is a Japanese manga series created by Michiaki Watanabe. The manga centers around a group of adventurers named Hamel, Flute, Raiel, Trom and Sizer. All 5 are attempting to travel North, to the "Continent of Demons" in order to avert a great disaster. Hamel plays a violin; his music convinces the monsters he faces to pay for their sins and commit suicide. Manga GanGan Comics ran the manga for approximately 10 years and 37 volumes were published. The manga combines a serious story with an irreverent tone; characters frequently shift between heroic and pathetic as the situation warrants. The manga also contains a myriad of unconventional running gags, such as Hamel's repeated attempts to force other members of the party into costume. Each chapter is referred to as a movement. Setting The setting resembles a medieval steampunk Europe judging by the architecture, the way people are dressed, technology and the local environment are shown in the background. The world in which the story takes place is a steampunk universe consisting of a mixture of significant futuristic technological advancement and medieval architecture. The main characters live in a world named "Europe" after the current continent of the same name. However, a map shown in the manga, shows little resemblance to the continent. History The world they are currently living is dominated by two races, the human race and the Mazoku race. The Mazoku are demonic creatures that once ruled the world, until they were all sealed away into a tiny box by a heroic angel 500 years ago. An age of prosperity and peace arose, and human civilization blossomed. Cities were built and nations were created. Science advanced in some, while magic became the source of power for others. One day, a woman by the name of Pandora accidentally opens the box containing all the demons, releasing them all from their imprisonment, darkening the skies and dooming human race to extinction at the hands of the Mazoku. In a desperate attempt to save humanity, the Demon King Chestra, who was also released from that box, was sealed again. Pandora's two children, who were fathered by Chestra as part of the deception used to trick her, were separated as infants; one was taken by the Mazoku, the other remained with her mother. In order to keep the world safe, the box that sealed the Demon King, now named Pandora's box, was sent