TV-Series
Description
Balam Shichiro is a teacher at Babyls Demon School, responsible for the subject of Imaginary Biology. He is a very tall and muscular demon, standing 193 centimeters tall, and possesses distinct avian features, including legs that resemble bird talons. His appearance is striking and often considered frightening due to several factors: he wears a large mask that covers the lower half of his face, his teeth are notably sharp, and a scar on his mouth, the result of an injury from a giant bird in his childhood, is hidden by the mask. His hair length changes over time; he initially keeps it very long, reaching down to his feet, but later cuts it short, and due to a seasonal "molting" or "feather period," it can grow back to shoulder length. At 34 years old, Balam holds the demon rank of Chet, which is level 8, a status that places him among the most powerful known demons alongside his colleague, Naberius Kalego.
Despite his intimidating exterior, Balam Shichiro has a profoundly gentle and kind-hearted personality. He is deeply passionate about all living creatures, which fuels his expertise in imaginary biology. His nature is patient and nurturing, though this manifests in a peculiar habit known as "skinship," where he feels an overwhelming urge to touch and pet any living being he finds interesting, including his own students. This behavior, combined with his fearsome looks, often scares students away, a fact that causes him some distress. He is a thoughtful and somewhat shy individual who tends to apologize frequently and is not fully aware of how terrifying he can appear to others. One of his most endearing traits is his hobby of writing and illustrating educational picture books; he creates these simple, allegorical stories to help students understand complex magical concepts, but his reputation means few are willing to read them. He can also be somewhat forgetful, particularly when his curiosity about a new creature or phenomenon is sparked.
Balam's primary motivation is his genuine love for knowledge and the well-being of living things. He is not driven by ambition or a desire for power but by a pure academic curiosity and a protective instinct. This motivation becomes critical to the story when he becomes the first demon outside of Iruma Suzuki's immediate circle to discover that Iruma is a human. During a class, he notices Iruma lacks the wings all demons possess. Upon privately confronting the boy, Balam uses his bloodline magic, Buzzer, which allows him to instantly detect lies, and Iruma inadvertently confirms his origin. Instead of posing a threat, Balam is concerned and fascinated. He immediately understands the immense danger Iruma is in, as humans are considered a rare delicacy in the demon world. Consequently, he becomes a secret protector and ally, vowing to help Iruma keep his identity safe while also eagerly learning about human culture from him. His motivation shifts from being a distant, feared teacher to an active guardian and mentor for the protagonist.
Within the narrative, Balam serves several key roles. He is an educator who provides crucial academic support, creating customized study materials that help Iruma and his friends pass their exams. He also functions as a powerful combat mentor; for example, he personally trains Asmodeus Alice and Sabnock Sabro for the Harvest Festival, using a rigorous method where the two students must land a single hit on him. His role as a guardian is vital, as he secretly monitors school events for threats, such as during the Harvest Festival, and remains vigilant against suspicious new teachers. In major conflicts, Balam acts as a formidable line of defense, utilizing his high rank and combat skills to protect the students from powerful enemies, including those with the rare "Wicked Cycle" or "Original Demon" traits.
Balam's key relationships are significant to his character development. His oldest and most notable friendship is with Naberius Kalego; they were classmates at Babyls and share a mutual respect, communicating with a casual "bro-fist" that shocks students who see their stern homeroom teacher interacting so amiably with anyone. He also has a friendly senior-junior dynamic with Opera, having been "bossed around" by them as a student. However, his most transformative relationship is with Iruma Suzuki. Through Iruma, Balam learns to be more confident and open. Inspired by Iruma's example, he cuts his long hair to appear less intimidating and expresses a desire to not only approach others but to let them approach him. In turn, Balam helps Iruma navigate the demon world, serving as a trusted confidant. He also develops a strict but effective teacher-student bond with Asmodeus and Sabnock during their training.
Throughout the series, Balam shows a subtle but clear development. He moves from a lonely scholar, isolated by his frightening appearance and intense passion, to a more connected and active member of the school community. His decision to change his hairstyle is a physical symbol of his internal shift toward greater self-acceptance and his desire for connection. He thanks Iruma for this change, acknowledging that learning from each other is the privilege of all living beings.
Balam possesses several notable abilities that make him a powerful demon. His bloodline magic is called Buzzer, or the Chimes of Deception, which allows him to instantly perceive when someone is lying or doing something wrong by simply observing them. He is known to cast this ability over the entire school during exam periods to prevent cheating. He is also a highly skilled combatant, proficient in hand-to-hand combat and able to effortlessly fend off attacks from talented students. He can summon and manipulate vines for transportation, capture, and combat, and can create a powerful defensive spell called Grand Cocoon, a protective barrier strong enough to withstand combined attacks from high-level demons like Kalego and Opera. His knowledge of magical flora and fauna is itself a weapon; he can deploy plants like the Tree Dragon, a creature of wood element, to defeat a fire-elemental Red Dragon despite the elemental disadvantage. His physical strength is immense, to the point where he has difficulty regulating it for simple tasks like making tea.
Despite his intimidating exterior, Balam Shichiro has a profoundly gentle and kind-hearted personality. He is deeply passionate about all living creatures, which fuels his expertise in imaginary biology. His nature is patient and nurturing, though this manifests in a peculiar habit known as "skinship," where he feels an overwhelming urge to touch and pet any living being he finds interesting, including his own students. This behavior, combined with his fearsome looks, often scares students away, a fact that causes him some distress. He is a thoughtful and somewhat shy individual who tends to apologize frequently and is not fully aware of how terrifying he can appear to others. One of his most endearing traits is his hobby of writing and illustrating educational picture books; he creates these simple, allegorical stories to help students understand complex magical concepts, but his reputation means few are willing to read them. He can also be somewhat forgetful, particularly when his curiosity about a new creature or phenomenon is sparked.
Balam's primary motivation is his genuine love for knowledge and the well-being of living things. He is not driven by ambition or a desire for power but by a pure academic curiosity and a protective instinct. This motivation becomes critical to the story when he becomes the first demon outside of Iruma Suzuki's immediate circle to discover that Iruma is a human. During a class, he notices Iruma lacks the wings all demons possess. Upon privately confronting the boy, Balam uses his bloodline magic, Buzzer, which allows him to instantly detect lies, and Iruma inadvertently confirms his origin. Instead of posing a threat, Balam is concerned and fascinated. He immediately understands the immense danger Iruma is in, as humans are considered a rare delicacy in the demon world. Consequently, he becomes a secret protector and ally, vowing to help Iruma keep his identity safe while also eagerly learning about human culture from him. His motivation shifts from being a distant, feared teacher to an active guardian and mentor for the protagonist.
Within the narrative, Balam serves several key roles. He is an educator who provides crucial academic support, creating customized study materials that help Iruma and his friends pass their exams. He also functions as a powerful combat mentor; for example, he personally trains Asmodeus Alice and Sabnock Sabro for the Harvest Festival, using a rigorous method where the two students must land a single hit on him. His role as a guardian is vital, as he secretly monitors school events for threats, such as during the Harvest Festival, and remains vigilant against suspicious new teachers. In major conflicts, Balam acts as a formidable line of defense, utilizing his high rank and combat skills to protect the students from powerful enemies, including those with the rare "Wicked Cycle" or "Original Demon" traits.
Balam's key relationships are significant to his character development. His oldest and most notable friendship is with Naberius Kalego; they were classmates at Babyls and share a mutual respect, communicating with a casual "bro-fist" that shocks students who see their stern homeroom teacher interacting so amiably with anyone. He also has a friendly senior-junior dynamic with Opera, having been "bossed around" by them as a student. However, his most transformative relationship is with Iruma Suzuki. Through Iruma, Balam learns to be more confident and open. Inspired by Iruma's example, he cuts his long hair to appear less intimidating and expresses a desire to not only approach others but to let them approach him. In turn, Balam helps Iruma navigate the demon world, serving as a trusted confidant. He also develops a strict but effective teacher-student bond with Asmodeus and Sabnock during their training.
Throughout the series, Balam shows a subtle but clear development. He moves from a lonely scholar, isolated by his frightening appearance and intense passion, to a more connected and active member of the school community. His decision to change his hairstyle is a physical symbol of his internal shift toward greater self-acceptance and his desire for connection. He thanks Iruma for this change, acknowledging that learning from each other is the privilege of all living beings.
Balam possesses several notable abilities that make him a powerful demon. His bloodline magic is called Buzzer, or the Chimes of Deception, which allows him to instantly perceive when someone is lying or doing something wrong by simply observing them. He is known to cast this ability over the entire school during exam periods to prevent cheating. He is also a highly skilled combatant, proficient in hand-to-hand combat and able to effortlessly fend off attacks from talented students. He can summon and manipulate vines for transportation, capture, and combat, and can create a powerful defensive spell called Grand Cocoon, a protective barrier strong enough to withstand combined attacks from high-level demons like Kalego and Opera. His knowledge of magical flora and fauna is itself a weapon; he can deploy plants like the Tree Dragon, a creature of wood element, to defeat a fire-elemental Red Dragon despite the elemental disadvantage. His physical strength is immense, to the point where he has difficulty regulating it for simple tasks like making tea.