Usuzumi no Hate, (Black Ink of Hate / Hate of Black Ink) is an ongoing series created by Iwamune Haruo that features a post-apocalyptic world where Ushimitsu Saya, a provisional special investigator from the Ushitmitsu Technical Research Institute is tasked to locate and protect survivors, investigate the source of the pathogen causing crystallosis, disinfect the area to make it habitable for humans, and perform burial rites for the deceased.
Alienoid creatures started appearing killing humans and spreading miasma to the surroundings. This airborne miasma infects living humans and turns their bodies black crystals (crystallosis). Humans killed with crystallosis would have their corpses preserved in good condition while emitting miasma that could spread the disease. With no cure in sight, humans are forced to evacuate to shelters and wait indefinitely until the surface is habitable. Humanity has also taken other measures to ensure survival by developing special humans immune to crystallosis and to combat the threat leading to the development of Saya.
A hundred years into the future since the invasion, we see a bleak future of humanity. Usuzumi no Hate is a dark sci-fi slice of life story if tragic stories are your cup of tea. Half of the episodic chapters are stories piecing together what could've happened in the past but the reader is already made aware of the grim ends. But these aren't told just make you feel bad, on the contrary, I think these mini stories are what remind people about their mortality which makes the lessons more endearing.
It's like a love letter to existential nihilism to continue moving forward when everything looks bleak. I already loved it from the first chapter.
The visuals remind me of Blame! manga and the story close to Nier Automata levels of existential nihilism. Just look at the visuals that convey the apocalyptic world, dark, desolate and distant. Some scenes intentionally shows the character small in relation to the vast space. If this isn't enough to visually communicate loneliness, then Saya's daily routine does.
Spoiler Warning: If you're interested in the story. Better leave this post now as the paragraphs below contains spoilers.
Character Growth:
Saya is a blank slate that does her mission as she was told without a question. She is no different from an automaton when performing her daily tasks except she looks human. She has no ties to the past nor a clear sense of direction beyond what she was tasked to do.
Search and protect survivors, investigate the creatures that spread the pathogen, disinfect area to make the world habitable for humans again, and give the deceased proper burial rites. These four objectives have no definite end and it was a few chapters in before she reflected on her mission. It was only when she met other survivors and automatons that she was able to reflect on her circumstances than mindlessly following the objectives set.
But it took years before these events happened, and it was years of doing the same routine without question that sets the stage for Saya to grow as character. This is what I like about the story's pacing when it comes to character growth, it's all gradual and lessons are processed slowly as they come with each new encounter bringing a new perspective towards her growth.
It's still an ongoing series so for who knows how long. But I sort of like it while unfinished because it keeps up with the theme that Saya's journey without a definite end to her mission, can created her own open ended story. I'll come back to this when a lot of chapters get translated to binge read.
One of the things I like about sharing on Hive is how I can keep track of the mangas and anime I previously seen and would like to follow up in the future.
Thanks for your time.