蒼の封印 7

蒼の封印 [Ao no Fuuin] #7

by Chie Shinohara, 篠原千絵

鬼門復活を防ぐため、蒼子の妹・計都（けいと）を殺そうとする彬。だが計都への愛情が蘇った蒼子は、妹を守るため自ら“蒼龍”となる決意を。引き止める彬を振り払い高雄のもとへ行った蒼子は、儀式のために“鬼の隠れ屋”へ。正式に鬼門を復活させた蒼子は、絶えてしまった南家の“朱雀”を計都に名乗らせ、祝いの名として“緋子”の名を与える。一方、蒼子を手放した彬は、鬼門を滅ぼすため西園寺グループを総動員して蒼子の行方を捜すが、なかなか成果はあがらない。そんな時ついに鬼の痕跡を発見した彬たち。だが現場に着いた彼らを待っていたのは、高雄にコントロールされ、街中全部を鬼に変えてしまった蒼子だった!!

Genres: Manga, Japanese Literature, Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Shojo, Comics

Paperback

First published December 15, 1993

About the author

Chie Shinohara (篠原千絵) is an award winning Japanese manga artist best-known for Red River, known in Japan as Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori: Anatolia Story. She has twice received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo, in 1987 for Yami no Purple Eye and in 2001 for Red River.

Aside from her comics work, she has also written several prose novels. She has published the six volume Big Draw Daughter Hatsu light novel series, as well as five gaiden (or side-story) novels related to her Red River series. All of these were illustrated by Shinohara herself.

Works

Akatsuki no Lion - 2003
Ao no Fūin (Blue Seal) - 1992–94
Houmonsha wa Mayonaka ni (Midnight Visitor) - 1984
Kioku no Ashiato (Footprint of Memories) - 2005
Kiri no Mori Hotel - 2007
Kootta Natsu no Hi (Frozen Summer Day) - 1995
Mizu ni Sumu Hana (Romance of Darkness) - 2004
Mokugekisha ni Sayounara (Farewell to the Eyewitness) - 1985
Nanika ga yami de mite iru (Something Watching in the Dark) - 1986
Ryouko no Shinreijikenbo (A Record of Ryoko's Psychic Events) - 1988–91
Sanninme ga Kieta (A Third Person Disappeared) - 1992
Soshite Gokai no Suzu ga naru (Then Five Bells Rang) - 1994
Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori: Anatolia Story (Red River) - 1995–2002
Tokidamari no Hime - 2008-09
Touboukyuukou (Runaway Express)
Umi no Yami, Tsuki no Kage (Moon Shadow on a Dark Sea) - 1986–91
Yami no Purple Eye (Purple Eye of Darkness) - 1984–87
Yume no Shizuku, Kin no Torikago - 2010-present

Reviews

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 which would’ve been a 5 if not for the ending. Their lover quarrels from the last volume comes at a bad time as both sides ramp up and they continue escalating the situation as enemies now rather than allies. It's nice to see Soko join back with the other Oni to try and fix things from the inside and slyly fuck up other things like turning Keito into the South Shizuku. It fits her way of seeing the situation while being super fun to read as she now has to be in what is basically her enemy's den of evil having to skirt between going along and her own feelings. Of course it ends up going awry with Takao’s mind powers. All the while Akira has a similar dilemma with the Saionji. And then the Oni issue rises even more with excellent use of horror and intrigue as we get to see the scope of the Oni in ruling an entire city! It was introduced excellently too with throwaway characters to set the scene and a twist in the people Akira passes you think are there to set the stage and setting turning to be secretly Oni preparing them for an ambush.
Then in the second half more drama ensues as Soko and Akiea effectively switch places and vie as offerings to each other’s groups in a really cool and fun to read plotpoint. The ending was a tad disappointing as it seems to confirm Akira’s brother really did make love with Soko. They were planning on it to take away her status as Souryo but it seemed like both didn’t really want to and it seemed to hint that they actually didn’t commit to it only for the ending to make it seem like they did. I’m a big fan of Akira x Soko and while the brother is a nice guy I can’t believe he really did it considering his past actions and Soko’s reaction to it. Takao also apparently has some sort of interest in Soko though I’m unsure if it truly is romantic though it is definitely deep and affectionate.

[Rintea W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume barely gets a 2.5/5 from me. Soko’s indecisiveness is beyond frustrating.

She wasted three whole months, letting the Oni take over the city just because she couldn’t make up her mind.

I really feel bad for Akira and the townspeople.

The Oni race is now in control, babies are being eaten, and the scenes are downright horrifying—blood everywhere, human remains scattered across the streets.

And the worst part? Soko knew she could be controlled, yet she still went back to Takao.

Oh, what a disaster.

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk how I feel about the things that had to be done in order to save Akira. Kai definitely didn't handle it well. I think I hate him?
I'm interested to see how Sokko manages staying alive as a human.