TV-Series
Description
Bookman is the current head of the Bookman clan, a mysterious and elderly man who serves as both an exorcist for the Black Order and the master of his apprentice, Lavi. His true name is unknown; he has abandoned it and goes solely by the title of Bookman, a tradition for those who take on the role of recording the world's hidden history. Physically, he is a very short individual, standing only 140 centimeters tall, and appears as a frail old man with wrinkled features and silver eyes. He has a distinct patch of white hair on his head that sticks up in the shape of a question mark and wears dark, panda-like makeup around his eyes, a feature that often leads to his apprentice calling him old panda.
The core of Bookman's personality is defined by his dedication to neutrality and observation. The Bookman clan's primary duty is to witness and record significant historical events from a detached perspective, never interfering or forming attachments. Bookman frequently lectures Lavi on the importance of this mindset, reminding him that they are not true exorcists but observers who merely use their position within the Black Order to be close to the action. He is typically a serious and stern figure, often becoming frustrated or enraged when Lavi interrupts his lectures or behaves flippantly. Despite his insistence on detachment, Bookman displays an enduring spirit and a clear, if hidden, care for his apprentice. He has been visibly emotional and tearful upon Lavi's safe return from dangerous missions, revealing a deep bond that contradicts his professional principles. He is also known to enjoy sleep, fighting techniques, and has a particular fondness for pudding.
Bookman's motivations are entirely professional. He is driven by the need to record the truth of the great holy war between the Black Order and the Earl of Millennium, a conflict he considers the most significant in the long history of the Bookman clan. To this end, he allied himself with the Black Order, but his loyalty is conditional on his mission as a historian. His role in the story is thus a dual one: he fights as a support exorcist while secretly holding vast amounts of critical knowledge. He is one of the few characters who possesses information about the Fourteenth, and he has a deep, unexplored history with the Noah family, having allied with them thirty-five years prior to the main events of the series to record their side of the conflict.
Key relationships define his position in the narrative. His most significant relationship is with his apprentice, Lavi, whom he took on after a previous apprentice died. He is responsible for Lavi's training in both combat and the duties of a Bookman. Bookman also takes a keen scholarly interest in the protagonist, Allen Walker, referring to him as the Destroyer of Time based on a prophecy and observing him closely for his historical significance. His past alliance with the Noah family, particularly his connection to the Fourteenth, makes him a target for characters like Sheril Camelot, who kidnaps him and Lavi to interrogate them for secrets about the Fourteenth.
Throughout the story, Bookman demonstrates subtle but notable development. While he constantly preaches the importance of an observer's neutrality, his actions increasingly betray this ideal. He repeatedly fights on the front lines, defends his comrades, and shows genuine concern for his allies, which is a direct contrast to the core beliefs of the Bookman clan. His capture by the Noah family, who use Lavi's safety as leverage, places him in a situation where his professional detachment and personal feelings are in direct conflict.
Bookman is a formidable fighter despite his age. His anti-akuma weapon, or Innocence, is known as Heaven's Compass. It takes the form of a scroll that summons a compass-like circle, from which he can produce countless needles for combat. He is a master of traditional acupuncture, using his needles for both medical healing and destructive attacks. His offensive technique, North Crime, unleashes a large volley of needles to impale and destroy akuma, while East Crime creates a protective barrier of needles that can surround a target or be used as telekinetically controlled projectiles. His fighting style is complemented by his ghost-like movements, allowing him to act silently and with incredible agility.
The core of Bookman's personality is defined by his dedication to neutrality and observation. The Bookman clan's primary duty is to witness and record significant historical events from a detached perspective, never interfering or forming attachments. Bookman frequently lectures Lavi on the importance of this mindset, reminding him that they are not true exorcists but observers who merely use their position within the Black Order to be close to the action. He is typically a serious and stern figure, often becoming frustrated or enraged when Lavi interrupts his lectures or behaves flippantly. Despite his insistence on detachment, Bookman displays an enduring spirit and a clear, if hidden, care for his apprentice. He has been visibly emotional and tearful upon Lavi's safe return from dangerous missions, revealing a deep bond that contradicts his professional principles. He is also known to enjoy sleep, fighting techniques, and has a particular fondness for pudding.
Bookman's motivations are entirely professional. He is driven by the need to record the truth of the great holy war between the Black Order and the Earl of Millennium, a conflict he considers the most significant in the long history of the Bookman clan. To this end, he allied himself with the Black Order, but his loyalty is conditional on his mission as a historian. His role in the story is thus a dual one: he fights as a support exorcist while secretly holding vast amounts of critical knowledge. He is one of the few characters who possesses information about the Fourteenth, and he has a deep, unexplored history with the Noah family, having allied with them thirty-five years prior to the main events of the series to record their side of the conflict.
Key relationships define his position in the narrative. His most significant relationship is with his apprentice, Lavi, whom he took on after a previous apprentice died. He is responsible for Lavi's training in both combat and the duties of a Bookman. Bookman also takes a keen scholarly interest in the protagonist, Allen Walker, referring to him as the Destroyer of Time based on a prophecy and observing him closely for his historical significance. His past alliance with the Noah family, particularly his connection to the Fourteenth, makes him a target for characters like Sheril Camelot, who kidnaps him and Lavi to interrogate them for secrets about the Fourteenth.
Throughout the story, Bookman demonstrates subtle but notable development. While he constantly preaches the importance of an observer's neutrality, his actions increasingly betray this ideal. He repeatedly fights on the front lines, defends his comrades, and shows genuine concern for his allies, which is a direct contrast to the core beliefs of the Bookman clan. His capture by the Noah family, who use Lavi's safety as leverage, places him in a situation where his professional detachment and personal feelings are in direct conflict.
Bookman is a formidable fighter despite his age. His anti-akuma weapon, or Innocence, is known as Heaven's Compass. It takes the form of a scroll that summons a compass-like circle, from which he can produce countless needles for combat. He is a master of traditional acupuncture, using his needles for both medical healing and destructive attacks. His offensive technique, North Crime, unleashes a large volley of needles to impale and destroy akuma, while East Crime creates a protective barrier of needles that can surround a target or be used as telekinetically controlled projectiles. His fighting style is complemented by his ghost-like movements, allowing him to act silently and with incredible agility.