There are two decent aspects to the The Executioner and Her Way of Life, Volume 3. One of these has been pretty consistent through the series, and one is newish.

In Volume 1, we met Menou, a skilled executioner whose job it is to rid the world of intruders from our world, among other things. We also met her obsessed and ultra-violent trainee, Momo, and an otherworlder, Akari, who seems to be a complete ditz.

In Volume 2, we added the Princess Knight Ashurna, who is not traveling with them, but they seem to run into her very often.

Here in Volume 3, we’ve added a new cast member, but, she’s also kind of obviously not really an ally.

Menou’s task is to kill Akari, but we already have seen that this will not be possible, as Akari has the ability to reverse time. Menou’s plan to travel with Akari is suspect but…much more relevant to us, the reading audience, we have seen who Akari really is.

So what was decent about Volume 3? The magic remains the most interesting part of the story and, in this volume, we have seen a new aspect to it; one that would obviously mean something to us, but not to the characters. I won’t spoil, because there is so little to really enjoy here that this is the one genuinely interesting thing. This leads to a second foreshadowing that really ought to be mind-blowing, but kind of isn’t, because it’s the only thing that makes sense.

Also on the positive side, I like Ashurna and Momo together. The fact that Momo hates Ashurna makes me like her more.

Both story and art are adequate, but not good. The story has an unfortunate tendency to just tell itself rather dully. “The meeting place was a white-painted pension in front of the waterfront.” The world building still remains so dire that the idea of trees anywhere is too much stimulus to handle. I still think the upcoming anime will have backgrounds that this narrative doesn’t deserve.

The art is likewise fine, without being particularly appealing. Breasts are constantly squished in ways that would be uncomfortable if I cared. Although the final battle illustration was exceptional for the series as it illustrated an actual scene, rather than just creepily proportioned lolicon women.

Unlike Roll Over and Die, the level of grotesquery is within my tolerance, so I’m pretty sure I’ll keep reading this series for something simple and brain-numbing to read, but will probably switch to digital. It’s very hard to justify the $15.00 for art and writing that is, at best, okay. Jenny McKeon does a very good job with the translation, and possibly gives it more color with decent character voice.

Ratings:

Art – Composition and body structures are all over the place
Story – This volume has less grim and more fighting
Characters – Still 7, except Akari, who gets 7.5
Service – Squished tits and not-adult bodies
Yuri – Everyone loves Menou

Overall – 7

Everything being a “guiding” whatever, as now lost much of it’s charm, but the new narrative pathway may make that relevant.