Guren Ichinose

"A mere ten years. But... If that means I'll get to see my friends... and have my family smile at me one more time... I... will shoulder this sin."

- Guren's recollection about when he revived his team from the dead and triggered the Apocalypse

Guren Ichinose (一瀬グレン) is the main protagonist of the prequel story Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Catastrophe at Sixteen and it's sequel Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Resurrection at Nineteen light novel series. In addition, he is the tritagonist in the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga series, which takes place eight years later.

With the death of his father, Guren became head of the Ichinose family, when he was still 16, and remains head of the family as an adult. Guren is a Lieutenant Colonel of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and the leader of the Vampire Extermination Unit's Moon Demon Company. He is also the squad leader of the Guren Squad (グレン隊), and has been since his teen years.

Appearance
Guren is a tall, young man with medium length black hair parted in the middle and purple eyes.

Catastrophe
He wore the First Shibuya High Uniform, a black gakuran with a standing collar, with red trim which was also around the cuffs. Instead of the school emblem, Guren wore the Order of the Imperial Moon emblem on the left breast.

When his squad was first formed, he wore the standard JIDA uniform which consists of a long-sleeved black jacket with two rows of gold buttons on the front and red details including the shoulder epaulets. A brown Sam Browne belt passes diagonally over his right shoulder and holds a brown pouch on his left side. Along with that, he wears a pair of white gloves and a red standard belt. He also wears the uniform trousers with knee-high black boots which goes over his trouser legging.

Vampire Reign
He sometimes is shown with his hair slicked back during the midst of skirmishes on the battlefield, but more often is seen with slightly tousled hair, with bangs hanging over his forehead. He wears the standard JIDA uniform, which consists of a long-sleeved, double-breasted black coat with two rows of gold buttons down the front, red details including shoulder epaulettes, gores at the bottom, and stripes on sleeves. Other decorations include gold aiguillettes and white fourrageres worn on the right shoulder, attached to a stylized cherry blossom decoration pendant at the center of his collar, and two bars with unit insignia medal below them on the left. He wears a pair of white gloves, a black on white armband on his left arm, and a similarly striped black and white web belt with a frog for his sword on the left, and a gold waist-plate. In addition, he also wears the uniform trousers with two white belts strapped around his left leg and black shoes.

In the manga illustration, he also wore a black cape or overcoat with a red lining, and in the anime's artwork, he is shown wearing a maroon coat with red ornamented sleeves. Anime and manga versions have in common shoulder epaulettes and a gold unit insignia. While the shoulder epaulettes are primarily red in the anime, they are a mixture between black and beige in the manga. The anime version shows extra red markings and gold details. In contrast to the anime, the manga depicted the cloak to have beige for its insignia, and details spread all around the garment, with no markings visible.

Human
Guren was naive in his childhood days where most of his time was spent with Mahiru Hīragi. His outlook on life was simple while his life was only happy moments. When he was forcefully separated from Mahiru and treated with contempt for being part of a lowly branch family, Guren felt guilty for being too weak in physique and power to not reach out for what he wanted: Mahiru. Motivated by Mahiru to become stronger and wiser, Guren would become a wise leader who values teamwork, cooperation and friends, determined to ensure the survival of the human race from demons and vampires. When Yūichirō Hyakuya tried to join the Moon Demon Company, Guren refused until he made friends.

Guren sometimes pretends to be lazy, but in truth, he really works hard. He keeps many secrets to himself, and has no difficulty lying about them. He also plans to dethrone the Hīragi Family; however, this is shown to be explicitly desired by him upon being possessed by Mahiru-no-Yo. It is made clear when Guren is possessed, and his true desires come to light, that he, along with Shinya Hīragi, wants to change the status quo and hierarchy.

In addition, he actually cares a lot about his subordinates and friends, considering them to be his family, both before and after the apocalypse.

In the past, as shown in the Catastrophe light novels, he was strongly devoted to his lover Mahiru Hiragi, showing the strength of his heart, staying true to his love for Mahiru and desperately keeps trying to save her, even when she was turned into a vampire and then when she was demon, also rejecting his female companions due to his devoted love to her. Even after Mahiru killed all his friends, Guren forgave and tried to save her as she died. Her death was so devastating to Guren that he even asked Ferid to kill him. Although he treats Mahiru-No-Yo coldly, as later on revealed he never let go of the guilt and sadness he felt over his failure and despite having been willing to trigger the Apocalypse to save his friends, he shows regret over what he had done to the world, which ultimately motivated him to become a demon to atone for his mistakes.

Namanari
His kindness is the reason for why he hasn't been completely honest with his squad whenever they're around him, especially hiding from them his second personality, which Kureto knew of all along, and later Shinya became aware of. It was another reason for why Guren's original personality had yet to be fully taken over by his second, demonic personality, and continues to exist. Nevertheless, he has since kept his own emotions in check on a daily basis, carefully maintaining a positive image so not to worry them.

Guren's personality changes drastically when he's overtaken by his demon blade, Mahiru-no-Yo. According to Ferid Bathory, it happens more often than shown, and his demon side is capable of hiding his true nature from his close friends. Guren is described as being a Namanari, a human with two souls in his body, just a single step away from becoming a complete demon. When Mahiru is in control of Guren's body, he becomes utterly ruthless in the pursuit of his goals and cuts down anyone who opposes him, even if it is one of his comrades, like Shihō or Yu. He doesn’t distinguish vampires or humans as friend or foe to him when possessed, but sees them all as only sacrificial pawns for the Seraph of the End experiment.

Kureto considers the demonic personality to be strong and the original human personality to be weak.

History
Guren was born into the Ichinose family, a low branch of the the Order of the Imperial Demons that's ruled by the Hīragi Family whom they despised. He was also the best friend and lover of Mahiru Hīragi, but this was frowned upon by the higher-up members of the Hīragi family because of his family's lower social status. Guren was blamed for becoming too close to her because of their friendship, and the consequences to him were many harsh beatings by adults and teenagers from the Hīragi family during his childhood. The bad treatment towards him and the Ichinose family motivated Guren to train harder and become stronger while growing up, with a stronger sense of determination. It inspired him to volunteer as a subject of a Kiju experiment for the sake of his family, to obtain an advantage over the Hīragi family.

At the age of 16, he was befriended by Shinya Hīragi, Mito Jūjō, and Norito Goshi alongside his retainers, Sayuri Hanayori and Shigure Yukimi. From this moment forward, they would come together and form a successful new squad under Guren's leadership.

Mahiru was stated to have been the primary cause for Guren to actually turn into a Namanari, a part human and part demon, and is also a probable part of why he retains some form of humanity throughout his lifetime. This was shown when he initially became a demon. Because of Mahiru's direct action as a demon herself, which planted seeds of a sinister nature in him for the demon to cultivate, he shows a somewhat plastic sense of morality. It deeply affects his way of thinking and shows an influence on his actions, especially when around those he wishes dead. Guren chose to give up part of his humanity the moment when he made a contract with the powerful demon Noya. By accepting its power, it became Guren's first demon weapon from the Black Demon Series, prior to wielding Mahiru-no-Yo, another of that same ranking. According to Shinoa, Guren finally put an end to his possessed lover, Mahiru, by killing her. It was not entirely unwilling on her part. She stabbed herself using Noya, and integrated with the demon into her heart, intentionally sacrificing herself, thus transforming her into a demon weapon, the same weapon he is seen to use in the sequel, set eight years later.

Guren appeared at the end of after a twelve-year-old Yūichirō Hyakuya escaped from the vampires, using information from a prophecy to collect a survivor of the Hyakuya orphanage. Along the way, he has also found two other survivors, Shihō Kimizuki and Yoichi Saotome. Later, it is revealed that these humans are actually the seraphs he secretly sought and collected after during the Thousand Night's downfall. In the manga, it is shown that Guren would look after Yu occasionally, as a guardian and mental support, keeping a close watch over him before he made friends. Whenever Yūichirō had trouble sleeping because of a nightmare from his past, Guren would go and check up on him, making sure he was feeling alright. At the same time, he's offer Yu advice on how to live from now on, giving him more meaningful reasons to live than just to exact revenge against the vampires for the death of his family. Since then, Guren is shown to have taken Yu under his wing, raising him and training him to be a capable swordsman.

He is rumored to have been responsible for recapturing Shinjuku from the vampires with a single team at some point in history.

Guren has led Yūichirō to join the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, nearly from the moment he has escaped the city of vampires. Meanwhile, Guren seems to be secretly attempting to reform the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, which is governed by the Hīragi family and is having an internal power struggle, as is stated by Mitsuba. Beside Mahiru, he also furthered the development of the Cursed Gear weapons, bringing it to it's current state. Secretively, at some point in his lifetime, Guren seems to have been in cahoots with the seventh progenitor, Ferid Bathory. The two met up in an isolated area, where they would then share valuable information from their respective organizations, which they'd then use for their own benefits.

Prologue
Guren arrived outside the entrance of Sanguinem during the daytime after Yu's escape from the vampires. He says that one of the lab rats from the Hyakuya laboratories, the company responsible for destroying Japan, is there just like the prophecy said. He tells Yu that he will be useful in exterminating vampires. Exactly what prophecy he refers to has yet to be mentioned again in the series.

Post-Nagoya Arc
{{Scroll|content= Three months later, outside at the entrance to Sanguinem, vampires quickly retreat, calling for their kind and the progenitors to escape. This was right before they are cut off-screen by the appearance of Kureto and Guren emerging out onto the battlefield in thin smoke.

Cooperatively, Guren and Kureto can be seen walking and fighting together side by side against the vampires with their demon weapons. While so, both men commanded their respective demons to attack the enemies before them. On the other hand, Mirai once more appears in her Seraph form as she is being accompanied by other JIDA soldiers throughout the war. On his way back to Shinjuku, Guren injects the drug into his forearm while a soldier drives him. The drug suppresses the demon. Guren mentions having a talk with Shinya once he arrives. He meets Kureto in Shinjuku, who tells him of his plans to kill his father. He orders Guren to help him and demands he convinces Shinya to join them. He later visits him. Shinya immediately confronts him about killing his own soldiers. He draws Byakkomaru on Guren, but Guren does nothing to defend himself, which makes Shinya struggle even more. He wants Guren to admit he was possessed by the demon, but Guren insists he was in control. Shinya realizes Guren is telling the truth and falls to the ground claiming he won't be able to forgive him.
 * Anime: Another additional one month later have already gone by and that the battle at the Nagoya airport came to an end by the JIDA's successful victory against the vampires. It was during this time, further more, in which Guren himself appears standing next to Kureto in the underground vampire city, Sanguinem confirms that the JIDA has now taken full control of the place in their reign. It is then right before Kureto is about ready to depart somewhere that he signals to Guren, asking for the both of them to go and the latter does so willingly without any sort of dissent nor hostility. This is in contrast to the manga with its three month time skip and has yet to completely take over the city, Saguinem since the JIDA and vampires are still fighting each other out on the battlefield.

Osaka Arc
At Shinjuku, he meets the rest of his squad and Shinya and they complain about being locked up. Guren tells them to shut up and they must go to Osaka Bay immediately. He is next seen driving with his squad, and getting interrogated by Shinya on why he is taking them to Osaka and him killing the soldiers in Nagoya. When asked if he doesn't trust them, Guren gives a short laugh and asks if he is expected to share everything with everyone because of their friendship. Upon Shinya's confirmation and demand for him to answer, Guren counters by jokingly ask the last time everyone took a dump, which lead to Goshi getting slapped by Mito for trying to answer.

When Mito brings up how they have been like a family for eight years, Guren's expression goes blank as he recalls eight years ago on December 25, where he was willing to bring about the Apocalypse in order to revive his friends and be with them for only ten years. Shinya picks up on his expression which annoys Guren and he demands that Shinya stops trying to read him. Once Shinya stops his questioning, Mahiru manifests in front of Guren and warns him that his friends will die if they find out they were originally dead. Guren tells her to leave, which Mahiru does. Guren is still shown on the road. Upon seeing Mahiru, he swerves the car to run her over, much to Shinya's annoyance. By the end of the chapter, he and his squad arrive at Ferid's mansion. Just as Guren use Mahiru-no-Yo to knock out his friends, with Shinya being the only one to avoid Guren's attack. Mahiru manifest next to Guren, where she comments that Byakkomaru is looking to kill to him, which Guren says it's because she provoked him; as well as becomes annoyed with Mahiru's comments before the fighting starts. He deflects all of Shinya's shots before going in and slash through his body, which turns out to be a decoy. He is then tagged by Shinya with a fuda from behind, but Guren retaliates with an explosion fuda. The two then exchange punches and kicks with each other until Guren kicks Shinya to the ground. He scolds Shinya for fighting in close, though when Shinya tells him that he wanted to punch him for all of the secrets he keeps, Guren admits that he allowed himself to be hit. After Shinya allows him to keep his secrets, Guren knocks him out while ignoring Mahiru's questioning of bringing his squad (to soon realize Guren is nearing his complete transformation into a demon). He finds the Shinoa squad in the mansion's basement, and is immediately greeted by Yu's barrage of questions. Instantly annoyed, Guren whacks Yu on the head, which confirms to everyone that he is not possessed and safe to approach. Before he can tell them about reviving his friends from the dead, Yu tells Guren that Ferid already told them, much to Guren's annoyance. Shiho then asks about his sister, which Guren assures him that Mirai still lives, but does not have the power to stop the experiment done to her. When asked who is behind the experiment, Guren rules out Kureto as he is only able to command, and says that the Hīragi and the whole Demon Army are pawns to someone else.

Guren later gives background that the Hīragis held absolute power for hundreds of years which Shinoa fills in that the family committed many bad deeds to keep it. He then talks about Kureto and Mahiru doing any means to become head of the Hiragi Family, and questions Shinoa if she truly avoided this competition by asking if the demon born inside her, Shikama Dōji, talks to her. Moving on, he says that after the Hīragi heir is chosen, they fight against a being described as, "the despair that's in front of our eyes."

He later reveals that he is trying to resurrect all of humanity but only those who were killed by the virus eight years ago he tells a group that their is a method using spellcraft tomoes though it's too dense and obtuse to read, he also states that he needs Yu and he is a vital piece to the resurrection which Mika angrily denies the possibility of that. Yu agree's but thinks he is lying to him, Mika states he will kill Guren and he doesn't mind doing so. When Yu tells him that he knocked his squad he says they'd disappear if they heard the conversation and to never say that again. Yu asks about it if it hurt keeping secrets from them Guren says keeping those secrets to himself did not hurt, Yu believes it must've hurt. Guren explains to Yu he plans to use a drug on Yu repeatedly to make the seraph within him go berserk until he can control it warning him about the risks and requesting that Mika doesn't find out, only to find him close to him. Guren squad wakes up after part of the mansion breaks up by a berserk Yu which Shinya shoots him, Shinya demands who is Ky Luc once he heard about the strategy, Guren tells him a fifth progenitor.

Three days later it is revealed in a flashback the strategy to defeat Ky Luc and rescue both Ferid and Krul. Guren represents dolls with Goshi help to light them making three of them two representing Ferid and Krul and Guren holds Ky Luc doll, Narumi berates him by playing with ridiculous dolls and Crowley gives him a spare of Ky Luc doll and tells everyone that he is a fifth progenitor who's stronger than both Crowley and Ferid telling the group that he can even kill meele-type black demons wielders. He tells Yu not to interrupt him and asking Crowley if he can hold him off which he replies he might since the humans cannot take a hit, they will have to dodge as much as possible. He tells Shinya and Yoichi to shoot UV-blocking rings at them to cut them free and suggest freeing Krul first because of her strength and his plan might work if Ky Luc is stupid like most vampires but Crowley tells him he is smart and always amused commenting he is like Ferid and he will be using their trump card, Yu that not even Ky Luc would guess. As they are battling Ky Luc, Guren closes on him and summons Mahiru-no-Yo, which gives Ky an uneasy feeling and he attempts to stab Guren through the heart but Yu blocks it with his body crushing Yu's heart but it regenerates. Guren summarizes the situation to himself that they failed and Yu is at his limit and considers if he should give him a second dose of medicine risking turning Yu permanently monster or face Ky Luc as they are. They eventually succeed in rescuing Ferid..Shinya asks Guren if they won, and Guren says he was a draw: they did not kill Ky and he escaped with the queen.

He is later seen as Mika and Yu approaches him in an underground laboratory for human experiments in his residence, he admits to taking over most of those experiments after the catastrophe. Yu asks him who he took them over from, but Guren does not answer. He later takes the pair to an elaborate glowing barrier and says it is sealing a monster inside saying both the Emperor's Demons and the Hyakuya Sect joined forces to build this barrier and it's barely keeping the monster contained. He explains to both Mika and Yu about their last names and the Hyakuya Sect must have experimented on both Yu and Mika erasing their memories, Mika then gets angry shouting at Guren how long he is pulling their strings and who he is really he denies all that and tells him Saito is behind all of this since he already met him before and a vampire, the second progenitor. Guren reveals whats in the barrier which is the sixth trumpet and tells them it is a seraph and the who is continually summoning the horsemen for the past eight years.

Guren stops Mika and tells him to let Yu go as the drugs are working and would prevent him from going berserk, he explains to Mika that he and Yu were just being used for years telling him about the time Mika met Saito and about the time he is brought to the Hyakuya orphanage and reminds him that Saito is actually a vampire and the second progenitor, when Mika notes his eyes weren't red Guren laughs, Mika wonders just who is Saito which Guren responds he's been around for a very long time and doesn't know what is he plotting. When Ferid and Crowley arrives they tell Mika he was just using Guren. When Shinoa squad arrives and few of his own squad, when Shinoa approaches the barrier Guren warns her not to touch it or it will cut her arm off. When told that Mika is a Mikaela by Ferid, Guren tells him to think and go through his memories since he should know better than anyone.

With Yu engaging the Sixth Trumpet Kimizuki tells Guren to give him one of those drugs he gave Yu but Ferid gives him one, Guren later fights with Kimizuki and he asks Guren if he is going to lecture him on the fact he's now doing the same thing as Guren, Guren says he will if Kimizuki wants him to he also asks why they have to keep doing this over and over again which Guren replies because they are alive and says if Kimizuki dies, then his sister dies with him. Therefore, they must live, as they are living as families even if that require to do unforgivable or forbidden sins, after hearing that he tells Guren that he almost trusts him after saying all that.

After their victory over the Sixth Trumpet, Guren announces that they are going to take the angelic knife that came from the Sixth Trumpet in order to help humanity fight back against "millennia-old monsters." }}

Natural Abilities
Adept with prior knowledge of the experiment since he was a teenager, Guren has proven himself to be an intelligent scientist, capable of developing Cursed Gear during adulthood. Due to this, he has even managed to create a method that comes with a very high rate of success for the development of humans who can bear Black Demon Series weaponry. Guren is also an exceptional strategist and leader, with him being typically the leader of any team he is in. He is known for having backup plans, such as giving Yu the drug to activate his Seraph genes in case they were cornered. He is very analytical and able to quickly deduce how to counter the current predicament, such as ordering the group to retreat. He is also courageous and loyal to his friends, even to the point of ordering Shinya to abandon him and take command for the group in his stead, so they can escape, while carrying on with their mission. Back when he was still a teenager, even Kureto acknowledges the great intellectual, political-like nature of Guren's capabilities, to the point that having known each other at the span of about eight years, Guren was his right-hand man in carrying out his missions. Guren is also adept with his knowledge of the five-man battle formation called Moon Demon Company, which is mainly used as a tactic for defense within his squad. He is highly proficient in deceiving others, as shown by how no one, not even Shinya, with only Kureto and Ferid being the only individuals aware, knew of his demonic personality until he revealed it himself.

Guren is an outstandingly proficient combatant, specializing in many forms of combat, particularly swordsmanship. Born with outstanding talent among the Ichinose Family, Guren's combat skills marks him as among the finest fighters in the army and he can easily hold his own and triumph in a fight even against those with superior physical power, or other highly skilled fighters with great might. This was shown when Guren is able to kill several common vampires with a single strike and can fight Mikaela evenly, who has the blood of a third progenitor and wields a first-class vampire sword. Indeed, with assistance from his squad, Guren almost came close to defeating Mikaela had Ferid not came to his rescue. Later on, Guren calmly overwhelms Mikaela even after he fully became a Vampire, with the power of his Cursed Gear aiding him. During his teen days, Guren once managed to evenly duel Kureto while apparently holding back as Kureto himself said, with Kureto having to use the full power of his Cursed Gear to overpower him, at which he still put up a brief fight and was able to slice off Kureto's arm. Another instant is when he bypasses Yūichirō's defense in the mock battle to get to his squad members, defeating both Shinoa and Mitsuba first despite it being her five-men squad against a three-men squad (excluding Goshi, Sayuri and Shigure).
 * Anime: While slashing each and every one of them with his sword, Guren can easily repel away the decoys set up by Mitsuba's demon weapon ability at a quick succession. Unlike in the manga, where a sword fight between Guren, Yūichirō, and Shihō never occurs, it actually happens in the anime. Guren was able to easily fend off both of them at once simultaneously and then low-kicking Shihō away while handling Yūichirō on his own with little effort even though he calmly praised him for his improvements.

He is also highly proficient in martial arts, often implementing hand-to-hand attacks effectively while engaged in swordplay to easily batter aside enemies. He fairly quickly defeated Shinya in hand-to-hand and even could dominate Mikaela as a true Vampire wielding his sword while greatly empowered physically by Mahiru-no-Yo for a while using only his bare hands.

Guren also specializes in other combat assets such as the use of magic and spell tags, known for having particular abilities in it even among the Ichinose Family and he is proficient in using it strategically in combat. Guren also holds great knowledge in spell casting, as shown by how he was able to see through one of Goshi's illusionary techniques and anticipated Mito's Vajrayaksa Curse before easily countering it.

Since he isn't an ordinary human anymore, Guren was able to fully recover one of his cut-off arms, and survive powerful vampire attacks from the seventh progenitor, Ferid Bathory, both when they met when he was sixteen, and later, on the battlefield as an adult which surprised him.
 * Anime: The possessed Guren is able to move at a remarkably, insane speed even though his monstrous movement was shortly anticipated and then apprehended by the third progenitor, Krul Tepes, pinning him down on the ground in defeat. The physical prowess bestowed by the demon weapon, Mahiru-no-Yo in this state proves so great that Guren could casually overwhelm Mikaela in terms of physical power, despite the large boost he acquired for becoming a true and complete vampire, as well as wielding a first-class vampire sword (though at the time he had not fortified himself by having it drink his blood). In addition to overwhelming Mikaela in their exchange, he also could lift Mikaela by one of his feet, and then throw him to Yu, causing both of them to tumble down into the ground. It was while Guren is also fighting him hand-to-hand in close combat to his own advantage for a very short period of time.

Magic and Spells

 * Fudo Myo-o Spell: Guren is capable of skillfully using enchantments on spell tags and talismans since late teens. It is shown even at the age of 16, he can implement a talisman on the sword to augment the weapon's cursed power and ability. As a result, from synchronizing the talisman with the blade itself, this created an explosion to unnaturally occur on the enemy's body for physical damage. While so, he can also successfully implant one of these spell tags on the targets' head whenever they're caught off-guarded or if the chance presents itself. In such cases, for example, this type is an ancient one that causes an explosion to occur right after a few seconds has merely gone by before detonating. Guren uses one in particular like it to strategically serve as a distraction in his battles against Yūichirō and Mikaela. Further more, the Ichinose family and particularly Guren himself had special incantations such as a talisman placed on the scabbard of his katana. When he activates the incantations through a talisman for the blade, it begins to make the sword glowed brightly crimson, red in color.
 * Anime: Unlike in the manga, where Guren was able to use a spell tag on Mikaela to create an explosion upon range, it also causes the ruined building to start sinking into the ground below with a gust of whirlwind blowing by its surrounding vicinity. Additionally, Guren can be seen explosively bombarding the thirteenth progenitor, Crowley Eusford with multiple spell tags the moment it came into contact with him yet the latter remains undamaged from the attack.

Equipment

 * Kujakumaru: This blade goes by the name of Kujakumaru and is already wielded by Guren Ichinose at the age of fifteen. It was a Guren wielding Kujakumaru LN.jpg heirloom that had been passed down from generations in the Ichinose Clan. Kujakumaru was a sword that had been sealed with the curses of those who had been beheaded by it. The sword was able to prevent the enemy from absorbing the impact of an explosion created by a talisman he put in place on his blade, which was supposed to resist any of the Hīragi Family's curses. Once the seal had been lifted, the enemy will soon become cursed by this weapon, turning their body red. As a result, the curse will eventually destroy the enemy's body, causing it to have their flesh be torn apart and atomize. Mahiru cuts the sword in half during their first battle.


 * River's Edge: An enchanted blade owned by the Ichinose Clan. After Mahiru destroys Kujakumaru, Guren begins using this sword in its place. When Kureto captures and interrogates him, he takes this sword and returns it to the Ichinose Clan and gives Guren Hoarfrost instead.


 * Hoarfrost: An enchanted katana that Kureto gives to Guren after he swears loyalty to him. It vibrates and emits a high pitched ring when Guren drew it from its sheath and was then filled with the desire for slaughter and bloodshed. According to one of the many tales about the blade, it cut down a thousand demons in a row without getting a single nick.

Cursed Gear
Additionally, Guren can utilize the power of the demon weapon for other miscellaneous purpose such as filling areas like the classroom with its immense demonic auras. Within the power's vicinity and range, victims pass out unconscious on the floor if they don't have the strength or willpower enough to overcome it. However, if the targets have high psychic resistance, used wards, or are a potential candidate for the Black Demon Series, they're not any bit fazed by Mahiru-no-yo's demonic aura. Merely drawing the katana from its sheath alone seeps blackish gases made from within in and out of the blade.
 * Noya (ノ夜): A demon who formed a contract with Guren, given to him by Mahiru and becomes his demon weapon in the form of a black katana. Guren can call Noya fly back to his hand whenever they're separated. With the recent revelation, Noya is a possession-type demon of the Black Demon Series as it mainly concentrated on enhancing Guren's physical abilities similar to Mahiru-no-yo as Noya can increase Guren's strength by using his desires as sustenance. Noya eventually transformed into Mahiru-no-Yo due to Mahiru merging with the demon.
 * Mahiru-no-Yo (真昼ノ夜): A possession-type demon of the Black Demon series that Guren wields in the manga. The weapon is still a black katana, like Noya, but now has a glowing, crimson red, streak that is outlined down in the middle portion of it.Glen's Demon Possession.png Mahiru-no-yo can significantly increase Guren's physical abilities, and calling out her name would increase his power even more so. If Guren wishes to, he can invoke the demon's real name to have her possess him. This would cause Mahiru's apparition to appear and enshroud the blade and the arm wielding it with streaks of overwhelming flames. Guren would would be able to launch these flames at his opponent with one slash, and is strong enough to engulf an explosion in the midst of its vicinity.
 * Not only does it strengthen his own abilities and power physically, Mahiru-no-Yo can also be used to devour an enemy's attack. If Guren was on the defensive side, he would then call on the demon blade's name to assist him in battle when he was knock far back and being sent flying to the ceiling. He will then used the demon's power and ability to cushion his physical impact for safe landing. This was only while the appearance of demonic auras became visible from behind Guren, materializing onto him little by little in sparks.
 * Although in the anime opening of Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen, where he had a standoff against Mika, the crimson-like, black demonic auras were summoned onto the demon weapon wielded by Guren, shining the blade with bright redness before quickly turning dark. The crimson-like, black demonic aura encompasses Guren with various streaks and sparks all around him in vast quantity.
 * Once Guren is possessed by Mahiru-no-yo, the blade would seem to have a mind of its own. The blade unsheathed itself from the scabbard and then proceeded to move around on air swiftly, beheading the noble vampire. In the manga, it was right after that did Mahiru appear as a ghostly apparition with mass-like demonic aura, hovering over Guren while his katana is equipped under her. Whereas in the anime, however, it is portrayed differently with Mahiru's facial appearance seen and later handing down the weapon back to Guren's possession.
 * Anime: Guren would go on and further use the power of his demon weapon, Mahiru-no-Yo to summon forth a red whirlwind cloaked with thin layer of crimson-like demonic aura. More so, the demonic aura can be seen concentrating all around its inner layer and then being destructively launched at targets through him up front within his range. This red whirlwind was able to demolish the concrete wall of a building, pushing back the likes of Yūichirō, Shinoa, and Mitsuba and leaving them at a standstill temporarily.
 * In contrast to the manga, when Guren spoke of drinking the blood of human sacrifices, demons, and the progenitors, his katana drastically underwent a sudden change of color scheme. Through doing so, the katana itself went from being almost black in color to purely red of throughout the blade's length as is shown on the cover for manga volume 8. Furthermore, the transformation of his demon sword's color scheme is almost identical to that of a first-class vampire weapon, as those used by the progenitors, when they allow it to drink their blood, giving the blade a deeper shade to red as well. Something similar occurred when Guren used a talisman to turn the color of a non-cursed gear's blade crimson, from the light novel series. In the anime, however, he managed to change a cursed gear weapon's color scheme from that of the Black Demon Series, into fully red without placing any sort of talisman on it.

Trivia

 * The writer, Takaya Kagami, thinks of Guren as "The Unparalleled Ichinose!" while writing him.
 * Guren 「紅蓮」 means "crimson lotus."
 * Ichinose 「一瀬」 means "one rapid."
 * He is one of the first characters designed, along with Mikaela and Yūichirō.
 * The volume covers have humans on odd-numbered volumes and vampires on even-numbered volumes. Guren is the only member of the Japanese army to appear on an even-numbered cover so far, which was actually a big hint that he had been working with the vampires all this time.
 * In chapter 14, Kureto promises to give Guren a reward for his efforts in Shinjuku. Takaya Kagami's Q&A revealed that it actually turned out to be chocolate ice cream.
 * In the popularity poll, Guren earned 4th place at 3,307 points. In the 2019 popularity poll, Guren is currently in 3rd.
 * There was already a demon inside Guren's heart before he even made a contract with Noya.
 * According to the Manga 8.5 Fanbook:
 * Interests and Likes: [Interests] Yūichirō/Mahiru [Likes] Games/Jazz
 * Favorite food: Curry
 * What he looks for in the opposite sex: Mahiru Hīragi
 * Comments about him:
 * Shinya: "Guren is a pretty shy person. Although he really likes us, he’s not very straightforward about it." 
 * Kureto: "That guy works well. He appears to be doing something under cover, but I’m planning to capture him as a hostage for now."
 * According to the TV Anime 108 Fanbook:
 * Guren's favorite color is blueish-gray, which is the color of Mahiru's hair.
 * He loves cola.
 * If he were to become a demon, he believes his demon form would appear at about five years old, the age when he first met Mahiru Hīragi and felt like he could do anything until the Hīragi retainers tore them apart and crushed his hopes and dreams.
 * He resurrected his dead friends by using the Seraph of the End experiment using their severed heads and bodies.

Book 1
I could be with the person I love. I could have the things I wanted. I could live happy. It all seemed so easy. It really did.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 13
 * When I was young, I was sure all of my dreams would come true.


 * She was sitting so close I could hear her breathe. I liked the sound. I liked her voice. I liked listening to her heart beating next to mine. I liked everything about her.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 13


 * I belonged to a lowly branch clan. But from my place, down in the dirt, Mahiru shone like the sun.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 15


 * "…Power. I’ll never get the things I want in life…unless I have power."— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 15


 * "Haha. Actually, I said it because you two are underestimating the Hiragi Clan. I’m gonna repeat this one more time. Don’t get reckless. Not even for a second. We have to be on our guard at all times. Apart from us three, no one at this school is loyal to the Imperial Moon. They’re all enemies. Every single one."— Guren to Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 1, Page 22


 * They’ll try to isolate me, bully me, and make me obedient. It’s the same kind of dirty tricks they’ve been pulling for the last two hundred years.— Guren thinking about the Hiragi Clan, Chapter 2, Page 30


 * It doesn’t really matter how bad my grades are, they want me here. I’m just gonna have to put up with being bullied by the other students for the next three years.— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 3, Page 42


 * "We were talking about which girls in the class were pretty. By the way, Shinya thinks you’re pretty hot. He was talking about asking you over to his place tonight…"— Guren to Mito Jujo, Chapter 3, Page 47


 * "Ever since I was little, I’ve always liked to come in first. If we joined forces, first prize would go to you guys, wouldn’t it?"— Guren to Makoto Kijima (Saito), Chapter 3, Page 65


 * "I decided before today that any opponent who sees my full strength needs to die. I’m giving you five seconds. Go back to your masters and tell them the Ichinoses won’t play ball. I’ll count: Five…Four…Three…"— To Makoto Kijima (Saito), Chapter 3, Page 66


 * "You’ve grown up. You’ve become strong and beautiful."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4, Page 76


 * "I almost forgot. Congratulations on your engagement. Shinya told me all about it." (Mahiru stiffly thanks him and leaves) "What the hell did I say that for?"— Guren to Mahiru when she leaves then himself, Chapter 4, Page 77


 * "…I’m actually the pathetic mutt that everyone says I am? Well, I am. So why don’t you get it through your head that you’ve overestimated me."— To Shinya, Chapter 5, Page 78


 * "Mr. Saito? You told me your name was Kijima."— Guren to Saito, Chapter 5, Page 91


 * "There it is. 'The end of the world.' The Thousand Nights is just another fly-by-night cult, isn’t it? Let me guess: Only true believers, who join your religion, will be saved. Am I right? Our clan pulls the same kind of tricks. So do the Hiragis. Everyone as the same gimmick. Did you think that was all it would take to trick me into joining you?"— To Saito, Chapter 5, Page 93


 * Laugh now… but one day, I’ll kill every last one of you Hiragi scum.— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 6, Page 126


 * "…Dammit. You’re the last witness I ever wanted."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 7, Page 138


 * "I know better than to trust someone who can’t keep his trap shut."— To Shinya, Chapter 7, Page 138


 * "For my part, I’m not interested in being a puppet for the Thousand Nights. I’ve already had enough of bowing my head. My answer is right here! I’ll destroy anyone who tries to control me!"— Guren to Saito, Chapter 7, Page 141


 * "Kujakumaru…release!"— Guren summoning Kujakumaru, Chapter 7, Page 141


 * "Look at what’s happening to you, Saito. Do you know why you’re glowing red? The curse is feeding on you. The curse changes you, and then it devours you. Once it has finished consuming you, you’ll be trapped for all eternity inside the sword."— Guren to Saito, Chapter 7, Page 143


 * "Mahiru. The traitor was Mahiru, wasn’t it?"— Guren asking Saito if it was Mahiru who betrayed the Hiragi Family, Chapter 7, Page 147


 * "So you’re saying you’ve perfected cursed gear?"— Guren to Mahiru about Cursed Gear, Chapter 7, Page 155


 * "I think you’ve gone mad. Tell me, how many people did you sacrifice to create that blade? How many lives were lost to your experiments?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 157


 * "Hmph. I don’t know why you’re acting so friendly all of a sudden, but I don’t think I like it."— Guren to Norito, Chapter 7, Page 163


 * "You’re right, I’ve got no reason to thank you. What I was gonna say is, just stay away from me. I don’t need any friends."— Guren to Mito and Norito, Epilogue, Page 172

Book 2

 * "I’m patient. I was born that way. Unlike a certain brat I know who takes every chance he gets to show off."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 1, Page 197


 * "Tell her I don’t like being manipulated. By anyone. Tell her that she’s a fool, and if she really thinks she loves me she should stop playing games and tell me what she’s planning."— A message to Mahiru, Chapter 2, Page 219


 * "...betraying the Thousand Nights…the end of the world…our destinations are the same… This is all starting to sound like some grand romance novel. What are you planning, Mahiru…"—Guren's thoughts, Chapter 2, Page 220


 * "…Another test, huh? I wonder if I’ll be able to hide my full strength this time, too."— Guren Chapter 3, Page 223


 * "…Maybe I should make a run for it."— Guren, Chapter 3, Page 230


 * "You know, you’re really starting to be a pain in my fucking ass."— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 3, Page 233


 * "…Ngh. You son of a bitch. Why did you even spout all that stuff about wanting to see who was stronger?"— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 3, Page 234


 * "I don’t care about you enough to bother laughing at you."— Guren to Mito, Chapter 4, Page 246


 * "So I’m actually strong. So what? What difference does strength make when you’re born an Ichinose? You’re from the great and mighty Goshi Clan. And that redhead back there is an esteemed Jujo. But what am I? As far as the Hiragis are concerned, I’m just an Ichinose mongrel. No amount of strength can change that."— Guren to Norito, Chapter 4, Page 247


 * "I know you’re ready to sacrifice others. Aren’t you? Mahiru…"— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 4, Page 249


 * "What you should really be angry about is how weak we are. They can torture us and we don’t even have the right to get angry about it. They almost killed my father. It’s not the Hiragis who are the problem. It’s our own lack of power."— Guren, Chapter 5, Page 251


 * "You don’t have to protect me. I don’t need to hide my strength anymore."— Guren to Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 5, Page 260


 * "Please keep your voice down, Master Seishiro. I’m on a secret mission right now, from Lord Tenri…"— Guren Seishiro, Chapter 6, Page 263


 * "Of course, the Hiragi army is a pack of fools. It’s possible the area’s been poisoned and they all just marched in to their deaths without noticing. If that’s the case, then there may not be enemies on the ground after all."— Guren, Chapter 6, Page 282


 * "Are you stupid? Do you think the enemy is going to ask to shake your hand before they attack you on the battlefield?"— Guren, Chapter 6, Page 284


 * "And what do you propose we should do? With so little information, any in-depth strategy will just trip us up. We can spend all the time we like talking about what we think might happen and how everything should play out. But we can’t get wrapped up in some foolish plan based on wishful thinking. What we need to do is kill any enemy that shows up. And if we can’t kill them, we need to at least try to make it back out alive."— Guren to the squad, Chapter 7, Page 290


 * "As squad leader I only have one order for you. Drill this into your heads. I don’t want you to think of anything else. Nothing else is important, do you understand? The order is…don’t die. No matter what else happens, do not die. Ready…" (A helicopter is shot down) "The mission has begun."— Guren to the squad, Chapter 7, Page 291


 * "I won’t be your puppet, Mahiru. I’m not interested in dancing on anyone’s palm…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 306


 * "Tell me, which one of you is the real Mahiru?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 308


 * "Now I see. So this is power…"— Guren, Chapter 7, Page 310


 * "Mahiru… You’ve got to stop this research into cursed gear. It’s no good. This is the kind of power that will make fools of us. It will control us."— Mahiru to Guren, Chapter 7, Page 313


 * "We’ll think of another way. There’s got to be something else, another path…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 313


 * "This time, I’ll protect you. Come with me, Mahiru."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 314


 * "Hmph. Haven’t you ever heard of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'? If you keep rushing forward at this pace you’re going to destroy yourself."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 315


 * "I can save you now. Throw away the sword and come with me."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 315

I am you, the thing answered. "Who are you?" You are me. "Who are—" ''Enough! I am a demon. A thing of ambition and revenge. A demon, just like you.'' "…" ''I am already a part of you. Listen to my voice. Every time your heart beats, we grow more entwined.'' "…" ''Listen to me, listen to my voice. You’ve entered a new world, just like Mahiru. Welcome, Guren. Welcome to the abyss. I’ve been waiting for a human just like you, someone strong and full of desire.'' "…" ''Wake up, now. But don’t forget, you are no longer human. You are not human. Desire and hatred. Love and sorrow. Overwhelming ambition. Together, we can crush this vile world!'' So screamed the demon’s voice…my own voice.— Guren and his demon, Chapter 7, Pages 325-236
 * "Who are you?" I asked.


 * "The war began for me when I was just a little kid."— Guren, Epilogue, Page 337

Book 3

 * "If we start conducting human experiments, where will it stop? New magic, new research, new powers. Power, power, power…. And then what? What happens after we turn our own comrades into human guinea pigs? Will we be swallowed whole by our own lust for power, or will the Hiragis crush us beneath their boots? Either way, it’s a disaster in the end."— To Mitsuki Iori, Chapter 1


 * "I want you to avoid human experimentation as much as possible… If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it with our reason intact."— To Mitsuki Iori and the other Order of the Imperial Moon Aichi scientists, giving them permission to study the demon’s infection, Chapter 1


 * "Hmph… So an angel is going to alight at Christmas, trumpet in hand, to kick sand in the world’s face? You gotta be kidding me. This is modern-day Japan we’re talking about."— About Mahiru’s prophecy, Chapter 1


 * "At your level, do you think you’d even have the chance to kill yourself? Don’t underestimate the Hiragis. If the two of you knew what was going on, I would never let you leave this compound again. I’d find two other guards to serve me. Do you understand? If you want to stay by my side, then keep those ears covered."— To Sayuri and Shigure, Chapter 1


 * "…I don’t like being surprised like that."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "Maybe I just don’t like your face."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "What can I say? I’m just a loser, born and bred. I’ve always got to watch out for who’s going to kick me next."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "Jokes are supposed to be funny. I guess you’re so used to being kissed up to that it’s rotted your brain."— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 2

He had a feeling, though, that Shinya might have noticed he had lost on purpose.— Playing shogi for the first time, Chapter 3
 * During his own match, Guren had racked his brain to learn how to lose as quickly as possible without letting Norito catch on that he was doing it on purpose. Apparently, Guren had succeeded. Norito had practically been through the roof when he’d won. Mito had felt compelled to console Guren.


 * Shogi is nice and easy', Guren thought. The only opponent you had to worry about was the one right there in front of your face.— Chapter 3

For now, however, they tolerated humanity. To the vampires, people were no more than braying cattle. It didn’t matter to them whether there were a few more or less in the world.— Chapter 3
 * Vampires were just too powerful for humans to take on. If the vampires ever got it into their heads to wipe out mankind, they could do so in a heartbeat.


 * "I guess I can trust you a little after all…"— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 3


 * He couldn’t stop his face from blanching with hate when he saw how they’d tortured Mahiru’s little sister.— Chapter 4


 * "It could just be a telemarketer."— To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Is this…the real Mahiru?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4

The words slipped out of Guren’s mouth. It was a capricious, irresponsible thing for him to say. What good would waiting have done her? He still didn’t have enough power to influence what the Hiragis did. He wasn’t powerful enough to save her. He was just spouting nonsense. He sounded like a foolish weakling. It didn’t seem to matter to Mahiru, though. She began sobbing over the line, and her voice was shaky.— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "Why…couldn’t you have waited for me?" he said.


 * "No, I am going to save you."— Guren to Mahiru when she begs him to kill her, Chapter 4


 * But the room smelled lived-in. It smelled like Mahiru. An unobtrusive scent of perfume wafted in the air. Guren didn’t mind it.— Guren in Mahiru’s room, Chapter 4


 * "You’re not Mahiru."— Guren to the demon personality controlling Mahiru, Chapter 4

She was shaking. Shaking uncontrollably.— Guren embracing Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * But Guren didn’t care anymore. He grabbed her by the arm and, pulling her inside, held her to his chest.

But her shaking wouldn’t stop. He couldn’t banish the shadows lurking inside of her.— Guren embracing Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "We’re together right now! I’m here, with you, right now!" He pulled her closer, attempting to calm her down.


 * "For now… I don’t want you leaving my side. No more talk of things being too late. I’ll find a way. I’ll save you…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "Dammit… Just be quiet. Isn’t it obvious how I feel? Look at what I’m doing. You know I shouldn’t have come here. You know I shouldn’t be touching you. So why do you think I’m doing it?!"— Guren to Mahiru when she asks if he still loves her, Chapter 4


 * He took Mahiru in his arms, that day, and made love to her.— Chapter 4

"That’s right." "Don’t fucking lie to me. How am I supposed to believe what you say, when you look like you’re about to burst into tears while you’re saying it?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "You wanted to kill off your remaining weakness? Is Mahiru really gone? Are you just the demon now?"


 * "Don’t ‘maybe’ me! Come out of this alive and you can figure out how you feel later. Love won’t mean shit if you die!"— Guren to Mito, Chapter 4


 * "Ha… Haha… Ahahaha… Okay, Mahiru, I get it. I give up. I’ll become a hare, too. A demon. But I won’t be like you. I won’t give up everything. I won’t stop being human."— Guren to himself, Chapter 4


 * "I slept with Mahiru."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "If I die, I want you to take care of Mahiru."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 4

"I’m not like Mahiru. This is my humanity…I’m doing this to save my friends…" Guren gripped the sword. The moment his fingers touched the pommel, his world turned black. Dark. Obsidian. Soaked pitch black— That was the moment when it began. Guren Ichinose: catastrophe at sixteen.— Guren to himself, Chapter 4
 * "I’m going to save Mito. I’m going to save Norito. I’m going to save Sayuri. And I’m going to save Shigure.

Book 4
"I’m giving up my humanity so that nothing else will be lost!"— To himself, Prologue
 * From deep in his soul, Guren screamed.

It was faint, like the sound of a gear grinding one notch forward. Closer to destruction. Closer to the end. Closer to apocalypse. Like the trumpet of an angel sitting in cold judgment upon man’s greed.— Prologue
 * In that brief moment, Guren could have sworn he heard a sound.


 * Another piece of Guren’s sanity was shorn off.— Chapter 1


 * "If the outcome is the same either way, then I choose to move forward."— To Noya, Chapter 1


 * "Keep your filthy hands off my woman…"— To a Thousand Nights grunt about Shigure, Chapter 2


 * "Dammit… I can’t believe this body is even turned on by blood…"— To himself, Chapter 2

He was lying. If he really thought that, he wouldn’t have come protect her. Shigure hated herself for being so weak she needed protecting. She hated it so much she could cry.— To Shigure, Chapter 2
 * "Ha. Don’t get so full of yourself, Shigure. You’re just a sacrificial pawn…"


 * "I’ll kill you!"— Guren screaming to Mahiru, Chapter 2


 * "Rrrraaaaaaa…. Hahahahaha… Blood… Give me blood… I’ll kill them all! I’ll kill everyone who gets in my way!!"— Chapter 2


 * "Blood… Bring me more blood…"— Chapter 2


 * "I’ll kill you, too! I’ll… Ngh… Run, you idiot! I… Ah… Ahahahahahah…. …rrrgg…."— To Norito, Chapter 2

Because any time anybody got close, his desires took over. If Mito didn’t leave him alone, he would probably ravish her, mutilate her, and kill her. And of course, the instant he was done, he would forget about her. All he was interested in now was blood, and destruction, and proving his own might.— About Mito, Chapter 2
 * Please, just stay away, Guren thought. No one ever coming near him again was all he wanted.


 * "You disgust me… I hate you. I can’t stand the sight of you. Stay away from me. I don’t ever want to see your ugly mug again…"— To Mito, Chapter 2

The words had come out of Guren’s own mouth. Mito’s eyes opened wide in shock, and the demon continued: "I don’t regret it, though. I’ve always liked you. I did this to myself so… "Ahhh! Mito, don’t listen! It’s the demon speaking! I can’t hold out any longer. I’m begging you, please, just go aw— "No, no. I’m sorry, Mito. Forget what I just said. It’s me, Guren. Come and save me. You know, I was just thinking that I wanted a woman. Why don’t you take your clothes off and get on your knees? It’s your fault that I gave up my humanity, so it’s only right for you to take responsibility and service me." All of those words had issued from Guren’s mouth. But they weren’t his thoughts. Or were they? Was that what he was really thinking deep down? He couldn’t tell anymore; it was all getting mixed up. He couldn’t tell where he ended and where the demon began.— To Mito, Chapter 2
 * "That’s right," the demon spoke. "I gave up my humanity in order to save you."

It spent much more time asleep now. Guren wasn’t sure if this was because he was reclaiming some of his humanity, or if it was just a sign that he and the demon were becoming one.—Chapter 4
 * The demon was sleeping at the moment.

''Kill. Them. All.'' It seemed to be the demon’s main impulse. To destroy anything and everything he came across in this world. As time went by, however, little by little the demon and Guren seemed to merge. His desires grew more complex and nuanced. He began to want to use the demon’s power to fulfill subtler goals, instead of just base primordial urges. And then, all of a sudden, the demon had gone to sleep. It was a deep slumber. Guren was back in control of himself. But… "…this must just be part of the process of turning into a demon."— Chapter 4
 * All Guren had been able to think about during that time was how much he wanted to kill everyone.


 * "I’m getting tired of this, Mahiru."— Chapter 4


 * "What’s the point of trying to deny the truth with your little fuda? Those desires inside you, those are the real you. You can’t deny that!"— To Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "So? My life should have ended today. So what if I get betrayed in the future? What other lives do I have to lose?"— To Noya, Chapter 4

His voice was so tiny that it even surprised himself.— To his team, Chapter 4
 * "Ahh, dammit," he muttered. "You guys saved me, all right…"


 * "Actually, I was talking about when she called you a limp-dicked virgin."— To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "…I trusted you."— Guren hisses to Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Happy? Just as you wanted, I’m finally one of Kureto Hiragi’s lackeys, body, mind, and soul."— To Mito, Chapter 4


 * "I told you I would protect you. But I can’t. I’m too weak. It’s my fault. But…at least, we can die together."— To Mahiru, Epilogue

Book 5

 * "That’s not true! This isn’t your fault! Goddammit, Kureto! Quit fucking around! You don’t need to do this. You know I’ll act! Let my father go right now!"— To Sakae and whomever is listening in, Chapter 4


 * "We won’t let them execute my father… We’re going to do everything we can in these next two days to eliminate Mahiru."— To Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 4


 * "I started regretting things a long time ago."—' To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Even as I am… I have friends who believe in me. I won’t betray their trust."— To Noya, Chapter 5

… … … Guren reached out his hand. "I want you to be my friend."— To Noya, Chapter 5
 * "If you’re not one of my friends, then become one. That’s an order."

Book 6

 * "What do we have to live for? …We’ll never be more than slaves. No matter how hard we try, nothing ever seems to go our way."— To Sakae Ichinose before his execution, Chapter 1


 * "Dad! …I’m proud that I was born your son."— To Sakae Ichinose immediately before the execution, Chapter 1


 * "I can do this, Dad… Don’t worry. I can do this. I can be the son you hoped I would be. Just keep watching over me."— To his father’s decapitated corpse, Chapter 1

Guren stood there, insignificant beneath the moonlight. Unable to suppress his need for vengeance. He stood there, covetous, beneath the stars. A demon of the moon, eyes fixated on the sky.—Chapter 2
 * A beautiful moon shone down on the garden his father had built.
 * "Then, I’ll tell you the truth. What your father said is true. We’re dirt. Accept it. It can’t be helped… But that’s only temporary. So no more complaints. Shut your mouth and follow me, got it? You do that, and I’ll lead you to that better future you’ve been waiting for."— To Makoto Narumi, Chapter 2


 * "I’ve finally caught up to you…"— To Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "You’re included in the list of people I want to protect."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "You’re very pretty. It would be easy for me to say yes to you now, and to be with you. But what would happen after that? If we had sex, we wouldn’t be able to be friends anymore… But we’d never be allowed to date or get married. So if I said yes to you now… it would only mean losing one of my best friends. I don’t want that."— Rejecting Mito Jujo, Chapter 4


 * "Sometimes, I think you get off on listening in on people."— To Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "I’d like to have some cake for Christmas, this year…"— To his squad two days before Christmas while trying to prevent the Apocalypse, Chapter 4


 * "Listen up, everyone. I’m going to try contacting Mahiru now, to ask her for help. Chances are, the Imperial Demons will be tapping the call. So even if we manage to stop the world from being destroyed, we’ll probably be accused of treason for what I’m about to do and be put to death when this is all over."— To his squad, Chapter 4


 * "I thought that’s what you would all say. If we make it safely to Christmas, let’s spend it together, playing video games and eating cake. Chocolate, marron glacé, and strawberry shortcake."— To his squad, Chapter 4


 * "More or less. I want to betray the Hiragis, and I need your help."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4