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"You wanna dig out my tush crystal, Yukine?!" This article contains manga spoilers. Read at your own risk. |
The God's Greatest Secret (
Description[]
When a god names a shinki, they receive the soul's true name and memories at the time of naming.[2] From the shinki's perspective, their memories are sealed away by the seal script imprint of their god-given name.[3] In normal cases, shinki have no interest in questioning their identity or past – Father states that that is simply how they are "made".[4]
A shinki corrupted by the memories of their past
Exposure to the Secret[]
A shinki's lack of interest in their own past fades when they are asked about the topic of their past lives by other beings of the Far Shore. This is often denoted by the cracking of their name's kanji imprint,[5] and it is nearly unheard of for a shinki to survive this event. Shinki who are exposed to the Secret remember their former lives and death, and are consumed by grief & anger,[6] usually turning them into karma ayakashi.[7][5] When a shinki reaches that point, their soul can no longer be saved.[1]
Although they are capable of ignoring this instinct should they choose to, it appears that gods have a naturally strong aversion against revealing the Secret to shinki.[1] So in most cases, the Secret is very closely guarded by gods.[8][4][9] Due to its easily contagious nature and often slow progression, it may be necessary for gods to kill shinki that have been exposed to the Secret in order to prevent its spread.[10][9]
Surviving the Secret[]
In rare cases, some shinki are capable of surviving the revelation of the God's Greatest Secret.
- The Stray: During the conclusion of the Sakura Arc, the Stray shows surprise at Sakura's transformation into an ayakashi, saying that "all [Yato] did was tell her her real name."[7] Father also reveals that the Stray has survived the Secret and knows her own final moments[8] - although the specific circumstances surrounding her survival have not yet been revealed, it may have been due to her dying before she was born, having no name and no memories to be revealed.[6][11]
- Nana: During the The Heaven Arc, Nana was affected by Liberation and remembered her final moments[8] and her human name.[12] Though first appearing to be furious, she realized she wanted to die fighting this time too and came back with renewed strength.[8] When Yato remarks that he thought humans were supposed to be obsessed with their lives and death, Nana responds that it's "more painful to see someone you love die."[12]
Affected Shinki[]
| Name | Chapter | True Name | Method of Revelation | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Stray | Chapter 65 | None | Revealed by Father[8] | Survived |
| Sakura | Chapter 47 - 48 | Tamanone | Revealed by Yato[1] | Turned into karma ayakashi; slain by Yato |
| Tsuguha | Chapter 55 - 56 | Yui Fukuhara | Through Liberation[13] | Turned into karma ayakashi; slain by Kazuma |
| Nana | Chapter 65 | Unknown | Through Liberation[8] | Survived |
| Yukine | Chapter 80 | Haruki Tajima[14] | Hinted at by Father;[15] affected by Liberation[16] | Survived |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Chapter 47: Taboo (Vol 12)
- ↑ Chapter 44: Cut + Ties (Vol 12)
- ↑ Chapter 52: The Near Shore and the Far Shore (Vol 14)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 81: Alone (Vol 21)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 55: Cut x Off (Vol 14)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chapter 97: Savior (Vol 25)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 48: You, My Dear One (Vol 13)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Chapter 65: Golden Days (Vol 17)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Chapter 93: Facings (Vol 24)
- ↑ Chapter 83: A World in Shambles (Vol 21)
- ↑ Chapter 46: Children at Play (Vol 12)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chapter 76: Indispensable (Vol 20)
- ↑ Chapter 50: Time of Confrontation (Vol 13)
- ↑ Chapter 90: I Have to See You (Vol 23)
- ↑ Chapter 80: Inciteful (Vol 21)
- ↑ Chapter 49: Fight Without Quarter (Vol 13)