Volume 7

Story guide

This is a single illustration with three of Yoroi-san (Armor Knight)'s faces lined up horizontally. At the top, there is an explanation that the armor group did not appear, and at the bottom, there is a note saying they want to include them next time. All three faces feature the vertical lines of the helmet, the black horizontal visor, and the grid-like mouth, but the angle of the visor and the way the mouth is drawn differ slightly. A speech bubble is placed next to the face on the far right, with a short utterance written inside.

Story guide

Momonga finds a book that appears to be about acting sweet in an outdoor bookcase, pays a coin, and picks it up. On opening it, they realize that it contains only text rather than the pictures they expected, and seem to find the work of reading bothersome. They try to hand the book to someone nearby and have them read it, but the other person is troubled. The scene shows Momonga prioritizing whether they can get what they want without effort over the book's contents.

Story guide

At a standing soba-like restaurant, Chiikawa and Hachiware find Rakko eating noodles behind them. Rakko seems to have wanted the same thing, but Chiikawa and Hachiware cannot immediately grasp that feeling. A small complaint over choosing food creates awkwardness and humor in the cramped shop. Watching Rakko, Hachiware senses that this will not be a meal that simply ends with eating. Steaming bowls and the large figure behind them set up a scene where a particular attachment to food leads to an unexpected exchange.

Story guide

Hachiware finds a chestnut-like nut in the mountains and puts it in a basket. Chiikawa and Usagi walk through the forest with Hachiware and try eating something they find near a tree. Hachiware is surprised by how good it tastes, while Chiikawa describes a sweetness that seems to spread through them. When asked about the taste, Usagi reacts strongly. This opening scene has the three sample gathered food and share the pleasure of spending time in the mountains.

Story guide

Momonga approaches a small black creature that was in front of them while making their tail look large. As the other creature seems about to leave, Momonga wonders whether their gesture got through and starts to think there may be something like friendship there. In the end, looking toward the other creature, they decide to try acting cute.

Story guide

When Hachiware suggests discussing lunch, Usagi points to curry in front of a restaurant. Chiikawa joins them in looking inside, where they find an item apart from the ordinary menu marked with a flame-framed demon emblem. Unable to make out what the name means, the three take the mark to be demon-like and begin considering an order in front of the black menu.

Story guide

Chiikawa and Hachiware watch Usagi run ahead and wonder where they are heading. Usagi puts a nut shell on their head and finds another shell by a tree. Before long, a large shell flies into Hachiware's head, and Usagi, still wearing the same shell as a hat, goes farther into the forest. Kurimanju is nearby as Chiikawa and Hachiware follow Usagi.

Story guide

This single image shows Hachiware standing with a small pouch around their neck, with a short sound-effect-like text beside them. The post does not reveal who they might be fighting, whom they might be addressing, or what is inside the pouch. There is no basis to determine whether Hachiware is heading out for a Subjugation or is simply being shown carrying a tool; only their solitary figure is depicted.

Story guide

Momonga finds a small black creature in a bathroom and invites it into the tub. When they learn that the light-blue tub is a cold-water bath, Momonga dislikes the cold but jumps in with force and immediately sends up a splash. After Momonga gets out, the other creature suggests that Momonga's earlier appearance may have looked cute, and Momonga cannot quite take in the comment.

Story guide

Hachiware spots Rakko in front of a standing soba shop and recalls how they had long regarded Rakko's way of eating as strong. Hachiware eats soba in the same way and, after tasting it, thinks that becoming stronger requires continuing with something. Carrying a pouch and a tool, Hachiware starts walking with Rakko behind them, giving them a starting point for thinking about their goal.

Cultural and language noteStanding soba shops, where customers eat soba quickly while standing inside, are commonly seen in Japan.

Story guide

Ano-ko plays with a stick-like object while small black creatures watch from around them. They lie on the ground and sway as if in time with a sound while holding up one of the creatures, seeming to have fun. When the small creatures keep their distance, Ano-ko lets go of the object in their hands and watches the direction in which the others flee.

Story guide

Momonga appears in a devil-style costume with horns and wings, strongly telling the Goblins that they want to eat sweets. When a Goblin says their wings match, Momonga is displeased and declares they will change into a costume with a pumpkin and a hat with a brim. The changed Momonga marches along with the Goblins chanting "trick or treat," and is offered food by a gray-armored figure. They check to see if it is something sweet, but what appears is yakisoba containing pork, shishito peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and onions. Even so, Momonga eats it while saying that the mushrooms have sweetness to them, and the Goblins also swarm the plate.

Cultural and language noteOn Halloween, people in costume traditionally go around asking for treats; in this post, costumes and sweets set the scene in motion.

Story guide

This brief single image places Hachiware, Chiikawa, and Usagi side by side, each making a differently toned sound. A small musical note and a short vocalization appear beside Hachiware, and Chiikawa joins the same rhythm. Usagi holds a round white object while making another sound effect. There is no event or destination connecting the three; the repeated text and musical notes capture only a moment of their lively voices together. Rather than advancing a conversation, it is an illustration that enjoys the sound of their voices and their arrangement.

Story guide

Momonga is lying down, making sleeping breaths and moving their mouth. Beside them stands a gray figure holding a paper tag that says "Books". Momonga orders them to wake them up, and when the gray figure pokes them with a thin stick, they immediately revise their demand and tell them to wake them up gently. When the figure lightly taps them with their fingertips, Momonga gives a big yawn and opens their eyes, presenting their face and telling them to look at this sleepy face. There, when the gray figure shows them a picture of what appears to be sweet cream, Momonga bites at it with half-closed eyes, asks if it is a place where sweet cream gushes forth, and demands to be taken there. It ends with Momonga chasing the figure, who has started running with the tag in their arms.

Story guide

Kurimanju spends their time tearing apart chikuwa from a Chikuzen-ni stew on a tree-stump table, with a canned drink at their side. Nearby, Shisa and a large, tusked companion are drinking and eating in the same way. Kurimanju holds out some tempura made from island shallots, urging them to try it with snow salt while taking a bite of one themselves, causing Shisa's eyes to sparkle. Just as Kurimanju gulps down their drink, Shisa tentatively speaks up, asking to be taught the difficult parts of an alcohol certification sometime. When Kurimanju asks in surprise if they mean right now, Shisa begins talking about pairing, and Kurimanju listens while giving agreeable responses.

Story guide

Chiikawa's fur has become a jagged, spiky crop, and Hachiware and Usagi cry out in surprise. Hachiware confirms that their fur volume increased when they woke up, and accepts it by saying it has been cold lately. Then the sequence is recounted: they were happy to see the increased fur in the mirror, but it got hot and they developed heat rash, which became painful, and a container of powder for heat rash is shown alongside. Finally, Hachiware shouts asking if Chiikawa cut it themselves, and Chiikawa silently nods, ending the scene.

Story guide

Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi hold small cups and share a drink. Comparing the cups and a bottle, Hachiware thinks of pouring cola into the cups. Chiikawa drinks a little at a time, while Usagi finds the combination amusing and drinks it eagerly. Hachiware tries to convey how good it tastes, but Usagi changes how they drink and moves even more dramatically. At the end, Chiikawa and Hachiware keep holding their own cups as they watch Usagi. The playful experiment with a drink lightly livens up the three's New Year gathering.

Cultural and language noteSmall cups are used to drink small amounts of beverages such as sake. Here, pouring cola into them is the unexpected use that provides the humor.

Story guide

Chiikawa keeps studying at a desk, but pauses their pencil as if speaking to a small object nearby. The scene shifts to the nighttime streets, where Chiikawa exchanges a few brief words with people while walking. At a food stall, Yoroi-san (Armor Knight) is handling a warm sweet bean filling, which Chiikawa receives and eats. Afterward, the image returns to the desk and table, making the fatigue of studying and the nighttime experience seem to continue without a break.

Story guide

This illustration places a large character meaning rest against a light-blue background, surrounded by Momonga, Chiikawa, Usagi, Hachiware, Furuhonya, Shisa, Rakko, and Kurimanju. The characters are lying down or have sleepy eyes, while the central character and the CHIIKAWA lettering establish the theme of rest. There are no speech bubbles or scene changes, and it is not a comic page continuing the short nap story. By arranging different sleeping poses and quiet expressions, it stands as an independent visual celebrating time to rest.