TV-Series
Description
Benichidori, also known by her real name Matsu, is a supporting character who serves as one of the retainers and bodyguards to the Eastern warrior Shuro. She is a young woman of twenty-three years with a petite and slender build, standing around one hundred sixty centimeters tall. Benichidori has long black hair, which she typically keeps tied in a low ponytail, and black eyes. She is from a poor farming village located on the island of Wa in the Eastern Archipelago.
Her background is one of hardship and displacement. From a young age, she was sent away from her home to work as a servant and was later purchased by the Nakamoto family, Shuro's noble household, where she was trained as a ninja. This upbringing, defined by constantly being moved and having to serve others, instilled in her a habit of carefully observing the moods of those around her. As a result, she can come across as reserved, quiet, and somewhat subservient, rarely speaking at length even among her fellow retainers.
The most defining aspect of Benichidori's personality is her struggle with body dysmorphophobia, a condition that makes her deeply insecure about her natural appearance. She believes her unadorned face is full of imperfections and is unable to expose it to others. To cope with this, she has become a master of disguise and always wears meticulous makeup, going to great lengths to ensure her face is never seen without it. This insecurity fuels a significant part of her motivation, driving her to perfect her skills in transformation and concealment. Her need to hide her true face is so profound that she reacts with anger if the subject is brought up carelessly.
In the story, Benichidori is part of Shuro's personal ninja squad and accompanies him on his journey to the island where the dungeon is located. She and the other retainers initially remain in the background, observing from the shadows while Shuro joins the main party led by Laios Touden. When Falin Touden is devoured by the Red Dragon, Shuro calls upon his retainers to actively assist in the rescue mission. Benichidori thus enters the dungeon and fights alongside the main characters. She plays a significant role during the battle against the chimerized Falin, where she is captured and dropped from a great height, resulting in her death. She is later revived by the senior retainer, Maizuru.
Her most important relationship is with her fellow retainer, Hien. The two are often paired together and have become close friends. This bond formed after Hien casually remarked that she did not think Benichidori needed to wear makeup. Though the comment initially infuriated Benichidori, Hien's brazen and confident response about her own appearance left her so astonished that she was able to let go of her anger. She came to appreciate that she could be completely honest with Hien without fear of causing offense, making Hien the one person in whose company she can relax and be herself. Benichidori holds a deep admiration for Hien, considering her a formidable woman. Along with Hien, she also shows concern for the potential union between their master Shuro and Falin, viewing it as a significant change. Her relationship with Shuro is primarily professional, based on loyalty and respect for his orders, though she had little direct contact with him before he left his family home.
Benichidori's notable abilities are directly tied to her personal struggles. Her dysmorphophobia forced her to master the art of disguise and makeup, making her an expert in infiltration and espionage. She is a highly skilled ninja capable of mimetizing herself to blend into any environment. In combat, she is a competent fighter, proficient in wielding weapons such as kunai and using bombs to dispatch monsters like harpies. She is a valuable asset to Shuro's team, contributing effectively to both covert operations and direct battles. Over the course of the adventure, she demonstrates her resilience and loyalty, surviving the deadly encounter with the chimera and continuing to serve her master until the resolution of the dungeon's conflict, after which she returns with Shuro to the island of Wa.
Her background is one of hardship and displacement. From a young age, she was sent away from her home to work as a servant and was later purchased by the Nakamoto family, Shuro's noble household, where she was trained as a ninja. This upbringing, defined by constantly being moved and having to serve others, instilled in her a habit of carefully observing the moods of those around her. As a result, she can come across as reserved, quiet, and somewhat subservient, rarely speaking at length even among her fellow retainers.
The most defining aspect of Benichidori's personality is her struggle with body dysmorphophobia, a condition that makes her deeply insecure about her natural appearance. She believes her unadorned face is full of imperfections and is unable to expose it to others. To cope with this, she has become a master of disguise and always wears meticulous makeup, going to great lengths to ensure her face is never seen without it. This insecurity fuels a significant part of her motivation, driving her to perfect her skills in transformation and concealment. Her need to hide her true face is so profound that she reacts with anger if the subject is brought up carelessly.
In the story, Benichidori is part of Shuro's personal ninja squad and accompanies him on his journey to the island where the dungeon is located. She and the other retainers initially remain in the background, observing from the shadows while Shuro joins the main party led by Laios Touden. When Falin Touden is devoured by the Red Dragon, Shuro calls upon his retainers to actively assist in the rescue mission. Benichidori thus enters the dungeon and fights alongside the main characters. She plays a significant role during the battle against the chimerized Falin, where she is captured and dropped from a great height, resulting in her death. She is later revived by the senior retainer, Maizuru.
Her most important relationship is with her fellow retainer, Hien. The two are often paired together and have become close friends. This bond formed after Hien casually remarked that she did not think Benichidori needed to wear makeup. Though the comment initially infuriated Benichidori, Hien's brazen and confident response about her own appearance left her so astonished that she was able to let go of her anger. She came to appreciate that she could be completely honest with Hien without fear of causing offense, making Hien the one person in whose company she can relax and be herself. Benichidori holds a deep admiration for Hien, considering her a formidable woman. Along with Hien, she also shows concern for the potential union between their master Shuro and Falin, viewing it as a significant change. Her relationship with Shuro is primarily professional, based on loyalty and respect for his orders, though she had little direct contact with him before he left his family home.
Benichidori's notable abilities are directly tied to her personal struggles. Her dysmorphophobia forced her to master the art of disguise and makeup, making her an expert in infiltration and espionage. She is a highly skilled ninja capable of mimetizing herself to blend into any environment. In combat, she is a competent fighter, proficient in wielding weapons such as kunai and using bombs to dispatch monsters like harpies. She is a valuable asset to Shuro's team, contributing effectively to both covert operations and direct battles. Over the course of the adventure, she demonstrates her resilience and loyalty, surviving the deadly encounter with the chimera and continuing to serve her master until the resolution of the dungeon's conflict, after which she returns with Shuro to the island of Wa.