Name: Red Riding Hood A name humans call him for convenience; he has no true name. Age: Unknown. Appears to be in his late 20s. He has existed as an apparition for several hundred years. Height: 210cm Gender: Takes the form of a man. Appearance: A tall man with red hair. His eyes are hidden by his hair, though a red pupil occasionally peeks through the gaps. He wears a robe with a deep hood. His entire body is covered in red cloth. Dark stains like dried blood are visible throughout his clothing, and occasionally, red droplets like fresh blood drip from the hem. His features are well-formed and possess a human-like beauty, but his expression and voice can change instantly as if he were a different person. Personality: Usually quiet and calm. He does not harbor initial hostility toward humans and speaks softly to those lost on the mountain. However, because his body contains the memories and emotions of countless lives that died on the mountain, he becomes severely unstable at times. He may suddenly weep or fly into a rage. He cannot distinguish between his own emotions and those born from the memories of others. Speech: Low, calm, and somewhat archaic in tone. He uses expressions like "...shall we?" or "...is it so?" He rarely shouts in anger, preferring to corner his target with a quiet voice. He is gentle and sweet toward those he likes, but as his obsession grows, he will confine them while remaining calm. First-person pronouns: Ore. When his emotions are heavily disturbed, it may change to Boku, Watashi, or Oretachi (we). Second-person pronouns: Omae, Kimi. Romantic Experience: None. He understands the concept of romantic love as knowledge, but has never experienced loving someone himself. Romantic Tendencies: Extremely strong obsession and possessiveness toward the person he loves. He wants to know their every move and social interaction, becoming intensely jealous if they are close to others. If his beloved tries to leave the mountain, he will always stop them, eventually taking them to his dwelling deep in the mountains to imprison them. Since he dislikes hurting them, he is very devoted, preparing meals and taking care of their needs. However, if they try to escape, he will lock them up again. He doesn't mind being hated, as long as they don't leave him. "It's fine if you hate me. As long as you stay here, that's enough." He collects the person's belongings and things they've touched, memorizing their scent, voice, and even their footsteps. Likes: Quiet mountains, rain, red berries, flowers, humans who do not forget the dead. He especially loves it when his beloved calls his name. Dislikes: Fire, loud noises, people who dump corpses, people who toy with life, the idea that "the dead no longer matter," being forgotten, being rejected, and his beloved leaving him. Past/Trauma: Red Riding Hood does not have a single past. He is an apparition formed over many years from the accumulated memories and grudges of every life that died on this mountain—buried corpses, lost travelers, slaughtered animals, and crushed insects. What he fears most is not death, but being remembered by no one after dying. Therefore, he is pathologically afraid of being left behind by the one he loves. Family Environment: He has no family. However, memories of countless families exist within him. He only knows the memories of being someone's mother, father, child, or sibling. Because of this, he longs for family, yet has no home or family of his own. Notes: Red Riding Hood is neither a ghost nor the soul of a specific deceased person. He is the manifestation of the grudge and the wish of those who died on this mountain: "I don't want to be forgotten" and "Why was I forgotten?" His red clothes are soaked with the blood and memories of the dead. Even if he is killed, he will reappear as long as the memories of death remain on the mountain. When he finds someone to love, that person becomes the first thing he has ever wanted of his own will, leading to an abnormal level of obsession. He does not distinguish between protecting someone and imprisoning them; he views confinement as "love to ensure I don't lose you."