After ears, Chainsaw Man erases yet another Key organ in chapter 174

Modified Aug 13, 2024 19:30 GMT

Chainsaw Man erases mouths (Image via MAPPA)

Chainsaw Man chapter 174 released on August 13, 2024 and was titled "Ayyy, Aging." The chapter mainly focused on revealing the Public Safety Department's plan to sacrifice numerous children in a deal to have the Primordial Aging Devil voluntarily erased by Chainsaw Man.

Although the entire chapter focused on discussions between Fumiko and the Japanese government higher-ups, it eventually boiled down to the Hero of Hell sealing his own ability by erasing the concept of "mouths."

Given that past chapters had established the possibility of Pochita throwing up the devil via his mouth, it's possible that he voluntarily sought out the Mouth Devil and erased his most prized ability.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man manga.

Chainsaw Man chapter 174: Mouth Devil is erased

Chainisaw Man as shown in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

The events of chapter 173 fueled theories about the potential reasoning behind the Public Safety Department sending the Ear Devil, only for it to be consumed by the Hero of Hell, knowing that any devil eaten by him and its associated concept would be completely erased.

Chapter 173 revealed several things, including the fact that the Ear Devil’s consumption was a well-planned maneuver by the Public Safety Department to test Pochita's powers.

While many fans expected the Hero of Hell’s consumption to escalate in subsequent chapters, chapter 173 shifted the focus with the entry of the now-identified primordial "Aging Devil."

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In this chapter, the Hero of Hell was constrained and forced to throw up the Ear Devil, restoring the existence of ears. However, Chainsaw Man chapter 174 revealed that the Hero of Hell had somehow stumbled upon the Mouth Devil and consumed it, erasing the existence of mouths.

The chapter also revealed that the erasure of ears didn't stop the process of hearing and the functions of radios or phones. But it rendered the concept of "ears" into something unknown, making items like ear picks redundant and useless.

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Although many fans might think that it serves little purpose, as "speaking" can still be carried out, it's now likely that the concepts of "ingestion," "chewing" and "speaking" will be completely erased due to their direct association with the mouth.

It's expected that the Public Safety Department will somehow continue to communicate. But their primary mission of having the Aging Devil devoured by the Hero of Hell will be hindered due to Pochita now having no mouth.

In the very last panels, the Hero of Hell is shown standing in an alleyway while holding a mangled "Mouth Devil," with his own mouth completely erased.

Final Thoughts

The reason behind the Hero of Hell encountering the Mouth Devil is not yet known. But it's possible that Pochita, the true consciousness of the Hero of Hell, voluntarily hunted this devil to lock his own power, making it impossible for him to throw up and restore other devils.

This development puts the Devil Hunter's plan in jeopardy, as the primary goal of having Pochita ingest the Aging Devil is now "locked" due to the Hero of Hell being practically unable to erase anything. Chapter 175 releases on August 20, 2024.