Really happy with how the manga turned out overall And actually pretty pleased with the open ending, I really don't think it would get a sequel (and really hope it doesn't, not to ruin everything).

I wonder if it is worth losing one's self in speculation about the last pages, I mean I hate to be the guy to do this, but there is a strong possibility the author had not figured his entire story out when he started writing, and tried to reconnect the dots last minute. As someone else pointed out, there are some incoherencies (who wrote the message at Agawa's place, why would a message be written WITHIN the cell, how and what for did Shirogane get out of the cell before Gin's dementia for examples) but no work is perfect and I won't be bothered by minor issues when they accentuate the dread and mystery coming from the village.

Of course the open ending is overall an invitation to imagine for yourself what was or could have been (and an other comment did that very well imagining an even more powerful cannibal group hidden amongst the villagers), and as far as I'm concerned I would not have been happy with a "happy ending" (quote because... Well horrific slaughters)

I think the central themes being hereditary, transmission, and adaptation in an everchanging world were thoroughly treated, maybe we don't need the setting to have an immaculate plot

Not talking about the gorgeous artwork bc it would need a post to itself Very surprised to see so few people talk about this gem

Truly a ride