The Gamer

[Math_Mage]

Mngacow's translation says "the" Existence Eater. I dunno which translation is the speed translation.

You mean more confirmation she is not?

We have people here who appears to be rather well informed, and who continues to call the Existence Eater he.

Though it does of course confuse the issue a little when we have someone talking about it as if there were more than one.

The timing matters more to me than the pronoun.

[Aquillion]

Mngacow's translation says "the" Existence Eater. I dunno which translation is the speed translation.

As far as I know, Mngacow is the only one still translating it. They call it "an" existence eater at one point, when Lifeless Spirit says "Would you like to fight with an Existence Eater?"

It could just be a translation error, but another possibility is that it's a term for a particular kind of ability, which only one person has at the moment. Therefore, people call him the Existence Eater (because he's the only one around right now), but it would also be accurate to call him an Existence Eater; it's a title, not a name.

[Math_Mage]

Ah. This page has "an" as reference. This one has "the" as reference. As you say, they're compatible.

[Olinser]

You mean more confirmation she is not?

We have people here who appears to be rather well informed, and who continues to call the Existence Eater he.

Though it does of course confuse the issue a little when we have someone talking about it as if there were more than one.

Pulling the 'LOL SUPERPOWERED PERSON THEY'RE SCARED OF IS ACTUALLY A WOMAN' is so common in manga it borders on the cliche. Especially since the author seems to be going to great lengths to not definitively identify them.

Also, 'he' is a generic term that is used to refer to somebody when you have no idea who/what a person is.

Right now, the mother is the only local ability user we have seen that is not affiliated with either of the clans apart from Black Summoner and those working for him/hunting for him. Until we see another local ??? person, the mother is pretty much the only candidate, especially since TWO different characters have mentioned specifically that the Existence Eater was temporarily gone, immediately after the author rather blatantly showed the mother had left the area.

[lord_khaine]

Pulling the 'LOL SUPERPOWERED PERSON THEY'RE SCARED OF IS ACTUALLY A WOMAN' is so common in manga it borders on the cliche. Especially since the author seems to be going to great lengths to not definitively identify them.

We already have the Witch of Slaughter to fill that slot, and there were newer made a very large part out of her being a woman.
For that matter its a rather old trope, and i cant recall having seen it for quite a while, i cant understand why you think it should suddenly show up now.

Also, 'he' is a generic term that is used to refer to somebody when you have no idea who/what a person is.

Yes, but its only us who dont have an idea of who the eater is, everyone else seems to have a very clear idea of the Eaters powers and history, he isnt some mysterious cloaked figure living in a isolated glass tower, he is a person with a regular day job in the human world.

Right now, the mother is the only local ability user we have seen that is not affiliated with either of the clans apart from Black Summoner and those working for him/hunting for him. Until we see another local ??? person, the mother is pretty much the only candidate, especially since TWO different characters have mentioned specifically that the Existence Eater was temporarily gone, immediately after the author rather blatantly showed the mother had left the area.

And what law are saying that the Eater have to be someone we have already meet before?
It has already been made painfully clear for us that there are still tons of ability users in the town that we know nothing about, and its even more common in manga's that powerfull or important figures gets some sort of build up in the story before they get revealed.

edit.
Reading closer though the comic, then Lifeless Spirit, who actually had his planned ruined by the Existence Eater, and apperently had a close escape from him, continues to comment on how he is going to "Kill that guy".

[Olinser]

We already have the Witch of Slaughter to fill that slot, and there were newer made a very large part out of her being a woman.
For that matter its a rather old trope, and i cant recall having seen it for quite a while, i cant understand why you think it should suddenly show up now.



Yes, but its only us who dont have an idea of who the eater is, everyone else seems to have a very clear idea of the Eaters powers and history, he isnt some mysterious cloaked figure living in a isolated glass tower, he is a person with a regular day job in the human world.



And what law are saying that the Eater have to be someone we have already meet before?
It has already been made painfully clear for us that there are still tons of ability users in the town that we know nothing about, and its even more common in manga's that powerfull or important figures gets some sort of build up in the story before they get revealed.

edit.
Reading closer though the comic, then Lifeless Spirit, who actually had his planned ruined by the Existence Eater, and apperently had a close escape from him, continues to comment on how he is going to "Kill that guy".

In manga, when an author goes to great lengths to NOT give you a name or description, it's pretty much a sure bet that the identity of the person in question is either A) somebody already appearing in the story, or B) SHOCKING GENDER/AGE REVEAL!

The Mother is literally the only character shown whose power we have no explanation for.

Also - NO, they do NOT seem to have a clear idea of who the EE is. The EE IS, for all intents and purposes, a mysterious cloaked figure - all we have are rumors, assumptions, and innuendo by people talking about him/her. Just because they know the EE by reputation and rumors doesn't mean they have any idea of who they are or what they do in their non-existence eating time. Nobody has even attempted to describe what the EE looks like - which you think would have been the first thing Sun-Il would have told Jee-Han, namely 'Yo, if you see somebody that looks like X, I would suggest hiding'.

At this point I operate under the assumption that when we actually see the EE in action for the first time, they are going to be wearing a suitably ridiculous and over-the-top outfit that totally conceals any identifying characteristics (which would fit the humor the author likes to put in the strip. Yo guys, Existence Eater wears a full body pink bunny outfit LOL!!! )

And just because his plans were ruined doesn't mean he actually saw them, personally encountered them or knows what they look like. See above regarding disguise/outfit. He knows the Existence Eater screwed him up. That doesn't mean he knows who they are or where they live.

And seriously, you are putting WAY too much stock into things translated references like 'he' or 'guy'.

[Flickerdart]

which you think would have been the first thing Sun-Il would have told Jee-Han, namely 'Yo, if you see somebody that looks like X, I would suggest hiding'
...
Yo guys, Existence Eater wears a full body pink bunny outfit LOL!!!

Are these two sentences not mutually contradicting?

[Gez]

And seriously, you are putting WAY too much stock into things translated references like 'he' or 'guy'.

If "Black Demon's Invasion" can become "Darkness Enfeeble" after a change of translator, it certainly pays not to take translation minutia too seriously.

[Olinser]

Are these two sentences not mutually contradicting?

No, because presumably Sun-Il would have warned Jee-Han against antagonizing any pinky bunny costumed individuals :P

Just because a costume/outfit conceals somebody's identity doesn't mean the costume itself isn't highly recognizable (see every comic book super hero with a secret identity EVER).

And of course... we're in a world where ability users can teleport, master the elements, and literally stop time. Shapeshifting is probably not that unusual.

Which, again, could feed into why you wouldn't necessarily recognize the Existence Eater unless they were wearing their iconic EE form.

[Math_Mage]

I did look up the raw--it uses 'he', not 'he/she'. I obviously don't have sufficient command of Korean to tell whether I'm missing something, though. Maybe I'll phone a friend.

[Olinser]

I did look up the raw--it uses 'he', not 'he/she'. I obviously don't have sufficient command of Korean to tell whether I'm missing something, though. Maybe I'll phone a friend.

Doesn't matter, honestly. As already said, just because they know the Existence Eater doesn't mean they know their identity or even their gender.

A costume/shapeshifting would provide a very easy method of camouflaging their identity.

[Math_Mage]

Doesn't matter, honestly. As already said, just because they know the Existence Eater doesn't mean they know their identity or even their gender.

A costume/shapeshifting would provide a very easy method of camouflaging their identity.

I agree. I'm just saying, I don't think this is a translation issue.

[Flickerdart]

No, because presumably Sun-Il would have warned Jee-Han against antagonizing any pinky bunny costumed individuals :P

Just because a costume/outfit conceals somebody's identity doesn't mean the costume itself isn't highly recognizable (see every comic book super hero with a secret identity EVER).

And of course... we're in a world where ability users can teleport, master the elements, and literally stop time. Shapeshifting is probably not that unusual.

Which, again, could feed into why you wouldn't necessarily recognize the Existence Eater unless they were wearing their iconic EE form.

That's what I'm saying - if the Existence Eater has any sort of distinctive appearance, whether costumed or otherwise, Jee-Han would have been told.

[Anteros]

That's what I'm saying - if the Existence Eater has any sort of distinctive appearance, whether costumed or otherwise, Jee-Han would have been told.

In real life I would agree. In a story, characters fail to share important information all the time in order to maintain mystery or increase drama.

I'm not on either side of the debate here though. I think it being his mom is probable...but I hope not because that cliche is tired and worn out.

[lord_khaine]

In manga, when an author goes to great lengths to NOT give you a name or description, it's pretty much a sure bet that the identity of the person in question is either A) somebody already appearing in the story, or B) SHOCKING GENDER/AGE REVEAL!

The Mother is literally the only character shown whose power we have no explanation for.

Also - NO, they do NOT seem to have a clear idea of who the EE is. The EE IS, for all intents and purposes, a mysterious cloaked figure - all we have are rumors, assumptions, and innuendo by people talking about him/her. Just because they know the EE by reputation and rumors doesn't mean they have any idea of who they are or what they do in their non-existence eating time. Nobody has even attempted to describe what the EE looks like - which you think would have been the first thing Sun-Il would have told Jee-Han, namely 'Yo, if you see somebody that looks like X, I would suggest hiding'.

At this point I operate under the assumption that when we actually see the EE in action for the first time, they are going to be wearing a suitably ridiculous and over-the-top outfit that totally conceals any identifying characteristics (which would fit the humor the author likes to put in the strip. Yo guys, Existence Eater wears a full body pink bunny outfit LOL!!! )

And just because his plans were ruined doesn't mean he actually saw them, personally encountered them or knows what they look like. See above regarding disguise/outfit. He knows the Existence Eater screwed him up. That doesn't mean he knows who they are or where they live.

And seriously, you are putting WAY too much stock into things translated references like 'he' or 'guy'.

But the issue remains that the only evidence at all of the Eater being his mother is some weird attempt at using meta knowledge to predict the shape of the plot and the authors intent.
Trying to stuff the mother into the role of the Eater is like trying to stuff a red block into a red hole without looking at the shape of either, going only on the basis of it being the only block at hand, instead of considering you might not have the relevant block.

And YES, the Eater is not a mysterious figure, you seems to continuously gloss over the fact that he holds a regular job in the regular world, as well as being a important figure in the abyss who seems to directly have held some sort of position regarding the sage stone.

So at this point the Eater needs to have gone though an impressive charade for who knows how long, hiding her gender from the very start for no apperent reason, even when young and inexperienced, without getting discovered.

That means its a much simpler explanation that the Eater is just a person we have not meet yet.

[Olinser]

But the issue remains that the only evidence at all of the Eater being his mother is some weird attempt at using meta knowledge to predict the shape of the plot and the authors intent.
Trying to stuff the mother into the role of the Eater is like trying to stuff a red block into a red hole without looking at the shape of either, going only on the basis of it being the only block at hand, instead of considering you might not have the relevant block.

And YES, the Eater is not a mysterious figure, you seems to continuously gloss over the fact that he holds a regular job in the regular world, as well as being a important figure in the abyss who seems to directly have held some sort of position regarding the sage stone.

So at this point the Eater needs to have gone though an impressive charade for who knows how long, hiding her gender from the very start for no apperent reason, even when young and inexperienced, without getting discovered.

That means its a much simpler explanation that the Eater is just a person we have not meet yet.

You seem confused as to what points to the fact that the mother is the existence eater, we've covered this at least twice before, pay attention, its a lot more than meta knowledge.

Here are the concrete bullet points:

1) The EE lives in the immediate area and has for an extended period of time(exactly what area we are talking about isn't clear, but it certainly isn't that large). This eliminates any transient characters such as the Witch of Slaughter, Black Summoner, etc.

2) The Mother was displayed as a ???, clearly displaying that either she is an extremely high powered Abyss individual, or has some power that blocks Jee-Han's Observe ability (either way, she is a powerful Abyss ability user). To date, the only other ??? character shown has been the Elder of the Chunbumoon.

3) In addition to her level, the Mother's TITLE was ???ed out. We have not seen a single other character with this effect. Despite the Elder's ??? level, we could still see his title. This points to the Mother being more powerful than the Elder of the Chunbumoon.

4) Despite her apparent power, the Mother appears to have no affiliation with either the Chunbumoon or Yunhon, although she did seem like she was aware of Sun-Il's position.

5) At TWO separate points, immediately after the Mother left the area, 2 different characters stated the Existence Eater was gone.

Meta knowledge doesn't play into a single one of those points.

I'm not 'glossing over' anything. When you are an extremely powerful individual, especially when you are on your own without a clan like the Chubumoon or Yunhon, hiding your identity and where you live is just common sense. You are pulling the fact that the EE has a 'regular job' out of thin air. Sun-Il has related the rumor that they are studying for government exams, but nothing concrete. Studying =/= having a job.

On the other side of the scales, you literally have not provided a single piece of information that contradicts the Mother being the Existence Eater, other than basically saying "I don't think the Mother is the EE LOL".

As such, unless you have any actual evidence (which you do not), this debate is pointless. There is strong circumstantial evidence that the Mother is the EE, with zero contradicting evidence.

She obviously doesn't HAVE to be the EE, but you certainly haven't provided a single shred of evidence that she isn't. Right now, there is simply no other viable candidates that we have seen. So we will wait and see, and it's probably going to be a while. At this point, I don't expect the Existence Eater to show up on panel for an extended period of time.

[The Mormegil]

But the issue remains that the only evidence at all of the Eater being his mother is some weird attempt at using meta knowledge to predict the shape of the plot and the authors intent.
Trying to stuff the mother into the role of the Eater is like trying to stuff a red block into a red hole without looking at the shape of either, going only on the basis of it being the only block at hand, instead of considering you might not have the relevant block.

This works 99% of the times though. I'll be really surprised if the Eater is NOT his mother at this point. And in order to work in a narrative framework that would still require a subversion (e.g. it's actually the father, or the mother is the EE's assistant, or she's a clone put there just to protect HJH, or she's not his mother at all and his real mother is the EE...).

Point is, the narrative is set up quite clearly in a way that foreshadows this plot point. However he intends to solve the situation, it must include this as an element, either playing it straight or subverting it.

You can't just ignore narrative rules in stories. If you do, you end up not having an actual story. You end up having a bunch of events happening in chronological order. And hey, many people still like that! Look at Game of Thrones! But it's not really what this manga is about, or at least it doesn't seem that way.

[TheEmerged]

You know, I'm enjoying this story for what it is... but somebody really, REALLY needs to sit the author down and give him the lesson about show versus tell.

[Olinser]

You know, I'm enjoying this story for what it is... but somebody really, REALLY needs to sit the author down and give him the lesson about show versus tell.

Hey it's the guy's first series and he's only 50 chapters in.

Go back and look at the first 50 chapters of any long-running manga, they will often be completely different from where the manga currently is.

It's so common that it actually has its own trope these days - Early Installment Weirdness.

[Math_Mage]

Hey it's the guy's first series and he's only 50 chapters in.

Go back and look at the first 50 chapters of any long-running manga, they will often be completely different from where the manga currently is.

It's so common that it actually has its own trope these days - Early Installment Weirdness.

Let's be honest, though, some long-running manga were better at chapter 50 than they are now/when they ended. (*cough Naruto cough*)

[Olinser]

New chapter up.

Hoooo boy.

Spoiler

Show

Ok, 'Detect Bloodthirst'. I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

Now he needs a notification 'Detect Moron', because seriously, how is announcing your ability going to end well.

[Forrestfire]

Spoiler

Show

That's called "putting ranks into Wisdom", probably.

[The Mormegil]

New chapter up.

Hoooo boy.

Spoiler

Show

Ok, 'Detect Bloodthirst'. I almost fell out of my chair laughing.

Now he needs a notification 'Detect Moron', because seriously, how is announcing your ability going to end well.

Word. This is going to end up so very very bad for him.

Which of course means it's going to end up perfectly fine because really, he's the main character and this is just a way to force a conflict. ;)

[Flickerdart]

Nothing can happen to him - Sung-Gon knows that Jee-Han can heal his daughter (at least temporarily) and has already hired two ridiculously powerful guys to protect her. I doubt that we'll see A-rank threats showing up before Jee-Han can handle them (if only because games always send appropriately CRed encounters at you).

[Aquillion]

The good news is that his ability doesn't really have any clear weaknesses. Especially as an int-focused character, he can develop new powers freely, so even if someone thinks they've found a weakness, he can always develop a new skill that covers it.

(Of course, he's weak against close combat to an extent, but anyone who watched him fight for a few moments could probably guess that.)

[The Mormegil]

The good news is that his ability doesn't really have any clear weaknesses. Especially as an int-focused character, he can develop new powers freely, so even if someone thinks they've found a weakness, he can always develop a new skill that covers it.

(Of course, he's weak against close combat to an extent, but anyone who watched him fight for a few moments could probably guess that.)

It's not weaknesses he should be worried about, it's strengths. If word gets out, he's going to be attacked by everyone and their mother trying to get him to benefit from his ridiculous ability to make money / rare items / exploit him in any possible way.

[Yuki Akuma]

Jee-Han's biggest weakness is that it takes time for him to develop new abilities - as well as a bit of luck, seeing as he sometimes earns abilities without having any idea that skill was 'programmed into the game'.

Of course, the better he gets, the faster he can get better...

[Dragoa]

Well...I don't really know what his plan is, but it is clearly just a bad idea talking about his power openly. Especially after he's seen that people are willing to pay a lot of money for that information.

Although, that Detect Bloodlust skill might be really useful if he gets it up to a high enough level, as it might help him spot an ambush coming.

Either way, woo mostly redundant chapter.

[Math_Mage]

Well, he's about to ruin his date, isn't he? Sigh.

[Olinser]

Nothing can happen to him - Sung-Gon knows that Jee-Han can heal his daughter (at least temporarily) and has already hired two ridiculously powerful guys to protect her. I doubt that we'll see A-rank threats showing up before Jee-Han can handle them (if only because games always send appropriately CRed encounters at you).

Or maybe when Sung-Gon finds out the details he's going to throw him in a cage and keep him there until he figures out how to cure his daughter to make sure nobody else can get to him.