Editing Talk:Mushoku Tensei Names and Terminology (section)

== Magic or Demon ==

Should magic race/continent be considered the official translation over demon race/continent.
If so it should be added to the terminology page.
I will do the conversion of the chapters once it is added.
--[[User:Trev lite|Trev lite]] ([[User talk:Trev lite|talk]]) 22:41, 4 August 2014 (CDT)

Considering the author's background and Rudeus' background, I would wager that Demon Continent and Demon Race are closer to the intended meaning. [[User:Vanant|Vanant]] ([[User talk:Vanant|talk]]) 01:24, 5 August 2014 (CDT)

I'm of the same opinion and though I was using Magic to match the stuff up when I started on volume 3 with Silent, I've hesitated over it a lot (which is why it's edited as Demon on the map chapters). I think Demon makes the most sense... though in theory both work... There's always them Magic Lord/Kings after all.. though you don't hear about them often. I'll leave this one to someone else to decide. Magic Lord/King vs Demon Lord/King which makes more sense. --[[User:Dark Kaito|Dark Kaito]] ([[User talk:Dark Kaito|talk]]) 01:43, 5 August 2014 (CDT)

How does the issue of the Magic/Demon race/continent/language (Roxy as an example) compare to the issue of the Demon/Devil King/Emperor/God (Badigadi and Laplace as an example)?
Also is there a difference in kanji between Demon God (Laplace), Demon God (Language) and Demon God (of mythology)?
--[[User:Trev lite|Trev lite]] ([[User talk:Trev lite|talk]]) 01:50, 5 August 2014 (CDT)

Demon King/Lord are preference based Vanant and I use different ones but they refer to local region lords/kings in Demon Continent (Mao/Maou). Demon God(Majin) is a title similar to Dragon God/Human God/Sea God/Beast God, those are limited to one being, and at least in one case are known to be titles passed down by some unknown standard. The only Demon God ever specifically mentioned is Laplace. Though the way it is in the context is that he "inherited" that when he was born. The more confusing one is Kishirika Kishirisu, she uses Makai Mikado which would be Demon/Underworld/Hell Emperor/Empress, about the only case of that usage.  Ma = Demon/Magic, the Demon/Magic God = Majin, all the languages except human language, are referred to by their Gods language, IE Demon God Language, Beast God Language, Fighting God Language, Sea God Language, only human language isn't referred to as Human God Language. Devil is generally only used when making one out to be evil or more evil for some purpose. Humans call the Supard races devils/demons (akuma), though it can have a similar meaning to Demon Race. Akuma(Evil Demon/Devil) vs Mazoku (Demon Race) --[[User:Dark Kaito|Dark Kaito]] ([[User talk:Dark Kaito|talk]]) 02:04, 5 August 2014 (CDT)

Also, throwing down some situations where you wouldn't change Magic: Magic Armor, Magic Item, Magic Tool, Magic Circle/Formation, Magic Crystal, Magic Stone, Magic Power, Magic Disturber and general references to magic as magic, like fire magic, etc.. --[[User:Dark Kaito|Dark Kaito]] ([[User talk:Dark Kaito|talk]]) 02:11, 5 August 2014 (CDT)

魔王、魔界、魔大陸、魔石 etc. are all of 'ma'. The reason I translate some as 'demon' and some as 'magic' is simply because this novel series is heavily influenced by rpgs.

In RPGs, 魔王(lit. 'ma' king) are always Demon King or Demon Lord in English versions.

In RPGs, 魔界(lit. 'ma' realm) is always Demon World or Demon Realm in English versions.

In RPGs, 魔力(lit. 'ma' power) is always mana or prana or MP.

Basically how I do it is look at the context and description of the place/item/whatever and decide if it would be 'Magic' or 'Demon' in an rpg. As you can see above, Kaito does the same, where he considers the context, and decides if it's a strict reference to 'magic', or if it's a general 'ma'(in which case you'd consider precedent i.e. RPGs).

For this reason, the 魔族 are almost undoubtedly 'demon race' because they live on the 魔大陸 which is compared to the 魔界 by Rudy. Incidentally, the 魔大陸 is lorded over by a bunch of 魔王, meaning that it's almost undeniably intended to be Demon Race living on the Demon Continent, lorded over by Demon Kings(Lord is less literally, but absolutely correct in light of RPGs) and a Great Empress of the Demon Realm.

It's for this reason, for example, that  迷宮(labyrinth) is translated as dungeon (despite definitely meaning 'labyrinth' and not 'dungeon' at all).

Edit: I think the main reason that there's even a discussion is because SilentWolfie was too devout a believer, and didn't want to liken Roxy to a demon, but yeah.

And yes, as Kaito mentions, the Japanese makes a clear distinction between 悪魔(devil/akuma, and what they call the Supeld) and the 魔族(demon race/demon clans).

[[User:Vanant|Vanant]] ([[User talk:Vanant|talk]]) 09:35, 5 August 2014 (CDT)