TV-Series
Description
Arnold Bergmann is a supporting antagonist in the story, serving as a major in the Germania Special Unit before being promoted to lieutenant colonel. He is an adult male with yellow eyes and short blonde hair that reaches approximately ear length. Bergmann operates as Germania's primary spy and is the officer in charge of investigating obscure myths and legends, a role that puts him on the trail of the last surviving witch.
In terms of personality, Bergmann is depicted as terribly cunning and a superb analyst, someone who appears to serve his country faithfully on the surface but is in fact a cynical survivalist. He maintains a perpetually smirking demeanor and fully embraces his position as one of the primary antagonists, making the most of being the bad guy among bad guys. His defining characteristic is his pragmatic self-interest; he shifts his loyalties as the wind of fate blows rather than adhering to any genuine patriotic or ideological commitment.
Bergmann's primary motivation is self-preservation and personal advancement. He is not driven by loyalty to the Germania Emperor Otto or to the nation itself. Instead, he treats his position as a means to an end, always calculating where his best chances for survival and continued relevance lie. This opportunistic worldview defines every major decision he makes throughout the narrative.
Within the story, Bergmann plays a crucial role as the instigator who initially locates and takes custody of Izetta, the last witch, before she is taken by Princess Fine of Elystadt. He oversees the Germanian efforts to capture and exploit magical power for military advantage. After he is dismissed from the Germanian Witch project by Emperor Otto, he outlives his usefulness to the empire and immediately pivots, readily selling his knowledge to the Elystadtian forces. His actions serve as a catalyst for much of the conflict surrounding the witch's power.
Bergmann has several significant relationships that shape his actions. His relationship with Emperor Otto is purely transactional, and once Otto dismisses him from the witch project, Bergmann shows no hesitation in betraying the empire that employed him. He has a connection to Sophie, another witch involved in the Germanian project, as well as professional ties to other members of the Germanian military apparatus such as Basler, a pilot who serves as an on-the-ground observer. His relationship with the Elystadtian leadership, particularly Princess Fine and her spymaster Sieghard Muller, is adversarial but ultimately becomes a source of opportunity when he defects his knowledge to them.
Bergmann undergoes notable development across the series. He begins as what appears to be a loyal, high-ranking intelligence officer for Germania, but his true nature as a survivalist gradually becomes apparent. His dismissal from the witch project serves as the turning point that strips away any pretense of loyalty, revealing him as a man who serves only himself. By the end of the war, he has completely abandoned his former masters and is last seen selling himself and the secrets of Design Division 9 to the United States of Atlanta, demonstrating that his pattern of self-interested betrayal will continue regardless of which nation he aligns with.
In terms of abilities, Bergmann is not a combatant or magic user. His notable skills lie entirely in the realm of intelligence and analysis. He is described as a superb analyst with a terribly cunning mind, which makes him effective as a spy and as the head of the Special Unit investigating mythical phenomena. His primary weapon is his intellect, his ability to assess situations, and his willingness to adapt his loyalties to whatever outcome benefits him most. He lacks any supernatural abilities, relying instead on manipulation, information gathering, and strategic betrayal to achieve his goals.
In terms of personality, Bergmann is depicted as terribly cunning and a superb analyst, someone who appears to serve his country faithfully on the surface but is in fact a cynical survivalist. He maintains a perpetually smirking demeanor and fully embraces his position as one of the primary antagonists, making the most of being the bad guy among bad guys. His defining characteristic is his pragmatic self-interest; he shifts his loyalties as the wind of fate blows rather than adhering to any genuine patriotic or ideological commitment.
Bergmann's primary motivation is self-preservation and personal advancement. He is not driven by loyalty to the Germania Emperor Otto or to the nation itself. Instead, he treats his position as a means to an end, always calculating where his best chances for survival and continued relevance lie. This opportunistic worldview defines every major decision he makes throughout the narrative.
Within the story, Bergmann plays a crucial role as the instigator who initially locates and takes custody of Izetta, the last witch, before she is taken by Princess Fine of Elystadt. He oversees the Germanian efforts to capture and exploit magical power for military advantage. After he is dismissed from the Germanian Witch project by Emperor Otto, he outlives his usefulness to the empire and immediately pivots, readily selling his knowledge to the Elystadtian forces. His actions serve as a catalyst for much of the conflict surrounding the witch's power.
Bergmann has several significant relationships that shape his actions. His relationship with Emperor Otto is purely transactional, and once Otto dismisses him from the witch project, Bergmann shows no hesitation in betraying the empire that employed him. He has a connection to Sophie, another witch involved in the Germanian project, as well as professional ties to other members of the Germanian military apparatus such as Basler, a pilot who serves as an on-the-ground observer. His relationship with the Elystadtian leadership, particularly Princess Fine and her spymaster Sieghard Muller, is adversarial but ultimately becomes a source of opportunity when he defects his knowledge to them.
Bergmann undergoes notable development across the series. He begins as what appears to be a loyal, high-ranking intelligence officer for Germania, but his true nature as a survivalist gradually becomes apparent. His dismissal from the witch project serves as the turning point that strips away any pretense of loyalty, revealing him as a man who serves only himself. By the end of the war, he has completely abandoned his former masters and is last seen selling himself and the secrets of Design Division 9 to the United States of Atlanta, demonstrating that his pattern of self-interested betrayal will continue regardless of which nation he aligns with.
In terms of abilities, Bergmann is not a combatant or magic user. His notable skills lie entirely in the realm of intelligence and analysis. He is described as a superb analyst with a terribly cunning mind, which makes him effective as a spy and as the head of the Special Unit investigating mythical phenomena. His primary weapon is his intellect, his ability to assess situations, and his willingness to adapt his loyalties to whatever outcome benefits him most. He lacks any supernatural abilities, relying instead on manipulation, information gathering, and strategic betrayal to achieve his goals.