At this point in time, there is no official English translation available for “Atashi Mary-san…”. However, I believe that it is only a matter of time before an English version is released, possibly followed by an anime adaptation.
Before delving into the manga itself, it’s important to understand the urban horror legend surrounding Mary. The story goes like this: Before a girl moves to a new home, she decides to discard an old doll named Mary. That same night, the girl receives a series of unsettling phone calls. Each time, the caller identifies herself as Mary, claiming to be in various locations closer and closer to the girl’s home. Eventually, the calls reach a chilling climax when Mary declares she’s right in front of the house. Despite her fear, the girl bravely opens the door to investigate, only to find nobody is outside. Convinced it was just a prank, she breathes a sigh of relief, until the phone rings once more with a bone-chilling revelation: ‘I’m Mary. I am right behind you.’
However, this manga takes a comedic twist as Mary finds herself inexplicably transported to another world. What’s even more surprising is her reliance on the main character, Hirokazu Naibara, for advice in another world, and she will aim to vanquish the demon king.
Atashi Mary-san. Ima Isekai ni Iruno, Episode 1. (Translation: “It’s Demon King.” A goblin answers after Mary asks who the final boss is.)
Hirokazu left his hometown in Miyagi to move to Saitama prefecture in order to attend a university in Tokyo. Shortly after the relocation, he receives several calls from an unknown number, each time hearing a girl’s voice claiming, “I am Mary, I am at the garbage dump right now. I am your discarded doll.” Hirokazu assumes someone stole his information from his trash along with the discarded doll and promptly hangs up. However, the girl persists in calling him, each time seemingly getting closer to his location. Additionally, he can hear the sound of a knife coming from the phone.
The next day, he receives another call from her, stating, “I am Mary, right now, I am right in front of your room…” Before he can react, strange prayers echo from outside the apartment… and the next time he receives a phone call, she claims to be in another world.
Despite the unsettling encounters, Hirokazu continues to receive calls from Mary, offering her advice on fighting monsters and improving her situation. Meanwhile, he encounters various strange phenomena in his new life, but he remains unfazed by any impending terror. On the contrary, his mind remains unaffected, even when he sees something unusual, as he dismisses it as a stress-induced hallucination. As for Mary, her various klutzy qualities often land her in trouble in another world. I particularly admire the artwork in this manga. Mary’s character design is incredibly charming, and the illustrations effectively convey the comedic and eerie elements of the story.
(*1) Please note that as there is currently no official English version of this manga available, the translated title provided here is unofficial.
Atashi Mary-san. Ima Isekai ni Iruno. (あたしメリーさん。いま異世界にいるの。）- I am Mary. I am in Another World now. : Original story by Ichiro Sasaki, Manga by Saho, the original character design by Tsubame Nozomi
