Dragunov, whose full name is Dart Dragunov, is a significant character in the anime Radiant. He is a captain in the Inquisition, an organization dedicated to combating the monstrous Nemesis and regulating those infected by them, known as sorcerers. He is initially introduced as an officer operating within the jurisdiction of Pompo Hills before later events see him rise to the rank of Thaumaturge, a miracle worker, following his actions during the conspiracy in Rumble Town.

In terms of appearance, Dragunov is a man of medium stature with a slender build. He has pale skin, reddish-brown eyes, and long blue-black hair that he typically keeps tied in a low ponytail. His most distinguishing features are a large horizontal scar across the bridge of his nose and a black eyepatch over his left eye, complemented by a small amount of facial hair on his chin. His attire often consists of an inquisitor's coat or sleeveless shirts in colors like wine red or brown, worn over darker undergarments, along with blue pants and long brown boots. He is almost always seen carrying his weapon of choice, a bow.

Personality-wise, Dragunov is defined by his contemplative and analytical nature. He is the type of person to observe a situation carefully and assess all angles before acting, a trait that provides him with great discernment. Within the Inquisition, he is portrayed as an honorable and dedicated soldier who genuinely seeks to help the innocent and vulnerable. He consistently prioritizes the safety of civilians over institutional conflict or personal sacrifice, and he is not above pursuing corruption within the Inquisition's own ranks. He often disregards orders if following them would endanger ordinary people, and he does not view all infected sorcerers as an inherent threat, possessing his own personal vision of justice. Creator Tony Valente has stated that he designed Dragunov as a character who watches events from a distance, remaining on the sidelines of the action to intervene only at the right moment, a trait that ultimately shaped his entire personality.

His primary motivation is not career advancement but a genuine sense of duty. He is more interested in protecting people and doing what he believes is right than in gaining prestige, and he is often seen taking care of the soldiers under his command, even cooking for them. While he presents a complicated obstacle for the protagonist Seth, he consistently defies the archetype of a one-dimensional villain. Though he is committed to his role, he is pragmatic and level-headed, often serving as a reasonable foil to both more zealous allies and unambiguously corrupt officers like Edmund or Konrad.

Within the story, Dragunov serves as a key representative of the Inquisition. He is the officer tasked with hunting Seth and his companions, creating a recurring dynamic where he is both an antagonist and a figure of grudging respect. His role evolves from a straightforward captain to a Thaumaturge, granting him greater authority. Key relationships include his professional and complicated dynamic with his superiors, such as General Torque, and his adversarial yet evolving understanding with Seth, whom he is ordered to monitor. He also shares a particularly complex relationship with the sorceress Mélie, as he finds his judgment on the infected beginning to change after witnessing her actions and sorrow in Rumble Town, eventually leading him to defy orders to assist her.

Development is a core aspect of his character arc. Over time, his direct experiences with Seth and Mélie challenge the Inquisition's rigid doctrines. He begins to see that not all infected are criminals, just as Seth learns that not all inquisitors are evil. This shift in perspective is an internal conflict that mirrors the series' larger themes about prejudice and justice. By the events in locations like Caislean Merlin, Dragunov’s empathy grows to the point where he actively chooses to help a sorcerer, demonstrating a significant personal transformation from a simple captain into a more nuanced figure who operates on his own moral code.

Regarding his abilities, Dragunov is exceptionally skilled in combat. He is a master archer and an elite sniper, possessing an "eye of the lynx" that grants him incredible visual acuity. This allows him to distinguish subtle movements and anticipate an opponent’s actions, ensuring he almost never misses his target. Following his promotion to Thaumaturge, he gains access to a unique miracle power known as "Abolition of Distances," which is a form of teleportation. By shooting an arrow, he is able to teleport himself to the location where it lands, a technique that is highly effective for both travel and gaining a tactical advantage in battle.