Keno Inusaka, also known by his stage name Asakeno, is a traveling dancer and the holder of the "Wisdom" bead, marking him as one of the eight Dog Warriors known as the Hakkenshi. He is a young man with a strikingly beautiful and androgynous appearance; his long, dusty brown hair and delicate features cause him to be frequently mistaken for a woman, a misconception that follows him throughout his journey.

Keno’s background is marked by profound tragedy. Two years before the start of the main story, his village was destroyed by a being named Ao. During this massacre, his family was killed and his own heart was carved out of his chest. Despite this fatal wound, Keno refused to die. His tenacious will to live fascinated the demon princess Kokonoe, who saved his life by giving him her own heart. Now bound to Kokonoe, Keno was taken in by her and became the star dancer in her troupe of musicians. He was raised to be a performer, which explains his grace and his comfort with wearing elaborate traditional clothing. Before the tragedy, his parents worked as moneylenders, a profession that created many enemies and ultimately led to the family’s downfall, though Keno remembers them as loving parents who raised him with genuine affection.

In terms of personality, Keno presents a cool and composed exterior, often described as cold or unapproachable. He is a man of few words who carries himself with an elegant, almost ethereal demeanor. Beneath this reserved surface, however, lies a deeply driven and strategic individual. His primary motivation is a burning desire for revenge against Ao, the entity who destroyed his life. This quest for vengeance is the central axis around which his actions revolve. He has honed his skills specifically for this purpose, and when he first encounters the protagonists, Sosuke Inukawa and Shino Inuzuka, he attacks them, having mistakenly identified Sosuke as his hated enemy, Ao. Despite his serious and focused nature, Keno also displays a playful, teasing side, particularly towards the younger Shino Inuzuka, whom he enjoys provoking.

Throughout the narrative, Keno serves as a powerful ally and a fellow bearer of one of the eight sacred beads. His combat ability is exceptional; he is an adept and strong swordsman, wielding a named blade called Osaza that was entrusted to him by his father. His skill with a sword is such that he was able to defeat Shino Inuzuka, a formidable fighter who wields the legendary blade Murasame. His fighting style is a direct contrast to his graceful appearance, being swift, precise, and deadly.

Key relationships define his role in the story. His bond with Kokonoe is unique and complex; he regards her as both a mother and an older sister, as she is not only his savior and surrogate family but also the source of the heart beating in his chest. His primary relationship is with his enemy, Ao, who is intricately connected to the other main characters. The search for Ao forces Keno to confront the complicated truth about his own past and his connection to the very person he has sworn to kill. This leads to a significant development in his character arc. Upon learning that his simplistic view of the past may not be the whole truth, he agrees to travel to his former home with Sosuke Inukawa to investigate the real history behind the attack on his village, showing a willingness to move beyond pure revenge and seek the full story.