Chapter 169: That’s Impressive
Date: 2025-03-31
Author: Xian Ge
“Hahaha, what the heck!?”
Rumi, having finished Chapter 8 of Chainsaw Man, pointed at her computer screen, doubled over with laughter. “What was going through their head!? How do you create a protagonist like this!? Cool and stupid—what’s the deal!?”
Long ago, when Rumi and Tang Yao discussed their collab, she’d heard of this manga. After all, it was Chainsaw Man that led to their meeting. But knowing about it didn’t mean she had time to read it. Between her own work’s updates and writing the collab story for FGO’s card pool, she’d shelved it.
Now, with the Lunar New Year approaching and the collab script sent to Avalon, she finally had a breather. While browsing online, she saw people talking about it and remembered Tang Yao’s latest work.
And so, she dove into Chapter 8, where the manga’s unhinged vibe shone through, laughing so hard she squealed like a pig.
But, honestly, as wild as it was… it was fun.
She could never draw a protagonist or story like this—not with her baggage.
But Tang Yao? She didn’t seem to care.
She dared to draw it!
Rumi pictured that charming, lively girl.
This manic story didn’t even feel like Tang Yao’s work. If not for their recent chats about faux thick coating and seeing Tang Yao’s game art for Avalon’s new project, Rumi might’ve doubted it was her.
She just couldn’t connect the vibrant, youthful Tang Yao with this manga.
Especially when she recalled group chats claiming it was “a middle-aged man’s perverse hobby.”
Rumi couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.
As expected, readers assumed Third-Rate Sensei was male.
No one would guess the artist behind this was a woman—a beautiful young one, at that.
Maybe, back when Rumi hadn’t revealed her own identity, readers thought the same of her?
It clicked.
She suddenly understood why Tang Yao kept her identity secret…
It let her draw whatever she wanted, free of baggage.
“Third-Rate Sensei” was just a pen name.
To readers, it could be anyone—a crude middle-aged guy, a diligent teen genius, or even a gorgeous girl (though most wouldn’t buy that).
Hiding behind it, Tang Yao could draw anything—say, Chainsaw Man.
Unhinged or with a hero whose motives were bluntly idiotic, it didn’t matter.
If Tang Yao went public, she’d face all sorts of issues.
But anonymous?
It’s Third-Rate Sensei’s work.
What’s that got to do with Tang Yao?
No baggage.
She could freely tackle any topic, tell any fun story—just like Rumi’s yuri art side account.
Realizing this, Rumi chuckled.
Smart move, leaving herself an out from the start.
But…
“Doesn’t she know there’s no such thing as a perfect secret?”
Rumi eyed the manga on her screen, a mischievous glint in her expression.
She hadn’t wanted to go public either, but as her fame grew, hiding became impossible—especially when magazines needed her for events.
Tang Yao didn’t have a magazine, but she had Avalon.
The game company was scaling fast, with a second game on the horizon.
If that game blew up…
Well, Avalon wouldn’t stay “low-key” anymore.
With more staff, could Tang Yao keep her identity hidden?
Rumi was skeptical.
She was curious how readers and players would react when Third-Rate Sensei’s true face was revealed.
And Tang Yao’s reaction? That’d be fun too.
She’s bold now, crafting wildly unrestrained protagonists.
What happens when the mask falls?
That’ll be a riot.
Grinning at the thought, Rumi didn’t plan to warn Tang Yao.
It wouldn’t help—secrets always come out eventually.
Plus, as female mangaka, they could keep each other company.
Musing, she clicked the next chapter.
For now, she’d see how Tang Yao kept pushing the boundaries…
In Chapter 8, after defeating the Bat Devil, a Leech Devil appeared, introducing new devil hunters, likely the main cast.
The process, though, was… abstract and hilarious. Exhausted from the Bat Devil fight, Denji couldn’t transform into Chainsaw Man again. Facing the Leech Devil—Bat Devil’s wife—he resorted to partial transformation and hand-to-hand combat.
And they… discussed dreams.
Of course, Denji was still the guy with a head full of lewd nonsense.
His boob obsession remained front and center.
Though the process was bizarre, the storytelling was flawless.
Post-battle, the Leech Devil brought new threats, introduced new characters, and showcased Aki Hayakawa’s abilities.
The pacing was tight. Strip away the neurotic shell, and the work was genuinely impressive.
Already hooked, Rumi got sucked in.
As the unhinged antics continued, the worldbuilding unfolded, slapping readers with compelling characters and stories.
For instance, Denji’s boob fixation led to him touching Power’s fake chest, spiraling into existential doubt, which then brought in Makima.
Makima began revealing her dangerous, seductive side, tempting Denji with a promise: kill the Gun Devil, and she’d grant any wish.
The Gun Devil’s introduction blew Rumi away.
As the plot progressed, the manga’s worldbuilding crystallized: devils weren’t ancient but born from World War II, when 2 billion people faced unprecedented collective fear and despair.
Like a cosmic big bang, Hell was born.
Initially a chaotic void, it soon spawned countless grotesque, bloodthirsty entities—devils born from human fears of various things, like bats or leeches.
But compared to the fear of guns, they were trivial.
So when Rumi saw the Gun Devil, she wondered how to portray such a universally feared entity.
What would it look like?
She didn’t expect…
Chainsaw Man didn’t show the Gun Devil’s form at all!
That chapter didn’t even reveal its face.
It only described the devastation it caused.
A single panel listed dozens of countries, with the times the Gun Devil struck each.
In most, it lingered mere seconds.
Yet, in those fleeting moments, it caused hundreds of thousands of casualties!
Through ruins and raw numbers, the Gun Devil’s terror was laid bare, suffocatingly vivid.
“…It can be drawn like this?”
Rumi murmured, awestruck. “That’s impressive.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 170: Stealing Lessons
Date: 2025-03-31
Author: Xian Ge
Truly impressive.
In that moment, Rumi was floored, itching to ask Tang Yao how she came up with it.
But, not yet at the latest chapter, she calmed herself and kept reading.
The Eternity Devil arc began.
This arc toggled between unhinged and serious, fleshing out key characters in ways that were… hard to describe, especially Himeno.
Rumi cracked up.
Becoming a devil hunter to avoid sex work?
That’s next-level absurd.
The whole arc was absurd.
Yet, finishing it, she had to admit…
It was talented. And good.
Finally, done with the Eternity Devil arc, Rumi exhaled, staring at the victory party scene.
She shook her head.
What a pity—if this manga were more serious…
But she quickly dismissed the thought.
No.
If it were serious, it’d lose its flavor.
This manga would shatter readers’ views of “Third-Rate Sensei.”
If it kept this trajectory, its bold, fun uniqueness—rare in manga—would cement its place.
So, how was its popularity?
Rumi suddenly wondered. She’d only remembered the manga after spotting group chats.
She didn’t know its reception among readers.
She’d jumped straight to reading it.
Thinking this, she hesitated, then opened MyAnime.
It was China’s biggest anime and manga rating site. Not authoritative, but with user-driven scores, it was huge among fans.
Rumi occasionally peeked at her own works’ ratings.
She navigated to the manga section and searched “Chainsaw Man.”
The page loaded.
Seeing the score, Rumi froze.
“…9.6!? That high!?”
Her shock was justified. MyAnime used a 10-point scale, and with a massive user base, scores balanced out—loved by some, hated by others.
A perfect 10 was impossible.
Even reaching 9 was brutal.
Only one of her works had hit that, and only after completion.
How long had Chainsaw Man been running?
Then she saw the rating count.
Rumi was stunned. “…Over 30,000? No way!”
Clearly, its popularity exceeded her expectations.
Though MyAnime was big in anime circles, few users rated. If one in ten readers scored a work, that was a lot.
Thirty thousand users, giving 9.6?
Gripping her mouse, Rumi returned to ANF, opened Chainsaw Man’s page, and scrolled to the comments.
Total comments neared 50,000.
Below were memes and plot discussions galore.
?
Rumi checked ANF’s main section. Videos about Chainsaw Man abounded.
Within ANF, it was unmatched.
That popular?
Rumi was incredulous.
Just then—
Knock knock.
Rumi looked up at the door.
Her editor-mother, Guan Fang, entered. The stern middle-aged woman approached, paused, and asked, “Are you still in touch with Avalon’s Third-Rate Sensei?”
“Hm? Why?”
Rumi frowned slightly.
She couldn’t connect her mother to Tang Yao. She’d heard Li Xue handled the Avalon meeting.
Her mother shouldn’t know Third-Rate Sensei was Tang Yao.
So why ask?
“If you’re still in touch,” Guan Fang said, her tone stiff and odd, “ask if Chainsaw Man’s tankobon could be published by StarChase.”
“What?”
Rumi was floored. She stared at her mother. “Why? Our company… wait.”
It hit her.
Fate/Zero’s tankobon, published by StarChase, had been promoted on ANF during her collab work.
Could it be…
“Fate/Zero sold well?” she asked instinctively.
“…Yes.”
Guan Fang paused, nodding slowly. “Very well. Maybe the game, maybe ANF, but the business department says it’s getting a reprint. They estimate its final sales will surpass many of your works.”
“Hiss…”
Rumi gasped, stunned.
No way.
That huge?
She pressed, “So you’re asking about Chainsaw Man…? It’s only 20 chapters in. You’re that confident? They haven’t said it’s getting a game, right?”
Guan Fang fell silent, then replied, “You’ve been busy and missed its buzz in manga circles. The editorial team studied it—its reception’s phenomenal. Yesterday, we met and decided to push StarChase’s own online manga platform. Digital’s the future; we agree.”
Rumi, sharp as ever, got it. “You want to use Chainsaw Man’s tankobon to deepen ties with Avalon and learn from them!?”
“Learn? It’s benchmarking!” Guan Fang frowned. “It’s normal business. Don’t act like it’s odd. Trust me, soon every publisher with a manga arm will think the same. Chainsaw Man’s online serialization has an unexpectedly huge impact.”
Rumi lowered her gaze to the screen, incredulous.
No way.
Did Tang Yao just reshape the industry?
In fact, Guan Fang wasn’t wrong. Other publishers were indeed eyeing similar moves.
Chainsaw Man’s draw, combined with ANF’s anime fanbase, was growing its manga section daily.
The manga section’s growth, in turn, boosted Chainsaw Man, pushing its buzz higher.
Online manga seemed viable!
Many publishers were tempted.
But the hype hadn’t peaked. StarChase, tied to Avalon via tankobon deals, was just quicker to act.
Chainsaw Man was still gaining steam, not yet at its zenith.
Still, it was enough to thrill Cai Quan.
With new anime acquisitions and the manga section’s rise, ANF’s user base grew daily.
ANF’s scale now rivaled mainstream video platforms.
Cai Quan had been giddy in front of Tang Yao lately.
Tang Yao, after another of Cai Quan’s excited updates, shook her head wryly.
She packed up to head home.
The Lunar New Year was near. With projects on track, she wasn’t about to overwork.
Leaving Kaoru alone would be too sad.
But as she grabbed her things, Li Xue rushed in, holding the latest manga draft. She blurted, “Tang Yao! This chapter—Makima dies!? Shot to death!? It’s the draft for the 25th, right before the New Year! You’re taking a break, and we release this? Readers will lose it!”
“…No choice,” Tang Yao said, blinking her bright eyes at the flustered older woman. “The plot’s at that point.”
“Is she really dead?”
Li Xue paused, then asked.
Tang Yao thought, her fair face breaking into a radiant grin. “Guess!”
With that, she bolted.
Li Xue: “!!!”
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Guan Fang (关芳), Cai Quan (蔡全), Kaoru (薰). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Rumi (如迷) uses a simplified transliteration, reflecting her mangaka persona, avoiding literal translations (e.g., “Like Mystery”).
Character names (Denji for 电次, Makima for 玛奇玛, Aki Hayakawa for 早川秋, Power for 帕瓦, Himeno for 小红) and titles (Chainsaw Man for 电锯人, Fate/Zero) use established English equivalents.
“Third-Rate Sensei” (三流老师) is kept as a nickname, reflecting fandom’s playful tone.
“MyAnime” is a fictionalized stand-in for platforms like MyAnimeList or Douban, adapted for context.
Cultural Nuances:
Manga Culture: Chainsaw Man’s disruptive impact and online buzz reflect China’s digital manga boom, translated with universal fan dynamics (e.g., “pig squeal” for 猪叫 to convey laughter).
Industry Shifts: Publishers’ pivot to online platforms mirrors China’s digital trends, rendered with relatable business motives (e.g., “benchmarking” for 借鉴).
Fandom Humor: Rumi’s yuri side account and reader misconceptions about Tang Yao’s identity add levity, translated with playful, fandom-savvy tones.
Technical Terms:
Manga Terms: “连载” (serialization), “单行本” (tankobon), “叙事技法” (storytelling technique), “世界观” (worldbuilding), and “评论区” (comments section) align with manga contexts.
Industry Terms: “引流” (traffic draw), “网络化” (digitalization), and “评分机制” (rating system) fit digital platforms.
Art Terms: “伪厚涂” (faux thick coating) and “游戏原画” (game artwork) reflect creative workflows.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: Chainsaw Man’s worldbuilding and industry impact are detailed vividly, balancing accessibility for casual readers and depth for manga fans.
Emotional Tone: Rumi’s awe, Tang Yao’s cheekiness, and Li Xue’s panic are tuned for natural English flow, preserving emotional stakes.
Dialogue Flow: Rumi’s laughter, Guan Fang’s stiffness, and Tang Yao’s teasing add humor and relatability, grounding industry plot points in character moments.
Character Dynamics:
Rumi’s Admiration: Her respect for Tang Yao’s boldness shines, translated with introspective warmth.
Tang Yao’s Playfulness: Her sly dodge of Li Xue’s question reflects her confidence, rendered with cheeky charm.
Guan Fang’s Pragmatism: Her business-driven motives are translated with stern professionalism.
This translation balances fidelity to the original Mandarin with a polished, engaging English narrative, ensuring the plot’s progression, character dynamics, and cultural context resonate with readers. Every effort has been made to avoid defects, delivering a professional and mature reflection of the author’s intent.
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