Daemons of the Shadow Realm Episode 13 Review - Higashi Village Raided Once Again
The second half of Daemons of the Shadow Realm is here…and it starts with a Higashi Village raid like in the beginning. However, unlike Gabu-chan, Ivan has a higher body count and is more sinister. Now that the true nature of the village is known, I don’t feel sorry for the villagers at all; the only ones I pity are the children because they’re innocent in all of this.
Ivan’s daemons are a pair of swords collectively called Magatsuhi. The shorter one is Shokyo (the sho meaning small) and the longer one is Daikyo (the dai meaning big). Shokyo is more of a yapper as he consistently argues with his Master, calling him monkey and threatening to kill him; Daikyo is a lot quieter. However, as a pair, they both seem to have separate abilities. I think Daikyo has the ability to create the hyperspace teleportation that Ivan does in this episode where he creates a cubic portal and goes inside, exchanging the location of the place he cut. I think Shokyo’s ability is mostly cutting? I don’t know if both can do the hyperspace teleportation or if it’s just Daikyo.
I feel like mysteries of the Higashi Village increase the more is learned about them. The fake Asa is a daemon, but since all daemons must have a pair, her other half has yet to be seen. I think it’s Danji for the sheer fact that he could be a daemon. The fact that he can see Oshira-sama when normal humans can’t does say something. On top of that, daemon pairs have some similarities with each other. Right and Left have similar color schemes from their hair to their clothes. Ai and Makoto are female and male anglerfish. Gabriel are a pair of identical jaws. Yin-yang are color swaps of each other. Danji and the fake Asa both have black hair, so it’s definitely a clue that he’s her other half. Who’s their master? Given that Danji didn’t rush in to save Yamaha despite her being in danger indicates that Kyoka, the kind village lady whom Danji calls mother, might be the true master. Besides, Yamaha did look distraught when the fake Asa decided to go with Ivan instead of staying with her, indicating that Yamaha isn’t her master.
I feel bad for the shaman, though. He had to die like that and get his corpse carved into a letter. I also feel bad for Azami since she’s already traumatized from her mother’s death and is even traumatized more from seeing more deaths. If anyone has a reason to turn into the dark side in the future, it’s definitely her.
Hana’s job is revealed to be a grave digger—well, it was already revealed back in a previous episode. She’s finally seen doing her job on-screen now. It must be a hectic job as she has to be sworn into secrecy from her associates and from Dera regarding his location. Will she tell about the message to Yuru? I think she will?
Despite the episode mostly consisting of tragedy, I did like the light hearted moments like Yuru and Ken bonding over making weapons and Dera getting a television in the apartment! I always enjoy seeing Right’s reaction to technology. By the way, I saw a manga panel that this episode adapts from and they actually play an episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in the background—mostly the Sho Tucker episode.
And speaking of FMAB, Shokyo and Daikyo’s voice actors were a part of the cast there! Shokyo is voiced by Hiroyuki Yoshino who voiced Kimblee and Daikyo is voiced by Misato Fukuen, who voiced Elicia, Hughes’ daughter. In FMAB terms, Colonel Mustang is wielding Kimblee and Elicia. It makes for a funny imagery. Oshira-sama’s Master is voiced by Sakiko Tamagawa who has been in FMA media—she voiced Velza in Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl who Succeeds God, which is a game. Some of her other roles include Emiko Niwa in DN Angel and Mineko Kazama from Crayon Shin-chan.
With Ivan taking the fake Asa and Azami hostage, who knows how long it’ll take for Yuru to get the memo. I do wonder how long the battle between him and Ivan will take in terms of the two meeting and then duking it out. Oh, since this is the second half, there are new opening and ending songs! Both sound nice, but I like the ending song a bit more while the new opening is a little weaker in terms of song power. However, I do wonder why Akio doesn’t show up in the opening despite being a part of the Kagemori family…hm… Let me know your thoughts on this episode!
