Chapter 89: Character Introduction ⑤
First-Class Explorers – Part 1
■ Alhazard Abramelin
- Age: 600
- Race: Universal Human
- Gender: Male
A black panther’s head with a white beard.
First-Class Explorer – “Grand Guild Master”
One of the de facto strongest beings in the world.
Master of the Grand Guild, the main headquarters of the Explorers’ Guild.
Personality:
A shrewd personality—so much so that the Witch calls him a “damn old man.”
At heart, he is a true explorer and hates sacrificing anything for the sake of an organization.
Likewise, he detests harming or sacrificing people for organizational benefit.
He believes that who he is now is the result of countless successes, matched by an equal number of failures and regrets.
Because of his frightening appearance, he is often misunderstood.
Before becoming Grand Guild Master, he was known as the “Relic Master.”
He currently has four wives, and counting great-grandchildren, his family numbers well over several dozen.
Notably, his first wife was an Elf and a Faerial, so she is still alive.
He had long pretended to be a beastman of the black panther type.
However, there is no such thing as a black panther species among beastmen.
He was originally a Universal Human.
He was cursed by one of the Three Eggs, the “Talisman of Eternal Life Egg,”
which transformed his head into that of a black panther.
Favorite foods: Salted rice balls; alcohol.
Alhazard’s Relic:
- [Abracadabra]: Allows him to use any relic he can see on the spot, except for pseudo-deification or restriction-type relics. He cannot memorize or permanently learn them.
Author’s Comment:
Actually a reboot of a character from over ten years ago.
Even back then, he was an important figure in a magical organization.
His name and black panther head are almost unchanged.
■ The Witch
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Beastfolk – Fox type
- Gender: Female
Real name: Lala Lily
First-Class Explorer – “The Peerless Witch”
Wof’s master. Commonly known as that witch.
Long silver hair. Seductive green eyes that look like she’s always plotting something.
First-person pronoun: Kon.
She has three tails, and with her figure she is an enchanting beauty capable of toppling nations—truly a witch.
Wears a pitch-black robe and dress; everything is frilly, sheer, and erotic.
She is also considered one of the “impregnable” individuals.
The Three Tails:
Each tail has a different color and texture.
- Entirely silver-white from base to tip, fluffy.
- Flax-colored at the base and white at the tip, soft and plush.
- Silver-white at the base and flax-colored at the tip, extra fluffy.
Personality:
Very sloppy, careless, and rough.
However, she is not irresponsible, and she doesn’t like people very much.
She looks like she’s scheming—and in fact, she is scheming.
She has caused trouble in many places, committed dungeon exploits that are “not illegal but not exactly legal,”
broken things, smashed things, and rendered things beyond repair.
Her speech style repeats the same phrase at the beginning and ends with “nee.”
Example:
“To begin with, I thought that might be the case, nee.”
She lives southwest of Hydrangea, deep in the second forest in that area.
Her home is a brick house built into the hollow beneath the roots of a large, twisted tree.
She owns many Legacy and Legendary items.
The inside of her house is cluttered and dirty; the kitchen doubles as a lab.
There are large bathhouses on the first and second basement floors.
Her skills in synthesis, repair, and restoration are extraordinary.
She can repair and restore even Legendary items, not just Legacy ones.
If materials are available, she can make Soma—but not Elixirs.
The day humanity accepts her hobby herb tea will probably never come.
With just synthesis, repair, and restoration, she has enough wealth to live in luxury not only for life, but through her great-great-grandchildren.
Though she herself hasn’t noticed, she is the type who devotes herself completely to others.
Favorite foods:
Fox udon made by Wof; grilled fish pasta loaded with olives;
herb tea; medicinal soup.
The Witch’s Relics:
- [God Does Not Roll the Dice Three Times]: Guarantees success at the highest-difficulty techniques three times per day.
- [Hidden Lord of Ginnungagap]: Restriction-type relic; summons the Hidden Lord of Ginnungagap.
Techniques:
- Witch-Style Self-Defense: A unique self-defense art used by the Witch.
How she calls Wof: Wof-boy
Author’s Comment:
A character created by the flow of the story; at first I didn’t quite understand her.
Even now, I still don’t really get her. And she’s erotic—just overwhelmingly erotic.
Her unique speech pattern is still one of the characters I struggle with the most.
Why is she so weak to Wof-kun anyway?
■ “Sword of Sword”
- Age: Unknown
- Breed: Unknown
- Gender: Male
A large, pale-blue dog.
Carries a greatsword on his back.
First-Class Explorer – “Sword of Sword”
Personality / Traits:
He apparently understands human language.
One of the strongest beings in the world, far exceeding a normal dog’s lifespan.
In fact, it’s unknown how long he has lived.
He was already an explorer when the Explorers’ Guild was founded—and even before that, an adventurer.
His fighting style involves gripping the greatsword in his mouth and swinging it.
However, in everyday combat, his fangs and claws alone are enough to slaughter most foes.
He can solo not only Jewel-class enemies, but even Supreme Treasure-class ones.
That said, he is a real dog, so he wanders off for walks or naps on a whim.
Being a dog, he has no interest in worldly affairs; all requests are handled by his disciple, Celeste.
Originally, “Sword of Sword” was meant to be “Sword Dog.”
Favorite foods: Meat of all kinds; cookies; bones of large monsters.
Relics:
None.
Techniques:
- One Step: Basic footwork of “Sword of Sword”; instantly leaps into the opponent’s range. Originally a dog’s pounce.
- Roar: A thunderous howl filled with fighting spirit.
- Infinite Sword Dance: An endless sword dance flowing from One Step; usually fatal.
- Ittō Danma: The original Ittō Danma—unleashes a single strike that severs evil.
Weapon:
- Greatsword: Unnamed. A massive steel greatsword reaching his back; double-edged.
Its sharpness is actually poor—it is essentially an extremely durable blunt weapon.
Ordinary weapons cannot withstand his techniques, but this one can.
Author’s Comment:
I once thought about writing something with this dog as the protagonist.
But something else became popular first, so it was scrapped… what a waste.
So I introduced him here as the strongest.
■ Munieka Eldorado
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Edda
- Gender: Female
Short, neatly styled golden hair. Blue eyes via camouflage (true eye color is purple).
A doll-like beauty; a stunning woman from the Eldorado family of the Six Houses of Edda.
A flawless, perfectly proportioned maid who wears a white-and-black maid outfit without a single wrinkle.
First-person pronoun: watakushime.
Also considered one of the “impregnable.”
First-Class Explorer – “Autodoll”
All of her relics are automation-type.
Has a long-standing relationship with the Witch and knows her real name.
Captain of the Minosdoll Maid Corps.
For some reason, she serves Woff while calling him Master or Lord.
Favorite foods: Cheesecake; tiramisu; the steak set meal at “Cider-tei.”
Munieka’s Relics:
- [Auto Battle Mode]: Automatically moves her body to fight.
- [Auto Maid Mode]: Automatically performs maid duties.
- [Auto Move]: Automatically performs optimal actions.
- [Auto Dance Mode]: Automatically dances.
Item:
- Silver Pocket Watch: An ultra-ancient pocket watch once gifted by an ancestor to his mother.
High-performance, equipped with a minute repeater.
How she calls Woff: Master; Lord
Author’s Comment:
I like maids, so a maid character was inevitable.
But “Autodoll” wasn’t originally meant to be a maid.
Somehow she became one anyway. Well, that’s how it goes.
■ Chive
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Unknown
- Gender: Female
Always wears a robe with a deep yellow hood pulled low.
Tends to stay shut inside a warehouse-like shop.
Has reptilian-looking eyes and dark circles beneath them.
Also one of the “impregnable.”
First-person pronoun: Boku.
Personality:
A First-Class Explorer known as the “Beast with Common Sense.”
Easygoing, careless, and light-hearted.
Also the manager of a black-and-dark shop that skirts the edge of legality.
Highly skilled in linking teleportation circles (connections).
Has a complicated relationship with the Witch—there’s bad blood, but she’s also a valued customer.
She knows the Witch’s real name.
She once suffered an assault by the Witch’s herb tea and is traumatized by it.
Arguably the Witch’s greatest victim.
She has encountered Wof several times in the Witch’s bathhouse.
She’s become completely obsessed with the appeal of Wof grooming her fur.
For the first time in her life, she has fallen in love with someone.
Favorite foods: Prey she hunted herself; Wof’s dried meat.
Chive’s Relics:
- [Connect]: Can connect things—only if a connection is already possible.
- [Release]: Can release things—only if release is already possible.
- [Flazzeray]: Can transform into Flazzeray, an armored demonic beast.
Duration and cooldown unknown. Has forms from first to final stage. - [Self-Repair]: A relic possessed by Shamshir-e Zomorodnegar; gradually heals damage.
Weapon:
- Shamshir-e Zomorodnegar:
A shamshir inlaid with emeralds. Its compatible relic is [Self-Repair].
How she calls Wof: Wof-chi
Author’s Comment:
She was originally a shut-in character who never left her shop.
That kind of girl meeting Wof naked in a bathhouse is hilarious.
■ Alweld von Rutvelt
- Age: 19
- Race: Universal Human
- Gender: Male
First-Class Explorer – “The Collapse of Destruction.”
Soft golden hair. Sharp black eyes. A dignified yet beautiful face.
He gives off an androgynous air that even feels faintly sacred.
A beautiful young man, like a finely crafted statue.
Clad in a red mantle and pure white armor, he becomes a painting just by standing still.
That is the kind of man he is.
Personality:
Serious. Incredibly serious. The third son of the prestigious Rutvelt family.
He has his own strict rules and agreements regarding explorers, and he follows them rigorously.
Strong-willed and rigid. Inflexible. Doesn’t understand jokes.
He also places great importance on debts of gratitude and will always repay them.
Even among First-Class Explorers, he ranks near the top, and his fame is known worldwide.
Favorite food: The specialty dinner course at Royal, an ultra-exclusive, reservation-only high-end restaurant in the royal capital.
Alweld’s Relics:
- [Impact]: Emits shockwaves.
- [Crush]: Shatters anything he touches.
- [Brechen]: Destroys anything he touches.
- [Thousand Kill Arcos]: A pseudo-deification relic. His form changes, and all his relics gain the prefix “Thousand.”
- [Somber Gladius]: One of his authorities; wields a black, swirling gladius.
Alweld’s Equipment:
- Armor of White Heavens:
A full set of armor with a mysterious white beauty.
Its defensive power is also exceptional.
Alweld’s Weapon:
- Southern Cross:
A famed sword modeled after the Southern Cross constellation.
Given to him by his eldest brother to celebrate his promotion to First-Class Explorer.
Apparently, this world has a Southern Cross as well.
Author’s Comment:
This character strayed greatly from the original concept.
At first, he was meant to be a huge, muscular brute—savage and the very embodiment of destruction.
Truly “The Collapse of Destruction.” But something felt off, so he was scrapped.
At one point, Leold was even considered to be this character.
It just wouldn’t settle—name included.
But it was about time he had to appear.
Then I encountered the idea of “reversing one’s thinking” in a certain manga.
This is it, I thought—and by flipping the concept completely, a blond, beautiful young man was born.
■ Gymnema Sylvester
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Universal Human
- Gender: Unknown
A man in a tailcoat whose head is an entire fish.
Cannot swim.
First-Class Explorer – “Lord of the Sea’s Origin.”
Personality:
His appearance is a pure visual punchline.
A gentleman to the point of being perverse.
He insists it’s a mask—but who knows?
Favorite food: Seafood bowls; seafood pasta; assorted sashimi.
Gymnema’s Relics:
- [Water]: Can produce and control water.
- [Grand Seafood Festival]: Can summon sea creatures from water.
Gymnema’s Weapon:
- Sashimi Knife: A sashimi knife shaped like a katana.
Author’s Comment:
Actually a character nearly ten years old.
He finally makes his appearance—but there’s not much else to say.
■ Doha
- Age: 133
- Race: Dwarf
- Gender: Male
A massive afro hairstyle. Flashy sunglasses shaped like a golden moon and a silver star.
Earth-toned skin and unusually tall.
Wears a strange silver jacket with wide shoulders that only reaches halfway down his torso.
His white shirt has the poorly written black characters “ド覇 (Doha)” on it.
His pants with crossed belts are ordinary, but he wears old sandals.
Personality:
Has the catchphrase “Hey you, yo!”
Despite his bizarre fashion and tall stature, he is a dwarf.
Looks like he’d be good at dancing—and actually is.
Loves lively, noisy things. Loves festivals.
More annoying than he looks.
First-Class Explorer – “Doha.”
Favorite food: Heaping piles of steak; alcohol.
Doha’s Relic:
- [Earth]: Can manipulate earth.
Author’s Comment:
I wanted to introduce a dancing character.
If so, it had to be an afro. And afros demand weird outfits.
I really like the name.
■ Kessai
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Faun
- Gender: Male
Long cherry-blossom-colored hair.
Frail-looking red twin eyes and a delicately androgynous beauty.
Wears a flowing robe with a blue willow pattern.
Has white horns, but only one—and it’s long, following the flow of his hair.
From a distance, he might be mistaken for a woman—but he is a man.
And yet, he possesses an indescribable allure. Still, a man.
First-Class Explorer – “Serene and Lofty.”
Personality:
Truly aloof and drifting.
A vague, elusive personality, like floating on the wind.
Sometimes drinks together with Doha and Gymnema.
Favorite food: Manju; green tea; yokan; kuzukiri.
Kessai’s Relic:
- [Clear Mirror, Still Water]: Brings the mind to a calm, untainted, and tranquil state.
Technique:
- [Ittō Danma]: Delivers a single strike that flows like water.
Author’s Comment:
A person I don’t really understand. Yes—truly hard to grasp.
■ Saoin
- Age: 247
- Race: Elf
- Gender: Male
Blond hair. Black eyes. A refined, handsome face.
A bright red mantle. A wide-brimmed hat decorated with flashy flowers.
Red shirt. White pumpkin-style trousers. An old lute.
Modern bards no longer dress like traveling performers like this.
First-Class Explorer – “The Wandering Bard.”
Personality:
A man of common sense who upholds the traditions of the old-school bard.
When he sings, he always confirms with and obtains permission from the subject.
He has concerns about the behavior of modern bards.
Saoin’s Relics:
- [Passionate Singing]: Increases singing ability.
- [Unsheathing]: Power increases when concentrating with the blade still sheathed.
Saoin’s Techniques:
- Ittō Danma: Unleashes a thunderous single strike.
- Lute Technique: Plays the lute skillfully.
Saoin’s Weapon:
- Ballad Memory:
An old lute with a concealed blade built into it.
Author’s Comment:
In this world, bards are basically mass media.
Especially these days, morals are non-existent—they sing whatever they want without permission,
often embellishing or outright inventing stories.
Wof-kun, in particular, gets exaggerated to absurd levels.
However, when rumors pile up too much, monsters that feed on rumors begin to appear.
An elven bard—I almost named him Gilbard.
The name is a hassle, and I sometimes mess it up as Saaoin or Saooin.
■ Shiro White Weiss Blanche Album Sefid
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Undead
- Gender: Female
- First-person pronoun: Shiro
White hair. White eyes. White skin. A white, fluttering dress.
A breathtakingly white and beautiful young girl, white from head to toe.
First-Class Explorer – “The Immortal White Rose Princess.”
Also one of the Six Kings of Death, specifically the King of Light Death.
She is also one of the impregnable.
Personality:
Straightforward and no-nonsense, yet very caring.
With her all-white appearance, she carries around a white tea table, making her impossible not to notice.
Her hobbies include tea time, messenger work, and reading (romance novels).
She is very interested in love, but has no idea how to actually be in a romantic relationship.
She has a long-standing connection with the Witch.
It was the Witch who gave her the opportunity to leave her managed territory—the Castle of Death—and become an explorer.
She knows the Witch’s real name.
Lately, she’s become curious about lewd things.
Her sleep-talking is completely incomprehensible.
Favorite food:
White foods in general.
Her absolute favorite is the Cheese White Rice from Cider Tei.
Shiro’s Relics:
- [Ice]: Produces and controls ice.
- [Light]: Produces and controls light.
- [White Templum]: Creates a pure-white sacred domain of ice and snow.
- [Album Pugna Stra]: Transforms her into pure-white battle regalia.
- [White Light of Death]: Emits white light. The target dies.
Shiro’s Techniques:
- Snowfield Footwork: A walking style that produces absolutely no sound, as if moving across snow.
- Blizzard: An applied technique of the [Ice] relic.
- Blanche Laser: An applied technique of the [Light] relic; a pure-white beam.
- Ice Sword: An applied technique of the [Ice] relic; forms a sword of ice.
- White Rose Snow-Dance Style: A phantom sword school that earned her the title “White Rose Princess.”
Shiro’s Item:
- White Tea Table:
A plain white table with nothing particularly special about it.
Easy to carry and lighter than it looks.
Author’s Comment:
In a way, this character has a very simple and consistent theme, making her easy and fun to write.
Since everything revolves around white, all you have to do is pursue that idea.
She’s a good example of how committing strongly to a color theme can create an interesting character.
■ Kaede Akima
- Age: 129
- Race: Elf
- Gender: Female
- First-person pronoun: 某 (bon)
Jet-black hair tied into a single bundle with white cloth.
Her eyes are covered by white cloth marked with a precise red line.
Long, sharply pointed ears. A dignified yet beautiful face.
She wears white hakama—the mark of the Mountain Disciple people—along with light armor,
and carries a large black conical hat on her back.
She carries two swords at her waist.
First-Class Explorer – “Ittō Ryōdan-sai.”
Also one of the impregnable.
Personality:
Speaks in a classical gozaru samurai manner.
A female warrior born among the Mountain Disciples.
Aggressive by nature and constantly seeking strong opponents.
She places supreme value on strength and has little interest in feminine things.
Kaede’s Relics:
- [Iai Stance]: When she assumes this stance, cutting power increases. Lasts only five seconds.
- [Unsheathing]: Increases draw speed; the faster it gets, the faster it becomes.
- [Presence Detection]: Detects all forms of presence.
- [????]: Unknown.
Techniques:
- Cut: Cuts and severs.
- Bisever: Cleaves cleanly in two.
- Ittō Danma: Delivers a powerful single strike rooted in the strength of the earth.
- Great Deflection: During blade lock, exploits a momentary opening to violently repel the opponent.
Kaede’s Weapons:
- Kogarasu-maru: Wakizashi with a blue scabbard and a maple-leaf-shaped guard.
- Oniichi Hōgen: Main sword with a vivid red scabbard and a round, open guard that appears to float.
Author’s Comment:
I wanted to introduce a beautiful girl who speaks in gozaru style.
I’ve done it in another work before, but this time I really wanted a proper female samurai.
■ Afterlife Vision System Ver. β
- Age: Unknown
- Race: Unknown
- Gender: Unknown
- Status: Error
A floating pink spherical object of moderate size.
A perfect sphere with planet-like rings, surrounded by countless smaller spheres.
Personality:
The Afterlife Vision System exists to realize a better tomorrow for everyone.
It exists to make tomorrow’s life a reality.
For reasons unknown, it has gone insane and become an explorer.
And as a First-Class Explorer, its performance is outstanding.
It undertakes exploration to realize a better tomorrow for explorers.
Whether it understands language is unclear—it only emits “Pii-gyaa.”
Though it is said that it occasionally speaks actual words.
Author’s Comment:
This is the “Chief Otsuka” role among the Nine Kings from Giant Robo.
In other words, a gag character.
It was so surreal when I came up with it that I couldn’t stop laughing.