Aoi TakahashiNo, The Apothecary Diaries manga is not finished. The manga is still ongoing, with new chapters continuing to be released. The English edition is also continuing to receive new volumes.
If you have finished watching the anime and are wondering whether Maomao’s story has already ended in the manga, there is still considerably more of the story to explore.
Is The Apothecary Diaries Manga Still Ongoing?
Yes. The Apothecary Diaries manga is still ongoing.
The main manga adaptation is illustrated by Nekokurage and is based on the original story by Natsu Hyuuga. Itsuki Nanao handles the story composition, while Touco Shino is credited for the character designs.
The official Manga UP! listing continues to publish the series and indicates a regular monthly update schedule.
That means there is currently no final chapter or announced ending date for the manga.
The Apothecary Diaries Manga Status
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Manga status | Ongoing |
| Original story | Natsu Hyuuga |
| Manga artist | Nekokurage |
| Story composition | Itsuki Nanao |
| Character design | Touco Shino |
| Publication | Monthly |
| English publisher | Square Enix |
Why Do Some Readers Think The Manga Is Finished?
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that The Apothecary Diaries has more than one manga adaptation.
The series originated as a light novel written by Natsu Hyuuga. It was subsequently adapted into manga, with different versions following the same underlying story.
The Nekokurage version is the adaptation most commonly encountered by international readers. There is also a separate manga adaptation illustrated by Minoji Kurata.
Because these adaptations do not necessarily have identical chapter numbers or publication schedules, searching for the “latest chapter” can sometimes produce conflicting results.
So if you see different chapter counts on different websites, check which manga adaptation they are referring to.
How Many Volumes of The Apothecary Diaries Manga Are There?
The Apothecary Diaries manga currently has 15 English volumes available, with Volume 16 scheduled for publication. The series is still ongoing, so the total number of volumes will increase as more chapters are released and collected.
It’s worth noting that the Japanese serialization, English digital chapters, and English collected volumes can be at different points in the publication schedule. Therefore, the latest English volume available in bookstores may not contain the newest chapter released in Japan.
For now, readers can expect more volumes of The Apothecary Diaries manga, as the series has not yet reached its conclusion.
Is The Apothecary Diaries Manga Ahead of the Anime?
Yes. The manga contains story material beyond what has been adapted into the anime.
The anime follows Maomao’s journey as she uses her knowledge of medicine, poisons and herbs to investigate unusual incidents within the imperial palace. However, the anime is an adaptation rather than the original version of the story.
The original light novels go further than both the anime and manga, so readers who want to know what happens next have another option.
The important point is that finishing the currently released anime does not mean you have reached the end of Maomao’s story.
Is The Apothecary Diaries Light Novel Finished?
The light novel and manga should not be treated as the same publication.
The light novel is the original source material, while the manga and anime are adaptations of it. As a result, their release schedules and story progress can differ.
This is useful to remember when looking for spoilers or trying to find out what happens later in the story. A major event may already exist in the light novel even if it has not yet appeared in the manga or anime.
Where Can You Read The Apothecary Diaries Manga?
For readers looking for an official English edition, Manga UP! publishes the digital manga, while Square Enix publishes the English collected volumes.
The official Manga UP! listing provides information about the ongoing series and its chapter releases.
For physical and digital English editions, Square Enix’s official catalog is another reliable source for volume information.
Using official publisher listings is also helpful because unofficial manga sites can have inconsistent chapter numbering, fan translations or outdated release information.
When Will The Apothecary Diaries Manga End?
There is currently no confirmed ending date for The Apothecary Diaries manga.
Unless the publisher or creators announce that the manga is approaching its final chapter, readers should consider it an ongoing series.
The continuing publication of new chapters and upcoming English volumes also indicates that the manga is not currently complete.
Therefore, claims that the manga has already ended should be treated carefully, especially when they come from old articles or pages that have not been updated.
What Should You Read After Finishing the Anime?
If you have finished the anime and want more of Maomao’s story, you have two main choices.
Continue with the manga
The manga is a good option if you prefer the visual storytelling of the anime and want to experience the story through illustrations.
However, because the manga is still being serialized, it will eventually catch up with the currently available adaptation material.
Start the light novels
If you want to move further ahead into the story, the light novels are the original source and therefore provide considerably more material.
This is generally the better option for readers who are primarily interested in finding out what happens next rather than waiting for the manga and anime adaptations.
The Bottom Line
The Apothecary Diaries manga is not finished. It is still ongoing, and there is currently no announced final chapter or ending date.
The situation can be confusing because the franchise has multiple manga adaptations, as well as the original light novels and anime.
If you have finished watching the anime, you have not reached the end of Maomao’s story. You can continue with the manga for a visual continuation or move to the light novels if you want to get further ahead.
As new chapters and English volumes are released, the manga’s status can change, so readers should check official publisher and serialization pages for the latest information.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Apothecary Diaries manga is still ongoing and does not currently have a confirmed ending date.
Yes. New chapters continue to be published, with the official Manga UP! listing providing current chapter and release information.
Yes. The franchise has multiple manga adaptations, which is one reason different websites can show different chapter counts.
Yes. The manga contains material beyond the anime, although the exact point of comparison depends on which anime season and manga adaptation you are using.
No. The overall story has not reached its confirmed conclusion in the manga, and the original light novel provides substantially more story material.
If you prefer artwork and a visual reading experience, continue with the manga. If you want to move further ahead in the story, the light novels are the original source material.