NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 20: Chapter 19
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Seeing the supportive comments from her fans, Eriri was unexpectedly moved.
These fans, who often filled her feed with risqué or downright hentai comments that usually made her blush and thump with embarrassment, now stood solidly by her side.
But when it truly mattered, they had her back.
Just as she was reading a few more heartfelt replies, Sayuri Sawamura's voice echoed from downstairs.
"Eri, come down and have breakfast! You still have school today!"
Realizing she was running late, Eriri quickly changed, brushed her teeth, washed up, and ran downstairs.
Worried about the time, she skipped her usual walk or bike ride and took her father's luxury car to school instead.
On the way, her father noticed her anxious expression and told the driver to step on it.
But Eriri wasn't worried about tardiness.
Even in class, she couldn't focus. Her mind replayed the deletion of Attack on Titan from the contest.
How could she tell Lucien D. Blackthorn?
She had considered fans' suggestions about submitting Attack on Titan to another magazine. It had a decent following by now. However, most editors her mother knew were with magazines under the Otowa Publishing Group—which included Weekly Shonen Magazine, thanks to Editor-in-Chief Ryunosuke Kyuki.
Publishing there again? Out of the question.
It would be seen as a challenge to Kyuki himself.
The only other viable option was the Hitotsubashi Publishing Group, the main rival to Otowa. Their flagship, Manga Jump, under Eishusha, had circulation only slightly lower than Weekly Shonen Magazine.
But Whale—Lucien's pen name—was still accused of fraudulent voting. Even if unfounded, it would be risky for another major publisher to touch his work.
Eriri sighed.
It seemed the only choice was to return to the original plan: publish Attack on Titan online.
Back to square one.
Thankfully, the quality of the manga spoke for itself.
Eriri believed anyone who read it would see through the false accusations.
In time, public opinion could shift.
During a break between classes, she called her mother.
Sayuri Sawamura, who managed the "Kashiwagi Eri" social media account, handled everything smoothly.
She created an account for Whale and posted Volume 1 of Attack on Titan as image threads.
Then she shared the post from the Kashiwagi Eri account.
It quickly gained attention.
Readers who had seen it during the contest began spreading the word.
[Notice!] Whale-sensei has opened a new account! Volume 1 of Attack on Titan is available now!
[Weekly Shonen Magazine really pushed Whale-sensei to go indie... shameful!]
[Magazine or not, we're sticking with Attack on Titan! Whale-sensei deserves better!]
---
In this world, publishing manga online wasn't common.
For most artists, magazine serialization and physical print were considered the gold standard.
Online publishing? Deemed second-rate.
Why?
Because traditional publishers had shaped that perception. They feared the internet. It threatened their grip on physical sales and made piracy easier.
Over time, major publishing groups monopolized the anime and game adaptation pipeline.
If you weren't in a magazine, you weren't in the industry.
So, most mangaka stayed in line.
But given Lucien's circumstances, Eriri couldn't afford to care.
She had to act.
---
Hospital, ward.
Lucien lay in his hospital bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
He had learned Attack on Titan was pulled. His thoughts spiraled.
His parents had flown across the ocean to Japan to see him. They spent the day at his side, but he hadn't burdened them with his worries.
He would wait for Eriri to visit.
Am I going to die?
His remaining days were few. Unless the system granted a life extension, he wouldn't last long.
With Attack on Titan unpublished, there was no reward. No bonus lifespan.
"Why did I have to get stuck with this cursed system..."
He groaned inwardly.
"Stupid system, fairy my ass..."
Suddenly, a digital voice echoed in his mind.
[Mission: Publish a manga within 5 days. Reach 5,000 readers. Reward: 5-day life bonus!]
[Reminder: Mission complete. Congratulations. 5 days added.]
[Please check your latest stats panel.]
---
[Host: Lucien D. Blackthorn]
[Remaining Life: 8 Days]
[Health: 5/100 (2 hours of extra consciousness per day)]
---
Lucien blinked.
He was stunned.
Then slowly, joy bloomed on his face.
Attack on Titan was live again!
Maybe the contest site had suffered a glitch?
False alarm.
Then, another prompt from the system.
[Volume 1 of Attack on Titan has been successfully created and published. Rewards will be calculated after another new work is completed. You may also settle manually.]
[Would you like to settle now?]
Lucien hesitated.
He recalled that the system calculated rewards based on quality and influence.
Attack on Titan was still spreading.
Its influence could grow.
"No... Not yet. Wait until I'm closer to the edge or the next work is ready."
It would be wasteful to settle early. He needed to maximize every reward.
Next, his mind drifted to Volume 2.
But his body was too frail.
He winced in pain.
And once more, fell into unconsciousness.
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— forbidden_lust 💋