Trapped with the demon Lord

3/5

After reading the first 10 chapters you can just read the ch titles to understand the story

I already finished The legendary mechanic long ago but quite sad by the ending. It is both good but I felt like it could had been more plus some parts felt rushed but seeing how strong he already is it's acceptable...  could had been more...

The world in this manga was undoubtedly the primary selling point, or rather, the sole selling point. And that's perfectly fine with me, as I can thoroughly enjoy a work as long as it has at least one strong and creative aspect.  

However, I can't say the world was perfect or even brilliant; at best, it was decent. The world depicted in the early chapters felt highly bizarre and full of wonder. Yet, as the manga progressed, I couldn't help but lose interest.  

The main reason for my disinterest was that the author didn't allow room for reader interpretation. They diluted the wonder by leaving little to the imagination. It's akin to the author not trusting the reader's intelligence, believing that readers won't be able to read between the lines. As a result, they overloaded the story with exposition dumps to explain everything, ultimately removing any subtlety from the work.  

There were several subtle moments of world-building that were completely undermined by unnecessary explanations shortly afterward. Essentially, the world was explained, the meaning and themes were spelled out, and even the last questionable element in the manga was clarified. This is a disappointingly standard path for a manga with such imaginative potential.  

Interestingly, the characters were negatively impacted by the world they inhabited, which might carry a deeper meaning than the author intended. All the characters, except for two, were merely mouthpieces for the world. They existed solely to explain it, which, though it sounds philosophical, is ultimately shallow. If the author had replaced these expository characters with fully realized and interesting ones, it would have improved not only the characters themselves but also the world, allowing it to seem even stranger and more mysterious.  

The only two characters worth mentioning are Pipi and Kai. Even though both are fairly shallow in their own ways, Pipi more so than Kai.  

Pipi is actually a pretty terrible character by most standards, yet she can still be called a character, unlike the world-expositors. The problem with Pipi was that her entire identity revolved around her love for Kai. She had no goals, motivations, relationships, or traits outside of her connection to Kai. Ironically, the one interest she showed outside of Kai—her garden—was later revealed to be an esoteric profession tied to her devotion to Kai in the final chapter, making her character 100% defined by Kai.  

Kai himself was also entirely defined and obsessed with another character, though it worked better in his case because it aligned with the manga's theme and raised some intriguing personal questions. Despite this, he had essentially no personality.  

There was one plot twist near the end of the manga that I found ridiculous. The twist itself didn't surprise me, as I had suspected something similar from the first chapter, where the initial foreshadowing appeared. What I found absurd was the other characters' complete lack of reaction (with a few exceptions) throughout the manga, despite being in a situation that should have been glaringly obvious. Honestly, I think the twist shouldn't have been explained at all, and the author should have left all the foreshadowing as an intriguing mystery for those paying attention. It would have at least maintained my suspension of disbelief.  

Overall, this manga felt weak. It provided definitive answers to every question its theme raised, which, while some may enjoy, I find to be a dull form of world-building. A world that feels small and unimaginative. The moral questions are also given clear answers, and I shouldn't need to explain why that's uninteresting. Despite all the issues I had with it, the manga was far more interesting and creative than most works in this medium, so I would still recommend it.

I disagree with most fans of this.  
Is it good?  
Yes.  
Is it underrated?  
Yes.  

Do I like it?  
No.  

The art style was too shoujo for me, which distracted from what could have been great visuals. The story took forever to get going; half of it felt like nothing happened, and even then, the payoff wasn't satisfying enough to justify the slog. The characters started off bland, though they improved slightly—just not soon enough.  

Rating: 6

I don’t think you should approach this manga by taking everything the author says at face value. I choose to interpret it as a reflection of the author's complicated relationship with his own reality, particularly the distress he experiences when attempting to come to terms with it. It feels more like a call for help rather than something directly applicable to real life, I suppose. But there’s a reason it's detached from reality—grappling with heavy topics can be difficult to confront head-on. In the end, it was simpler for him to keep escaping through flawed depictions of human nature than to make any meaningful points or observations. And that’s where most people eventually fall short. If anyone had ever found definitive answers to the questions he skirts around, they would have shared them by now.  
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That is what ultimately made me appreciate The Music of Marie, even though I could have easily dismissed it just because I disagree with what might be mistakenly taken as its message. The story, art, and writing are all both intricate and raw, much like the world under Marie’s influence. Emotion doesn’t seep out through the cracks in its machinery to distract from them—it’s what fuels the machine in the first place.  

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I have a tendency to be drawn to stories that break my heart in some way and compel me to confront something fundamental about myself during the process.  

If saying that this story was crucial in shaping my ideas about love and relationships sounds a bit exaggerated, I apologize. But it's true. This story is insanely brilliant, beautiful, and world-shattering. I've never wanted so desperately to read something for the first time all over again. That said, every subsequent reading has only added even more depth to the experience, so I'm not upset.  

I don't usually purchase physical copies of things (after all, most everything has a free version online, right?) but it really speaks to the quality when I spent my own hard-earned money on a physical copy of this manga. In fact, I consider this to be among my top three books EVER.  

Moving on to the actual core of the review. I believe this is a standout piece of media, and I understand not everyone shares that opinion, WHICH IS FINE (even though bitterness fills my veins whenever I see people calling this boring or "style over substance" or whatever, lol) but in my eyes, it's the most perfect manga I've ever read.  

The setting of the story immediately makes you feel like you're part of this beautiful, eccentric world that Usamaru Furuya has meticulously crafted (do I need to explain how challenging it is to create your own fantasy world, or is that self-explanatory?) Everything from the mysterious god floating in the sky to the steampunk-like atmosphere of the world is so masterfully done and adds so much to the enjoyment of the story. This isn't the type of story where a world like ours would suffice; it demands a fantastical setting.  

I'm definitely not religious, but I love that the main plot involves this giant, otherworldly (even within this other world, Marie feels otherworldly) THING that everyone reveres, and the way it's seamlessly integrated into the story in a way that makes sense. The way she looms over this world, seemingly watching the protagonists' every move while not actively participating, is just... *chef's kiss*.  

The way everything flows in this story is incredible. I truly feel that it accomplishes everything it set out to do and provides all the necessary explanations. Sure, the story might seem a bit outlandish or even dull to others, but I don't feel that way at all. This story has a peculiar way of getting under your skin. The first time I read it, I was so deeply captivated that I felt myself disengaging from reality—LOL, it really pulls you in if you let it!  

And then there's the art, which is equally mesmerizing! The way everything looks is stunning. The maximalist set-pieces of gears, gadgets, metal, and everything else create such an intriguing setting, and the art perfectly complements it, in my opinion. From the haunting and quiet desolate landscapes to the massive, imposing figures and the humble homes in the village, it's all just so GORGEOUS. The characters are deceptively simple-looking, but in a way that works beautifully. I appreciate how it balances the intricate world with simpler character designs, making everything feel cohesive. It would feel odd if every character had elaborate costumes or design elements, don't you think?  

Not to mention, the characters themselves are absolutely wonderful! Pipi is an amazing leading lady. She's fun, exuberant, intelligent, and while she can be a bit childish, it never comes across as annoying. Kai is also exceptional. His defining trait may be his strange power that alienates him from everyone (except Pipi, of course), but he's far from one-dimensional. His connection to Marie is horrifying and grotesque in a way that I absolutely adore. Even the supporting cast is interesting and enjoyable!  

The themes of love, belief, and reverence in this story are irrevocably important to me (seriously, that ending is going to be burned into my brain forever and will always serve as my benchmark for love). I know it's not healthy to feel so connected to a piece of media (I guess), but I genuinely feel that this story is now a part of who I am, as it changed the way I feel and think about love forever.  

I don't think there will EVER be a manga that means as much to me as this one does, which is both disappointing and wonderful. I view this manga as MY manga—honestly, I doubt anyone will ever love it as much as I do. I'd still love for everyone to give it a try, though! It's definitely not for beginners, but it's perfect for those who enjoy quirky, unconventional stuff.

Let's address the positives first. The art in this manga is truly incredible and highly creative. It's worth emphasizing just how wonderful it is and how effortlessly it immerses you into its world. Without a doubt, the standout feature of this manga is its artwork and visual appeal. Kudos should also be given to the manga for its core idea and concept. I won't delve into specifics to avoid spoilers, but the story's concepts hold potential and could have succeeded if not for one major issue.  

That being said, it seems like the author underestimates the reader's intelligence. The dialogue and writing in this manga are incredibly frustrating. At every opportunity, instead of allowing readers to interpret what is visually presented, there are dialogue boxes explicitly telling us what we're seeing. It's challenging to explain without an example. Here's a slight spoiler from chapter 1: Our main lead (ML) approaches the workshop where our female lead (FL) builds robots. Upon arrival, he notes that all the dozens of robots were partially maintained by her constant efforts. This internal dialogue by the ML is acceptable, though not the most imaginative way to convey the information, especially since it was already visually depicted. Then, the ML comments something akin to "There are so many of them. It must be hard work," and while looking at her, adds, "She looks so happy laughing like that." To me, this is exasperating. You've already SHOWED her working. The art clearly illustrates the effort she puts into maintaining the robots and her care for them. There's no need to state it verbally. SHE IS LITERALLY SMILING. YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME SHE'S SMILING AND LAUGHING. IT'S A MANGA! I CAN SEE HER SMILING AND LAUGHING!

Okay. Now imagine this happening throughout the rest of the manga. Every chapter. Practically every page. This example occurs as early as pages 2 and 3.

**This is Important** For the most part, anime and manga aren't particularly subtle in their storytelling. I can tolerate some clumsy dialogue or lazy explanations in manga. It's a medium where conveying the story solely through visuals can sometimes be challenging, necessitating explanations. However, this manga overcompensates to an extreme degree. It largely eliminates subtlety and any room for reader interpretation. It feels like the author is holding my hand, showing no respect for the reader's ability to interpret the work independently. I know I sound harsh, but this genuinely spoiled my experience with the manga. It has intriguing ideas and stunning artwork, yet it doesn't let these elements speak for themselves. This is especially disappointing for this manga, as the artwork conveys so much on its own. It's unfortunate that the author didn't trust the reader to find meaning on their own. This manga could easily rate a 7 or 8 out of 10 if 40% of the dialogue boxes were removed.