Saint Manmayer Gurou

A large man, Gurou is marked by a flattened nose, protruding lips, prominent eyelashes, long hair, and a level jawline. The same rare heterochromia his daughter possesses appears in him too, a trait the family calls Bipolar Irises. Draped over his shoulders is an ornate greatcoat lined with fur, worn above a similarly decorated dolman, alongside a scarf, striped socks, and a cap encircled by goggles.

In common with every World Noble and most of his fellow knights, Gurou is a figure of low moral fiber. Given how deeply Candelle was committed to Reuven, the nature of his involvement with her strongly implies it was forced rather than willing. He held no affection for the child that resulted, his daughter Shuri, and agreed to retrieve her solely because Imu demanded it.

His standing as a Manmayer World Noble places Gurou beyond the reach of ordinary law, free to do whatever he likes provided it does not run against the Celestial Dragons, and able to summon a Marine Admiral against anyone he deems a threat. Belonging to the Knights of God, he very likely commands enough fighting power to defend himself with no such help. His mismatched eyes are believed to be Bipolar Irises that may carry a special ability, though by his own admission he has yet to awaken one. Through a pact with Imu, drawn from either the Depths or the Abyssal Covenant, he gained heightened power and an array of mystical gifts.

Around seventy-seven years in the past, several World Nobles were stranded ashore on Esperia, and Gurou numbered among them. By means left unclear, he entered into some form of involvement with Candelle, fathering Shuri, who went on to be raised by King Reuven and his newly made queen. When the ruin of Esperia's instruments left it unable to satisfy the Heavenly Tribute, the offered substitute was to surrender Shuri for her singular eyes. Reuven would not allow it, instead telling his subjects that the government had demanded a thousand slaves. Two months later, as Cipher Pol and the Marines stormed the island, Gurou returned in the company of Marcus Mars and Imu to collect her, and both Reuven and Shuri were transformed into demons, the daughter compelled to slay the father.

Brook arrived hoping to save the king, only to find him already dead, and pressed Gurou over what he had done to make Shuri behave so cruelly, sparking a quarrel between them. Gurou eventually admitted he recalled Brook from the latter's first stay on Esperia, adding that he had come back for Shuri only on Imu's insistence and noting her inheritance of his peculiar mismatched eyes. Imu cut him off before he could say more and ordered Shuri to execute Brook, after which the group left Esperia unhindered.