Chapter 36

Jananda: Island of the Free (自由の島・ジャナンダ, Jiyū no Shima・Jananda) is the 36th chapter of the Fumetsu no Anata e manga.

Summary
As the winner of his tournament bracket, Fushi finds himself to be the talk of Jananda with people trying to get on his good graces. Especially so due to his immortal nature that has captured the interests of islanders.

Tonari's group quickly rescues him from the crowd telling them that anyone who wants to speak to Fushi, pay two silver and get in line, and only for the first one hundred people. A member of the crowd asks who put them in charge and a girl with one eye covered blows a dart at the man making him collapse. The girl explains that since Tonari found Fushi, he belongs to Tonari. The girl also tells the crowd the next dart will have actual poison in it.

A line soon forms managed by Tonari and her friends. Fushi asks them what is happening and the large boy explains that everyone wants to be Fushi's friend. Tonari further explains that since the leader of the island can make other people's wishes come true, people try to get on the future leader’s good graces. She also tells him that due to power struggles, the new chiefs usually get killed within two weeks, but since Fushi is immortal (thus certainly guaranteed to win) more islanders hope to work with him. Therefore, Tonari and her group are mediating the onslaught of people wanting to meet Fushi while taking a cut of the proceeds.

Tonari's boss comes charging through yelling at Tonari that she was supposed to take him back to the mainland. She applauds her boss for his excellent timing and tells him to prepare a bunch of ships. She declares that they're all going to leave the island together because those who haven't committed wrongdoings don't deserve to live a life full of it. Her boss is hesitant about the idea wondering what the other ship crew will think about it. She tells him that Jananda finally has an eternal ruler who will become a proper lawgiver and fix the lawlessness of the place. She ends by telling him that they can do the ships later but to leave Fushi to her for now to which her boss agrees. Fushi starts to walk off but Tonari's group quickly follows after him. They finally introduce themselves to Fushi. The large boy is Uroy and his favourite food is chicken. The long-haired girl is Mia, her hobby is finding curly hair. The short boy is Sandel and he's eleven years old. And the youngest girl with one eye covered is Oopa. Tonari's partner and three-toed owl is Ligard. To the annoyance of Fushi they offer to give him a tour of the island.

Tonari explains that the core of the city is the arena and on the outer edges are where the churches are. There is the Church of Bennett, the Church of Monjo to the north, and the Church of Zumra to the west. The areas surrounding the churches have become residential areas as the missionaries left minus a few pious followers. They walk past some self-sufficient farmlands and Fushi spots some corpses hanging overhead. Fushi is shocked at the sight but Tonari calmly explains that they probably stole something. She continues on explaining that the death penalty to maintain public order isn't uncommon here. Mia and Sandel chime in telling Fushi to get used to it. Fushi can't believe they live in such a place and Tonari tells him people do leave but there's hardly any materials to make a boat. Uroy tells him that everyone spies on everyone here and traitors are killed immediately. Tonari says that the island was established as a prison for some country. At first it was managed well but the population grew too big to be properly maintained, so the wardens left and the islanders took law into their own hands. Tonari explains that her job is to bring prisoners from other countries to the island. A job that only people greatly trusted are allowed to do. Fushi grabs her hand and sees the branding on her palm. She explains that it isn't a prisoner's brand but a brand for their family. The difference being the prisoner's brand has a circle within the triangle.

Fushi remembers Pioran and asks Tonari where she is. Tonari tries to avoid the question but Fushi yells at her to not play dumb and asks who told her to bring them to the island. Tonari calmly tells him that the islands doesn't only take big-time criminals and that she's heard rumours that Pioran poisoned ten Yanome people a long time ago. Fushi tells her he's never heard of that but then remembers back in the caravan with March and Parona, Pioran, as a shaman, told them she's a criminal. Tonari smirks that Pioran is so dear to Fushi yet he doesn't know anything about her. She then tells him the truth that a mysterious figure specifically told her to bring the two of them here and that they are on the island too. Fushi decides to walk off having enough of Tonari's group. He tells them he doesn't want to be with them anymore because they're not normal because they can still laugh while living on the island. This makes Tonari laugh.

At night, Fushi tries to shoot down a bat to take its form to get over the wall. He keeps missing and asks the Beholder to use his power to save Pioran and help them leave. The Beholder tells him he'll only help Fushi when it's necessary for Fushi's advancement and questions him about the tournament. Fushi says he's sick of participating and that the next round will be a one-on-one fight, meaning he has to kill his opponent. He doesn't want to kill anyone because he doesn't want to feel their pain. The Beholder asks him why he says that now after having killed so many people previously like Gugu. Fushi denies killing Gugu and the Beholder tells him if it weren't for him, Gugu would have lived. He clarifies that he's not blaming Fushi but just helping Fushi realize that all living things choose when to welcome death. Gugu chose to hasten his life by trying to save Fushi, similar to those who sign up to participate in the arena. He tells Fushi not to worry about the fate of those who chose to die. Fushi has enough and goes to sleep.

While he's asleep, the cloaked figure approaches Fushi and looms over him. The figure caresses his face and licks his cheek.

Chapter Notes

 * Fushi is formally introduced to Tonari's group in this chapter.
 * We learn more about Jananda's history and culture.
 * This is the first mention of the Church of Bennett in the manga.
 * We learn about Tonari's job.
 * Tonari tells Fushi the rumour about Pioran being a criminal who killed ten Yanome people.