TV-Series
Description
Hairo Rich, also known as Hylo Rich, is a former soldier of the Bennett Church Army who later becomes a trusted member of the Immortal Army assembled to fight alongside the immortal being Fushi. He is a young man, initially introduced at the age of eighteen, and is distinguished by a unique and defining physical trait: he has been unable to feel physical pain since birth. This condition shapes his entire existence, from his upbringing to his interactions with the world.
Hairo's background is marked by hardship and manipulation. He was brought to the Bennett Church under the belief that a demon possessed him. He was raised by a foster mother known as Mother Tasette, who was both caring and cautious in her treatment of him. His daily life was consumed by learning the doctrines of the Bennett Church, and his earliest, most traumatic memory is of having all his teeth repeatedly pulled out, only to have new ones removed as they grew. This forced him to subsist on a diet of thin soup and porridge. On his birthday, Mother Tasette gifted him a set of prosthetic teeth, an act of kindness that he described as changing his world "from zero to one." Tragically, the very next day, she was taken away and replaced for having committed a sin. Despite these circumstances, he harbored a quiet aspiration to become a swordsman, a dream he discovered through books.
In terms of personality, Hairo possesses a remarkable level of emotional stability. Fushi himself observes that Hairo is more stable than many others, capable of shutting out the kinds of pain that would normally affect a person. This resilience, however, is also his greatest weakness. Because he cannot feel physical pain, he is prone to ignoring his own injuries and, more critically, he is unable to perceive the emotional suffering of those around him. This insensitivity to pain, both his own and others, creates a disconnect between him and the world, making him a formidable yet incomplete individual.
His motivation to join the cause against the Nokkers is rooted in a desire for purpose and freedom. After rising to the rank of head soldier within the Bennett Church, he resolved to escape at the first opportunity. This chance came when Prince Bon, also known as Bonchien, recruited him. Hairo becomes one of three key allies Bon brings to Fushi in the city of Renril, alongside Kai and Messar. Hairo willingly offers his body to Fushi, understanding that by becoming one of his "vessels," he can continue to live and serve in the fight against their common enemy indefinitely. His role in the story is therefore that of a devoted and crucial ally in Fushi's expanding immortal army.
His key relationships are primarily with Fushi, Prince Bon, and his fellow soldiers, Kai and Messar. He trusts Bon's judgment and becomes a loyal subordinate. His relationship with Fushi is unique; as a potential vessel, his body and abilities become tools for Fushi to use. This dynamic forces Fushi to confront his own discomfort with using human forms, though Hairo is a willing participant. Together with Kai and Messar, Hairo forms a triad of trusted warriors who support each other in battle.
Hairo's development is subtle but significant. After being resurrected, he continues to serve in the Immortal Army and faces new moral and strategic challenges. In one instance, he struggles with a moral crisis when he chooses to let a thief go against evacuation protocols, only for that same thief to later kill a young boy. This event forces him to grapple with the unintended consequences of his decisions and the weight of maintaining order, highlighting his continued struggle to understand forms of pain and harm that are not his own.
His most notable ability is his complete immunity to physical pain. He can still feel temperature and touch, but not the sensation of injury or harm. This makes him an exceptionally durable fighter, as he does not flinch or get slowed down by wounds that would incapacitate others. The only pain he can experience is mental or emotional distress, which can become apparent when his mind is under extreme duress, such as when Fushi uses his form for extended periods.
Hairo's background is marked by hardship and manipulation. He was brought to the Bennett Church under the belief that a demon possessed him. He was raised by a foster mother known as Mother Tasette, who was both caring and cautious in her treatment of him. His daily life was consumed by learning the doctrines of the Bennett Church, and his earliest, most traumatic memory is of having all his teeth repeatedly pulled out, only to have new ones removed as they grew. This forced him to subsist on a diet of thin soup and porridge. On his birthday, Mother Tasette gifted him a set of prosthetic teeth, an act of kindness that he described as changing his world "from zero to one." Tragically, the very next day, she was taken away and replaced for having committed a sin. Despite these circumstances, he harbored a quiet aspiration to become a swordsman, a dream he discovered through books.
In terms of personality, Hairo possesses a remarkable level of emotional stability. Fushi himself observes that Hairo is more stable than many others, capable of shutting out the kinds of pain that would normally affect a person. This resilience, however, is also his greatest weakness. Because he cannot feel physical pain, he is prone to ignoring his own injuries and, more critically, he is unable to perceive the emotional suffering of those around him. This insensitivity to pain, both his own and others, creates a disconnect between him and the world, making him a formidable yet incomplete individual.
His motivation to join the cause against the Nokkers is rooted in a desire for purpose and freedom. After rising to the rank of head soldier within the Bennett Church, he resolved to escape at the first opportunity. This chance came when Prince Bon, also known as Bonchien, recruited him. Hairo becomes one of three key allies Bon brings to Fushi in the city of Renril, alongside Kai and Messar. Hairo willingly offers his body to Fushi, understanding that by becoming one of his "vessels," he can continue to live and serve in the fight against their common enemy indefinitely. His role in the story is therefore that of a devoted and crucial ally in Fushi's expanding immortal army.
His key relationships are primarily with Fushi, Prince Bon, and his fellow soldiers, Kai and Messar. He trusts Bon's judgment and becomes a loyal subordinate. His relationship with Fushi is unique; as a potential vessel, his body and abilities become tools for Fushi to use. This dynamic forces Fushi to confront his own discomfort with using human forms, though Hairo is a willing participant. Together with Kai and Messar, Hairo forms a triad of trusted warriors who support each other in battle.
Hairo's development is subtle but significant. After being resurrected, he continues to serve in the Immortal Army and faces new moral and strategic challenges. In one instance, he struggles with a moral crisis when he chooses to let a thief go against evacuation protocols, only for that same thief to later kill a young boy. This event forces him to grapple with the unintended consequences of his decisions and the weight of maintaining order, highlighting his continued struggle to understand forms of pain and harm that are not his own.
His most notable ability is his complete immunity to physical pain. He can still feel temperature and touch, but not the sensation of injury or harm. This makes him an exceptionally durable fighter, as he does not flinch or get slowed down by wounds that would incapacitate others. The only pain he can experience is mental or emotional distress, which can become apparent when his mind is under extreme duress, such as when Fushi uses his form for extended periods.