"Halloween and molting week are the only times he’s allowed to dress like an unkempt hoodlum" - Jisuk
Karasu is a mythological web novel following the life of a tengu monk in feudal Japan, by artist Jisuk Cho. The title translates to 'Crow' in Japanese.The human and the monsters have always treated each other with contempt. So when Shichi, a Tengu monk under strict mentorship treated a human women spraining her leg after falling into water while he was out gathering herbs as usual, things start to go sideways for everyone involved...
The story, original art from the author and merchandise can be found here: http://jisukcho.com/karasu/
Karasu provides examples of:
- Childhood Friends: Shusei and Shichi, when they were trained as monks together.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: For better or for worse, Shichi is a prime case, being both a monk and a practicing doctor.
- Cosmic Plaything: The alternative title for this novel may as well be "Shichi Never Catches a Break."
- Beware the Nice Ones: Chiyo can shapeshifts into a gigantic kitsune. Don't let her appearance fools you.
- Doomed Hometown: Aki's village has been destroyed by humans. And by extension, Sagiri's.
- Not a straight example, but Shichi's affair with Kana brought doom to his temple.
- Fantastic Racism: An occurring theme in the story, centered around the prejudices humans have against yokai, and vice versa.
- Interspecies Romance: The plot essentially kicks off when Shichi and Kana's relationship blossoms into this.
- Lady of War: Sagiri, a stern priestess capable of kicking ass with a naginata.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Chiyo, selfish and bratty as she is, is Shichi's closest friend for a reason.
- Morphic Resonance: Chiyo retains the red marking under her eyes when she transforms into a human.
- Mystical White Hair: Chiyo's human form, as she retains the white color of her fur.
- Nice Guy: Shichi. Poor guy always wants to help, and never wishes harm on anyone.
- Never Got to Say Goodbye
- Shichi and Kana, due to the former on the run from humans.
- Shichi insists that Rinka stays away from her lover Kazu from fear of infection. He failed to save him.
- Oblivious to Love: Shichi to Aki.
- Platonic Life-Partners: Shichi and Chiyo.
- Really 700 Years Old: Chiyo is a century older than Shichi, but she acted like a bratty kid around him.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: Chiyo's (and Aki's) red to Shichi's blue.
- Stern Teacher: Sagiri, teaching Shichi since he was young.
- Walking the Earth: This is what Shichi ends up doing after he got his temple destroyed.
- Worthy Opponent: The Hunter is looking for this when he goes after Shichi until Shichi stops running and openly waits for The Hunter to kills him, which promptly dulls his motivation.
- You Can't Go Home Again: Shichi's temple.
