Kurobe hails from a lineage of blacksmiths, having served as the master blacksmith in the Ogre village until its destruction in the Orc War. He numbered among the six surviving Ogres who encountered Rimuru in the Great Jura Forest. Mistaking Rimuru's magic mask for a threat, Kurobe joined an assault that ended with Rimuru's Paralyzing Breath incapacitating him. Shuna's intervention brokered peace, leading the Ogres to join Rimuru's settlement. Plagued by depression and aimlessness after relocating, Kurobe reignited his passion upon meeting the dwarf blacksmith Kaijin. Their shared dedication to forging forged an instant bond. Rimuru's naming ceremony transformed him from Ogre to Kijin, altering his appearance to a middle-aged man with retained muscularity while shifting his demeanor from stoic melancholy to cheerful optimism. He pledged his skills solely to crafting supreme weapons for Rimuru. Kurobe wields the Unique Skill "Craftsman"—evolved from his former "Researcher" skill—granting sub-skills like Omni Analysis, Spatial Storage, and Transmutation. He also commands the Extra Skill "Flame Manipulation" and the Tolerance "Thermal Fluctuation Resistance." Though evolution amplified his strength, demonstrated when he transported thirty tons of metal unaided, he lacks combat instincts, focusing entirely on metallurgy. As the Jura-Tempest Federation's premier blacksmith, Kurobe collaborates intensely with Kaijin. Their marathon technical debates on forging techniques exhaust bystanders like Rimuru. Kurobe's creations often exceed functional needs, such as garden hoes or kitchen tools with legendary-grade durability. His masterwork weapons earned him the epithet "Legend Forge-Talker," though he initially credited rival smiths with the title. His prototype equipment populates treasure chests in Tempest's Dungeon, ranging from bronze to gold tiers. Adventurers claim these items as rewards, stimulating the nation's economy. A recurring franchise joke obscures his presence: light novel and manga covers exclude him, while anime openings or spin-offs hide his face, prompting occasional vocal frustration. In *Scarlet Bond*, Kurobe appears during Hiiro's reunion with Benimaru and fellow Ogre survivors. He witnesses Hiiro reconciling with Geld and the Orcs, reaffirming his enduring role within Tempest's inner circle.