La bestia del rey, vol. 9

王の獣 [Ō no Kemono] #9

by Rei Tōma, Judith Zamora Lablanca (Translator)

Rangetsu y Sogetsu vuelven a reunirse por fin. Pero su alegría no durará mucho, pues el emperador, obsesionado con la idea de hacerse con la inmortalidad sirviéndose del arcano de ambos, se abalanza sobre los hermanos en un arrebato de locura...

Asimismo, la bestia sirviente del emperador no tarda en mostrar su propio arcano... El arcano de Sogetsu llega a su impactante final. ¡Comienza un nuevo capítulo de esta historia!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Shojo, Young Adult, Japanese Literature

168 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2022

About the author

Rei Tōma (Japanese: 藤間 麗,Tōma Rei) has been drawing since childhood, but she only began drawing manga because of her graduation project in design school. When she drew a short-story manga, "Help me dentist" (ヘルプ me デンティスト), it attracted a publisher's attention and she made her debut right away. Her magnificent art style became popular, and after she debuted as a manga artist, she became known as an illustrator for novels and video game character designs.

Dawn of the Arcana is her first long-running manga series, and it has been a hit in Japan, selling over a million copies.

Reviews

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait for volume 10!! The plot is so insane in this series and the art is gorgeous!

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a little confusing because it was all pictures. I can't tell what's happening if I don't have a lot of dialogue to go with the pictures. It got more understandable towards the middle and end and I'm really liking the story so far. Sogetsu is such an interesting character.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Emperor gets the upper hand in his quest for immortality, but, while sticks and stones might break her bones, just how far can Rangetsu go before her powers fail her? And with her brother and Tenyou unable to help, what hope does she have left?

Thus endeth the series, not with a bang, but a whimper. Oh, wait, it’s not over yet. Well, anyway, the grand resolution to the driving plotline of the story does wrap up, but there’s a lotta fallout left to deal with.

I am not going to lie, something just doesn’t sell this climax for me. It’s very good, but when it comes to The King’s Beast I tend to expect perfection and something just isn’t working for me. Prepare for discussion.

The Emperor works as a baddie, the search for immortality is the dream of many an absolute ruler, and I did especially love how he knows he can’t justify anything to Tenyou in a way that will satisfy the prince. That was one of the best exchanges in the book.

And Rangetsu certainly proves herself as a bad-ass, taking on a massive opponent and doing very well for herself. She’s clever enough to manage a near-win against odds that are… not great.

This is going to sound very particular, but I think the ending is a little too good for its own good. What started as a brilliant dark fantasy has slowly turned into a mostly brilliant romance and fantasy. I think that’s partly the point - Tenyou has brought so much back to Rangetsu beyond her single-minded focus on revenge - but I liked it all a bit more sinister.

Everybody playing a part in this denouement really feels powerful, but it also really takes the edge off the narrative in the same way that Sogetsu being alive did. There are still some shocking moments - poor Tenyou - but the climactic moment of a series should clear the bar easily and this one clips it a bit in the attempt.

The aftermath, at least, is completely devoid of expectations and a real hoot. Once the series switches back to goofy mode it does have a lot of fun with these characters.

Not, of course, before Rangetsu can properly wrestle with a ton of pent-up emotions and some guilt that threatens to overwhelm her before a good talking-to from Kougai. Of course, Kougai is a bit of a dope and it was hilarious/sad to see the fallout of both his attempts at helping and the catharsis for poor Rangetsu.

Tenyou and Rangetsu finally get a little more action together (not before Rangetsu nearly gives him a heart attack by trying to go see him soaking wet, of course), the princes have fun being ridiculous, and I had to laugh at how quickly Tenyou just embraces the notion of twincest (that cookie snap though…).

And even if there are now things in the mix that I don’t like - an old as the hills boob joke (although, given the setting, maybe it’s modern here), Sogetsu’s dissociative disorder (I guarantee this will end up annoying me), and the resolution to the storyline - the path forward is pretty interesting.

A character appears who may have some connection to the mangaka’s other series set in this universe, although it doesn’t seem to be completely clear, and quickly the threat from within is replaced by a credible threat from without.

I won’t say this sudden change is as compelling as the original plot, but it’s still very good and I’m interested to see how things go when the court bickering is replaced with diplomatic mucking about. There’s definite potential that I respect, at least.

4 stars - I feel this could have worked as an ending for the series, honestly, and I wish more seeds had been sown beforehand about where it’s going next, but I still dearly love this manga and its characters and am still looking forward to where it’s headed.

[MargReadsManga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!! We get mention of the arcana.

[Christina Close · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is starting to confuse me but also it keeps pulling me in with all the twists. Like this book we have an evil emperor and a love connection between a prince and his beast servant.

I want to not keep reading this series but each book leaves off on a cliffhanger that I just really want to know what happens next.

[Pradnya Paramitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sampe lupa komik ini belum dimasukin ke reading list. Duh, buku ke-10 kapan nih hilalnya >.<

Di buku 9 ini akhirnya Rangetsu bisa jadi diri sendiri. Dan Pangeran Tenyo nih bucinnya gak pake tedeng aling-aling 🤣

Rangetsu akhirnya ketemu sama sodara kembarnya, dan tolong lah, Sogetsu ini cowok tapi cantiknya ngalah-ngalahin Rangetsu 😭

[Kaitlynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

These characters are precious and I love them so much.

[Wioletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this volume however I'm wondering what happened to the emperor and his beast servant after everything went down... I won't spoil but that was a little lacking in this volume in my opinion, hopefully, the next volume will explain more of what's about to happen to him. Nonetheless, I absolutely ADORE Sogetsu's and Rangetsu's sibling relationship, I'm so happy for them. Prince Tenyou and Rangetsu's relationship is growing and Tenyou is very VERY *romantic* toward Rangetsu in chapters 34-35 ♥

Story: 4,8 ★
Art: 5 ★ (Its beautiful)
Characters: 5 ★
Do I recommend starting this series? I'll tell you when I'm done reading all volumes(once they all come out, it's an ongoing series) but it is very entertaining especially if you are into Shojo, fantasy, and romance mangas.

[givememycheetos · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Are we even surprise que le siga dando 5 estrellas? Nop

[Hoppipolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

El señor Taihaku como siempre carrilleando con todos JAJAJAJA qué grande ese hombre que le suban el sueldo.

[eve.lyn._.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

¸.·✩·.¸¸.·¯⍣✩ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐'𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸
      4.5 Stars
   Rangetsu has found who she was searching for all along, but she is caught in a trap by the emperor. In a vicious battle against the empire in order to free the people she dearly loves, many people add to the mix, complicating things. When Tenyou is struggling to protect both Sogetsu and Rangetsu, he is shocked by the actions of his father. Kougai joins the battle, but who will he protect? Ririn and Boku wonder if these feelings are fleeting or destined to come to fruition. With the emperor and his loyal servants determined to take more from the twins, will they be able to come out victorious?

         "Even if I am no longer in pain . . . who am I?"
          -Sogetsu
     The King's Beast Vol. 9 is always a joy to read, but this volume in particular picked up what made the first couple of volumes brilliant. It's always a burst of serotonin whenever I pick up one of the new volumes of The King's Beast. Being a big fan of this series by Rei Tōma I am always excited to read it. Still, there was something I loved so much about the first couple of volumes that started to fade away in the recent ones. From the start, the story had a darker tone about the power imbalances between the Ajin and humans, the visceral feelings of Rangetsu, and her trauma. It was about classism, revenge, and honour.

       Soon the story took on a lighter tone, focusing a lot more on comedic timing and romance. Yes. The romance was adorable and sweet, but it eventually seemed to take up the entire plot. It felt as if, despite having the same characters, plot, and storyline, the tension in the first book soon became romantic tension. I would say that this is an overall focus on Rangetsu's journey to find healing. To have Sogetsu actually be alive was just everything! At the same time, it felt like it was coming in quite late into the storyline.

         There were honestly awkward, disgusting, and unneeded sexual jokes and sexual moments involving Kougai. At first, it felt as if everything that went down in Volume Six was meant to emphasise the cruel way that Ajin women are treated. I felt as if it was also used to show the reader more about Kougai. Then it felt as if the author was treating it as a running joke. Random things would happen, like him pushing her into the bath, taking off his clothes, or kissing her neck, only for the scene to wrap up and be of no relevance later on. Rangetsu didn't even seem bothered at this point. She seemed desensitised to it, or as if she'd built up a tolerance. Sexual harassment is no joke, and Rangetsu shouldn't be taking Kougai's actions lightly. There need to be consequences.

          In the plot itself, the long-awaited climax happened. Maybe it's because I read it at school, but it wasn't everything I wanted. It was exciting but quickly resolved. Tenyou didn't do anything to my dismay, and neither did Rangetsu. While it felt a lot like an emotional climax because we get to see Rangetsu make a decision that she wouldn't have made if she was the same person as she was in the beginning, I still yearned for more action. Still, the first half was filled with the darkness that made the story so interesting. The antagonist was revealed, and it was a good enough character dive, but I still wished to learn more.

         The second half was romance and giggles. It was fun, but not my favourite. Still, seeing Sogetsu and Rangetsu interact was fun. Tenyou staring in awe at the twins is how all the readers feel when looking at the beautiful art. I really wanted more Taihaku, Ririn, and Boku, but alas, such scenes with them will hopefully show up in the next volume. Sogetsu's multiple personality disorder is a really interesting part of the plot for me because I have never read or seen a movie with a character who has this. I am intrigued to see who the real Sogetsu is and how he will deal with his trauma.
☑️PLOT
☑️CHARACTERS
☑️PLOT TWISTS

[aru (arya) · Rating 5 out of 5]

cw//spoilers, SA mention

GOD I LOVE SHOUJO MANGA. This series sets itself apart from the genre by having insane imperial court political dynamics, which play into the main storyline seamlessly. Sogetsu reconciling with his split personalities due to surviving the most horrific kinds of torture imaginable, physical and even sexual from the emperor as implied, was so bittersweet. Rather, Sogetsu reconciling with the fact that he'll never be whole again after everything he's gone through, and despairing that he cannot feel a sibling's love for Rangetsu, nor enjoy her renewed presence in his life because in his own mind's eye, he's barely alive. Especially when his raucous, boisterous personality - some might say perverse - Rei Toma for the love of all that is holy PLEASE do not make this twincest - has those moments of tender despair, grieving for the vulnerable self which he had to shut away after seeing Prince Tenyou get amputated trying to save him. One last thing on the hopefully-not-twincest: to me, this read as an indicator of just how far alienated Sogetsu is from himself - behaving in suggestive, hyper-sexual ways and making odd comments about his sister. There's an air of total unrecognizability as a sibling to Rangetsu, and there's something profoundly sad about that. And THEN the tenderness and sadness is interspersed with like, an imperial coup and then culminates in trading with a shady prince-merchant from the West who knows more than he's letting on... Ugh so so good...
I wonder if the permanent crack in Sogetsu's psyche is merely due to the mental preparation itself that he underwent in the moments before he was supposed to be decapitated by the emperor. I also wonder how the collar got on him - I'm thinking that they put him through some sort of meat grinder, or reconstituted his being into the collar itself, like letting a seed grow in a mold. He's undergone so much humiliation and cruelty, and to my knowledge he's still dressed in a concubine's robes up until the very end. Unsure of what his regenerative capacities as a 9-tailed kitsune are, however it's possible that they experimented in putting him in shackles, which is what caused his psyche to break into three pieces to begin with, as current (rowdy) Sogetsu has no recollection of life before the collar, and only recognizes Rangetsu and his childhood as a static presence, of which he did not partake in experiencing.
Prince Tenyou getting amputated is actually crazy though. And he's soooooo hotttttttt e3jbwbjfqnm fwn ok brb reading the next 3 volumes immediately

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The emperor and his beast servant are formidable, but thankfully not a match when the rest of the princes and their beast servants join the fray on Tenyou and Rangetsu's side. Tenyou perhaps pays the heaviest price of them all with the loss of his arm, though this doesn't seem to be weighing him down overall. It does perhaps pose some proof and questions with Sogetsu and Rangetsu's healing abilities, as if they were able to use their power on anyone else, Tenyou would be the one that both would want to help given their positions and ties to him and his sacrifice to help the twins. It appears we are also meeting a prince from another of the authors series in relation to the metal the collar is made of around Sogetsu's neck. At least they found a way to unchain him from the inner palace, even if they can't remove the collar just yet. Sogetsu himself seems to struggle with his own personality and what to do with his freedom even as everyone seems relieved to have him back with his twin and the rest of them despite no one knowing exactly what his position will be as he can't leave the palace since entering it as a servant, but Rangetsu is also now Tenyou's beast servant.

[Ines Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good! A lot happened in this one, as it was the conclusion of the main plot line, but I was engaged the whole time. It wraps up nicely, with the twins’s reunion and the resolution of the Emperor’s rule.

There’s still fallout to be addressed, though, and Rei Toma does a really good job of keeping the story going fluidly throughout. I liked how the transition into the new Arc is, once again, done gradually - instead of moving on straight away, we’re still unpacking some leftover plot holes (e.g Sogetsu’s dissociative personality).

The only thing that irked me slightly, was the twins’s relationship. It felt a bit off, with its touchy-feely over-the-top affection. I understand a heartfelt reunion but, after being separated for so long, you’d think they would have been more reserved around each other.

(I’m also really hoping it doesn’t develop any further than this - twincest is a big no-no in my book! 🙂‍↔️)

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rangetsu has found Sogetsu, but the Emperor is crazy and has him chained up so he can do experiments on his healing abilities and now the Emperor has both Sogetsu and Rangetsu.

And the only ones who can stop him are the princes. Plus there's the added drama of Sogetsu's dissociative identity disorder due to all of the horrible torture of the past few years.

On another note, this whole palace infiltration, rescue of Sogetsu bit takes place in less than 2 volumes so it all feels very rushed. Then it's back to the fluff and romance, which I get considering the genre, but still! Yona of the Dawn proves you can have a romance with both action and drama, so why limit yourself?

[Mae Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am INSANE over this story in ways I can't begin to describe. The cast meshes so well in any combination, both of the leads are extremely compelling, their relationship development is allowed to be natural, the art is so expressive, and the plot does NOT hesitate to go from soft to silly to incredibly serious. Actually, I think that's why these characters work so well. They have important issues to address, but they take moments to relax and hang out and absolutely TORMENT each other. I really am enjoying this more and more with every volume, and it's one of my favorite reads of the year, hands down.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The emperor's scheme to obtain health from Sogetsu is revealed and Sogetsu gets freed,but at the cost of prince Tenyou's hand,who jumps in to save him.

Sogetsu and Rangetsu are adorable as they come close again,and we see progress in Tenyou and Rangetsu's relationship.

We also see the start of a possible political intrigue,as the Sogetsu's collar is made from a material from a neighboring kingdom that is impossible to smelt. And should be impossible to turn to a collar.

There is also Sogetsu's sense of imposter syndrome, as he doesn't feel like he is the real Sogetsu.

[MAG Scrittrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boh... da quando è venuta fuori questa forte componente dark, la storia non mi sembra più la stessa. Vogliamo parlare del taglio della mano che ha causato al massimo due goccioline di sudore invece di atroci urla? E come ha fatto il principe a ribaltare la situazione contro il padre? Mica si è capito. Due vignette veloci e l'imperatore aveva la spada puntata al collo.
Incuriosisce cosa sta accadendo alla mente di Songetsu, ma la serie non mi piace più come all'inizio.

[ℂ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Petita baixada de ritme després d'uns volums trepidants, però s'obren nous fils argumentals que involucren trames polítiques (ja sigui pel canvi d'emperador com per solucionar el problema del collar). La parella principal continua sent corqui i l'slow burn m'està començant a matar, però resistiré perquè són moníssims :') Al Japó van pel volum 12 i encara està oberta, així que paciència!

[Emylea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so I’m actually OBSESSED.

The emperor is cruel and just thinking about him makes me want to rip my hair out. I feel so bad for each of sogetsu’s personalities.

Also I know that Kougai basically assaults Rangetsu in every book but I still love him and think he is hilarious. I don’t know what that says about me but he is a cool guy even though he’s also a creep.

[Bree Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorites so far in the series👀

Content warnings: Blood, confinement, gore, grief, injury/injury detail (a character’s hand/lower arm is cut off), kidnapping, physical abuse, sexual content (kissing with tongue and a brief conversation about kissing with tongue. A brief discussion occurs between two male characters about a female character’s boobs), torture, and violence.

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo. The emperor is nuts, Tenyou loses a hand, Rangetsu finds her brother alive with multiple personalities, and I think there's a Dawn of the Arcana cameo but because I haven't read the series I'm not completely sure if he is one or not.

It's been very interesting to see how the story is progressing and the constant development of the characters.

[Mayar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omgggg. I absolutely loved and devoured this volume. Prince Tenyou and Rangetsu are the cutest ever. I’m worried for Sogetsu tho. I feel so bad for him.
Poor baby went through sm. I’m pretty sure he has some sort of a personality disorder or identity crisis. I rly hope it gets sorted out soon. Bec he deserves the whole world.

[Krystal Caloia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh no, Prince Tenyou's arm!! But they saved Sogetsu (aside from the collar). So glad that the rest of the siblings all came together to help them. Rangetsu really helped bring them all together.

Poor Sogetsu. His split doesn't know who he is but at least he remembers Rangetsu. I hope the other half eventually feel safe enough to come back. I wonder if the collar has something to do with it....

[Kimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So she's finally with her brother again and the prince gets in some smooches, so I'm happy. The story is still amazing and I like that we're going to finally get some information about the world beyond this kingdom.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know if it’s just me but there were times I was absolutely lost. I felt like a lil bit of jumping around at the beginning. But I’m happy relationships are developing and the story is just getting better and better 😊

[Isel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm ok with his other side. I'm a little worried about his true self but not much.
Btw was he from the Arcana series? I want to say yes because it looks like him and he mentioned the Arcana but I can't remember his name 😱 will I get to see Caesar again?

[Aiko (Temiko) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.9/5 stars. Oh?

The threat kind of resolved itself pretty quickly. I wonder how this will develop? Will there be other people who want to use Sogetsu and Rangetsu for selfish and evil deeds?

Why is some of the art like basically twincest 😭

[Novelas Danmei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este manga es perfecto. Nada lo supera, cada vez se pone mejor. Desde el tomo 1 es 5 estrellas

[BeckyisBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teared up a bit not gonna lie. This series just has my whole heart.

5 traumatized brothers out of 5 injured princes