Chapter 18

Commentary Iori Kanzaki No matter the era, the concept of death is one that fascinates people of all ages and genders. I myself am no exception, as I enjoy stories of this nature. Characters gather together and meet their demises one after another, sometimes with their organs scattered around, other times with their brains pierced, until in the end only a lucky few survive. There are also works in which calamity strikes survivors in some form. In any case, these stories grant readers a taste of death. I suspect that the audience in this series also revels in the delight of being able to perceive death from a safe yet up-close-and-personal distance. However, this is not simply a death-game story. First of all, the characters are participating in games of their own volition. Players even go so far as to change their appearances (like Airi, who grew out her hair in hopes of inducing financial contributions from the audience), a sign that they enjoy the games from the bottom of their hearts. Although their lives are being toyed with, it feels as if they are actually the ones in control. Furthermore, the story does not revolve around a one-off game; the fact that the games are held repeatedly is an entertaining aspect. It is especially unique that the games are not identical, but rather take place in different locations with different rules each time. Perhaps because of that distinction, the genre differs slightly across games. Past games like Ghost House (Volume 1) and Scrap Building (Volume 2) are classic escape-themed death games, while Candle Woods (Volume 1) and Golden Bath (Volume 2) play out like massacres, hewing closer to the mold of gory survival games in the vein of Battle Royale. In this volume, Cloudy Beach unfolds like a mystery, with advanced players finding themselves in a game reminiscent of werewolf. And what I believe to be the heart of this series is the clash of emotions between youthful characters and the thrilling developments that arise as a result. The Preservation Treatment—the mechanism in which blood that comes in contact with air transforms into a cotton-like texture. This novel conceit considerately tones down the image of “death” in this series. Of course, while there are scenes featuring grisly elements such as severed arms and legs, the imagery in readers’ minds instead becomes that of white fluff scattered about, giving death a hint of charm. Although the spectacle of dying is a selling point of the death-game genre, this work does not depict loss of life as something so grotesque. That is a big advantage that allows the thrilling developments between characters to take center stage. Yuki, a player with a low-key aura like a phantom who shows little emotion when interacting with others, expresses a passionate resolve in inheriting her mentor’s will and occasionally demonstrates compassion for others. I suspect there are readers who are pleased by the fact that, as the story progresses, she is shown to not be so cold but is actually a kindhearted person. Then there are her relationships with the characters around her. Those other characters are not just present for her to kick down for the sake of survival. They are her rivals, sometimes friends, and in this volume, a fellow protégé. I was completely captivated by the battle to the death that played out like it would in a battle manga, with all the pride and emotions flying about. Yuki has fought on after inheriting her mentor’s goal of clearing ninety-nine consecutive games. How will her attitude toward her goal change after learning the truth that her mentor is still alive? And what genre of death game will be featured next? I eagerly await the continuation of the story.