Is this mangaka crazy?

Wow, he asked a crucial question right at the beginning.

He directly asked Ren if he had thought that "Edgerunners" would have a tragic ending from the start.

This question touched a point that all "Edgerunners" fans were curious about, and it was not easy to answer.

No matter what Ren answered, it would undoubtedly generate discussion among fans.

"Hey, this host is really special for asking such a question!"

Fans were very satisfied that the host could ask such a question. They thought this interview was just a boring pre-book signing show.

But now it seems some are interesting.

In fact, in this event interview, all the questions, including the one the host just asked, were informed to Ren and Ayumi in advance.

So Ren and Ayumi were not very surprised.

They knew the questions for a long time and prepared the answers in advance.

But the fans didn't know that.

Everyone present was curious about what Ren would say.

Ren took the microphone, but first...

"Hello, hello, hello! Can you hear me?"

The voice spread through the speaker, something particularly evident in this place.

Everyone, including the host, had wrinkles on their faces. 'Can't he hear his own words?' Sakura, in the audience, also put her hand to her forehead helplessly. 'Ren... While it's true that the examination report clearly indicated he wasn't mentally normal,'

'this is in public... Can't he be a little normal?'

Ren himself is also very strange. In fact, it's not normal to say he's not mentally normal.

But he's not like common mental patients. He doesn't bother people all the time.

Only some occasional behavior leaves those present stunned.

In short, Ren is intermittent, and most of the time he is still a normal person.

"Ahem, Amamiya-sensei, there's no problem with our microphone."

The host couldn't stand it anymore and asked.

'The main interview couldn't be delayed too long. The most important thing about this signing event is the signing session.'

"Really...?"

Ren cleared his throat and said: "Yes, in fact, Edgerunners was destined to have a tragic ending from the beginning."

Suddenly, the entire audience erupted in an uproar.

"Because in the cyberpunk world, all tragedies are destined. People are born to be exploited, but in the cyberpunk world, humans will be exploited even more."

"Even if David didn't choose to become a cyberpunk, even if he finally graduated from Arasaka Academy and joined Arasaka Corporation."

"His fate wouldn't be much better; it would be even more miserable."

At Arasaka Corporation, he would also have to work 16 hours a day, 365 days a year, with various incentives to maintain his account, no more than 5 days of vacation a year, and he would have to take out loans to buy prosthetics and medical insurance for the Trauma Team to protect himself.

In this state, he doesn't have much time left to live. Even if there are no other accidents, not to mention that accidents can happen at any time in Night City. There are many people like Gloria who easily get involved in terrorist fights and lose their lives.

In this environment, individual tragedy is already doomed.

Even if David and Lucy defeat Adam Smasher, facing the power of Arasaka Corporation worldwide, where could they escape?

So, why not let David cause a big commotion at Arasaka Tower in exchange for Lucy's survival and become an indelible legend in Night City?

After Ren finished speaking, it immediately sparked deep reflection among the fans present.

Yes, in such a desperate world, where could David and Lucy escape?

Even if they escape, they will only be left in the lurch.

It's better to do it with energy and leave behind a glorious and great legend before dying.

"Alright, thank you, sensei, for your answer."

The host quickly said: "It's a truly impactful creative concept. Perhaps that's why "Edgerunners" is so beloved by so many manga fans."

"Now, I'd like to ask the editor in charge, Ayumi."

He looked at Ayumi again and said: "You are Silverhand's editor in charge and of "Edgerunners", so what did you feel when you first saw "Edgerunners"?"

"When I saw "Edgerunners", I thought... the setting was very unusual and bold, and the plot was also very good."

Ayumi replied proudly: "...so I chose it."

"Alright, thank you to the editor in charge, Ayumi, for your speech."

The host looked back at Ren and asked: "Amamiya-sensei, as we all know, in "Edgerunners" there is a setting called cyberpsychosis."

"I also saw your text interview, where you explained that cyberpsychosis not only causes nerve erosion caused by prosthetics, but also pressure from the outside world. Sensei, could you tell me more about the context of cyberpsychosis?"

"Cyberpsychosis..." Ren pondered for a moment and said: "As I said before, the cyberpunk worldview in Edgerunners has created a deformed social environment that exerts great pressure on those living in that society. Especially in Night City, almost everyone suffers from anxiety, depression, and mania. And prosthetic transformation has aggravated their unstable mental state. And why is the probability of suffering cyberpsychosis higher the more they undergo prosthetic transformation? Not even David and Maine are immune. This is because prosthetic transformation blurs the boundaries of biology, human cognition of the body, and self-awareness."

"For example, if you have leg prosthetics, you won't feel tired when running. If you have lung prosthetics, you won't feel shortness of breath anymore."

"Prosthetic transformation leads to the disintegration of the original body, so you can no longer feel your existence as a human being. Everything in your body can be replaced. Gradually, even your own existence and your soul become blurry and numb."

"Naturally, in this situation, human consciousness will fall into an endless abyss, and people will no longer be able to distinguish between reality and illusion, and will become cyber-lunatics."

Everyone listened to Ren's reasonable observations and reflected: cyberpsychosis is indeed like that.

Otherwise, it's impossible to explain why even a unique existence like David will eventually become a cyber-lunatic as the degree of prosthetic transformation increases.

"So cyberpsychosis is actually a mental illness. The reason Lucy can bring David's consciousness back is because the relationship between them is very deep. Human emotions are the anchor that maintains the existence of the human soul, so..." Ren paused—. "Love is the most advanced immunosuppressant."

- - - - -

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