Sou

Sou's appearance is a complete mystery, as it inexplicably changes depending on who is looking at him.

Witness testimonies are wildly inconsistent, describing him as a wealthy man, a delivery worker, or a tourist, with an apparent age ranging from his late thirties to over seventy.

For instance, Mikona saw him as a priest, while Allan perceived him as just an ordinary person.

To Riho, he appeared as a soldier who had come to the rescue; to Selen, a man from a government office; and to Phyllo, a young chef, while Lloyd simply felt he was "probably a bad guy."

Sou is a profoundly tragic and weary figure, burdened by an eternal life he was never meant to have.

His villainous acts are a carefully constructed facade, part of a desperate, long-running plan to find someone strong enough to grant him the release of death.

He often asks people, "What do you see when you look at me?"

This melancholic question is his way of confirming that his legendary past as a hero has been completely forgotten by the world.

Sou's true identity is that of a "Runic Human," an artificial hero engineered in ancient times.

He was created by Alka, who combined the Hero's Factor and powerful runes with the sole purpose of defeating the Demon Lord.

After fulfilling his destiny and vanquishing the great evil, he was supposed to vanish.

However, something went wrong, and he was unable to disappear, cursing him to an endless, lonely existence for eons.

His ultimate goal is his own annihilation, which he believes can only be achieved by killing his creator, Alka, and forcing a new hero to rise and strike him down.

Sou possesses a powerful form of perception manipulation, which is why he appears differently to everyone who meets him.

He also holds a collection of potent, otherworldly items, such as Mithril rings, Trent's medicine, and Abaddon's pills.

He can bestow these items upon ordinary people, which have the terrifying effect of causing them to vanish from existence.

His power is immense, as demonstrated when he attempted to completely annihilate Vritra, the guardian beast of Kunlun, and nearly succeeded.

Shōma

Sou is the shadowy figure giving instructions to Shōma.

They are effectively comrades with a shared goal, as both wish to turn Lloyd into a great hero, although their underlying reasons differ greatly.

Alka

Alka is his creator from the distant past.

Sou harbors a deep-seated grudge against her for his unwanted immortality and plots her assassination, believing her death is the key to his own disappearance.

Lloyd Belladonna

Sou has identified Lloyd as the most promising candidate for the "hero" who can finally defeat him.

He carefully manipulates events to test and strengthen Lloyd, hoping to groom him into the savior who can grant him his death wish.

Mikona Zol

He is the one who granted Mikona the powers of Trent and Abaddon.

Sou used her as an unwitting pawn in his grander scheme to create conflict and draw out a hero.

The disappearances Sou causes have inadvertently sparked a chilling urban legend in the local area.

A rumor is spreading that "monsters are disguising themselves as humans, kidnapping people, and eating them in the nearby dungeon."

"What do you see when you look at me?"

The Mastermind's Plot

Operating from the shadows, Sou acts as the hidden manipulator behind Shōma's actions.

He approaches various citizens, giving them cursed items like Mithril rings or Abaddon's pills, which cause them to vanish without a trace.

These incidents are blamed on monsters, stirring fear and creating a desperate need for a hero to emerge.

The Ancient Grudge

As part of his plan to weaken his creator, Alka, Sou attempted to completely obliterate Vritra, the guardian beast of Kunlun.

His plot was nearly successful but ultimately failed because a single fragment of Vritra's hide—the very piece that later became Selen's belt—managed to survive the onslaught.

Seeking a Hero's End

Sou's true motivation is not world domination but self-destruction.

He deliberately plays the villain to find a hero capable of ending his eternal suffering.

He sees great potential in Lloyd Belladonna and orchestrates conflicts to foster his growth.

His partnership with Shōma is one of mutual interest, as they both aim to make Lloyd a legendary hero, which would fulfill Sou's wish for death and cure Shōma's chronic boredom.