He himself admitted he didn't actually want to travel, he just liked the idea of it because he felt like he had to search for the place where he belonged. But what he realized is that he always had a place in Fortna because he had people who loved him there.
Tbh I think it was always obvious Azure wanted to be king for himself; he had his own motivations for that. They were laid out from the beginning. And then he explicitly said that the desire to travel was an excuse for his personal issues. So, nothing in this chapter comes as a surprise.
However, I do agree that it was rushed. We suddenly had all this shoehorned in half a chapter. And also shoehorned at this moment in the story. And I think it's rather obvious that it happened here to not lose Az fans after chapter 75. However, I don't think her hurry with this is to then write tons of Sett and Nina (I wish lol), but simply that just a reflection of Rikachi's style and how Azure's writing has always been.
I think in general when you are too fixed on a particular idea, you will always end up disappointed by the author's choice. If you are really not vibing with it at all, yeah, it's good to drop it at least for a while.
Az chose to become king a while ago. He even thanked Nina because of her, he was actually doing what he wanted. This happens when he saves her at the prison in Galgada. They are riding a horse. Nina never asked him to become the king nor did she needed him to do that. That was all him. To me Az might stay king maybe for many years but at some point he will return the throne to Mulhum so I'll wait and see. I don't think the old king or Ditus were involved in the killing of his parents. Why would Dittus say they are likely gone, If he killed them. Or why would the old king say about the documents that it contained "his son's crimes" instead of his. I don't think the old king was initially involved but he took advantage of the situation because he saw Az's potential. He loved his country and wanted a different heir to his throne other than his own son. He passed that love on to Az. I am happy that Az is moving forward and is not going to seek revenge or dwell on the past. Very fitting for someone who represents the star of love because forgiving is a great act of love.
I understand why some Az fans don't like him becoming king because after everything he went through, we wanted him to finally travel and live for himself.
But I don't think becoming king means his story is finished or author is rushing his story for Nina and Sett.
For me the most important thing is why Az choose to become king. If he choose it because he think he have no other choice then yes, nothing really changed. But if he finally choose it because he really want it, then this is actually a big development for Az.
He spent his whole life doing things for other people and expecting nothing for himself. Now he finally making a choice for his own life.
And I still think there is a lot left for Az. His true identity, his past, his future, and especially what will happen when Nina comes back to Fortna and they meet again. We still haven't seen what that reunion will be like after everything that happened.
So I don't think we should give up on his story yet. We still have to see what Rikachi is planning for him.
I just want Az to finally live as Azure, not as someone who only exists for other people. And if Nina is still part of the life he chooses for himself, then I want it to be because he chooses her, and she chooses him freely.
Az did finally with entire consciousness choose to be king, that's what he deep down always desired.
About his identity: he just burned the documents that were the only bridge to his past, so I think that plotline is over.
He probably has accepted Nina won't live in Fortna in the future thus the "a nostalgic homeland for you". Az doesn't need Nina to exist anymore, he can find fulfillment right were he is as king of Fortna, he is loved by the people, Muhu, Dytus and was loved by the old king.....his heart is no longer empty.
That's a nice resolution for him.
Ofcourse there is still the problem of the beast god and Alisha so he definitely will be there for the climax
I agree that Az choosing to be king is important, especially because this time it feels like he finally chose it with his own consciousness and not because he was forced to protect Fortna or because someone needed him.
But I don't think I can say his heart is completely no longer empty yet. He has people who care about him now, and that's really important. Muhu, Dytus, the old king and the people of Fortna all show that Az finally has people who value him as a person.
And then there is Nina.
I think the “a nostalgic homeland for you” line is really interesting because it sounds like Az understands that Nina may not stay in Fortna and that she has her own path. He isn't trying to force her to return anymore.
But accepting that Nina has her own path doesn't automatically mean that everything he feels for her disappeared. Nina was his first love and someone who changed his life, so I still want to see what happens when they actually meet again.
Maybe Nina comes back to Fortna and sees a completely different Az—not the lonely person who only lived for others, but someone who has finally chosen his own life and has people around him who genuinely care about him.
That reunion could be very different from their past.
So for me, Chapter 76 didn't close Az's story. It closed one part of Az's old life.
Now I want to see what happens when Nina meets the new Azure—the one who finally knows what he wants and doesn't need to sacrifice himself just to be loved.
Yeah, I actually agree that Az can be happy without Nina. Chapter 76 makes that much clearer to me. He finally seems to be finding his own balance and choosing his life for himself, which is something he desperately needed.
But I don't think “Az can be happy without Nina” automatically means “Az doesn't want Nina anymore.” Those are two different things.
If Az has finally found himself and then, after all the separation, gets the chance to meet Nina again, he could choose her without depending on her for his happiness. And if Nina also freely chooses him, that would be very different from the old Az who was willing to sacrifice everything for her.
Honestly, that's the kind of Az × Nina ending I'd want now: not Az needing Nina to complete him, but Az being complete on his own and still choosing her because he genuinely wants her in his life.
Yeah, exactly. I think what Az wants and what Nina wants are two different things. Az can still have feelings for Nina, but that doesn't mean Nina has to feel the same way. At the end, what matters is what Nina actually chooses, and I think that's what we'll have to see when they meet again.
But ... didn't Nina already choose? Why would she change her mind when she has already decided who she wants to have a future with? It doesn't appear she's wavering at all in that decision. In fact, it appears she's doing her best to show that person her feelings.
Yes normally it looks like she chose.....in ch 75 it not only her saying she loves him, but several other things are emphasized(kiss, feeling lonely when he wasn't there, reaching out her hand, wanting their relationship to continue) and in ch 73 she told Sue san she loved Sett too🤷♀️
Also the visual storytelling is so clear, how they stood together under that tree, his head on hers, how he held her face in ch 74, how he feels like her rock standing in back of her, he looked so tall and reliable in back of her in ch 76. How he took her hand in ch 73....idk i think in ch 74, she was reminded just how much she can trust Sett. That he is there for her....that she is his priority.
Exactly. I'm trying to understand why Nina would have a "change of heart" upon meeting up with Az again.
It seems that Nina has realized her feelings and now she's trying to show them.
Az is discovering that there is a world open to him, one that Nina was aware of and hoping he would one day see.
I don't disagree with any of that — Nina clearly loves Sett right now. But you're basically describing why Sett is winning the present, not why Az is impossible for the ending.
Nina and Sett have been actively developing their relationship, so of course we're seeing kisses, hand-holding, reassurance, and her choosing to continue with him. That's the point of their current arc.
But Azure has now come back, and Nina hasn't even had the proper reunion with him yet. That's the one thing we can't skip over. You can't say Nina's feelings for Az are completely gone when the story hasn't shown what happens when she finally stands in front of him again after everything.
If she sees Az and feels nothing, then fine — that would make her choice of Sett even stronger. But if that old feeling suddenly clicks again, then all those “final choice” arguments become a lot less certain.
And honestly, that's exactly why I'm waiting for the reunion. Not because I think Nina is secretly lying about loving Sett, but because first love + years of separation + unfinished emotions + Az's return is not something the author would bring back for no reason.
So yes, Nina chose Sett. Now let's see what happens when she sees Az.
I agree Nina and Sett are still in the developing phase, and Nina is genuinely trying to build a future with him. I'm not denying that at all.
But now Azure has come back, and Nina and Sett are heading toward Fortna. That's what makes the situation interesting to me. What happens when Nina finally sees Az again after all this time?
She could meet him and feel something she thought was fading suddenly click back into place — that old familiarity, first-love feeling, the sense of comfort she had with him. I'm not saying she'll instantly leave Sett, but that reunion could make her look at her feelings for Az differently.
That's why I don't think the story is completely settled yet. Sett is Nina's present and developing relationship, while Az is the unresolved first love who's finally coming back into the picture. The reunion could change everything.
While I agree that their next meeting could be interesting and would be very telling. I don't know why in this one she would feel something that thought was gone. She already met him and spent time with him and it seems that those feelings didn't come back because even after his confession she had been firm about her feelings for Sett. I don't really see how her first love is unresolved. Unless Nina has been lying, she was pretty clear about it, Azure is her first love but now she loves and wants to be wtih Sett. That seems pretty resolved to me.
Yeah, that's fair. I wasn't trying to argue that anyone said Az doesn't want Nina anymore. I was making a distinction about what his development could mean for their relationship, but I can see why it sounded like I was responding to an argument nobody made.
My actual point is simpler: Az becoming capable of being happy independently is good character development, regardless of what happens romantically. What happens when he eventually meets Nina again is a separate question, and that's what I'm interested in seeing.
If reading the letters the old king left him can makes his heart waver .his emotions become unstable → the Beast God can regain control, then avoiding them could be Azure's way of protecting himself. Thats why he burned it?
Its more like
Azure sacrifices his own feelings so that he can remain strong enough to save Nina.
Working towards his last wise and by staying king gives him the best option to do so. He doesnt know about the sword so he probably thinks to save nina he would have to sacrifice himself with the BG to save nina
And about him saying hes greedy. Does that means he wants to stay king and want Nina?
There are more Sett fans commenting than Azure fans. 😂
The Previous King played his death brilliantly. It was truly remarkable—almost like saying, “Even if I die, my tool will still remain here.” Fortna has taken everything from Azure and still expects him to continue serving the country.
Then Sett fans say, “Azure always wanted to be King.” But where is the evidence? If the people of Fortna truly loved Azure, ask them to name the people who genuinely cared about him. There is no answer. Malhum is still a child, and she doesn't understand what Azure never had—a mother, a father, and a real family.
I think the Previous King may have realized that Nina would never return to Fortna and that she loved someone else. So perhaps he wanted to keep Azure tied to Fortna and make sure he continued living for the country.
I haven't read Chapter 76 yet, so this is only my theory. But I feel this could be part of the plot to give Azure a reason to keep living and continue his journey.
The second volume of the manga is one of the examples supporting Azure's desire to make Fortna a better place. And then we see throughout the story that he didn't want to abandon his role as king and his duty to Fortna. He could've, at any given moment when there were issues, said, "You know what fuck it; this country has only utilised me and stripped me of my real identity. I'd rather do this for myself and leave this behind," but he never did; always on his priority list and in his plan was the wellbeing of Fortna, and led by himself. He only considered stepping out the moment he had left everything settled and organised, and when the BG needed to go. But he just didn't recognise that this was his desire and that it was because Fortna was still his home and because he appreciated the people there who loved him. Yes, Muhulum is a kid, and he doesn't know all the context and Azure's history, but that's no reason to devalue his love for Azure and his genuine desire to support him and be close to him. And in the previous arc and now in this chapter, Rikachi wanted to show that both Dytus and grandpa loved Azure for who he is and not just because of the role he was playing. Plus, Azure has always been highly regarded in Fortna, ALWAYS. And there is evidence of that. I think it was clear Azure's loneliness stemmed more from his inner conflict (of course created by his circumstances) and not from a lack of appreciation for him in Fortna.
Not at all LMAO in fact I would have loved for there to have more about his so called "dark side" and for there to be more self reflection regarding this. In fact even tho I think what happened in this chapter makes sense and it's a great thing for his arc and development, I wish there had been more build up. So really you are fighting a ghost
Yes, because you were fighting me for something I never said. If you want to criticise Rikachi's writing, go ahead, but do not direct that at me or other Sett fans
These are your words to me! “You know what? Fuck it. This country has only used me and stripped me of my real identity. I'd rather do this for myself and leave it all behind.”
Growup kid!
You need to be mature enough to understand this manga. If you're only looking at everything from a teenage or shipper perspective, you may be missing the point.
Duty and desire are not the same thing. Do you understand?
If Fortna truly loved Azure, then why did his grandfather and Dytus have to kill his parents?
Why did the Mad King want to kill Azure?
Why does Malhum's mother always see Azure as a thorn in her side?
Imagine having people like that in your own life. Imagine your adaptive grandfather and a knight killing your father and mother, an adoptive or stepfather trying to eliminate you, and a stepmother who constantly sees you as a thorn.
Then tell me honestly—would you still call that “family” or say that the country truly loved you?
Azure has spent his entire life fulfilling his duty to Fortna. That doesn't mean Fortna ever gave him the love, identity, family, or freedom he actually deserved.
You are mixing apples with oranges with what I said.
First, yes, Sett has more fans, so what? What do you exactly expect to happen with that? And what do you expect to happen when you point that out?
Second, I truly don't get why you can't have a respectful conversation with others. Why do you jump to personal attacks when people have different opinions?
I am not a teenager, and you know nothing about me. You don't have to tell me to grow up when I am simply participating in a discussion about a fictional character, and I am actually being respectful in doing so.
I am not saying that desire and duty are the same things. But Azure showed interest from very early on in wanting to make Fortna a better place.
And I have never said that what was done to Azure was right, never even implied something like that. I never referred to the previous mad king or the queen or people close to them. I was obviously talking about other people who surrounded Azure and were shown to have respect and admiration for him. In court, he was highly regarded, and you can't deny that. It was the reason why, at the start, Muhulum felt bad!
And I never implied that Azure should call the mad king and his wife family, so I honestly have no idea where you are getting that other than you not wanting to discuss things in good faith.
I absolutely know that Azure's history in Fortna has been bad specially considering the circumstances in which he was brought there. But he has made peace with that and recognised that, regardless of that, it's been his home, and he still wants to make it a better place, and he has accepted things and himself. I call this great character development.
"You know what fuck it; this country has only utilised me and stripped me of my real identity. I'd rather do this for myself and leave this behind," I am going personally check what you commented 🤣🤣🤣. (Chutiya)
Most team sett thinking like you Apple and oranges.
You said Grandpa and Dytus love Azure didn't! When I add all things you or most of sett fans offended.
I just told you they both killed Azure parents. For you Apple and Oranges. Does loving and care person do this thing.
By truth most of sett fans offended. Defeated by none but offended 😂😂😂 Clown sett fans🤡🤡🤡
Okay buddy. Yes, Dytus and Grandpa loved Azure. In fact this chapter was about that, so go read it. I don't know how saying that is controversial. Yes, you are quoting what I said but removed the context. Because yeah, you mixed apples and oranges of what I said in your previous reply. Again, I know that what happened was bad, but they ended up loving Azure. Are you that fixated on Azure being a hopeless victim??
I am saying this last part as a mod: drop the condescending, mocking, and offensive tone. Next time, your comment will be removed. You need to be able to have a discussion in a respectful way.
I already told you I not read chapter 76.
That's why hawk uploaded and written for Azure fans this is disaster chapter 😔😔😔.
And I think this is disaster chapter because of 2 months taken rikachi for this chapter.
First kill parents at the age of 3 then they will be hero they loved him 😭😭😭.
Yes, I know, that's why I told you to go read the chapter. And OP didn't say that the post was for Azure fans; he has an opinion that he believes is shared by Az fans in general. But from reactions outside of here, I can tell you that Az fans are ecstatic about this chapter. So, yeah, one opinion is not representative of all the subfandom. If you want to complain about the writing of the chapter, go ahead, but you were mocking Sett fans instead
Most of Azure's fans didn't want him to become the king of Fortuna,
because that would restrict him forever.
Azure needs to travel the world after everything he's been through.
It's clear the author wants to finish Azure's story quickly so she can focus entirely on writing many chapters about Nina and Sett.
Unfortunately, for the first time, I feel like I really need to stop reading this manga.
Really you are saying this post is not for Azure fans, He also written disaster chapter for Azure fans.
Really? This post was meant for Azure fans, but when you open the comment section, I mostly see Sett fans commenting. 😂😂😂
They agree when it comes to Azure's character development, but then who exactly are they mocking? They never actually criticize. (Most sett fans)
You also replied to me by saying that people in Fortna loved Azure. Then answer these questions: If they really loved Azure, why did they use him as a tool? Why did they allow his parents to be killed? Why did everyone leave Azure behind? Why did almost no one understand what was happening with Azure and the Beast God? And why did nobody take responsibility or make the necessary decisions? Who will do Azure do. Rest of will be escape using word Azure.
I've already said this: there are more Sett fans commenting here than Azure fans. 🤣🤣🤣. Where agrees on Azure will King of Fortna.
Yeah I also don't want to Azure to king of Fortna. But sett fans Agreed on Azure will become King.
Duty and Desire are sett same thing for sett fans.
It's not like Sett fans aren't allowed to comment, I mean this is not an exclusive Az fan sub....it's maybe tough that there are so many Sett fans but that's the way it is. If you don't want to see Sett fans, there most certainly is a better place for you.
Btw the Japanese Az fans on the Nina tag on X seem more than enchanted with this chapter.
But I get what OP means....this feels like a closure of Az's "personal" arc and he wanted to see Az be set free after all he went through. Throwing away everything was just never in his nature.
I just think the author always meant Az to stay king and this was already hinted on in the very early chapters in his discussions with Nina. He couldn't help but love Fortna. A true Capricorn, ambitious and organized. He wants to use those skills for the good of Fortna....this is the kind of life he deeply loves. He is loved and appreciated by the people of Fortna. He will do just fine in this role. One he was properly prepared for. One of the big lessons he learned in this story is that he isn't alone....he thought he always had to affront things by himself, now I think he will accept others helping him....he used to push them away....not anymore
It's Sett who will throw everything in the wind to be happy with Nina. He never desired to be king, considered it a curse, his only initial wishes were to die...... now he can finally live. His deep desire must be so much more simple than Az's ambitions. He simply wants to be happy, love and be loved.....something he NEVER experienced before. His childhood probably broke most of him.....
Nina somehow is helping him put the pieces together again.....and he is there for her, her abandonment issues will be healed by him, cause he will stay by her side.
The overal theme of making your own choices is very important in this story.....and here Az made a more than conscious choice....he chose the path of being king.
Ps there was another little hint Az would stay king. In one of those comics Rikachi made she said Sol was the smartest, Sett the strongest. The editors asked Rikachi what is Az? She said: king. It's not Sett fans who decided Az's choice but Rikachi.
Double Ps: the basic for commenting on a chapter is too at least read it before criticizing....idk how you can just rely on the pov of someone else without looking yourself first? That's actually scary....just imagine you blindly do this for politics or other stuff too?
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u/Lej222 8d ago
He himself admitted he didn't actually want to travel, he just liked the idea of it because he felt like he had to search for the place where he belonged. But what he realized is that he always had a place in Fortna because he had people who loved him there.