Chapter 3

## Chapter Chronology

**"A Dud"** (ハズレ, *Hazure*) serves as the third chapter in the *Gokurakugai* manga series, a work written and illustrated by Yuto Sano. It is also featured as the third chapter within the first volume of the series.

## Summary

The chapter begins with a woman being strangled by an unidentified man. It then shifts to a busy day at Hourai Restaurant, where Alma is helping out in the kitchen and is reminded to settle his bill.

Tatsuomi, an informant, visits the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter Agency and shares information about mysterious hanging cases at Meito Shrine. The victims have handprints on their necks, and the killer hangs them as decorations. Tatsuomi suggests a fee for more information, leading to playful banter with Tao.

Alma and Tao investigate the shrine and encounter a swarm of Magas. They defeat the creatures with Alma's transformation and Tao's marksmanship.

Returning to the restaurant, they find Tatsuomi helping out and making playful remarks to Yaya. Alma leaves to use a Taiyaki voucher.

Tao updates Tatsuomi on the case, noting the adversaries were weaker than expected. Tatsuomi suggests the person Tao is looking for may have become a Maga. He leaves, and Tao appears lost in thought.

Alma returns to the shrine and encounters a man whose identity he questions.

## Plot Details

The chapter commences with a young woman, approximately in her mid-20s, attempting to escape from an unidentified man who is strangling her, leaving visible marks on her neck. The man's demeanor appears sinister as he observes the woman's demise and her collapse. The narrative then shifts to a bustling day at Hourai Restaurant. Alma is presently stepping in, supporting Yaya and Auntie. He is swiftly managing cooking orders in the kitchen with Auntie, who advises him to put in more effort to settle his outstanding bill.

After a tiring cooking session, Alma, drained and feeling fatigued, returns to their office located directly above Hourai Restaurant. He is mildly amused by how Auntie and Yaya adeptly manage their busy establishment with just the two of them. Tatsoumi, an informant, gives him a welcome, and they exchange some light banter, particularly since Tatsuomi visited their agency to see Tao. Tatsoumi then excitedly shares a piece of information typically priced at 5,000 yen, but due to his fondness for Tao, he lowers it to 3,000 yen and playfully strikes poses in front of her.

The case revolves around seemingly random bodies found hanged at Meito Shrine in Gokurakugai 7th Avenue. Tao wonders if the perpetrator might be a deviant individual with artistic inclinations, but Tatsuomi dismisses this notion, reasoning that if that were the case, the Maga would have already devoured the bodies, suggesting a more advanced entity is responsible. Tatsuomi also provides a free piece of information that initially cost 1,000 yen, with images depict victims, mostly women, with distinct handprints on their necks. The assailant appears to have strangled the victims with bare hands before hanging them as if they were decorations. This distinct behavior diverges from Magas, who usually kill and consume people. Tatsuomi's insights lead to the theory that the perpetrator might be someone Tao is searching for, intriguing Alma. However, Tatsuomi insists on a fee of 1 million yen before sharing more, sparking another playful argument. As Tao gains a better grasp of the case, she decides to investigate the area with Alma. While she invites Tatsuomi to join, he declines, citing his aversion to blood and such.

Alma and Tao have reached the Meito Shrine where the reported hanging cases are occurring. They began investigating the surroundings, engaging in a discussion about their shared lack of belief in God, although Alma has a habit of ringing shrine bells. He proceeded to ring the bell and offered a prayer to expedite their search for the Magas involved in the case. Suddenly, a swarm of Magas emerged from the shrine's entrance. Alma expressed a newfound belief in God due to this, a sentiment that Tao disagreed with. They assumed their fighting stances – Tao chanted "Kai," prompting Alma's transformation into his half-maga form.

Alma fought the Magas in a style reminiscent of baseball, while Tao employed her marksmanship skills to eliminate them methodically, often with fatal shots that decapitated the creatures. She delivered the final shot while casually smoking. Following the defeat of the Magas, Alma sought praise for his "home run" approach to battling, but Tao noted his baseball-related comments suggested his lack of familiarity with the sport. As they departed the area, Alma expressed a desire to for some Souki Sushi due to a tuna fair he saw in a commercial. In the distance, the man introduced earlier in the chapter observed them as they left the shrine.

Alma and Tao arrived at Hourai Restaurant, where they encountered Tatsuomi assisting Yaya and Auntie. Tatsuomi's help to Yaya led to blushing and a playful remark about wanting to be her husband, promptly halted by Auntie.

Back at the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter Office, Alma remembered a free Taiyaki voucher from Atariya that was expiring that day. He hastily left Tao and Tatsuomi to catch up from the time left for the freebie. Tatsuomi inquired about the case's progress, and Tao described it as a disappointment but with an unsettling element. She explained that although there were many adversaries, they were weaker than anticipated. After the Maga gate vanished, a thorough search yielded no results, leading to the conclusion that they had been lured into a futile situation. Tatsuomi's response suggested a preference for encountering more fruitless scenarios, causing Tao's disapproval. He proposed the idea that the person Tao had been searching for might have transformed into a Maga. Tatsuomi mentioned leaving the agency and stopping by headquarters before bidding farewell to Tao. Alone, Tao appeared lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Alma was on his way back to the agency, carrying his snacks and looking forward to enjoying them while watching TV. Along the way, he decided to revisit the shrine to check on the cleanup. At the shrine entrance, he noticed a man with his back turned toward him. Upon facing Alma, the man was met with Alma's question regarding his identity.

## Quick References

### Chapter Notes

* The chapter opens with a gruesome scene of a young woman being strangled by an unidentified man, setting a dark and mysterious tone.
* Tatsuomi, an informant, arrives at the restaurant and shares information about a case involving mysterious hangings at Meito Shrine.
	+ The case involves victims with distinct handprints on their necks, and Tatsuomi suggests that it might not be the work of typical Magas, raising questions about the perpetrator.
* Alma and Tao decide to investigate the shrine, where they encounter a swarm of Magas emerging from the shrine's entrance.
	+ Alma and Tao engage in battle with the Magas, showcasing their unique abilities and teamwork.
* The chapter introduces a mysterious man who observes Alma and Tao as they leave the shrine.
* Tao later reflects on the disappointing outcome of the case, feeling that they were lured into a futile situation.
	+ Tatsuomi suggests the possibility that the person Tao has been searching for might have transformed into a Maga, leaving Tao deep in thought.
* Alma, on his way back to the agency, encounters the mysterious man from the shrine and questions his identity, raising intrigue and tension.

### Characters in Order of Appearance

**Female (1)**Debut
**Yoru**1st Appearance
**Alma**
**Auntie**
**Yaya**
**Tatsuomi**Debut
**Tao**
**Yoki**Mentioned
**Female (2)**Debut
**Female (3)**Debut
**Female (4)**Debut
**Female (5)**Debut