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MTJ vol 9: Craig and Angela are back as the plot thickens

The start of the new arc brings back old characters!

First of all, 

that little shit of Craig is back (y’know, from the arc with Falvell), although I’m not completely unhappy to see him, considering he didn’t seem to be as vicious and narrow-minded as the other freaks. It’s also interesting to think we’ll soon learn more about the Executioners considering they’re a very mysterious (and villainous) group so far, with an unclear agency. 

In fact, I’m rather excited by the prospect of Matt Cugat joining them, since that would mean a stronger alliance between (some of) the Paladins’ group and the Executioners (both linked to the Holy Church iirc) and it’s quite interesting to focus on the perfidious politic aspects within universe as the story progresses. 

After all, so far the Order of Magical Resonance (whom we know nothing about btw) seems to protect most of the witches the other two groups hunt so… more shenanigans incoming for sure. 

Secondly…

…the unnamed witch from the one shot “Witch and whim” (ch32.5 in the official volumes) is actually Angela!

I was expecting this (since the Witch in the OS had a power of creation that resembled Angela’s powers), but I’m glad it’s confirmed! It’s also nice to see her using Dunward’s unnamed daughter as a vessel, as a continuation of the previous arc. 

Along some other witches, Angela now seems to be working with a group that is introduced as “similar” to the Order of Magical Resonance…

although, while the Order seems to be protecting hunted witches, these guys are definitely more interested in forbidden instruments (and might be related to the Grimoire incident from the second arc). 

Why Angela and the two or three other witches decided to join that group while Phanora, Helga and Falvell choose to join the Order, we don’t know yet, but it’s interesting that witches chose different allies as means of protection while, at the same time, not bearing any animosity towards each other (from what I gather of the quick exchange between Angela & Phanora and Phanora & Helga). 

In any case, I think this new arc might eventually bring more hints about Guideau’s true nature, since Ashaf once described them as “witches’ natural enemy” and…

…for some reason, I have the feeling that their story might not be so unrelated to that of this little forbidden instrument boy? Somehow.

Honestly, I just love that Ashaf dropped by and just handed the care of this very strange little fellow to Guideau and all the help Guideau has is Misha, who’s around mostly for the cooking, and also a doll/statue they just met and who suffers from a similar curse. xDD

(tbh the doll/statue immediately reminded me of Dunward’s wife, even if i don’t think it’s super likely that she escaped Dornez’ wrath a hundred years ago)

This is a very promising situation because I can’t imagine that Guideau lashing out against this child will work at all. In fact, maybe this will turn out to weigh a lot into Ashaf saying he wants to teach Guideau about love, two arcs prior. xD

Looking forward to more, this series is great!

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Hi, can you explain in The Witch and The Beast what Ashaf is referring to when he say's he'd be concerned if Guideau wasnt on the other side of the door? Is he being nice in general as usual towards guideau or is he referencing some event before like what happened with angela?

Hey Anon! Well, I wish I could explain but Ashaf is generally quite elusive on what he says about/to Guideau or why. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Like you, I think his words are likely a reference to when Guideau was indeed tricked by Angela and he ran out from guiding Helga to the Order, only to find Guideau gone.

But as to why he "gets a shiver"/worries about what he would do if Guideau weren't there anymore, I think it's not that he worries about Guideau's safety exactly (we all know how strong Guideau is) and more like Guideau's "too important", for him to get his eyes off of them.

We don't know what, but Ashaf definitely knows something that's extremely relevant about Guideau's origins/curse and thus their role in the plot (here's one possibility)...

...and, in my opinion, it's definitely linked to why he's so determined to teach Guideau "what love is".

I also have this crack theory that Ashaf linked himself to Guideau because he actually knows Angela from a long time ago (and Guideau inhabits her former, original?, vessel), but hey, I could be wrong. Ashaf is definitely the most mysterious character of the series for me: his agenda and agency are unclear on purpose, just like we don't know how powerful he really is.

All that will be answered in due time, I have no doubt, and the moment we find out about Ashaf is probably the moment we'll understand what binds him to Guideau.

Sorry for not being able to answer your question with more certainty for now, but nonetheless hope it helps!

I wish you a good day ahead, Anon! :))

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old habits die hard (some never do)

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Ashaf and Guideau from The Witch and the Beast

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kinda said this before, but guideau here is funny bc its an early chapter obviously trying to cement her rash attitude towards her only current goal of revenge, but pretty much everything after the initial arcs, she is getting her ass beat in this pursuit for revenge and not quite "living" and the flashback showed guideau's living conditions were not ideal before ashaf extended help

beyond poking fun at guideau kinda lying to herself/sticking to a mindset she cant hold herself up to though in her current condition, i think a point in the story is that ashaf's trying to teach guideau to focus on other things thats not the thought of exacting revenge

and it helps lead to guideau's personality shifting (though going along with ashaf's orders that one time, leading to guideau getting hurt, is where she'll draw the line especially when it involves angela)

but all these enforce that not being rash and violent, aka focusing only on exacting revenge towards angela, generally leads to a better outcome for guideau

and i'd love to see more of her slow development. i personally think she had something to do with the executioners, i cant decide if she was one or not since theres an equal amount of reasons why she would and wouldnt be one, but i think ashaf also having her interact with other witches as allies is another factor changing that previous mindset. i dont think mty or ashaf seem to exactly be against guideau's revenge on angela, though, but maybe thats for other reasons

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Gotta say it’s *absolutely* refreshing to have a powerful woman as a main antagonist

Be it considering Guideau’s point of view, with their revenge

Or the Executioners’ saying they just want to protect the Holy Church

Or considering the prophecy made by the Three Saints of the same Church

Or Dunward simply trying to get his daughter back.

Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s definitely more to Angela than what the story currently revealed to us [x][x] (first of all, we don’t really know her goal and I despise the Executioners way more than her anyway), but it’s nice how all the different groups so far all have her being a thorn in their side, be it for political or personal reasons. :)

Besides, it’s also used to recontextualize that the plot is actually about more than Guideau’s personal revenge, which is why Sensei constantly expands the worldbuilding and it’s not often the case in manga series, so it’s very cool to read about.

For every new volume I read, I get more and more in awe about this series.

Why you should read

Also it’s getting an anime

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I cannot get these two out of my head

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ashaf being confident in his speech enough to deescalate situations or sway enemies to become allies is fun bc with helga and the paladin (cant remember his name woops. ice man), his gamble is shown to work, and probably would with most people, too

but with guideau its not quite as easy, he cant do some dramatic show of dropping his weapons or whatever while the threatened enemy thats unsure of ashaf is debating how to react, bc guideau will gladly kick his ass, no qualms about it, lol.

but guideau does always stop and listen to what ashasf has to say, even from the start, which leads to ashaf extending help leading to the main part of their relationship

and bringing up dunward vs guideau again, their difference in behavior shows that ashaf isnt weak or anything, he is in fact choosing not to be the aggressor, unlike in the B4 fall arc where he's no longer asking dunward for his help.

its an easy contrast to guideau, but i like that he is capable of harm but doesnt immediately resorting to it, like in the flashback arc where he opts for a different way to resolve the situation (though the kids still found it scary)

which guideau almost right away interrupts

seeing ashaf deal with people is fun :)

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I've only just started watching The Witch and The Beast but Ashaf is so clearly having the time of his life in every one of his scenes. "Sorry my associate here tried to murder you on sight, bbl." "Oh Guideau you'll love this job to unlock a box." He's a little bastard man

He's a little bastard man! Ashaf decided to have a good time and committed. Drinking fine wine and messing with Guideau? fun. Watching Guideo kick apart an iron fence and knowing that his leg bones are next if he keeps it up? fun. stating that its fully illegal to have magical creatures as pet, as well as a general bad idea, before just knocking it out and leaving? fun. whatever the hell his introduction to the mage cop lady was, when he needs her to trust them? the most fun he's had in a week. every word out of his mouth is just whatever he says things recreationally he pokes sleeping bears recreationally he messes with hornets nest recreationally. i think if he isn't having fun for more than sixty seconds he will just die.

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been reading the witch and the beast, i love guideau

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This is why Guideau isn’t allowed to pick out their outfits

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IM CRYINGGG ROLLING ON THE WALLS HELP

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keep feeding his beast

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Majo to Yajuu (The Witch and the Beast) - Episode 3 Preview. Premiere: 25 January 2024

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Fandom: The Witch and the Beast (manga) Couple: Ashraf x Guideau Artist: @se_5eeeee

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Commission for Guideau

Artist: hriri_29 (Instagram)

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RNOJSHSIHHD OMG NEW MAJO TO YAJUU CHAPTERS ARE SOO KSNDOANDLFN

Phanora and Johann my beloved i really hope Johann is ok god i cant wait to see more of thwm

DUNWARD AND OSCAR YEAHHHHH god just everything was so. GGGGGGGGG

ALSO MATT CUGAT PLEASE DONT FORGET YOUR MORALS I BEG OF YOU

ALSO THIS COVER???? AS USUAL SATAKE NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE ME god his art is so. FUCKKKKK its so good GOD