In an alternative version of the Taishou era where it carried on for 25 years instead of 15, Tsugumi Kuze is the eldest daughter of a down-on-its-luck noble family. She has decided to marry a man she doesn't even know to help it keep its status, but just before the wedding, her younger brother Hitaki decides to inmolate himself with an old book in his hands...
His life is spared, but Tsugumi feels guilty about his suicide attempt, and things only get worse when two members of a mysterious investigation squad appears before Tsugumi, calling themselves "Fukurou": an organization tasked with hunting down Cursed Tomes, dangerous books that greatly affect their readers and drive them insane. And Tsugumi has adquired a rather useful ability for hunting down Cursed Tomes: the ability to see their auras as bright lights emanating out of them.
Thus, Tsugumi decides to join the two men's group, leaving her sheltered life by accepting a job as a searcher for cursed tomes. However, darker things lurk behind the surface, and also Tsugumi will become more entangled with her fellow Fukurou members than she may first believe.
Nil Admirari no Tenbin: Teito Genwaku Kitan (Libra of Nil Admirari: Imperial City Illusion) is an Otome Game produced by Idea Factory and Otomate. It was originally released for the Play Station Vita in 2016. A sequel subtitled Kuroyuri En'youtan was released in 2015 exclusively for Vita, and both games were given a Nintendo Switch port in a single cartridge subtitled Irodori Nadeshiko.
An anime adaptation by studio Zero-G aired as part of the Spring 2018 Anime season. It also received a manga adaptation in the GFantasy magazine.
This game provides examples of:
- Adaptation Distillation: The anime only has twelve episodes, so it barely gives focus to any of the guys and streamlines the plot to mostly follow Akira's route.
- A Nazi by Any Other Name: The Nachtigal squad aim to cause turmoil in Tokyo by use of the Cursed Tomes and wear familiar-looking black uniforms... And considering the Showa Era was soon to come, with all the fascist elements it implied, it makes them similar to the SS.
- Artistic License – History: In real life, the Taisho era ended after only 14 years (1912-1926), rushing in the militaristic and imperialist early Showa period. In this game, the Taisho emperor lived for another ten years, marking the year the game takes place as Taisho Year 25 (1936-1937).
- Arranged Marriage: Tsugumi was supposed to marry a powerful family's son, but since she cancels the engagement, she never discovers who her fiancé was. Eventually, she discovers it was Akira.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Despite the head of Fukurou being a woman, the guys treat Tsugumi in rather sexist manner, to weigh in the player how women were treated in that era.
- The Faceless: Mashiko never takes off his weird tribal mask.
- Gratuitous Latin: The nil admirari in the title? It means "to be surprised by nothing".
- Important Haircut: Tsugumi cuts her long hair to shoulder-length once she resolves to join Fukurou.
- Infodump: The first game is infamous for having a rather laid-back and simple common route, then going into this whenever the plot needs it. The anime tries to smooth it out a little better.
- Magic Eye: Hisui has a red eye and a green eye. The red eye allows him to control fire.
- The Roaring '20s: The setting and clothing design try to evoque this, even though the game should take place around the 30s according to its own timeline.
- Secret Character: Yutaka becomes an available pursuable character once the rest of routes have been completed.
- Shout-Out: The extra CG in the second game are inspired by Alice in Wonderland, with Tsugumi taking the role of Alice.
- The Smurfette Principle: The only female members of Fukurou are Tsugumi and Shiori, the organization's leader.
- Tsundere: Shougo is extremely bratty, joins Fukurou only because his life is in danger and harshly treats Tsugumi, but he eventually develops a crush on her.
- Urban Fantasy: The game uses a 20s setting to develop a fantastic story with superpowers and magical books.
