Daikokuten

Territory Creation: E

They can create a favorable environment for themselves as mages.

Item Crafting: D

They can craft magical tools.

Divinity: E-

You can sense just a teeny tiny silver of Daikokuten’s grandeur lingering within them.

Meritorious Servitude¹: A

Capable of handling most household tasks, though none with exceptional skill. They’re only truly exceptional at preparing rice balls. By performing meritorious deeds, their spiritual core will ascend, even if only slightly... At least, that’s what they hope.

For The Benefit of All Sattvas²: A

One may be blessed with short-lived good fortune by performing a ritual in adoration of Daikokuten and presenting offerings. Yet, calling upon this ability may prove quite stressful, given that it involves inconveniencing the swamped original bearer of the power.

Squeakerland: B

A hidden underground space that can function as a magical workshop, subterranean passage, burrow and anything else. Sometimes a escape route, other times a pitfall. A cunning ability that can be wielded for both offensive and defensive purposes.

Translator’s Notes

1. ^ In Buddhism, “merit” is a kind of positive karma, a form of positive conditioning. It leads to positive outcomes. Someone who performs meritorious acts with a virtuous mind will eventually receive this good in return and achieve Enlightenment. Not because you have accumulated merits like credits, but because, by being a good person, you eventually reach Enlightenment on your own. You can see where joke is.
2. ^ An excerpt from the Threefold Refuge Mantra; “I take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Until I attain Enlightenment. By merit accumulations from practicing generosity and the other perfections. May I attain Enlightenment, for the benefit of all sentient beings.”

Mouse Pure Land¹

An underground mice-themed amusement park is brought into existence through the manifestation of a Reality Marble. Individually weak and insignificant, the rats compensate by outnumbering their foes through rodent-like tactics, such as setting traps, creating diversions, and launching blind onslaughts. It is undoubtedly a traumatic experience for anyone who goes through it. As this Noble Phantasm also embodies the prolific nature of mice, it allows for the breeding (alter-ego splitting) of units.

Tap-Appear Mallet

A magical furnace packing substantial reserves of magical energy, capable of explosively discharging this power to instantly allow the casting of a Reality Marble.

Translator’s Notes

1. ^ Also the title of a children’s story. In the tale, an old man goes to the mountains to cut down trees and shares his meal with a passing rat, who promises to return the favor. The rat takes him to a underground hole where they live, revealing a magical kingdom of happy rats. The only rule in this kingdom is not to say the forbidden word “meow.” The old man enjoys himself greatly and returns home with a trove of coins and treasures for his wife. Overhearing the story, a neighboring woman makes riceballs for her husband, hoping he can replicate the trick. He’s invited to the kingdom but utters the forbidden word, causing panic among the rats and the paradise to collapse, leaving him in the dark. He then starts digging for remaining riches and eventually becomes a mole, never to see the light of day again.

Personality

They’re caring, attentive, sophisticated, gentle, and workaholic to a fault. Their life’s calling is to serve others. Although each clone created by the Noble Phantasm possesses its own consciousness, they share a collective memory. Despite this, each clone exhibits a distinct personality of its own. No. 1 is wise and collected, while No. 2 is youthful and bubbly.

Attitude towards Master

As the Master of their lord, Daikokuten, the Master commands the highest level of respect. No matter the extent of their service, it will never truly be enough.

Dialogue Examples

Good to day to you. We are standing in for Caster Daikokuten at this time. Please accept our apologies, but our Lord is exceedingly busy and cannot accommodate your invitation right now… Therefore, we have been assigned to cover his duties in his absence. Please feel free to call on us for anything you may need.

What happens if a cat starts meowing here… Better switch off the lights already… We’re closing up! The way out is over there, everbody… Careful where you step…

Historical Image · Character Image

Originally a wrathful war god in Indian tradition, Mahakala was introduced to Japan, where his aspects of abundance and wealth were emphasized. He was later syncretized with the local deity Okuninushi, becoming one of the Seven Lucky Gods still celebrated in Japan to this day.

Character Image in “FateGO”

Although this is an Daikokuten’s summoning, it manifests as two white mice who act as his representatives. Daikokuten’s elements are virtually absent with the spiritual core operating at a drastically lower level. Yet, his wisdom can be downloaded when required.

Though they manage to subdue their primal instincts through their devotion to Daikokuten, this aspect occasionally resurfaces in their need to proliferate their kind. Daikokuten’s mice do breed and expand their population, but since no one has observed this process, it’s unknown whether it follows the same patterns as typical living beings. To prevent inbreeding, they seek out other humans or Servants to mate with, including the Master, of course.

They’re convinced that the only way to attain enlightenment and achieve divinity is through the relentless accumulation of merits by servitude. Because of their enormous population, one Master alone would be insufficient to sustain them all. As a result, they extend their service to other individuals, treating them as Masters to meet their needs. They dream of growing their community to the point of infesting the entire planet and serve every existing human. As such, it’s unknown whether their real goal is reproduction or enlightenment.

As rats, they harbor a deep hatred for cats and have taken it upon themselves to protect humanity from being charmed and brainwashed by cats plotting to take over the world with their cuteness. That said, they have to yet face a cat since their summoning. The idea fills them with dread.

General Armaments

Claws, teeth, lucky-bags (the oversized white bag featured in their extra attack.)

Connections with Characters

India and Buddhist-related Heroic Spirits

They might be related in some way, but the mice wouldn’t know.

Tamamo Cat

They believe she is a victim whose soul has been hijacked by a cat and are committed to rescuing her.

Given that the style and colors were already worked out, it was pretty easy. I wanted to experiment with a cosplay vibe in the designs. At first, I considered making them taller, but since they were rats, I gradually changed them to a smaller and younger look. (Riyo)