Tanya executes the Devil’s Protocol.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Carlo Zen/Chika Tojo
Translation/Adaptation: Emily Balistrieri
What They Say
When the Republican Army, led by Lieutenant Colonel Vianto, attacks the imperial supply base of Arene, the Empire’s top brass orders the 203rd to carry out an operation that Tanya herself proposed back in war college—the “Devil’s Protocol.” But what exactly are the fearsome contents of this ominously named plan…?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Volume 13 opens with a brief chapter that wraps up the “shovel raid” arc. Although there’s not much action, it’s full of character development, especially for Lieutenant Grantz. I appreciate how the pages show him digesting the previous night’s events and the veterans’ appraisal of their newbies. These elements, which were glossed over in the novel and totally absent in the anime, do a terrific job of further endearing our characters before we move on to the next arc: Ordeal of Fire.
Lieutenant Colonel Vianto has been aiming to bring down the Empire by stirring up Republican sympathizers in the Imperial hub of Arene, and this arc begins by explaining why the situation is so problematic for the Imperial Army with a flashback to a War College discussion. The exchange lays out the particular dilemma caused by urban warfare and also lends voice to prevailing moral attitudes.
Vianto is relying on International Law to keep the Empire’s hands tied. In other words, he intentionally chose Arene that its civilian population might serve as his shield. However, using a twist of logic, Tanya finds a means to make urban warfare legal, at least in theory. Like her other proposals, Tanya never intends to carry it out herself. She actually hopes her out-of-the-box idea will land her a position as a staff officer. But when the timeline switches back to the present, the joke is once again on her when General Staff gives her orders to execute her own twisted plan.
The setting then shifts to Arene and the commencement of fire. After that, it’s an intense back-and-forth between Imperial and Republican forces. Although Tanya’s mages are elites, Vianto’s aren’t pushovers. Not to mention, they’ve taken measures within Arene to stack things in their favor. The action in some wide-view illustrations is difficult to figure out; with characters the size of ants and everything drawn in black and white, it’s difficult to tell at first glance what’s happening. That aside, Tojo-sensei does an excellent job keeping the clash interesting and allowing individual personalities to shine through. Commander Neumann is especially hilarious as his company’s particular engagement devolves into a contest of which side can throw the most trash at the other.
Extras include world map, battle log thus far, character introductions, country profiles, and detailed glossary of terms between chapters. Unfortunately, the font on the character introductions and country profiles is so small (4 point? 3 point?) that reading it feels like an eye exam.
In Summary
A little bit of everything in this volume. Lieutenant Grantz contemplates his first taste of war; Tanya and her classmates debate the ethics of urban warfare in a War College flashback; then it’s back to the heat of battle as the 203rd takes on Republican mages. Character interactions are delightful, and although some battle illustrations are difficult to follow, Tojo-sensei does an excellent job of keeping it exciting.
Content Grade: A+
Art Grade: A+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 15+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: February 23rd, 2021
MSRP: $13.000
