Maruo

Maruo is a character in Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse.
==Appearances==
*Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse: Human Race, Boss
==Profile==
Maruo is a minor antagonist appearing over numerous Challenge Quests and is the "Grand Member" of the Maruo Faction/Maruology Cult. An overweight man wearing a green shirt, sunglasses and gold chains, he surrounds himself with others from across Tokyo and its factions who are fed up with the current state of things. He teaches them to indulge in their desires and live how they want as the world goes to hell in the current times, like stealing food or being obnoxiously loud. He spreads his teachings under the name "Maruology." While heavily criticized, his followers have grown to the hundreds, in part as he promises to accept them no matter what they want.
He is found in West Shinjuku in the first quest West Entry Park Security, where he is teaching a thin woman when Nanashi first encounters him. His followers attack when Nanashi interrupts. Upon their defeat, he gives a nonsensical speech to boost their morale before fighting Nanashi himself. After several turns he gets exhausted, but fools his followers into thinking he just got bored and leaves with them.
He causes trouble again in the second quest National Park Farm Security, where his group has been trying to steal food in Shinjuku. He had set up a trap to attack Nanashi at Shinjuku National Park, where he summons three Girimehkala demons. He starts the battle talking about how everything is about himself as he sics three of them on Nanashi. As the fight goes on Maruo tries to convince Nanashi to stop being a Hunter and embrace his desires, with the responses affecting the outcome of the battle.
"Doesn't it suck to be a Hunter? Always having jobs pushed on you? Come with me! Live for yourself! Live your life to the max!"	"Doesn't it suck to be a Hunter? Always having jobs pushed on you? Come with me! Live for yourself! Live your life to the max!"
"Being a Hunter is important." 	Assist Gauge increases
"What are you even saying?" 	Enemies receive additional 2 flashing press turn icons
Ignore him 	Nothing
"Don't be scared! I'll accept you no matter who you are, okay?" 	"Don't be scared! I'll accept you no matter who you are, okay?"
"I don't need that." 	Maruo loses a turn
"Accept me!" 	Assist Gauge decreases
Ignore him 	Nothing
After the fight he is unable to understand why Nanashi refuses his words, causing confusion as he doesn't understand how they aren't afraid of being alone or left out. Mara emerges as he is confused, revealing that he has corrupted and tempted Maruo. The Demon King teleports away with Maruo and his followers.
He returns in the Quest Help Me, Hunter Boy, in which Mara has drained him and his followers. Heedless of the cost it may have for him, he begs Nanashi to save the Maruologists. Following the lead, Nanashi confronts and destroys Mara at Kiba Storage. It's revealed his bulk was an illusion, and in reality is rakishly thin. Most of his followers abandon him, his charisma lost. However, a single woman remains and thanks him anyway for giving her the confidence to live on. Emboldened by this, Maruo sets out to actually help people.
Following this, his file notes he's been sighted helping at the farms.
==Stats==
===West Entry Park Security===
==Trivia==
Maruo may potentially be a parody of the controversial real-life spiritual guru (also known by his birth name Franklin Jones), whose teachings and spiritual practices for a time also included excesses of sexual gratification and self-indulgent behavior involving food.