Laughing Under the Clouds, Volume 2

Laughing Under the Clouds, Volume 2 by Karakarakemuri is published by TOKYOPOP, Incorporated and was released on July 6, 2021. This edition, written in English and spanning 192 pages, continues the story set in the early Meiji era, a time marked by civil unrest and the decline of the samurai way of life. As crime rates soar and prisons overflow, the government constructs Gokumonjo, an inescapable prison located in the center of Lake Biwa. The narrative follows the Kumo family, who are tasked with transporting criminals to this new facility, raising questions about the true nature of Gokumonjo.

In this volume, the Kumo family’s tranquility is disrupted by a notorious murderer who brings alarming news of an ancient calamity known as Orochi. As Soramaru, one of the Kumo brothers, begins to uncover secrets kept by his elder brother Tenka, he seeks external help to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Tenka finds himself approached by various forces interested in his knowledge of this ancient evil. The story delves into themes of fantasy, historical fiction, and the occult, as the brothers navigate the complexities of their world and the looming threat of Orochi’s vessel.