TV-Series
Description
Hayato Kurogane is the stern captain of the EXE, the Inquisition's elite special forces, a position that grants him immense influence second only to the organization's leader. He holds the title of the strongest Witch Hunter, a reputation earned through an unprecedented achievement in the Inquisition's history: forming a contract with two Relic Eaters, the weapons Caligula and Maximilian.
From his earliest memories, Hayato was defined by his nature as an abnormal Hero Vessel, possessing exceptional skill and intelligence that distanced him from everyone, including his parents, who eventually abandoned him out of fear. Living alone from a young age, he researched his own condition and concluded that his talents left him with only two viable paths in life: to embrace evil and conquer the world, or to become its guardian and enforcer of law. Having a legitimate interest in both, he made the decision by a simple toss of a coin.
In his early days as an Inquisitor, Hayato expressed little to no emotion, acting solely on efficiency and mercilessly adhering to the written law without being shaken by any situation. He joined the Inquisition as the youngest Dullahan and was placed under the command of Kazuma Mineshiro, a superior whose methods he initially viewed as inefficient. Hayato constantly disregarded orders to act independently, believing his own methods to be superior. A pivotal moment came during the investigation of an illegal witch trafficking ring called Insect Cage, where Kazuma prioritized saving a single survivor over pursuing evidence of collusion within the Inquisition. Witnessing Kazuma’s unwavering conviction in the face of a bleak outcome led Hayato to reconsider his own path.
Through Kazuma’s heavy-handed lessons, Hayato forged an inner law to live by, a personal code that would come to define his entire existence. This new guiding principle overshadowed all other rules and regulations, essentially placing his own judgment of justice and efficiency above everything else. He dedicated his overwhelming talents to protecting innocent people, and while he remains aloof and austere, he deeply treasures his comrades and is self-sacrificial by nature. However, his dedication to the greater good is absolute; he is perfectly willing to kill anyone who opposes his belief in protecting the many, even former comrades. His emotionless scowl and powerful presence inspire both dread and admiration among his peers.
As the captain of the EXE, Hayato's role in the story is that of an overwhelming force and a symbol of the Inquisition's power. He is often deployed to handle threats too great for others, such as the demon host Kiseki Kusanagi, whom he was responsible for subduing and capturing. His relationship with his former superior, Kazuma, is the foundation of his character development. Hayato eventually succeeded Kazuma as captain, a promotion that followed a confrontation where Hayato found himself unable to shoot his mentor, realizing his own inner law would not permit it. After Kazuma’s death, Hayato felt genuine regret for the first time in his life, burdened by the lives he could not save, including Kazuma’s family. This loss solidified his resolve to act on his own principles. He maintains important relationships with several key figures. He took particular care in supervising Kazuma's adopted daughter, Ouka Ootori, honoring his mentor's last wishes by ensuring she stayed out of trouble despite her reckless hatred for witches. He sees Takeru Kusanagi’s determination to save everyone as an unrealistic dream but ultimately respects his will. He views Kiseki Kusanagi not as a monster to be killed but as a victim to be saved, and he later breaks away from the Inquisition to act alone in his fight to save her from being used as a weapon.
Hayato’s abilities are considered supernatural even without magical enhancements. His strength, speed, and decision-making are unmatched, allowing him to easily defeat enemies armed with Relic Eaters. His primary Relic Eater is Caligula, a heavy revolver that converts his near-limitless vitality into powerful magical attacks. His second Relic Eater is Maximilian, an ornate silver pistol with defensive capabilities that can nullify incoming attacks and redirect the energy. He rarely needs to rely on Maximilian for defense, as his own body, further reinforced by his Witch Hunter form, is a formidable weapon on its own. In later developments, following a devastating war, he works alongside a heretic alliance to rebuild the Inquisition, forming an armistice with the witches' country and eventually being appointed as the organization's vice chairman to help stabilize the new order.
From his earliest memories, Hayato was defined by his nature as an abnormal Hero Vessel, possessing exceptional skill and intelligence that distanced him from everyone, including his parents, who eventually abandoned him out of fear. Living alone from a young age, he researched his own condition and concluded that his talents left him with only two viable paths in life: to embrace evil and conquer the world, or to become its guardian and enforcer of law. Having a legitimate interest in both, he made the decision by a simple toss of a coin.
In his early days as an Inquisitor, Hayato expressed little to no emotion, acting solely on efficiency and mercilessly adhering to the written law without being shaken by any situation. He joined the Inquisition as the youngest Dullahan and was placed under the command of Kazuma Mineshiro, a superior whose methods he initially viewed as inefficient. Hayato constantly disregarded orders to act independently, believing his own methods to be superior. A pivotal moment came during the investigation of an illegal witch trafficking ring called Insect Cage, where Kazuma prioritized saving a single survivor over pursuing evidence of collusion within the Inquisition. Witnessing Kazuma’s unwavering conviction in the face of a bleak outcome led Hayato to reconsider his own path.
Through Kazuma’s heavy-handed lessons, Hayato forged an inner law to live by, a personal code that would come to define his entire existence. This new guiding principle overshadowed all other rules and regulations, essentially placing his own judgment of justice and efficiency above everything else. He dedicated his overwhelming talents to protecting innocent people, and while he remains aloof and austere, he deeply treasures his comrades and is self-sacrificial by nature. However, his dedication to the greater good is absolute; he is perfectly willing to kill anyone who opposes his belief in protecting the many, even former comrades. His emotionless scowl and powerful presence inspire both dread and admiration among his peers.
As the captain of the EXE, Hayato's role in the story is that of an overwhelming force and a symbol of the Inquisition's power. He is often deployed to handle threats too great for others, such as the demon host Kiseki Kusanagi, whom he was responsible for subduing and capturing. His relationship with his former superior, Kazuma, is the foundation of his character development. Hayato eventually succeeded Kazuma as captain, a promotion that followed a confrontation where Hayato found himself unable to shoot his mentor, realizing his own inner law would not permit it. After Kazuma’s death, Hayato felt genuine regret for the first time in his life, burdened by the lives he could not save, including Kazuma’s family. This loss solidified his resolve to act on his own principles. He maintains important relationships with several key figures. He took particular care in supervising Kazuma's adopted daughter, Ouka Ootori, honoring his mentor's last wishes by ensuring she stayed out of trouble despite her reckless hatred for witches. He sees Takeru Kusanagi’s determination to save everyone as an unrealistic dream but ultimately respects his will. He views Kiseki Kusanagi not as a monster to be killed but as a victim to be saved, and he later breaks away from the Inquisition to act alone in his fight to save her from being used as a weapon.
Hayato’s abilities are considered supernatural even without magical enhancements. His strength, speed, and decision-making are unmatched, allowing him to easily defeat enemies armed with Relic Eaters. His primary Relic Eater is Caligula, a heavy revolver that converts his near-limitless vitality into powerful magical attacks. His second Relic Eater is Maximilian, an ornate silver pistol with defensive capabilities that can nullify incoming attacks and redirect the energy. He rarely needs to rely on Maximilian for defense, as his own body, further reinforced by his Witch Hunter form, is a formidable weapon on its own. In later developments, following a devastating war, he works alongside a heretic alliance to rebuild the Inquisition, forming an armistice with the witches' country and eventually being appointed as the organization's vice chairman to help stabilize the new order.