Ichi (イチ) is the first chapter of the Japanese manga series Ichi the Witch, written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki.
Introduction[]
Chapter 1 - Lead Page
The individual in the introduction of Chapter 1 expresses gratitude for the fruits, plants, animals, birds, insects, and fungi—showing appreciation for all forms of life in their world. Yet, despite this gratitude, they possess a strong desire to hunt everything.
At the flower field near the summit of Druid Mountain, a boy is hunting. Hidden among the flowers, a moose is unaware, waiting to become his prey.
Summary[]
At the village at the foot of Druid Mountain, Ichi, known as the guardian of the flower field, receives a warm welcome from the residents after he returns with a large moose he has hunted earlier. The villagers thank him, as his efforts make it safer for them to cross the mountain. Ichi responds with a warm smile, explaining that he has waited for six hours to make the kill and nearly gets startled when a bird poops on him. His story is cut short by a group of women preparing to leave in a carriage, presumably for travel.
Curious, Ichi approaches and asks if they are departing that day. One of the women confirms, saying they are off to take the entrance exam and head to the capital. Ichi, listening intently, jokes by guessing silly names like "Man-cheese Association" for the university. Before they can correct him, he stops them, dismissing the idea of ever attending such a place. As a parting gift, he hands them rabbit meat and jerky for their journey.
One of the women then asks if he plans to live on the mountain forever, mentioning that everyone in the village admires him. She suggests he could live in the village, hunting only when necessary. Ichi, however, simply replies that he will stay on the mountain, as there are still many things he wants to do there. After exchanging goodbyes, Ichi leaves the carriage.
A nearby villager remarked that Ichi's life was different from theirs, almost as if he breathed a different air. The way he lived on the mountain was unlike anything in the village. With that, Ichi decided it was time to return home to the mountain after making his preparations.
When Ichi was six, he was left on the mountain with only a knife and a small amount of food. Realizing he had been abandoned, he struggled to survive alone at such a young age. Each day was a battle for survival, and when he was at his lowest, he came to a grim realization: the knife was not meant for hunting but for ending his own life. On the brink of suicide, exhausted and starved, he was confronted by a wolf on the mountain. Despite his weakened state, he managed to fend off the wolf, surprising himself with his will to live.
That day marked a turning point for Ichi. He learned to appreciate life, mastering the skills needed to survive: catching fish, foraging for edible plants, identifying safe mushrooms, and eventually hunting. Over time, he gathered several hunting weapons, displaying the head of the wolf he had defeated as a trophy in his makeshift home.
Though the villagers at the foot of the mountain treated him kindly and he was grateful for their kindness, Ichi had other goals. His long period of isolation on the mountain had honed his combat instincts. Beyond the flower field near the mountain peak, he encountered a massive creature, unlike anything he had ever seen. The beast, using a giant tree as a pillow, seemed powerful and dangerous.
Ichi assessed the situation carefully. Though the creature had not yet shown aggression, he was determined not to kill without reason. He believed that killing creatures without a purpose was murder, not hunting. However, if the creature posed a threat to humans or attacked him, he would seek to hunt it. He planned to set traps, such as pitfall traps and snares, in preparation. If the opportunity arose, he was ready to face the creature and prove his hunting skills.
That day arrived when the massive creature finally woke up, acknowledging the presence of the "little gnats" that had come near.
The carriage carrying the women from earlier came to a halt in the middle of the road. One of them, annoyed, asked why they had stopped. The driver explained that there was a traffic delay due to an emergency magic warning. This news excited the girls, as they eagerly anticipated seeing real magic in action, thinking there might be witches involved.
Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, had arrived near the summit of Druid Mountain, flying towards it. She was conversing with someone through what appeared to be a mirror. The person on the other end, Monegold, the Aureate Witch, asked if Desscaras was certain about the presence of Uroro. Desscaras confirmed, noting that she had gone off on her own. She instructed Monegold to focus on guarding the civilians while she handled the situation. Monegold suggested waiting for reinforcements, but Desscaras dismissed the idea, saying they would only slow her down, which earned her the comment from Monegold that she was a handful.
Monegold then directed her associates through the mirror to evacuate the residents and quickly set up a protective barrier. She then inquired about the status of other witches, and one of the witches confirmed that all available witches were already en route to Druid Mountain. Monegold insisted that they must resolve the situation there, as allowing the Uroro Magic to remain unchecked would be disastrous. No matter what it took, Desscaras had to secure the Uroro Magic and prevent it from causing further chaos.
In their world, Magic is a living force known as Majik. Majiks first made contact with humanity long ago, beginning with the appearance of a talking blob of water. This Water Majik instructed a woman to drink every drop of its water, presenting it as a trial. If she succeeded, the Water Majik would teach her the chant to control water. Following this, other Majiks set their own trials: the Bonfire Majik required holding its flame for one hour, the Iceberg Majik demanded sleeping beside it for a night, and the Breeze Majik insisted on walking with it for 1,000 miles. Successfully completing these trials would grant the user the power of the Majik. Today, Majik Hunters, who have endured countless grueling trials to acquire their powerful Majik, are held in high regard and respect. These hunters are commonly referred to as Witches.
The witches are currently working to establish five layers of protective barriers, with the project 80% complete. They have instructed each other to avoid approaching the mountain peak, where fierce battles with monsters are taking place.
At the summit, King Uroro, the King Majik, is facing off against Desscaras. He is not surprised she found him, jokingly asking if she was in love with him and even calling her a stalker. Desscaras ignored the jibe and demanded that he surrender his Majik power so she can claim it. King Uroro laughed off her request, challenging her to prove she could defeat him, asserting his superiority as King Uroro, the King Majik himself.
In this world, Magic is alive, and each Majik has its own distinct personality. Unfortunately, King Uroro embodies the worst traits of a Majik. He refuses to allow witches to claim him, has devastated landscapes, drained rivers, and taken countless lives without cause. He is a Majik filled with hatred for humanity.
King Uroro taunted Desscaras, threatening to resume his killing spree if she ignored him. He claimed he had lived too long and was bored, suggesting that if she wanted to acquire his Majik, she would need to stop his heart—nothing less. Desscaras, ready to attack, unleashed her ability, Lazud, which caused a massive explosion felt by the witches nearby, who cheered her on. However, even after the powerful blast, King Uroro was unharmed, and his core remained untouched despite Desscaras aiming right at it, leaving her visibly tense.
He then pointed out that Desscaras should have sensed something was amiss. He revealed that, despite over a thousand years of attempts, no witch had ever acquired him. He mocked her efforts, stating that no woman could ever touch his heart due to his inherent nature. He admitted to being impressed by how close she had come, but insisted that, as long as witches were women, acquiring him was impossible. His laughter filled the air as he continued to mock her.
Their confrontation was interrupted by Ichi, who suddenly appeared before them, leaving both Desscaras and King Uroro dumbfounded. King Uroro asked who Ichi was and where he had come from. Ichi, calmly stating that he was a man, repeated it, which angered King Uroro. In response, King Uroro delivered a powerful punch, but the force of the blow caused his right hand to be trapped in a pitfall and snare set by Ichi.
Ichi warned King Uroro not to try and escape or it would tighten further. He then readied his knife. King Uroro urged Ichi not to be hasty and to put down the knife. Ichi, however, was focused and approached him with all sparks in his eyes. For Ichi, it was a matter of "death for death" and since King Uroro had attempted to kill him, so he's now after him. Ichi struck at Uroro's core, shattering it into pieces. Immediately afterward, Ichi's outfit transformed into an elaborate, fancy attire, which confused him, and he looked around in bewilderment, wondering where King Uroro had gone.
Desscaras tried to warn Ichi not to move with her sword raised, but before she could properly warn him, Ichi, mistaking her intent as a threat, attacked her in response. Desscaras was perplexed by his immediate aggression and questioned why he was acting like an “automatic slicing machine.” She then informed him that he was in a dire situation and instructed him not to move, speak, or attempt any chants.
Ichi, puzzled, asked what chants she was referring to. It was then he recalled that Desscaras had mentioned "Lazud" during her earlier attack on King Uroro. However, as he mentions "Lazud", he accidentally ends up casting the spell, surprising all the onlookers.
In their world, only women have the aptitude for magic and can acquire and use Majiks, which is why they are called Witches. It's widely believed that men cannot use magic. However, if a Majik had a trial that only a man could pass, and a man with the right skills and training managed to complete it, the chances of him acquiring the Majik would be exceedingly slim—about 0.001 percent. Even in such a rare case, it would be considered nearly impossible without a miracle. Despite this, it seemed that Ichi, although confused, might be beginning to grasp his newfound power.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- Introduction of Ichi: Ichi returns to the village at the foot of Druid Mountain with a large moose, receiving gratitude from the villagers for making their journey safer.
- Ichi jokes about the name of the university the women are attending and gives them rabbit meat and jerky as a parting gift.
- A villager remarks that Ichi lives differently from them, prompting Ichi to prepare to return to the mountain.
- At age six, Ichi was abandoned on the mountain, surviving through sheer will and mastering survival skills, including hunting.
- Ichi encounters a massive creature near the mountain peak and plans to set traps to deal with it if necessary.
- The women’s carriage halts due to an emergency magic warning, and they anticipate seeing real magic.
- Introduction of Desscaras and Monegold: Desscaras, the Abyssal Witch, is approaching Druid Mountain and communicates with Monegold, the Aureate Witch, about handling the Uroro situation.
- Monegold instructs to evacuate residents and establish protective barriers while Desscaras proceeds to the mountain.
- Majiks, including King Uroro, are living forces with distinct personalities and trials for acquiring their power.
- Introduction of King Uroro: King Uroro, the King Majik, confronts Desscaras, taunting her and asserting that no witch can claim him due to his nature.
- Desscaras attacks King Uroro with her ability, Lazud, causing a massive explosion that fails to harm him.
- King Uroro reveals that no witch has ever acquired him and mocks Desscaras’ attempts.
- Ichi unexpectedly appears, confusing both Desscaras and King Uroro.
- Ichi’s declaration of being a man angers King Uroro, who attacks him and becomes trapped in a pitfall snare set by Ichi.
- . Ichi warns King Uroro not to escape and prepares to strike, resulting in King Uroro’s core being shattered.
- After the battle, Ichi's outfit transforms into elaborate attire, causing him confusion and bewilderment at King Uroro’s disappearance.
- Desscaras attempts to warn Ichi, but he mistakenly perceives her intent as a threat and attacks her.
- Ichi uses the spell "Lazud" against Desscaras, surprising onlookers.
- In their world, men are believed to have a 0.001 percent chance of acquiring Majiks, but Ichi begins to grasp his newfound power despite the rarity.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Creators' Comments | |
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Osamu Nishi |
This is my first time on this stage, and I'll be dancing with all I got! Thanks for the support!
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Shiro Usazaki |
Nice to meet you, and long time no see! I'll have fun on this series and do my best so that you enjoy it.
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