Belafu

Overview

Belafu is a character from Made in Abyss. Originally one of the key leaders of the Ganja Suicide Corps during their expedition into the Abyss, he later became one of the Three Sages who established the Village of the Hollows in the Sixth Layer. Highly intelligent and possessing a strong sense of integrity as a human, he ultimately offered his own body up after a tragic turn of events, transforming into a dragon-like Hollow.

Appearance

As a human, he had short, spiked white hair and clear blue eyes with bright pupils, accompanied by a burn-like scar covering a large area on the left side of his face. He wore a cape and vambraces, carrying a holster at his waist. After transforming into a Hollow, his body became long and centipede- or dragon-like, topped with a flat face resembling a mask or flower. Lacking true eyes, his empty sockets act as secondary mouths with proboscis-like tubes used for eating and speaking.

Personality

In his human life, Belafu was a noble and deeply compassionate individual who held high moral standards and expressed profound respect for others. He held a deep appreciation for beauty, particularly in a person's gaze. However, forced into horrific acts to survive, his intense guilt and sorrow shattered his mind, driving him to crave punishment. Though his demeanor became tragic and disjointed as a Hollow, his innate nobility and gentleness resurfaced once his true memories were restored.

Abilities

As a human, Belafu was a skilled linguist capable of deciphering and translating complex languages and scripts, serving as an interpreter when encountering indigenous populations. In his Hollow form, his immense personal value allowed him to trade half his body length, all his limbs, and parts of his sensory organs to create a complete copy of the immortal Mitty. He can also transfer his memories directly to others, and his physical form possesses a slight resistance to the environment outside the village due to being intertwined with the village's organs.

Background

Reaching the Sixth Layer with the Ganja Suicide Corps, Belafu taught their language to the young native girl Irumyuui and cared for his companions. When a deadly parasite swept through the team, he unwittingly ate Irumyuui's children to survive, a severe trauma that shattered his soul. Desperate for retribution, he begged Irumyuui to devour him, transforming into a dragon-like Hollow upon the founding of the village. Centuries later, he sacrificed his own organs to replicate the immortal Mitty. During the village's eventual destruction, he recovered his human self, granted Nanachi freedom, and passed his cherished memories to Faputa before dissolving.

Relationships

He shared a strong bond with his fellow Ganja leaders, Vueko and Wazukyan, holding Vueko's noble spirit in high regard. He was viewed as a parent figure by Irumyuui, making his role in her tragedy unbearable for him. As a Hollow, he took in the replicated Mitty, which led to his encounter with Nanachi. Recognizing Nanachi's devotion, he ultimately freed Nanachi unconditionally while bestowing his own memories. In his final moments, he met Faputa, Irumyuui's final child, to pass on his memories of her mother.

Trivia

The holster Belafu wore on his left waist during his human days is modeled after a real-world accessory owned and used by the series' author, Akihito Tsukushi. A haunting lullaby sung by Belafu in the native language of the Hollows gained significant fan attention when performed by his voice actor in the anime adaptation.