Inspection of Grief and Guilt in Kagurabachi Chapter 59

Takeru Hokazono is proving us with every chapter why his Kagurabachi is one of the best shōnen manga series in the game. The Sword Bearer Assassination Arc of the hit manga series is simply amazing, especially with the new 59th chapter, titled 'Blackout.' The newest chapter brought us shocking revelations, incredible storytelling, and, more importantly, a hunger for more. 

The Third Act Is Far From Over 

Already tired and battered from his fight with Hiruhiko and the rest of the Hishaku, our hero Chihiro, with the help of his friend Hakuri, teleports back to the temple to see what is truly going on. There he sees Mr. Samura with his unconscious friends and freshly killed Uruha, a former wielder of the sword Kumeyuri. The astonishing artwork of the manga panel showcases every emotion on Chihiro's face as he's faced with a man that betrayed him and everything he stands for. 

New Villain is Revealed 

Chihiro doesn’t relent this chapter and through grief and newfound sense of betrayal, he doesn’t hesitate to attack his former idol, now enemy, Samura. In the chapter 58, we saw Samura give Uruha reasonable explanation why he decided to make a deal with the enemy that is Hishaku, why he needs to accomplish his mission even if it costs him everything. He even seemingly deals the final blow to distraught Chihiro, who is saved by Shiba in the last moment. Before he leaves, Samura questions Shiba why didn’t he tell Chihiro the real truth behind their involvement in Seitei War and consequently, plants the seed of doubt in readers’ minds. What are the real truths and motivations behind our character’s actions? 

Representation of the Layered Villains 

In Tokyo, Hishaku's hideout, we see armless Hiruhiko trying to fix his limbs while talking to his fellow teammate and their leader, Yura. The aftermath of his fight against Chihiro is still fresh in Hishaku members’ minds (even bodies for some of them) but their leader Yura warns about another threat coming their way - Tobimane wielding, Mr. Samura. The sword wielder appears in front of the leader of Hishaku in style - with his iconic power, the Owl. 

If you’re interested in more detailed explanations of the sword abilities, check out this detailed guide. 

The ‘Deal With the Devil’ Trope Done Right 

Throughout this chapter, Samura constantly repeats the core part of his deal with Hishaku: he will help them kill the sword wielders to sever life contracts with their swords. The endgame of the deal sees Samura killing every single member of Hishaku and finally ending his life as well. Samura’s character visibly suffers from extreme sense of guilt by his and the rest of the ‘heroic’ sword wielders actions during the Seitei War, which got triggered with the death of Chihiro’s father, Kunishige. He tries to mend his mistakes no matter what — even if it alienates everyone, even Chihiro, who worshiped him until that moment. Which is why it was fitting seeing Chihiro actually alive in the last panel of the chapter 59—he’ll be alive and more than ready to face his former idol. 

Conclusion: The Preview Chapter Before the Story Climax 

The 'Blackout' provides us with so much context and new information on what happened to Chihiro's father, Kunishige. Samura wasn’t responsible for his death and once again the question remains — who was it? As they say, the truth will set us free, but will it liberate our main hero, Chihiro, who now needs to recover and be ready for the ultimate showdown with his former idol, Seiichi Samura.  

For more comprehensive discussions about Kagurabachi, visit My Anime List.