This story is...unusual. By the title youd think it was cashing in on the villainess craze. Maybe it isbut you couldnt tell that by reading it. This isnt an isekai eithera story where the protagonist is reincarnated or transported to another world usually inhabiting the body of a girl who is destined to become or who has already become the villainess in a romance story. All of the characters in Futsu Aku are from the world they inhabit. A world inspired by historical China and the story mostly takes place at the imperial palace. Theres a lot of political intrigue at the court as five imperial consorts compete for the crown princes affections though our protagonist Reirin seems the obvious choice. The prince dotes on her and she is very sickly. Its enough to make her competitors jealous...jealous enough for one of them to steal Reirins body and her place next to His Majesty. And yet Reirin doesnt care because shes finally been given a body that isnt frail and weak. No more days in bed. No more struggling to breathe endless medication or any other troubles. Not once is she discouraged by her upcoming execution or her new terrible reputation or her old friends denigrating her. Its difficult to explain why Reirin is such a fantastic protagonist. Shes consistently upbeat but she isnt naive. She gets angry. But shes never never never defeatist in her attitude. Its so easy to see why everyone is drawn to her. And as the story reveals even when her body was weak and frail she was immensely strong. Her will was immensely strong. With a body strong enough to match her soul theres really nothing to stop Reirin anymore. Its hard to explain why I love Reirin but find A Certain Magical Indexs Touma to be grating at times. I think it might be her shrewdness that comes through when characters challenge her and why shes doing something they consider stupid or reckless or both. Shes an absolutely charming character. Reirins so charming in fact that her way of viewing the world infected me too. It would be so easy to hate the woman who stole her body but Reirin never does. Shes only grateful to her she only shows her compassion and understanding. Through that lens even the vile villainess everybody at court despises just becomes...an inept intense girl who tends toward extremes. Their interactions later on are magical. Ive found that when a lot of stories want to be dark they do it so extremely and irredeemably. To the point that its not believable or interesting or has any gravity. The magic of Futsu Aku is how it starts off so darkly and Reirin is able to restore it to a soft forgiving equilibrium with the element other stories are missing: Hope. In a world with actual magic spirits and supernatural phenomena somehow everyone falls under Reirins spell. Futsu Aku is a fantastic story with a fantastic protagonist. Go buy this from Seven Seas Entertainment. Do it now