Pochita’s actions in Chainsaw Man chapter 174 prove his loyalty to Denji even now

With the recent release of Chainsaw Man chapter 174, fans witnessed mangaka Tatsuki Fujimoto take a different approach by focusing on other characters instead of Pochita for the majority of the issue. Nevertheless, the chapter concluded with a final panel that revealed Pochita’s actions during this period, which involved erasing four different Devils.

In Chainsaw Man chapter 174, it was revealed that the Mouth Devil, the Snow Devil, the Octopus Devil, and the Bitterness Devil were the devils that Pochita had consumed, with the Mouth Devil being the last one. This was suggested by the fact that after consuming the Mouth Devil, Pochita and others lost their mouths, making it impossible for him to consume any other devils.

Despite appearing to be random targets in Chainsaw Man chapter 174, each of Pochita’s victims holds great significance and can be linked to traumatic events in Denji’s life throughout the series. This further illustrates Pochita’s unwavering devotion to Denji, as he continues to protect and strive for a better future for him.

Chapter 174: Pochita’s Selfless Mission to Improve Denji’s World

As previously stated, the four Devils that Pochita eliminates in chapter 174 of Chainsaw Man each embody a concept that is connected to Denji’s traumatic experiences. The most prominent of these is the Mouth Devil, which is the focus of the chapter’s events. Because Denji serves as Pochita’s vessel, he is constantly sought after by others who wish to harness Pochita’s ability to erase.

Pochita’s erasure of the Mouth Devil guarantees that Denji will not be pursued by those who seek to exploit him for their own benefit, such as Public Safety and the Japanese government. Although Pochita may not fully comprehend the potential consequences of his actions, his intentions and motivations are evident.

The Snow Devil also played a significant role in Denji and Aki Hayakawa’s final battle in Chainsaw Man chapter 174, highlighting their connection. Although Aki saw their fight as a mere snowball fight, the connection between them was evident to readers, likely intended by Fujimoto. It is possible that Pochita, being aware of Aki’s thoughts, is erasing the Snow Devil due to its association with a traumatic moment for Denji.

The Bitterness Devil, while not as noticeable as the Mouth Devil, shares a distinct connection. Denji’s initial drive stemmed from his longing to experience different flavors, particularly those that were financially out of reach such as sweet and umami flavors. As sweet is often considered the opposite of bitter, Pochita’s goal is to create a world where Denji’s only option is to indulge in sweetness.

The Bitterness Devil’s appearance in Chapter 174 could also be seen as a reference to Denji’s aversion to coffee during the Bomb Girl arc, when Reze forced him to try it. Although he didn’t explicitly state it was bitter, it was evident that he disliked the taste. This event also alludes to his kiss with Himeno, in which he tasted bitter vomit after she threw up in his mouth. Furthermore, Makima remedied this by giving him a sweet lollipop, further highlighting the connection.

Finally, there are various interpretations of the Octopus Devil, but the most probable and evident one is its representation of Hirofumi Yoshida’s influence on Denji’s recent life. Yoshida served as the embodiment of Public Safety in Denji’s life and often clashed with him and his wants. In light of this, it is apparent that Pochita is acknowledging the Devils who caused trauma for Denji and striving to eliminate them from the world in order to improve his life.