The story begins with Gotsuji and Uruka, exorcists who travel to various places while exorcising ”evil spirits” daily. They are not mere work colleagues but a tag team sharing a clear objective: to find and inevitably slay a specific evil spirit. In the background lies Gotsuji’s strong feelings for a woman he once lost and a sense of mourning that must be fulfilled, binding his heart to the single point of revenge. On the other hand, Uruka does not fully understand those feelings. Nevertheless, she stands by Gotsuji’s side, continuing the journey with lighthearted words and a realistic perspective. Carrying the heavy theme of vendetta, where will their journey eventually lead? The introduction, which makes you want to witness their fate, instantly captures the reader’s heart.

A major attraction of this work lies in the sense of conversation between the characters. Gotsuji is a protagonist who is taciturn, wears a somewhat hardboiled atmosphere, and hides an obsession with the past within him, while Uruka is the one who delivers relentless retorts to him. Their banter is cool yet somehow comical, so lighthearted that it almost makes you forget it is a serious revenge drama. Even while dealing with heavy themes, humor is scattered throughout every line of dialogue, making the aftertaste surprisingly refreshing and causing you to find yourself turning the next page before you know it.

Gotsuji, clad in traditional Japanese attire and wielding a katana, and Uruka, in the unexpectedly striking outfit of a bunny girl. It is also noteworthy how this seemingly mismatched pair blends into the world of the work surprisingly well. While the artwork is generally based on a somber tone, the ingenuity of depicting weak spirits and strong spirits by changing the art style itself shines through. It captivates with powerful compositions and angles in serious slashing scenes, while boldly adopting a gag-style art for comical moments. This range allows for the coexistence of tension in battle scenes and a sense of playfulness.

The briskly paced development and a composition that never gets boring are also strengths of this work. While the battles with spirits encountered on their travels are self-contained in each chapter, the major axis of Gotsuji’s revenge always pierces through the story. While it can be read lightly, it also feels as if deep and heavy themes—such as ”what is revenge?” and ”what does it mean to empathize with the feelings of others?”—are hidden beneath the surface, naturally raising expectations for future developments. While the direction may be slightly different for those seeking depictions of vengeful ghosts that purely pursue fear, it is a work that will deeply resonate with readers who want to enjoy the excellence of action, drama, and conversation.

Despite being a somber revenge tale, ”Nito no Joreishi” leaves a unique aftertaste through dialogue that never forgets humor and playful direction. It can be recommended not only to those who like protagonists in Japanese attire, katana action, and a slightly hard-edged worldview but also to those who want to enjoy the banter between characters. The perfection of the art style, paneling, and atmosphere is high, never boring the reader until the end. Before you know it, you will likely find yourself wanting to follow these two on their journey even further.