me, Editor.”
Kaji Keiko meets several authors every day. She didn’t waste words and got straight to the point: “Mm, let me introduce myself first. I’m Kaji Keiko. I’ve finished reading your submission on WEB. Personally speaking, you draw very well.”
Kaji Keiko placed a stack of printed manuscript paper on the table, which were the first two chapters Sakamoto Ken had sent when submitting to WEB, with some marks circled and noted on them.
“I’m very confident about 《Chainsaw Man》.” Sakamoto Ken said.
“I’d like to ask, is this your debut work? Have you published any works elsewhere before?” Kaji Keiko asked.
“It can be considered a debut work. My first attempt at publication.” Sakamoto Ken answered.
Kaji Keiko was clearly a bit surprised. She raised an eyebrow and said, “This storyboard performance makes me feel like it’s from a seasoned writer with years of creation experience.”
“Editor Kaji, you’re too kind.”
Indeed, Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei had seven years of creation experience before creating Chainsaw Man, and he himself was a talent with exceptional gifts.
“Although the drawing style has somewhat rough brushstrokes, the storyboard design has a strong sense of visuals, and the combat scenes have great impact. If I had to evaluate it…” Kaji held up two fingers and said, “Just two words: exciting!”
After saying that, her expression hesitated a bit: “But to be honest, the editorial department often receives manga with such unique styles. Usually the first two chapters are very exciting, but after the gimmicks are used up, it quickly falls into clichés.”
“Editor, do you want to talk to me about the subsequent plot?” Sakamoto Ken immediately understood her meaning.
She was worried he would drop it midway.
Sakamoto Ken had also read quite a few such works himself: the first chapter was mind-blowing, the second became mediocre, then increasingly worse, and ultimately got canceled.
But this time, the editor’s worry was unnecessary.
Sakamoto Ken smiled and reached into his backpack, pulling out a thick stack of manuscript paper.
“Editor, actually during this time after submitting, I’ve completed two more chapters.”
He pushed the manuscript paper in front of Kaji Keiko.
Kaji’s eyes clearly widened. She stared at the stack of manuscript paper and said in surprise, “So fast? Just one week, right?”
“Actually, I already have detailed conceptions for the content of the subsequent several volumes. It draws up pretty quickly in practice.” Sakamoto Ken said.
Kaji Keiko carefully picked up the manuscript paper and flipped through it page by page.
“So good… so good…” Kaji Keiko praised with tsks while looking, “The characters’ personalities are all brought out. I like Makima. Is she the heroine?”
“Ah, this… anyway, she’s the one Denji likes.” Sakamoto Ken coughed lightly twice, deciding not to reveal the subsequent plot to the editor now, or the impact would be too great and it might get rejected.
“I get it, I get it. Sakamoto Ken is drawing a harem manga, right? Miss Makima is one of the harem too?”
“If you put it that way, actually… well… yeah?”
“Power, who appears at the end of the fourth chapter, is also very cute, but doesn’t her character design conflict a bit with Makima?” Kaji Keiko raised the question.
“Where’s the conflict?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
Kaji Keiko thought for a moment, gestured with her hands in front of her chest, and said, “They’re both big-breasted, and you even gave a close-up.”
“Ha, actually I can reveal this to you, Editor. Power’s breasts are fake.”
“Fake?”
“They’re padded.”
“Hahaha, so that’s it.” Kaji Keiko covered her mouth and smiled, saying, “That’s pretty interesting. Even though the breasts aren’t ample, the character becomes fuller.”
Kaji Keiko finished looking at all the manuscript and talked with Sakamoto Ken about the direction of the subsequent plot.
She said very satisfied, “Since that’s the case, let’s sign the contract. I’m very optimistic about 《Chainsaw Man》.”
“May I ask if it’s serialization on JUMP+ online?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
Kaji Keiko nodded and said, “Newcomers generally start with online serialization first. But given the quality of Sakamoto Ken Sensei’s manga, if the response to the first few chapters online is good, I’ll apply for magazine space for you as soon as possible.”
She picked up a notebook, flipped through it, and said, “Next week, one work in 《Shonen JUMP》 will be canceled. There are no new works scheduled from veteran authors recently, so they’ll first fill with two weeks of short stories, then replace with a new work. I’ll try to fight for it for you.”
“Then thank you, Editor Kaji.”
Sakamoto Ken was already satisfied with this arrangement. After all, he was a pure newcomer. Even bringing out a work that was hugely popular in his previous life, no editor could guarantee it would be a hit just from the beginning. Ultimately, it still needed results to prove strength.
Next was the signing phase. Staff brought two copies of the contract, and Sakamoto Ken signed and stamped on the spot.
“Alright, then let’s have a pleasant cooperation.” Kaji Keiko smiled slightly and bowed to Sakamoto Ken.
“Please take good care of me, Editor.”
“I’ll send you an email about the subsequent publication process, with detailed instructions inside. Online publication is more flexible, and you have four chapters of manuscript in reserve, so time is plenty.”
Kaji Keiko asked again, “By the way, Sensei, do you need help introducing assistants?”
“No need.” Sakamoto Ken shook his head and said, “One person is fine. These chapters were all completed by myself.”
“Sakamoto Sensei creates alone and completed two chapters in one week?!”
Kaji Keiko was slightly surprised. There are manga authors who create alone, but they generally update much slower, can’t keep up with serialization rhythm, and can only self-publish on sites like Pixiv first, wait until they have enough manuscript and popularity, then talk about signing with a publishing house.
Sakamoto Ken didn’t explain much, just smiled slightly and nodded.
In reality, this speed didn’t break the theoretical human limit; it just omitted all the conception time.
Plot conception, storyboard conception, character design conception… these are all the time-consuming heavy parts.
With the serialization contract at 12000 yen per page, Sakamoto Ken walked out of the meeting room.
The royalty fees for JUMP+ platform online serialization are relatively low, but Sakamoto Ken was already satisfied.
Moreover, he believed it wouldn’t take a few weeks for 《Chainsaw Man》 to get on 《Shonen JUMP》 magazine, and then the royalty fees per page would double.
And compared to future volume sales, copyright shares, and other remuneration, serialization royalty fees were just a small fraction.
Great, this round is all about focusing on making money—a perfect start!
Sakamoto Ken’s mouth corner couldn’t help but curve up, already thinking about where to buy a luxury house in a scenic spot once the manga blows up.
Suddenly, his footsteps stopped.
In Shueisha’s building, posters of the company’s works are hung on both side walls, with one area dedicated to new works.
One poster instantly caught his attention.
The poster featured a quite handsome girl with pinkish-red long hair, JK uniform, black pantyhose, and… a huge sniper rifle slung over her shoulder.
The blank space had the book title in fancy text: 《Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose!》.
