Izumi Ibara, the Blessed Sniper

I posted a plot idea about a day ago, and thanks to the opinions of my fellow tropers, here is the story: Izumi, the Blessed Sniper.

Quick synopsis: Izumi Ibara is a twenty-something miko who tends her family shrine in Hokkaido. Locals come to her to perform "exorcisms", which usually involve dispatching Youkai. What separates herself from other mikos, however, is how she dispatches the demons: with a Springfield bolt-action rifle passed down thru her family since the First World War.

All chapters are posted on Fictionpress here.

Part 18 is now up.

Tell me what you think, as feedback is appreciated. Happy reading!

edited 30th Aug '11 8:07:44 PM by EnglishMajor

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Japan has pretty strict gun laws IIRC. Does she have some sort of Youkai-Hunter's License which allows her to keep the rifle?

More importantly, why a Springfield? Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be one of the Arisaka bolt-actions used by the IJA back in the day?

That's not to say it's impossible that a Japanese family could acquire a Springfield. US and Japanese forces were stationed in Vladivostok during the Russian Civil War, supporting Alexander Kolchak (and later, Gregory Semyonov) against the Bolsheviks. It might have been possible for an IJA soldier in that time period to acquire a Springfield from an American soldier. Unlikely, but possible.

edited 8th Jul '11 5:02:31 AM by RiotousRascal

... This may just be Crazy Awesome enough to work!

I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial

I'm intrigued. Definitely not what you expect.

Give us another section to let us see what we're getting into!

My blog of random AARs and stories.

That's not to say it's impossible that a Japanese family could acquire a Springfield. US and Japanese forces were stationed in Vladivostok during the Russian Civil War, supporting Alexander Kolchak (and later, Gregory Semyonov) against the Bolsheviks. It might have been possible for an IJA soldier in that time period to acquire a Springfield from an American soldier. Unlikely, but possible.

I haven't read the story, so I don't know if you've otherwise explained this, but just glancing through the topic I saw this, and had a thought.

It could be cool if an American soldier gave his life to save this Japanese guy's life, and the Japanese guy keeps his gun as a memento or something.

I don't know if that would work, or if you have a better idea or something, just a suggestion.

Still Sheepin'

Part two is now up.

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Is the ammunition anything special? Like, is it along the lines of the demon-banishment rounds employed in The Jennifer Morgue? Or just standard .30-06?

Standard .30-06. The rifle itself is blessed, so any bullets used are imbued with holy energies.

Besides, having to buy or forge special ammo (silver particularly) would be a bit expensive for a small shrine in the middle of the mountains, wouldn't it?

Update: Part Three is now up.

edited 9th Jul '11 6:27:28 PM by EnglishMajor

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Part four is now up

I wonder if people are reading...

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

@Rascal, Sheep:

The problem I see here is that while the American and Japanese troops were technically fighting for the Whites against the Bolsheviks, the Japanese were largely involved because they wanted to capture Russian territories and used their participation as a cover, while the USA was largely involved precisely to prevent Japan from growing stronger by taking Russian territory. So while it's possible that the two nations fought side by side1

it's more likely they'd have exchanged the occasional volley of rifle-fire at each other while nobody else were looking.

Things I like: Ghost In The Shell |Serial Experiments Lain |Eden: It's an Endless World! |Sid Meiers Alpha Centauri |Aeon Natum Engel

I believe it's well-established that the IJA had a significant military presence in the Maritime Territories from 1918 until their withdrawal in 1923 when the war was no longer economically sustainable. General Mitsue Yui was in command. As for the Americans, AEF Siberia was a force of roughly 8,000 under Maj. Gen. William S. Graves who were present in and around Vladivostok from 1918 to 1920.

As for their goals, the Americans were actually the force least interested in fighting the Bolsheviks, as surprising as that may seem. Maj. Gen. Graves was mainly focused on rescuing the Czech Legions, not fighting the Reds. The IJA, contrariwise, were very gung-ho about kicking Bolshevik arse, and spent a lot of time and effort backing Alexander Kolchak, and later on, Gregory Semyonov. (And then Ungern von Sternberg buggered off to invade Mongolia for no discernable reason, which certainly made life interesting back in Transbaikalia.) They wanted a White buffer state between them and the RSFSR.

So, it's potentially (extremely improbable, but not impossible) possible that an IJA soldier may have been able to come across a Springfield.

edited 11th Jul '11 3:46:24 PM by RiotousRascal

For the next chapter, I'm going to explain just how effective a blessed weapon is against demons. Izumi's going to need to corral the oni, since blessing a weapon only makes it effective to it's full potential. If the oni was an elephant, then a regular gun would hit it like a peashooter while a blessed gun would hit it like a regular gun. It's my way of nerfing her just enough so that she doesn't turn into a Mary Sue.

edited 11th Jul '11 8:33:25 PM by EnglishMajor

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Know what I'm thinking? A blessed anti-tank rifle. Something along the lines of a PTRS. Those youkai never knew what hit 'em.

edited 11th Jul '11 9:14:39 PM by RiotousRascal

I love this idea. Will read for sure tomorrow when my brain is working properly.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

Overkill, much?

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Nevar Enuff Dakka.

Guys, I need your honest opinion: Is this publish-worthy? Would you pay to read this story?

edited 12th Jul '11 9:17:24 PM by EnglishMajor

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

And on that note, Part five is up.

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

Looks like a heavily toned down version of Simo Häyhä.

I ♥ the VRS

You know, I was just thinking that. Of course, Simo Häyhä being who he was, a toned-down version is still going to be plenty badass.

edited 13th Jul '11 8:56:00 AM by RiotousRascal

So much for my winter culling idea (turns around and throws idea out)

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

It would be lulzy to see this Izumi chick mowing down over 500 Red Army troopers in the tundra wearing only her winter jacket. Bonus points if this girl is still badass with a deformed jaw. That would make her an interesting character.

I ♥ the VRS

Part Six is now up for your reading pleasure.

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate

On behalf of the ammo:

She could use silver bullets in really problematic cases...

I reject your reality and substitute my own!!!

Yeah, but I'd have to figure out how she'd get the money to buy the silver in the first place. I don't think a small shrine in the middle of nowhere could manage that on donations alone. That's what I'm getting at: what she offers is a communal service, not a paid one.

With blood and rage of crimson red ripped from a corpse so freshly dead together with our hellish hate we'll burn you all that is your fate