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Description
Biwa Hoshi, also known as Biwamaru, is a blind, wandering lute priest who serves as a recurring ally to the protagonists. Despite his advanced age and lack of sight, he is a capable and resourceful individual, often appearing at crucial moments to offer guidance or assistance.

His personality is characterized by a calm and collected demeanor. He is kind-hearted and offers sage advice to those he encounters, possessing a deep well of knowledge about the world and its darker aspects. He is notably aware of Hyakkimaru's troubled past and the demonic pact made by his father, Kagemitsu Daigo, which he dismisses as worthless. When he learns that Hyakkimaru has killed the soldiers of Kagemitsu, Biwa Hoshi advises the young man to be cautious of becoming entangled with evil people, demonstrating his own strong moral compass.

Biwa Hoshi's motivations are rooted in a desire to help others, particularly the two main characters, Dororo and Hyakkimaru. He acts as a mentor figure and a source of support, offering wisdom without seeking to directly control their paths. His role in the story is that of a guide and protector; he frequently crosses paths with the pair and provides aid, whether through counsel or direct action in times of danger.

His key relationships are primarily with Dororo and Hyakkimaru. He serves as a trusted ally to both, and his interactions with them reveal his compassionate nature. There is also an implication from his past that he may have once been a samurai, a detail alluded to late in the narrative that adds depth to his skills and worldview. Throughout the story, Biwa Hoshi remains a consistent figure of support, with his development being subtle, defined more by the gradual revelation of his past and capabilities than by a personal transformation.

Biwa Hoshi possesses several notable abilities that make him a formidable fighter despite his blindness. He is highly proficient with a sword, which he cleverly conceals within his biwa, a traditional Japanese lute. His combat skills are sharp enough to allow him to face dangerous foes effectively. Furthermore, his blindness has granted him a unique form of perception; he can see the souls of people and use this ability to identify malevolent beings, a power he shares with Hyakkimaru. This spiritual sight allows him to perceive the true nature of the world around him in a way that sighted people cannot.