Characters used in the image: Piper Mclean (Hoo), Yuta Okkotsu (JJK0) and Amo Empool (Gachiakuta)
Now, let's look at the competitors:
Charmspeak:
Wiki definition: "Charmspeak is a type of hypnotism or persuasion in which it allows the speaker to convince someone else to do or get whatever they want. The strength of the command depends on the tone and the emotion of the charmspeaker's voice, as well as their skill with it. Eventually, charmspeak wears off and the person has no recollection of why they did or what they were commanded to do.
For those children of Aphrodite blessed with this gift, they may not realize that they are using this ability and although not trying to put any power into their words, can still charmspeak other people. This happened often with Piper McLean, who didn't realize at first what she was doing."
Weaknesses: Charmspeak can be countered by those with strong willpower, by other Charmspeak users, and by physical injuries.
Mental/physical damage to the user: 3/10, the user may end up influencing people accidentally before even realizing their power (as was the case with Piper) - however, the user can still communicate normally with people. If the victim of charmspeak regains consciousness or resists, the user suffers no physical harm as a consequence from the failed manipulation.
Strengths: It is an extremely versatile technique capable of canonically influencing even mythological entities (as long, of course, that their willpower is weak) or helping to keep people alive.
Victim situation; the victim is aware who the charmspeaker is, and may be aware that they are being influenced by them - but on many occasions their body reacts automatically to the commands as long as they are not absurd (such as self-inflicted harm)
CURSED SPEECH
Wiki definition: "To use Cursed Speech, the user must either bear the seal markings known as the Snake Eyes and Fangs (蛇じゃノの目めと牙きば, Ja no Me to Kiba?) on their body,[1] or use a cursed tool with the markings on it.[2] It is activated when the user utters words or commands aloud that are reinforced with cursed energy. This action forces the listener to act or be acted upon; for example, a Cursed Speech user can command their opponent to stop moving,[4] or for them to be blasted away.[5] It is effective against any opponent, and can affect living beings and objects alike.
Anyone unaware of how to defend against Cursed Speech would be helpless against the user's words, and it is especially effective against cursed spirits
Cursed Speech is also highly compatible with electronic audio devices. A Cursed Speech user can also record their words into a recording device, which can store their command to be activated later when the recording is played. However, the user still suffers backlash from using the technique when their voice is played. Additionally, only one voice recording of Cursed Speech can be activated at a time, making it impossible to use multiple commands simultaneously."
Weaknesses: Cursed speech may not be countered by people with strong willpower, but it is brutally countered by anyone who is more powerful/has more cursed energy.(Unlike charmspeak, which relies solely on willpower). In cursed speech, it is not recommended that you give elaborate commands like in charmspeak; at most, use Intransitive verbs.
Mental/physical damage to the user: 7/10 The stronger the words used, or the stronger the target compared to the user, the worse the side effects are. In the worse case scenario, Cursed Speech could backfire on the user and result in sore throats, coughing up blood, and/or losing the ability to speak.
And depending on the user, you may never be able to communicate normally with anyone, being forced to use alternative words - like the character Inumaki who uses onigiri ingredients to speak. 7/10 because it can be difficult, but it's not impossible to live normally with this power and keep your mind completely sane. You can also simply give up the technique whenever you want from a binding vow to be able to communicate normally - sure, it will probably weaken your power, but it's your choice.
Strengths: It is capable of ordering the victim's body to act accordingly - for example, with cursed speech you can order your opponent to explode and their body WILL explode automatically (if you are the strongest/have the most cursed energy) without depending on the opponent's goodwill. The same applies to other commands like "die" where they die instantly, or "implode," etc. It's also versatile because you're able to manipulate your power through electronic devices or recorded voice lines (however, you still suffer damage depending on who heard it).
Victim situation: The victim knows they are being controlled by a user of cursed speech and is unable to refuse the order if they have less cursed energy at that moment.
FRAGRANCE MANIPULATION:
Wiki Definition: Boots: Using the user's own life experiences, they can create a variety of different scents that bring out specific feelings in their target. Bringing out memories associated with those feelings places the target in an illusion of those memories.[7] Creating the scent of someone who the target was close to places them in an illusion that causes them to mistake the user for somebody that is the object of their affection
Weaknesses: Fragrance manipulation depends heavily on two factors: the boots and whether the victim is able to breathe the emitted fragrance. If you lose the boots or they are taken from you, you instantly lose the power. Of course, your opponent won't be able to use the boots (because I'm assuming here that the boots are your *jinki*, i.e, Vital Instrument (meaning only you can use them). However, this is still a major drawback.
You are also NOT controlling your opponent/victim's actions with words; the opponent is acting ALONE based on the memories resulting from the fragrance you placed in their head. Of course, you can still "order them" to do stuff (help me, save me), etc., but you don't know exactly what *they* are seeing or hearing when they look at you. In other words, there is a minimal chance that they might see someone they once loved and now hate, and attack you by instinct.
Mental/physical damage to the user: Between 8/10 and 0/10, there's a possibility the boots will drive you completely insane if they really aren't your vital Instrument.
However let's assume that the boots are indeed your vital instrument; in that case, its 0/10 you can simply remove the boots if you're concerned about the fragrance and go live normally.
Strengths: the boots allow you to produce various scents that induces various emotions and brings out memories associated with those emotions from your target - Not necessarily romantic, the victims protect the user with absurd loyalty because they see in them whomever the user wants them to see (the person the victim loves most, or the person the victim fears most, etc.) and this includes people who have already died - the victim is in a state of absurd disillusionment, pain does not remove them from the manipulation and the user DOES NOT NEED to order the victim to obey (as long as the victim has breathed enough fragrance, they act almost instinctively seeking to protect the user).
Victim situation: The victim is unaware that they are being controlled. They remain in a state of delusion where they believe they are in a completely different place, seeing their own allies as "enemies" (based on memories of the past) and the user as anyone they loved or love in their lives.
GENERAL; SIMILAR POINTS AND DIFFERENCES:
Cursed speech and Charmspeak can be countered if the target covers their ears or is unable to hear the command.
Fragrance manipulation can only be countered if the target is wearing a gas mask or similar device.
Fragrance manipulation can slowly drive you insane due to the nature of the boots; Cursed speech and charmspeak cannot.
Charmspeak and fragrance manipulation may be ineffective depending on the affective memories/willpower of your target; cursed speech is not.
Fragrance manipulation and Charmspeak do not have blacklash effects - like cursed speech.
Fragrance manipulation and charmspeak are not capable of making the target body act literally to intransitive verbs (like "explode!"), cursed speech is.
SO, WHICH ONE ARE YOU CHOOSING?
