September 10th, 2014 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! Manga Review
UQ Holder Chapter 49
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
As Touta tags along with Santa in town, Kuroumaru is taken to Santa’s grave by the middle school girl, who tells Kuroumaru that Santa was bullied and was rumored to have taken his own life. The girl is sad that she couldn’t help Santa and asks Kuroumaru to be his friend before running off. Kuroumaru digests this, not happy at not having figured this out.
That evening, Touta makes dinner and Kuroumaru takes the opportunity to touch Santa’s hand, realizing how much like a human Santa is, but with a faint miasma about him, Santa is a revenant. As such, he becomes a prime suspect, but Kuroumaru questions things, seeing how Santa has warmed up to Touta. Kuroumaru gets a call from Ikkuu, who reports a new set of murders, this time three bodies. Touta blurts out this information, shocking Kuroumaru, but Kuroumaru figures that if they take Santa with them, they can judge how he reacts.
Karin joins them at the crime scene and Touta introduces Santa as their roommate. Kuroumaru notes how childlike Santa is acting, though upon learning what kind of students they were, Santa figures they deserved it. Since the murders happened when Santa was with them in the same bed, Kuroumaru decides to have Ikkuu perform surveillance on their room
The next morning, Santa, Kuroumaru, and Touta are awakened by a call to report six new murders, where the students where buried in the ceiling of the classroom that was sealed off. Ikkuu tells Kuroumaru that Santa never left, but cautions that Santa might have powers they aren’t aware of yet. Karin joins them and upon learning that Santa is a revenant, she’s not happy at having been kept in the dark. Kuroumaru doesn’t think it is right, but Karin is determined to take Santa down.
As Karin walks to the bathroom, she hears chatter about Sayoko’s curse has returned, and how Sayoko is killing bad people as she did eight years ago. Karin goes into a bathroom stall to consider this when she notices water dripping. Looking up to the stall door, she sees a girl with a wet face and scary eyes peering at her. The girl stutters out Karin’s name as Karin leaps up, identifying the girl as a wraith, but then hands emerge from the toilet and grab her.
Thoughts/Review:
Well, this chapter was all kinds of interesting, but then Touta wasn’t the focus. ^_~
As we all expected, Santa is looking like the innocent party here. All along, he’s been being set up to be a new UQ Holder member. With him grudgingly warming up to Touta despite himself, I can see Santa deciding to go ahead and join the group as their intelligence operative with his mad hacking skills. Plus, he’d be quite useful in a fight.
As to Santa being a revenant, until the spoiler, I hadn’t expected that. I had been thinking some kind of ghost, but to be honest, I’m not that versed on the various types of undead. Plus, how one defines the undead can shift somewhat, depending on what fantasy RPG one plays.
It certainly appears that the girl who showed Kuroumaru Santa’s grave is the wraith who’s apparently attacking Karin at the end of the chapter. If she is Sayoko, then I suspect she’s targeting bullies and may have been killed by a bully herself.
In Dungeon & Dragons, a wraith is always classified as lawful evil, as I recall it. Although in simple terms, a wraith is just the Scottish term for ghost, I suspect Akamatsu-sensei is doing a combination here, incorporating the lawful evil aspect from D&D (or other such fantasy RPGs) and a ghost. (Wraiths in D&D look different.) If Sayoko is killing bullies, then I would classify her as lawful evil.
Does “Sayoko” know Karin from the past, whether the mission eight years ago, or before? Is she really attacking Karin now, or simply restraining her to prevent Karin from attacking?
Also, if “Sayoko” is killing bullies, does this mean that UQH has to kill her? Or do they offer her a spot in their group? The only reason to ask the question is that assuming this Sayoko and the girl that helped Kuroumaru are the same (and I believe they are), then one can see that Sayoko has compassion, but needs guidance on not going out and slaughtering fools.
Karin disappointed me in this chapter. She’s lived a long time, but she has a penchant for rushing to judgement. That’s how she ended up on the moon, and that’s how she was sent to who knows where during the fight with Fate before Kirie reset time. Fortunately for Santa, Karin got reminded of Sayoko, then apparently gets visited by the wraith. I like Karin, but man, I would like her to be a little less bullheaded at times.
So far, Kuroumaru has been the most levelheaded person in the group. Touta is off in lah-lah land as usual, and Ikkuu is doing his own thing. It has been Kuroumaru who’s been reasoned and logical throughout the investigation.
So, a really enjoyable chapter. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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[…] Here is a bit of potential SPOILER rumor for the upcoming UQ Holder chapter 49, courtesy of ChaosProphet via 2CH. No images or greater details anywhere yet. I’ll keep my eyes open for such, and should ANY of you have information you can verify, especially with a spoiler image, I would appreciate sharing it here. ^_^ (My review of UQ Holder chapter 49 should come out Wednesday.) […]
That Sayoko picture really gave me the creeps. Wow.
Also, I couldn’t help but notice how similar the name is to that of the friendly neighborhood ghost from Negima, Sayo…
And seriously Touta, I would imagine the word “secret” in “secret mission” would imply the thing is supposed to be kept, you know, secret…
Yeah, it is awesome on the creepy level. ^_^
I really would have liked Sayo showing up as a teacher.
Well, he is a brainless moron. ^_^;;;
Kuroumaru being levelheaded is an interesting development from him. At the beginning of the story he thought that being a immortal monster means they had to be erased. So he attacked Touta even thought he felt like he could be a good person. While now he did the opposite with Santa.
I can understand Karin rushing about things in this case. She seems to feel really bad for not being able to stop the murderer last time and now, with the number of dead only increasing.
Reposting from AS my considerations regarding the dates on the grave:
Santa says when talking by himself (which means there was no reason to lie) “Born 2001. Huh, same age as me”. But the grave says Sasaki Santa was born in 2065. Could “Sayoko” have faked the grave? If not then some possibilities come to mind:
Santa isn’t Sasaki Santa and is using that fake name. He may have known the actual one and that memory was something he witnessed the real Santa go trough.
Santa isn’t Sasaki Santa but isn’t aware of it. Something may have happened that confused his memories. Or maybe because of his powers he merged with Santa’s spirit and his memories are jumbled.
Santa is Sasaki Santa but his memories are wrong for some reason and he thinks he have been around for longer than he actually have.
Another thing that makes the grave date sounds strange. There have been murders like those ones intermittently for the last 80 years.
And also is interesting to note that the date of Santa’s death on the grave is 8 years ago.
I’m wondering if Sayoko may have been the cause of the two series of murders (or almost all of them) 8 years ago and now, but the ones that happened now and then since about 80 years ago were caused by Santa, whether by accident or self-defense.
The problem regarding the grave also makes me doubt the info from “Sayoko”. Is Santa really dead? Kuroumaru identified him as a revenant, but seems like only because of the miasma he felt plus the info from Sayoko that may be false.
One random theory: Santa’s esper powers may be related with absorbing spirits or the like. His multiples abilities are caused by different ones he took in.
I can understand her feeling bad for not solving the case eight years earlier, but in my mind, as someone who’s lived hundred of years, she should know better. But I guess emotions sometimes trump common sense. And her contemplations on the toilet may have been the moment her common sense and reasoning started kicking in.
I’m also wondering about Santa, Sayoko, and their connection. As you point out, there are a lot of things we don’t know and a lot of different ways this could go. I still think Santa could be a reality module creation.
According to Santa’s tombstone he died 8 years ago which was when the murders to place last time. So in all likelihood that girl is who ultimately killed Santa, which will open the door to how he’ll join UQ Holder since they’ll be the one to help catch his murderer.
Interesting theory. We’ll see how things go.
The moment I saw that picture of “Sayoko”, I immediately thought of Sadako Yamamura from “Ring”
*lol* Understandable. ^_^
Interesting chapter
So Santa isn’t the murderer, or maybe he did some murder…
as the guy in the bathroom, he was in the wall
And I thought that Sayoko was a good girl, it turns out that she is the murderer
Maybe Sayoko fell in love with Santa, but Santa died by the bullying and she died by another reason (Maybe she also had bullying) and by that reason she hates the bad guys
Well, santa will end up helping UQ Holder and he will join (I wonder if he also will have that do some test as Touta and Kuroumaru)
The hands that leave the toilet bowl lol One can’t go to the bathroom calmed XD
What will happen to Karin? Will Touta go to the girls bathroom to help Karin?
And about the murders, the bullying, etc…What happened to Mahora? Since Mana, Setsuna, the wizards teachers, Takane and Mei aren’t patrolling day and night, Evangeline guarding the barrier and the boss Konoemon leading the team, Mahora has become a chaos
(The chapter 44, the teacher that introduced Touta and Kuroumaru in the class, he looks like the teacher Nitta lol)
Waiting for the next chapter 🙂
I don’t think Touta is around. If Sayoko has similar powers as Santa, then she might possess Karin. But that’s just pure speculation.
Well, it isn’t just Mahora. In fact, Kuroumaru and Touta weren’t enrolled there. It is the entire Academy City and all the schools therein.
Well, I believe Nitta-sensei was based on an actual teacher of Akamatsu-sensei.
Ditto. ^_^
Astro: I had the same reaction on Karin. In fact I literally exploded with rage on the French forum where I stand lol. Is because I hate to be accused an innocent and judicial errors.
Chaosprophet: YES I noticed it myself too, Kuro is the best! lol! Everything seems to confirm that he will solve the case. Incidentally, you spoke of “development”, yes, the word is right.
But tell me, someone he had not mentioned his “superior knowledge” that there was no development in this manga? Huh Dargor? “Sir I figured better now that everyone”? Here we have a perfect example of a “development ttype shonen” the character evolves and grows DURING the action (investigation or fight whatever) and not BEFORE or AFTER but … DURING action. Had even if Negi, the first Shunpo he had succeeded against Takamichi, magia-erebea he gained by fighting Eva in her parchment. It is only against Rakan it evolved before a fight. ^^
Random Lurker: Yeah I’m not particularly hate Tota, this time I would gladly put him my fist in the face lol!
Anyway I guess the blame back partly Ikku who called kuro and Tota same time it seems or so has kuro who forgot to turn off the speakers lol
And when you entands: “Hey guys, there’s been another murder”. I think we can say that your coverage is anyway grilled lol.
At least she did sit down to contemplate things after hearing about the Sayoko Curse. ^_^
Adorable, trying to call out names like anyone gives two shits about your inane and nonsensical grudge against anyone that doesn’t think UQ Holder is just the bees knees. Your levels of maturity is surly something to aspire to. You will however note that all of the chapters that meet the most controversy are the ones where Touta is the center of the universe as opposed to the ones where he isn’t the focus of.
As for the chapter itself, it being Kuro centric is nice, since the Shinmei swordsmen should in theory have a better chance of dealing with ghosts and the undead. If we’re lucky, we might even get to see him actually succeed in a fight on-screen. Karin flying off the handle against Santa makes sense to be given that nearly a dozen people have already died. Even if he isn’t the actual culprit, her viewpoint is perfectly justifiable given the circumstances, and given how personally she took her “failure” the last time, its not that out of character.
As for the bad for this chapter, why in the fucking fuck wasn’t A). Mahora shut down given the goddamn bodies hanging from the sealing and B). The old guard not teaching these new guys…anything? Seriously, you’re telling me these new magical invesigators can’t set up any type of ward, barrier, or anything as a precaution? They don’t even have to work, it’d be better to show that someone somewhere is trying to do something then call “emergency meetings” and pickign their noses waiting for the super immortals to solve everything.
Saith he that there are two chapters back was a scandal because on ONE BOX chapter we see Tota climb the walls of the first shot, while the entire chapter focused on the overwhelming defeat of the numbers facing Santa s is the joke of jokes. Anyways.
I would like to clarify two things, first I’m not a fan of Tota, but I do not hate non-plus. In a general way I am somewhat interested in heroes shonens I read, I pay more importence the side or the antagonnistes characters. So perhaps this will surprise you, but I did commencing to appreciate Negi with the time when he learned Magia-Erebea. Before to this point, it just seemed an ordinary harem and shonen hero no more interesting or uninteresting than another. (but unlike you I do not make a drama when a hero has a thousand times operating profit (find her father) and has nothing extraordinary, I do not consider a classic manga and not original, is necessarily bad! ^^) If so I do not understand why you focus on Tota you to decree that this manga is bad. So far it does not disappoint me at all and I know alot of people who, unlike you, we really appreciated the fact that Ala-Alba antagonnist to serve, precisely because it went against what all the world expected. Same for “Evil Fate” Anyway it seems obvious that Fate or neo-ala alba are not real antagonnists. At most, they will be a “third power.” I think we all know, the likely true antagonnist : the life-maker and his followers.
Regarding the evolution of Tota I honestly do not see what’s so shocking. So far has only power-up (magia-erebea not included since it not masters) took summers centered shunpo and chi and everyone made a fuss. Uh Hello Earth lol. The shunpo is for me to martial arts that is Sagita-magica magic, was the basis of the bases. Would you be shocked if a mage to do very quicly Sagita-magica?
Then you’ll say “yes, but the characters in the story say it took them years.” Ok but I will speak in terms of “gaming system” so to speak. Since all the fighters in Negima AND UQ-Holder uses shunpo in the inconcient drive this technique comes to be regarded as basic. It is essential to the fight. Nagi when he fought Negi Mahora confirmed and Eva wanted to learn Shunpo to Tota before anything else. Is therefore a basic technique. Actually went so Tota do not fast as it would have been shocking was learning. After I agree it would have been more logical it reaches Santa on the building using the Kakuu Shunpo that ran on the walls. Because:
1 Kaito had shown him.
2 Between the attack slums and the mission Mahora it took more than a month, it would have been plausible that he has mastered in this time.
But anyway it’s still a detail! Not enough to make a drama Dargor! Again I was immature? I have drawn a very on the 3-A by the end of Negima and well before UQ-Holder, and I know people who appreciate more the 3-A that I, who have made the same, neither are you and you bring everything to that band of schoolgirls lol.
To return to the chapter and regarding the incompetence of the magic brigade. Uh I want to say that the police of the world-magic in Negima was no better: “Oh the gate door was attacked Was necessarily Ala-alba!” lol
And it shows you do not watch a lot of police series! In all series, the police groups of heroes is better than the other. In the American series (I think you know better than I, a poor French lol) when the local police where the group work the hero, the FBI is populated by impulsive and incompetent idiots. When was the FBI who are the heroes, was the opposite. I mean, is normal that the hero is highlighted lol! ^^
Well, I think it’s pretty much settled that Santa is innocent, though the story was already hinting at that before. This Sayoko character is crazy creepy. Anywho, I think it’s quite touching seeing Santa bond with Touta and Kuro. That whole hand-holding part with Santa and Kuro was adorable, what with Santa getting all flustered and blushing. And yes, Kuro is coming across as the most competent of the four.
Oh, and that Karin pic at the start of the chapter. *whistles*
Which is why Kuroumaru has to become a lovely girl. ^_~
Yeah, i was right.
I had a feeling that it could turn out like this after reading the last chapter when that girl suddenly appeared and started to talk about Santa being a sort of Ghost.
It just felt odd to me that a girl would just come out of a deserted alley and start speaking about someone like that to someone unknown (who just happened to appear out of the sky), without any reaction (i mean Touta & Kuroumaru were jumping extremely high that time which should atleast made a normal person react in a different way) unless they have some motive (like confessing or analysing people).
Also for some reason the time-line felt odd. I mean in that dream of Santa, he was wearing a uniform similar to the present student uniform, which meant he died quite recently. But if i remember right, it was mentioned that the killing have been happening for quite many years (this is proven in this chapter that he died 8 years ago, around the same time that Karin first investigated).
But the uniform that girl (i noticed this point now) was wearing was quite different from what we have seen the other girls wearing in that School in present time.
Now i get the feeling that the reason why that girl might have revealed the truth about Santa maybe possibly for the following reasons,
– he is the only one who could stop her considering they are similar in type (i.e., being a form of Ghost)
– just like Santa, she was bullied as well and though her spirit does all those killing for revenge, she still has a soft spot for Santa as a being who had a similar faith to her and wants to help him in some way.
– she actually accidentally killed Santa, thinking he was a bully or something like that and now wants to correct her mistake by helping him.
Another odd point that i noticed now is that the room that Santa got. I mean do Ghost or even Revenant live in a room with all sorts of amenities needed to live a life of a Hihikomori. Isn’t it odd that the school authorities didn’t try to clean up his room even after approximately 8 years after his death.
This means that someone might actually have been allowing him to stay in that room. Someone in a higher position who has enough power to allow Santa to live a hassle free life after his death.
From Santa comment when Touta and Kurou was coming to his room, seems like he manipulated the school system through the web to make it so no one would be assigned to the room. The school likely didn’t even know anyone resided there.
I agree. That’s what makes it so interesting that the dorm guard directed them to Santa’s room. I start wondering if Sayoko might have done something there to try to get Santa some help.
I hadn’t paid attention to her uniform that closely, so I missed that.
I kinda like this theory.
I got the feeling that Santa’s abilities made it so that no one bothered the room on top of it getting a negative reputation. That’s why Santa was so surprised that Kuroumaru and Touta showed up. To me, that raises the question of how were UQH able to overcome Santa’s prevention methods (or more to the point, who allowed UQH access).
this is what i think
Sayoko is stronger and older than Santa, were the one lived 80 years as a Shiryoo/Wraith
Santa is your normal and abit hot headed Yuuki/Revenant
Santa is not a Wraith but likely revived back to life by a Wraith made one part of his memory mixed with her (he believed that his birth year were same as Ikkuu but actually not), he hates bully yet not enough to killing them
Sayoko might be a victim of bully as well so after 80 years resting , she started to killing after Santa’s death (8 years ago)
Sayoko seem care to Santa alot so when Karin showed up as a threat to Santa, she attacked by Sayoko (in rest room again)
You are probably right on a lot of this.
Oh, this week early raw are back being early it seems. Manga Kansou should do UQH later today or tomorrow.
Which proved true. Interesting that Kodansha Comics didn’t keep to their restricted access.