A gag character turns out to be so, so much more in Witch Watch chapter 178 as Shiranui finally reveals his tragic backstory. Plus, there’s even some new information on the elusive creator of the equally opaque Uron Mirage! It’s all happening at once!

Last month, I outlined the fact that Witch Watch has one tiny problem right now: little Nico. By turning Nico back into a child, Kenta Shinohara has effectively pressed the reset button on one of the manga’s biggest storylines and completely upset the variety in tone that had kept things fresh up until this point, even if some recent chapters have bucked the trend. He seems to have realised his mistake, though, as things finally get moving again this week. I take absolutely no credit for that, but suffice it to say that I’m very happy.

In true Witch Watch fashion, chapter 178’s plot progression comes unexpectedly and only after it lulls the reader into a false sense of security. This is because the story starts out by centering on Shiranui: Moi and Kanshi’s new homeroom teacher who has only functioned as a parody of edgelord shonen characters up until this point. Yet just as you think he’s about to make another joke about his painful past, he spills the beans in a way that’s actually relevant to the story.

Two things come to light in Witch Watch chapter 178: one, that Shiranui both knew and fought alongside Moi and Nico’s parents back when he was younger, and two, that Uron Mirage is partially based on the stories he used to tell back in college. As part of this second point, Shinohara even gives us our best look yet at the series’ enigmatic author Moko Utakata, which feels significant. She did technically first appear without her mask in chapter 121, but there it was only implied who she was instead of being stated outright.

Regardless, Shiranui’s relationship with the main characters’ parents definitely proves the most important in terms of the overall plot. Once again, this is because of two reasons: one, because he receives a new prophecy from Nico’s mother that says the warlocks will move again once Nico has been restored to her original self, and two, because the story of how he first met the parents is apparently so compelling that Shinohara feels the need to explore it fully. That’s right, we’re getting a flashback arc!

To be honest, the idea of a flashback arc doesn’t excite me that much, but I am excited by the implications of the latest prophecy. Shinohara surely wouldn’t tease a continuation of the battle against the warlocks without actually intending to follow up on it, would he? Either way, it seems like the recent regressive formula of baby Nico-focused antics is well and truly dead, which can only be a good thing in my opinion.

You can read Witch Watch chapter 178 for free via VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump.