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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 15, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Manga Summaries
Volume 19
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| Chapters Originally Published in: | |
| Shonen Sunday 2023 Vol. 16 - 26 |
Chapter
179: 水流
Suiryu
(Water Current)
Mao tells Nanoka not to go, but she dashes off, telling Mao with some uncertainty that her earth can counter Sasuga's water abilities. The villagers are enraged at Mao, telling him that because he interrupted their sacrifice of Sachiko it has upset the water god who they believe is now attacking their village. Sasuga is surprised to see Nanoka as he and Mizuchi hover on bubbles amid the chaos of the errupting fissures in the village. Nanoka confronts Sasuga, asking why he is still there. He explains he had pretended to leave so he could work on destroying the village without being disturbed as he fears being fired from the Goko Clan if he does not complete his mission. Otoya catches up with Nanoka, warning her that Sasuga is redirecting the flow of the water veins beneath the village. Nanoka immediately realizes that in order to beat Sasuga she is going to have to destroy his conch shell. When she attacks he easily dodges, and then counters with a blast of water that smothers Nanoka. Sasuga is upset at having to drown Nanoka and tells Mizuchi they can leave now. Meanwhile Mao is trying to protect Sachiko from the mob who are demanding her blood to placate the destruction. Mao tells Sachiko he cannot let her die, he promised her father that he would protect her. Sasuga floats over on a bubble telling the villagers that they lied to him about merely having a ceremonial sacrifice rather than a real one. Because of their lies he says he feels no guilt in killing them all. With that he toots his conch shell and a huge water tornado forms in the village. Mao realizes that if Sasuga is here that means something has happened to Nanoka.
Chapter
180: 断罪
Danzai
(Condemnation)
Otoya finds Nanoka unconcious after her confrontation with Sasuga. The young water user flies up to finish off the villagers as Mao stands guard over them. Sasuga scolds the villagers, telling them their human sacrifices are idiotic, and explaining that he is the one that has stolen their water as retribution for their backwards ways. When the villagers tell Sasuga he can not take their water from them he shapes it into a dragon and crashes it into the villagers in an attempt to drown them. Mao dives into the water to try to save the villagers as Nanoka wakes up and runs back to confront Sasuga. Nanoka stares at the tornado of water turns into mid-air vortexes and suddenly Genbu appears from within and spits out the villagers who were held safely in the great turtle's maw. Mao and Nanoka are both relieved to see that one another are safe as they watch the village's water supply fly off into the distance thanks to Sasuga. Mao laments that all he could do was to save the villagers, but they have lost their water. Sasuga is unmoved, saying he would not have killed all of them but cannot believe Mao saved the villagers who were willing to make a human sacrifice. Mao tells Sasuga to leave everyone alone now, he has destroyed their village as karma for their behavior, but Sasuga asks Sachiko if she wants him to kill them all for trying to sacrifice her.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 22, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
181: 選んだ道
Eranda michi
(The Chosen Path)
Sasuga asks Sachiko what he should do with the villagers who tried to kill her. She asks if her father is indeed dead, and Mao explains that he took his own life. Sachiko blames herself, saying that her father could not escape and gave his life to try to enable her to escape from the village. Sachiko says she does not wish to see anyone die, but she can never forget what has happened here. Mao tells the villagers to leave before Sachiko changes her mind. It is explained that the water will never return to the village thanks to Sasuga and so the villagers should leave and start anew elsewhere. Ultimately they tell the villagers that Sasuga was sent because their human sacrifices displeased the gods who want them to stop. This makes the villagers ask for forgiveness before they run away. Mao is curious about Sasuga who seems to want to do what is right for Sachiko while at the same time trying to murder all of the villagers. Sasuga tells Sachiko to come with him, but Nanoka interjects, telling him it is ridiculous to think he can take Sachiko with him back to the Goko Clan. Mao makes the same offer to take Sachiko down from the remote mountain village and she agrees nearly admitting that it is Mao's handsome face that convinced her much to Sasuga's devastation. Mao admits to Nanoka that Sasuga is a genius and knows how to use his art a level beyond anyone he has encountered. He tells Nanoka that she attacked Sasuga without hesitation because she did not assess how deadly he was before engaging with him and that she has to be more careful. Mao and Nanoka leave Sachiko in Tenko's care, hoping that she can help the girl settle in to a new life. Elsewhere Kamon is meeting with Natsuno who is telling him of reports of a flock of creatures seen over the skies of Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park late at night. Natsuno explains that it feels like something dangerous and so she wanted Kamon to accompany her. When he asks why she is asking him she explains that Mao is away in the mountains and she has no other options. Kamon says this sounds like Yurako, who Natsuno had wanted to meet, he is wondering why she is being so cautious if she had hoped to speak with her.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 29, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
182: 不忍池
Shinobazu no ike
(Shinobazu Pond)
Nanoka, Mao and Otoya all visit Shinobazu Pond, and Nanoka comments how different Ueno Park is in the 1920s versus the modern era. Otoya explains that the huts that fill the park are temporary shelters to house those displaced by the earthquake. Mao explains that even though it has been a year since the earthquake there are still some people living in the park due to it being spared from the fires that broke out in the aftermath, however many have moved on to other homes. They overhear some of the residents of the park discussing the strange creatures that have appeared at night. Nanoka is surprised that something would happen in front of so many witnesses and asks Mao if he believes Yurako is connected to the alleged ayakashi sightings. Mao and Nanoka meet-up with Kamon and Natsuno as they investigate the sightings. Suddenly the creatures appear and Mao feels a pang run through the scars on his back. Both Mao and Nanoka's eyes become cat-like and they pursue the fleeing creatures. Kamon comments that the ominous presence is even heavier than what he felt Yurako produce in Shiranui's undersea palace. They chase the creatures to a dilapidated room and are startled to find Byoki waiting for them. Kamon is stunned to see Haimaru, the cat he remembers as belonging to Sana. Byoki reveals that it was not Mao he hoped the ayakashi would draw in but Natsuno. Byoki reveals that Natsuno did not travel to the Five-Sided Temple, that she was too ill to have been able to go there. He asks her if she knows why she continues to live and she admits she made a pact with a clay doll. Mao asks Byoki if the clay doll was created by Daigo, an earthen user who was having her collect his missing body parts. Byoki explains that the clay doll responds to Daigo's desires, but the one that extended Natsuno's life was Byoki. Byoki reveals he used the Taizanfukun technique to sustain Natsuno's life before hinting that to give her life he used the life of someone close to them all.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 5, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
183: 命の出処
Inochi no shussho
(Source of Life)
Everyone is shocked by the news that Byoki is the one that extended Natsuno's life by infusing her with the lifeforce of someone else. Byoki explains that he placed more than one individual's life into Natsuno, adding that is similar to the way that Yurako who has multiple ayakashi within her has survived. Byoki adds that there was another person in the Goko Clan of a similar nature, someone that Kamon saw with his own eyes. Kamon immediately explains that it was the master of the Goko clan, behind his mask Kamon saw the mass of creatures that had been absorbed into their master's face. Mao believes that this means Natsuno's life is tied to their master's life. Byoki asks Mao if he saw his master's corpse, which Mao says he did indeed glance at it. Byoki confirms that the master was dead, and Kamon says he did not find Natsuno in the hospital until a year after their master's death, does that mean that Byoki somehow held on to the master's soul for a year before giving it to Natsuno? Byoki asks if anyone searched for the master's body after the treasure hall burned down. Both Kamon and Natsuno said they simply assumed his body burned in the fire, but Byoki explains that his body escaped the fire. Though he was dead the ayakashi that had fused with him dragged his corpse away to escape the flames. It was these creatures that Byoki used to infuse into Natsuno to sustain her life. Mao asks Byoki why he revived Natsuno to make her retrieve the pieces of Daigo's corpse. Byoki explains that he hoped Daigo would reawaken when Natsuno finished her work, but he was merely an empty shell. Byoki explains that Natsuno now wanders about without his knowledge, leaving Byoki to wonder that if she died perhaps Daigo's soul would return to his empty husk. Suddenly Byoki begins to crackle with energy and Nanoka steps in front of Natsuno to protect her from the cat. Natsuno blocks Byoki's attack while Mao slashes at him with the cat telling Nanoka he does not wish to fight her. He asks why they are protecting a clay doll when Natsuno's human body died 900 years ago. Suddenly the cat seems to vanish only to appear behind Natsuno and blast her in half. Earthen shards then attack Byoki before floating into Natsuno's body and reassembling her much as Mao witnessed before, though he is puzzled when he realizes her body being mended is not the will of Byoki. When Natsuno starts to awaken everyone is shocked to see her eyes are blue, like Daigo's.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 12, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
184: 青い瞳
Aoi hitomi
(Blue Eyes)
Mao is stunned to see Natsuno's eyes are the same color as Daigo's leaving him to wonder about their potential connection. The next morning Mao engages the help of ayakashi to mend Natsuno's kimono and traveling case. Hyakka arrives, complaining that no one contacted him to ask for his help, but Mao explains they had no idea things would turn out the way they did. As Nanoka is tending to Natsuno, she realizes her eye has turned back to its normal coloration. Everyone recounts for Hyakka what happened, explaining that Byoki believes Natsuno's death may reanimate Daigo rather than leaving him as the empty shell he awoke as. However they suspect that Daigo's will is somehow at work, due to the soil that mended Natsuno's body and drove away Byoki. Natsuno recounts the events that happened centuries ago on the night that the Goko Clan was destroyed. Sana found a blue glowing orb in her father's closed hand, and Mao saw something similar in the sky the night the Goko Clan was destroyed. Natsuno explains that the earthen doll that saved her when she died was filled with a blue light as well. The light is the same color as Daigo's eyes, and they believe these to be his soul which is now animating Natsuno. She realizes that her memories of visiting the five colored chapel are due to Daigo's memories being within her. Hyakka asks if she can remember anything of Daigo's death, but she does not give him an answer. Kamon and Mao both wonder why Byoki would be interested in Daigo. Nanoka is left to wonder about how much of Natsuno's heart is still within her, given that it is the lives of the ayakashi and Daigo's soul that are keeping her alive. Elsewhere two workmen are using a steamshovel to pull down an old marker atop a ceremonial mound. Days later Mao reads in the newspaper about the earthen mound seeming to explode when it was disturbed. When hearing this, Natsuno realizes this is Nuemaru Mound. The paper goes on to describe attacks on cattle in the area and Nanoka suggests because the mound was earthen Daigo may be involved. Natsuno explains she has no interest in issues dealing with Daigo, but she would like Nanoka to help exorcise whatever came out of the mound to continue to improve the Akanemaru.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 19, 2023 | |
| Pages: 1 (full color) 17 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
185: 鵺丸塚
Nuemaru tsuka
(Nuemaru Mound)
A villager explains the history of the Nuemaru mound to Natsuno, Nanoka and Mao. It seems that in ages past a bandit named Nuemaru was pillaging the area. Eventually he repented and underwent a spiritual awakening before dedicating his life to the Buddhist priesthood. As the years passed, he decided to become a living Buddha to ward off starvation and suffering in the village. As such, he was buried in the mound that now bears his name. Nanoka is disturbed as Natsuno relates the process of slow starvation and drinking laquer that is involved with the mummification process that the priest must undergo while still living, only to be buried alive in a mound of dirt and then exhumed three years and three months later. Mao thinks to himself that this likely has nothing to do with the Goko Clan and ponders Natsuno helping them, as she has never shown any interest in anything unrelated to finding the right hand and matters dealing with their former clan. He wonders why Natsuno seems so invested in helping Nanoka to improve her own skills. Arriving at the remnants of the mound, they come across a group of villagers carrying rifles who believe that the curse is likely the work of a bear. As Mao and the others follow them at a distance they watch as an invisible force lifts a horse from the stables into the air drags it across the sky before they spy the creature- with the horse clasped in its jaws, it is a massive earthen giant set on devouring the equine. The giant vomits out a wave of earth onto the villagers, though Natsuno quickly shields them as Mao slashes at the beast with his sword. Mao cuts the earthen creature's head off but is puzzled by the praying position its body assumes. Natsuno then begins to probe the earthen corpse for the source of its evil. Inside the find the mummified remains of Nuemaru. Suddenly the mummy opens its eyes and Natsuno asks what it has become, perhaps an ayakashi, as she says it is far from reaching buddhahood. As the earth falls away the mummy reveals its hands are bound in chains, suggesting his enshrinement might not have been done willfully.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 26, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
186: 即身仏
Sokushinbutsu
(Sokushinbutsu)
Mao asks the living, mummified body of Nuemaru why he has rejected his Buddhist practices and returned to his wicked ways. Nuemaru reveals he never repented, he was captured by the villagers he attacked and a monk who's temple he burned told them to bind him in a meditative pose before entombing him alive. Nuemaru was foricibly starved slowly and then forced to drink laquer to aid in the mummification of his body before he was entombed. His hatred of the villagers after his death caused the land to become corrupted and Nuemaru would devour passing animals from beneath the ground until the sacred mound was built over his tomb. Suddenly Natsuno suggests that they allow Nanoka to exorcise Nuemaru. Nanoka attacks with Akanemaru, but cannot pierce the earthen shell that Nuemaru builds around himself. Natsuno calls out for Nanoka to absorb energy from the earth, but Mao warns her not to due to Nuemaru corrupting the ground. Nanoka tries and immediately feels as if she has been poisoned. Suddenly the ceramic bell that Natsuno gave Nanoka jingles and begins to surge.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: May 10, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
187: 土鉿の導き
Tsuchi no michibiki
(The Guidance of the Ceramic Bell)
The ceramic bell on Akanemaru jingles gently and guides Nanoka's hand to plunge the blade into the corrupted earth. Natsuno explains that Byoki's blood that is mixed with Nanoka's will be much more powerful than any curse Nuemaru can cast. Nanoka slices off the head, believing that is where Nuemaru's body is hidden, but the head quickly grows back, suggesting he shifted into the body of the earthen giant. Mao points out that Nanoka cannot hack away randomly at the earthen giant or she will soon run out of blood. Mao tries to coach Nanoka, but Nanoka tells him to be quiet and encourages Nanoka to figure out how to defeat Nuemaru on her own. Next she slices at the creature's chest as it spews mud and soil on her. Nuemaru condemns the people that buried him and tried to foricibly turn him into a sokushinbutsu living buddha. Nanoka soon realizes that the undead bandit did not want redemption and she will have to purify the tainted earth fully if she has any hope of defeating him.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 16, 2023 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
188: 怒りの象徴
Ikari no shocho
(The Symbol of Anger)
Nanoka soon realizes that the only way to make headway against Nuemaru is by deducing that because he was forced to become a living Buddha the clay effigy that he controls should have its praying hands pried apart. Nanoka mistakenly believes that her work is done, but Natsuno tells her it is only the beginning as the huge giant begins to go on the attack again. Having been on the offensive for so long, Nanoka is already exhausted. Mao vows to step in to aid in Nuemaru's exorcism if Nanoka should fail, but prays for the earth to aid her next attack and heaps of mud fly alongside her as she dives towards Nuemaru. The purified earth fills Nuemaru's clay form, exorcising him as he begins to disintegrate. Nanoka speaks to Nuemaru as he crumbles, explaining to him why his actions were wrong and hearing as he half-heartedly repents with his final words. With her work done, Nanoka passes out due to the blood lost in the use of Akanemaru. Mao scoops her up and slices his hand, offering her some of his own Byoki-tained blood to help her recover. As Nanoka rests Natsuno asks Mao if Nanoka means a lot to him, which he confirms. Natsuno explains that because Mao cares for her that she too cares for Nanoka and hopes to teach her as much of her earthen skills as possible.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 24, 2023 | |
| Pages: 1 (full color) 18 (black and white) | |
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