Hello everyone,
I've had the idea for this book for a while and I've been putting it off every time.
A few days ago I had planned to do it with Ainz's abilities, which I think everyone knows.
They're the most versatile without being totally unmanageable that I've had to find.
Now, I'm writing to ask if I should replace them with the Kannushi to go with my story.
I only have the first three chapters of each version.
For those who don't know what a Kannushi is:
- A Kannushi is a Shinto priest charged with serving the kami (spirits or deities) in Japanese shrines. Guardian of ritual purity, he celebrates sacred ceremonies, purifies people and places, and acts as a bridge between the world of humans and that of the gods, preserving the spiritual harmony of the community.
I've already posited his preaching as a premise.
So.
To help you choose, here's what it would be like with this change.
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In Japan, to protect against disease, there is the Yakubarai (厄払い) ritual, literally "repelling calamities." This Shinto ritual is performed at shrines to eliminate impurities and negative influences believed to cause illness and misfortune. The priest performs a purification (harae) for the person or family, waving a haraigushi (a wand decorated with shide paper) around them and reciting a norito purification prayer. Participants can also receive a special ofuda (talisman) against illness, which they stick in their house or wear on themselves. This practice is still very widespread today, especially during the so-called "unlucky years" (yakudoshi).
In China, to prevent enemies or thieves from doing harm, specific Fu talismans were used, called 防邪符 (fang xie fu, "talisman against evil") and 镇宅符 (zhen zhai fu, "talisman to protect the house"). These talismans were written on yellow paper with special inks and contained invocations to protective spirits or door gods (menshen). Hung on door panels or burned and then sprinkled, they served to ward off misfortune, spirits, and also to "block" the malicious intentions of humans. They were often blessed at Taoist temples for extra strength.
The Daojiao Jiao (道教醮) is a major Taoist offering ritual organized to appease calamities or bring peace. It sometimes lasts several days and involves building a complex altar. Priests present offerings of fruits, incense, and fu talismans, which they burn to transmit the intentions of the faithful. They chant liturgical hymns, perform ritual gestures, and carry out solemn processions. This complex form of worship is still practiced today, especially in Taiwan and southern China.
The Fu ritual consists of creating sacred Taoist talismans. The priest writes esoteric formulas on yellow paper with red or black ink. These talismans are then burned, dissolved in water to be drunk or sprinkled, or displayed on doors. They serve to exorcise evil spirits, protect the home, or heal certain spiritual afflictions. It is one of the most widespread and still-living Taoist practices today.
The ritual bloodletting of Maya nobles was a sacred act meant to feed the gods and ensure the legitimacy of their power. Participants would pierce their tongues, ears, or genitals, collecting the blood on bark paper, which they then burned to send the offering to the heavens. Bas-reliefs at places like Yaxchilan depict these scenes, and Spanish chroniclers described them in detail.
Sources:
Shinto Norito: A Book of Prayers.Daoist Magic: The Secret Language of Talismans and Rituals.Yanagita Kunio: Japanese Folklore Studies.The Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems (for European folk magic).Codex Mendoza (Mexica) and contemporary ethno-Maya studies.
I set my notes down on the low table.
A thick printed folder, covered in highlighter marks and comments. My "thesis" improvisation on ancient rituals: ofuda, sutras, family traditions, purification techniques, everything I'd been able to compile by digging through libraries and online archives.
I sighed.
"Even this won't ever pay the rent... I hope I can just pass this exam once and for all."
I should have chosen geography instead of history.
I stretched, my neck cracking uncomfortably.
My eyes fell on the little shelf where I'd stored my old figurines and otaku trinkets.
Looking around, I realized my room really looked like a dump.
So I started cleaning everything up. Once most of the room was reasonably tidy, I tackled the real horror.
I crouched and pushed the broom under the bed to sweep out what I could.
As I swept, I felt resistance. I pulled a little harder, and suddenly a huge rat nearly the size of my head darted out and escaped through the open window.
I was speechless.
"Did I really spend half the month with that thing under my bed?"
The rest of the cleaning went smoothly. I froze again as I felt another bit of resistance.
This time I stepped back from the bed before pulling.
A partly round mass rolled out from underneath.
I wiped it off with a cloth until I was facing an old treasure.
An artisan-made resin reproduction, warped, vaguely inspired by a devil fruit. The spirals were poorly painted.
On the barely legible label it read: First prize in the contest Hito Hito no Mi Model Kanushi.
I grabbed it absent-mindedly and turned it in my palm.
"This is what I won that convention contest with years ago... when I was 12."
I really used to be good with my hands.
It was badly banged up now.
A bitter smile escaped me.
I'd sold off almost my entire collection in the past few months.
"With a bit of luck, this might still sell. Could cover this month's bills..."
I set it back on the shelf and turned off the light.
"It doesn't matter."
I let myself fall onto the bed, my head buzzing.
Tomorrow I had to get up at 4:30 for my first job, and the night before I'd already pulled an all-nighter.
I set the alarm. I sighed.
And I fell asleep.
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Why am I naked?
I look up.
A ceiling. Made of wood. Not concrete. Not plaster.
Old, polished wood without a single crack.
There's a scent in the air. Incense? Sandalwood?
And most of all… silence.
No hum of the fridge. No traffic outside.
A natural, deep silence, like there's nothing electric around.
I squint.
It's daylight.
Sunlight filters through a thin curtain.
Why didn't my alarm go off?!
I jerk upright.
My body protests.
I feel weak. Not sore, but… different. Lighter.
I lower my gaze—and my breath catches.
Breasts.
Not big. Subtle. Natural.
Just enough to push against the white, translucent kimono fabric.
My breasts.
I don't move.
I don't think.
My brain crashes. Blue screen.
I look down further.
Long black strands fall over my shoulders.
I lift a hand. It's slender, with neatly kept nails.
I'm sitting in an enormous bed. A white kimono sliding off my shoulders.
And inside me: a void.
No sound.
No movement.
Just this cold, irrational, undeniable truth.
This body isn't mine.
This bed isn't mine.
I turn slowly.
The other side of the bed is empty.
The sheets are rumpled but already cooling. He's been gone for a while.
My eyes drift to the floor.
Neatly arranged with almost military precision:
a white belt, folded.
Black sandals.
A sheathed katana.
I stand. My legs buckle slightly, but I manage.
The room is large, dark wood, sober but elegant.
A partially open screen reveals a basin of steaming water.
A low table holds two half-empty bowls of rice and dried fruit.
Only one teacup has been moved. The other is untouched.
I approach the mirror—a polished metal disc in a wooden frame.
I see myself. And I don't recognize this face.
A young woman with a still-sleepy expression.
Pale skin. Gray eyes. Long black hair, messy from the night.
The kimono collar hangs open. A red mark on her neck.
I quickly pull it closed.
My hands tremble.
"...Fuck, what does this even mean…"
The voice is soft. Feminine. Unfamiliar.
I spin around at the sound of the door sliding open.
A man stands there.
White hair tied at the nape. Calm red eyes. A clan vest draped over an open tunic.
Impossible not to recognize one of the most famous anime characters ever.
Senju Tobirama.
My heart stops as memories start flooding back.
I lower my eyes instinctively. My hands clutch the kimono fabric.
My body moves with habits that aren't mine, as if it already knows how to behave.
And words slip out before I can stop them.
— Ohayō, danna-san. Yoku nemuremashita ka?
He says nothing. He just watches me. Steps closer, then stops just in front of me.
His voice finally breaks the silence.
— You're calling me that already?
— …
— Don't be so formal with me.
— …
— I let you sleep. You looked exhausted.
I keep my head down. My face burns. I can't answer. Memories…
A brief pause. Almost natural.
— I'm going to see my brother. Take your time and get used to the residence, alright, Rei?
His voice remains gentle. Gentler than I expected.
Is this really the character I know?
I nod slightly, avoiding his gaze.
He stands there a moment. Then, without warning, he lifts his hand.
In an instant, hundreds of scenarios race through my mind.
My heart rate spikes.
Tobirama is famous for being perceptive… am I already doomed?
His hand rests lightly on my head. A gentle pat.
My mind goes blank.
My heart pounds so hard it echoes in my temples.
Then he turns away.
The door slides shut behind him.
And silence falls once more.
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Now the choice :
- Ainz Spell
- Hito Hito no mi Modele Kannushi
Whatever your choice, I'll continue with both versions and then when I finish the next two chapters.
I'll make the choice.
If you think this is unimportant, well, it really isn't in the end.
In fact, Ainz is far from weak.