NEET Receives a Dating Sim Game Leveling System
chapter-364

Translator: imperfectluck Editor: vb24

'I don't want to lose…' Tanaka slowly widened his eyes . 'This . . . really seems like it's the case?'

Yes, that was correct .

His feelings were actually just as simple as the young author had said .

'I simply don't want to lose!'

"You're right, Shore Sensei . " He revealed a simple smile that was far different from his earlier complex expression . "I just don't want to lose… I want to be able to draw art for a novel I like . I want this job . I don't want to lose to anyone else, even if that person is the story's author: you!"

Seiji smiled as well .

"I'm happy that Brother Monogatari is a story that you enjoy so much . This story isn't something I wrote by myself . My partner wishes for me to be able to draw for our story . I agreed, which is why it became something I want to do as well . I don't want to lose either, even if I'm not even able to be called an artist yet, even if my opponent is a first-class artist like you, Demon Soldier Sensei . "

The two of them exchanged glances as their wills clashed in midair .

"Let's begin . "

"Yep . "

Tanaka and Seiji both brought out their drawings and placed them on the table in front of each other .

Seiji picked up Demon Soldier Sensei's drawing and began looking at it closely .

'Amazing!'

That was his first impression .

Demon Soldier Sensei's drawing was of the male lead fighting with weapons against the main antagonist . The drawing was done quite well, and seemed to be quite spirited .

The drawing did an especially good job of showing the antagonist's vicious expression after she revealed her true self . Half of her face was a scary demon, and the other half was still a beautiful human female . This contrast between the two halves of her face gave such a visual impact that it would leave anyone a deep impression .

The story's description of the antagonist's true appearance wasn't exactly like this, but drawing her like this was within the bounds of creative liberty . And, this definitely had a nice effect .

Seiji even took inspiration from this drawing and wondered if he should modify the physical description of the antagonist in the story .

This was the power of a first-rate light novel artist's ability!

Not only did he draw a drawing that matched the story's scene, it even surpassed the author's imagination and influenced the author .

Apart from the antagonist, the male lead's expression was done excellently as well . Seiji was able to detect a strong fighting will from the male lead's eyes, and the runes on his face seemed quite cool as well .

The actions, clothing, weapons, and shading… Seiji carefully inspected it all .

Meanwhile, Tanaka was also going over Shore Sensei's drawing in detail .

It was so exquisite!

That was Tanaka's first awed impression .

What Shore Sensei drew was the battle between the male lead and the antagonist right before it was about to begin . There was a tense sensation as if things were about to explode .

The characters, the clothing, the weapons, the shadows, the shading… everything was exquisite and obviously drawn at a higher level compared to him!

With greater focus on details, that would give anyone a better first impression . Basically, the "quality" would appear higher, or it could also be described as the "completion rate" being higher .

Tanaka was also capable of drawing to such a detailed extent, but he didn't have enough time .

Basically, the other party's drawing speed was much quicker than his!

He lost at speed… and detail . It felt as if he had been forcefully punched, being suppressed by the difference in ability .

'Then, what about the content?'

Tanaka looked at the three characters within the drawing .

The male lead who had just drawn his weapon, the antagonist who had transformed into a demon, and the female lead who was observing from a corner .

'He actually drew the female lead as an observer as well!?'

When Tanaka first saw this, he felt that it was a minus . However, when he looked at it in more detail, he changed his mind .

The female lead was in the shadows, and not noticeable at first glance . The viewer would definitely first pay attention to the male lead and the antagonist . Only by looking closer would the viewer discover the girl in the shadows .

The female lead was the narrator of the novel, as well as the story's biggest mystery . For anyone who hadn't finished the story yet, they would only think that this girl was an observer in the background .

But if the reader carefully looked at her, or looked at this insert art again after finishing the novel, then the reader would feel like something was slightly abnormal .

Her expression while observing seemed a little strange . It was like she was concerned about the male lead, while also seeming like she was wearing a mask . The look in her eyes was deep, and it seemed like she was smiling yet not smiling . It was abnormal and mysterious .

This feeling matched the entire atmosphere of the story, and improved the overall feeling of immersion from looking at this drawing . This wasn't only a battle between the male lead and the antagonist, and contained something else… which permeated throughout the whole novel yet was indescribable .

Tanaka could only exclaim in respect at this drawing .

As expected of the story's author… This was an excellent insert art for the novel that only the story's author would be able to draw .

"It's my loss . " Tanaka came to this conclusion after making a detailed comparison of his own drawing with Seiji's .

He put Seiji's drawing back down on the table in front of him .

"It's your victory, Shore Sensei… As per our agreement, I'll give up on this job . "

"Thank you, Demon Soldier Sensei . "

Seiji also returned Tanaka's drawing to him .

"Don't say thank you… I truly admit that I've lost this competition . " Tanaka took back his drawing and glanced at it before he made a move to rip it up .

"Wait!" Seiji stopped him from doing so . "This is a great drawing . Demon Soldier Sensei, if you don't want it anymore, could you give it to me?"

Tanaka was astonished by this .

"Why… would you want…"

"Like I said, this is a great drawing, and I really like it," Seiji said sincerely . "Sensei, the way you drew the antagonist was even better than I imagined . I'm even thinking about changing the story's description based on the way that Sensei drew her . "

Tanaka blinked at this, before revealing a faint smile .

"I see… in that case, this drawing of mine won't have been completely wasted .

He looked over once more at his own drawing before handing it to Seiji .

"Thank you . " Seiji showed his gratitude as he took the drawing .

Tanaka took a sip of his black coffee that had gone cold already and felt its bitterness before looking back at the boy across from him .

"Shore Sensei, I'd like to ask, how old are you right now?"

"I'm sixteen," Seiji answered .

"Sixteen… You're a high school student . " Tanaka sighed . "Amazing . You're probably only in your first or second year of high school, and can write such an incredible story already, as well as draw so well… this must be a so-called genius . I'm currently twenty-two years old and started drawing seriously since middle school . In high school, I began to submit manga drafts and received an award when I was in my third year of high school . After that, I've never made any progress… in fact, you could even say I've gone backwards .

"I saw the limits of my own ability… Although I really didn't want to believe that these were my limits, they indeed existed, like an insurmountably high wall .

"I once believed that I was talented .

"But that was only a mistaken impression of mine . The moment that I had believed myself to be talented was actually the very moment that I reached my limits .

"I'm only an ordinary person… true geniuses are people like you, Shore Sensei .

"You can write a good story, and draw well as well . If you make publishing a manga as your goal, you'd surely be able to succeed in short time, and receive a serial publication .

"And as for me… how much long will I still struggle? Will I be able to succeed? Should I just give up on… my so-called dreams?"

Tanaka collapsed somewhat listlessly against his chair with a vacant gaze .

He wasn't actually saying all this to Seiji . Instead, he was talking out loud to himself .

As an artist and attempted author who had met with multiple failures, he was expressing his own confusion . He didn't care who the listener was .

"Dreams: a beautiful yet cruel word," Seiji said calmly, fixing his stare on Tanaka . "If you really don't want any more pain, then give up now . "