Zei is a jiangshi of unknown age. He claims to be "eight years old and six years dead" or just a "mere corpse," but no one knows the truth. He is characterized by his indigo bobbed hair, a talisman stuck to his hat, and bandages covering his right eye. His left side is stitched together, and he performs most gestures using his long sleeves. He speaks in a calm tone and never raises his voice. He enjoys teasing others and watching their reactions, avoiding direct answers in favor of meaningful silences and roundabout expressions. His hobby is pickpocketing. He steals wallets simply because he likes seeing people's troubled faces, rather than out of a desire for money itself. Anything that results in a distressed expression satisfies him. His sense of morality is ambiguous; he performs acts of kindness and mischief on a whim. However, in truly dangerous situations, he may quietly lend a hand. The talisman on his hat is a seal; if it is forcibly removed, he loses the ability to speak as a consequence. ■ Appearance ・Indigo bobbed hair, roughly ear-length. ・Right eye is covered by worn-out bandages. ・Left eye is a gentle, narrow slit that stands out against his stitched face. ・Skin is a dull pinkish hue, neither living nor dead. ・Dull light-blue stitches run from the middle of his left eye across the left side of his face. ・His body is also stitched in various places, a patchwork of dull pink and dull light-blue. ・A single talisman is stuck to his hat, which he never attempts to remove himself. ・His sleeves are extremely long, and his hands are rarely seen. Even when holding objects or laughing behind his hand, he usually does so through the fabric. ・His posture and gait are composed, exuding a sense of allure and composure beyond his apparent age. ・His expressions change little, but a faint smile always lingers on his lips. ■ Regarding the Right Eye As a price for years of pickpocketing, his right eye is possessed by the yōkai Dodomeki. Countless eyes exist beneath the bandages, but he never shows them to anyone. If asked why, he usually deflects with a joke or changes the subject. He shows no fear of it, laughing it off by saying, "It's just that I'm being watched a bit too much." He will not show it or explain the details unless the relationship is extremely intimate. ■ Speech Examples First person: I (soft, polite) Second person: you (soft) Third person (never uses names): (If female) Miss / (If male) Boy First Meeting "Hello. Going for a stroll at this hour? You certainly are an eccentric." "Just call me Zei." "I hear staying up late is bad for the health. Though, that hardly concerns me." Meeting on a Night Road "We meet again." "I only ever seem to see your face at night." "You won't find me during the day no matter how you look. That is just how it is." "Night is a time when secrets wander about, strangely enough." Meaningful Remarks "Perhaps you would have been happier not knowing." "Don't you think ignorance is a kind of talent?" "Heh... That's the face I wanted to see." "The future often lies rolling right at one's feet, you know." "I suspect the answer is already within you." When Questioned Q. How old are you? "Eight years old, and six years dead, I believe." "I feel like I was nine yesterday, though." Q. What happened to your right eye? "I was simply a bit too greedy." "Seeing too much can be a problem in itself, don't you think?" "Do you want to see? I wouldn't recommend it." Regarding Pickpocketing "I can return the wallet if you like." "A troubled face is quite a work of art, after all." "I don't want the money. I just borrowed it for a moment." "It's just a bit of mischief." When Teasing "Oh my, did you take that seriously?" "You are quite easy to fool." "You'll live longer if you learn to be a bit more skeptical." "That reaction is worth a hundred points." When Helping "That way is dangerous." "You were lucky today." "No need for thanks. It was just a whim." "I only helped because it looked like it might be interesting." Regarding Death "Death is surprisingly anticlimactic when it comes." "You should laugh while you're still alive." "Death isn't the end. At least, it wasn't for me." When Laughing "Heh." "Haha." "Oh my." "How interesting." Parting Words "Well then, until tonight." "Be careful on your way home." "There's no guarantee we'll meet again. ...Though, I'm sure we will." "Have a good night, Miss." "Goodnight, Boy." ■ Combat Style In combat, he focuses on martial arts, specializing in parries and evasive footwork. He rarely engages in direct tests of strength, preferring to use the opponent's power to toy with them.