by The 42nd episode of the TV anime “The Apothecary Diaries”, “Hozuki”, will be broadcast on May 9, 2025. The scene where Jinshi gets angry became a hot topic on the internet for being “too beautiful.”
*Due to the nature of this theme, the following text contains descriptions that may contain “spoilers” for those who have not yet watched the work. Please be careful when reading.
“The Apothecary Diaries” is a harem mystery-solving entertainment based on the novel by Natsu Hinata. It has sold over 38 million copies and is currently published by Hero Bunko. It is also being adapted into a comic in Big Gangan and Sunday GX. Set in the medieval Orient, it depicts the story of Nekoneko, a young girl who works as a “poison taster” and solves various complex cases that occur in the palace one after another.
When the first season of the TV anime began airing in October 2023, it was consistently ranked high in the viewing rankings on various distribution platforms, and it became a hot topic, winning a special award at the “TVer Awards 2023”. In the 41st episode aired last week, it was revealed that Suirei and Shisui are sisters. On social media, there were topics such as “Suirei and Shisui are sisters!?”, “Shisui was a spy…” and “The dots are starting to connect, and I can’t stop being excited.”
In episode 42, 10 days have passed since we learned where Nekoneko is. A worried Jinshi receives information about the eunuch who disappeared with Nekoneko.
Hearing that the eunuch was praying at the northern cemetery where those seduced by the previous emperor and died in the harem are buried, Jinshi also went there and found the figure of Midori. Jinshi sensed the scent of “alcohol” that Nekoneko had previously given him.
He tries to get information from her, but after seeing Jinshi, Miyuki remembers her past and says, “Why is someone like you acting like an eunuch?” When he is arrested, he drinks poison and tries to kill himself. Jinshi follows the path of the female attendant in the tomb where Miyuki is praying and expects it to lead to Consort Loulan, so he goes to the Pomegranate Palace, where she is. He realizes that Consort Loulan is a fake because there are only six of the seven maids, and there is an unfamiliar mole on Consort Loulan’s face.
Jinshi grabs the fake Consort Loulan’s face and asks, “Where did Loulan go?” The force of his actions caused a stir on social media, with comments such as, “Here comes Jinshi in a fit of rage!” “His angry expression is too beautiful…!” and “Jinshi’s fierce force is insane.” Despite being questioned by Jinshi, the maids had not heard anything from the real Consort Loulan. “She won’t be coming back” was all they could get.
Meanwhile, word that Nekoneko is missing reaches her biological father, Rakan. Rakan sends his adopted son, Rahan, to Jinshi to save her. Rahan seems just as intelligent as Rakan. On social media, comments such as “Another tough character has appeared,” “He seems shady but competent!” and “Toyonaga Toshiyuki’s voice is the perfect fit for this character” were seen. Episode 42, “Hozuki,” is streaming for free on ABEMA.
