"A Philosophical Philosopher" (哲学するテツガクシャ Tetsugaku Suru Tetsugakusha?) is the one hundred and forty-fifth chapter of the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga series, written by Takaya Kagami and illustrated by Yamato Yamamoto.
Synopsis[]
Roman soldiers interrogated Greek villagers concerning rumors of an immortal. Ferid spoke to a soldier named Pompey and sought to vanish completely. Appearing, Lord Rigr regarded Ferid as a candidate for his Mikaela experiment. Asked why they were alive, Rigr had his own reason, to save someone; he was viewed as a Philistine by Ferid. Although he agreed, Rigr promptly took Ferid's head off. When Rigr passed his own blood to him, Ferid feared death for the first time.
Over a Century later, Rigr was conducting tests on bodies. Ferid's head was among others kept in jars for this time. Rigr conceded that he was not able to make Mikaela using this process. Departing, Rigr said he would be back yet Ferid found he never returned.
Ferid was able to nudge the jar he was in off the table, and regenerate his body. Wondering why he was still alive, Ferid speculated maybe it was because he is a Philistine.
Presently, Ferid is overseen by Guren and Shinya as he announces for them to kick off the final battle.
Characters[]
List of characters in order of appearance:
- Ferid Bathory (remembered as a human when he was 25 as well as seen in the present)
- Roman soldiers (flashback only)
- Ancient Greek Villagers (flashback only)
- Pompey (flashback only)
- Saitō (flashback only and addressed as Rigr)
- Imprisoned vampires (flashback only)
- Guren Ichinose
- Shinya Hīragi
Summary[]
In the past existed a certain region of Greece. There was a village where a blood-sucking immortal supposedly lived. The villagers were captured and interrogated by Roman soldiers on whether the rumor was true. A villager who claims it is true and that someone had their blood drunk is decapitated. The executioner announced that liars would be killed for causing fear in the population with baseless rumors, and that Lord Bathory would not allow it to continue.[1]
As the villagers continued to be interrogated, within a building was Ferid surveying a number of scrolls. Asked by Pompey what he was reading, Ferid answered they were stories. One concerned the holy legends of a group of tribes, which were far-East sutras. Ferid had also read myths from various lands, and several philosopher's essays.[2]
While Pompey could not recognize any of the writing, Ferid detailed that they say mostly the same thing. For what he hoped to find, Ferid answered it was mostly why they were all alive. Speaking that there was no big meaning, Ferid added that the Sun rose in the East and set in the West, after that they die and it is the end.[3]
After Pompey questioned if that meant their advance into Greece was ultimately meaningless, Ferid gave it some thought. Seeing he could read one, Pompey raised how a scroll said if there is no great reason they should live each day to the fullest, with gratitude. Concerning the giving thanks to the gods part, Ferid stated he did not feel the need to beg someone for permission to live.[4]
When Pompey wondered what he was looking to find, Ferid replied that it was a way to vanish completely. Continuing, Ferid spoke how doing life over and over was just exhausting.[5]
Outside, the soldiers were asked if they had found the liars. About half the people had insisted that the rumor was true. Hearing that, Ferid mentioned that maybe the mortal did exist. As Ferid wondered if the immortal was nearby since he would like to ask why he is still alive, a vampire dropped down beside him.[6]
Paying no mind to Ferid asking where he just came from, the vampire addressed the Roman soldiers and requested that they not mess with his experiments. The villagers implored Lord Rigr to save them since the Romans had come to kill them all. Ignoring Ferid who reminds him he asked who he was, Rigr was surprised there were Romans here and wondered what they wanted.[7]
Once a villager responded the Romans were asking where the immortal was, Rigr shared that he was right here. Registering this, Ferid set about testing whether Rigr really was the immortal. When Ferid ordered an executioner to cut him down, Rigr concentrated on Ferid's voice and hair before stating he had potential. Rigr said he would add Ferid to his Mikaela experiment.[8]
Witnessing Rigr stop the executioner's blade with his hand left Ferid disconcerted and he called to Pompey in alarm. Displaying his further capabilities, Rigr used the sword to sweep away both the Roman soldiers and villagers where the emission blasted across the landscape.[9]
As Pompey cried out in horror what was that, Ferid saw that this was bad and resorted to retreat. Looking at Rigr, he said to Pompey how the retreat needed a decoy to be effective. When Pompey meant to stay behind, Ferid said that men who are grateful for life should live for today.[10]
Ferid was more curious about what he called death over there as Rigr stood calm. When Pompey told Ferid that he would be killed, Ferid responded he already was. From the moment of their birth, everyone starts marching inexorably toward death which Ferid said as he began walking. As Pompey carried out the retreat, Ferid greeted Rigr as death.[11]
When Rigr answered that he was not death, Ferid questioned if he was a god. Not really concerned with the answer, Ferid added whatever Rigr was, he was not human. When Ferid had a question for him, Rigr asked what was it. Once Ferid questioned what the point to being alive was, Rigr saw a philosopher and mentioned he was cursed by the need for meaning.[12]
Focusing on gaining his answer, Ferid wondered if Rigr was saying that there is no meaning, or if he was saying he did not know. Rigr revealed that he had his own personal reason for living, there was someone he wanted to save. Unsatisfied, Ferid then turned to see how Rigr was a Philistine then. Confirming yes, Rigr said that everyone is. No matter how long they live, humans are still humans.[13]
Without anything further, Rigr simply took Ferid's head off.[14]
His suddenly detached head registering this, Ferid had Rigr's blood dropped into his mouth. Raising if in fact Ferid did not wish for death, Rigr laughed that Ferid was not one of those Philistines who was mindlessly grateful for life. Rigr felt that meant Ferid was not afraid of dying.[15]
For the first time in his life, Ferid realized that he was afraid of death. His instincts screamed for life and more than that, Ferid thought that he had an intense need to drink blood. The moment he did, Ferid felt something precious in his mind break. Swallowed by a desire for blood, Ferid also felt an indescribable joy.[16]
Laughing at his expression, Rigr said the little philosopher could not die anymore. Now he can spend the centuries pondering away. Rigr added that maybe Ferid would even realize just how much of a Philistine he was.[17]
Over a century later, Rigr was carrying out experiments on a corpse in a chamber. There were a number of vampires whose heads were kept in jars of which Ferid was one of them. When Ferid asked Lord Rigr how long would he be stuck in here, Rigr questioned who just spoke. Gathering that Ferid still remembered his name, Rigr said that all his other subjects would have broken by now.[18]
When Ferid spoke that he had been like this for a century, and forty years have passed since it became just the two of them here, Ferid said that he was the only one who talks to Rigr everyday. After Rigr noted that he must have been counting, Ferid wondered would there be an end to this. Rigr deemed it a good question.[19]
Then deciding no, Rigr threw the scroll he was reading aside and revealed that actually this ended long ago. He would not be able to make Mikaela using this process. Asked if he had failed, Rigr replied it seemed so. Rigr was also afraid that the meaning for Ferid's existence was a failure now too.[20]
Where Ferid was happy to say he was not looking for a meaning to his life anyway, Rigr chuckled that was right, he did not want to be a Philistine. Laughing some more, Rigr suddenly stopped and simply left for the door. Addressed as father by Ferid, he was asked if he would come back. Rigr said sure, he would be back before long.[21]
Left as a head on the jar with vampires who had lost their minds, Ferid thought how Rigr never came back. Ferid knew he wouldn't, Rigr had no need for failures after all. Within the fortification, Ferid pushed his head against the jar until it neared the edge of the table. Foliage had grown outside at the time where Ferid managed to drop off and break the jar containing his head. It took Ferid twenty years to break it.[22]
Arteries formed from Ferid's head where it took fifty years to regrow his body. Asking himself why he was still alive, Ferid wondered if it was because he was a Philistine.[23]
In the present time Ferid asks aloud what say they kick off the final battle. Shinya and Guren oversee him from a building. Ferid steps forward while speaking of a final one for Philistines.[24]
Quotes[]
| “ | Oho! This one I know how to read. It says if there's no great reason, we should live each day to the fullest, with gratitude. | ” |
–Pompey feels that sounds an excellent way to live. Page 5 | ||
| “ | Really? Wow. Then maybe the immortal does exist. Do you think he's nearby? If he is, I'd love to ask him why he's still alive. | ” |
–Ferid curious about what the villagers say about the immortal. Page 7 | ||
| “ | Hey. You there. Would you not mess with my experiments, please? | ” |
–Rigr intervening but only because Roman soldiers are murdering Greek villagers who he calls experiments. Page 8 | ||
| “ | Aah. Your voice. Your hair. Your handsome looks. You have potential. I think I'll add you to my Mikaela experiment. | ” |
–Rigr finally responds to Ferid. Page 10 | ||
| “ | I know my personal reason for living. There's someone I want to save. | ” |
–Rigr answers Ferid on what a meaning for living is. Page 16 | ||
| “ | Yep! Everyone is. No matter how long they live, humans are still humans. | ” |
–Rigr confirming he is a Philistine when Ferid asks. Page 17 | ||
| “ | For the first time in my life... ...I realized... ...I was afraid of death. My instincts screamed for life. But more than that... ...An intense need to drink that blood hit me. I gave in. The moment I did... ...I felt something precious in my mind break. I was swallowed by a desire for blood... ...And an indescribable joy. | ” |
–Ferid after his head was removed by Rigr and he was given the blood that changed him into a vampire. Page 18-20 | ||
| “ | Ha ha ha ha! You can't die anymore, little philosopher! Now you can spend the centuries pondering away. Maybe you'll even realize just how much of a Philistine you are. | ” |
–Rigr cheerfully comments on Ferid as he watches him drink his blood. Page 21 | ||
| “ | I've been like this for a century. And 40 years have passed since it became just the two of us here. I'm the only one who talks to you every day. | ” |
–Ferid's head kept in a jar as Rigr ran his experiments. Page 23 | ||
| “ | Well, no. This ended long ago, actually. I won't be able to make Mikaela using this process. | ” |
–Rigr having realized his experiments involving vampires have been unsuccessful. Page 24 | ||
| “ | Well then! What say we kick off the final battle? A final one for Philistines. | ” |
–Ferid ready with Shinya and Guren backing him, and acknowledging he is a Philistine. Page 30 | ||
Chapter Notes[]
- The sultras Ferid was reading, in the real world of which the Seraph of the End world is based on, these are ancient and medieval Indian texts. For the holy based stories that were being read, it is probable they would have been Hindu or Buddhism related.
- Similarly, before, Ferid referred to the Far East where it seemed he meant Greece. The Far East mentioned here may indicate he was aware of India based regions, as that is where the sutras seem to have originated from.
- A new character of Pompey was introduced in this chapter. A historical figure, he appeared a member of the Roman army who was a confidante of Ferid.
- Someone in Pompey's capacity was unable to read many of the scrolls that Ferid could; in Chapter 134: "Reincarnation Rondo", Ferid was familiar with foreign languages from an early age.
- For the era, in the previous Chapter 144: "Spring at 25" Ferid was shown to be a Roman Vice-Commander during Ancient Rome's invasion of Ancient Greece. For around one hundred years after that, Ferid spend his first century as a vampire involved with experiments Saito was carrying out.
- Giving thanks to the gods is mentioned, which may be referring to Hindu gods. Where these may be man-made gods, the people of this era seemed unfamiliar with a possible god who is said to reside on the Sun that Shikama Dōji is familiar with.
- While Ferid has commented on longing for death, he remarks on not feeling the need to beg someone for permission to live, which is said when the topic of gods is brought up.
- Seemingly heading to this region to find a rumored immortal, Ferid appeared to have soldiers murder villagers not to root out liars, rather lure out an immortal who he may have assumed would come to defend them.
- In Chapter 49: "Progenitor's Memory" it was discussed how Ferid turned Crowley Eusford into a vampire using Saito's blood of which they shared. The specifics of how Ferid was turned into a vampire is shown in this chapter. Similarly, how Ferid met Rigr was depicted.
- The rumors of an immortal were founded which confirms people as far away as (likely) Rome were aware of such a being. They did not seem to know what else was entailed aside from immortality and blood consumption, for all were astonished at Rigr's power that he displayed. Since Rigr allowed them to escape, a vampire's prowess would be something learned about where they were not seen as mythological creatures.
- For the vampire in question, it was second progenitor Saito, who was known by his name of Rigr at this time.
- In Chapter 105: "Saito and Urd" both the titular characters were seen living in Romania during the past. Whether before or after, but Rigr left to seek out the First where in this chapter he had settled into ancient Greece and was conducting experiments concerning Mikaela.
- While Rigr seemed aware of their general existence, he wondered why there were Romans here where he was likely unaware of their invasion of the country.
- The villagers that Rigr was around seemed to have an arrangement where their blood was taken yet they otherwise lived in peace. There would have been some conversation since they referred to him as Lord Rigr, yet they were regarded as experiments. Ultimately, they were all cut down by Rigr after they pleaded for help.
- In seeking out death, Ferid would question Rigr on what the point of being alive was. He asked Shikama Doji something similar when he was possessing Shinoa in Chapter 76: "Age of Immortals". There it was to stall for time however, yet Ferid seems to be seeking a satisfactory to himself answer on why they are here.
- Upfront that he is the immortal being searched for, Rigr is also quick to affirm that he is not death, and isn't interested in being regarded as a god. Although Rigr had just murdered many people, he may have been speaking solely to Ferid, in that he was not death for him (since he was about to turn him into a vampire).
- For someone being a philosopher, Rigr commented that they were cursed by the need for meaning.
- Having an own personal reason for living, Rigr said that there was someone he wanted to save. Possible candidates may be Urd Geales or Shikama Dōji.
- Undaunted in battles of conquest in which his life was at risk, in having his head removed, Ferid felt afraid of death for the first time in his life.
- Ferid didn't approach a vampire for the purposes of becoming one whether to drink blood or become immortal, rather wanted to ask an immortal being why he was still alive where Ferid was not satisfied with answers as to why they were here to begin with. Ironically where Ferid also sought to disappear, he would become an immortal vampire unable to die. He may have been unaware that vampires can change others into one, and thought he was just approaching a benign immortal being who could provide views on why live, unaware that Rigr was anything but that.
- It seems Ferid spent the first century of his existence as a vampire as a decapitated head kept in a jar. The Roman soldiers who he had come to Greece with evidently did not find him, indeed would have passed away when he remained in this state.
- There were a number of vampires, at least five, whose heads were kept along with Ferid's. Given Saito's interest in Mikaela it is probable they were like Ferid, namely potential candidates for Mikaela's resurrection. It would seem they lost their minds over forty years ago. There was some process in place to prevent them turning into Demons that Rigr was familiar with. Something similar may be involved in the body Rigr was experimenting on if it were a vampire's body, since they would be able to move it otherwise.
- While conducting his experiments over a century it would appear that Rigr was hardly talkative to fellow vampires who were around him. Instead he seemed focused solely on Mikaela, of which he had information documented on scrolls to help with.
- As a child Ferid murdered his parents which was recollected in Chapter 91: "Orphan Prince". Certainly due to the blood connection, Ferid is seen addressing Rigr as father for the first time in this chapter.
- Although Rigr claimed he would be back he simply left the vampire heads in the jars along with all details of his experiments. At least seventy years passed where it would seem no one happened across a sizeable fort-like structure in the wilderness. While probable it could have remained unnoticed given the era, it is also possible that there were concealing spells placed on it given the existence of such magic in the world.
- While vampires can reconnect severed limbs, this chapter depicts one regenerating body parts. Specifically, an entire new body can be formed from the head which starts with the arteries before any muscle or skeleton formation. It took Ferid fifty years to regrow this. The bones may have been the final parts to form since it seems he remained lying down in that time.
- Although Ferid claimed he was not a Philistine to Rigr in the past, by the present day he speaks loudly about being one. It seems at the point of his body regeneration in the past he might have acknowledged he was one since he was still alive.
- Presently, rather than retreat given the very real danger of other vampire progenitors in Shibuya, Ferid, along with Guren and Mahiru's plan is to proceed. Along with Shinya it is likely that Kureto Hīragi and members of Guren squad would be involved.
- Both Saito and Urd fighting together was something Guren and Mahiru felt Ferid could not overcome. What Shinya read in the hotel may be involved with Guren's plan.
Gallery[]
- Image gallery: A Philosophical Philosopher
Manga panels provide a visual overview of the events of chapter 145 with depictions of the characters, Seraph of the End world and scenarios.
References[]
Overall[]
To view the events of chapter 145 in the overall Owari no Seraph story view Owari no Seraph Manga Story by Chapter: Chapter 145