We start Volume 18 on what I consider to be the second stupidest fight to date (Naoe vs Kotarou still takes the top spot). Doesn't Kagetora know after all these years that if Nagahide were planning to kill him, he'd say it to Kagetora's face?
Share your thoughts about Volume 18 here!
Chapter 27 contains one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking scenes in this long arc. I love the comparison of Kagetora to Echigo's sea, and it explains rather a lot about his character, that unrelenting drive and determination and refusal to give ground. It's just perfect. <3
...And that's a wrap for Volume 18. Rough volume, man. Can I just point out what a narrative cop-out having Hokage beg Tetsuya to kill her is? It basically excuses everyone from trying harder to save this innocent girl--especially people whose actual duty it is to save her. *hard side-eye at Kagetora for not immediately smashing Kihachi's head*
I'm taking a hiatus for the holidays. Have a wonderful end of 2023, and see you next year!
I really enjoyed volume 18. Thank you for translating it! I feel like I should have thinky thoughts because I had feelie feels, but I'm not coming up with much to say. I agree the Echigo sea scene is moving. Kagetora apostrophizes Kenshin this way multiple times, and I think that's an example of Mirage capturing how patterns of repetition work in our psyches. (I'm not 100% sure how intentional a device that is and how much it just stort of happened as Sensei drafted these volumes over several years, but it works for me.)
I also agree about the copout of Hokage asking to be killed. Women really don't get very well served in Mirage (which is kind of the deal you sign up for if you're going to read BL from the '80s/'90s, but still).
If you read slash fanfic, women are rarely well-served there either, even in very recent stories -- which was why women were a deliberate focus in my HP fic. Be the change you want to see! :D
Just chiming into say I'm very stoked to catch up with reading your translation. You are now into stuff I've never read (Quaint_Twilight stopped translating mid vol. 18) and only seen very vaguely summarized. So the usual unintentionally sexist BS notwithstanding, I'm looking forward to this enormously. It's next on my list after my current book. Thank you!
There are definitely scenes in this volume that I think you'll enjoy. <3
Happy holidays!