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Chapter 1
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
ICU – Emergency Room
"Director! The patient's breathing is weak, blood pressure is crashing, and his platelets are critically low!"
"Initiate emergency protocol! Increase blood volume and start platelet transfusion immediately!"
"Yes, sir! …Director! His heart just stopped!"
"Defibrillator, now! Prepare cardiac stimulants!"
...
After nearly an hour of intense efforts, the emergency team looked as if they'd just fought a war. The procedure was successful—barely. Once the patient's vitals stabilized and the machines confirmed he was out of immediate danger, the exhausted doctors and nurses slowly filed out.
The lead surgeon removed his gloves and bloodstained gown, pausing at the door to look back at the boy lying unconscious on the table.
Such a young face. Barely sixteen or seventeen.
But life hadn't been kind to him. Diagnosed with an incredibly rare and aggressive form of leukemia, he was in the final stages of the disease. At this point, chemotherapy could only delay the inevitable.
This surgery had pulled him back from the brink, but it was temporary. The cancer had already metastasized throughout his body.
A conservative estimate? He had a week. Maybe less.
"What a pity… at such a young age."
The doctor sighed deeply.
Just as he left the room, a nurse hurried over.
"Doctor, we've identified the patient. His name is Lucien D. Blackthorn. He's a dual citizen—his parents are American, currently living overseas. We haven't been able to reach them yet."
"No contact? What about local guardians, teachers, or friends?"
"We spoke to one of his teachers—they're trying to get in touch with his family. Also… a female classmate is in the lobby. She came to visit him."
"A classmate? Alright, bring her in. She deserves to know."
"Yes, sir."
---
Inside the ICU
After the medical staff left, the boy on the bed—Lucien D. Blackthorn—slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry, his head a fog. He tried to sit up, but his body refused to respond. Dozens of wires and tubes were connected to him, some carrying blood, others unknown fluids.
"This… a hospital?"
He barely had time to process the thought before a sharp, stabbing pain surged through every nerve in his body. The agony drowned him in darkness once more.
---
"Doctor… I'm Lucien's classmate. What happened to him?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura, a senior member of the school's art club, had been asked to check on Lucien on behalf of the club. A few days ago, Lucien had fainted in the art room during practice. Everyone thought it was fatigue or low blood sugar—something minor.
But when he didn't return for days, the club began to worry.
Truthfully, Eriri didn't know Lucien well. He was a quiet transfer student who had recently joined the school and the art club because of his love for manga. They had barely exchanged a few words.
"Are you the patient's classmate?" the doctor asked.
He looked at the petite blonde girl and hesitated. It was always hard—delivering tragic news, especially to someone this young.
But the truth had to be told.
"He's in the final stage of leukemia," he said quietly. "We've done everything we can, but... the cancer is aggressive. He might only have a few days left."
Eriri's eyes widened in shock. She took a step back, trembling.
"W-What…?"
The doctor gave a solemn nod. "Please try to contact his family. Soon."
Eriri stood frozen, her hands slowly rising to cover her mouth. The words echoed in her mind, numb and heavy.
---
Lucien regained consciousness again.
This time, his head was clearer—and the memories hit like a truck.
Wait... what the hell? These aren't my memories...
It took him a few moments, but he pieced it together.
He had traveled through time. No—he had transmigrated. Into a parallel world. A world that looked like a romantic comedy manga, but with himself as a dying extra.
The original Lucien of this world had been diagnosed with terminal leukemia. After enduring endless chemotherapy, he made the decision with his parents to stop treatment and live out his final days in peace. His dream? To come to Japan and study manga during his final year, doing what he loved most.
His mother was American, his father Japanese-American. They lived overseas but supported his wish to study in Tokyo for one last adventure.
But just days after transferring schools, his condition suddenly collapsed.
Lucien, the one from this reality, now possessed by a soul from another world, lay on his deathbed.
"I'm seriously dying?! I just transmigrated, and I'm already at the game-over screen?!"
Of all the ways he imagined his life restarting, this was not on the list.
"Other people transmigrate and become rich heirs, demon kings, or protagonists of harems… and I get stuck as a terminally ill side character?! In a rom-com world?!"
Even though this world was full of anime girls and dreamy school festivals… what was the point, if he was about to die?
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Oh, this is so damn unfair…"
But just as he closed his eyes to sulk—
[Ding! System Binding Complete — "Draw Comics to Stay Alive" System Activated!]
A robotic, emotionless voice rang out in his mind.
His eyes flew open.
"A system…?! A comic system?!"
Yes—he recognized this. The legendary "golden finger" of all transmigrators.
And it was tied to his greatest passion: manga.
Before coming to this world, Lucien had been a struggling artist. His webcomics had barely gotten any attention, but his love for drawing never faded. Even on his worst days, he kept sketching.
Now, a system had appeared… offering him a second chance.
But his excitement cooled as he listened further.
"'Draw comics to stay alive'? Wait, wait—what kind of deal is this?!"
---
[System Panel – Open]
[Host]: Lucien D. Blackthorn
[Remaining Life]: 7 Days
[Health Value]: 5/100
(You can stay awake for only 2 hours a day.)
---
[System Notice]
The host must create and publish manga to earn life points.
Rewards will be based on quality and audience impact.
Completing special missions will also provide health boosts and extensions.
Newbie Rewards Activated:
→ Memory Enhancement
→ Master-Level Manga Drawing Skills
---
Lucien stared at the glowing blue text in his mind.
His hands trembled slightly.
"So you're saying… if I want to survive in this world, I have to draw?"
A twisted smile spread across his pale lips.
"…Fine. If the pen is my weapon and the page is my battlefield, then I'll draw like my life depends on it."
Because now…
It literally does.