The Misfit of Demon King Academy (2019)
[魔王学院の不適合者]
Volume 2
Author: Shu
Artist: Kayaharuka
Other: Yoshinori Shizuma (Character Design)
Publisher: Gangan Comics Up!
Synopsis:
Anos is challenged by Misha's sister, the Witch of Destruction Sasha Necron.
Story/Characters:
On the surface, Sasha seems like a thoroughly unpleasant person, but we're quickly shown signs that there's more going on with her and that her antagonism with Misha isn't quite what it appears. Anos finds her amusing and it's interesting to see how he measures his power against her. He's not going to kill her over and over again like Zepes, but he'll mostly just prod her until he wants to really make an impression. Sasha, for her part, is so proud that even when she suffers a significant psychological shakeup, she'll get right back up again. Anyway, more than subduing Sasha, his goal is to create an opportunity for her to get along better with Sasha, which leads us to the team battle challenge. The team battle is a sort of a game of magical capture the hill. In this game, it's not like Sasha is a total jobber. She's smart, she's got a lot of magical ability and she's good at managing her team. It's just that she's up against Anos Voldigoad, who proceeds to play with her not as a cat with a mouse but more like a cat with an ant. Once again, I'll give credit to Sasha for sticking it out and even after being thoroughly trounced, she still vows to get stronger and eventually kill Anos. (To which Anos—defying Shirou of the Fate series—replies, "If killing me was all it took for me to die, I would've been dead 2000 years ago.") He then has to put on a bit of the charm by complimenting her Magic Eyes for being beautiful. What a player. Speaking of which, Anos ends up bringing both the Necron Sisters home, much to the shock of his parents (jealousy for the most part when it comes to his dad). Anos gives the two sisters some alone time after supper and we learn more about their past and things seem to get sorted out.
When Anos is sending the girls home, Sasha tells him about the Seven Elder Demon Emperors (which, amusingly, Anos realizes he forgot to name when he created them) and Anos gets to thinking about how things turned out the way they did in demon society. When seeing Sasha off, she asks him about Fate and he declares that even if Fate was set and he didn't like it, he would change it, and if he couldn't change it, he would destroy it. Remember this one for later. The next day at school, Sasha is now sitting with him and Misha and Ivis Necron, one of the Seven Elder Demon Emperors, makes an appearance. Miss Emilia is rightfully concerned with how Anos will conduct himself. Anos casually greets Ivis, who is intrigued by how Anos is acting (while Emilia is freaking out), and reveals that he has no memories of 2000 years ago (when Anos says he knew him). Anos tries to forcibly restore Ivis' lost memory, only to find it completely wiped clean. This at least makes Ivis aware that some enemy is working against him and it gives Anos further reason to get to the bottom of this Avos Dilhevia impostor. Ivis then proceeds to give a lecture on fusion magic, a specialty of the Necron Clan, and Anos does his usual thing of pointing out flaws in the current magic system. This demonstration manages to impress Ivis enough to discuss matters further with Anos after class and while not entirely convinced of Anos' story, he's willing to remain neutral while he investigates matters further for himself.
That afternoon the class has the dungeon exam, where they have to explore a dungeon for treasure. Said dungeon happens to be Anos' old castle, so while the other classmates are rushing around, he casually strolls in with the Necron Sisters to go straight to where the best stuff can be found. It turns out that tomorrow is Sasha and Misha's birthday, so Misha is asking Anos for help getting a present for Sasha. When Anos asks her what she wants, she says nothing because he won't be seeing her anymore. Anos is left to wonder about this as he leads the girls to the hidden storeroom. While Sasha's attention is on the royal scepter, Anos takes Misha to pick out what she wants to give Sasha. Misha picks a Phoenix Robe and when Sasha has Anos leave the room while she tries on her new present, things seem to go on a little too long and when Anos goes back in, he find Misha with a knife in her heart. It looks like Sasha has gone full heel, but Anos notes that while she's doing her ranting about how much she hates Misha, her Magic Eyes aren't activating, which is a clear sign something's up. Sasha learns the hard way that trying to out-villain the Demon King of Tyranny is a losing prospect, but a revived Misha intervenes. Anos asks Misha to tell him the truth about what's going on and Misha reveals that on her fifteenth birthday, little more than seven hours away, she will cease to exist. And that's our cliffhanger.
Art:
The art is every bit as good as the previous volume and the great thing about characters like Sasha is the reactions you can get out of them. The sight of Anos lifting Sasha's castle one-handed during the team battle is certainly worth seeing. The artist adds plenty of nice little touches like Misha dusting off Anos after he busts through a wall in the dungeon with his head. And while we know things are more than they appear, Sasha in villain mode is quite striking.
Conclusion:
As much as I love a dandere, when you want dynamic character interactions, you've gotta go tsun. Sasha's presence really adds a lot and I love how she plays off Anos (or more, I should say, how Anos plays off her). We build up the mysteries both of the Necron Sisters and plot of Avos Dilhevia. If you agreed with me and thought the first volume was worth having, you'll continue to think so with this one, so go out there and get it.
Rating:
Own It