But you didn't have to cut me off

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing

And I don't even need your love

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough

I got DMed about an old theory I brought up years ago in passing (why don't you guys just comment????):

Who is Imina's father? And why is it everyone's favorite ruler?

Now, by Writing Logic or Tropes, IE Chekhov's Gun, and after Volume 11, her father has greater odds of being the Elf King given all his children, statistically speaking. That and it's confirmed her daddy is still around, ergo we know he's old and still around (Imina being half elf and appearing older than Zesshi based on description would imply her father still being around implies her elf heritage is paternal as Imina would be far older than the human life span if Zesshi looks younger than Imina but is older than old geezers).

Superficially Imina and Zesshi both are pale.... I guess? Doesn't really matter much though.

But did you know the Nips proposed this theory based on another factor rather than just tropes and Genius Kugumbo?

Did you know Imina could be a Japanese word depending on a certain reading?

Dun Dun Duuuuuuuun

Imina 意味な

In English it would grammatically be 'Non Meaning' or 'Meaningless' in this context (Japan loves its homophones). Remember in the New World, names don't autotranslate all the time. Maru confirmed Momonga doesn't autotranslate for example as Flying Squirrel. So, why would Imina have a Japanese name? And also Our 2020 President calls his children trash routinely

Well some people ask why HeKkeran's last name is Termite. Or Climb's name is Climb. Or why Theocracy names tend to be French/Romanti (there's another theory about that urgggggg).

Here's the Jap Theory train of thought for Imina at least:

Elf King refers to children as 'trash'

Perhaps long ago a certain purple haired baby girl was born and they learn she had a Talent.

Elf King becomes curious, even weaklings can have Talents that are good, like that Anti illusion Eye Talent.

He sees said Talent, and upset at his time being wasted gave his child a name to reflect his mood.

Now Imina's character sheet implies she had a traumatic experience in water with a monster. Likewise, Elf King did

appear to note 'special abilities' as worth note, even if overall power was not to his standard.

What if Elf King literally wanted to see her sink or swim by forcing her to face a water monster when she only vaguely understood her Talent? Or something like that. There are many variations to this idea. It's not of character for him either:

That being the case, the cleanest way to do it would be to push the weakling

off from here. The most important thing was that the extreme circumstances

of the fall might awaken the power of the weakling.

He wanted to say that it would be a good idea, but unfortunately, the

weakling opened its mouth before he could do so.

[V11]

There is a Crescent Lake I guess near the Elven Capital? It's not implausible I guess?

That begs the question though, what is the Elf King's heritage then?

IF we just suppose Imina is connected to him in some way in at least at a simple combination of the above possibilities, that would imply there really is some Japanese knowledge in the Elf Kingdom (supposing Imina didn't just come up with a false name and only dropped her last name). Culturally that would make Imina a Princess, but given Elf King is well... you know, that doesn't really mean much. Still, if there really is asian influence among the Elves ( say actual knowledge of Asian Earth languages at least - Slaine had Tenbu's Eruya have actual kanji on him despite few in Slaine seeming aware of it via WN canon at least). It's possible then Imina may not have given up her family name.

Fun fact, 'royalty' or noble families in Japanese history did not always have Family names. Imma copy pasta this since I'm lazy right now.

What is the Japanese Imperial Family’s last name?

Unlike many European royal families (e.g., the Windsors), the Japanese Imperial Family has no surname but uses childhood

appellations called no-miya, granted by the Emperor in childhood. Each person born into the Imperial Family is also

given a personal name. When a woman marries into the family, she loses her last name. In many instances, she is known by

a feminized version of her husband’s first name. Thus, Princess Kiko, the wife of Prince Akishino, is sometimes known as

Princess Akishino. The situation is analogous to that in the United Kingdom where, for example, the wife of Prince

Michael of Kent is known as Princess Michael.

-the internet, maybe.

This is mostly accurate at least. Basically Head of State clan in Japan has special name rules.

That story doesn't seem so made up now right? I was serious there is actually a lot of thought behind Elf King = Imina's father and someone of Japanese descent. It's fine if you dont' see it (to be honest I have my doubts too since LOL Maru's inconsistencies). Some people say Player but he strikes me as a NPC more, his contempt, his amorality, etc. If he's like Nazarick NPCs, anyone not 'guild affiliated' wouldn't register in his mind as anything special. He really only wants descendants to conquer the world. Demiurge at least displayed a desire to investigate NPC descendants as well.

From a Japanese standpoint, girl names can end with NA. It's not as common as say KO (SlimeKo in Mass for the Dead) but it used to be common. If Elf King gave Imina her name, then 意味菜 or 意味奈 to match traditional girl names. It's a pun basically. It's written differently but still read Imina or Meaningless. So if Elf King is a huge language snob he could have done it on purpose since he's so refined and these peasants don't know Japanese; they won't know how to write it and don't speak Japanese so in their ignorance it sounds like the insult variant.

Or so I'm told.... We're getting pretty big brain right now.

So why does this theory exist?

Well... Elf King is quite strong so him having Japanese Player heritage (or even being a cunt Player or some NPC) was always a popular idea to explain his really noticeable power and Slaine's inability to just off him like Gazef (barring Dragon Lord politics). Thus all this language nonsense could be seen as subtle hints by Maruyama of the truth. In terms of tropes ( Overlord loves it's tropes) Elves being elitist or being good bowmen or being 'more cultured' is very common in the genre. Elves and genre equivalents culturally had always been Asian inspired somewhat (after bastardizing Tolkien's Elves and races for stereotypes).

"But Ziggy Muh Weeaboo samurai"

Contrary to popular belief, for a long time samurai were actually mainly bowmen. Funny how culture romanticizes certain weapons over what was 'meta'. I mean most people in Europe used spears, javelins, or bows too... Swords were just bitch ass sideweapons the handguns of medieval war basically. Japan was similar. So it's not impossible there is a connection. Could just be an Elf = Ranger favored race like Dwarves and smithing though.

That's probably more likely to be honest. Don't give Hack O' Yama too much credit.

Still it could all be a misunderstanding as well. In Japan at least, Imina can also mean your 'name in life' or the name that gets forgotten upon your 'death', 諱. Basically Imina could have misunderstood some old story about Japanese culture, and literally thought you changed your name to IMINA. Derp. Imina is a CLASSIFICATION not an actually new name, you call the name you stop using your IMINA name, not that it changes to Imina. Emperor's in Japan still follow Imina rules. You never use an Emperor's real name and even on death he must be referred to by his Era name, his names in life being Imina. If this is the origin, it could just be symbolic IE she has moved on in her life, the old her is gone. This isn't unheard, Keno copied a hair cutting story that resembled a Japanese story.

Only Maru Knows for sure....

Much culture, such wow.

Is it definitive?

No, not really. It is funny Imina's name can in two variations actually mean roughly an idea of 'doesn't matter anymore'. Either as a person or what you used to be called. Coincidences are funny.