novelraw Chapter 168: Amazing
Chapter 168: Amazing
"Hahahaha, what the hell is this!!"
Rumi pointed at the computer screen after reading the eighth chapter of Chainsaw Man, shaking with laughter: "What kind of thinking is this! How could anyone create a protagonist like this! What's with this mix of mentor and idiot!"
Long ago.
When Tang Yao first discussed collaboration with Rumi, she had already known about this manga.
After all, it was this manga that facilitated their meeting.
However, knowing about it was one thing - she never had time to follow it properly, what with maintaining her own work updates while also writing crossover stories for the collaboration card pool.
So she kept putting it off.
Until now, with the Lunar New Year approaching at month's end and the crossover story already submitted to Avalon.
Finally having free time, she stumbled upon online discussions during her web browsing that reminded her of Tang Yao's latest work.
And then.She reached the eighth chapter where the madness truly began, laughing like a pig.
But you know what? Crazy as it was, it was genuinely interesting.
She would probably never create such a protagonist or plot herself - she had too much baggage now.
Yet Tang Yao seemed completely unbothered.
She really dared to draw this!
Rumi thought of that lovely, charming girl.
Honestly, this insane storyline... didn't seem like Tang Yao's work at all.
Had they not recently discussed pseudo-thick painting techniques and she hadn't seen Tang Yao's concept art for their company's new game, she might have doubted its authorship.
No helping it - remembering Tang Yao's overflowing youthful energy.
Rumi simply couldn't connect that image with this manga.
Especially recalling how many in chat groups called this "middle-aged male wish fulfillment."
Rumi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Naturally.
Readers all assumed "Third-rate Teacher" was male.
Who could imagine the creator was actually female, and a beautiful young girl at that?
Perhaps...
Back when she hadn't revealed her identity, readers thought the same about her?
Realizing this.
Rumi suddenly understood why Tang Yao kept her identity secret...
Because this way, she could draw whatever she wanted without burdens.
"Third-rate Teacher" was just a name.
It could represent anyone in readers' minds - wish-fulfilling middle-aged man, hardworking boy genius, or even a beautiful girl... though few would believe the last one.
Hidden behind this pseudonym, Tang Yao could illustrate anything she desired.
Like the current Chainsaw Man.
Whether it's the insanity or the protagonist's straightforward (borderline idiotic) motivations.
Had Tang Yao revealed herself, all sorts of issues would inevitably arise.
But remaining anonymous changed everything.
Third-rate Teacher drew this.
What does Tang Yao have to do with it?
Without baggage.
She could freely explore any subject matter... tell whatever interesting stories she wished, just like Rumi's secret account for yuri art.
Understanding this.
Rumi chuckled wryly.
Gotta admit.
Pretty smart, leaving herself an escape route from the very beginning.
Though...
"Did she really think secrets can stay buried forever?"
Rumi looked at the manga onscreen with a teasing expression.
She hadn't wanted to reveal herself either.
But inevitably.
As fame grew, concealment became impossible.
Especially when magazines needed her for promotional events.
Tang Yao might not have magazine obligations, but there was Avalon.
This gaming company kept expanding, with their second title imminent.
If this game also became a hit.
Well then.
The company wouldn't remain this "unknown" anymore.
With increasing staff, could her identity remain secret?
Rumi had doubts.
Thus she looked forward to seeing readers' and players' reactions upon discovering Third-rate Teacher's true identity.
Hmm.
She was also curious how Tang Yao would react.
Now boldly creating, letting protagonists run wild.
When the disguise falls, it'll be hilarious.
Thinking this.
Rumi couldn't help laughing, but saw no point warning Tang Yao.
Warnings wouldn't help - exposure was inevitable eventually.
Besides, as fellow female manga artists... some company wouldn't hurt.
Smiling, she clicked to the next chapter.
For now, she'd see how much further Tang Yao would let loose...
Post-bat demon in chapter eight came the leech demon.
Introducing new demon hunters, likely joining the main cast.
Though the process proved... abstract and comedic, with Denji too exhausted post-bat demon to transform into Chainsaw Man again, forcing him into semi-transformed brawling against the bat demon's wife—the leech demon.
All while having a... discussion about dreams.
Of course.
Denji remained the same hormone-driven idiot.
His breast obsession persisted throughout.
Yet beneath the absurdity.
The storytelling craftsmanship was impeccable.
After the battle, the new leech demon created fresh dangers while introducing both new characters and Aki's abilities.
Excellent pacing once you looked past the crazy surface.
This work was truly remarkable.
Already intrigued, Rumi found herself drawn deeper.
Subsequent chapters continued their insane trajectory while gradually expanding the worldbuilding, slapping readers with fascinating characters and stories.
Like using Denji's breast fixation—first having him grope Power's fake breasts into existential crisis, then introducing Makima.
Makima began revealing her dangerous yet alluring nature, seducing Denji with promises of "anything" for killing the Gun Devil.
Later, when introducing the Gun Devil... Rumi was downright astonished.
As plot progressed.
The manga's world became clear—demons didn't exist since antiquity but originated from WWII, when 2 billion people were affected by global warfare, collective human fear and despair reaching historical peaks.
Thus, like the Big Bang, Hell was born.
Originally just chaotic nothingness, Hell soon—as if some entity exhaled or imagined it into existence—generated countless bizarre phenomena, savage and bloodthirsty.
These were demons born from human fears... the earlier bat and leech demons represented specific fears.
But obviously, they paled against firearms.
So when Rumi saw the Gun Devil.
She'd wondered how to depict this demon—the physical manifestation of something feared by most humans.
Yet Chainsaw Man surprised her.
...By not depicting it at all!
This chapter showed no Gun Devil face.
Only its devastation.
...Dozens of country names appeared in one panel, each labeled with the Gun Devil's landing time.
Most countries experienced mere seconds of its presence.
Yet in those seconds.
The Gun Devil caused hundreds of thousands of casualties!
Just ruins and statistics.
Perfectly conveyed its terror, leaving readers breathless.
"...You can actually depict it this way."
Rumi murmured in awe: "Amazing."