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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 18, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Manga Summaries
Volume 5
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| Chapters Originally Published in: | |
| Shonen Sunday 2020 Vol. 16 - 26 |
Chapter
39: 真砂
Masago
(Masago)
In the distant past Mao and his master journeyed to a northern beach to watch someone skilled in water techniques. As the crest a ridge leading to the beach they see a massive sea monster rise up at the command of a young priestess named Masago. She is a young, innocent looking priestess who seems humble and mild. Speaking privately with Mao on the beach she comments that she has not seen him around before and Mao explains that he had only recently begun his training. She cryptically tells him that he should run away leaving Mao puzzled. Masago explains that if he stays long enough he will find out and they both hear their master angrily berating one of their fellow pupils, beating him savagely with his bow as the man prostrates himself on the beach. In the 1920s Hyakka tells Mao what little he knows about the water-caster Masago. Mao wonders aloud why she would attack him the way his recent opponent has as it seemed out of character given what he knew of her. Hyakka angrily retorts that people change over the centuries. Everyone notices the bowls of udon steaming before them and when they ask what they are Hyakka explains that this is his new business. Due to the fears of fire in the wake of the earthquakes he had to find a more subtle way to practice his fire arts which he is now using to cook udon. He watches as Nanoka puffs and blows on her steaming soup before taking a bite and then angrily yells at Mao for doing the same. Off the shores of Kyoto, the ancient capital, Kamon takes a boat to Shiranui's temple to investigate who is behind the resurrection of the girl he saw some days ago. He is surprised to discover that it is not Masago who is controlling this temple but instead a person he does not recognize. Despite his unfamiliarity with Shiranui the water priest attacks him, making him use his own plant-based attacks to defend himself. Suddenly he seems to recall who Shiranui might be.
Chapter
40: 不知火
Shiranui
(Shiranui)
Kuchinawa remembers the past when he was called Kamon and met the lovely young water priestess Masago and she asked him to help treat the wounds of Shiranui, then a novice practitioner who watched Masago and tried to use her arts without the proper training, thus injuring himself. Flashing back to the present Shiranui uses his water creatures such a massive crab to attack Kamon. Kamon taunts Shiranui, telling him he must have been invited to the Five-Colored Temple if he is still alive so many centuries later. He also chides him for the botched job of healing he did on the high-born young woman he found that was already dead but continued to live unnoticed by others. Kamon rams huge splinters into Shiranui's legs and falls into the ocean, washing up where his assistant awaits his return. As Shiranui pulls the splinters of wood from his legs a young girl with the same tell-tale white streaks in her hair emerges, her face covered in a lace hat. She encourages Shiranui to leave the confines of their temple as she too wants to go and find Mao. In the present Nanoka walks home, wondering if now she is only a walking blood transfusion for Mao. As she ponders this the ghostly head of Byoki floats above her.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: March 25, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
41: 警告
Keikoku
(Warning)
Otoya begins the slow process of recreating the poison pot Mao depends on to keep his ancient body functional. He drops a millepede into the new jar as Hyakka and Mao watch his painstaking work. In the present era Uozumi is tidying Nanoka's room when she notices the beaded bracelet Mao gave her to ward off evil is rattling on the nightstand. She realizes that Nanoka must be in danger. Indeed she is, as Byoki's disembodied head follows her home and catches Nanoka unaware. The girl is shocked to see the evil creature looming over her and she flees, hiding beneath a railroad overpass as the phantom demands she surrender her body to him. Soon he appears as an ordinary cat, slowly stalking towards her when Uozumi leaps in brandishing a sickle and driving a weakened Byoki away. In the past Mao mulls over the death of Sana, still wondering what the truth of her murder was and if he truly was responsible as other seem to suggest. Suddenly the door opens and Kamon bursts in asking if he can rest there a bit after his long journey.
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| Publication Date: April 1, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
42: 鼎談
Teidan
(Three-Way Conversation)
Nanoka bids farewell to Uozumi, telling her to notify the school about her impending absences as she steps through the gateway and back into the past. When she arrives at his home office she is surprised to see Kamon there as Hyakka dashes about to fix him a cup of tea. Kamon asks about how Tenko responded to the drugs he gave Mao to treat her with after their last encounter and Mao admits that he did not give her anything Kamon made, suggesting he did not trust his medicines. When Kamon suggests that he trusted Mao enough to sleep at his home, Mao points out that his young female shikigami that he animated similar to Otoya was guarding him all night long. Nanoka watches as Hyakka presents Kamon with tea, promising him it is not poisoned and leaving Kamon to comment that he has a resistance to most poisons anyway. Nanoka is puzzled by the way they speak to one another and the lack of trust they all seem to share. Kamon explains that he was in Kyoto investigating rumors of a fraudster granting long-lives to others and found Shiranui was the one behind it, a name that shocks Mao and Hyakka. Hyakka wonders if Shiranui could have been summoned to the five-sided room given how poor his skill level was when compared to Masago, he goes on to relate that all of the people invited to the five-sided room were told that only the last survivor among them that killed Mao would be the true heir of their school, consequently some of the others invited there may have turned against one another. Kamon tells everyone how he attacked Shiranui and stabbed him through both legs, but it did not seem to even cause him a hint of pain. Finally Hyakka and Kamon leave and give Nanoka a moment to tell Mao about why she came to see him- that she had an encounter with Byoki in the present. Mao is shocked that Nanoka did not mention this sooner, but then wonders if by her giving her blood to help him heal he has drawn Byoki's attention to her.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 8, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
43: 与える者
Ataerumono
(The Donor)
Nanoka relates Byoki's warning about her giving her blood to Mao and Mao pensively admits how good he has felt since being healed by Nanoka's blood. Otoya wonders why Byoki would warn Nanoka about giving her blood to Mao if he desires Mao's death so he can retrieve his body, but Nanoka promises to give her blood to Mao again even if it means weakening her own life. Nanoka also presents Mao with a letter from Uozumi asking Mao what she should do now to help Nanoka. Mao dissolves a paper ward into a bowl of water and has Nanoka drink it, explaining that its magic will help to ward off Byoki. Mao packs more paper amulets and a flower and asks Nanoka to take them to "Funa". When Nanoka says she does not know who "Funa" is, Mao explains that is Uozumi's first name. With that, Nanoka returns to the present day. She makes her way home on foot and is greeted by her grandfather when she returns. However she is shocked to see her grandfather with Byoki sitting on his lap, slowly stroking the back of the one-eyed cat. Nanoka hurries into the kitchen to ask for Uozumi's help, but the shikigami is frozen and unable to move. In a panic, Nanoka hears Byoki's voice speaking directly into her mind. The cat tells her that he will not hurt her and that one day Mao will want to know what happened nine-hundred years ago. Byoki slips away after telling Nanoka if she ever wishes to speak to him she needs but call his name. Uozumi unfreezes as Nanoka nervously thinks about what the cat told her. In the past Mao and Otoya go and visit Tenko at her restaurant where she introduces Mao to Dr. Shibasato. Shibasato is a doctor who was called in to consult on a former patient from the Yoshifusa family. When he went to check an unfamiliar family opened the door and turned him away, but as he was leaving he thought he saw young mister Yoshifusa looking out the upstairs window at him. Inside the house in bed, a terrified Yoshifusa hides under the covers and wonders who the people are downstairs that have taken over his home. One young woman sitting at the table is the masked girl that was seen with Shiranui in Kyoto.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 15, 2020 | |
| Pages: 3 (full color) 16 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
44: すれ違い
Sure chigai
(Missed Connection)
Yoshifusa, the young man who frantically called upon Dr. Shibasato about the people living in his home stumbles out into the street where passersby discover him and bring him to Mao. The doctor explains that the strangers that arrived in Yoshifusa's home were not necessarily suspicious initially. Because Yoshifusa is sickly he believed that relatives came to care for him that had lost their home in the earthquake. Having heard the circumstances Mao and Tenko depart and do not even notice a rickshaw sweep past them carrying the masked woman. Though they do not know her, she immediately recognizes Mao and thinks excitedly how she is not yet ready to meet him but hopes to soon. Meanwhile Nanoka visits Mao's home and finds Hyakka laying about looking bored. Nanoka thinks about to Hyakka's comments about Sana dying at Mao's hand and decides to ask Hyakka what sort of woman she was. Hyakka offhandedly says how lovely Sana was and that Mao loved her and would have been very happy to have married her. Nanoka winds up going home before Mao arrives and when gets home he is disappointed he missed her. Uncertain of where things stand Nanoka decides to visit Mao and give him a Christmas gift and Mao tells her he has something for her as well. At first Nanoka is overjoyed that Mao thought of her, but then when she gets home an opens a book about making barriers and seals she realizes he has given her homework and collapses on her bed. Meanwhile Mao shows off the scarf that Nanoka made him, which Hyakka thinks is peculiar. As 1924 begins Mao greets the new year.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 22, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
45: 鉄仮面
Tekkamen
(The Iron Mask)
On a cold January morning a military platoon is marching down the street when they see a figure blocking their path. The captain is immediately infuriated by this show of defiance and dashes towards the figure with his sword drawn. As he passes through the mist he realizes he facing another uniformed solider who flings out reams of cloth from beneath his cape. The cloth bends and flexes and dismembers the entire platoon. Some days later Otoya, Mao and Nanoka come to investigate the platoons disappearance. Mao senses trace onmyoji magic in the air and finds the whole thing puzzling. Later at a party the guests speak of the apparent dissertion of the platoon that disappeared as they wonder if the whole thing was tied to a coup attempt. Suddenly an odd figure in military garb and an iron mask named Captain Shirasu appears. Some of the guests whisper about his strange appearance, chalking it up to a severe injury Shirasu sustained during the Russo-Japanese War. One of the guests as the party reveals he invited Captain Shirasu to meet another guest- the mysterious woman with the veil. When she has the Captain alone she reveals that she knows him by another name- Hakubi. He in turn tells her he knows she has remained in Kyoto for a long time and is surprised to see her in Tokyo, and then he reveals her name- Yurako. Back at Mao's home, Kamon reports on what he has discovered about the family that has taken over Yoshifusa's home. Kamon reports about the mystery woman moving in new social circles and suggests she may have something to do with Shiranui. It is then that Mao says he would like to meet her.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: April 29, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
46: 幽羅子
Yurako
(Yurako)
Kamon and Mao infiltrate a society party at the home of Yoshifusa where the mysterious individuals have apparently taken over. Kamon uses his psudeonym "Kuchinawa" and introduces Mao as "Nekomata" which irks the doctor. While Mao and Kamon infiltrate as guests Nanoka and Otoya disguise themselves as servants to keep an eye on the guests. Kamon suspects that among these well-moneyed individuals someone will try to arrange to purchase a life-extension from Shiranui or Yurako and this will be the perfect place to catch them. Kamon suggests that Shiranui likely believes Mao has the Taizanfukun live extension spell due to him having inherited Byoki's body, but Mao explains the spell is in Byoko's still independant head. Suddenly Yurako, the mysterious woman in the veil, appears at the party. Kamon immediately walks up to her but is nearly recognized as a party crasher when he uses one of his flowers to swiftly alter the memories of the host. Yurako silently remembers "Kuchinawa" as Kamon and then suddenly sees Mao standing behind him. Panicking she excuses herself and flees prompting Mao and Kamon to give chase. Outside she runs into Nanoka and commands her to move in an ominous multi-voiced command. Nanoka delays her just long enough for Kamon to summon roots to try and bind her. Just as Mao reaches Yurako her hat falls away revealing Sana, the woman Mao loved so long ago, the same women he was said to have murdered. Sana tells Mao she did not wish to see him like this and in a burst of water from nowhere she vanishes.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: May 13, 2020 | |
| Pages: 1 (full color) 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
47: 沙那の最期
Sana no saigo
(Sana's End)
Having left the party Hyakka, Kamon, Mao and Nanoka discuss what happened to Sana that day so many centuries ago when Byoki attacked. Hyakka recounts telling Kamon about the day in the wake of of Sana's death. How Sana's heart had seemed to have been ripped from her chest as he saw her corpse laying beneath a spread kimono with a crimson patch of blood spreading from the apparent wound. Sitting off to the side Tenko and Otoya discuss Mao's now obvious innocence in the alleged death of Sana. They comment however that despite Sana being alive Mao looks upset as he sits silently at the table with the others. Nanoka is also silent as she reflects on what happened, remembering that as Sana approached her she barked in an otherworldly, demonic voice to "move". Nanoka wonders if she should mention this to Mao or not. Kamon bluntly disrupts the silence by asking Mao if he is prepared to fight Sana now that it is obvious she is working for Shiranui, their enemy. Kamon further reminds everyone that as Mao was the intended inheritor of the secret teachings of their school he was also intended to marry Sana. Mao says that he did love her, surprising everyone with his candor. That evening he walks home and Nanoka silently follows him, thinking to herself about how she had a crush on him but obviously feeling it is impossible now, though the voice she heard come from Sana still worries her. She decides to tell Mao but before she can Mao cuts her off as a strange rolling mechanical creature suddenly attacks them in the street.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: May 20, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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Chapter
48: 金の式神
Kin no shikigami
(The Metal Shikigami)
Kamon relates a story from long ago, telling of when he attempted to sail to Edo on a merchant's ship. It was a calm, sunny day at sea when suddenly a massive wave appeared from nowhere and capsized the ship, killing nearly everyone onboard. In the distance Kamon watched what he thought was a whale swimming away. Now he believes it was Shiranui who had mistakenly believed that he successfully assassinated Kamon. Kamon suggests that he likely made attempts on Hyakka as well who adds that he lost his eye around the time of the Russo-Japanese War. As they talk, they suddenly see flakes of metal glittering down from the sky. Elsewhere Mao protects Nanoka and Otoya from the mechanical creature that spits sheets of slicing metallic plate at them. Mao flings one of his tools into the creatures mouth, a little model of a phoenix that ignites inside the beast. He explains to Nanoka that on the onmyoji charts fire is opposite of metal and is an effective counter to it. Having seemingly defeated the creature it suddenly fires a volley of bullets from its eyes, striking Mao in the chest and pulling him through a portal. Kamon and Hyakka arrive to find Nanoka and Otoya standing with Mao's katana and suitcase. Mao's katana suddenly starts to spin on the ground and then point in a direction prompting Nanoka to pick it up realizing it is functioning as a guide to lead them back to Mao. Mao awakens alone in an modern, domed chamber that opens out to the sea. Suddenly the water bubbles and Shiranui rises up and comes to speak to Mao, speaking of a hateful day from long ago as the masked soldier Captain Shirasu watches from the darkness.
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Published In:
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| Publication Date: May 27, 2020 | |
| Pages: 18 (black and white) | |
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