Cartoonist in Doraemon

For a phenomenal work like Demon Slayer, acquiring it through the reputation system would typically require an astronomical number of points—millions for a chance in the lottery pool, and tens of millions to directly exchange for the complete work in the reputation mall.

Yet here it was, gifted to Ashton outright in the novice package. His luck was nothing short of extraordinary.

As soon as the gift was unlocked, Ashton's personal panel updated: the "Personal Work" column shifted from 0 to 1, now displaying the title Demon Slayer.

With such a celebrated foundation to build on, Ashton's initial nervousness disappeared. As a third-rate comic creator in his previous life, he fully understood the cultural impact of Demon Slayer. The anime and manga had been a sensation, captivating audiences worldwide with its unique story and compelling characters.

Now, in this new world, Demon Slayer would undoubtedly create a massive stir if he could faithfully recreate and submit it to a publisher. Its rich storylines and well-crafted character arcs were sure to ignite the enthusiasm of manga readers everywhere, giving Ashton a golden opportunity to accumulate reputation points.

Reputation points were more than just a currency; they were his gateway to unlocking incredible abilities and items through the system's lottery pool. The prizes ranged from practical tools to magical abilities, and luck could lead to unimaginable rewards.

For instance, if he were fortunate enough, Ashton could draw the Sun Breathing Technique or Muzan Kibutsuji's perfect demon bloodline. Such prizes could elevate him to an entirely different level of power.

However, he was acutely aware of his current reality. With zero reputation points to his name, it would take time and effort to reach the milestones required for high-level rewards.

The lottery system offered three tiers of draws:

Low-Quality Lottery (10,000 reputation points): Yields common items or abilities from existing works.

Medium-Quality Lottery (100,000 reputation points): Offers more valuable and practical items.

High-Quality Lottery (1 million reputation points): Grants rare, high-impact abilities and items, often game-changing in their utility.

The mall, on the other hand, offered direct exchanges for specific items, but at a steep price—at least ten times the cost of a corresponding lottery draw.

Ashton realized the lottery was the better option unless he was targeting something very specific. With a bit of patience and luck, even a ten-draw streak could yield a miraculous result.

Despite the excitement, Ashton was pragmatic about his current situation. The system displayed his physical fitness as 6—below the standard of 10 for a normal person. This low constitution was likely a result of malnutrition in his previous life.

To improve his health, he needed better nutrition, especially at his growing age. Instant noodles and frozen meals wouldn't cut it anymore.

Unfortunately, his financial situation was dire. The inheritance left by his parents would only sustain him for about two weeks. Within that time, he needed to complete and submit the first three chapters of Demon Slayer.

If he failed, his funds would run out, leaving him in an even worse predicament.

_______

As the city settled into its nighttime routine, Ashton sat at his desk, illuminated by a small lamp. With sketch paper and a pencil in hand, he began his first attempt at recreating Demon Slayer.

His confidence surged—this was a masterpiece, after all. Yet as soon as he started drawing, reality hit hard.

Even with the system's support, Ashton's skills were insufficient to faithfully replicate the original. His painting ability, rated at 3 (slightly good), was barely passable. His storyboarding and plotting skills were worse.

Though he could vividly recall every scene and dialogue from Demon Slayer, translating those memories into polished illustrations was a daunting task.

Frustration built as Ashton stared at his rough sketches—uneven lines and disproportionate figures that fell far short of his expectations.

"It's harder than I thought," he muttered, setting down his pencil with a sigh.

This setback reminded him that the system wasn't a magic wand. While it could offer tools and guidance, the actual work was still his responsibility. Skill improvement would require dedication and persistence.

Despite the challenges, Ashton refused to give up. Demon Slayer was a phenomenal work, and he was determined to do it justice. He resolved to practice tirelessly, refining his skills until he could perfectly capture the essence of the original.

"Greatness doesn't come easy," Ashton thought, his frustration giving way to renewed resolve.

With that, he picked up his pencil again, ready to face the uphill climb toward his goal. This was only the beginning of his journey as a comic creator, and Ashton was determined to see it through.

It was a pity that upgrading skills like painting, plot development, and storyboarding required a significant amount of reputation points.

If Ashton had the points now, he would max out all these skills without hesitation. However, reputation points could only be earned by gaining popularity, and since his work hadn't been released yet, he had no way to accrue them.

It felt like being caught in a frustrating loop: without reputation points, he couldn't improve his skills; without improved skills, he couldn't produce a work that would earn him reputation points quickly.

"It seems I'll have to grind through this stage the hard way," Ashton murmured, glancing out at the sea of lights twinkling in the night. With a faint, bitter smile, he picked up his brush and resumed drawing.

There's an old saying: "If you work hard enough, you can grind an iron rod into an embroidery needle." Although Ashton's skills were lacking now, he resolved to make up for it with time and effort, refining each drawing bit by bit.

The process might be slow, but Ashton wasn't pressed for other obligations beyond school. As a fifth grader, his homework was relatively simple, leaving him plenty of time to focus on his art.

The hardships of the present felt minor compared to the bright future he envisioned for himself. With that mindset, Ashton worked late into the night, determined to bring his dream to life.

______

The Next Morning

"Ding ding ding… ding ding ding…"

The sound of the alarm clock broke through the silence, pulling Ashton from his sleep.

Turning it off with a groggy hand, he glanced at the time: 7:10 AM. Despite staying up late, he had set the alarm to avoid being late for school. In his past life, such discipline was unimaginable, but now, maintaining a healthy routine was part of his plan to improve both his physical fitness and work ethic.

After all, as the saying goes, "Your body is the foundation of success."

In Japan, breakfast was typically prepared at home, and Ashton had begun adapting to this cultural habit. He pulled out some leftover rice from the refrigerator, cracked two eggs, and made a simple but filling portion of fried rice.

Unlike the Japanese custom of shaping rice into onigiri, Ashton preferred his rice loose and fried. The meal was practical, splitting into two portions: one for breakfast and another packed in an insulated lunchbox for school.

He remembered the embarrassment of his first day when Shizuka had kindly shared her rice ball with him. Today, he would ensure he was prepared.

After eating and tidying up the kitchen, Ashton slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and stepped out.

As he passed by Shizuka's house, the door to her yard opened, and a familiar voice called out:

"I'm heading out, Mom!"

"Alright, be careful on the way," her mother replied from inside.

Shizuka stepped out, her twin ponytails swaying, wearing a pink top and a blue skirt. Upon spotting Ashton, she smiled brightly.

"Hey, Ash! Good morning!"

"Good morning, Shizuka," Ashton replied, his mood lifting at her cheerful greeting.

Walking together to school, their conversation flowed easily, especially after the events of the previous day. Ashton's spirits lifted even more when he noticed Shizuka wearing the butterfly hairpin he had gifted her.

They reached the classroom with over ten minutes to spare before the first bell. Some students were already there, occupying themselves with various tasks.

Among them was Dekisugi Hidetoshi, the class's academic star and monitor. Unlike Gian, Suneo, and Nobita—who were either late or barely on time—Dekisugi was always punctual.

Noticing Ashton, Dekisugi offered him a polite nod and a smile. Ashton returned the gesture, appreciating Dekisugi's warmth and friendliness.

Though Dekisugi didn't play a significant role in the original Doraemon series, Ashton couldn't help but respect his impeccable character and intelligence.

Shizuka pulled out her textbook and began reviewing, her focus evident. Ashton, inspired by her diligence, grabbed his own book to skim through. However, after only a few pages, his interest waned.

With a quiet sigh, he set the book aside, his mind wandering to his unfinished drawings. Although his skills weren't where he wanted them to be, Ashton knew that hard work and perseverance would bridge the gap.

This was just the beginning of his journey.