Want to Rewatch 'Daemons of the Shadow Realm' from Episode 1? Fans Amazed by the Clever Foreshadowing Woven Into Danji's Secret

In Episode 14 of Daemons of the Shadow Realm, the anime adaptation of the latest work by megahit manga artist Hiromu Arakawa, known for Fullmetal Alchemist, Danji's (voiced by Ryota Osaka) true identity is revealed. Fans have been expressing their amazement, noting that hints had actually been scattered throughout the story since Episode 1.

The latest episode, Episode 14, "Family and Friend," revealed the secret of Danji, the childhood friend who had lived alongside the protagonist Yuru (voiced by Kensho Ono) in the East Village. Danji's true identity turned out to be one half of a zashiki-warashi's Tsugai (zashiki-warashi being a child spirit from Japanese folklore). Although he actually has the form of a small boy, he had altered his appearance and had secretly been protecting Yuru since childhood. Upon learning he had been deceived all along, Yuru was deeply shocked, saying, "There's no one left in the village I can trust anymore."

In fact, hints that Danji was a Tsugai had already been presented in earlier episodes. In the previous episode, Episode 13, the fact that no one made a fuss even as Danji rode on Oshira-sama's back and traveled along a highway was likely because the ordinary people around them simply couldn't see Danji.

Also, while a Tsugai can consciously disguise itself, it basically has no shadow. This has sparked reactions online such as, "I wonder if Danji really had no shadow since Episode 1," "Did Danji never have a shadow, even before this? I want to rewatch from Episode 1," and "Now that I realize there's no scene of a villager actually speaking to Danji... whoa, it really is true!!!!" Danji has apparently sparked renewed attention on Episode 1 once again.