OVA
Description
Kazuma serves as the oldest, most trusted shinki, or Regalia, of the war goddess Bishamonten, where he holds the vital position of her guide or exemplar. Physically, he appears as a young man with short brown hair and dark green eyes, typically dressed in a business suit and wearing thick-rimmed glasses. Before becoming a blessed vessel, his vessel form for Bishamonten was a plain nail, but he later transforms into a cherry blossom-shaped earring. When he later serves as Yato’s shinki, his vessel forms become a set of divine garments including a tracksuit, scarf, boots, and gloves, as well as a katana that can combine with its scabbard to form a bow and arrow.
In his human life centuries ago, Kazuma was named Kiyotsugu Hirano, the second son of a wealthy salt merchant who was chosen to inherit the family business. This decision sparked jealousy in his elder brother, who murdered him by strangling him at the age of nineteen, the night before his wedding.
Kazuma’s personality is defined by his calm, serious, and remarkably polite demeanor, often acting as the voice of reason among Bishamonten’s large family of shinki. He is deeply responsible and carries an immense sense of duty, which stems from both his past as an heir and his centuries of service as a guide. His most defining trait is his profound, unwavering loyalty and devotion to Bishamonten, whom he affectionately calls Veena in private. This devotion is complicated by deep, unspoken romantic feelings for his master, which he never acts upon. Despite his serious nature, he has a comical side, such as drawing on Yukine’s face during sparring sessions or secretly collecting Bishamonten merchandise, including an extensive photo album on his smartphone.
Kazuma’s central motivation is the protection and well-being of Bishamonten at any cost, a goal that places him in extremely difficult moral situations. In the distant past, when Bishamonten’s previous shinki family, the Ma clan, became corrupted and began turning into ayakashi, Kazuma made a desperate choice. Seeing that the corruption would kill his master, he sought out Yato, a god known as a calamity, and begged him to cut down every member of the Ma clan to save Bishamonten’s life. Yato complied, exterminating the entire clan. This event left Kazuma as the sole survivor, wracked with guilt as a self-proclaimed traitor, while Bishamonten, unaware of the truth, developed a fierce, vengeful hatred for Yato. Kazuma has forever after considered Yato a benefactor for saving his master, creating a secret bond of gratitude between the two.
Key relationships define Kazuma’s role in the story. His relationship with Bishamonten is the most important, built on centuries of trust and a mutual, though complex, affection. He is not just a servant but a close colleague and advisor. With Yato, he shares a secret alliance; he is kind to Yato and secretly helps him and his shinki, Yukine, as a way to repay his debt. This leads to a temporary rift when Bishamonten exiles him for his perceived betrayal. He also becomes a mentor figure to Yukine, teaching him the techniques and spells necessary for a shinki to be effective in battle.
Throughout the story, Kazuma undergoes significant development, often driven by his desire to atone for the past and protect Bishamonten from future threats. When a sorcerer known as Father becomes a primary threat, Kazuma decides that defeating him is the only way to truly protect his master. Believing that no ordinary shinki can stand against Father, he resolves to become a stray, or Nora, by serving as Yato’s shinki. He forces this outcome by refusing to help Yato during a desperate battle, compelling the god to give him a new name, Kazune, with the vessel name Rekki. As Yato’s shinki, his fighting ability dramatically increases, allowing him to confront powerful enemies.
In terms of abilities, Kazuma is not primarily an offensive powerhouse but a strategist and support-type shinki of incredible skill. As Bishamonten’s guide, his most notable talent is coordination and enhancement; he can regulate the borderlines of other shinki, create a cross-hair over his master's eye to grant her surgical precision, and track gods, shinki, and phantoms with exceptional accuracy. He also possesses a wide arsenal of spells. These include Bakufu, a binding restraint; Inko, which renders targets invisible; Rakusui, which puts opponents to sleep; and Rourou, a truth-telling spell. He is also knowledgeable in various incantations or songs, such as the Firefighting Incantation, which he later adapts to create powerful attacks like Crimson Petals and Microburst when serving as Yato’s bow.
In his human life centuries ago, Kazuma was named Kiyotsugu Hirano, the second son of a wealthy salt merchant who was chosen to inherit the family business. This decision sparked jealousy in his elder brother, who murdered him by strangling him at the age of nineteen, the night before his wedding.
Kazuma’s personality is defined by his calm, serious, and remarkably polite demeanor, often acting as the voice of reason among Bishamonten’s large family of shinki. He is deeply responsible and carries an immense sense of duty, which stems from both his past as an heir and his centuries of service as a guide. His most defining trait is his profound, unwavering loyalty and devotion to Bishamonten, whom he affectionately calls Veena in private. This devotion is complicated by deep, unspoken romantic feelings for his master, which he never acts upon. Despite his serious nature, he has a comical side, such as drawing on Yukine’s face during sparring sessions or secretly collecting Bishamonten merchandise, including an extensive photo album on his smartphone.
Kazuma’s central motivation is the protection and well-being of Bishamonten at any cost, a goal that places him in extremely difficult moral situations. In the distant past, when Bishamonten’s previous shinki family, the Ma clan, became corrupted and began turning into ayakashi, Kazuma made a desperate choice. Seeing that the corruption would kill his master, he sought out Yato, a god known as a calamity, and begged him to cut down every member of the Ma clan to save Bishamonten’s life. Yato complied, exterminating the entire clan. This event left Kazuma as the sole survivor, wracked with guilt as a self-proclaimed traitor, while Bishamonten, unaware of the truth, developed a fierce, vengeful hatred for Yato. Kazuma has forever after considered Yato a benefactor for saving his master, creating a secret bond of gratitude between the two.
Key relationships define Kazuma’s role in the story. His relationship with Bishamonten is the most important, built on centuries of trust and a mutual, though complex, affection. He is not just a servant but a close colleague and advisor. With Yato, he shares a secret alliance; he is kind to Yato and secretly helps him and his shinki, Yukine, as a way to repay his debt. This leads to a temporary rift when Bishamonten exiles him for his perceived betrayal. He also becomes a mentor figure to Yukine, teaching him the techniques and spells necessary for a shinki to be effective in battle.
Throughout the story, Kazuma undergoes significant development, often driven by his desire to atone for the past and protect Bishamonten from future threats. When a sorcerer known as Father becomes a primary threat, Kazuma decides that defeating him is the only way to truly protect his master. Believing that no ordinary shinki can stand against Father, he resolves to become a stray, or Nora, by serving as Yato’s shinki. He forces this outcome by refusing to help Yato during a desperate battle, compelling the god to give him a new name, Kazune, with the vessel name Rekki. As Yato’s shinki, his fighting ability dramatically increases, allowing him to confront powerful enemies.
In terms of abilities, Kazuma is not primarily an offensive powerhouse but a strategist and support-type shinki of incredible skill. As Bishamonten’s guide, his most notable talent is coordination and enhancement; he can regulate the borderlines of other shinki, create a cross-hair over his master's eye to grant her surgical precision, and track gods, shinki, and phantoms with exceptional accuracy. He also possesses a wide arsenal of spells. These include Bakufu, a binding restraint; Inko, which renders targets invisible; Rakusui, which puts opponents to sleep; and Rourou, a truth-telling spell. He is also knowledgeable in various incantations or songs, such as the Firefighting Incantation, which he later adapts to create powerful attacks like Crimson Petals and Microburst when serving as Yato’s bow.