Made in Abyss Chapter 049

The Golden City is the forty-ninth chapter of the Made in Abyss manga series.

Synopsis
Ganja arrives at the 6th layer, where they are immediately greeted by a group of Interference Units, who are human-sized, unlike Gaburoon. The Interference Units are able to understand them, but not communicate. Ganja deems the group trustworthy and follows them. Soon thereafter, an unknown creature snatches one of the Interference Units, forcing the group to retreat to safety. Having stumbled upon a herd of the unknown creatures, Ganja restrains the Interference Units, thinking that they were led into a trap.

The Interference Units apologize for endangering them using fluent human speech, to the surprise of Ganja. The Interference Units have acquired their language by observing them and predicting their language. Wazukyan decides to trust them and removes the restraints placed on them.

After finding out about the effects of attempting to ascend from the 6th layer and being content with the fact they are not returning to the surface, Ganja decides to set up a permanent camp. Ganja requests the Interference Units to locate sources of drinkable water. However, due to the units not requiring water, they are unable to judge the safety of the water sources they provided the locations to. Ganja therefore has to inspect the places personally. Of the five proposed locations, two are swarming with dangerous beasts, one is contaminated with mining residue, one has insurmountably hot water, and only the last is deemed safe.

Belaf discovers that their guide, the child, can read unknown glyphs in the Abyss. Vueko tells Belaf that the child's name is Irumyuui. Belaf tells Irumyuui to continue to study their language, as she will be essential to their survival in the Abyss. Irumyuui begins to study the language with Vueko and is quick to pick up the language.

Later on, Irumyuui adopts a Hermit Rat found in a hat. Belaf wants to study the way the creature lives, to see how to better survive in the Abyss.

After securing their water supply from what appears to be a fresh source, the group subsequently acclimatizes to life in the 6th layer. Irumyuui reveals to Vueko that she was considered a cursed child in her tribe due to being barren and thus was to be a sacrifice to the Abyss, rather than a guide for Ganja. Vueko, having experienced a similar fate in the past, is also barren, and sympathizes with Irumyuui and develops a mother-like bond with her. As the two embrace, Vueko notes that she wanted to find light in the darkness, but what she found instead was Irumyuui, who is darkness. But she is a very warm darkness.

Time passes and life is good. There are good meals and laughter. Vueko even develops what appears to be a lesbian relationship with one of the other members of Ganja, Pakkoyan. Sadly, though, Irumyuui's hermit rat gets snatched away by a predator. But life moves on and Vueko makes a necklace for Irumyuui as a comfort.

One morning, Vueko wakes up and realizes Irumyuui has diarrhea. Inspecting her feces, she notices transparent insect eggs therein. Pakkoyan then comes and urgently requests Vueko's help. Pakkoyan takes Vueko to a tent full of sick people. Eichem, one of the members of Ganja, has toes that have melted and hardened like lead. The same disease that Irumyuui is infected with seems to have a mass spread of among Ganja, as all the infected have diarrhea. There is not enough water to treat all patients, and thus Belaf, Ajapoka and several other members embark to gather some.

Meanwhile, the food-scavenging group returns with considerable losses, counting only three members who die shortly after arrival; they transformed into tree-looking beings.

The group who departed the camp arrives at the watering hole. Belaf becomes doubtful of the water and asks Ajapoka to get a sample of rock from the lake bed. He then realizes it is not rock, but the hardened remains of a giant creature. Not knowing of any other possible source of safe water, they decide to bring water from the hole back and to warn the rest of Ganja about its true properties.

Back at camp, Wazukyan shows Vueko an egg-shaped Relic from one of the food-scavenging group member's bags and asks her if she knows what it is. Vueko does not know its purpose, and Wazukyan contemplates whether the Interference Units would know. Vueko, remembering these events, comments that the discovery of the egg-shaped Relic was the turning point for all of these events.

Adapted To

 * Season 2 Episode 3: Village of the Hollows
 * Season 2 Episode 7: The Cradle of Desire

Character Appearances

 * Ajapoka
 * Belaf
 * Interference Units
 * Pakkoyan
 * Irumyuui
 * Vueko
 * Wazukyan

Bestiary Indexing

 * Pseudowater
 * Turbinid-Dragon
 * Hermit Rat
 * Unknown Creatures