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Published In:
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| Publication Date: July 27, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Manga Summaries
Volume 16
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| Chapters Originally Published in: | |
| Shonen Sunday 2022 Vol. 35 - 45 |
Chapter
149: 邂逅
Kaikou
(Surprise Reunion)
Mao is stunned to see Daigo alive once more and slowly starts to approach the earth-user as he stands before his towering golem. Mao calls out to Daigo as he approaches, but the white-haired man gives no response. Just as Mao is about to reach him a bolt of lightning strikes the ground. Mao looks skyward and sees Byoki hovering high above. The cat comments that even Mao cannot bring Daigo out of his catatonic state. Byoki explains that despite him completing Daigo's body he still seems to be missing something. The cat explains that he found Daigo's hand hidden in Nanoka's era in the hole beneath the shopping street gate where her parents died in the sink hole. Suddenly Hakubi tears apart Daigo's golem with his metal tendrils as Mao turns on the solider to protect his old friend. Suddenly a blast from Byoki lands at Mao's feet allowing Hakubi to ensnare Daigo. Nanoka rushes in to try to cut him free with Akanemaru but cannot pierce Hakubi's metal. However as she attacks the earthen bell given to her by Natsuno chimes and Daigo makes a subtle reaction. Suddenly the metal wrapped around him appears earthen to Nanoka but before she can slice it once more a bolt of lightning from Byoki interrupts her swing. With that Hakubi is able to regain control of his spell, the earth fades from the metal ensnarement and Daigo is whisked into the air by Hakubi. Mao and Nanoka are left wondering if Byoki has now aligned himself with Hakubi as Daigo is spirited away.
Chapter
150: 猫鬼の企み
Byoki no takurami
(Byoki's Scheme)
Hakubi thinks back on his connection with Daigo. He knew he came from an orphanage, as did Mao, and suspected that because he had no family ties he would wish to rise within the ranks of the Goko clan. Because of his skill Hakubi was certain that Daigo was the earth user that was brought to the Five-Sided Temple. Hakubi made plans to assassinate Daigo, but before he could Daigo died. Back in the wrecked village Shiro digs his way out from beneath the collapsed house where he and Daigo had been held captive. As soon as Shiro and Shizuko reunite however her father and the other villagers try to part them once again. Watching from afar Nanoka realizes that Daigo must have seen the similarities between Shiro and Shizuko and his relationship with Sana long, long ago. As the villagers try to part the two lovers Mao intervenes, making up a story that they have been cursed by Byoki and that his sacred ashes will take seven years and seven months to purify them. He explains that during that time they must live away from the rest of the village or risk spreading the alleged curse. Mao is left to silently muse about all the trouble Byoki went through to retrieve Daigo's arm and resurrect him only to put up no fight when Hakubi captured him. He realizes all of this must be part of Byoki's plan. Hakubi returns to Yurako's home and tells her that he has killed Daigo according to her wishes. She presses him for evidence and he removes Daigo's decapitated head from a box and presents it to her. Satisfied with Hakubi's demonstration the solider departs and meets with his protege, Soma, who waits outside with his beast. Soma is trembling and confesses that Daigo was the first man he has ever killed. He asks Hakubi why he could not have had his beast do it and Hakubi explains that Daigo would have counterattacked the creature's demonic energy. Hakubi steps inside and thinks to himself that only those who were summoned to the Five-Sided Temple can kill one another. He stares at Daigo's headless corpse as he ponders his plan. By having Soma kill Daigo, his death will not be permanent. He places Hakubi's head back on his body and the wounds knit back together as Daigo awakens in his entranced state once again. Byoki whispers from the darkness that time stopped for those who were told to kill Mao all those centuries ago, but if Daigo's soul returns to his body all of the ageless individuals will start to age once again should Hakubi so desire.
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| Publication Date: August 3, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
151: 尋ね人
Tazune bito
(Missing Person)
In a neighborhood home a couple finds a small fire and comments on the rising number of arsons. Elsewhere Mao updates Hyakka on what is happening with the newly alive Daigo. Hyakka is shocked to hear it, and he and Mao begin to wonder about Natsuno's recovery of the missing arm and who was directing her. Nanoka points out that it surely was not Daigo, as he seemed almost comatose and unable to direct anyone. The trio begin to wonder if it was Byoki that was directing Natsuno instead. Later at the Milk Hall Nanoka watches as a married couple speak with Tenko and ask if they can post a sign. After they depart Nanoka comes over to examine their posting as Tenko explains that they are looking for their missing child who would be nine years old now. The child disappeared in the earthquake that happened the previous year. Hyakka bluntly says they should give up hope. Later Mao tells Nanoka about the mysterious fires that have been set in the neighborhood. Mao and Nanoka speak with a floating spirit lantern that reports that whoever is committing the arsons seems to be invisible. Nanoka then suggests that perhaps a member of the fire brigade is responsible if no one has noticed anything. Elsewhere in a restaurant a rough looking man tells a little girl named Hazuki to eat up, explaining that they have earned good money today. When the girl addresses the man, he insists she start calling him "dad" prompting her to ask if her parents really did die in the earthquake. He tells her that they did, that the fires that followed in the wake of the earthquake killed them. Hazuki thinks back to the day of the earthquake, remembering her mother taking her outside and telling her to wait right there while she went to put out the fire. However the rough looking man passed by, grabbing Hazuki's hand and telling her it was dangerous to stay there and that her mother would follow soon. He explains that he later went to check on Hazuki's home and found it completely burned down. Hazuki thinks to herself that it was only recently that she realized the man who now cares for her is the same man that took her away from home that day. Mao, Nanoka and Otoya begin to investigate the fires as Mao explains that he suspects it is no ordinary arsonist. Hyakka arrives, suggesting something is amiss as well and joining Mao and Nanoka in their investigation. Hyakka explains that his sparrows could smell an unusual fire in the area and almost immediately they hear people nearby yelling for help putting out a fire. However the sparrows lead the group into a nearby home where they find the kidnapper and Hazuki. The man is rifling through drawers, stealing things as the locals are focused on the fire outside. Nanoka immediately realizes this little girl could be the missing child she heard about at the Milk Hall. Startled by being discovered the kidnapper tells Hazuki to attack and flames begin to flare up around her.
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| Publication Date: August 17, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
152: 羽月
Hazuki
(Hazuki)
The burgler graps Hazuki after she shows off her fire abilities and tells her they need to flee. Mao uses his Genbu katashiro to extinguish the fire set by Hazuki before they chase after her. Seemingly putting enough distance between their pursuers, the burgler and Hazuki stop behind a wall as the man wonders if Mao and Hyakka have some connection with the people who paid him to kidnap Hazuki. Suddenly masked men wearing white robes appear and beat the man up before taking Hazuki from him. When Hyakka, Mao, Nanoka and Otoya catch up they wake the man and force him to explain who Hazuki is to him. He reveals that she saved him from a dog that was chasing him after he stole some goods by using her fire abilities to shoo away the dog. Hazuki asked him not to tell anyone about her abilities, but one evening he got drunk at a bar and revealed what happened. An old woman overheard the burgler and told him that she would pay him however much money he wanted if he would kidnap Hazuki for her. When the earthquake struck the burgler lured Hazuki away, but the devastation was so severe he could not reconnect with the old woman who promised him a reward. Now he begs Mao and the others to rescue Hazuki from the people who stole her away. When pressed he remembers that the old woman said she was a member of the Otori family. Nanoka and Mao instantly realize that was Hyakka's old clan prior to his being brought into the Goko clan. Elsewhere at the Otori estate the masked men ask Hazuki for forgiveness, admitting they lied to her and told her that her parents were still alive in order to have her come with them. Hazuki begins to cry until the elderly woman who commissioned Hazuki's kidnapping appears. Hazuki thinks of her parents and how they told her not to use her firely powers. She begins to realize her family must be a part of the Otori clan. Meanwhile Nanoka checks her phone, showing Mao and Hyakka a photo she took of the poster the family put up in the Milk Hall. She confirms that Hazuki is indeed named "Hazuki Otori". Removing their masks the men sit and talk with the elderly woman, saying that they tried to upset Hazuki to make her use her fire abilities, but she seemed to remain in control. The old woman wonders if she should upset Hazuki to bring out her abilities or try to make her happy.
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| Publication Date: August 24, 2022 | |
| Pages: 1 (full color) 17 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
153: 鳳家の祈祷所
Otori-ke no kitoujo
(The Otori Clan's Prayer Hall)
A man comes to speak with the old woman who everyone addresses as "princess". He shows her a photograph of his business rival and she takes a burning flame to the photo, explaining she will burn away his fortune with the fires of hell. However she blows a few embers onto the man as well explaining that he too is now linked to the fires of hell. The man stumbles out into the street and is immediately spotted by Hyakka, Mao and Nanoka. Hyakka can see the sparks that surround him and Mao asks if he was trying to purchase a curse at the prayer hall, startling the man. Hykka tells the man he has been cursed and with a swipe of his hand removes the sparks that flutter around him. Stunned the man flees as Hyakka is left to wonder if his clan has survived all these generations and is continuing to curse people. Inside the old woman speaks with Hazuki who recounts losing her parents in the earthquake and being taken in by her "uncle". She admits that she is frightened that she might go to jail for helping him steal, but the old woman tells her she is a treasure of the Otori clan and they will protect her. The old woman asks her assistants what they did with Hazuki's kidnapper, asking them if they sprinkled the sparks on him as she had done to the other man who sought a curse. She mumbles that he would make an ideal sacrifice when suddenly Mao, Nanoka and Hyakka barge in following after his fluttering fire swallows that he uses to track Hazuki. Hyakka explains that there are fire spirits all over this prayer hall making it difficult to single out Hazuki. Suddenly the birds flutter in front of a door and when opened it reveals the opening a huge tank of water. A human-faced winged creature bursts out of the water with fire flickering in its mouth. They realize that the creature is being kept in the aquarium to keep it sealed. Suddenly the elderly princess and her servants arrive to see what has happened. Hyakka turns to them, telling them this place is too dangerous to keep a child. When Hyakka hears the underlings call the old woman princess he realizes she must be the one in charge of the Otori family. When he asks she immediately recognizes him as the man who inherited all of the secrets of the Otori clan.
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| Publication Date: June 8, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
154: おじさん
Ojisan
(Uncle)
Hyakka demands that the old woman explain what is going on. She tells her attendants to step back as she tells Hyakka, Mao and Nanoka that she inherited all of this from the Otori clan- the hellfire she commands and the shikigami that she has imprisoned. With a puff of air from her lips, she blows her candle, filling the room with flames before sealing the door shut with Hyakka, Mao and Nanoka locked inside. The attendants ask their princess if she is sure that she should burn them all to death, and she responds that she believes they are there to claim Hazuki which she cannot allow. Elsewhere in the estate Hazuki is threatening a woman with her flames, asking for her clothes back so that she can leave. The woman is stunned that Hazuki does not like the kimono she was given, but she explains her outfit was made by the man who has taken her in. Suddenly she hears his voice calling for her and in the hallway there is a commotion as the burgler pushes his way inside calling for the little girl. Hazuki is excited to see the man who has been her caretaker, but soon the old woman arrives and says that the burgler must have come to collect his money. The princess explains that she hired the man to find Hazuki for the Otori clan. The burgler is then captured and badly beaten as the old woman explains to Hazuki that she has been searching for the next successor of the Otori clan. She says that she offered the man any sum to bring Hazuki to her and that after the earthquake she claims to have seen the man speaking with Hazuki's parents at the ruins of her home. The man is stunned, as he visited the ruins of Hazuki's home but claims never to have seen her parents and sincerely believed them to have died. The old woman tells Hazuki that she watched the burgler pick up rubble from their house and smash them in the head, beating them to death so he could keep Hazuki for himself. The burgler tries to speak to tell Hazuki this is a lie, but sparks fly from his mouth, silencing him at the command of the old woman. Suddenly Hazuki flies into a rage and the temperature in the room rises dramatically. Hazuki demands to know if this is true, but the burgler can not answer to tell her the old woman is lying. The princess watches with a smile, willing Hazuki to murder the man who has become her caretaker as flames begin to erupt around the raging child.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: September 7, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
155: 朱雀石
Suzaku ishi
(The Suzaku Stone)
The old woman thinks to herself about the history of the Suzaku Stone, a precious artifact that has been in the Otori clan for generations. The stone has been kept burning for hundreds of years and it is said to lend power to whomever controls the stone and depending on the will of the user it can summon the fires of salvation or the flames of hell. As she watches Hazuki summon the fires of her rage she knows that a cursed heart is all the better suited for the Suzaku Stone and hopes to make Hazuki incinerate the burgler who has been caring for her. Hyakka steps between Hazuki and the burgler, quelling her fire with a gesture of his hand. Everyone is shocked to see that he did not die in the shikigami's chamber. When he presses Hazuki about why she would murder this man they learn that she was told he had killed her parents. Nanoka tries to tell her this is not true, that she met her mother and they are still searching for her, but Hazuki has been mislead so many times she does not believe Nanoka. The burgler tries to speak but cannot and Mao examines his mouth and realizes he has been cursed. Hyakka easily breaks the curse, allowing the burgler to tell Hazuki he did not hurt her parents. The princess is stunned to see Hyakka's power that allows him to so easily counter her curses and asks who he is while one of her underlings threatens him with the fires of hell. Hyakka nonchalantly asks if he means the fires of the Suzaku Stone, stunning everyone that he would be aware of such a secret. Hyakka says the stone was in his home since his childhood and that he is very familiar with it. The princess asks Hyakka if his father or grandfather taught him the ways of the Otori clan due to his apparent youthfulness. The old woman explains that the princess was chosen from the Otori family each generation, and soon distant relatives arrived, hoping to inherit the title. She explains that her father had married into the family line and as a child the old woman was tasked with taking care of the princess of her generation. When the previous princess died, the new princess ascended to become the head of the family, and the old woman was her assistant. She recalls her using Suzaku to stop of a raging forest fire, and while everyone felt blessed by the princess, she eventually fell ill and died, leaving the Suzaku Stone to her assistant, the old woman who is now called "princess". The old woman has served as "princess" for fifty years now and knows it is time to begin training her replacement, who she hopes will be Hazuki. Mao suddenly speaks up, telling the old woman that according to her stories the previous princess was a kind and helpful person before pointing out that she has used the power of the Suzaku Stone to curse others and try to force Hazuki to murder the man who was caring for her. Hyakka too asks how the Otori clan had descended under her leadership to being curse-sellers. The old woman simply smiles.
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| Publication Date: September 14, 2022 | |
| Pages: 1 (full color) 17 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
156: 代替わり
Daigawari
(Taking Over)
The old woman relates the story of her history, revealing her name is Sue, and recalling when her father showed her an elaborate document establishing that they were indeed a part of the Otori clan. She did not have much hope initially, revealing that her father was severely burned in his training. She was fortunate that she had an aptitude for wielding fire and was soon placed as an aid to the princess. It was in her life with the princess that she learned secret techniques and about artifacts that belonged to the Otori clan. Hyakka interrupts her, demanding again to know how the Otori clan descending into selling curse services during the old woman's time as princess. She reveals that in her conversations with the prior princess she was told that the Otori family already cursed others, that though she was only aware of the good things her own family did, she assumed there were others employed in cursing. Sue believed that the men that mocked her father who burned himself during his training must have been from the curse casting side of the clan. She reveals that as she got older others mocked her homely appearance. Nanoka asks if she drove the Otori clan towards cursing due to a grudge against these associates of the prior generation, but the old woman says no. She explains that their ridicule drove her to hone her talents until she herself took over the role of princess of the Otori's cursed lineage. Hyakka silently ponders that his seven elder brothers all founded their own branches of the Otori clan. It comes to reason some of those branches must have made their living through cursing others which eventually became the line that the old woman speaks of. Hazuki speaks up, demanding to know why she the old woman lied to her and tried to make her kill the man who has taken care of her. The old woman tells her that if she gives in to her anger and hatred her training would progress faster just as it did for her when she took all of the vitriol and used it to become a master fire-user. Suddenly men burst in, warning that the shikigami, Hikuidori, has escaped its enclosure and gone on a rampage. The shikigami begins to attack, blowing fire from its mouth. Sue steps forward using her techniques to make a shield to block the shikigami's flames. Hyakka, Mao and Nanoka quickly realize that the shikigami is attacking the old woman, meaning she is not the one that is its master. Otoya explains that no shikigami could ever attack its master. They soon realize that Hikuidori was chained and sealed because it was the shikigami of the previous princess and does not belong to Sue. Otoya explains that typically shikigami die when their master dies, prompting a burst of sadness from Nanoka upon realizing what will happen to Otoya when Mao passes. However Hyakka reveals that a shikigami can be passed to another, though it certainly does not seem that the previous princess gave Sue her Hikuidori. Mao says that leaves only one possibility, that the final command of the previous princess was a curse. Sue reveals that Hikuidori was told not to disappear until it had burned up all of the previous princess' enemies. The old woman reveals that she killed the previous princess, and she did not have to curse her to death either, she slipped her a simple poison and because she was such a trusted attendant the princess took the poison without suspecting anything. As she lay dieing Sue revealed that she believed she could make the Otori clan rich and powerful through pushing them to sell curses as their new princess. With the princess dying on the floor she turned her attention to the Suzaku Stone and the power that it contained.
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| Publication Date: September 21, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
157: 先代の呪い
Sendai no noroi
(The Predecessor's Curse)
Sue reveals that she convinced everyone that a curse had killed the princess who had asked her to take over the leadership of the Otori clan. Sue had planned to use the Suzaku Stone to burn to death any that might suspect her as the murderer of the previous princess, however she said it never came to that. When Hyakka doubts that anyone could truly not have been suspicious Sue explains that Hikuidori played a part in their belief. The firebird raged out of control following the previous princess' death and Sue realized it must have been commanded to murder her for her treachery. Using the Suzaku Stone, Sue was able to subdue the bird and everyone accepted that she should become the new princess due to her clear mastery, which she learned by having watched the princess wield the stone for years. Suddenly the kidnapper tries to attack Sue, but he is so badly beaten already that he is easily pulled off of her and kicked and stomped. He had hoped Hazuki would use this as an opportunity to escape, but the little girl tries to come to his aid. Suddenly the firebird shikigami begins to burn even brighter prompting Sue to try to bring it down with a ball of wrapped paper talismen. Hikuidori continues to blaze away, clearly overwhelming the elderly princess. In a moment of shock, Hazuki shouts for the bird to stop, fearful that it will burn everyone to death. Holding her hands up, flames erupt, destroying the shikigami and saving everyone. Hyakka shielded everyone from the worst of the firestorm, but Sue's arm has been burned off in the battle after Hyakka's barrier could not save her. The ball of paper spells falls and reveals the badly deteriorated Suzaku Stone.
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| Publication Date: September 28, 2022 | |
| Pages: 19 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
158: 末裔
Matsuei
(Descendant)
Hyakka picks up the Suzaku Stone, much reduced and shrunken from his memories of it. He explains that it was the duty of the Otori clan to keep the stone kindled and restored, but Sue has used it until it has worn away into a shell of its former glory. Sue admits to using the stone's hellfire to burn away anyone that she thought was a threat to her over the years since she assumed leadership. However, as time passed the stone began to shrink and her emulation of the previous princess' prayers over the stone came to naught. She explains that she believes the stone has wittled away because the curses she cast were incompatible with the stone. She further explains that one of the ancestors of the Otori clan had joined the Goko clan and begun the curse weilding tradition. She explains that man was Hyakka, and she is his descendant. Hyakka, Nanoka and Mao all look unimpressed with this revelation, clearly doubting the possibility of it. The other Otori clan members all start to realize that Hazuki has done something Sue could not in over fifty years- quell the raging shikigami. Hazuki comes running over to Nanoka, asking her if her parents are really alive, however the other clan members begin to demand that she stay there and lead the clan. Hyakka then curses them using the hellfire of the Suzaku Stone to kill anyone that ever approaches Hazuki again. Hyakka used up the last vestiges of the Suzaku Stone to curse the Otori clan members and then tells Sue that Hyakka, the man she claims to be a descendant of, died long ago in a fight over the succession of the Goko Clan. Hyakka tells Sue that Hyakka died a young man with no heirs, he made no clan of his own and that her belief in her descent from him was obviously false. She is crushed to realize she had no claim to the Otori family as she believed. Hazuki tells her kidnapper farewell, telling him not to get into trouble as Mao states he'll be caught for his crimes eventually if he continues to burglarize houses. Later at the Milk Hall Hazuki reunites with her mother and father. Her father explains to Mao that until the Meiji era the Otori clan had been involved in fortune telling, but he himself is a humble office worker. Hyakka tells Hazuki to keep her fire powers a secret to ensure she is not kidnapped again. As they leave Nanoka asks Hyakka why he will not tell the family he is a distant relative of theirs but he explains that if he had any connection with them it would put Hazuki in continued danger.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: October 5, 2022 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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