#kameji the python

I got the third Beast Complex manga loooong ago, but got sick so haven't had energy and time to look for differences. Till now that is.

In the fan translation, Kameji points out that since Murou "died" because he hung himself that you could think he was strangled to death and therefor it would be suspected that Kameji did it since, well, snakes strangling other animals would be the way for them to kill them.

In the official trans, Kameji instead says: "They will think I constricted him to death!". You can still get the idea that he means "because I'm a snake" but it is not as directly said as the fan version.

What Kameji is saying here is kind of ambigous. He just talked about Murou keep reminding him what society thinks of snakes and generally bothered him like kicking him. So is he saying that he can still... what? Bother him by dying in a way where the poor snake boy will get the blame? Is his death one final middle finger?

In the official translation, Kameji says: "You are dead now, but I can still hear the echo of your words."

In this case, I would say point goes to fan trans.

Here we see our dear poor snakeboy being surprised by his teacher not being more curious about his full stomach.

In the official trans, he adds that his fellow classmates would have been suspicious of seeing a python with a stomach that filled up.

In fan trans, when Kameji in desperation consider to digest Murou's body to make the corpse dissapear and save him from being suspected of murder, he stops himself from considering it due to it being kinda fucked up, even if the hyena was a jerk.

In the official trans, he is scared Murou's ghost might taking offense to that.

See, this translation makes complete sense as we see some school kids laugh as they say it. And the rhino even says that Murou is "one mean hyena", brining up a stereotype Murou embraced since he had nothing else.

In the official trans, they say "You are such a jerk" and Why do you have to be so mean?" which makes no sense due to them smiling. Big goof on the ones who translated the official English manga.

When Kameji hugs his stomach where Murou is inside, in the trans he says he was probably a nice hyena, just trying to hard to be a jerk.

In the official trans, he says he was not cut out to be a bully.

Okay... So, this chapter is... a lot. SO I’m gonna have to warn you that it involves suicide and animals eating each other.

You have been warned.

The hero of today’s chapter is Kameji the Python. He is a grade school student who makes it a habit to arrive at school early so his body doesn’t get disturbed by a ton of steps shacking the floor he slitter on.

This habit means he is the first to witness something horrible.

Someone has hanged themselves in Kameji’s classroom. The python quickly snaps the rope, hoping that there is still time to save this animal

Kameji was apparently too late as the animal lies on the floor without showing signs of life. But Kameji who is calming down a bit can now see that this is not just anyone. It’s his bully Murou the Hyena. Morou is a daily pestilence in Kameji’s life who keeps kicking and stepping on him.

Kameji is confused as he has no idea why Murou would hang himself. But he doesn’t have time to think too much about it as he now realizes that he will most likely be suspected of murdering his tormentor if anyone sees him with the still warm hyena body. Especially since his neck has been snapped, making it look like Kameji strangled him to death as snakes do.

It doesn’t matter that Kameji is a total cinnamon roll who looks cute as heck. He is still a snake. That means that animals around him find him disturbing and untrustworthy... Something Kameji has been told by Murou over and over again. So this situation almost seems like Murou’s last act of making the snake’s life as difficult as possible.

The already panicking Kameji hears that his teacher is on her way to the classroom. Kameji only sees one way out of this predicament.

Kameji swallows Murou. Yeah, he is kind of an idiot since he is just a school boy, but WHAT THE FUCK, DUDE?!

Everyone luckily just assume that Kameji just had a large breakfast.

Kameji consider for a second to try and digest Murou, removing his body completely. But Kameji comes to the conclusion that it is a fucked up idea and instead try to look for a suicide note to prove that he didn’t kill Morou. But as he looks for proof, he realizes that Murou is is surprisingly light and feels boney inside his stomach, meaning that he doesn’t eat much.

And that’s not all.

Murou’s locker is practically empty. There are some school books, but that is about it. It looks even more sad since it is next to one locker where we see someone who clearly does a lot of soccer and then someone who is passionate about painting.

But Murou’s locker shows no signs of passion of all. Kameji can’t find anything in his locker or bag that indicates that he has friends. The fact that there is no suicide note makes it even more depressing since that means the hyena bully didn’t even bother leaving behind any last words, meaning there were no one to read them.

Murou didn’t have an identity besides being a hyena. He desperately tried to be what everyone expected him to be since he had nothing else. Kameji can relate to the feeling of being isolated and now feels sorry for his bully. He decides to spit him out and call a teacher. even if it means that he will be suspected for murder.

But what do you know?!

Murou is still alive! He most likely woke up when he could feel bumbs from when Kameji went up some stairs.

I like to think that Kemeji didn’t think to check his pulse since he is a snake, an animal who is completely different from a mammal, and therefor didn’t know what to look for.

Kameji manage to spit up Murou before he gets hurt. The boy hyena looks at Kameji with a face that has a mix of annoyance and confusion and says: “Of course it had to be you.” It could mean a number of things, like that he thought that it would be Kameji who would be the one to eat him or that he is angry at the snake for saving his life. Either way, he is not exactly showing gratitude.

Kameji doesn’t care, he is just so relieved that Murou is still alive and he hugs him. Murou seems baffled(I would be weirded out as well in his shoes) but e doesn’t object, meaning he most likely very much needs a hug.