Monthly Archives: May 2019

An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, Vol. 5

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By Fuminori Teshima and COMTA. Released in Japan by Hobby Japan. Released in North America digitally by J-Novel Club. Translated by Hikoki.

Given that An Archdemon’s Dilemma rarely has threats to its titular Archdemon that actually go anywhere (once again he’s the strongest one in the entire area, and is only greviously wounded once by his own choice), it makes sense that the series runs on putting loved ones in peril. Though it can take a lot to make Zagan actually admit to caring about people, he absolutely does, and therefore when Nephteros is once again sought after by the series’ major villain, he’s there to help her. Thankfully, he’s not really there to save her, as he generally rescues people based on power level. Innocents, such as the young fox girl who is possessed by black sludge, he is perfectly content to save entirely. Nephteros, who can get out of her own troubles once she gets over her identity issues, just needs a helping hand. And Chastille, who Zagan very much frames as “not a love interest”, has to fend for herself. Luckily, the author seems to finally let her do this.

I’ve talked before about how Chastille seemed like she was going to be the tsundere secondary love interest but then the author realized how much he loved seeing her flailing around and crying. Last time we saw that her ‘work’ and ‘rest’ phases are almost two different people. And here the two seem to combine, as she seems to have finally accepted in her heart that she loves Zagan but he doesn’t love her back… and moreover, she doesn’t want him to, as this would ruin things with Nephy. This actually allows her a stronger bond with Nephteros, who also is drawn to Zagan and Nephy but can’t really be with them. Zagan may say that she’s a sister to Nephy, but for once we get someone deciding NOT to live at Zagan’s castle of increasing population. Nephteros needs to cultivate her own story, as does Chastille.

Speaking of love stories, the biggest new character introduced this time around is Kuroka, a blind priestess with a grudge against a) sorcerers and b) Chastille. With her we get to examine the ‘driven by revenge’ trope, though I admit it was a bit too on the nose to have Zagan literally spell it out for the reader. Fortunately, aside from the revenge she’s a perfectly nice person. Also fortunately, the revenge she was seeking turns out to be unnecessary to begin with. There are hints of the ongoing plot here, as there seems to be a thirteenth sacred sword, and the corruption in the Church is still a larger problem even without assassination attempts on Chastille every book or so. As for the titular couple, well, they’re still awkward – by the end of the novel, Zagan has finally asked Nephy on a date, but that’s as far as we get. Unless you count the muffler scene, which was adorable.

I’m not sure I can point to one thing and say “this is why I enjoy the series so much”, but enjoy it I do. I was particularly pleased with Chastille this volume, who did not have one extended nervous breakdown. And it’s always nice to remind myself sometimes that Zagan is NOT an isekai protagonist, but just a poverty-stricken fantasy lad who got really, really powerful. Fun stuff.

Emanon, Vol. 1: Memories of Emanon

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By Shinji Kajio and Kenji Tsuruta. Released in Japan as “Omoide Emanon” by Tokuma Shoten, serialized in the magazine Comic Ryu. Released in North America by Dark Horse Comics. Translated by Dana Lewis.

I must admit, I wasn’t even aware this was a famous Japanese SF story till after I’d finished this volume and was reading the afterwords. Japan’s market for such titles tends to wax and wane (as the afterword itself notes), and I had never read a translation of this story. That said, I’m definitely interested in seeking it out now, as I found this to be an excellent adaptation. A great combination of thoughtful dialogue and striking art, it’s also exactly the right length, though I say that knowing that there are more volumes coming in the future that apparently expand on the original story. This particular volume, though, works very well as a stand-alone, and also gets into some of the big questions of how memory works, what makes a human, and where are we headed in the future. All that plus a bittersweet not-quite romance.

Our protagonist is a young college-aged man who’s getting over a broken heart from a one-sided love, so takes the ferry back to his hometown. While on the ferry he meets a young woman, and though they initially don’t get on, they are drawn together in a mutual desire to avoid drunken creeps hitting on her. Eventually she gives a name to him – Emanon, aka “no name” backwards – and, since he’s a science fiction reader and thus has an open mind, tells him a bit about herself and her life, which seems to go back about three million years, Despite her being born in 1950. (The story is set in 1967.) She’s very guarded, at one point passing off her entire confession as a story, but the guy’s open curiosity and acceptance helps her open up more, and they grow closer. That said, this is not really a romance.

The manga seems to alternate between pages of quite, introspective panels and pages that are filled with dialogue as the two leads discuss Emanon’s situation, what it means for her, and what it means for humanity. The story’s origins as science fiction really come to the fore here, but it’s a tribute to the story itself that I was never bored. This volume has a postscript years later, where the (now married) protagonist sees the girl he met on the ferry again, only she doesn’t know who he is. That said, this does not mean Emanon has forgotten him. It’s a good, wistful yet hopeful end for this story, and I’m actually rather curious to see how the manga develops in future volumes, which appear to follow Emanon’s journey. The art is also fantastic, to the point where the end of the book is several pages, both color and black and white, of Emanon just wandering around Japan wordlessly.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, and ended up pleasantly surprised. If you’re looking for something introspective and thought-provoking, this is a very good title to pick up.

Invaders of the Rokujouma!?, Vol. 21

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By Takehaya and Poco. Released in Japan as “Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?” by Hobby Japan. Released in North America digitally by J-Novel Club. Translated by Warnis.

We’re back to plot-heavy in this volume of Rokujouma, which sees the enemy making its move. No, not the actual Big Bads of the series, though they do sort of sit at the side, watch, and offer occasional “help”. Instead, the military wing of Forthorthe has been sabotaging things behind the scenes, and they decide to finally make their move to either capture or kill Elfaria once and for all. Naturally her daughter is not going to take that lying down, so everyone gets on their spaceship and rides. (I will assume for the sake of the plot that it’s still summer break or something, as missing school is not brought up at all.) Of course, just getting there is not going to be easy, as they’re trying to remain undetected, and are dealing with both actual bad guys and soldiers who’ve been fed ‘the Empress is a traitor’ fake news for a while. Fortunately for the Empress, she has the Blue Knight and company on her side.

The book starts off with Theia looking romantically at magazines showing happy wives and mothers, and also getting a big revelation from the more scientific princesses in the group: Forthortians and Earthlings have near-as-dammit the exact same genetic makeup, so having kids won’t be an issue. Leaving aside the sheer unlikeliness of this (which is mentioned in text), one thing I’ve noticed about Rokujouma is how pure it is, especially given that it’s about a guy and his nine-girl harem. Theia is seen to be dreaming of having kids, but there’s no real mention of how those kids will be made, and the girls never really think beyond “kisses on the cheek”. Part of this is due to Koutarou’s ongoing intimacy issues, but part of it, I think, is that it’s just that sort of series, and that trying to make things sexier would almost be like removing a magic spell or something. Besides, at heart this isn’t about the girls “getting” Koutarou, it’s about family.

This is Theia’s book, really, and she gets to show off a lot of sides here, even (towards the end) her self-sacrificing side, as she’s determined not to let an innocent fighter pilot die even if it costs her own life. Of course, that doesn’t happen, thank to both Koutarou and a screaming but competent Magical Girl Yurika. (Yurika is pretty whiny this book, but given the circumstances, and that she’s out of her element, it’s mostly fine.) I suspect we’re going to get an awful lot of “you guys go on, I will stay here and hold them off (and die”) going forward. Naturally, this will always be counteracted by everyone else in the cast, but I’m pretty sure that things are only going to get harder from here on out. Especially as the actual bad guys still haven’t stepped in yet.

We’re starting to get towards the endgame here (the books “end” with the 29th volume, though they are still ongoing with ‘after stories’). I expect the next volume will have more political machinations and big ol’ battles. Which is fine by me, as the author does those pretty well. Just as long as the emphasis is on the bond between these sweet, pure kids.