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Chapter 39: The First Reader of Volume 2
Suimei University of the Arts Affiliated High School.
Grade 12, Fine Arts, Class A.
Shiina Mashiro rushed into the classroom, slipping into her seat precisely one second before the bell rang.
As soon as class began, she paid no attention to the teacher and instead pulled out the newest issue of Manga Jump, quietly flipping it open on her desk.
Shiina's grandfather was a world-renowned painter, and her own prodigious artistic talents had placed her on a pedestal. Her classmates hardly dared speak to her, and even the teachers avoided conflict, allowing her to do whatever she pleased during class hours.
After finishing the third chapter of her serialized manga Cahuzhuang, Shiina turned the page casually—then paused.
"Attack on Titan?"
Her pale fingers stilled.
She remembered this title. Her editor, Iida Ayano, had mentioned it just last week—along with the debut of a rising author using the pen name Whale.
"He's a high school student, just like you," Iida had said.
In fact, Iida went so far as to claim that Whale's talent rivaled Shiina Mashiro's. Though Iida's real motive was to spark a sense of competition in Shiina, it hadn't worked.
Shiina had never thought of anyone as a rival.
But now, reading Attack on Titan, Shiina Mashiro's gaze sharpened.
She turned each page carefully, absorbing the story.
At the climax of the first chapter—when a towering Colossal Titan breached the city wall—her expression barely changed, but in her heart, she felt the tension twist.
Then, very softly, she murmured to herself:
"I think... the protagonist will turn into a Titan next."
It wasn't a prediction based on analysis. It was instinct—intuition. Shiina's thoughts simply didn't follow conventional paths.
Her lips quirked ever so slightly.
"Interesting..."
---
After school, Eriri Spencer Sawamura did not head straight to her usual club activities.
Instead, she hurried across town—straight to the hospital.
Carrying her schoolbag tightly, she pushed open the ward door and stepped inside, greeted by the soft beeping of medical machines and the familiar presence of the boy inside.
Lucien D. Blackthorn looked up from his bed and smiled.
"Yo, Eriri."
Eriri smiled back and pulled a fresh copy of Manga Jump from her bag.
"I brought you a new copy! Straight from the bookstore this morning."
Lucien took it carefully, his eyes lighting up as he saw the glossy cover.
"Thanks, Eriri. I'll treasure it."
Though he had already received a sample copy from his editor, Iida Ayano, the version Eriri personally brought meant far more. To him, this wasn't just a magazine—it was her way of sharing in his journey.
After all, this issue carried the debut of his serialized manga: Attack on Titan, under his pen name Whale.
Eriri sat beside him, her eyes glinting with excitement.
"Lucien, you won't believe it. Everyone in class was reading this today. They all said Attack on Titan was way better than any of the new series in Weekly Shonen Magazine."
Lucien looked at her with surprise. "Really?"
"Yeah! Some even offered to trade me for it. But I didn't give in, of course."
Lucien chuckled.
"You're the best."
"But seriously," she leaned in with a whisper, "if they knew the author was you… they'd freak out."
"Please don't tell anyone yet," Lucien said quickly. "I'd rather keep it quiet. It'd cause way too much trouble."
"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." Eriri smiled, her cheeks slightly pink.
Lucien's heart swelled with gratitude.
He reached to the side of the bed and pulled out a small manuscript booklet—hand-bound and carefully inked.
"This is Volume 2 of Attack on Titan. It's finished."
Eriri's eyes widened. "Already?! Let me see it!"
Lucien handed it to her with a soft smile.
"I want you to be the first one to read it. You deserve that much. This story wouldn't exist without you."
Eriri's fingers froze on the cover. Her eyes widened further as his words sank in.
"The first one...?"
Lucien nodded. "Yeah. If this manga is like a child I gave birth to, then you're the one who raised it."
Eriri's face turned red in an instant.
"I-I raised it!? That makes me sound like a mother or something! I'm not that old, okay?"
Despite her flustered tone, she felt a warm glow in her chest.
Lucien laughed. "Sorry, sorry. It was just a metaphor."
"Hmph." Eriri pouted, but her embarrassment soon turned into curiosity.
She opened the manuscript.
---
The story picked up where Volume 1 ended. A chaotic, brutal battle had erupted between the human recruits and the monstrous Titans.
Lucien watched her silently as her expression shifted with every page—shock, dread, heartbreak.
More and more recruits were killed. The Titans were merciless.
When she read the scene where Eren Yeager was eaten alive by a Titan, she froze.
Her fingers trembled.
"H-He's the protagonist! Did he just... die!?"
Lucien only gave her a small smile.
"Keep reading."
She turned the pages, heart pounding.
Mikasa Ackerman was left devastated by Eren's death. Her memories of him rushed back—how he'd saved her, how they'd grown together.
Her despair grew so deep that she was prepared to die, ready to throw herself into a suicidal attack against the approaching Titans.
The gas in her gear ran out.
Mikasa fell to the ground, waiting for the end.
A Titan drew closer.
And then—
A different Titan appeared. Larger. Wilder.
It attacked the other Titans.
With ferocity and precision, this unknown Titan punched straight through the enemy, saving Mikasa.
Eriri's hands gripped the manuscript tightly.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"What... is happening...?"
200= 1 extra chapter
400=2 extra chapter
And so on