[51] The Possibility of Fate/Zero Serialization

"It seems like everyone is here," Yoshikawa Daishi looked at the individuals in the room and said, "I urgently made copies of this manuscript just now. Each of you take one, we'll need it for tomorrow's serialization meeting."

"Tomorrow? Isn't that too rushed?" A team leader from one of the groups said, "We already have plenty of manuscripts for this week."

"Normally, that would be the case, but just like how I called you all here at this time," Yoshikawa Daishi addressed everyone, "this is an exceptionally outstanding manga..."

Is it really that exaggerated?

Iwamoto Yu looked somewhat puzzled at the current situation. Although he had been called here, he had no room to interject given his status.

He also didn't understand why the chief editor was in such a hurry to present [Fate/Zero] at the serialization meeting.

"Alright, let's not argue anymore," Yoshikawa Daishi stopped them and said, "This is just to secure a spot at tomorrow's serialization meeting. Whether it will actually pass will depend on tomorrow. It's the end of the day today, so I won't say much more. Go back and take a good look, and we'll decide tomorrow! Also, Iwamoto Yu, please stay behind. There's something I need to discuss with you."

Soon.

It was time to clock out.

Yoshikawa Daishi flipped through the manuscript in his hand and said to Iwamoto Yu, "Has Kurokawa-sensei told you which pen name he's using for this manga?"

"Yes, he said he's using the pen name '[Kuro].'"

"No." Yoshikawa Daishi immediately shook his head. "Later, you'll need to call him and explain this. If this manga were to be published in other magazines, using that pen name wouldn't matter. However, if it's going to appear in JUMP, then it can't be under that pen name. It's better to use '[Kurokawa Kazuya]' or even create a completely new pen name."

"Huh? Why?" Iwamoto Yu was momentarily puzzled.

"That pen name '[Kuro]' has already been tainted. At least in the manga he did for Battle Royale, it remained controversial until it wasn't serialized to completion. You know this. And even if it were to finish serialization, it's destined to be a mixed bag, with either side having its say."

Iwamoto Yu nodded; it was indeed the case.

The manga's violence, depiction of human nature, illogical elements, yet oddly realistic plot development, and its unconventional art style all supported this conclusion.

"Now, Weekly YOUNGJUMP is under enormous pressure because of serializing this manga. You know this too; we're flooded with complaints and even threats every day. The irony is that, without a concrete reason, cutting this manga off is a difficult decision. Currently, Weekly YOUNGJUMP is being held together by this unconventional manga. Even if it's negative news, it's still news. Until we have a new, better manga to support us, abruptly discontinuing this manga might not just cut off one series but the entire magazine. However, all this doesn't change one fact, that the pen name '[Kuro]' has been condemned by a portion of the readers in a short time."

Yoshikawa Daishi paused for a moment and continued.

"So, let me explain how a reader, faced with the same manga but with a different author's pen name, might react... If this manga is released under the pen name '[Kuro],' then the dark atmosphere of the first chapter alone might be enough to make many readers give up on it. Especially when it comes to the experiences of the little girl, Sakura... many might think that the manga artist '[Kuro]' is unchanging and continues to create disturbing content. In that case, they might abandon not just the manga but even JUMP as a whole. Later, even if others say that this manga is interesting and good, it's not easy to change the initial impression. Even if they do come back, only a portion will, and the rest will be lost forever. During this process, we'll also face tremendous pressure from readers, including complaint letters."

"But if we use the pen name '[Kurokawa Kazuya],' it's a different story. First, Kurokawa-sensei's JoJo has been serialized in JUMP for a while now, and the story has entered its second part. The new protagonist, Joseph Joestar, has shown a different shine compared to Jonathan and even the traditional protagonists of JUMP. This shine is undoubtedly attractive, as seen in the recent rankings of JoJo. In other words, it will undoubtedly bring a lot of initial popularity to [Fate/Zero]. Even if Jonathan died in the previous part, it was a glorious death, one that left an impression, making people sad but deeply moved. So... even if they see Sakura's experiences at the beginning, they might feel uncomfortable, but they will believe that she will be saved. After all, Kurokawa-sensei had previously ever done it in JoJo."

"Well... but...," Iwamoto Yu hesitated for a moment, "But, that little girl's fate... until the end..."

"That's right, she doesn't get saved, and even the fate of the person who wants to save her can be considered quite tragic. However, at that point, most people should be immersed in the story and wouldn't have the time to come out and say these things."

It's almost like manipulation...

A twitch appeared at the corner of Iwamoto Yu's mouth.

"Um... what if Kurokawa-sensei refuses to change?"

"In that case, there's nothing we can do..." Yoshikawa Daishi shook his head. "Let me put it this way: if [Fate/Zero] is published under the pen name '[Kuro],' there's a possibility that readers will be deterred right from the start, and there's even a possibility of discontinuation. If a completely new pen name is used, it introduces an element of unpredictability. So, it's best to publish it under '[Kurokawa Kazuya]' or, at worst, have him create a completely new pen name. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" Iwamoto Yu nodded and said, "I'll do my best!"

He couldn't help but admire the chief editor. The chief editor was truly experienced, having been in the manga industry for over ten years. His vision was far more profound than someone like Iwamoto Yu, who had only been in the business for a few years.

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