Shounen Enigma by Sakaki Kenji

[Negative Syndicate]

I mean chapter 55.

 

[FanOfAniManga]

I mean chapter 55.

Given the spoilers, I'd say potentially. I'd have to read this coming chapter to be sure.

 

[WilliamK]

Ehehe... I bet Sakaki's trolling us making the ending look like it's coming soon and it turns out it was just the end of Act 2 and she moves onto Act 3 going on about how students are going corrupt with their talents, abusing them and enemies after the skull. >: )

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Ehehe... I bet Sakaki's trolling us making the ending look like it's coming soon and it turns out it was just the end of Act 2 and she moves onto Act 3 going on about how students are going corrupt with their talents, abusing them and enemies after the skull. >: )

That's perfect scenario.

 

[FanOfAniManga]

Yeah. If Act 1 was building on their talents, then surely, we must see more of them. Otherwise, all that development would've been for nothing.

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Yeah. If Act 1 was building on their talents, then surely, we must see more of them. Otherwise, all that development would've been for nothing.

So far, it is heading for nothing.

 

[FanOfAniManga]

So far, it is heading for nothing.

Exactly, and that's one of the many things that makes this particular manga series rather eccentric. However, it can't stay this way much longer.

It's desperately in need of character development, for one thing, but it's also in need of further plot development. I don't think Enigma can stay as a series comprising of test after test for its main theme anymore. All fans seem to be getting tired of it. I think we all want something fresh and innovative, just like the testing system when the manga started. If she can't deliver anything new, I wouldn't be too surprised or disappointed if it gets cancelled.

---------- Post added October 22, 2011 at 03:39 PM ---------- Previous post was October 21, 2011 at 08:42 PM ----------

Okay. It's been a LONG time since chapter 53 has been released and still, no translation is out. I'm going to release a translation myself soon if kewl doesn't.

I'm not angry at kewl. I know he has more important things to do, such as translating Toriko. And if he's lost interest in translating Enigma, I'm fine with that too. But I just want to see a translation of this chapter already because it's so crucial.

7:47PM UPDATE: Okay, I'm done. The translation is hidden in the spoiler box below.

Spoiler

Hey guys. As we haven't seen a translation for chapter 53 yet, I've volunteered to make one.

However, my Japanese isn't that great, and this is actually my first full chapter translated alone.

This translation is open to any Edited Manga group, so long as I'm credited properly. For whichever Edited Manga group decides to use my translation, I strongly recommend having a proofreader look over it first, particularly the areas where I've placed "TL Notes".


[P1]
Sumio: Headless…!?
Everything in the room is headless!?
Matsurigi: Yea… Haiba…!
Moto: What kind of person is Cannibal… what is he thinking!?
e53: Past
Sakaki Kenji
Insert: Strange secret room…!!
Matsurigi: The head… what's supposed to be the head… ?
Disguised Man: …..
-- It seems as though this room… even though it's a copy made by Kijima, is controlling Cannibal's soul.
Kijima: Look.


[P2]
Screen:
Memory Restoration System
user: KODA SHIMEI
wish: ______ [EXECUTE]
Once the memory has reached restoration after execution, this will suspend the body's actions.
Kijima: Memory Restoration…!?
What is this… Kouda Shimei…?
Disguised Man: That's Cannibal's name. This is what controls his memories through his brain.
This is as far as we can see his memories coming out…
--That is, if we can find his memories somewhere in this room,
We may be able to use this machine to make an escape!
Hiina: ….!!
Sudou: Wish…
Sumio: Cannibal's wish…?
He wants to become Enigma to fufill his wish…!?

[P3]
Kurisu: A wish…
If this room really is Cannibal's soul,
The answer might be hiding somewhere around here…!!
Mao: I don't think there's enough time!
Moto: Let… let's split up and search for it!
I'm begging all of you…!
Matsurigi: Yea…!
Kijima: …..
You… what are you thinking now…!?
We all want to cooperate now… what about you!?
Disguised Man: I'm a complex person. I don't feel like cooperating.
Because he fought me directly and "sealed" me in…
TL Note: I'm not exactly sure if the line above is correct.
Kijima: You know you have no choice.
That day, what did he wish for---

[P4]
Cannibal: The skull…
Give me the skull!!
Sumio: Wh… what's with his voice?
He sounds so hopeless… is his human side coming out?
Ki… Kiri…
Are you okay!?
Kiri…!?
Kirio: …Th…
That voice is…!

[P5]
Kirio: …I see…
You're the cause…
Sumio: Kiri, be careful!
Kirio: …..
Sumi…!
Cannibal: The…
the skull…!

[P6]
Moto: --Crap!
There isn't even a clue anywhere, is there!
All the books are blank…
What exactly is the clue…!
Hiina: …!?
Wait, Hasekura-kun!
There's a book on top of the bookshelf,
And there might be something inside it!
…..
Moto: It's…!?
…a digital camera…!?

[P7]
Moto: ---There's a clip inside…!
Including the photographer, there's about three more people in it…
Suuki: …Time out.
I… might know these guys…!
…Yes. They're the founders of the Yuuyami High School Occult Research Society!
Often, the two students and teacher would go out doing folkloristic field work and would come back releasing essays.
TL Note: I believe this is what the lines above and below are supposed to say, though I'm not completely sure.
If I remember correctly, after they graduated, their whereabouts become unknown. It was rumoured they just disappeared mysteriously…
Moto: ---Really!? What's this record doing here…
Don't tell me one of these people is Cannibal!?
Matsurigi: Senpai…!
Kurisu: …yeah!
We're going in to listen to their "voices"!
Please help everyone, Hiina!

[P8]
Someone: Gaikotsu Island's well…
Someone: It's here…!
Sumio's father: This abandoned island's well… what do you think it was used for?
Someone: I see… if we throw away the skull here, nobody will notice it like it's locked up, right?
TL Note: The wording is confusing for the line above.
Kirio: …The hole…it's too dark...
Disguised Man: Hey, Kiri, be careful.
Moto: It… it's the skull!
Kurisu: There's a kid too…
Matsurigi: Shh…

[P9]
Someone: Now, let's do it.
Sumio's father: Ah… yes.
Shimei: Understood, sensei.
Sensei: This skull... it contains so many mysteries. It's been fascinating studying it…
But it's too much for an individual to handle. It does not meet our world's needs.
You must never leave this island.
To break apart inside this tomb… on this island, that's my wish.
Well: King… I shall grant your wish to break the skull,
But… I cannot make the skull disappear from this world.
Among all of you, I need…
One person to give me the next skull…!

[P10]
Kurisu: …eh?
Matsurigi: The next…!?
Kirio: Ah…
Shimei: Hey…! Little Kiri!, it's dangero---
Sumio's father: …..
Teacher: Shi…
Shimei: AAAAAAHHHHHH!!

[P11]
Teacher: He… he fell…!!
Kurisu: What's that noise!?
Teacher: You murdered him, keep him alive!
I'm the king! You didn't listen to my wish!!
TL Note: I'm a bit confused at the context of this person's dialogue above.
Well: Understood.
Enigma…
This is the new skull…
Use it to grant your wishes…!
Sumio's father: Th…this…
This skull is…..!

[P12]
Shimei: S…
Ku…ll…
Moto and Kurisu: Ca…
Cannibal…!!
Kurisu: The man became a human sacrifice… and he became resurrected…!
That skull is his head…?!!
Sumio's father: Shimei!
Teacher: Let's leave for now!
Shimei: The… skull...
I…I…I…

[P13]
Kurisu: ---The film ends here! We're returning…
Moto: ………
Matsurigi: … I see.
So that's how it happened…!!
Hiina: The three have returned!
Did you understand the wish?
…? What is it, Matsurigi-san…!?
Matsurigi:…Nothing….
…This room is a copy.
We can't stay here much longer!
We need to get back inside his stomach!
Haiba… stop what you're doing!
His wish is-----

[P14] TL Note: I need help figuring out the exact wording of this entire page.
Kirio: Sumi… you understand too?
His wish…!
Sumio: I don't understand your need to take back the wish-granting skull.
You want the skull alone, right…!
Don't you recall, Kouda!
Think of your wish as a human before you turned into a monster!
The memory you've been fascinated with is inside your monster's heart.
Try to grasp that violent passion!
Kijima: If you take back your body,
Your monster will disappear!

[P15]
Shimei: I'm… Kouda Shimei… why are you two… running…?
Please wait… you don't understand—me…!?
I've lost my head… nobody can understand me…!?
If you give me back my head… you'll know that…!

[P16-17]
Shimei: Take back this fragmented body,
I wanted to return to my original body…!
Screen:
wish: To take himself back.
Th…that's…
Who have I been eating…!?
Th…that person…!?

[P18]
Kurisu: Ah…
Wh… where are we!?
Sumio: E..
Everyone!!
Moto: Su… Sumio!!
Hiina: Thank goodness… we were just in time!
Shimei: All the talents have been vomited out.
I can finally go back to the beginning.
Disguised Man: We've finally made it here
Eh, Shimei…!

[P19]
Kirio: …!
…..Why is this guy here?
---Eh?
Disguised Man: Hey Kiri! You've grown a lot since I last saw you!
Sumio: Ga…
You...
You're---
Gidou: Good work, Haiba (2)!
I'm Imizuka Gidou… Kiri's daddy!
You've read it right. He calls himself Kiri's daddy. Also, that (2) is actually a number 2 in a circle. I have no idea why it's in the dialogue.
Your dad's definitely waiting for you…
At our destination!
Insert Text: The stage is set for the truth!!
Bottom: enigma
...e53.
/ End

 

[WilliamK]

Ahh~ Amazing job, FOMA! Thanks for the translation. So, Enigma itself is created from other peoples skulls it seems. Hope the RAW's for Chapter 54 come out soon considering I really don't want the series to end yet, but unfortunately it seems like it's going to without Sakaki getting to go into a whole bunch of things including: The shadows cure, the others who went to the festival and talents overall. I guess it would've been better if she post-poned the Gaikotsu Island Act and put in another act that could be flexible enough to get ratings up. >< My questsion now is, does it even have the chance or is it certain cancellation? Does anyone know the rough estimate of how many weeks an Mangaka gets as a cancellation notice?

 

[FanOfAniManga]

Ahh~ Amazing job, FOMA! Thanks for the translation. So, Enigma itself is created from other peoples skulls it seems. Hope the RAW's for Chapter 54 come out soon considering I really don't want the series to end yet, but unfortunately it seems like it's going to without Sakaki getting to go into a whole bunch of things including: The shadows cure, the others who went to the festival and talents overall. I guess it would've been better if she post-poned the Gaikotsu Island Act and put in another act that could be flexible enough to get ratings up. >< My questsion now is, does it even have the chance or is it certain cancellation? Does anyone know the rough estimate of how many weeks an Mangaka gets as a cancellation notice?

You're welcome. It's been my pleasure.

You're definitely right about all the stuff that's been missing. We've been introduced to all these concepts and themes in Act 1, including Shadows and talents. When Act 2 came around, they play little to no role in the story, which has since been waning because it's lost its novelty after such a build up. I think the problem stems from how after the e-test, she centred the story around Enigma as an object and identity while neglecting all the other established concepts and themes that have done just as much, if not more, to create the novelty and identity of this manga series.

I think Sakaki gave herself lots of opportunities to make Enigma go farther when she started building Act 1, but she has yet to take many of them and now she's risking the series getting cancelled. If Enigma were to end soon, it'd make a very awkward ending with all these concepts and themes left unaccounted for. But then again, it wouldn't matter so much as most fans would've lost interest in the series by then.

I think another problem with this manga is the concept of the e-test. It makes the plot focused on a specific time in the future, thereby limiting the author's ideas up to that point. Once the time has passed, she'd have to start completely anew. But once you've established an identity for your manga series, it's not easy to change it drastically without alienating the longer-time fans to the series, especially after running for only 40 chapters, hence why I think Enigma hasn't been doing well after the e-test. Bleach has experienced the same thing when Aizen was defeated and the Fullbringers were introduced, but it was better off as it was already a long-running series that could easily revert to its older established concepts and themes. I think it's a problem that's about to plague ST&RS too, and ST&RS is already in hot water with other issues.

I think it's also the reason why all the bigger manga series came to be, because their authors don't limit their ideas with plots focussed on specific times in the future.

 

[Negative Syndicate]

My questsion now is, does it even have the chance or is it certain cancellation? Does anyone know the rough estimate of how many weeks an Mangaka gets as a cancellation notice?

Mangaka usually get four to five weeks to finish the story.

Also, everyone still saying 'if' on Enigma's cancellation. I think Enigma will most likely and certainly get cancelled. We should think this down to earth (don't say like Bleach and Reborn should cancel because this way will never, never, never, never, and never going to happen).

Out of all of currently running WSJ series, the series that are currently in danger are Enigma and St&rs only. I don't really see the authors for St&rs wrapping their series, then the only candidate that going to be axed is Enigma.

 

[WilliamK]

The reason I'm still saying if is because if the indeed next cancellation is early December/late November - going by next year - which of course isn't very reliable, would mean that there's roughly ~3-7 weeks left for either Enigma or STARS to be canceled. That of course means, it's possible for them to throw a last ditch effort to see the final victor. 3-7 weeks is enough for any series to get an "ending" of some sort. Also, going by the latter scale, there's still 2-4 weeks before a mangaka would get the announcement for cancellation. Now of course, this arc has had a fast pace and seems to be done so, so Sakaki could fit everything in it. Now, I'm certain that even if Sakaki DIDN'T get a cancellation message, she would still be at this point in her story.

Unfortunately, we're all speculating the ending because of Enigma's position in the ToC, but if it was in the middle of the ToC and at this part in the story, I don't think many would assume it's going to be ending. So yeah, what I mean is, I think Sakaki was intending to put herself in the position of being canceled to do things well. Comparing it to STARS, some people are saying the time skip is putting himself in the position if he's getting canceled too. Now, one must remember that one doesn't have to "look" like it's ending to end. Heck, STARS could end with the main characters about to board the spaceship with excitement or something. Just like Enigma could end as Sumio arrives at the well or something. I mean, just look at SWOT or Lock On's endings, the arcs didn't really look like an ending would occur if a person didn't know about the ToC's and it ends up having an arc wrap up the series in three chapters, which could happen for STARS.

Why I think the cancellation message hasn't happened yet is because there are 3 new manga, Kurogane, STARS and Kagami with the latter two dropping from the top quite a bit and probably would cushion in for Enigma which sells fairly well (making 19th in Oricon) and it'd be pointless to kick out Enigma if they'd later just cushion for it. Although to be fair, I really, really don't want Enigma to end with the manga I really enjoy getting the short-end of the stick. This being Cage of Eden having a slow Edited Manga group by a lot and Enigma being on cancellation row.

 

[akaPassion]

May I join the discussion too? ^^

Don't forget, that we still have to see popularity vote results. I checked several titles and it seems that popularity vote is a usual activity for series reached the 1st year of serialization.

Exact chapters are tricky to find so I based my estimations on when these series had color pages in SJ. I checked following chapters and it seems, that I guessed right. So, as for some popular SJ manga:

Naruto 1st popularity vote
Announced in ch 48
Results published in ch 60

Bleach 1st popularity vote
start - ch 51
result - ch 61

Reborn! 1st popularity vote
start - ch 53
result - ch 65

Psyren 1st popularity vote
start - ch. 55
result - ch. 66

Enigma 1st popularity vote
start - ch 49
result - ??

Looks like there is at least 10 chapters gap between voting start and results published. I can't remember, where I saw this, but the voting is usually open for 2-3 weeks. If that's true, then it had ended about two weeks ago, but they still have to count votes and Sakaki-san has to draw a color spread, which won't published immediately. So, if that's +10 chapters, can it mean that we'll see at least 59th chapter of Enigma? And can SJ staff end Enigma with that very chapter? Latter seems very unlikely to me, though everything is possible. What do you think?

I also checked Psyren tankoubon sales before the cancellation. It was sold ~40k copies in first week (like Enigma) and 20k in second week. Hard to say, how well Enigma 5 was sold in it's second week as 30th place in latest ranking had 48,621 copies, it was impossible for 5th volume to make it into the top 30.
So, considering the sales, Engima has quite a favourable position. Though I must admit, that Psyren was doing better in ToC at the same time.

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Looks like there is at least 10 chapters gap between voting start and results published. I can't remember, where I saw this, but the voting is usually open for 2-3 weeks. If that's true, then it had ended about two weeks ago, but they still have to count votes and Sakaki-san has to draw a color spread, which won't published immediately. So, if that's +10 chapters, can it mean that we'll see at least 59th chapter of Enigma? And can SJ staff end Enigma with that very chapter? Latter seems very unlikely to me, though everything is possible. What do you think?

I also checked Psyren tankoubon sales before the cancellation. It was sold ~40k copies in first week (like Enigma) and 20k in second week. Hard to say, how well Enigma 5 was sold in it's second week as 30th place in latest ranking had 48,621 copies, it was impossible for 5th volume to make it into the top 30.
So, considering the sales, Engima has quite a favourable position. Though I must admit, that Psyren was doing better in ToC at the same time.

Even there is popularity poll, it doesn't mean it's safe. Mieru Hito, P2, and Samurai Usagi also announced popularity poll, but these three are still got axed; the results are released in its final volume. So, the popularity poll doesn't protect Enigma from being cancelled.

Also, Enigma does have pretty good tank sales, but it doesn't mean it's not going to be axed. Shonen Jump still consider ranking is more important (I think), so even series have high early volume sales (like Double Arts and Ane Dokii) it'll be cancel. And this is same goes to Enigma, too.

The reason I'm still saying if is because if the indeed next cancellation is early December/late November - going by next year - which of course isn't very reliable, would mean that there's roughly ~3-7 weeks left for either Enigma or STARS to be canceled. That of course means, it's possible for them to throw a last ditch effort to see the final victor. 3-7 weeks is enough for any series to get an "ending" of some sort. Also, going by the latter scale, there's still 2-4 weeks before a mangaka would get the announcement for cancellation. Now of course, this arc has had a fast pace and seems to be done so, so Sakaki could fit everything in it. Now, I'm certain that even if Sakaki DIDN'T get a cancellation message, she would still be at this point in her story.

Unfortunately, we're all speculating the ending because of Enigma's position in the ToC, but if it was in the middle of the ToC and at this part in the story, I don't think many would assume it's going to be ending. So yeah, what I mean is, I think Sakaki was intending to put herself in the position of being canceled to do things well. Comparing it to STARS, some people are saying the time skip is putting himself in the position if he's getting canceled too. Now, one must remember that one doesn't have to "look" like it's ending to end. Heck, STARS could end with the main characters about to board the spaceship with excitement or something. Just like Enigma could end as Sumio arrives at the well or something. I mean, just look at SWOT or Lock On's endings, the arcs didn't really look like an ending would occur if a person didn't know about the ToC's and it ends up having an arc wrap up the series in three chapters, which could happen for STARS.

Why I think the cancellation message hasn't happened yet is because there are 3 new manga, Kurogane, STARS and Kagami with the latter two dropping from the top quite a bit and probably would cushion in for Enigma which sells fairly well (making 19th in Oricon) and it'd be pointless to kick out Enigma if they'd later just cushion for it. Although to be fair, I really, really don't want Enigma to end with the manga I really enjoy getting the short-end of the stick. This being Cage of Eden having a slow Edited Manga group by a lot and Enigma being on cancellation row.

For this year, I don't think the new series going to start on December/late November, I think it might come early/middle November. The reason I'm saying is it looks like there is high possibility that Murata will return in Shonen Jump (or it can be Young Jump). Murata said his new work has confirmed to be serialized on about two weeks ago (plus, he also said he finished working on chapter 2 on few days after), which means Sakaki should also receive notice to finish the series within 4 to 5 chapters. Since it already passed two weeks, I think it is not weird that Sakaki might end her on first week of November, and new series might going to start at same time or after Enigma cancelled.

True, ture. I forgot that the axed series suddenly going to have ending which makes St&rs is equally in danger as Enigma. So, it is up to how many new series there will be; if there are two new series, then either one of them will survive; or if there are three new series, then two of them will be axed for sure.

It is too early to judge Kagami and Kurogane would be cushion for Enigma. Kagami did drop, but it still didn't drop to bottom 5, so we should consider Kagami as cushion when it actually drops to bottom 5. For Kurogane, so far it is going same route as Enigma and St&rs (getting color pages in early chapter), but it doesn't mean it going to drop to bottom 5 like them.

 

[akaPassion]

Even there is popularity poll, it doesn't mean it's safe.

Of course! I just wanted to show, that Enigma can probably live till 59th chapter, not 56-57. I'll check series you mentioned to see, which chapter they had voting results published.

-------

Oh my, that was harder than I thought. As there is no Edited Manga for 40-50th chapters for these series, I had to rely on my 'color pages' method. I can figure, when the voting had started, but not whether the results were published in magazine. Did you try to say, that they won't published there at all - only in tankoubon? Then I was wrong to base my assumptions on popular series experience, you are right.
I still want to believe, that Enigma will have enough chapters for the 7th volume. %) On the other side, if there won't be enough pages and the space will be filled by Sakaki-san oneshots... ahhh, I want to see them too!

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Of course! I just wanted to show, that Enigma can probably live till 59th chapter, not 56-57. I'll check series you mentioned to see, which chapter they had voting results published.

Nah, I don't think it not going to even last til 59 chapters. When the series ended, there is still few more months to release to release its final volume, and that will be plenty of time to sort all of votes. I think Enigma will probabaly end within 56 chaptes.

---------- Post added at 01:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Based on chapter 54, I can see that Sakaki tries to explain all of the mysteries that have remain in Enigma. Therefore, I can pretty much tell that it is not weird if Enigma going to end on next chapter.

 

[akaPassion]

Nah, I don't think it not going to even last til 59 chapters. When the series ended, there is still few more months to release to release its final volume, and that will be plenty of time to sort all of votes. I think Enigma will probabaly end within 56 chaptes.

---------- Post added at 01:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Based on chapter 54, I can see that Sakaki tries to explain all of the mysteries that have remain in Enigma. Therefore, I can pretty much tell that it is not weird if Enigma going to end on next chapter.

Hmm, if ch 55 is final, wouldn't we already know about it? Isn't series cancellation announced in magazine a week before (i.e. in #46) or I'm missing something?

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Hmm, if ch 55 is final, wouldn't we already know about it? Isn't series cancellation announced in magazine a week before (i.e. in #46) or I'm missing something?

Announcement for cancellation never announces in magazine, they just end. Why do you think the magazine going to announce which series going to cancel?

 

[akaPassion]

Announcement for cancellation never announces in magazine, they just end. Why do you think the magazine going to announce which series going to cancel?

Ooops, false memories again, I was sure I saw a cancellation announcements a week ahead.
But with 55 chapters in total it leaves just 3 chapters for vol.7 - too little, don't you think? And too much to fit in vol.6 (vol. 5 has the same 200 pages as previous ones, so it should end with ch. 43, and vol. 6 - with ch. 52). Unless Sakaki Kenji has a lot of filling material, there has to be more chapters. Could two oneshots replace 6 chapters needed? If we only knew for sure, how long they were.

 

[Negative Syndicate]

Ooops, false memories again, I was sure I saw a cancellation announcements a week ahead.
But with 55 chapters in total it leaves just 3 chapters for vol.7 - too little, don't you think? And too much to fit in vol.6 (vol. 5 has the same 200 pages as previous ones, so it should end with ch. 43, and vol. 6 - with ch. 52). Unless Sakaki Kenji has a lot of filling material, there has to be more chapters. Could two oneshots replace 6 chapters needed? If we only knew for sure, how long they were.

Many axed manga use the author's one shots to fill the volume. Therefore, I think Sakaki's two previous one shots will most likely be included on upcoming two volumes. Or it can expand volume 6, like Stone Ocean.

 

[akaPassion]

Good that you remember all these useful statistics, that helps very much. =)

I googled and found page count for oneshots.
First one, which was published in 2005, had 49 pages.
The second one, released in 2006, had 47 pages.
In total it's the same as 5 chapters, but until we know, how long is vol.6, we can't be certain, whether the oneshots will be included or not. And if Enigma to end soon, we'll knew it earlier, than vol. 6 length, I suppose.

I still think it'll be 7 volumes. You see, if there are seven, then they'll have every e-test participant (except for Kurisu Ryo) on the spine. That would be nice. =)