#tpn 142

[fullscoreshenanigans]

#I find the comparison to the Adam and Eve story quite interesting #I also find it interesting that they evolved into human-like creatures before the food they ate started changing them #I wonder if it has something to do with the demons greed #perhaps they all had blood like Mujika but them eating whatever made them lose it after a few generations?? #maybe that's why they changed their God system it started worshiping him instead of the gods Mujika and Sonju worship bc they felt forsaken #also them murdering those who still had the special blood for vaguely religious reasons kinda like our history ? #idk just some thoughts (via @silentstudiosyt)

Based on the mystic code book Q&A from earlier, it sounds like the push to the new faith was almost entirely manufactured for the convenience of the demon nobility in order to maintain the social stratification of demon society rather than genuine widespread doubt in the original faith.

(Chapter 142)

And the demon god goes along with it because, as Emma notes, he's a whimsical/capricious one due to his longevity.

I frequently forget this due to it not being openly discussed in the text, but compare the village the Seven Walls search party walks through in chapter 103

to what we see the demon nobility use to travel to the imperial capital in chapter 140

The Bayon clan traverses by what looks like a steam locomotive while the Noum clan has…one that hovers or flies? Or it's a demon that looks conveniently shaped like one.

While we don't know if to work at one of the farms the demon staff have to relocate their entire families

(Mystic Code Book Chapter 7 Q&A)

There is some prestige attached to it, even at the mass production farm level. It seems like outside of the farms and nobles' estates, technological advancements have purposely been withheld from the general demon population into the 2040s as another means of controlling them. If you're too busy just trying to survive, there's less chance of a revolt and upending the status quo.

With how Norman explains it in chapter 120, the demons were evolving based on what they ate since early on in their existence as a species

before eventually stumbling across humans.

Prior to the promise being forged, they theoretically had unrestricted access to humans, so to tie into the framing of Mujika as a unique messianic figure and human intelligence as the pinnacle for demons to acquire and maintain, their degeneration/warped appearance is predominantly treated as the fault of the demon nobility's draconian regulation of their world's food supply.

(Chapter 132 | Chapter 164)

I do think you can explore the demons' waning belief in the original faith due to them collectively losing their genetic stability as a species either entirely separate from the manipulations of the upper echelons for their own sociopolitical gain or making them more amenable to it since Shirai does spend some pages acknowledging how they were complicit with the system due to the comforts it afforded them, comparatively scant as they were

(Chapter 175)

However, much more time is spent developing empathy for the plight of the average demon

(Chapter 49 | Chapter 130)

and criticizing those with power at the macrolevel for manufacturing consent and scarcity in the face of new developments that would be objectively good for society

(Chapter 147 - "All they care about is their profits.")

that I'd hesitate to phrase it simply as the collective demons' greed that led to this for falling into the more generic anime racism S2 falls into with Norman attacking a random village instead of pointedly targeting the capital.

#Something more interesting to me is the fact the snake is crossed out while the beetle isn't #Pretty sure you can't perform Gupna on an insect. There's no blood to drain the flower wouldn't bloom #You could argue maybe they don't really see insects as 'meat' #But considering the beetle's lined up with the other animals here I really don't think that's the case #Anyway point is from what Sonju tells us eating insects is probably against the Old Faith #So this whole 'no snakes' thing probably wasn't carried over from it and instead originated after the Promise #(if we assume it's a cultural/religious thing.) #(The existence of snake-like demons doesn't eliminate the possibility of snakes being biologically unviable) #(There's a lot of animals they could eat to end up like that. Lampreys worms caecilians etc.) #But I disgress. I'm not a theologist or anything just pointing out something i found weird. (via @darklight-owl)

With the visual representation for the splitting of the two worlds in chapter 48's cover art being an apple (even if it isn't actually the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden)

on top of the aforementioned framing of Mujika as a messianic figure and Emma falling into this as well, I wouldn't be surprised if Shirai opted for symbolism over biological realities on this particular matter since its not pressing to the narrative.

And you're right that it would something that came about after the promise

(Chapter 46 | Chapter 157)

Sonju says he and Mujika will eat anything else besides cattle children, though it seems like he has a preference for creatures he can hunt due to the spiritual aspect of it for him.

i want to see people to be talking about this panel in the promised neverland

tpn theory type stuff below cut

google search and stuff has gotten pretty bad so that might be why i'm struggling so much to find theories on this but omg it's a little frustrating because this is the coolest panel.

for anyone that doesn't remember, this was at the demon temple that showed them how to reach the seven walls.

there's one specific thing here that interests me the most, and it's the main reason i think this panel is so interesting, but there's so many other significant things to discuss here so i'll just get through some quickly.

at the top we see what i think is almost definitely the night and day, and the demon god. there're then lines pointing to the beginning of the evolution tree with the small bacteria-like first demons. i think this is telling us that the demon god is the originator of all of the demons. that's pretty huge?? i haven't heard anyone ever talk about that. i don't think this is far-fetched at all too. i strongly believe in this theory.

under the bacteria-like demons are these bipedal, horned, almost human-like demons. i'm less sure about what these are and i think this is more up for debate but i'm guessing these are a slightly evolved form of the first demons from eating lots of small things and slowly working their way a little up the food chain. with slight variations probably from slightly different diets.

under that, we see the demon evolution that we are familiar with.

they eat a fish, they become a fish-like demon. they eat a human, they become the familiar human-like demon. they eat bugs or other small wild creatures, they become the also familiar wild demon. (side note: we know humanoid demons also eat bugs alongside humans which is interesting. what unique affect to bugs have on them?)

it's showing us what the demons will evolve into after eating certain organisms. it all seems to align with what we know from normans research so far.

except for one thing. this is the thing that interests me more than anything else.

UNDER THE SNAKE CREATURE THERE'S JUST AN X.

WHY TF CANT THEY EAT SNAKES.

i don't think we ever get even a hint towards what this could mean in the manga.

gonna be real, i think even if i tried to look for patterns myself, i wouldn't know enough about biology to find much. i don't know much of anything about biology. i think the only thing i take away from this is that for some reason they can't eat snakes.

this stuff intrigues me so much and i just wish i could find more theories out there on this. rahhhh it's so cool. i just want an answer.

oh wait also what is this thing i dunno

honestly i can't make it out

anyway thanks for reading, i don't post about TPN but i just finished rereading all 20 volumes. i probably won't post about it again i just want to get this out

[notelectrictigerart]

if i could make one wish...

[adrasteaeydiate]

Me :

[couldnt-think-of-a-better-name]

Chapter 142 Spoilers

NOOOOOOOO

EMMA WHY?! HOW COULD YOU USE THAT WORDING?!?!!!?!!! WHYYYYYY!!!!

Guys, you know who that wording of children raised for food definitely excludes?

THE RATRI CLAN

And if my theory is right that Norman is a Ratri genetic experiment, never intended to be a demon meal...

NORMAN WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!!!!!!!

Also, Zazie is almost certainly excluded as well since he was born in lambda as an experiment, and Ayshe is also definitely excluded since she was raised by a loving demon who didn't want to eat her, and Vincent, Barbara and Cislo could also be excluded if they were raised for experiments, as well as possibly Adam and all of those clones...

Omg, now I don't even care about the reward just about how Emma could have condemned the Ratris to be left behind...

And Norman... noooo... I mean this will be great angst... but... but.... NORMAN NOOOOOOO

Don't leave Norman behind!!!!!

GAAAAAH THIS IS THE FRIGGIN ESCAPE ARC ALL OVER AGAIN BUT THIS TIME NORMAN IS LEFT BEHIND INSTEAD OF LEAVING AND EMMA HAS CAUSED HERSELF

💔💔💔💔💔💔😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭😭😭

[fullscoreshenanigans]

#gosh how I hate the whole *Norman becomes a CEO so everything turns out fine AGAIN because he can just snap with his fingers #making money appear* #bothers me way more than if he had to work with the Ratris to gain money for their search for Emma and their living expenses #made this a point in my fic. with Norman hating every second smiling for the cameras for the Ratris and telling people how great they are #and how nice it is from the family to take care of the cattle children #everything just for Emma #so everyone else tries to soften the blow. work as hard as they can and Emma - as soon as she's found - working for their sake too (via @officersnickers)

While lamenting how easily this solution arises after the multiple points the potential hurdles of traveling to the human world are brought up here, I also understand it within the constraints Shirai was working. Wanting to salvage his health under WSJ's debilitating schedule while also wanting to provide closure and a happier ending to his audience, it is the quickest way to streamline them acquiring exorbitant amounts of money in under three chapters, and after the cruelty they suffered in the demon world there is some comfort in them having the reach to alleviate as much suffering as possible.

(Chapter 181.4)

Depending on how that rise comes about and if that profitability is sustained via exploitation at various levels in the global supply chain. It's kind of hard to ascertain with the shift the world took after WWIII and the elimination of borders, but the Ratri family is still treated as being among the elite, so sadly it seems like there's still some social stratification they play into, even if there's only so much they can do in two years when the convenience afforded by murdering the ruling nobility of another species is off the table.

All of that said, if the human world arc was given the same length as other arcs, I think this would be one of the easiest sources of conflict one could dip into, with or without Norman being related to them.

#I still can't let go of my theory of yes Norman having Ratri blood running through his veins #by some former Ratri head having an affair with a Sister in Grace Field Headquarters #so it's no direct lineage to James (sad) and Peter (glad) #but more of a very very distant cousin #could they bother Matilda with this too which I love to headcanon as Norman's mother? yes #do I want to see both of them thrive without any Ratris meddling with them? YES (via @officersnickers)

Over the course of a thousand years, I could see both a dalliance in more recent generations playing out as well as him being a descendant of the female ancestor who's related to Julius in some familial capacity. Lots of possibilities for how the relationship could come about, though being directly related to James or Peter is probably my least favorite since we already have the Isabella-Ray parent-child conflict among the main trio.

#I've never particularly considered Ratris and Norman have a striking resemblance past the fact that they all have blonde adult faces #drawn by the same artist #Norman's facial features are soft and round - cloudy hair and thicker hair/brows #Ratris have thinner hair and leaf shaped eyes - their facial features are somewhat sharp (seems soft on James due to his demeanor) #they have that rich aristocrat vibe but not the 'angelic' 'knight's white horse' allegories that were behind Norman's design #when it comes to parallels - tbh you can create parallels between most characters #I think the only one possibly intended was Geelan and Norman (white theme - initially pure but corrupted after abuse) as hinted in fanbook (via @1000sunnygo)

This is true, along with Emma & Isabella and Emma & Yuugo.

(Mystic Code Book Chapter 2)

#also the possibilities of Norman (already hates himself and sees himself deserving death) realizes he has ratri blood?? I.. #usually I don't gatekeep characters from HCs but he's a little boy I can't wish his worse 😔 #well I'm not gonna gatekeep him this time either but just sharing my two cents! (via @1000sunnygo)

But the delicious angst that I crave and the triumph of when he rises above it. Chef's kisses. 🤌💞

(Chapter 127 | Chapter 141 | x)

[map-of-neverland]

General Ratri has likely been...

[youuuimeanmee]

TPN 142 Thoughts

1.

It's really tragic that Julius Ratri doesn't actually want to become a mediator, but rather he HAS to, as a part of the reward he gave to Asdfghjkl. The horror realization that he has to watch over the descendants of people he left behind to struggle and die, over and over again is very transparent on his face. He just so done with so many deaths he had witnessed, but now he could never run away from that.

I really do feel bad for Ratri.

2. Dang itt Since Old!NorEmmaRay are eaten right then, the possibility of them being the trio's ancestors is very low, unless they already have children who survived and got left behind. So yeah, I'd say that they're probably the trio's past lives. But I still believe that Norman has some connection with Ratri.

3. I know everyone is wondering about what would Asdfghjkl want from Emma, so this is obviously should be considered.

As much as I hate it, with many theories going on about Norman will be left behind, it seems very more likely, since Norman is one of the integral part of Emma's motivation. It's the same with Ratri's case; his wish to never witness death again will never come true due to the very. same. promise he made.

But my questions are: Would that be enough? Would sacrificing Norman be enough to inflict pain for Emma, enough to satisfy Asdfghjkl?

Just look at this him enjoying the pain, enjoying the angsst

Damn youuu

[dresdengrace]

The task Iverk has to take...

This explains the Premium Farms, I assume

And the role Julius Ratri has to be

(Screenshots taken of Chapter 142)

(click on photo for better quality)

[fullscoreshenanigans]

@naehja late but according to the timeline in the mystic code book, Legravalima doesn't kill her father until 200 years after the promise:

I also think it's possible there were other children as intelligent as Norman, either in the same or different ways, but in the past they might not have had the means necessary to measure and qualify it, potentially serving as further commentary on how arbitrary and limiting the system is for only assessing a part of a child's capabilities and not their full worth as a human being, like how Emma treasures all the kids as her family.

Emma receiving a music box and Ray receiving a pocket watch was mentioned in the first chapter of the book:

(Questionnaire Translation Source)

I like to believe Norman and Ray put the music box back together for her so she could enjoy it for a bit longer while she was at Grace Field.

For the queen who killed her father, it's in one of her flash back

but you were right, it wasn't the king who was with Julius, but it's not clear of "when" it happened.

I thougth that it was just after the promise because she doesn't seems to be the kind of demon who make compromises (even her brother Leuvis is more easy to talk with and it's already a lot)

I'm actually surprised that she waited 1000 years to try to take a genious kid from The One. I don't think that Norman was the only one genious in 1000 years \_(:/)_/ I know that genious are kinda rares but in 1000 years, there had s had a lot of children, some must have been very smart. maybe because now they were more equiped to detect kids like Norman?

Also for Ray's watch, i think i read it in a interview where people asked if Isabella had given gifts to the other children, like she did for Conny, and the answer were yes and that Ray had had a pocket watch and Emma a music box. But sorry i can't find again the link of the interview =(

Ah, you're completely right. Looking back, that's from ch152 and something I clearly had no memory of until now.. oops. It's that flashback of Julius from ch142 that threw me off since he mentions making the deal with the queen, so I thought the demon he faced in those panels was just a younger version of Legravalima, not her father.

Pfftt, Legravalima is definitely the most selfish out of that entire family. Emma was brave enough to try and reason with Leuvis back at Goldy Pond, can you imagine if she had the chance to talk-no-jutsu the queen? It would be the shortest conversation ever. Leuvis entertained Emma's ideas because she brought back some excitement into his life and wanted a thrilling hunt; the queen would straight up just eat her with no questions asked.

It is kinda hard to believe that during all those 1,000 years that no other child managed to reach the level of intelligence that Norman had. I would think that maybe the royals weren't aware of such premium quality meat since they're always offered up to the demon god instead, but there are so many children born each year in order to keep up with the hungry demands of the demon society and Norman is the highest grade ever? Crazy. (Isabella raised him well.)

Ohh, I vaguely remember hearing about Emma getting a music box too.. kinda bummed we never saw it in the manga/anime. It's alright that you can't find the interview! Isabella giving gifts to her children is believable enough.

[notelectrictiger12]

these two panels HURT

[armandismywife]

Julius Ratri was a fucking traitor

[migila]

So... will this series end soon? Or is whatever-we-should-call-that-thing gonna send the demons to the human world along with the cattle children and have all hell breaking loose? Either way, there’s no chance that everything will go Emma’s way just like that.

[redteal]

im tired of these TPN cliff hangers like just get on w it > : \ 

[chidoroki]

182 Days of TPN - Day 142

Chapter 142: "The Promise Made 1,000 Years Ago, Part 2"

Hearing about Leuvis and how he's causing some massive damage is truly frightening and definitely what I should be focusing on right now.. and yet here I am completely enamored by the Ray ancestor and his fancy ponytail.

Julius wishes there to be no more sacrifices.. by sacrificing others. I'm not quite sure you're understanding your logic, sir. I know he cares about not losing any more of his own men and comrades, but a whole lot of innocent lives will suffer instead as a result.

Not only did Ray's ancestor passed down his logical mind and handsome looks, but also his tragic backstory. Okay, well.. there's no such thing as a decent backstory in this series, but his comments just remind me a bunch about all the siblings Ray lost while at GF along with the bunker dads.

I know Norman has his own ancestor, but the moment here between Julius & Emma's ancestor sounds so much like the argument in ch153 when Emma is trying to "save" Norman.

Not that I wanna compare Isabella and Julius in any way, but it would've been hilarious to me if he countered with a "Yes. Isn't it obvious?" like she did to Peter in ch170. Even without that, it's kinda like the Ratris get the tables turned on them with who is getting betrayed.

It's amazing how strongly I despise this man when he's only in the story for two chapters.

I always felt like offering up the best food was such an easy thing for the demons to give up, compared to the rewards the humans (both Julius & Emma) have to settle with. Yverk is still able to eat high quality food, with him being a royal, so it doesn't seem like that big of a loss to me.

I also take great joy of seeing the demon god laugh at Julius' expense. It is a harsh role, but Julius was so adamant about putting this deal into place for the sake of humans and now he gets to witness them suffer over and over and over again. So, unfortunate for everyone else yes, but I strangely don't feel sorry for him individually. This is why you don't betray your friends.

Sigh, when demon god says it like that, it seems so obvious what reward He will ask of Emma, doesn't it?

Nothing is more important to this girl than her own family, but when she words the promise like this, ya think everything is gonna be all fine and well. If everyone crosses over to the human world and no one can return to the demon world, then they'll all be safe, right?

WRONG! This little bastard knows exactly how to find a loophole and get exactly what he wants regardless and I hate that stupid, unseeable smirk on His face.

Favorite panel/moment:

A quick moment of peace between these dudes. And Ray's ancestor looking totally precious.

[notelectrictigerart]

Conflict

[adrasteaeydiate]

ULTRA STRONG NORMAN - EMMA VIBES