Tokyo Ravens 14 EMPEROR.ADVENT (東京レイヴンズ (14) EMPEROR.ADVENT)
Author: Azano Kouhei
Illustration: Sumihei
Label: Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
Release Date: 19/12/2015
Volumes: 14~
Abbreviation: Ravens
Just some comments about this wonderful volume. It feels hard to say if too much happened considering you could somehow summarize most of it in a paragraph, but it was dense, really dense (more than 500 pages) in terms of development and information (main reason I won’t be writing about the events here). Btw, the next volume will be a volume focusing on the past for spoiler reasons and then we’ll be entering the final arc. Guess 2 or 3 volumes more at most. Beware of some spoilers. Writing this post to see if I can actually feel motivated to write about D Crackers (better than Ravens imo).
Anyway, Azano somehow managed to focus on pretty much ALL the characters, their motivations, their preparations for the fateful day: march 3. It was really good in that regard because even some of the Twelve Divine Generals got plenty of development before the final arc starts (Kagami, Yuge, Yamashiro, heck even Miyachi, Kurahashi and Miyoshi). The PoV changed a lot during the volume but nothing felt out of place or unimportant. That’s just how Azano must be praised for creating such a setting and managing to make everything flow towards a certain event.
I commented a little bit on twitter but the final events of this volume were pretty much the “remake” of some events of the volume 9. I’m sure I’m not the only one who loved that volume for inumerous reasons. People waiting for those six to get together again should be satisfied with this volume I guess. And everything comes back to that night. The reason why Harutora didn’t want to Natsume to get closer to him was also finally explained and man, I loved the scene where Akino revealed that bit of information coming from ~him~ to Harutora. That was probably my favorite scene this volume. This bit of information was mentioned in volume 13 if I’m not mistaken and somehow it makes sense now. It’s kinda funny how everything connects to Yakou at the end.
Well, this volume had some nice fights too but most of the “fun” will probably concentrate on the final volume(s). It was still pretty amusing to see Harutora, Hishamaru, Kakugyouki, Kurahara Genji, Kagami, Shaver, Miyagi, Natsume, Touji, Tenma, Kyouko, Susuka all at the same place. Tenma also did something really cool considering the situation and how all these top-class onmyouji were there. My favorite second scene was the one with Ootomo. Too spoilerish but damn, that was freaking nice considering how Tenma appeared. Azano is really good at these support characters. I still probably like Mizuhara from D Crackers more but holy shit Tenma, you deserve more love.
All in all this was just a preview of the final “festival”? It feels a little bit of a shame considering that we could have lots of fun and cool fights but it’s pretty understandable that we wouldn’t have someone being too OP or whatever. That’s just how the setting works here even though things changed at the end of this volume. I still hope for a proper conclusion about all these “lose threads” regarding this huge ammount of characters. Best volume since the volume 9, even though 12 was already pretty good.
In other words: Looking forward for the ending and hoping for something that could be just as good as D Crackers. Unfortunately it’ll still take a while though orz
原作厨だった頃もありました 
LOL I thought i wouldn’t comeback till gamers 3 but… Ahhhhhhhhhhh *fangirl mode*
U’re sure know how to make me suprised XD I’ve run around the web to have more info about TR14 and somehow end up being here ROFL
:3 Still want to know what this pic’s about: http://i.imgur.com/BkWHWBB.jpg They’re not seem like happy couple though :3 Those epression make me worry – another goodbye??? >O<
Well, if you don’t care about spoilers then:
Harutora told Natsume about her situation (she and Kon have the same soul [it’s even more complex than that actually] and that’s why Taizan Fukun went “wrong” the first time) and after receiving an advice from God (told by Akino) he decided to redo the Taizan Fukun because that was the only way to save her and Kon/Hishamaru. This image was when they were talking about this and Natsume entrusted herself to Harutora. Harutora was still uncertain if it would go well and that’s why he is pretty concerned about Natsume. I guess you could say it’s another farewell with some time-travel stuff (past arc in the next volume) involved but knowing Azano I’m pretty sure she is going to come back later.
so did natsume die again T_T?
Er, not exactly. Just wait for the next volume to know what happens.
did natsume die again?
Can you spoil this part to me? http://i.imgur.com/t06OgiT.jpg That’s Takiko’s flashback right?
This is killing me slowly. I really want to know what Tenma did.
I wrote that Harutora, Kurahashi, Miyachi and various other powerful onmyouji were at the same place, right? They were all serious and fighting but Tenma managed to go into stealth mode and pass through everyone without being perceived. Then he asked for Ootomo to stop in killing Takiko (because Kyouko’s vision said so).
tl;dr: His skills work on the top existing onmyouji and he was again a key character in one of the, if not THE, most important event of this volume.
OH MY GOD! Tenma’s quiet badass in this volume, he polished his stealth skills that much in two years? I should also thank him for saving my waifu. I feel like Takiko would be one of the key in saving Natsume. I can’t wait for translations now, ahhh…. seriously, this LN should recieve more attention.
Yep. I bet that Takiko still has some of her original traits, i.e. she has something “human” inside her even after Taika no Masakado possessed her for complete. I’m considering this only because of how she was asking for Akino’s companion during the 2 days they spent together.
How did Akino respond to that? Also, does Suzuka still cares for Takiko?
Akino felt there was something more about Takiko but she didn’t know how to explain that. She was also accompanying her naturally, whenever Takiko called her she felt at easy and would go close to her. Dunno if it’s because Takiko was already kind of possessed or if it’s because of Akino herself (hey, she received a message from God).
I wonder who ‘God’ is. Is it Jesus (let’s not go there) or Amaterasu? Or Abe no Seimei (is he even a God) or maybe Taizan Fukun who is the lord of the underworld himself?
I don’t have any idea but Abe no Seimei may be an interesting choice. I mean, this God must be related to Douman somehow and if I’m not mistaken Abe no Seimei was, so that would explain why Douman went against Takiko even though he said that there was no meaning in going against her.
Did Douman held a candle against her? Now that Genji is dead, did Miyachi switched to Takiko’s side? Oh and is Amami still disabled?
He could only go against her for some time. He knew he couldn’t defeat Takiko/Taira no Masakado but he still had to do it because of the God that talked from Akino. Miyachi was always on Takiko’s side, actually on Genji’s side. Dunno if he will change sides or not (probably not). And yes.
Yeah. Short context of the image: Takiko was remembering about how even her own parents raised her as a “divine being” to the point she couldn’t even differentiate them with the other people taking care of her. Nobody also dared to look straight at her eyes so she considered these adults as being the same as other animals. She only managed to perceive a real human being when Kurahashi Genji and Dairenji Shido appeared at her place asking for her help to fulfill the duty of their families. They were the first people to look at her as normal people too.
Thank you! http://i.imgur.com/JuHK9dl.jpg Was she possessed when she killed Genji? Also, I’m having doubt about her goals, I mean does she really want all of this. What if she was brainwashed in believing that fulfilling her clan’s goal is the correct thing.
Oh and do you know what happened to her parents or to the people who raised her?
Answering both at once. Genji wasn’t killed by Takiko by any means. Genji died because he was protecting her from Ootomo. The sequence of events was something like:
1. Ootomo was going to shot Takiko;
2. Based Tenma appeared and Ootomo “lost” some precious time;
3. Genji came in order to protect Takiko (Yashamaru was caught in some genjutsu, also Douman, Mezu and Gozu were there too);
4. Ootomo shot Genji;
5. Ritual finished and Takiko was pretty much Taira no Masakado;
6. She thanked Genji (image).
And nope. Nothing about that.
The illustration is misleading, lol.
So Ohtomo was still going to kill Takiko even after Tenma came to stop him? What happened to Takiko after the ritual finished? Did it end there?
Well, yeah lol. Yes. She is now pretty much Taira no Masakado and everyone there could feel she wasn’t the same anymore, that she was a being above them. This applies to Ootomo too and he was still thinking in killing her but he just couldn’t push the trigger after the ritual. She is literally a God now and people can’t oppose her that easily. Douman even proposed to Ootomo to go to her side because there wasn’t any meaning in going against her now.
Is it Taira no Masakado possessing her or is it Takiko controlling him? IIRC, isn’t the system above Taizan Fukun Ritual a magic that ‘controlled’ gods? Takiko’s weird for allowing a God possess her, it would be even weirder if she allowed or wanted it even if she knows that she won’t be herself anymore, if that’s the case, isn’t it kinda pointless for wanting a companion by her side?
Another question here. How did Kyouko react when she found out about her father’s death? or maybe she doesn’t know yet?.
Can’t answer that because there wasn’t nothing confirming anything about Takiko controlling or being possessed. The thing about Takiko that I said about wanting Akino’s companion probably showed that she still intended to not lose herself completely (or at least wasn’t at the time). Then again, this is just my opinion, other people may say otherwise and we have to wait for more volumes to see the complete consequences of this ritual.
Kyouko doesn’t know yet.
How did Harutora meet up with the rest of the gang? Also, how is it that Natsume and Kon/Hishamaru share the same soul?
More like the gang appeared at the place (in front of the Kanda Temple) Harutora was fighting Genji, Miyachi and Kagami. Later they had to run away and they let Harutora go with Natsume what he had to do while they would stall Yashamaru and Kumomaru who are literally servants of a God now.
This thing of the soul is how Harutora saw the consequence of Taizan Fukun. He called for Natsume’s soul and the result was that both Natsume and Hishamaru had the same soul for whatever reason is going to be explained in the next volume. He has some kind of theory to explain this now and the cause of this it’s probably Hishamaru (hence why a past arc, all goes back to Yakou’s time). Actually there is another foreshadowing about this. When Kyouko was looking at the stars of Natsume she mentioned there was always another one with her, which is probably another existence (Hishamaru probably) related to her. Something like two in one I guess. Dunno how to explain this properly though. Better to wait for the next volume.
May I ask…….What happened at the end of the novel?
Welp, without getting into details:
1. Harutora (Kakugyouki, Hishamaru), Miyachi, Genji and Kagami (Shaver) were fighting when Natsume and the rest appeared.
2. Natsume perceived Hishamaru just as Hishamaru perceived Natsume. As both have the same soul they lost counsciousness/strong lag.
3. Kyouko said to stop ~him~. Genji freed Miyachi and the battle got fearsome once more. Harutora run to Natsume.
4. At the temple Ootomo was about to kill Takiko when Tenma appeared to stop ~him~. Soon after that Genji protected Takiko and died. Ritual finished.
5. Takiko = Taira no Masakado which means Yashamaru and Kumomaru are stronger than ever. Douman said there wasn’t any meaning in trying to kill Takiko at this point.
6. Akino (actually God who was “using her body”, dunno what God is) said to Douman to repay for their fight. Suzuka rescued Akino, Douman sent Mezu and Gozu to run away while carrying Tenma and Ootomoe. Douman stayed to stall some time against a real god.
7. Harutora and company started to run away too. Regrouped with Akino, Tenma and the rest. Akino passed the message from God to Harutora.
8. Pretty much everyone stayed behind to stall for some time against Yashamaru and Kumomaru (Takiko or should I say Taira no Masakado wanted to talk with Harutora) while Harutora went away with Akino and Natsume. Harutora explained about the soul stuff and decided to redo Taizan Fukun.
9. Past arc aka next volume.
I want to know more about Suzuka (my most favorite after Takiko). What else did Suzuka do and as someone else said, what are Suzuka’s feelings towards Takiko now? I wonder the latter because Suzuka and Takiko are family as cousins iirc, no?
I already answered it but I can’t say anything about Suzuka towards this new Takiko because the situation is very different from before. I don’t have any idea how she’ll react when she meets Takiko/Taira no Masakado. I’m pretty sure she still cares for her but I wonder how that will go when Takiko isn’t even “human” anymore. And yes but it’s better to wait for the next volume(s) for a proper answer about this.
What was God’s message to Yatora?
How did he react when he met his friends again? Did they notice how he’s changed?
I think it’s better to wait for a proper translation about this message (I sux doing so) because that is hella important to the plot. In a few words would be something like: “Let the soul go back and control time to obtain what you want”. It’s a lot more complex of course but this God is saying for Harutora to basically let Natsume/Kon’s soul goes back?to where it belongs and then to control time to obtain a happy ending for him. The part of controlling time is the most hard to understand now though.
Their meeting was far from usual nor they had time to talk about everything but Harutora was still surprised that they still cared for him as before or were willing to go against Yashamaru/Kumomaru even without a proper explanation about what he was going to do with Natsume. And I guess so, but you know, Harutora’s motivation to save Natsume comes from his promise in being her shikigami and that still didn’t change so they probable “don’t care” that much about Harutora’s changes. And this time it even felt like the old days. In the next volume we’ll probably have a better way to confirm this.
What happened to Yasuzumi, Chizuru and Takahiro after they got captured? Did they flee too after Takiko got possessed?
They were being held below the Onmyou Agency during most of the time and now are probably together with Amami (there was a LOT before these scenes with Takiko). Nothing confirmed though.
I totally forgot about Zenjuurou; what happened to that guy? Does Kagami know about the Soumas or their plans? if so how did he react to that? Does Yamashiro have an active role in this volume? does he too also know about what Kurahashi and Souma were planning and was acting as a spy all along?
メリクリ
Zenjirou was captured and just like the other Tsuchimikado he did nothing (couldn’t do anything) this time.
Kagami knows, after all he trained Touji and heard about all that from Amami.
Kind of, he is one of the Twelve Divine Generals that discovered the truth and “betrayed” Genji.
Oh? I definitely thought Yamashiro was one of them, so he betrayed Genji huh; will he fight alongside our main characters now? Who were the other Divine Generals who found out about Genji’s plans and betrayed him? Is Maririn, the twins and Colonel one of them? Also, did this volume revealed what happened to Ootomo, Suzu and Zenjirou’s teacher?, IIRC, her name is Wakamiya Rika something.
Yes, you were almost right. Shigeoka aka Colonel didn’t betray but Tougo who was Yamashiro’s partner did with him, the twins, Yamashiro and Maririn. Yes, but I would need to read once more to remember exactly what it was (waiting for the translation now could be better). And her name isn’t Rika, Rika is her little sister that was involved with Zenjirou last volume.
Ah right. Her name is Wakamiya Eri right? Can you reveal more about her when you have the time? I need it for the Wikia. Also, was Takiko’s parents named during this whole volume? I also need it for the wikia. Thanks a lot.
Now you got me. I think her name was mentioned in V14 but I don’t remember where it was tehe. There wasn’t that much more about her either… I think. Sorry, but I’d say to wait for the translations. Don’t feel like going for those 500 pages again to search for it.
And nope.
Can anyone tell me what magic did Harutora use in a fight against Kagami,Shaver and Miyachi in volume14?
There wasn’t nothing new as far as I remember. Harutora concentrated in sealing Miyachi (don’t remember exactly what type of seal) while Hishamaru and Kakugyouki fought the others.
Did he succeed in sealing him?
Yes. Miyachi was released because Harutora lost his concentration (and was atacked by Genji) when Natsume appeared.
Thanks
If it is not too much to ask, could you tell me what happened to Hishamaru and Kokagyuki after Harutora left with Natsume to complete her revival?
I forgot to ask before but what happened to Saotome Suzu?
Does anyone knows the release date for volume15?
Well, there isn’t much to answer. Volume ended with the revival event so answers only in the next volume. Same for Suzu (she was helping Harutora midway but dunno where she was in the end of the volume). Also nothing on the released of the new volume.
Probably March or April.
April onwards. Fujimi’s releases for march are already confirmed and no Ravens yet.
What was Harutora’s reaction when Takiko was possessed by Taira no Masakado? Did he panic, and said “Holy shit, it’s too late”?
Er, he panicked but not on this level. He was also worried about Natsume at the time too.
He might have some kind of plan to deal with Taira no Masakado considering his reaction right? I sure hope so.
No, his plan was to avoid this from happening. You can’t go against a God after all.
If he can’t deal with him then I don’t know what will happen now. I don’t think he will just leave Masakado alone. I don’t think ~he~ is completely unstoppable though. They still have Douman who is also an ara-mitama and a phase 5. I don’t know what will happen if those two clashes though. They might wreck the whole planet’s spiritual flow if they did.
Ah, I forgot about this. But have you read EX3’s epilogue chapter? I think it was mentioned there that Harutora was preparing a curse to use against Takiko and the others.
No. Not sure but this “curse” is probably related to the interference he did in the ritual to call Taira no Masakado. As I said before his victory would be to avoid that all costs.
Harutora performed Taizan Fukun Ritual at the end then?
Yes. Results only in the next volume.
“Is Vol 16 the last of Part 2? I think it is mentioned in the afterword of Vol 14 that it will end in the one after the next volume.” -Quoted from Animesuki Forum.
Can you confirm this?
Kind of. Azano mentioned that the final arc (not final volume) would be starting after the past arc volume (15) so it should be ending in volume 16, 17 depending on how long is the last arc. That’s why I said at the start of the post that Ravens should be ending in 2 or 3 volumes.
Ohh, I see. That’s kinda sad. I hope we get some ‘filler’ chapters like in V4 and 5 about what happened to their lives after the final arc. I also want to see if Takiko was able to be friends with Natsume, or if Natsume and the others still accepted her in the end. Well that’s only if she’s still alive.
Now that Genji’s dead, I wonder if they will use Taizan Fukun Ritual to revive him. Now that Taira no Masakado is alive, he should be able to do anything possible since he is a God.
Oh, and I wonder if Toshiya (Suzuka’s onii-chan) will make an appearance. Yashamaru can use him to control Suzuka (or not. That sounds stupid.) Maybe for some other reasons.
What was the point of resurrecting Yakou when they could summon Taira without him? Did they just want his knowledge or something? Thanks.
Yakou decided to resurrect for reasons that weren’t explained yet… If my memory serves me right. Genji’s plan to summon Taira would probably happen even if Yakou didn’t appear. And wasn’t Takiko’s wish that allowed to Yakou to “resurrect”? Don’t remember if there was a direct relation between these two events.
Oohh. You’re right. Good points. I just didn’t understand why Takiko wanted to force Yakou to awaken ahead of time.
Maybe she (Takiko) wanted Yakou to stop her? I’m really getting this feeling that there’s a part of Takiko that doesn’t want to do what herself is currently doing (e.g. split personality). Maybe she wanted to awaken Yakou because the other part of her hoped that maybe Yakou can stop her. The ‘thing’ that Akino sensed from Takiko was also probably this part of her.
I really like breaking down these kind of characters and get self-satisfaction if my prediction turn out to be correct later on. lol
Question here! How did Akino escaped away from Takiko and the others? Wasn’t she captured?
Already answered your question in other comment: https://gensakuchuu.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/tokyo-ravens-14/#comment-422
Azano’s gonna focus a whole volume in the past? BLEH! Who cares about the past. Just get on with it already. I wanna see how Harutora will stop Taira No Masakado, a God, who is basically the strongest character in the series right now. Unless Harutora summons a God himself I see no way of stopping him. Maybe the previously mentioned third great national spirit is a God as well, and Harutora will summon him. Bleh.
So, did Genji’s death mean the seal he cast on some characters to seal away their magical power got removed?
Most of the questions probably have answers in the past so welp. By the end of the volume Harutora already got a hint of how to “win” but I doubt it involves another God at this point. I mean, Harutora just doesn’t have the preparation to do so in a short ammount of time. The solution may be some cause-effect thing. But yeah, Azano’s decision in using this type of twist may not be the best way of solving things.
I guess not. Most likely the opposite. There isn’t anyone who can remove the seal by ordinary means right now. Taira no Masakado probably can but that’s a “cheat” I guess.
I guessed that much, but dedicated the whole volume and setting it in the past is kind of unwarranted. Why can’t Azano make it like volume 11 (where the POV alternated between the event after Yakoutora’s awakening & current timeline in Tokyo) and alternate between timelines in the same volume. Make it overarching. The development that way would be much smoother unlike just abruptly sending the story to the past.
It’s not likely, but it’d be cool if he did LOL And I’ve wanted to know this revered third National Spirit of Japan for sometime now. I want it to be the fusion of Natsume and Kon/Hishamaru as well XD I’m going crazy with some hyperbolic suppositions.
That seriously sucks. I guess we can just wait for the end now (whenever that’s gonna be). I really wanted to see the full fighting potential of Suzuka, Kagami, etc. BTW You mentioned Yashamaru, the twins, Yuge and all defected from Genji’s side, but did they try to fight against Genji in this volume?
Sorry for this really, really late reply. Well, the biggest focus will be on the past but that doesn’t exactly mean that all the volume will be about that. Dunno, in the end it all depends on how long this past arc will be. Yuge and company helped Natsume’s group to reach the temple (already acting against Genji’s ideal) where the climax happened. If not for them Harutora wouldn’t meet them and who knows how things would be right now.
*dedicating I mean
Pls tell me the link to download vol. 14, i just finished watched anime its just 24 eps and oh man it makes me sick coz left so many question in my head and im pretty sure that it still continue then i decide to search google then i found TR based on Light Nove, and tadaaa anime only adapt vol 1-9, sol i download vol 1-13 and still searching vol 14 pls help mee T_T
There you go.
Where can I read Tokyo Ravens 14 in English? I have read up till 13 and cannot find 14 translated.
Thx – Tom
It’s not translated afaik.
Do you were I can buy the physical copies or Tokyo Ravens translated. I have downloaded volume 1 -13 but some of the stories are missing. Same with the EX volumes.I own 1 -14 Volumes physical copies but all in Japanese. Translating is impossible without help.