Chapter 167: Third-Rate Sensei! What Are You Doing!?
Date: 2025-03-29
Author: Xian Ge
Chainsaw Man had an odd vibe from the start.
Something felt off.
Perhaps because Third-Rate Sensei’s Fate/Zero was so serious—almost oppressively so. Every character was distinct, sharing one trait: their motives held up under scrutiny.
Even the villains, Ryunosuke and the Marshal, were unapologetically evil by universal standards, yet their motives and personalities were fleshed out, never neglected.
Ryunosuke’s path to murder stemmed from a morbid curiosity about death, observing it through killing. Stripped of moral condemnation for senseless slaughter, his actions took on an eerie, almost performance-art-like quality.
The Marshal followed suit, never reduced to a mere backdrop. Beyond their deranged, obsessive behaviors, the villain duo displayed a chillingly clear and profound awareness. As the saying goes, the flip side of genius is madness. Though irredeemably criminal, they weren’t without unique perspectives. They were three-dimensional, akin to Kirei, who revered the descent of the Holy Grail’s evil, in their twisted brilliance.
Readers didn’t like these characters but had to admit they were crafted with serious intent.
So, Fate/Zero left the impression of a proper ensemble drama.
When Chainsaw Man debuted, its absurdity was palpable, but its polished storytelling gave it a hint of classic shonen flair: a fantasy world, demon hunting, a down-on-his-luck hero meeting a mysterious heroine…
Classic shonen setup, right?
Sure, Denji wasn’t your typical shonen hero, but Fate/Zero proved Third-Rate Sensei’s knack for character-building. What if there was a twist later?
Right?
Imagining a hero driven by primal urges growing into a responsible leader—maybe even saving headquarters or becoming a savior—felt like a shonen arc. Perhaps with inner struggles, questioning his heart.
Some readers were genuinely excited.
Chainsaw Man’s opening was technically sound, and the plot progressed steadily…
But as the story unfolded, many readers sensed something amiss.
Where did it go wrong?
From Chapter 4…
Denji joined Tokyo’s Devil Hunter HQ, where Makima introduced his partner, Aki Hayakawa. They began missions together.
During one mission, after defeating a fiend, Denji was distracted by an adult magazine on the ground, sparking memories of his dream.
He was content now—daily baths, good food, a beautiful woman nearby…
No complaints.
But he felt he lacked a goal.
So far, standard stuff: a hero whose basic needs are met, ready for a spiritual transformation—guardianship, bonds, the usual. Clichéd, sure, but there’s a reason tropes are called “kingly paths.”
Just as readers braced for that classic arc, the next panel showed… Makima’s chest.
No lofty dreams of protection or bonds.
Instead, Denji crouched, declaring a comical yet oddly logical goal: “I really wanna touch some boobs.”
He then earnestly pondered the validity of this goal.
Readers’ faces, especially those expecting noble shonen awakenings, twisted in disbelief.
Denji’s defining trait was his lack of the dazzling qualities typical of shonen heroes. His personality was passive, driven by circumstance rather than ambition.
But Fujimoto was clever. In Part 1, slick storytelling masked the downsides of this trait. With new characters and an unpredictable plot, readers barely noticed.
In Part 2, though, Denji’s passivity impacted the story in ways narration couldn’t hide, which is why many found it less engaging.
But Tang Yao was drawing Part 1.
Denji’s passive, beastly nature was a breath of fresh air.
And, admittedly, pretty hilarious.
As readers scratched their heads, the manga hit Chapters 7 and 8—the Bat Devil arc.
Su Deqiang, who bookmarked Chainsaw Man from its debut, dove in the moment it updated.
These chapters focused on Power’s character.
With her cat held hostage by the Bat Devil, Power lured Denji to its hideout, promising he could touch her chest. She then betrayed him, knocking him out and dragging him to the devil.
In the previous chapter, Power’s line after her betrayal—“You actually trusted me? Humans are so dumb!”—had Su Deqiang hyped.
He hoped Chapter 7 would show Denji crushing the traitorous Power or powering up to slay the Bat Devil.
Some kind of epic awakening!
Though, admittedly, the hype was tinged with unease. What hero obsesses over boobs? The story’s vibe was just too weird!
Still, he was pumped.
When the two chapters dropped, Su Deqiang clicked instantly.
Yes, Tang Yao had upped the update pace. With assistants hired by Li Xue saving her time, and to sync with FGO’s collab card pool to boost ANF’s manga section, she sped up.
Great for readers, who called it a win.
Su Deqiang agreed.
He sat at his computer, eagerly opening Chapter 7… and his expression turned bizarre.
Good news: the update did have an epic awakening!
Bad news: the trigger was… unhinged!
Chapter 7 briefly explored Power’s past, explaining why she obeyed the Bat Devil for her cat, betraying Denji.
When the Bat Devil double-crossed her, swallowing the cat and turning on her, Power froze.
Before being grabbed, she turned to Denji, saying she understood how it felt to lose Chainsaw Devil Pochita.
The next moment, she was swallowed.
Seeing this, Denji snapped.
Maybe it was Power’s final expression, or her mention of Pochita, his companion from tougher days, that made him empathize.
Before the Bat Devil flew off, Denji, despite his injuries, lunged, grabbing it. Biting its leg, he sucked its blood to heal, flashing a cool grin and roaring, “Give me back my boobs!”
“…”
Su Deqiang, recalling Power’s promise to let him touch her chest if he saved her cat, lost it.
What the hell!
Holding his forehead, he was torn between frustration and laughter. “Come on, Third-Rate Sensei! What are you doing!?”
Get a grip!
How obsessed are you with that!?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 168: Unhinged!
Date: 2025-03-29
Author: Xian Ge
No wonder Su Deqiang lost it.
This hero was anti-trope to the core, and narratively, Third-Rate Sensei somehow made such a primal goal feel consistent.
Since Chapter 4, when Denji declared his goal was boobs, he’d been fixated on it.
But soon, Su Deqiang let go of his forehead and kept reading.
Forget it.
Unhinged, sure, but… he was curious how it’d play out.
He scrolled on, then sighed at the next scene.
After that cringe-worthy line, Denji recalled a childhood moment when Pochita, his only companion, went missing.
He’d frantically searched the town, fearing a devil ate it. Finding Pochita, he relaxed, hugging it and falling asleep.
Back then, Denji had nothing but Pochita. Power was the same…
He wondered how Power felt, falling asleep knowing her cat was taken by a devil.
That sparked empathy.
Awakening! Chainsaws burst from his head! He transformed into Chainsaw Man!
The comeback began!
The emotional buildup was masterful…
Wait.
Wasn’t this super polished?
Su Deqiang, hooked by Denji’s frenzied devil form in the final panel, was torn between awe and laughter.
If only that dumb line hadn’t been there…
Was this some middle-aged mangaka’s weird kink?
His feelings were mixed—partly thinking it was too silly, partly finding this raw hero refreshing after endless noble or bashful shonen leads.
Musing, he clicked Chapter 8.
Pure combat chapter.
But unlike Third-Rate Sensei’s past works, the fights felt more intense.
The presentation was unique—continuous, non-large-scale destruction battles, almost cinematic, especially in camera angles.
And the art? Stellar.
Denji’s frenzy, the fight’s eerie and abnormal vibe, the vivid destruction and battle damage—it was immersive.
As a veteran manga reader, Su Deqiang could appreciate this.
But…
Even in intense combat, this manga refused to play it straight!
More tricks.
When Denji tossed a car full of civilians back at the devil, saying he doesn’t save men, then roared with manic glee, “Bad luck keeps piling up, I’ve endured it all, but I still haven’t touched any boobs!”
Su Deqiang: “???”
What are you doing!?
We’re in a fight!
It’s hype!
Your panels are gorgeous! Art’s top-notch! And you say that!?
Third-Rate Sensei!! Are you insane!?
But a hero fighting so hard for such a dream…
Why did he find it kinda cool!?
Su Deqiang’s face twisted, but he kept scrolling.
After Denji’s declaration, the latter half normalized.
Dialogue dropped sharply.
Bizarre visuals conveyed subtext, amplifying the fight’s eerie intensity.
Panels opened wide! Pure visual storytelling! Cinematic!
It vividly showed Denji gutting the Bat Devil.
Superb paneling and art maximized the supernatural manga’s strengths.
Anyone would call it awesome!
The final scene froze on Denji striking a pose, the Bat Devil disemboweled, guts and blood gushing like a flood.
Below, bold text stood out: Bat Devil! Defeated!!!
Awesome!
Truly awesome!
The last three pages were unreal!
Su Deqiang, seeing “Bat Devil! Defeated!!!”, was hyped.
But the thrill faded fast as he recalled Denji’s earlier antics and lines.
He didn’t know how to judge this manga.
Rewinding to the start, he reread it, paused, and gave a wry, fitting verdict: “…Unhinged!”
Truly unhinged.
Say Third-Rate Sensei can’t draw manga? He’d disagree first.
The emotional setup, storytelling, paneling, and art were top-tier.
This was clear in these chapters, especially the Power arc’s progression.
Denji’s actions were logically paved.
The fights were stellar.
But… since Chapter 4, when Denji crouched and spouted that blunt boob line, the story kept defying expectations. His motives and certain plot turns were downright bonkers.
Su Deqiang bounced between “What the hell?” and “It can do that?” the whole time.
It was weird, but the manga’s vibe was uniquely striking.
It stood out like a crane among chickens.
Would he keep reading?
Heck yeah…
Why?
He clicked the comments section.
As expected, plenty shared his thoughts.
“LMAO!! Dying!! What’s this trash arc!! A hero awakening for boobs!”
“Third-Rate Sensei, you nuts? Why’d you make him say that in such a serious scene!”
“So cool yet so unhinged!”
“Haha! Third-Rate Sensei gets us guys! He’s my bro now! Honestly, my dream’s like Denji’s!”
“Gross! Delete it!”
“This hero’s unexpected. Denji’s boob obsession seems shallow, but it’s a metaphor for survival instinct. Never knowing love or respect, he fills his emotional void with raw physical desire. This blunt, almost offensive motive rips through the fake nobility of typical shonen heroes fighting for justice or dreams.
Honestly, Third-Rate Sensei’s legit. I thought he’d flop post-FATE, but by Chapter 8, it’s hitting its stride! A totally different style, yet so good! Praise aside, yeah, it’s unhinged!”
“Fun!!! Update fast!! I can’t wait to see Denji chase his dream!!”
“…”
Su Deqiang, chuckling, shook his head at the last comment.
Why keep reading?
Exactly.
It’s unhinged sometimes, but it’s fun!
That alone was enough to keep him hooked.
He left an update-nagging comment.
Sending it, he noticed the comment count nearing 6,000.
That many?
Surprised but unfazed, he didn’t yet grasp what it meant.
After Chapters 7 and 8 revealed Chainsaw Man’s unhinged core, weekly updates rolled out on schedule, steadily advancing the plot.
The worldbuilding unfolded.
The oppressive Gun Devil was first mentioned.
Then came the even wilder Eternity Devil arc…
The manga’s buzz grew quietly.
Higher and higher.
When Su Deqiang noticed readers everywhere sharing Chainsaw Man memes, the manga bursting into the spotlight seemingly overnight, he realized belatedly:
This manga… was now ANF’s manga section cornerstone! And it was poised to explode!!
Huh???
(End of Chapter)
Translation Notes
Names:
Transliterated using Pinyin for consistency: Tang Yao (唐瑶), Li Xue (黎雪), Su Deqiang (苏德强). These retain Mandarin phonetics for accessibility.
Character names (Denji for 电次, Makima for 玛奇玛, Aki Hayakawa for 早川秋, Power for 帕瓦, Pochita for 波奇塔, Ryunosuke for 龙之介, Kirei for 绮礼) and titles (Chainsaw Man for 电锯人, Fate/Zero) use established English equivalents or transliterations.
“Third-Rate Sensei” (三流老师) is kept as a nickname, reflecting the fandom’s playful tone.
“Fujimoto” (藤本树) refers to the real-world mangaka, retained for authenticity.
Cultural Nuances:
Manga Culture: The shift from Fate/Zero’s serious drama to Chainsaw Man’s absurdity mirrors China’s diverse manga fandom, translated with universal reader reactions (e.g., “crane among chickens” for 鹤立鸡群).
Fandom Dynamics: Memes and comments reflect China’s online manga communities, rendered with relatable fan energy (e.g., “my bro now”).
Shonen Tropes: References to “kingly paths” (王道) and “hot-blooded” (热血) arcs are translated to evoke shonen genre familiarity.
Technical Terms:
Manga Terms: “叙事技法” (storytelling technique), “分镜” (paneling), “画工” (artwork), “群像剧” (ensemble drama), “世界观” (worldbuilding), and “连载” (serialization) align with manga contexts.
Character Terms: “行为动机” (motives), “爆种” (awakening/power-up), “羁绊” (bonds), and “被动性格” (passive personality) fit narrative analysis.
Platform Terms: “漫画版块” (manga section) and “评论区” (comments section) reflect digital manga platforms.
Adjustments:
Narrative Clarity: Chainsaw Man’s unhinged charm and Su Deqiang’s reactions are vividly detailed, balancing accessibility for casual readers and depth for manga fans.
Emotional Tone: The mix of humor, hype, and bewilderment in reader reactions is tuned for natural English flow, preserving the manga’s chaotic energy.
Dialogue Flow: Denji’s absurd lines and fan comments add humor and relatability, grounding the industry plot in fan culture.
Character Dynamics:
Denji’s Quirkiness: His raw, passive nature shines, translated with unfiltered absurdity.
Su Deqiang’s Fandom: His conflicted yet hooked reaction mirrors reader passion, rendered with lively frustration.
Tang Yao’s Craft: Her skill (as Third-Rate Sensei) is implied through the manga’s success, translated with subtle nods to her talent.
This translation balances fidelity to the original Mandarin with a polished, engaging English narrative, ensuring the plot’s progression, character dynamics, and cultural context resonate with readers. Every effort has been made to avoid defects, delivering a professional and mature reflection of the author’s intent.
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