January 1st, 2010 
AstroNerdBoy 魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 30 Chapter 275 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 275
Negima! Manga Vol 30 Ch 275 Review
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
As the summoned creatures emerge, Yue and the other knight trainees work to save a young girl. However, only Yue’s magic seems to have any effect on the summoned creatures. After saving the girl, Yue’s team errect a barrier to keep what appear to be mazoku out. Yue consults her artifact and determines that these are not true demons or mazoku, but rather are “Shadows.” Yue surmises that the summoner must be extremely powerful to summon so many Shadows in addition to the giant one outside. Further, Yue notes that Cosmo Entelecheia used this type of magic during the war.
As the Shadows begin working over the troops, Takane, Mei, Misora, and Cocone arrive with Takane using her own shadow magic to take out the enemy ones. Shiroi-Asuna tells Misora that they have to run, something Takane rejects since there are people that need their help. Shiori-Asuna attacks but not having Asuna’s real artifact nor her magic cancel ability, her attack is repulsed and she’s knocked down. Seeing her like this, Yue suddenly remembers the girl’s importance and then remembers the name “Asuna” as well as “Negi-sensei.”
As one of the Shadows prepares to take out Shiori-Asuna, it is shot by a light-skinned person from Hellas, whom Misora recognizes as Mana. Mana removes the wig and light skinned appearance (but not the horns) and remarks on how troublesome the princess is.
Thoughts/Review:
I suppose I just have to start the remarks with the Mana’s long anticipated arrival on the scene. There were those who guessed that she was disguised as the Hellas woman and that turned out to be the case. Kudos to everyone who predicted that. ^_^
Her arrival has raised some interesting speculation since she did not remove her horns when she removed the rest of her disguise. That strongly suggests that she is from Hellas and is a demihuman. Of course it may be that she’s simply still wearing the horns, but considering her skin tone is naturally dark, she might well be Theo’s sister. It would explain why she would come to the Magic World on her summer vacation if she had lived there before.
Takane gets to shine a tiny bit while Mei gets to be timid. One can’t help but feel bad for Mei, who is probably competent enough as a mage but really isn’t cut out for the combat stuff she keeps getting thrown into.
Before this fight is over, I want to see Cocone cut loose and kick some bottom. We really haven’t seen her do much except for cling to Misora, brandish a cross, and show a bit more wisdom that Misora.
While Mana’s arrival may be the “YES” moment simply because we’ve all been waiting for this for ages, the chapter goes to Yue and I think Yue will be the key here to unmasking Shiori-
Asuna.
Back when Yue was still new to her artifact and magic during the Mahora Festival (specifically during the sub-arc to rescue Negi and jump back a week in time), she was able to unmask the illusion Takahata-sensei. Further, she was able to destroy all of the illusions that the child mage had constructed and this solely based on the knowledge in her artifact.
Further, Yue has the ability to think on the fly. During the summer festival, that’s how she got herself and Nodoka away from Yuuna and company. During the race, that’s how she directed the defeat of a griffin dragon. Now, she’s directing the fight against these Shadow creatures and only her magic was able to defeat them whereas the others, including the soldiers, could not.
Considering that seeing Shiori-Asuna get knocked down triggered another memory for Yue (the names of Asuna and Negi), I’m going to guess that she’ll be the one to not only figure out that Shiori-Asuna is a fake, but Yue will also dispel the magic allowing Shiori to disguise herself. We’ll see if I’m right but that feels right for some reason (which means nothing). Frankly, I’d love for this to be the case since Yue has become a most impressive character.
I’m guessing that CE has to be using Asuna’s magic-cancel power in some way for the summoned Shadows to nullify attacks from those from the Magic World. If so, why are Takane and Yue’s attacks able to succeed? Even if it isn’t Asuna’s ability at work, the question still remains.
Wow. January 20th before the next chapter comes out. I’ll keep an eye open for spoilers before then as we might have some as early as the 13th. Stay tuned.
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It seems like it’s only people from the Old World that are able to hurt those things, I’m guessing this has something to do with Fate’s claims of everyone in the Magic World being “puppets.”
maybe they could destroyed the shadow because they are inhabitant of the old world (but that would say that mana is not fom the magic world :/)
That assuming Asuna does not show up on her own to ‘save the day’ Mary Sue style. This could be very possible if what I suspect is true, that Asuna’s magical protection prevented her from being transport in the first place, and she been hanging out with Takahata and Mana. This is based on what we say when Fate first challange her in period 46 where he cood only attacker Asune via secondary mean, ie striping her, tickling . etc. But Fate could not use Petrification on Asuna, and the same should be true for transportation spells.
The Gaurds spells are medium lvl magic. Where Yue and Takane are useing high Lvl magic. Also i believe Takahata will be the one to find out thats not the real Asuna. I dont believe that spell can get down to the vary core of Asuna. I think Takahata will see something small that Asuna would never do. Something only someone who rasied her would see.
The “badass mage” has been a long time coming, but did anyone expect that Yue would ever go to “badass melee fighter”?
@Anon — very possible.
@Setsuna — True. We’ll see if Mana is from MW or not soon enough I suspect.
@Shadow — I can’t see Asuna showing up. I suspect we’ll have her rescued (assuming she’s still being held) or freed (assuming she’s the one with Fate).
As to Asuna and transportation magic, Negi has used it on her more than once without fail (summoning her with the pactio card). Further, she participated in time jumps, including that 1-week jump that saw them move not only through time but through space as well.
Transportation magic is not a force-emitting spell and so her instinctive cancellation of force-emitting spells does not apply. I would surmise that were Asuna to fully control her power, she could negate all forms of magic.
@Okyou — For Yue to be using any higher level of magic than Emily or the others in her squad could be true but doesn’t feel right to me. Emily is clearly no slouch on magic. I tend to suspect that it is Yue’s connection to Earth (as well as Takane’s) that is the key.
As to Takahata, you may be right. I like the idea of Yue doing it better (and getting her memories back to boot).
@arimareiji — Heh!heh! Yue is the character that has come the furthest, I think. Nodoka has come pretty far too and the others in the battle harem have seen various levels of growth. However, Yue has been the delightful surprise and adding melee skills only makes her better. ^_^
I don’t know if anyone thought of this but it might not be the fact that Yue and Takane come from the Earth but that Asuna knows them. Through out the arc Asuna has been getting stronger and this has lead to a better control of her own magic. Now if she is being used to give these monsters the ability of magic nullification what if she is some how able to control it so that her friends and comrades magic is not canceled. That would explain why the guards and Amy’s group magic does not work because Asuna had already been captured by the time Yue was found so she has never meet Amy and the others.
Sorry…who’s “Amy?” ^_^;;;
I’m wondering what role Takane and co. will play. I don’t think KA put them into this arc just for fan service… (though Mei looks cute IMO)
Since Mei has an artifact, perhaps Takane also does and will be revealed in the near future?
Which makes me wonder with whom did Mei make a contract with…
There is some speculation that Mei may have a probationary contract with Nekane. Mei’s use of the term “oneesama” to address Nekane shows a deep level of respect on Mei’s part to her senpai (choosing to address Mei with the most respectful form for “older sister” rather than “senpai”).
I’m told that in yuri titles where a younger girl falls for the older girl she’s partnered with in some way, the term “oneesama” is used by the younger girl to express her feelings. I don’t know how true that is since I’m not into that, but I do remember in “Vandread: Second Stage,” Misty fell for the male lead, but she also was very attached to Meia, the female leader of the fighter squadron. Once that happened, she started addressing Meia as “Oneesama” and there were hints she was attracted to Meia.
The only reason I mention this is because I think this is why some fans speculate that Nekane and Mei have a pactio.
“Now if she is being used to give these monsters the ability of magic nullification what if she is some how able to control it so that her friends and comrades magic is not canceled. That would explain why the guards and Amy’s group magic does not work because Asuna had already been captured by the time Yue was found so she has never meet Amy and the others.”
There’s something interesting here.
I would suggest the Shadows have been tailored to repel magic from known enemies.
Since neither Yue nor Misora are known from Fate, his Shadows are unprepared against their attacks.
I always wondered why Yue has a major role in any big arc, while still being in the background (i.e never met with Fate).
KA was maybe planning this from the begining : keeping Yue a secret from Fate, so she will be the little sand in his well-coged conspiration. ^^
I’ve been waiting for the fake!Asuna reveal since it was first confirmed and I’m more than ready to find out what became of Anya and Asuna.
Actually, I find it strange Negi seemed to forget about his childhood friend. I know he has a lot of people to take care but I’d have thought he would start genuinely worrying that he hasn’t seen Anya.
As for Mana, she’s still ever so cool. Yue is proving to be an amazing fighter!
Before the current mini-arc where they meet with Kurt at the ball, I too made mention of how I wasn’t too pleased with Negi’s apparent forgetting of Anya. I haven’t said anything recently since everything that has been happening lately has taken place in a very short period of time.
I suspect that Anya was discussed prior to attending the ball since Negi’s group had a “Plan B” in case things went south during the meeting. That’s why I sometimes think that Negi has to know that Asuna is fake because they’d have to know where Anya is and there’s the extra badge.
On the other hand, they may not know but I guess we’ll find out. I figure Shiori!Asuna will be unmasked in the next several weeks.
@Anon-Ichi (the first Anonymous, not “Anon1”): I can’t believe I missed your post the first time around. I just now noticed it, and my jaw dropped – I think you’re on to something.
Only question is, what’s different? The Knights were startled that they couldn’t do anything, so it’s got to be a new development.
@ANB: Sorry to be picky, but I’m confused… did you mean Takane? Mei-Takane yuri wouldn’t be all that unexpected, but Mei-Nekane yuri would be a jaw-dropper.
Yes, I meant Takane. ^_^;;; My fingers don’t always type what’s in my brain. *_*
Oh yeah, I agree with the hypothesis that Negi knew/suspected the fake Asuna. There were several clues that lead to that, but most revealingly is the fact that they are both disciples of Eva, training together lots of time inside her magical resort. How reliable her magic is, Negi must know very well. So the few times it didnt work when it should, of course he suspected. Second most importantly, is the time when they met amnesiac Yue. He most tellingly didnt mention her badge and the other badge, and lead away any convo about those badges. If Yue’s badge is not at the ruins, then whose? So.
However, the way to counter a known spy is isolating and feeding apparent minor true info but conceal the most important facts. So he didnt act much different in the company of the fake Asuna.