"Backpack" (ランドセル, Randoseru, Tonari: 138) is the one hundredth chapter of the One-Punch Man manga series.
Short Summary
Child Emperor continues his mission inside the Monster Association headquarters. After rescuing the executive's son, Waganma, he is confronted by the monster Phoenix Man, whom he defeats using a variety of gadgets, including a foldable shield and a gas attack. As they attempt to escape, another monster, Sludge Jellyfish, attacks, but Child Emperor swiftly takes it down by setting it on fire.
Long Summary
Child Emperor walks through a passageway while monitoring the actions of other heroes. He notes that Flashy Flash's transmitter seems to have malfunctioned. As a pig-like monster attempts to ambush him, it is swiftly eliminated by one of Child Emperor's robots, Mini Octotank No. 8.
He soon comes across the wreckage of a destroyed Metal Knight robot and notes that someone has tried to reassemble it, removing some parts with remarkable skill. This raises concerns that the Monster Association might have robotics experts among their ranks, potentially turning anti-monster technology against the heroes themselves. Hoping to uncover the location of the hostage, Waganma, he decides to extract data from the damaged robot. The machine reveals a detailed map of the hostage’s whereabouts, prompting Child Emperor to grow furious that Metal Knight had withheld this information. He calms himself and unwraps a sweet to eat, only to realize that Octotank has been destroyed by Phoenix Man, who appears and asks if he is there to play.
Phoenix Man begins to monologue about his background and role in the Monster Association, then lunges at Child Emperor, only to crash into an invisible shield. As the monster writhes in pain, Child Emperor explains that this was a lightweight, foldable shield of his own design, capable of being wrapped around sweets. He proceeds to eliminate Phoenix Man using a variety of tools deployed from his backpack.
He then rescues Waganma by releasing gas into the monsters' cell while shielding the hostage with a frog-themed gas mask. Just as they prepare to leave, Sludge Jellyfish slithers into the room and tries to crush Child Emperor, only to be stopped by a protective shield generated from the hero's umbrella. Child Emperor retaliates, attempting to slice the monster before ultimately defeating it by drenching it in liquid fuel and setting it on fire.
As they continue their escape, he detects a presence ahead and sends a toy tank forward as a scout. The tank is destroyed, and Machine God G5 emerges. Child Emperor attempts to disable the machine with a high-voltage cage and a jamming signal, but G5 easily overpowers the attack. The chapter ends with the menacing machine advancing toward the pair.
Characters in Order of Appearance
- Child Emperor
- Phoenix Man
- Orochi (Mentioned)
- Waganma
- Sludge Jellyfish
- G5
- Raptora
Gallery
Trivia
- The japanese title, actually refers to a specific type of backpack, the Randoseru.
- A randoseru (ランドセル) is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather or leather-like synthetic material, most commonly used in Japan by elementary schoolchildren. Traditionally it is given to a child upon beginning his or her first year of school, whereupon the child uses the same bag until grade 6.
- The word "Randoseru" comes from the German word Landser which means a soldier. The German Army provided the second wave of military advisers to the Meiji government, resulting in the Japanese Imperial Army adopting much of its practice, so it is highly likely that the infantry backpacks were also adopted at the time. Being adopted at the elite schools, the bags filtered down throughout Japan, eventually taking its current form and name.
- A randoseru (ランドセル) is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather or leather-like synthetic material, most commonly used in Japan by elementary schoolchildren. Traditionally it is given to a child upon beginning his or her first year of school, whereupon the child uses the same bag until grade 6.