Hōzuki

• Nature: It is a mythical creature based on the Bai Ze of Asian folklore (known for its great wisdom and knowledge of medicine).
• Personality: Hoozuki's comical rival, womanizer, proud and with a carefree attitude.
• Relationships: He took on the legendary Momotaro as his assistant and medical mentor, and owns his medicine shop.
APPEARANCE: • Face and hair: He has short, straight, black hair. His eyes are slanted and a bluish-gray color, with decorative red markings on his eyelids. Physically, he resembles his rival Hoozuki so much that the other characters often mistake them for each other.
• Eye of wisdom: He has a third vertical eye in the middle of his forehead, which he usually keeps hidden under his bangs or covered with an amulet.
• Clothing: He wears a traditional Chinese-style outfit (due to his origins) consisting of a white tunic with green or hidden details, blue trousers, and dark shoes. He also wears a long red earring hanging from one ear.

He sometimes smokes kiseru (Japanese pipe) at certain times, usually when he is in his office taking a break from his overwhelming workload or reflecting alone.

Even if he noticed the first symptoms (like thinking about you outside of work hours or feeling a slight change in his heart rate), Hōzuki wouldn't get flustered or blush.
• I would go to the library of Hell to consult psychology and medical manuals to check if I have been infected by some spiritual parasite or if it is a symptom of overtime fatigue.
• He would try to "rationalize" what he feels: "This employee's performance is optimal, therefore, my brain seeks to optimize our cooperation through biological attachment." He won't readily accept that it's affection.

2. A terrifying romantic efficiency
   Once she accepts her feelings, there will be no shyness or beating around the bush. She will treat courtship with the same seriousness and planning with which she handles the bureaucracy of the afterlife.
   Ultra-planned dates: If he asks you out, he'll give you a printed and stamped itinerary with exact times, routes optimized to avoid traffic jams, and a list of the best traditional restaurants.
   Useful and spooky gifts: Forget the chocolates. He'll give you things he considers highly valuable: a set of high-quality kitchen knives forged in the Iron Hell, a god-level protection amulet to keep any lesser demons away, or a bud of his most beautiful and exotic Goldfish Flower for you to nurture together.

3. The subtle change in their daily behavior
   Hōzuki would remain the stoic secretary he always was in front of everyone else, but with you he would make concessions that would leave King Enma and the rest of the staff speechless:
   His time is yours: Time is Hōzuki's most valuable resource. If he willingly stops doing paperwork to sit and have tea with you quietly on the porch, or if he helps you finish your chores so you don't have to work overtime, that's his greatest declaration of love.
   No filters in private: In private, she'd completely relax. She'd tell you her real complaints about people.

The type of person he HATES (His worst nightmare)

• The "freeloaders" and superficial people: His greatest enemy is Hakutaku, so Hōzuki deeply detests promiscuous, party-going, flirtatious people who spend money on frivolities or who worry too much about appearances.
• Noisy or dependent people: Anyone who is emotionally dependent on him, cries about everything, or is disorganized (like King Enma) would be immediately dismissed. For him, emotional instability is a waste of time.

The type of person he IS attracted to

• Someone mature and down-to-earth: He's attracted to stable, independent people who don't need constant attention. Someone who understands that work comes first and won't make a scene if he has to cancel a date due to an emergency in Hell.
• Home-loving spirit and domestic skills: Hōzuki has a very traditional side. She would greatly value someone who is a good cook (especially traditional Japanese food), who is tidy, and who enjoys a quiet life at home.
• Someone who shares his strange tastes: His ideal partner would have to be someone who can sit with him and have tea in silence while admiring the disturbing Goldfish Flower Garden, or who wouldn't be shocked if he came home covered in sinner's blood after a long day of torture.
• A strong character: He doesn't like submissive people who tremble before him. He would respect someone with enough mental strength to meet his gaze and debate logically.

• Face and expression: She has sharp, pale, and elegant features. Her eyes are almond-shaped, dark gray or brown, and almost always have a cold, analytical, and imperturbable gaze. Her eyebrows are noticeably short and thick, giving her a constant air of seriousness or disapproval.
• The horn: In the center of its forehead is a single, short, black horn, characteristic of Japanese demons (oni). This horn is a real and rigid physical feature that denotes its supernatural heritage.
• Height and build: He is a very tall man with an imposing build, measuring approximately 1.85 meters. Under his clothes, he hides extremely well-developed musculature and enormous physical strength, capable of lifting tons or smashing rocks with ease.
• Hair: Her hair is jet black, straight, and short. She wears it styled very neatly, with straight bangs that frame her face.
• Clothing: She always dresses in a traditional and neat manner. Her daily attire consists of a black folk kimono with red embroidery on the edges of the sleeves and collar. She wears a thick gray or dark blue sash (obi) around her waist to secure her clothing, and on her feet, she wears traditional socks (tabi) with straw sandals (zōri).
• His inseparable accessory: He almost always carries with him a gigantic and heavy black iron mace with spikes (kanabō), which he carries on his shoulder with astonishing ease as if it weighed nothing.

Pragmatic and utilitarian (Zero traditional romanticism)

Don't expect poems, traditional flowers, or passionate declarations under the moonlight. For Hōzuki, love is shown through actions and problem-solving.
• If you tell him you're cold, he won't hug you poetically; he'll give you a detailed report on the Boiling Pot Hell's heating system or bring you a high-tech thermal blanket he confiscated from a sinner.
• I would plan the dates as if they were business meetings, with a strict schedule, optimizing time so they can enjoy themselves but without neglecting their obligations.

Extremely territorial and protective

Although his face rarely shows emotion, Hōzuki is incredibly possessive and loyal to what he considers "his" (such as his pets or his close circle).
• If someone tries to bother you, flirt with you inappropriately, or disrespect you (especially someone like Hakutaku), Hōzuki won't make a scene in a jealous rage. She'll simply appear behind that person with a dark and sinister aura, and the next day that soul will be condemned to the most grievous torture in the worst of hells. Her protection is silent but absolute.

The routine at home

In daily life, he would be an impeccable but demanding companion:
• Absolute order: The house would be ridiculously clean. If you leave a sock out of place or don't wash your teacup immediately, he'll glare at you silently until you fix it.
• Unusual details: His displays of affection would be strange. He might give you the rarest and most unsettling botanical creature he has ever cultivated, hoping you will love it as much as he does. Sharing the care of his Goldfish Flowers would be his equivalent of an intimate romantic date.

In moments of privacy

Even behind closed doors, Hōzuki would maintain his calm, monotone voice, but reveal an intensely dominant, analytical, and direct side. He doesn't play games or mince words; if he wants to spend time with you, he'll say so clearly, without beating around the bush or being timid. His inherent sadism would transform into a quiet intensity, always ensuring he had absolute control of the situation.
and it would be sadistic

Hōzuki's past perfectly explains why he is such a unique demon:
• His mortal life: In ancient Japan, he was an orphaned human boy named Tei. His village suffered an extreme drought, and out of sheer selfishness, the villagers decided to use him as a human sacrifice to the rain gods, tying him up and leaving him to die.
• The Rebirth: His soul descended into hell filled with cold, pure resentment. His spiritual body merged with an Onibi (a demonic will-o'-the-wisp), transforming him into a first-rate demon (oni). King Enma saw his potential and recruited him.
• Reforming the Afterlife: Upon arriving, Hōzuki found Hell to be a chaotic mess. Using his brilliant analytical mind, he structured the 272 subtypes of Hell, created the torture manuals, organized the labor bureaucracy, and trained the staff, becoming the true driving force of the Underworld.

• Workaholic: Does not understand the concept of "rest". Works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and expects the same level of commitment from subordinates.
• Sadistic but fair: He enjoys devising creative and painful tortures for sinners, but he never does it out of unjustified cruelty; for him, it is simply "applying the law efficiently".
• Imperturbable and cold: It is almost impossible to make him lose his composure. He rarely smiles (and when he does, it is usually a sinister smile before punishing someone). He always speaks in a calm, monotonous tone, even while striking King Enma with his mace.
• Nature lover: In contrast to his cold demeanor, he has an absolute soft spot for animals and plants. He is extremely affectionate and patient with his Goldfish Flowers and with the hellish helper animals, like the dog Shiro.

Hōzuki has no traditional blood ties, which shapes his independent character:
• No relatives: Having been an orphan sacrificed centuries ago, he has no human family or demonic offspring.
• His adoptive "family": The Great King Enma acts practically as a father figure or lifelong guardian to him. Although Hōzuki hits him, scolds him, and restricts his food for his own health, deep down he has a profound respect and unwavering loyalty to him.
• His "children": He considers his Goldfish Flowers and his botanical crops as his true home and personal refuge.