Tokyo: Earth Online Manga Artist.

Chapter 114 Epilogue

"Aragaki, your drawing skills are really good, you're amazing."

After signing his name, Akira Toriyama looked at the signature of Eri Aragaki and the bust of Wenren Yixuan in the style of traditional Chinese painting, and said with a smile, "Looking at your comics is like visiting the museum of traditional Chinese painting in the Republic. The way you use the shades of ink to express light and shadow is something you can't find in Japanese comics—your inspiration must also come from the Republic."

"Yes, the inspiration came from ancient paintings of the People's Republic of China."

When asked about this, Eri Aragaki could only say, "I also really like the culture of the Republic, from literature to painting."

She was actually a plagiarist, but of course you can't say that.

"Have you ever traveled to the Republic? Do you have any plans to travel there?"

Akira Toriyama immediately asked, putting the notebook in his bag and turning to look at her, "Actually, that place is quite nice, especially if you travel there in recent years, it has changed a lot."

He has always been a big fan of the culture of the People's Republic of China. Actually, it wasn't just in recent years, but back in 1984 when "Dragon Ball" was being serialized, that he traveled to the People's Republic of China for research and inspiration.

Eri Aragaki nodded and said firmly, "If I have time, I will definitely go there for a trip."

After all, she has the soul of a citizen of the Republic in her bones. Why would she hesitate to go home and visit someone?

"However, the language barrier there will cause some trouble—"

Akira Toriyama was delighted. He clapped his hands and said, "How about this? I'll introduce you to some translators. I have several reliable translators I've worked with over there."

Eri Aragaki gave her a strange look. She blinked, pursed her lips slightly, and then said, "No need. Actually, I speak Chinese."

Akira Toriyama asked curiously, "You speak Chinese. Did you teach yourself?"

How else could Eri Aragaki answer? She couldn't very well say that she was a citizen of the Republic in her past life.

So she could only nod and say, "I guess so—I bought some textbooks and dictionaries and learned from them."

"That would be even more convenient. Actually, I'd like to learn Chinese, but I'm too old, and Chinese is really hard to learn."

Akira Toriyama said with a smile, a look of "I see" on his face.

He looked troubled and shook his head.

Eri Aragaki understands this, because Chinese is indeed difficult to learn on one's own, especially for native Japanese speakers who do not speak tones.

Akira Toriyama is indeed quite old. Born in 55, he is now over 50 years old. At this age, it's difficult for him to learn a new language from scratch due to his lack of energy and memory.

"It seems you're quite interested in the Republic, Aragaki-san. Well then, I'm curious, do you have any plans to serialize a long-running manga similar to 'Fog Hill of Five Elements'?"

Akira Toriyama then smiled and changed the subject from learning Chinese.

Eri Aragaki was at a loss for words.

The main reason is that she hasn't thought that far ahead yet. According to the setting and the general plot, Attack on Titan will take another three years to finish serialization.

Moreover, the later plot of Attack on Titan needs to be completely changed. The ending of the previous work was too controversial among readers. Since she copied this work, she can't let the same regret happen again.

The values ​​that should be promoted must at least be correct. Eri Aragaki also has some ideas at this time, especially in her super creative state. She occasionally thinks about how the plot will go in the future and brings those foreshadowing elements together in another direction.

Therefore, Eri Aragaki doesn't plan to start a new project anytime soon.

"I don't have any ideas yet —"

She immediately said, "Fog Hill of Five Elements is just a thought I had in my spare time, just something I was interested in. Attack on Titan is still being serialized, and I want to finish this story first. I don't want to be distracted by thinking about my next work."

Akira Toriyama looked somewhat regretful at this moment, and his expression did indeed show a hint of disappointment.

"To be honest, you might think I'm being nosy, but I really think you're better suited to drawing righteous manga."

He looked at Eri Aragaki, considered his words carefully, and then spoke up, "Attack on Titan is a bit dark. The sense of despair and oppression is indeed well drawn, but drawing too much of that can affect the creator's own mindset."

Is Attack on Titan a dark fantasy?

This is indeed undeniable. The current plot is just the tip of the iceberg. As the story unfolds, readers will see what cruelty and darkness truly mean.

However, Eri Aragaki chose to copy this work because it was indeed very popular, and also because she was moved by the humanistic light shown in the early episodes beneath its cruel exterior.

To be honest, the early and later stages of Attack on Titan really don't seem like a manga.

Even Eri Aragaki reasonably suspects that someone else may have taken over Hajime Isayama's identity in his previous life.

It can only be said that the ending of Attack on Titan was regrettable.

Eri Aragaki felt that her proposed ending might not be much better than the original Attack on Titan, but at least it shouldn't repeat the same mistakes.

Eri Aragaki thought for a moment, then looked up into Akira Toriyama's eyes, "Yes, perhaps Attack on Titan has a darker side—"

She took another deep breath and said, "But actually, my thought is that although this world is realistic and cruel, love and peace will always exist."

Moreover, the more cruel and dark things are, the more precious peace and light seem.

If you depict a peaceful and beautiful world from the very beginning, that beauty will seem rather thin.

Akira Toriyama was taken aback upon hearing this, and even Oda was momentarily stunned.

Because what Eri Aragaki said seemed to make a lot of sense.

The idea of ​​using darkness to highlight light is not new, but Eri Aragaki earnestly tells them, "I draw these to express the preciousness of peace," and this gesture alone is enough to make people re-evaluate this work.

Akira Toriyama also asked, his relaxed smile fading and his expression becoming more serious, "Are you using cruelty and darkness to highlight the preciousness of peace and light? You mean you're not praising cruelty, but using it as a mirror?"

"Yes, actually what I said at the beginning, what I said on the hand-held prize, was serious."

Eri Aragaki nodded and said, "I hope to tell a story about peace through Attack on Titan. The characters in Attack on Titan are all people who were twisted by war, but it is precisely because they were twisted that every kind choice they made is all the more precious."

Akira Toriyama seemed to understand something. He nodded slightly and then asked, "Aragaki-san, you really like the Republic, don't you?"

"Yes, I like it very much," Eri Aragaki nodded without any hesitation.

Akira Toriyama finally understood, and then smiled and said, "I understand—you're really amazing, Aragaki-san, your idea is right, absolutely right! Use darkness to highlight light, use cruelty to emphasize peace, and promote love and peace—this is what we should do."

He said with a smile, "Then I'll have to look forward to the story of the Titans—"

His words sounded like he was finalizing an agreement.

Eri Aragaki smiled and nodded. She could tell that Akira Toriyama wasn't just being polite. "I will do my best to draw this story well."

But Akira Toriyama suddenly smiled and said, "However, I'm still really looking forward to your next work, your new work after Attack on Titan—"

'

The night is getting darker.

The door to Eri Aragaki's apartment opened, and the lights came on; the four girls had returned.

"Okay, I'm back—"

"OK."

Erina, Akane Natsume and Ayane Takeda all responded in unison.

Yes, they have returned from the year-end party.

Tonight's year-end party was quite enjoyable; there was delicious food, and I had a good chat with the cartoonists, assistants, and editors present.

Eri Aragaki talked a lot with Akira Toriyama afterward, and even took a group photo with Akira Toriyama and Oda.

However, Oda still wears his fish head mask.

Later, everyone gathered at the round table where they had been arranged to eat and have a party, and Eri Aragaki also got to know several manga artists.

Oda, Kishimoto, Tite Kubo, Takeshi Obata, Hanmaru, Akira Amano —

Because of her identity as a female manga artist, she even chatted for a while with Katsura Hoshino, the author of the seinen manga "D.Gray-man," and several other shoujo manga artists.

However, she also received some flirting. Besides Hideaki Sorachi, Tite Kubo and several other unmarried manga artists were quite enthusiastic towards her.

After all, Eri Aragaki is genuinely quite beautiful, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but her stats are truly stunning and she outshone everyone else.

Being good-looking and being liked by others is something she can't help but do.

However, Eri Aragaki genuinely had no intention of being stabbed in the back.

She chatted and took photos with these cartoonists with the intention of simply making friends.

Erina and her group have had their share of similar incidents, but generally speaking, those who come here are all reputable manga artists and their assistants, and everyone is very well-behaved, unlike some extreme otaku who cause trouble.

So everyone had a good chat, and Erina and the others relaxed afterwards.

Even in the final lottery, Natsume Akane unexpectedly won the grand prize, which was Sony's latest laptop, priced at 24 yen.

After the year-end party, Natsume Akane suggested that she go back to Aragaki Eri's apartment to rest that night, and that they wouldn't need to send her back to her rented apartment.

After all, there had been instances before where Natsume Akane and Takeda Ayane stayed overnight at Aragaki Eri's house.

Eri Aragaki didn't see anything wrong with it, and Ayane Takeda, seeing this, also asked to stay overnight.

"By the way, sis, you're participating in Jump Festa on the 22nd, right?"

Erina immediately asked, "Then I'll go with you."

"You don't necessarily have to go together."

Eri Aragaki immediately said, "That event is for fans, so it'll be a bit more complicated—"

Unlike year-end parties, which are purely for having fun and eating.

Therefore, Eri Aragaki didn't want to trouble Erina and the others.

"It's alright, I can help you, senior."

However, Ayane Takeda was quite excited and said...

"Hmm, the 22nd? I don't think I had anything going on—except for having a class in the morning—"

Natsume Akane, who was about to take a bath, also spoke up at this moment.

"All right----"

Eri Aragaki had no choice but to say that.