Because I'm the Goddess
| Industry | Manga publishing |
|---|---|
| Founder | Shamneko |
| Headquarters | Japan , Japan |
Area served | Japan, English-speaking countries |
| Products | Manga series |
| Owner | Wani Books (original), Tokyopop (English translation) |
is a Japanese manga series crafted by Shamneko, originally released by Wani Books in Japan and later translated into English by Tokyopop. This trilogy centers on Aoi, a young man who assists Pandora, a Goddess, in gathering "the Gifts" essential to her fulfillment.
Plot
Sent by God, Pandora—a blonde Goddess—is dispatched to Earth with the mission of recovering "the Gifts," supernatural entities that possess women and enslave men. Accompanied by Aoi, whose hometown was devastated by Pandora’s tidal wave, and Maya, a monk liberated from a Gift’s control, they navigate a complex narrative involving allies and foes amid a celestial conflict.
Characters
Pandora represents the embodiment of mortal men's desires: a voluptuous blonde with limited intellect but vast divine strength. Her influence compels obedience from most men except for Aoi and Maya. She habitually refers to herself in the third person and wields the "Goddess Wish," a power capable of altering reality—for example, transforming a store into gold. After using this ability, she reverts to a childlike state that only Aoi’s kiss can reverse, restoring her adult form and powers.
Pandora identifies men enslaved by Gifts through invisible chains and liberates them by converting Aoi’s soul into magical implements via the incantation "Asich Ergalion!". She absorbs Gifts—depicted as cherubic figures—without injury. Declaring Aoi her manservant, she gradually reveals feelings of love and jealousy regarding his attention.
It is unveiled that Pandora serves as nourishment for gods such as Zeus to regain lost strength. Ultimately, she sacrifices herself by employing Aoi’s soul as a weapon to dismantle the Gifts’ domination. Her powers transfer to the true Pandora—a human girl who communicates solely in Greek—whom Aoi discovers after the conflict.
Aoi is an educated high school graduate with a punk-inspired appearance. He finds adult Pandora’s clinginess and intrusion frustrating, favoring her childlike form instead. Pursued by his affluent family linked to Pandora and the Gifts, Aoi is revealed to be a clone created by Lady Araragi.
When transformed into combat objects by Pandora, Aoi’s soul animates these items while his physical body remains inactive; he can perceive the chains binding men under Gifts but depends on Pandora to wield him effectively. Though irritated by being called manservant, he shows genuine care for Pandora.
Matsun/Matsuyuki is Pandora’s white feline guardian who speaks and thinks with the flamboyance of a drag queen. He offers guidance to both Pandora and Aoi during their mission and can detect the chains connecting Gift-enslaved individuals. Matsun is later disclosed to be an incarnation of Prometheus.
Maya Amagi is a novice Buddhist monk who joins the group after being freed from possession by a Gift. His delicate appearance contrasts with traditional monks due to his upbringing in an all-female convent.
Suzuran Kabahara provides temporary refuge for the group. Displaying dual personas—studious and bespectacled versus delinquent without glasses—she initially harbors dislike toward Pandora but eventually becomes her ally.
"Sotaro" supports Aoi and Pandora early on, becoming an admired figure for Aoi. He is revealed as Aoi’s brother and Lady Araragi’s Slave, offering assistance while frequently teasing them.
Shunran Ibara is a renowned singer with a sadistic fixation on consuming those she loves. Outwardly courteous yet obsessed with Aoi, she confronts Pandora twice—losing in their second battle—and ends up brainwashed under her sister’s influence.
Shiran Ibara, Shunran’s elder sister and model, was once considered as Aoi’s prospective bride. She orchestrated Shunran’s manipulation and confronted Pandora wielding a sword but was ultimately defeated and removed from the storyline alongside Shunran.
Lady Araragi, leader of the Ibara family and original Goddess fashioned by Zeus, possesses multiple Gifts including Lust. She has produced cloned offspring for experimentation; however, only Aoi proves viable.
Zeus, creator of Pandora, lost his divine power long ago which dispersed as Gifts throughout Japan. After awakening from a century-long slumber, he dispatches Pandora to reclaim these powers but is ultimately stopped when she sacrifices herself to safeguard humanity’s will.
Gifts and Their Servants
The Gifts that Pandora pursues are entities that inhabit women, amplifying their desire for control, particularly in a sexual context, and compelling these women to enslave men. These men become devoted slaves who follow her commands without question, regardless of the risks or humiliation involved. Each Gift is a distinct being identified by name to Pandora.
Starting from Volume 2, those possessed by the Gifts gain the ability to convert their slaves' souls and the binding "chains" into enchanted weapons used in battles against Pandora. If concentration falters, the slaves revert to their original states and the chains return to their vulnerable condition.
Reception
"If you enjoyed Love Hina but prefer it without the romantic elements, this series will likely appeal to you. However, those seeking a deeper narrative and fewer exaggerated chibi expressions might want to look elsewhere." — Kevin Leathers, UK Anime Network.
"There's nothing inherently wrong with a male character being depicted as an adorable female, but when Aoi starts showing more interest in Amagi than Pandora, it turns into a magical-girl-loli-yaoi scenario." — A. E. Sparrow, IGN.
"This manga features numerous alluring illustrations of the voluptuous Pandora and appears crafted to entice readers; yet beneath that, it offers entertaining and humorous storylines reminiscent of classic genie sitcoms." — Carrie Shepard, Newtype USA.
"If you give it a chance, this is an amusing tale and essential reading for fans who appreciate both cute young girls and shapely women since it delivers both simultaneously!" — Matthew Alexander, Mania.