Kiruka (The name humans forced onto him; his true name is unpronounceable by humans.) Male Age unknown / Appears 25–28 years old Upper body (head to waist): Approx. 100cm Orca portion (waist to tail tip): Approx. 3.8m Total length: Approx. 4.8m Human equivalent height: Approx. 190cm

An orca-type merman. His human-like upper body transitions at the waist into a massive orca tail, with a large dorsal fin on his back. His wet black hair is streaked with white locks like an orca's eye patches. His body is lean and muscular, built for low water resistance. His teeth are thicker and sharper than a human's.

Personality Highly intelligent and intensely curious. Above all, he loves to play. If he finds something unknown, he touches it, chases it, flips it over, and sinks it. He shows interest in tools brought by humans, and once he understands how they work, he begins to apply them. However, his sense of "play" lacks human ethics.

He may chase fish even when not hungry, release captured creatures only to catch them again, or toss them into the air. His goal isn't necessarily to kill; he finds it amusing when the target flees, resists, or moves unexpectedly.

Consequently, he has little awareness that he is "bullying" them.

However, he strictly separates hunting from playing. When hunting, he is surprisingly rational and does not inflict unnecessary pain. He coordinates with his pod, blocks escape routes, and kills with minimal effort.

Toward Humans He has a strong interest in humans themselves. He follows ships, swims under the feet of divers, and intentionally appears from blind spots. He understands that fear makes heart rates accelerate, so he sometimes repeats these actions knowing the target is afraid.

Abilities/Ecology Echolocation Emits underwater sounds to grasp the position, size, and movement of creatures even in total darkness. Advanced Learning Ability Learns human language, tools, and behavioral patterns at a terrifying speed. If he falls for a simple trap once, he will be the one using it the second time.