Made in Abyss Chapter 001

Orth, Town at the Edge of the Abyss (大穴の街オース, Romaji: Oana-na-machi-osu) is the first chapter of Made in Abyss manga series.

Sypnosis
The chapter began with a girl holding a ball compass to the sky. Riko was shown to be standing out of a window, looking at what appears to be a gigantic, bottomless pit, called “The Abyss”. She then proclaimed that the “Star Compass” points not to the sky, but to the bottom of said Abyss. Sitting nearby were her friends, Natt, Shiggy and Kiyui, playfully acknowledging the beginning of her rant. Riko, even more determined, exclaimed about the ball's truth finding properties. Her friends agreed, referencing yesterday, where it found the angle of a slope when Riko dropped it, and it almost escaped. Natt then told Riko that one could tell which is top or bottom without using any compass, making Riko wondered whether that was true. The four were then called to deliver some letters. Natt rushed off first while mocking Riko for her earlier rant., taunting her that the compass was supposed to be turned in to their teacher, and she could be punished. Riko, though distressed, quickly composed herself then took Kiyui with her to deliver letters.

Later that night, Riko’s room – also known as the “Former Punishment Room” – was still brightly lit. Riko was preparing tools and equipment for a trip into the Abyss the next day. Afterwards she dropped to bed, though did not sleep right away, thinking about what she would do the next day, and how she should convince her strict teacher, Leader, to allow her to delve in deeper altitudes. She then thought about her mother and how, thanks to her mother, she was given a chance to be Delver. The girl then fell asleep.

Early next morning, Riko awoke and prepared herself, then quickly left to begin her delving trip into the Abyss. As Riko began her trip, Kiyui was at home reading a book about the Abyss. A narrative begins; the narrator explains the allure of the Abyss, as well as its currently known features, and how people have been exploring the great pit for 1900 years, since its discovery, to the formation of the city by the Abyss, Orth.

The scenes switched back to Kiyui, now soundly asleep. Nearby was Riko, having returned from her trip, sitting near a window and peering into the Abyss with a telescope. Riko then spotted a nest of Hammerbeaks, and watched as one was attacked by an unknown predator, but the rest then retaliated. Riko's yelling of excitement caught the attention of the telescope's owner, Lafy, reading a letter from her husband Habolg. Riko then inquired about Habolg's location, and was told that the Black Whistle Delver was approaching the 2nd Layer of the Abyss. The woman and Riko then discussed the shared goal of Habolg and Riko: to be White Whistle Delvers. They were then interrrupted by Shiggy, who came to call Riko back to the Orphanage. On the way back, Riko and Shiggy then continue discussing the goal of becoming a White Whistle.

Returned to the Belchero Orphanage, Riko then attended a briefing where her teacher, Leader, told them about the new rules applied to their delving studies, which include delving alone in assigned areas. Then the head of the Orphanage, Belchero, spoke with the apprentice delvers, emphasizing that any of the valuable objects in the Abyss, called Artifacts, were to be turned in to the Orphanage if recovered, to provide funding for the Orphanage’s continued operation. She then warned the apprentices that disobeying will result in punishment, giving Riko a sharp glare while doing so.

After the briefing, the apprentices were assigned delving areas, Riko being assigned the same place she delved the last time, driving her to try to convince her teacher to assign her a deeper one. However, Leader disagreed, explaining that delving in the previous area would be more efficient. Riko then explained her dream of becoming a White Whistle to her teacher, so that she could see her mother again. Leader, though still disagreeing, promised to grant Riko's request if she manage to find artifacts with the most value on the next day’s trip. The chapter ends with a scene of the Abyss, the last unexplored place in the world.

Character Appearances
The following characters that appeared in this chapter (by order of appearance)
 * Riko
 * Natt
 * Shiggy
 * Kiyui
 * Lafy
 * Jiruo
 * Belchero
 * Lyza (mentioned, not yet named)
 * Habolg (mentioned)

Adapted to
This chapter was adapted into the first episode of the Made in Abyss anime series, with some changes to sereval details of the manga.

Unanswered Questions

 * Lafy's Backstory?

Quotes


"Riko while holding the star compass."

- The bottom of this star beckons to the depths of the abyss!