Toukyou KINOKO ~Sekai Ranking 1-i no Komyu-ryoku Saijaku JK~ - Ch. 13 - Ritual

[WatermelonPlease]

Ohh i think back at home they purposely spawn this thing so they can get more food. Maybe with some rituals they van get more yummy food!!

 

[Jayinator]

This manga to me is a sit back & enjoy the show and don't overthink it. I'm here for a fun time manga, not an in depth novel.

 

[yumyum36]

you can go through this arc by just reading the first and last page of each chapter and not miss out on anything important

The author stalling this arc so they can write the next arc I guess.

My only other assumption is they wrote the first few arcs as 4 komas and this one does not work when translated to a comic format.

 

[MostlyHumanTLs]

do japanese people really enjoy this kind of "haha the MC is too braindead to realize the obvious" stuff?
that explains a lot about the prevalence of stupid misunderstanding plots

"Misunderstandings" is sort of a genre in Japan, by this point. And there are Japanese people who said that the misunderstandings in this one are going a bit too far (found one review saying this).

But Japanese people do mostly enjoy this type of comedy, yes.

Edit: I will add, if you actually pay attention to what you're reading, you'll realise that for every instance Kino's misunderstood something, it's explained/shown exactly why. It's never "she's too dumb to realise", it's always "she's prevented from realising".

For example, many people here can't seem to understand that Kino hasn't actually seen that people got murdered there, since she's been positioned at the front of the crosses. She also can't see that Usoyama is there.

Many people here seem to be unable to separate their own perspective as the omniscient reader from Kino's perspective as someone who doesn't see anything that's happening as too strange due to her own childhood and danger scale being so different.

They also can't seem to understand Kino's state of mind, which is completely focused on trying to keep her friendship with Usoyama.

People complaining about "the same joke is being used for this entire arc" aren't actually paying attention to what they're reading.

The only dumb decision I've seen so far (having re-read from the beginning), is Usoyama not releasing the mouth bind first and screaming the truth to Kino. There are arguments for why being able to move first is important, but the best solution here is making Kino realise the actual situation they're in.

 

[Shygig]

It's never "she's too dumb to realise", it's always "she's prevented from realising".

Idk how to put screenshots in MD so here goes:

Tell me what exactly prevented her from realizing that in:

Chapter 9;

• Being tied to a cross isn't really parttime job like, or even remotely polite (and on the way, you'd think that while being brought to the cross or while being tied she'd have seen everyone else tied up too? But we'll ignore that, it'll ruin the 'comedic factor')
• People yelling "Cast the world into chaos" isn't really a nice thing to say to a parttimer
• Bringing an axe to a tied up parttimer is rude in presence of polite society

Chapter 10;

• Saying (edgy) things like "Let the blood flow" wasn't really part of the parttime job's post description
• Getting axed on the head is the most rude thing (unbelievably enough) one can do in polite society
• Getting a halberd to the head is also (believe it or not) really not a nice thing to do
• Getting poked with a sword to the eyes is one of the (I can't believe it myself, had to google it just to make sure I was right) worse things one polite member of society can do to another

Chapter 11;

• Saying things like "Chaos will swallow Tokyo whole" isn't a very friendly conversation opener (shocker, I know)

Chapter 12;

• Saying things like "Tokyo will become a world of chaos, where S-rank strangers roam freely" is probably sign of a red flag in the interlocutor
• Saying things like "This is the beginning of the end" or a group of people dressed in the same 'edgy' manner (most people would call those types 'cultists', feel free to fact check me) chanting "Cast the world into chaos" is probably a sign that you might be missing a bit of context

I couldn't be assed to reread after that honestly, so I just took the honorable mentions from C9 to 12. I could have just rewritten the chapters whole and have you kindly point out to me in each text bubble or panel where or what exactly prevented her from realizing that maybe, just maybe, something's wrong.

Man, I can get you defending something you like, I can respect it. And I can respect it even more if you bring in actual arguments and are willing to debate.

But you're taking people for idiots here and I don't like it.

People complaining about "the same joke is being used for this entire arc" aren't actually paying attention to what they're reading.

Maybe I don't know how to read, sure, but if I'm not the only one with the same criticism, then maybe, just maybe, you might have to do a bit of introspection and you might realize you yourself also can't seem to pay attention to what you're reading.

As I pointed out above, maybe she's actually just that fucking dumb, and maybe, the joke got stale very, VERY fast.

The real problem here, in case you haven't noticed, is that this is not even the 3rd or 4th volume, we're in the first chapters of the story, meaning this sets the tone and the pace. If you're telling me THIS is what I'm gonna have to get used to throughout it all, then hell no. However this is a me issue admitably, but you will have to admit that staying in the same scene for 4/5 chapters where the joke is hammered in your head is not a good look for the future.

It could also be however that you're the next Shakespeare or Molière and you're seeing something us mere mortals aren't seeing, and if so, then my bad grand sir, but I'm relatively certain you are not.

Your response pissed me off so much I was willing to do a whole thesis on why you're wrong, but fuck it, I hope you're happy with this.

 

[Vaudevillian]

I just hope the series can survive this arc lol. I really felt it has big potential.

If it repeats this arc at any point, then it won't last.

 

[nightnyx]

Yes girl. This wasn't a job if you realize it few chapters ago lol. At least the story finally moving again

 

[krippr]

It's funny how the Japanese comments I'm seeing are mostly positive, while people here are unreasonably negative.

This type of story doesn't quite work for foreign audiences, apparently.

Kids nowadays are very impatient. I blame tiktok

 

[DarkenerPlays]

She didn't realise anything. Hes spelling it out for her and she's just confused.

Next chapter she might consider that this is all some test for the job position and she'll think that saving the guy from being fused with the thing is the way to pass the test. That, or she'll spend the chapter confused while the cult leader completes his fusion.

not that it's gonna do anything since it's just small fry to kino

 

[UdenEmpati]

"Misunderstandings" is sort of a genre in Japan, by this point. And there are Japanese people who said that the misunderstandings in this one are going a bit too far (found one review saying this).

But Japanese people do mostly enjoy this type of comedy, yes.

Edit: I will add, if you actually pay attention to what you're reading, you'll realise that for every instance Kino's misunderstood something, it's explained/shown exactly why. It's never "she's too dumb to realise", it's always "she's prevented from realising".

For example, many people here can't seem to understand that Kino hasn't actually seen that people got murdered there, since she's been positioned at the front of the crosses. She also can't see that Usoyama is there.

Many people here seem to be unable to separate their own perspective as the omniscient reader from Kino's perspective as someone who doesn't see anything that's happening as too strange due to her own childhood and danger scale being so different.

They also can't seem to understand Kino's state of mind, which is completely focused on trying to keep her friendship with Usoyama.

People complaining about "the same joke is being used for this entire arc" aren't actually paying attention to what they're reading.

The only dumb decision I've seen so far (having re-read from the beginning), is Usoyama not releasing the mouth bind first and screaming the truth to Kino. There are arguments for why being able to move first is important, but the best solution here is making Kino realise the actual situation they're in.

I know that you were lamenting on an earlier chapter that you couldn't wait for all the "haters" to drop the series so that you and the few others who are enjoying the series here could have "meaningful" discussions about it,

But all I've seen you do the last couple chapters is make disparaging comments about others for their issues with this title; and I have to wonder why you're putting so much effort into that, instead of just Ignoring them and engaging with the others here who seem to actually like it?

Because at this point, you're just actively contributing to the deterioration of any potential value available here.

Deriding people for their supposed lacking of attention spans and insinuating that they "just can't understand" isn't exactly speaking to the merits of the series itself or creating the sort of atmosphere you claimed you initially wanted.

 

[Zhangar]

I feel the root of the problem is that MC's sense of danger is totally warped, in comparison to everyone else in the manga. She didn't or thinking it was strange because this level of danger is nothing compare to what she experienced at home.
However, I also do not think it convey that way in the manga... The manga just portrait her as a naive girl.

A question this brings to mind is that if absolute apocalyptic chaos is just normal for where she grew up, how the hell is anyone else in her village still alive, and how are they surviving now that she's gone?

There's no sign that the rest of her family are unstoppable super-humans.

 

[Zhangar]

"Misunderstandings" is sort of a genre in Japan, by this point. And there are Japanese people who said that the misunderstandings in this one are going a bit too far (found one review saying this).

But Japanese people do mostly enjoy this type of comedy, yes.

Edit: I will add, if you actually pay attention to what you're reading, you'll realise that for every instance Kino's misunderstood something, it's explained/shown exactly why. It's never "she's too dumb to realise", it's always "she's prevented from realising".

For example, many people here can't seem to understand that Kino hasn't actually seen that people got murdered there, since she's been positioned at the front of the crosses. She also can't see that Usoyama is there.

Many people here seem to be unable to separate their own perspective as the omniscient reader from Kino's perspective as someone who doesn't see anything that's happening as too strange due to her own childhood and danger scale being so different.

They also can't seem to understand Kino's state of mind, which is completely focused on trying to keep her friendship with Usoyama.

People complaining about "the same joke is being used for this entire arc" aren't actually paying attention to what they're reading.

The only dumb decision I've seen so far (having re-read from the beginning), is Usoyama not releasing the mouth bind first and screaming the truth to Kino. There are arguments for why being able to move first is important, but the best solution here is making Kino realise the actual situation they're in.

Nah man, Kino is just so fucking stupid and oblivious that it actually destroys suspension of disbelief.

It's jarring as fuck that the most powerful being in the world has the situational awareness and survival instinct of a newborn bird.

Even if she was literally blind, a man got exsanguinated in that room, and blood smells.

Based on how the writing has been for this, my hunch is that if Usoyama had in fact told Kino the truth, Kino would have willfully misinterpreted what she said just to keep this farce going.

 

[Parnifia]

Lemme help you, and surely many other future commenters who are going to keep complaining about this story.

View attachment 40088View attachment 40091View attachment 40094View attachment 40097

We get it. This story isn't for you. Is torturing yourself like this your idea of fun? Drop it and move on.

It's because I want to believe the story will get back on track and I'll enjoy it again. If you think I'm a fool for that, then sure, I'll drop the manga.

 

[shoker]

People are free to criticise the story if they want to, telling people to leave is how you make an echo chamber. At least the people here are reading the story, over in the Black Summoner comment section it's just complaints that they dont remember wtf is going on because they don't want to read.

ANYWAYS. Complaints about the pacing are fairly valid. Lets suppose this gets adapted into an anime. Episode 1 corresponds to the first chapter. Episode 2 is going out and obtaining her apprentice. Episode 3, 4, and 5 are about this cult which means we got at least 3 more chapters to go if episode 6 is the conclusion.

Most manga in comparison won't do such a long arc at the beginning of the series, typically keeping it to single episodes and working their way up, so it's certainly a polarizing choice judging by the comments.

 

[MostlyHumanTLs]

Idk how to put screenshots in MD so here goes:

Tell me what exactly prevented her from realizing that in:

Chapter 9;

• Being tied to a cross isn't really parttime job like, or even remotely polite (and on the way, you'd think that while being brought to the cross or while being tied she'd have seen everyone else tied up too? But we'll ignore that, it'll ruin the 'comedic factor')
• People yelling "Cast the world into chaos" isn't really a nice thing to say to a parttimer
• Bringing an axe to a tied up parttimer is rude in presence of polite society

Your mistake here is assuming Kino has any idea of what is normal for a part time job. Or what is polite society, for that matter.

In this particular case, she's so relieved that she's not getting fired (and as a reminder, she fears getting fired because she believes she'll lose her only friend, which was more difficult to get than any S-ranked ingredient for her) that she's no longer paying attention to anything being said until she calms down next chapter.

Does this face look like she's paying attention to anything?

Chapter 10;

• Saying (edgy) things like "Let the blood flow" wasn't really part of the parttime job's post description
• Getting axed on the head is the most rude thing (unbelievably enough) one can do in polite society
• Getting a halberd to the head is also (believe it or not) really not a nice thing to do
• Getting poked with a sword to the eyes is one of the (I can't believe it myself, had to google it just to make sure I was right) worse things one polite member of society can do to another

Usoyama was the one to bring Kino to this part time job, and only really told her that they'll be hunting strangers, nothing specific. So Kino knows nothing about "the job's post description".

And again, you're stuck on what's normal for "a member of polite society", which Kino isn't. Even if something weird is said, she has no basis for comparison.

She heard "Let the blood flow", saw the axe and came to the most logical conclusion for her lived experience.


So she's letting them draw her blood, which is why, for her, it's not weird to be attacked with bladed tools. Of course, it doesn't work, and brings back her fear of getting fired.


On the topic of the sword aiming at her eye, we don't actually see the weapon connecting.

She could have blinked just after this panel as a subconscious reaction. And we have seen her defend herself automatically, like when the Yamata no Orochi was about to use fire on her. Things that are so instinctual to her, she basically has no control over those reactions.

Or, maybe her eyeball really is that hard.

As to why she even let the president strike her eyeball? We have no real clue as to her regenerative capabilities, so maybe losing an eyeball is "just a flesh wound" to her. For example, I've just checked and there's no indication that her finger is still hurt after she bit it, so it probably healed already.

Chapter 11;

• Saying things like "Chaos will swallow Tokyo whole" isn't a very friendly conversation opener (shocker, I know)

For this one, I'll link you to a comment I made previously explaining this exact part. Basically, she heard none of the disturbing things being said because she was deep in thought about what she could do to not get fired.

Chapter 12;

• Saying things like "Tokyo will become a world of chaos, where S-rank strangers roam freely" is probably sign of a red flag in the interlocutor
• Saying things like "This is the beginning of the end" or a group of people dressed in the same 'edgy' manner (most people would call those types 'cultists', feel free to fact check me) chanting "Cast the world into chaos" is probably a sign that you might be missing a bit of context

This part is the closest it gets to "weird for Kino not to have noticed something's wrong", since by this point she's calm enough to respond.


The argument is that she's still worried about getting fired, so it's possible she was once again not listening after the part where her blood quality got praised, and only tuned in to ask whether she's gonna get fired.


But it's a stretch. This one seems to be genuinely a case where she heard it, but didn't understand what they meant, so she just defaulted to worrying about getting fired. So, a genuine "dumb Kino" moment, I'll give you that.

Although, another argument could be that since the moment she stated that "the president's word is law", she's been unable to question the weird parts of what was being said.


Again, sort of a stretch. Up to the reader to decide. I'm now leaning towards Kino's reaction being a combination of both, but I also find this particular inattentiveness weird.

I couldn't be assed to reread after that honestly, so I just took the honorable mentions from C9 to 12.

This story really benefits from reading it all in one sitting, so I'd recommend re-reading from the beginning.

I could have just rewritten the chapters whole and have you kindly point out to me in each text bubble or panel where or what exactly prevented her from realizing that maybe, just maybe, something's wrong.

I think I did a pretty good job with what you gave me. Feel free to give me more examples, and we'll discuss them. As you've seen, I'm capable of noticing where stuff might not have been perfectly explained/depicted by the author.

Man, I can get you defending something you like, I can respect it. And I can respect it even more if you bring in actual arguments and are willing to debate.

More than willing, since I see this story as being unreasonable hated. I've brought in "actual arguments", so I'm waiting for yours.

But you're taking people for idiots here and I don't like it.

What else can I do when nobody wants to actually engage with any arguments? You are the first one to actually give examples of what you personally found wrong, and I appreciate that. Most others just throw out their hate comments and don't elaborate on what is actually wrong.

Maybe I don't know how to read, sure, but if I'm not the only one with the same criticism, then maybe, just maybe, you might have to do a bit of introspection and you might realize you yourself also can't seem to pay attention to what you're reading.

I think I've proven I pay more attention than you, at least.

As I pointed out above, maybe she's actually just that fucking dumb, and maybe, the joke got stale very, VERY fast.

She is dumb, as her little sister has stated. Also reckless and without common sense.


Nobody's arguing she's even of normal intellect. She has been established to be this kind of character, so most of the complaints people are having about her being dumb are honestly weird to me.

You may not like this sort of character, that's fair. But she's behaving exactly according to how she was established, so most of her actions make sense for her.

The real problem here, in case you haven't noticed, is that this is not even the 3rd or 4th volume, we're in the first chapters of the story, meaning this sets the tone and the pace. If you're telling me THIS is what I'm gonna have to get used to throughout it all, then hell no. However this is a me issue admitably, but you will have to admit that staying in the same scene for 4/5 chapters where the joke is hammered in your head is not a good look for the future.

I take issue with this statement. There's nothing inherently wrong with staying in one scene for a long period of time. What matters is that what happens in that scene makes sense to be happening in that scene.

Take for example 12 Angry Men, which is a story that happens entirely in one room, but is one of the best films ever made. Though, I reckon most youths today would be incapable of sitting through it...

And a lot of things are happening in these last few chapters. Not just "one joke stretched out" like your said, but many jokes/gags based on this particular premise.

I see a lot of people complaining about it, and I can only conclude that their brains are so overstimulated by slop that they need the background to constantly change for them to feel like things are happening.

This is why I say that people aren't paying attention to what they're reading.

It could also be however that you're the next Shakespeare or Molière and you're seeing something us mere mortals aren't seeing, and if so, then my bad grand sir, but I'm relatively certain you are not.

No need to be Shakespeare to pay attention and enjoy what I'm reading for what it is.

Your response pissed me off so much I was willing to do a whole thesis on why you're wrong, but fuck it, I hope you're happy with this.

If you consider this little rant "a whole thesis"... Man, what a sad world we live in.

But yes. I am happy you provided me with specific examples from the perspective of someone who wasn't paying attention to what they're reading. It was exactly what I needed to prove my point. Thank you.

Also, another thing you've proven to me is that some people are simply incapable of seeing perspectives other than their own.

 

[CommanderWeeaboo]

Lemme help you, and surely many other future commenters who are going to keep complaining about this story.

View attachment 40088View attachment 40091View attachment 40094View attachment 40097

We get it. This story isn't for you. Is torturing yourself like this your idea of fun? Drop it and move on.

Not quite sure why you're offended we're not currently enjoying the story, but like get over it? We're freely allowed to speak our opinions on the current state of the story. Your reply is just silly. I'm not going to speak for the others but I personally was enjoying this story and saw the potential, but this arc is not enjoyable which is why I called it wasted potential. Now, I'm going to keep reading in hopes this arc ends soon and it moves on to something new. But thanks for the useless tutorial!

 

[MostlyHumanTLs]

I know that you were lamenting on an earlier chapter that you couldn't wait for all the "haters" to drop the series so that you and the few others who are enjoying the series here could have "meaningful" discussions about it,

But all I've seen you do the last couple chapters is make disparaging comments about others for their issues with this title; and I have to wonder why you're putting so much effort into that, instead of just Ignoring them and engaging with the others here who seem to actually like it?

Because the proportion of negative comments feels like it's around 9 to 1, compared to the positive comments.

Because at this point, you're just actively contributing to the deterioration of any potential value available here.

What is this "any potential value available here" you're taking about? It's vague to the point of useless.

Deriding people for their supposed lacking of attention spans and insinuating that they "just can't understand" isn't exactly speaking to the merits of the series itself or creating the sort of atmosphere you claimed you initially wanted.

Read my comment above and see what you think. I'm starting to think most people really are clinically retarded...

 

[MostlyHumanTLs]

A question this brings to mind is that if absolute apocalyptic chaos is just normal for where she grew up, how the hell is anyone else in her village still alive, and how are they surviving now that she's gone?

There's no sign that the rest of her family are unstoppable super-humans.

As far as we know, there was no village. Just Kino, her sister, Grampa, and Grandma is mentioned once by the sister.

Seems that once Grampa died, they moved to Tokyo.

Edit: Found Grandma.

 

[MostlyHumanTLs]

Nah man, Kino is just so fucking stupid and oblivious that it actually destroys suspension of disbelief.

It's jarring as fuck that the most powerful being in the world has the situational awareness and survival instinct of a newborn bird.

Jarring for you, not jarring for me. A very subjective thing, so I'm not gonna argue.

Even if she was literally blind, a man got exsanguinated in that room, and blood smells.

He was completely eaten, so just how much it still smells of blood is a question.


But even then, I wouldn't be surprised if Kino is desensitised to blood in general, so it's not weird for her to not pay attention to it.

Based on how the writing has been for this, my hunch is that if Usoyama had in fact told Kino the truth, Kino would have willfully misinterpreted what she said just to keep this farce going.

Who knows. This story is teetering on the balance of making sense. A thing like you describe could break that balance in one fell swoop. Really depends on the execution, like everything.

 

[leaveomelas]

I'm firmly in hate read territory. Everytime she opens her mouth I just want to slap her.

Me too.