Killing Names

Kishishiki Zerozaki's Human Knock Vol. 1, Kishishiki Zerozaki's Human Knock Chapter 1

The **Killing Names** (殺(ころ)し名(な), *Koroshina*) are seven families of hitmen in the world of the *Zaregoto Series*. They are the most powerful killers in the world, using various bizarre and unusual means to murder their targets. Together with the Cursing Names, they make up a large majority of the Violence World. The families are ranked in terms of strength, with the Niounomiya being the strongest while the Ishinagi are the weakest. In addition, every family aside from the Zerozaki has an opposing Cursing Name family, which shares the second kanji in their names. The families all have different views on murder, performing it for various reasons.

## Families

### Niounomiya

The **Niounomiya Troupe** (匂宮雑技団(におうのみやざつぎだん), *Niōnomiya Zatsugidan*), also known as **Hitmen** (殺(ころ)し屋(や), *Koroshiya*), are the first ranked family of the Killing Names. They are the most powerful murderers in the Violence World, so strong that even Humanity's Strongest, Jun Aikawa, tends to avoid them. They are hitmen, contract killers who will murder for the appropriate price. They are known as Murder Magicians because they make sure to use unusual killing techniques that appear like magic to others. Many of their members, such as Fragment or the Cannibal Siblings, Izumu Niounomiya and Rizumu Niounomiya, are results of human experimentation. All of the family members work in pairs of siblings, including members of the branch families. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Tokinomiya.

#### Branch Families

The Niounomiya family has 53 branch families, all named after chapters of Genji Monogatari. The branch families mentioned are:

* **Sawarabi Branch Family** (早蕨分家(さわらびぶんけ), *Sawarabi Bunke*)
* **Miotsukushi Branch Family** (澪標分家(みおつくしぶんけ), *Miotsukushi Bunke*)
* **Agemaki Branch Family** (総角分家(あげまきぶんけ), *Agemaki Bunke*)
* **Wakamurasaki Branch Family** (若紫分家(わかむらさきぶんけ), *Wakamurasaki Bunke*)

### Yamiguchi

The **Yamiguchi House** (闇口衆(やみぐちしゅう), *Yamiguchi Shū*), also known as **Assassins** (暗殺者(あんさつしゃ), *Ansatsusha*), are the second ranked family of the Killing Names, making them the second most powerful assassin group in the Violence World, dwarfed only by the Niounomiya. They are assassins who murder under orders from their lords. According to Izumu Niounomiya, they lack 'aesthetic', killing in any way they have to in order to get the job done. Their home base is Taiyakujima. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Tsumiguchi.

#### Members

 Hyoui Yamiguchi | Female
 Nureginu Yamiguchi | Unknown

### Zerozaki

The **Zerozaki Clan** (零崎一族(ぜろざきいちぞく), *Zerozaki Ichizoku*), also known as **Cutthroat Murderers** (殺人鬼(さつじんき), *Satsujinki*), are the third ranked family of the Killing Names. While not the most powerful, they are definitely the most infamous of them all, known as the ones you should never make an enemy or an ally of. Unlike the rest of the families, the Zerozaki are unique in that they do not have any actual blood ties. Those in the Zerozaki Clan are people of any background who awaken to murderous impulses and start feeling the need to kill anyone in sight. These people have an innate attraction towards one another, gravitating together to form the Zerozaki Clan. The only exception to this is Hitoshiki Zerozaki, who was born to two regular Zerozaki Clan members, therefore being a purebred killer. When they join the Clan, people forsake their previous names and instead take on a new name, which follows the name convention of men having the suffix *shiki* (識) in their first names, and women having the suffix *ori* (織). Since the Zerozaki come from all kinds of backgrounds, each of them kill in different ways, and as such, the Clan gives off a disjointed feel. Many members have never met each other, and they are not necessarily always allies. Even so, the Zerozaki Clan has some organization in the form of the **Three Heavenly Kings** (三天王(さんてんのう), *Santennō*). They are the only Killing Name to not have an opposing Cursing Name family.

### Susukino

The **Susukino Regiment** (薄野武隊(すすきのぶたい), *Susukino Butai*), also known as the **Managers** (始末番(しまつばん), *Shimatsuban*), are the fourth ranked family of the Killing Names. They are assassins that kill for the sake of justice. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Kino.

### Hakamori

The **Hakamori Center** (墓森司令塔(はかもりしれいとう), *Hakamori Shireitō*), also known as the **Slaughterers** (虐殺師(ぎゃくさつし), *Gyakusatsushi*), are the fourth ranked family of the Killing Names. They are assassins that kill for the sake of everyone. They specialize in torture, and frequently work together with the Tsumiguchi to create new torture tools and methods. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Nukumori.

### Tenbuki

The **Tenbuki Establishment** (天吹正規庁(てんぶきせいきちょう), *Tenbuki Seikichō*), also known as the **Cleaners** (掃除人(そうじにん), *Sōjinin*), are the sixth ranked family of the Killing Names. They are assassins who kill the unclean. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Shibuki.

### Ishinagi

The **Ishinagi Section** (石凪調査室(いしなぎちょうさしつ), *Ishinagi Chōsashitsu*), also known as the **Reapers** (死神(しにがみ), *Shinigami*), are the seventh ranked family of the Killing Names, making them the weakest of the 7. They are assassins who kill those who should not live, those who 'turn against destiny'. Their opposing Cursing Name family is the Toganagi.

#### Members

 Toishi Ishinagi | Male

## Trivia

* The name Niounomiya translates to 'temple of scent'.
* The name Yamiguchi translates to 'mouth of darkness'.
* The name Zerozaki translates to 'zeroth peninsula'.
* The name Susukino translates to 'silvergrass plains'.
* The name Hakamori translates to 'forest of graves'.
* The name Tenbuki translates to 'heavenly smoke'.
* The name Ishinagi translates to 'stone lull'.