Koya is a character from The Twelve Kingdoms. He was abandoned by his impoverished mother as a young child and raised by a youma he named Ookii-no, meaning “big one,” which in turn called him Chiisai-no, or “little one.” In his youth he met Rokuta, the kirin of En, who gave him the name Kouya, meaning “midnight,” after the hour of their encounter. Having forgotten his original name, he treasured this new identity and began calling his youma companion Rokuta to honor the friendship. Longing for a peaceful land and hoping to find his mother, Koya dreamed of traveling to Hourai. He later encountered Atsuyu, the governor of En’s Baku Province, who offered him shelter and education in return for his loyalty, drawing him into a conspiracy to overthrow King Shouryuu of En. During this period Koya grew cold and sadistic, regularly allowing his demon bird to devour prisoners, soldiers, and servants who displeased him. After the rebellion was crushed, he departed En and transformed his life, becoming Kenroushin-kun, a heavenly sage charged with guarding travelers who journey through the perilous Yellow Sea. In this role he waited for Shouryuu to fulfill a promise to create a safe haven where he and Ookii-no could live in peace. Koya’s personality is marked by a deep-seated need for belonging and identity, warped by isolation and a hunger for power before he eventually seeks atonement. His most significant ability is his enduring bond with the great youma Ookii-no, a creature he commands and with whom he shares a lifelong partnership. Ultimately, Koya serves as a protective figure, using his accumulated wisdom of the wilderness and his spiritual authority to guide and safeguard others.