MTLNOVEL Chapter 49
🔥 Want more from the story? 🔥
Join my Patreon and unlock more than 15 advance chapters before they're published on Webnovel! 🚀📖 Perfect for readers who can't wait to see what happens next.
🎁 Right now, enjoy a 30% OFF discount on all tiers $10+ — valid for 7 days only! Use code AUG20 to claim it.
Comment for discord link
📚 Fanfiction Patreon: patreon.com/Forbidden_lust
🎨 Art Patreon: patreon.com/PixLust
Friday in Japan is a special day for manga lovers. It's the day when the two most famous comic magazines — Weekly Shōnen Magazine and Manga Jump — hit the shelves at the same time.
Their styles couldn't be more different. Weekly Shōnen Magazine often leans toward grounded drama and sports stories, while Manga Jump favors bold action, fantastical worlds, and battles that set your heart racing.
For fans, it's the best kind of dilemma — why choose when both cost so little? Many readers simply grab them both, ready to devour all the stories over the weekend.
---
That morning, Eriri Spencer Sawamura rose early, enjoyed the breakfast her mother had prepared, and then slipped into the back seat of her father's luxury car for the ride to school.
But before heading through the school gates, she detoured to the small bookstore next to campus.
The shop smelled faintly of ink and paper, that comforting scent of fresh print. The racks were neatly stocked — it was still early, so she had her pick.
She grabbed three pristine copies of Manga Jump, hugging them to her chest with a satisfied smile. As she turned to leave, something on the next shelf caught her eye.
Weekly Shōnen Magazine.
And on the cover —
Her brow furrowed instantly.
> "New series 'Titan Wars' by acclaimed mangaka Kim Jung-gun begins serialization! First two chapters free — don't miss it!"
Eriri's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Hmph… let's see how this so-called Titan Wars dares to rip off Attack on Titan."
She pulled out her wallet, paid for a copy, and tucked it under her arm alongside her Manga Jump.
---
In class, she set both magazines on her desk. Her seatmate, Satomi Azusa, bounced over with a grin.
"Eriri-chan, can I read with you?"
They started with Manga Jump, flipping straight to the second chapter of Attack on Titan.
By the time they reached the last panel — the towering giant breaching the wall, chaos and death sweeping through the streets — Azusa was pale.
"That was… terrifying," she whispered, clearly shaken.
When Eriri put down Manga Jump and picked up Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Azusa peeked at the title page of Titan Wars and immediately shook her head.
"Another giant story? Nope. I'm done. I'll go talk with the others."
She scurried off, leaving Eriri alone with the supposed copycat.
---
Eriri read Titan Wars in silence.
When she finished, she set the magazine down slowly. Her expression was complicated.
To her surprise, it wasn't bad.
Yes, the core concept was clearly inspired by Attack on Titan — humanity trapped, giant enemies, a tragic catalyst — but beyond that, the execution was polished. The art was strong, the pacing tight, the characters engaging. It was undeniably a work with commercial power.
No wonder Weekly Shōnen Magazine had gone all out to promote it. It had even landed the coveted cover spot and multiple official social media plugs.
Even Attack on Titan hadn't been given that much push when it started.
The thought stung.
She shut the magazine and rested her head on her folded arms, eyes narrowing in irritation.
---
Around her, other students were flipping between the two magazines, trading volumes, and voicing their opinions. Eriri listened without looking up.
"I mean, the setups are really similar — giants, tragic openings — but in one, the mom dies, in the other, the sister dies…"
"Guess giant stories are in now. There's even a Giant Slayer Shrek in Electric Prince Weekly this month."
"Finally! Those endless isekai 'OP protagonist with toilet paper magic' stories are dying out."
"So, between Attack on Titan and Titan Wars, which is better so far?"
"They're both good. The quality's about the same."
"I'm still rooting for Attack on Titan."
"I'll back Kim Jung-gun's work. He's never let readers down before."
"Let's see how the plot develops. Whichever gets more exciting, I'll support that one."
---
The consensus seemed to be that Titan Wars was simply "following the trend" — nothing unusual in the industry. That nonchalant acceptance made Eriri's irritation flare again.
But she quickly calmed herself.
Because she had something none of them did: an early peek at Volume 2 of Attack on Titan.
And she knew Kim Jung-gun couldn't match Lucien D. Blackthorn's raw imagination. There was no way he'd come up with a twist as shocking as the one in Volume 2.
Just thinking about that moment made her shiver — it was that unforgettable.
Still, she had an exam later, so she stuffed the magazines back in her bag and pulled out her textbooks.
For a self-confessed slacker like Eriri, last-minute cramming was a survival skill.
---
Around noon, Usami Mizuki arrived at the hospital where Lucien was recovering. She'd taken the train from Shinagawa — a short trip, just under thirty minutes.
Lucien had just finished his bland but nutritious hospital lunch and was resting against the pillows.
From the bedside drawer, he pulled out the draft for Chapter 10 of Attack on Titan's third volume. Marginal notes and small arrows marked his page.
He went through them carefully with Mizuki, pointing out pacing cues, camera angles, and the exact mood he wanted certain panels to convey.
Mizuki listened intently, jotting down everything in her notebook. Once they'd discussed a few upcoming plot beats, she gathered the pages, bowed lightly, and left.
---
That afternoon, when the final exam papers were collected, Eriri practically bolted from her seat.
The tense knot in her stomach that had been there all week finally began to loosen. All that cramming — plus the grueling after-school tutoring sessions — had paid off. She might not ace everything, but she wouldn't fail. And that meant no angry calls to her parents.
She headed straight to the hospital, weaving through the familiar corridors until she reached Lucien's ward.
"Here," she said the moment she stepped in, thrusting the latest Manga Jump toward him.
Lucien took it but set it aside. "How were your exams, Eriri-san?"
She blinked, surprised at the question. The warmth in her chest was immediate — as much as she loved manga talk, it felt… nice that he cared about her results.
"Why? Were you hoping I'd fail?" she teased.
"Of course not," he replied smoothly. "If you failed, you'd be busy with make-up exams. Then you'd have less time to visit me."
"Hmph. You're mistaken if you think I come here to see you. I'm here for the comics, Whale-sensei."
"Those words cut deep, Eri-san…" he said, mock wounded.
She smirked. "Fine, fine. As a friend and classmate, I'm here sincerely. Now — hand over Volume 3 of Slam Dunk!"
Lucien chuckled, reaching into the drawer beside the bed. He pulled out the fresh draft of Chapter 19, completed just last night, and passed it to her.
Her eyes lit up instantly. She slid into the chair beside his bed and began reading with the eager focus of someone who had waited all week for this moment.
End of the chapter
250 ps=1 extra chapter