ユーキューホルダー! Manga Review
UQ Holder Chapter 20

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: 

The halved Kuroumaru tells Ruki to flee and apologizes for not being able to protect them. Ruki reluctantly runs away as Kuroumaru craws to Touta, apologizing to him for not being strong enough, and conceding not being man nor woman. Kuroumaru’s top half is slammed with two polls, thrown from Kaito. As a precaution, Kaito prepares to seal Kuroumaru in ice, but Ruki returns, blocking the path of Kaito and Nagumo, telling them they’ll have to come through him to get to Kuroumaru and Touta.

Meanwhile, Chao has Karin pinned down, but she launches herself from the ground, slamming him into the ceiling. Before she can escape, Chao reveals he is a true mage specializing in shadow magic. He binds her as two of his shadow shadow troops in robot garb bring in the Sister Kasuga, who could be dead.

Chao throws his knife, a high frequency blade from Naba (Industries?) takes perverse pleasure from slicing through Karin and causing her pain. He then reveals he knows that Karin is actually UQ Holder number 4, Yseut Karin Orte, a European from 1492 who fell prey to witch hunts. But because she survived being burned at the stake, she became known as the Saintess of Steel. Another girl came and took her away, never to be seen again.

Chao says he’s been looking for Karin after he heard she was alive to hear her story, but instead, he finds her in Japan helping worthless people. He mocks her for still being good despite all that has been done to her, saying they were forsaken a long time ago. Since he can’t break Karin’s body, he decides he’ll break her mind, promising to love her for all eternity as he’s always loved her ever from before he met her.

Karin kicks him in the groin, then banishes his shadows. Chao can’t believe this is happening since God cursed her. She says she’s not cursed, but loved, which is also her despair and why she didn’t want to use her power. She asks if destroying him will destroy his puppets. She doesn’t wait for him to answer as she uses her power of light enhance her physical attacks, demolishing him. She leaves, saying she wants him to lay there and die slowly.

Thoughts/Review:

Heck yeah! You go, Karin! ^_^

First, Kuroumaru. I do feel badly for Kuroumaru. Not being male nor female, Kuroumaru feels useless, especially since the sword did not help protect Touta nor the people. I look forward to Kuroumaru growing as a character from this incident.

I’m glad that Kuroumaru didn’t get to unseal Touta. I want that punk to come out of this realizing that he needs to mature and grow.

As for Ruki, I want the kid to get a reward of some kind when this is over. He’s clearly scared out of his wits, but he overcame his still present fear to try to protect Kuroumaru and Touta, even though he’s only a kid, he’s not immortal, and he has no powers. As such, I totally respect him as a character.

Finally, there’s Karin. She is pure awesomeness in this chapter. I’ve been expressing a desire for Karin to overcome Chao, then come out onto the battlefield with Kaito and Nagumo to turn the tide of that battle.  She’s overcome Chao, so that’s half the battle. Now, I want her to come out, go nuts on Kaito and Nagumo, help Kuroumaru, then help Touta. I doubt I get it, but that’s what I want.

I’m glad we got a bit more about Karin’s past. I suspect that she left with Eva. After all, if memory serves, Eva once spoke of nearly being burned as a witch in Negima!  It would explain Karin’s devotion to Eva, and would explain why Karin eventually came to Mahora.  Of course, there remains a great deal that is not explained, but I’m REALLY hoping that Eva’s past gets explored, especially her time with Ala Rubra.

So, a good chapter for fans of Karin. I’m hoping for more Karin goodness to come. ^_^