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闇の末裔 [Yami no Matsuei] #4
Descendants of Darkness, Volume 4
在前往調查的地區，都筑跟密不知為何總會遭遇到棘手事件。從在北海道休假，遇上雪女王失蹤事件，直到長崎的奇怪殺人事件為止，在這從北到南忙碌奔波的死神搭檔的前方，究竟有著什麼樣的事件真相在等待著他們呢？同事?理跟巽也華麗地共同演出。本集收錄了大受歡迎的六篇「闇之末裔」！
184 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
157 people want to read
About the author
Yoko Matsushita
17 books43 followersYoko Matsushita (松下 容子) is a mangaka best known for the supernatural series Yami no Matsuei (published in English as Descendants of Darkness).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 20, 2018
The previous volume was one long, quite dark story. For a change of pace, Matsushita here gives us two short, quite fluffy stories:
First, the team takes a vacation to Hokkaido (requisite manga vacation hotsprings scene) and is asked by some talking animals to help look for the missing Snow Queen.
Second, they have an inter-departmental archery tournament. The champion is some unpleasant new character who has a grudge against Tsuzuki (a lot of people seem annoyed by him, although he seems pleasant to me).
Then third there is a sudden vertiginous change of pace to a graphically horrible story of multiple murders at a boys' boarding school. Sodomy, mutilation, blackmail, torture, murder, demonic possession, sinful priests. The author says this was inspired by Umberto Eco.
Extra star for the super-cute animal. There is a drunk fortune-telling Scottish fold cat, who can resist that?
First, the team takes a vacation to Hokkaido (requisite manga vacation hotsprings scene) and is asked by some talking animals to help look for the missing Snow Queen.
Second, they have an inter-departmental archery tournament. The champion is some unpleasant new character who has a grudge against Tsuzuki (a lot of people seem annoyed by him, although he seems pleasant to me).
Then third there is a sudden vertiginous change of pace to a graphically horrible story of multiple murders at a boys' boarding school. Sodomy, mutilation, blackmail, torture, murder, demonic possession, sinful priests. The author says this was inspired by Umberto Eco.
Extra star for the super-cute animal. There is a drunk fortune-telling Scottish fold cat, who can resist that?
July 15, 2018
This volume is slip in three stories. This is mostly filler and do not develop our favorite duo much, but is still enjoyable !
In the first part, it the annual employee trips for the Ministry of Hades, this mean vacation time! New characters Yuma & Saya are introduce and they act like total fangirls in front of Hisoka. There is a amazing/funny scene in the hot springs. We get to see more of Tatsumi & Watari.
The winter Queen is missing, so the group of Shinigami decide to go look for her. This is a silly story that include Tsuzuki horrible attempt at baking and talking animals.
The second part is about the New Year archery contest between department. New characters are also introduced here. Terazuma, who doesn’t like Tsuzuki very much, and transform into a monster when a girl touches him, and Wakaba, his partner.
Tsuzuki have to replace chief Kanoe in the tournament and act as a slow-witted again.
3rd story is no more on the fun side and go back to being serious. A boy from a catholic boarding school is found dead and his soul is missing. Tsuzuki is undercover as a priest while Hisoka is a transfer student. Rumors say that the victim have been killed by his boyfriend. This part is quite sad, poor Tsuzuki who feel responsible for what happen.
In the first part, it the annual employee trips for the Ministry of Hades, this mean vacation time! New characters Yuma & Saya are introduce and they act like total fangirls in front of Hisoka. There is a amazing/funny scene in the hot springs. We get to see more of Tatsumi & Watari.
The winter Queen is missing, so the group of Shinigami decide to go look for her. This is a silly story that include Tsuzuki horrible attempt at baking and talking animals.
The second part is about the New Year archery contest between department. New characters are also introduced here. Terazuma, who doesn’t like Tsuzuki very much, and transform into a monster when a girl touches him, and Wakaba, his partner.
Tsuzuki have to replace chief Kanoe in the tournament and act as a slow-witted again.
3rd story is no more on the fun side and go back to being serious. A boy from a catholic boarding school is found dead and his soul is missing. Tsuzuki is undercover as a priest while Hisoka is a transfer student. Rumors say that the victim have been killed by his boyfriend. This part is quite sad, poor Tsuzuki who feel responsible for what happen.
September 3, 2011
This manga is two parts fluff, one part creepy horror, all wrapped up in a beautiful package. In the first chapter, the whole Enma-cho department goes on a vacation together. In the second chapter, they look for the Winter Queen that went missing. In the third and fourth chapter, they take part in an archery competition. But the fifth part is where it gets über-creepy with devils and zombies and murdered, mutilated boys. And the whole thing is riddled with yaoi hints and insinuations (in part five, it turns fairly graphic, but not with the main characters). And I love it!
February 5, 2019
So this volume starts off with the ministry's vacation to Hokkaido and (of course) a *hot springs*. Sigh... All these hot springs vacations in anime and manga are certainly doing a great marketing job for hot springs. I really wanna go visit one now! But on the other hand I find myself eye-rolling at all the typical hot springs jokes & banter. It did catch me off guard however when a talking rabbit, fox, and alligator show up and enlist the crew to hunt down the missing snow queen. Tied in with this is an archery competition, which you'd think would earn some brownie points with me as I really like archery. However add in a guy that turns into some demon dog monster when he touches a woman, and a *girlish* partner whose job it is just to turn him back, and a pranked target that says you must French kiss one of your teammates if you hit it and UGH! Enough already!
The last few chapters have them looking for a lost soul from a murder at an all boy's school. The whole plot in this story is just screwy. It seems like hacked together non-sense just to get some overt boy-love scandal in. There's some demon who is supposedly the mastermind of it all just to lure Tsuzuki there to challenge him for his new role as the ruler of dragons?! I mean I remember this fight from earlier, but this totally comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. There's also a woman demon-hunter disguised as one of the boy-students, who sneaks in on Hisoka while he's sleeping and attacks him, then turns all buddy buddy and explains the demon-power-challenge thing with Tsuzuki. Sorry if that makes not sense, but reading it didn't make any sense to me, so how can I explain any more clearly... sigh...
Bottom line is that I quit here. The stories seem to be more supernatural mystery / crime fighting than I care for, and I'm really not digging the storylines or the characters. I expected death, I mean they're working for some underworld ministry, but this is gory death. There's also a lot of boy-love undertones and overt overtones, which would bother me less if it weren't portrayed as abusive and wrong. I suppose that is a mark of the time to some extent as this was originally written in the late 90's, but it still bothers me to see it. Between Dr. Muraki in the last volume and the Catholic boy's school murders in this one, it's just too much a theme for me to want to continue with these stories. Oddly enough in the side notes, Matsushita says something along the lines of "I write what I like, if you don't like it read something else", and so I shall.
The last few chapters have them looking for a lost soul from a murder at an all boy's school. The whole plot in this story is just screwy. It seems like hacked together non-sense just to get some overt boy-love scandal in. There's some demon who is supposedly the mastermind of it all just to lure Tsuzuki there to challenge him for his new role as the ruler of dragons?! I mean I remember this fight from earlier, but this totally comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. There's also a woman demon-hunter disguised as one of the boy-students, who sneaks in on Hisoka while he's sleeping and attacks him, then turns all buddy buddy and explains the demon-power-challenge thing with Tsuzuki. Sorry if that makes not sense, but reading it didn't make any sense to me, so how can I explain any more clearly... sigh...
Bottom line is that I quit here. The stories seem to be more supernatural mystery / crime fighting than I care for, and I'm really not digging the storylines or the characters. I expected death, I mean they're working for some underworld ministry, but this is gory death. There's also a lot of boy-love undertones and overt overtones, which would bother me less if it weren't portrayed as abusive and wrong. I suppose that is a mark of the time to some extent as this was originally written in the late 90's, but it still bothers me to see it. Between Dr. Muraki in the last volume and the Catholic boy's school murders in this one, it's just too much a theme for me to want to continue with these stories. Oddly enough in the side notes, Matsushita says something along the lines of "I write what I like, if you don't like it read something else", and so I shall.
June 13, 2018
Tsuzuki’s department is finally getting a vacation to a luxury resort in Hokkaido, only the vacation tuns out to be less of a break than his department hoped for. Animal denizens of the Snow Queen’s realm need the shinigami to help them find their missing monarch and Tatsumi is incapable of resisting a offer of monetary compensation.
Vacation is followed by competition when Tsuzuki and Hisoka find themselves teaming up with Terazuma, an irrascible shinigami with no love for Tsuzuki against his wily rivals in another department. The stakes are high, especially with the Count demanding Tsuzuki’s body if they lose!
Once the competition is over, it’s back to work. Tsuzuki and Hisoka go undercover at an all boys Catholic school as a priest and a student to find a murdered boy’s soul. Only forbidden passions are high, being fueled by a demon in an attempt to lure Tsuzuki to him.
With the exception of the final story, this volume was much lighter than the previous ones. It introduced a host of new characters, including Saya Torii and Yuma Fukuya, shinigami leaders of Hokkaido whom decide Hisoka is the prettiest little thing they’ve ever seen. Readers also meet Terazuma and his odd supernatural quirks, which only his partner, Wakaba can reverse. The Kanawa sisters make an appearance in all their determination and dirty tricks to beat Terazuma by any means. Beatrix, the Snow Queen and the animal denizens of her kingdom are revealed, plus the varied cast involved in the St. Michel drama. The Count of Candles, Konoe, Watari, Tsuzuki, and Hisoka are all developed while revealing more about the Ministry of Hades and the demon world.
For an intriguing cast of characters whom come into play within two light plots and one dark plot, with a liberal dash of yaoi added to both, this gets four stars.
Vacation is followed by competition when Tsuzuki and Hisoka find themselves teaming up with Terazuma, an irrascible shinigami with no love for Tsuzuki against his wily rivals in another department. The stakes are high, especially with the Count demanding Tsuzuki’s body if they lose!
Once the competition is over, it’s back to work. Tsuzuki and Hisoka go undercover at an all boys Catholic school as a priest and a student to find a murdered boy’s soul. Only forbidden passions are high, being fueled by a demon in an attempt to lure Tsuzuki to him.
With the exception of the final story, this volume was much lighter than the previous ones. It introduced a host of new characters, including Saya Torii and Yuma Fukuya, shinigami leaders of Hokkaido whom decide Hisoka is the prettiest little thing they’ve ever seen. Readers also meet Terazuma and his odd supernatural quirks, which only his partner, Wakaba can reverse. The Kanawa sisters make an appearance in all their determination and dirty tricks to beat Terazuma by any means. Beatrix, the Snow Queen and the animal denizens of her kingdom are revealed, plus the varied cast involved in the St. Michel drama. The Count of Candles, Konoe, Watari, Tsuzuki, and Hisoka are all developed while revealing more about the Ministry of Hades and the demon world.
For an intriguing cast of characters whom come into play within two light plots and one dark plot, with a liberal dash of yaoi added to both, this gets four stars.
February 18, 2020
This volume is not nearly as dark as the last and even contains some fluffier adventures. Adventures like, the entire Bureau getting together for a contest to prove who is the best department. The other team resorts to a lot of cheating... Or the boss choosing their vacation spot via a map, dart, and blind fold. The crew lucks out and they get to go to a luxurious resort, but of course life can't give them everything and they are helping to solve the mystery of the missing Queen of Snow.
But don't worry! There's still some dark bits, like the team investigating the death of a student at a private catholic school for boys...
Art is still gorgeous. Tsuzuki is still my fave and we get to meet members from other parts of the Bureau!
But don't worry! There's still some dark bits, like the team investigating the death of a student at a private catholic school for boys...
Art is still gorgeous. Tsuzuki is still my fave and we get to meet members from other parts of the Bureau!
August 11, 2019
Another reread for me, but for some reason I can't remember anything from this. This volume contains three short stories. First two are just for fun and I like them for that reason (especially the first one!) but third story is really quite dark. It also brings fascinating twist about Tsuzuki to the story and Tsuzuki's story is exactly why I was so hooked on this series in the first place. More angst for him and this series will be back in 5* tier.
December 31, 2018
The first two stories of this volume revolve around our Shinigamis going on holiday to Hokkaido (jealousy!) and an inter-departmental martial arts competition, which are pure fluff.
The last story though is very dark and revolves around how the Christian religion views love, sexuality and sin, while a demon tries to compete for Tsuzuki’s title of leader of the dragons in the demon world. 3 stars
The last story though is very dark and revolves around how the Christian religion views love, sexuality and sin, while a demon tries to compete for Tsuzuki’s title of leader of the dragons in the demon world. 3 stars
July 10, 2022
What even is this volume.
The first 2/3rds is tedious filler, and the last part is uncomfortably homophobic? Like, I think this was originally written in 1998 and it shows.
Now, this volume is a total out-of-left-field aberration, so I'm going to give this series a chance to pick itself back up, but if the next volume is anything like this one then fck it I quit
The first 2/3rds is tedious filler, and the last part is uncomfortably homophobic? Like, I think this was originally written in 1998 and it shows.
Now, this volume is a total out-of-left-field aberration, so I'm going to give this series a chance to pick itself back up, but if the next volume is anything like this one then fck it I quit
December 27, 2021
I decided to go back and reread the series because I am a big fan of the anime and I only read the series once when it first released in English. I cannot remember this volume whatsoever none of these stories ended up in the anime so it was like reading any all new manga.
May 11, 2018
Why wasn't this in the anime!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????
July 28, 2021
This volume contains 2 filler arcs and 1 story-progression arc. It didn't age well, but it is fun to see Catholicism introduced/reimagined from an outside perspective.
October 14, 2024
Really, it’s the last story that saves this volume because the first two vignettes were pointless. It really only picks up in chapter 5, but even then I have so many questions.
December 15, 2025
3.75/5⭐️
I did not care for the short stories in the beginning. But the final two chapters were pretty good.
I did not care for the short stories in the beginning. But the final two chapters were pretty good.
September 4, 2025
Trzy opowiadanka. Pierwsze jest zapchajdziurą.
Drugie to zawody łucznictwa, chociaż bardziej niż łuk wzrok przyciąga Hajime.
A trzecia... zwykły fanserwis, niewiele wnosi.
Poza tym zauważam irytującą tendencję - co rusz przypomina mi się co to Hades, Emancho, że Sekcja odwołań i tak dalej. Hej! W pierwszym tomie już wyjaśniłaś, droga autorko, głupi bezmózg Ja zamapiętać i wiedzieć.
Drugie to zawody łucznictwa, chociaż bardziej niż łuk wzrok przyciąga Hajime.
A trzecia... zwykły fanserwis, niewiele wnosi.
Poza tym zauważam irytującą tendencję - co rusz przypomina mi się co to Hades, Emancho, że Sekcja odwołań i tak dalej. Hej! W pierwszym tomie już wyjaśniłaś, droga autorko, głupi bezmózg Ja zamapiętać i wiedzieć.
September 12, 2013
This volume contains 3 2-chapter one offs in the DOD universe.
The first story is the worst and deals with the Winter Queen of some fairy dimension that goes missing. It turns out she's simply passed out eating Tsuzuki's cooking. Very very silly, although from a bishonen POV has some gorgeous scenes of the boys bathing in a hot spring!
2nd story is an archery contest between the 2 departments in the ministry of justice. Introduces some new characters and is great fun, but ultimately still very "lite".
It's in the last story that this comes into its own - inspired by 'In the name of the Rose' our boys have to solve a series of murders in a catholic boys school. The story is dark and sexy but sadly not given nearly enough room to breathe - this entire story should have taken up the whole volume. Matsuei actually apologies in one of the side notes and says that it doesn't quite work - there are lots of conveniences that are never quite explained. Still its definitely worth checking out. We learn that all the demons are now after Tsuzuki because the power of the dragon he got from defeating Ashitarote.
Artwork is really nice although some of the characters do look remarkably similar so keep your wits about you. This volume as a whole is a tad disjointed being three unrelated stories. Not the best in the series by a long shot, but enjoyable all the same.
June 1, 2009
I read all four volumes at one go (found them in my sister's collection). The whole lot was engaging enough, but really, really uneven, both story- and art-wise. Some chapters had better artwork than the others, and it's not a case of getting better as it goes along -- it continues being choppy. After four volumes I still have problems picking out the main characters from a page! It's really troublesome! Why can't the characters with black hair always have their hair shaded black all the time! This confuses me!
Story-wise. Well. It gets darker as it moves along, but I'm reserving judgement on whether it gets better. (I am probably jaded. I've read too much manga that all the angst just makes me want to giggle.)
Story-wise. Well. It gets darker as it moves along, but I'm reserving judgement on whether it gets better. (I am probably jaded. I've read too much manga that all the angst just makes me want to giggle.)
June 1, 2015
This series is just delightful! Bloodsoaked mysteries, intense dramatic moments, demons and death swirled artfully together with hilarity, mis-adventurous mayhem and plenty of PG-13 homo-erotic innuendo. So much fun, I can't get enough! I am in love with the characters, and the plot is great because its so varied, yet cohesive, a wonderful grab bag of twists and arcs that leave you always guessing what's going to happen next. I can't wait to get my hands on the next volume!
July 4, 2012
I swear, if the whole series were like the first part of this book, it would be a cracktastically hilarious romp from one end to the other.
However, it seems to be more of the second half of this book - the weird, warped sexuality, deep violence and character actions that make no sense while wanting to be taken seriously. It's still a guilty pleasure, but this volume really showed some of the deep, deep flaws this series has.
However, it seems to be more of the second half of this book - the weird, warped sexuality, deep violence and character actions that make no sense while wanting to be taken seriously. It's still a guilty pleasure, but this volume really showed some of the deep, deep flaws this series has.
August 11, 2012
I just can't do it. Can't. I loved the anime. I want to like this series. But everybody's overwrought and it's straining too hard for The Funny and I like my guys to look like men not prissy girls. A full cast of men who look like girls would be bad enough, but they all look like prissy girls. Augh. What little I can make out of plot around my distaste of the art and descension into The Funny hasn't been thrilling me either.
July 13, 2019
L'episodio della regina delle nevi è bellissimo, gli animali umanizzati sono stupendi, sopratutto Catsith, il gatto che predice il futuro coi geta. L'episodio finale ha dei disegni splendidi, scene hot e scene horror. Davvero bello.
December 22, 2016
continuing regrets, this time featuring "i had to kill those boys because being gay is a sin (a/n "isn't it weird that some religions DON'T think being gay is a sin?)" in this heavily shonen-ai series
Read
December 11, 2010F MAT dod v.4
January 15, 2016
pretty good.
July 22, 2013
#Program BUBU
Read
January 11, 2019I like it
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