The story begins when Nanami Momozono, is thrust into dire straits, becoming homeless after her gambling father flees, leaving behind a massive debt. While wandering in a park, she accidentally saves a strange man named Mikage from a dog chasing her. In return, Mikage kisses her on the forehead, gives her the Earth God's seal, and grants her his home, which is actually an abandoned ancient shrine. There, Nanami meets Tomoe, a strikingly handsome and arrogant fox spirit who is the guardian spirit of the shrine. Although Tomoe initially vehemently opposes a weak human as his master, after Nanami risks her life to forge a spirit pact with a kiss, the two are bound together, beginning a life filled with troubles and dangers between the human and spirit worlds.

The world in The Apprentice God of the Land is incredibly rich and fantastical, based on traditional Japanese Shinto mythology and beliefs. The story doesn't just revolve around the Mikage Shrine; it expands to the Yohkai (divine realm), the dragon palace deep beneath the ocean, and even journeys back in time to a bloody and tearful past 500 years ago. The cast is incredibly diverse, ranging from supreme deities like the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and the Thunder Goddess Takehayami, to demons like Mizuki (a loyal but jealous snake goddess), Kurama (a cool, idolized tengu), and especially Akura-ou (the lord of demons, Tomoe's close but cruel friend from the past). Each character is portrayed with their own hidden aspects and inner thoughts, creating a colorful, surreal social tapestry that blends the humor and absurdity of everyday life with the tragedy and ferocity of power struggles and survival battles.

The core value that makes the series so enduringly successful lies in character development and love that transcends racial boundaries. From a weak girl, Nanami gradually learns to use spells, compassion, and resilience to tame demons, protect the shrine, and become a true Earth Goddess respected by all. The love between her and Tomoe is not blind possession, but a process of understanding, healing millennia-old wounds, and sacrificing together to break the cruel curse of the past. With its delicate artwork, meticulously designed ancient kimono costumes, and melodious traditional Japanese music, The Apprentice God of the Land is not only a sweet and romantic love story but also a beautiful ballad about compassion, responsibility, and the aspiration for goodness shared by both humans and deities.

To become a trainee god, the successor needs to receive the mark of the previous god. In the story, the earth god Mikage transferred the shrine by placing a kiss on the forehead. This helps the successor receive the seal and become the new earth god; the usual method is to give a kiss to the spirit with whom they wish to make a pact. The kiss acts as a sealing mark, creating a spiritual bond between the two. The spirit will be completely bound by the pact and must obey and protect its god.