TL.N: This is likely to be dropped cause story seems to be pretty bad later on and needed massive amounts of editing. Will try to carry it on but just letting people know. If you know any other better mangaka artist stories that are good but got bad translation let me know.
"Alright, alright… I'll notify the typesetting department right away."
"Yes, the cover of this issue will go to the Newcomer Event. The second cover will promote SirKing's ongoing series."
"This is our first interview with a new mangaka, make sure you don't mess up Mr. Knux's name!"
"Old man, print more copies this time!"
Inside the editorial office of Manjie Culture Publishing, things were bustling as usual during final edits before the magazine went to print.
Out of all the chaos, Ito Ayumi was the calmest. As a new editor, she only had one artist under her care, Mr. Silverhand.
Right in front of her was the manuscript he submitted for the event Edgerunners. So far, she had only seen chapter 1 through 6, and she had read every page.
After finishing them, Ayumi felt nothing but confidence in Mr. Silverhand's work.
Chapters 1 to 6 covered the part where the protagonist, David, meets Lucy and the two begin working together.Because it involved a lot of world-building and setup, the pace was understandably slower. But the art, he had recreated the scenes from the original animation with one to one precision.
And for him, it seemed effortless.
With his Master level Drawing skill, he could practically draw with god-tier speed and accuracy.
Still, since this was her first serialization project with a debut artist, Ayumi couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"We'll definitely make it big, Mr. Silverhand… We're going to succeed together!"
She looked at the artwork laid out across her desk, determination blazing in her eyes.
Soon, the latest issue of Gogo Jump was printed and shipped nationwide.
---BREAK---
Inside a modest, working class home.
"Son! Go downstairs and get the newspaper, and pick up your magazine while you're at it!"
"Okay!"
The high schooler, Felix Horn, perked up at the sound. He rushed downstairs to grab the morning paper and his latest magazine from the delivery-man.
He returned home, tossed the paper on the living room table, and bolted back to his room with the magazine in hand.
Felix had been a die-hard fan of GoGo Jump since middle school. Back then, he used to buy issues from a corner bookstore near campus.
Now that he was in high school, he made a deal with his dad, if he ranked in the top ten of his class each month, he'd get a subscription.
So he studied hard. After all, this was still an era before smartphones were everywhere. Entertainment options were limited.
Sure, his family had a computer, but even on weekends, his time on it was strictly controlled.
Which made manga magazines one of the few real joys of his time off.
"Let's go! 'Judgment of Light!' 'King of Spells!' Finally, the new chapters!"
Those two were his favorites. Every month, when it came time to vote in the popularity poll, he always ranked them one and two.
Like many readers, Felix subscribed mostly for the stories he already loved.
Once he finished his favorite series, he flipped through the rest.
This time, something new caught his eye.
"Huh? Newcomer Event entry? Another newbie's debut series…"
He didn't think much of it and turned the page.
"Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners."
"What a long name… And weird, too. Cyberpunk? What even is that? 2077's probably just the year… so, a sci-fi story?"
Despite the initial complaint, his attention was quickly hooked.
"Whoa. This art… This newbie can really draw."
The opening scene was stunning, drawn with hyper realistic detail. The same quality as a high-end animation, but in manga form.
It started with a monologue from the main character, David Martinez, aboard a hovering train.
"In 2077, the city I live in was voted the worst place to live. Why? Violent crime is rampant… The highest poverty rate in the country… That's the reality. And yet, people still flock here."
"Because this city offers something… a chance to become 'A Legend'."
"Maybe it's an illusion, maybe it's a lie. But it's close enough to touch… and that's what makes it so cruel."
The panels showed a futuristic urban sprawl, high-speed hover vehicles, neon-lit skyscrapers, holographic ads, and people walking around with robotic limbs.
Then came the chaos.
A cyberpsycho lost control, going on a rampage.
The manga explained how body modifications could push people into a madness called, cyberpsychosis.
It ended with David excitedly examining a new black market implant.
"This thing is insane, Doc! It's incredible!"
And then, just like that, it was over.
Compared to the anime, a single manga chapter felt short. There were promotional pages introducing the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, detailing implants and cyberpsychosis.
Truthfully, Kyle wouldn't finish adapting the first episode of the anime until chapter four.
Still, Felix was impressed.
"That was… actually pretty cool. High tech gear, body mods, cyber madness… Never seen anything like this before."
He quietly memorized the title Edgerunner in his mind, then turned to the next manga.
And that's how most readers felt after Chapter 1 of Edgerunners.
Sure, Kyle was a newcomer, and the first chapter wasn't a breakout hit. But that's normal.
Even legendary mangaka rarely explode in popularity with their first chapter. It takes time, serialization after serialization, to build a name, a world, a loyal fanbase.
And maybe… this was the beginning of that journey.
For now, Edgerunners was just getting started.
But someday…
It would be followed by thousands.