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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 7: New Serialization, New Record
"This is a copy of the contract. You can keep it for your records, sir."
"Yes, thank you very much."
Serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump had been officially confirmed.
And at the same time—
"You're going to Japan?!"
My trip to Japan had also been decided.
＊ ＊ ＊
"I’m honestly against it. You can just call if you need to talk, and you can check manuscripts over fax, right?"
"If it were that simple, why do people bother with in-person business meetings?"
What parent would easily approve of their elementary school son heading overseas alone to work?
Naturally, Dad firmly opposed the idea.
"Once winter break’s over, I’ll be a middle schooler. I’ve already stamped the contract, and chances like this don’t come often. I really want to take this shot."
This decision wasn’t only about me.
In my previous life, Dad supported my dream of becoming a manga artist.
He didn’t make bad money, but we weren’t exactly well-off either.
He went out of his way to help me study abroad in Japan, and when my younger sibling—who was planning to enter a gifted high school—needed tuition, he stretched himself even thinner.
Eventually...
Dad, pushing himself too hard, got into a traffic accident during a business trip out of town and lost his life.
If I succeed with my manga, Dad won’t have to carry that financial burden anymore.
He might even be able to retire a little early.
And if that happens, maybe that accident will never come to pass in this life.
Dad seemed lost in thought for a while.
But in the end, he gave in and allowed me to go to Japan.
"Take care of yourself. If it ever gets too hard, you can always come home."
Just like the Dad I once knew—cheering me on as I chased my dream.
And so—
"Welcome, Jung-kun."
I set foot in Japan.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Haha. Doesn’t the city look pretty similar to Korea?”
Next to me, Matsuda—who had come to meet me at the airport—was chatting away, explaining this and that.
“You’ve lived in Japan before, so I think you’ll adjust just fine. But if you run into any trouble, contact me right away.”
“Yes, thank you.”
While Matsuda stayed in Korea for about a week, he spent every single day with me.
Thanks to that, we’d grown quite comfortable with each other, and by now, calling me “Jung-kun” felt far more natural than “Sensei” or “Author.”
We took an airport limousine bus and arrived directly at the place I’d be living in and working from.
It was a studio apartment, but the living room was unusually spacious.
For a place meant for just one person, it was even a little luxurious—and by Japanese standards, this kind of apartment definitely counted as high-end.
“Oh…”
“Just like you asked, I kept it simple—just a computer and a tablet. If there’s anything else you need, just say the word. I’ll get it for you right away.”
With a serialization confirmed in Weekly Shonen Jump, authors receive not only an advance but also a support grant.
This policy is in place to lessen the initial financial burden of hiring assistants or buying equipment—and the amount is pretty substantial.
It’s not some token program they just mention in passing; it actually provides solid financial backing.
Of course, you can’t cover everything with just that money.
Renting a high-end apartment like this would normally be impossible on just the company support funds alone.
So how did I manage to rent a place like this?
“You’re really sure you’ll be okay without assistants?”
Because I invested every yen that would’ve gone into hiring assistants… into the apartment instead.
“You saw it yourself—how fast I can finish a manuscript on my own. As long as the storyline doesn’t change mid-way, I can even complete two chapters a week.”
“Well, that’s true…”
During his time in Korea, Matsuda dropped by every single day.
He’d watch me work, we’d eat together, then he’d watch me work again.
So he became a firsthand witness to how fast I worked—and since I was working digitally, it was even faster than what he’d initially seen.
Thanks to that, convincing him that I didn’t need assistants wasn’t too difficult.
“Still, if you ever think you’re falling behind, let me know. I’ve got a few assistants I can call in temporarily if needed.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Matsuda grinned and pulled out a phone from his pocket, handing it to me.
“My number’s already saved in there. Call me right away if anything comes up.”
“Okay.”
He went over a few final reminders—emergency contact info, nearby conveniences—and then headed back to his company.
＊ ＊ ＊
A Chilly Winter.
As the end of December rolled in, Korea entered full-on winter break, and Japan shifted into New Year’s holiday mode.
It was a season full of energy and bustle in either country.
And during such a time, I was—
“Hehehe… Tablets really are the best. It's a shame this one's an older model, but the pen input speed isn’t too bad. Hehehe. Huh? I messed up the inking. Ctrl+Z! What can you even do against that?!”
—completely engrossed in my manuscript work like a lunatic, hopelessly addicted to this “newfangled tech.”
Sure, I had lived in Japan for over a decade… but that was before I turned back time.
Now, without friends or family here, the only person who occasionally visited was Matsuda. (Even he had been too busy with end-of-year duties to visit recently.)
So, I holed up at home, turned on the heater, and just kept grinding out manuscripts nonstop.
Normally, a mangaka and their assigned editor would sit down once a week to review the storyboard and plan out each chapter’s story together.
But I’d already completed the storyboard for 25 chapters. That meant the planning phase was basically done all the way up to Chapter 25.
Of course, serialization often works like a live broadcast—sometimes you need to adjust the story depending on reader reactions.
“...You’re telling me you finished 10 chapters' worth of manuscript because you were bored? In three weeks?”
“...Yes.”
So, yeah. Getting possessed and knocking out 10 chapters’ worth of manuscript wasn’t exactly something to be praised for.
Looking back now…
At that time, I was—how should I put it—kinda wild.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Whew… I thought skipping assistants was just youthful arrogance… but now that you’ve backed it up, I’ve got nothing to say.”
Hashida let out a sigh, more out of awe than frustration, as he flipped through the manuscript pages.
“10 chapters you drew just because you were bored… and at that level of quality…”
A team leader nearby let out a startled sound, practically squealing under his breath.
Jung Junhyuk was the department’s rising star. Naturally, the entire editorial division had their eyes glued to his every move.
“So geniuses really ‘do’ exist, huh.”
“My life suddenly feels so pointless.”
“We probably shouldn’t mention this to the other authors. Might kill their motivation.”
As a small crowd of editors gathered around Team Leader Hashida’s desk, letting out their various reactions—
“So, what was Jung Junhyuk’s reaction after finishing 10 chapters?”
A low, composed voice cut through the chatter.
All eyes turned in unison toward the source of the voice.
As they feared—yet somehow expected—it was the editor-in-chief.
“Hiiik! E-Editor-in-Chief!”
“Sir! I swear, I was just heading to the restroom when he dragged me into this…”
“Huh?! Say that again, you little—!”
True to their nature as manga editors, they each started pulling out their own quirky character routines, but the editor-in-chief didn’t pay them any mind.
“So, what was Jung Junhyuk’s reaction?”
When the editor-in-chief asked again, Matsuda, finally coming out of his mental buffering state, scratched his head and answered awkwardly—
“Uh… He apologized. Said he got caught up in it and just kept drawing.”
Matsuda, who didn’t think there was any reason for Junhyuk to apologize, had reassured him several times, but Junhyuk kept saying sorry anyway.
When Matsuda relayed the situation just as it was, the editor-in-chief gave a faint, inexplicable smile.
“Hmm… I was a bit worried that he might be so overpowered he’d lose sight of everything around him, but if it’s like that, it should be fine.”
He then muttered something under his breath and lifted his chin like he’d made a decision.
“Hashida. Matsuda. For this week’s new serialization, give Jung Junhyuk the opening color spread. Also, announce it as our most anticipated new series.”
“And next week, run 2 to 3 chapters all at once.”
＊ ＊ ＊
“You’re saying they’re going to run Chapters 2 and 3 together…?”
“The editor-in-chief made the call after seeing your manuscript!”
“......Huh.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or anxious about this.
Publishing two chapters' worth in a single magazine issue—that’s not something you see every day.
It’s not like there’s no precedent, but as far as I know, no new series has ever been given that kind of treatment before.
To put it bluntly—
“Feels like an unspoken message—‘Don’t mess this up.’”
“Exactly.”
I said it with an awkward expression, and Matsuda nodded like it was obvious.
Wait—he ‘knew’ this already?
Well, sure. Matsuda might be relatively new, but it’s not like he’s lacking in ability.
There’s no way something like this would slip past him.
“But still, why are you so relaxed? Expectations are sky-high—if we slip, the disappointment will hit just as hard.”
“Because failure isn’t an option.”
“......”
His answer came so naturally, so casually, it left me momentarily speechless.
And that line—
- This is a series that cannot fail.
That’s exactly what Matsuda, as editor-in-chief, told me in my previous life.
“You’re right.”
His words always pointed me in the right direction.
Even if he doesn’t remember it—
I do.
So then…
This time too, I’m sure he’s showing me the way.
＊ ＊ ＊
In early January, once the noise of the New Year had settled down in Japan—
A brand-new series was published in Jump magazine.
’D Note’, which had already clinched the No. 1 spot in reader surveys during its debut as a Newcomer Award-winning one-shot, once again captured readers’ full attention with just its first serialized chapter.
And then…
It blew up on Twitter, a new SNS site that had just started gaining traction in Japan.
[On Jump's Insane New Series]
Jump just dropped a crazy new series. It was published before as a Newcomer Award one-shot and already stood out back then. The editorial team clearly had their eyes on it—just look, it’s getting Chapters 2 and 3 back-to-back next week...
[Dark Fantasy – Not Your Typical Jump, and That’s Why It Works…]
It’s got a darker tone, not what you’d expect from Jump. The protagonist isn’t some noble hero—he’s a total maniac. But that’s what makes it so good.
[If Your Name's in the D Note, You Die.]
[This Week’s Jump Was Worth It for D Note Alone.]
[Usually I just read Jump at the convenience store and leave, but this time... I bought it.]
Fueled by this fiery response, ‘D Note’ crushed the competition in the reader polls, taking ‘1st place’ with a huge lead over the second spot.
And the week after that—
“Whoa…”
It went on to ‘break a new record.’
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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