Prologue Arc

## Arc Guide

The **Prologue Arc** (序 (じょ) 章 (しょう) 編 (へん) , *Joshō-hen*?) is the first story arc in Yoshihiko Hayashi's *MamaYuyu* manga.

The arc serves as an introduction to Corleo, the current Hero, and his adoptive mother, the Demon Lord Mamama, as they come into contact with abnormalities from other dimensions who threaten to destroy the peaceful era their world enjoys.

## Summary

### Introduction

For centuries, there have existed two individuals bearing a unique moniker: The Hero, who vanquishes darkness and brings peace to the world, and the Demon Lord, who rules the world through fear, shrouded in darkness. These forces stand at odds with one another, and in the Year 888, there are two who bear the Demon-Hero moniker once again. However, the Hero and Demon Lord of this age live together in a time of relative peace, brought about by the previous hero.

Corleo, the Hero, struggles with his identity and a lack of purpose, while his adoptive mother, the doting Demon Lord Mamama, doesn't understand her son's dilemma, urging him to enjoy the peaceful era and leave the expectations of the Demon Lord and Hero in the past.

### The Hero from Another World

The balance of Corleo and Mamama's world is shifted, however, when one day, a mysterious man named Evan All Green arrives, pronouncing himself to be a Hero from a different world. Evan foretells the approaching calamity of his own Demon Lord on their dimension, and Corleo is ultimately drawn to the otherworldly hero.

Corleo pays Evan a visit in his temporary holding cell, and the two Heroes get acquainted with one another. Using a strange power called "Sigil Sorcery" - unknown in the former's world - Evan teleports the two of them outside, where he asks Corleo to spar with him. While trading blows with one another, Corleo asks Evan what being a Hero actually means, and the otherworldly hero urges him to find the answer on his own. Later that day, Corleo comes across a young demon boy being harassed by some bullies and - inspired by Evan's words - intervenes, only to be reprimanded by Mamama for getting into a fight.

After their argument, Corleo runs off and is suddenly teleported to Evan's side. Evan informs Corleo that the Demon Lord from his world has arrived, and as he says this, the Demon King of Disaster, End immerges, a horrific abomination of mangled limbs and twisted faces. Evan uses his Sigil Sorcery to subdue the Demon Lord, and then reveals to Corleo his true intentions: He plans to kill the boy and take his place as the Hero of this world.

Before this can happen, however, End taps into Mamama's demon sigil, siphoning the energy from it to bolster its own power, and breaks free from Evan's trap. Corleo, in an act of selflessness, steps in between Evan and the Demon Lord and is torn apart. The next thing he knows, Corleo is waking up with Evan and a crying Mamama by his side. Evan explains to the boy that he managed to defeat End and that he will use the last remaining power he has to save Corleo, sacrificing himself in the process. As he departs, Evan tells Corleo that *he* is a true hero for using his strength to save people and how, in time, others will acknowledge him as one too. And with that, Evan All Green - The Hero from another world - disappears, leaving Mamama and a revived Corleo in his wake.

### Other Abnormalities

Three days after the incident with Evan and End, Mamama gives Corleo a piece of parchment and - without further explanation - tells him to meet her at the address written on it that night. Corleo goes on his way, still feeling conflicted and not sure if it is okay for him to think of himself as the Hero. But then, all of a sudden, the demon boy whom he helped earlier approaches Corleo, thanking him for his protection and for being the Hero. These words uplift Corleo's spirit, sending him running like a little kid on his birthday, and later that evening, he arrives at Karna Memorial Cemetary No. 6 where Mamama awaits.

The Demon Lord brings Corleo to his predecessor, Halohalo's grave. She recounts the former Hero's history, his pacifism, and how he sacrificed his life to end the 800-year-long conflict between humans and demons. She then mentions how similar Corleo is to Halohalo, and with tears forming in her eyes, Mamama says that she doesn't want her son to get hurt. Corleo, taken aback by this, admits that when the demon boy from earlier acknowledged him as the Hero, it made him very happy, and as he starts to head back, Mamama tells him that this wasn't the only thing she had to say. The other thing is—

Suddenly, an overwhelming sensation of dread surrounds the mother and son, as a black dog with a singular eyeball for a face appears, standing on the gravestone before them. At this moment, Mamama thinks back on the words that Evan told her before he disappeared. In his final moments, suspecting that other *abnormalities*  will begin to appear in their world, the otherworldly hero explained that he would pass his power on to Corleo, hoping that, in time, the boy would be able to use them to protect what he wishes to protect.

The Eyeball Dog lunges at Corleo, and all at once, the boy is overcome with the same sense of fear he felt when facing Demon Lord End. Mamama, noticing that the Eyeball Dog appears to be after Corleo, tells her son to run, when the creature turns to her instead. Meanwhile, Corleo begins his desperate sprint, only to look back and see his mother falling down, her left forearm reduced to a bloody stump. This sends a shockwave of fury through the boy, and he pounces forward, punching the Eyeball Dog back.

### A New Era Begins

All manner of thoughts rush through Corleo's mind as he is faced with the Eyeball Dog. Should he run with Mamama and get her the medical attention she needs? Or should he stand and fight the monster? Before he can make a decision, however, a man in a Central uniform arrives on the scene, slashing the Eyeball Dog in the process. The man is none other than Pannelo, the demon general of the Demon-Hero Central Army.

Pannelo quickly dispatches of the Eyeball Dog, picks up Mamama and tells Corleo to meet him at the nearest hospital. Sometime later, Mamama awakens in a hospital bed, her former ally and friend by her side. After an out-of-breath Corleo appears at the door, Pannelo informs them that various abnormalities have been reported appearing in their world and that Central already has another otherworldy Hero in custody. The general then asks Corleo if he is willing to step into the fray and join the fight against these invaders.

Later, Pannelo and a forlorn Corleo sit outside in the waiting area. He apologizes to the boy for not getting there sooner, and that, perhaps if he had, Lady Mamama would not have lost her arm. Despite this, the young hero - tears welling in his eyes - blames himself and his own inaction, and the general solemnly tells the boy that to protect someone, a certain amount of strength is needed. He encourages the boy, once again, to join their cause, but reiterates that it is *his* choice at the end of the day.

Early the next morning, Corleo and Mamama talk at length about the events that transpired. Mamama then divulges her past romantic history with the previous hero, Halohalo, to her son, and tells him that after that loss, she could not bear to see another person she cared about get hurt. Her doting behavior, now put into perspective, reaffirms to Corleo the path he must take. He states that he wants to get stronger and, bidding farewell to the Demon Lord, leaves for Central with Pannelo. And thus, a new era begins; an era that will later become known as "MamaYuyu" (Demons, Heroes).

## Story Impact

* The concept of "Heroes" and "Demon Lords" is established, as well as their roles traditionally in the world.
* Demons are established as a separate species from humans.
* The central characters of the story, Corleo and Mamama are introduced.
* The history of Corleo's predecessor Halohalo and his romantic relationship with the Demon Lord, Mamama is explored.
* The character of Evan All Green sets up the possibility of further heroes from other worlds featuring in the story.
* Sigils and Sigil Sorcery are introduced as a power system.
* Evan sacrifices himself to resuscitate Corleo, and in the process passes some of his power on to him.
* Demon Lord End and the Eyeball Dog's appearances denote the existence of non-humanoid demons.
* Mamama loses her left forearm during an encounter with the Eyeball Dog.
* Pannelo, the current Demon-Hero Central Army General, is introduced and defeats the Eyeball Dog.
* The Demon-Hero Central Army is set up as a primary faction in the world.
* Corleo leaves for Central with Pannelo, resolving to become stronger so he can protect the people he cares about.

## Chapters

* No. 1: The Day I Became a Hero
* No. 2: Run, Corleo
* No. 3: The Faucet and the Baby Bird

## Characters Introduced

**Heroes**

* Corleo
* Evan All Green
* Halohalo (Flashback)

**Demon Lords**

* Mamama
* Demon Lord End

**Others**

* Pannelo
* Eyeball Dog

## Terminology Introduced

**Species**

* Demons

**Demon-Hero Terms**

* Demon Lord
* Hero
* Sigils & Sigil Sorcery

**Factions**

* Demon Lord Army (Dissolved)
* Demon-Hero Coalition Army