Anan Okuto

**Anan Okuto** was a samurai of the Okuto Clan and the grandson of Magistrate Gato Okuto. Ordered to retrieve the Twin Blades of Levianta, Anan interrogated his mentally scarred cousin Kayo Sudou about their location, with no luck. He was later assigned to aid the Freezis Foundation, becoming well acquainted with the head of its Maistia branch, Neifian Moray Lucif.

## History

### Early Life

Born in Jakoku in EC 822 as the child of a member of the Okuto Clan, Hiroshi Okuto, Anan eventually became a samurai in service to his grandfather and Izami's magistrate, Gato Okuto. During this time, the maid Reina Tsukimoto came under his employ.

After a huge fire struck Enbizaka in EC 838, Anan joined his family in giving refuge to his severely burned cousin Kayo Sudou, assigning Reina to be her caretaker. He later learned that Kayo had lost her husband and son in the fire while her mother, Kagura Sudou, had disappeared a year prior; he also learned that Kayo's husband was her own cousin, the disowned Gakuga Okuto.

Sometime after, Gato ordered Anan to retrive the Twin Blades of Levianta, telling his grandson how they had been stolen by Kagura when she was sixteen, with the girl running away from home and marrying into the Sudou Family. After Anan had the burned remains of Kayo's tailor shop searched, with no luck on finding the twin blades, he began regularly interrogating Kayo about their location but was always told that she had never seen them and didn't know where they were.

### Send Off

In early EC 842, Anan began assisting the Freezis Foundation at their trade house in Enbizaka, interested in learning about foreign cultures. He was also ordered to send Kayo home, since her tailor shop had been rebuilt and she had fully healed from her burns. Visiting Kayo and Reina, he again asked the tailor where the twin blades were, only to get into an argument with Reina about his constant questioning.

After finally relenting, he told Kayo that her shop had been rebuilt and that she had to leave, despite Reina's insistence that she was still mentally recovering from the grief. As the maid continue to argue the matter, Anan told her the history of Kayo's relatives, Gakuga and Kagura, and how his grandfather had disapproved of her marriage. He then flatly stated that Gato's good will had run out, and that Reina was to return and become his servant again, adding that they were now assisting the Freezis Foundation. Despite Reina's complaints, she accepted this and said goodbye to Kayo before her and Anan departed to Enbizaka.

Moving into the trade house, Anan regularly worked with the foundation's branch manager, Neifian Moray Lucif, hearing various stories about Maistia and Bolganio. After learning that the Levin missionary AEG-IR had arrived on one of the foundation's merchant ships three days prior, the samurai heard that he was skilled in healing those suffering from feelings of grief. Hoping that Kayo would recall the location of the twin blades if AEG-IR restored her sanity, Anan told him about Kayo and the tragedy she suffered through.

Meeting with Kayo outside of the trade house soon after, he introduced her to AEG-IR and watched as the two talked. When Kayo admitted that she was interested in learning about foreign cultures, Anan agreed with her, having his own wish to visit the far-off places he had heard stories about. As he tried to speak further, however, AEG-IR abruptly called him a nuisance and sent him away. When AEG-IR began confining himself to bed after falling ill a few days later, Neifian had Anan check on his condition regularly and, during this time, he witnessed him perform magic.

### Enbizaka Murder Scandal

In spring of that year, Anan watched while the Freezis Foundation manager negotiated with the draper Mei Miroku. He later heard that Mei had been found dead the day after, having been murdered via suffocation. A month later, Anan joined Neifian as she negotiated a trade deal with Mei's daughter, Miku Miroku, listening as the girl revealed that she was pregnant with the child of the rival Yarera-Zusco Firm's manager, Kiji Yarera-Zusco. He later heard as the girl's corpse was discoverd the next day, her stomach having been carved open.

Later on, Anan overheard Constable Uibee Aoi as he interrogated Neifian about how Mei and Miku had visited the trade house shortly before their deaths. Intervening, Anan vouched for Neifian's innocence in the matter, before revealing that Miku had been pregnant as the man prepared to leave. When Neifian scolded him for sharing Miku's secret, he soothed her by pointing out that keeping it hidden could hurt the Yarera-Zusco firm.

The two then discussed the bedridden AEG-IR, with Anan asking Neifian about the mysterious man and his unusual powers. Threatened to stop prying into his affairs, Anan apologized and quickly left. Much later, Reina informed Anan that the Rangu Clan member Saruteito sought an audience with him. After inviting her in for tea, he learned that Saruteito had come there with Nobu-kiko and Inukichi to locate the blades that her ancestor had once held.

Anan explained to Saruteito that the first Saruteito had given the blades to his own ancestor, Gou Octo, whose descendants had sealed away in a hidden cavern, with Anan having no idea what they looked like. He further explained that, although they may have normally been given back to the Rangu Clan, the blades had been stolen by Kagura and were now lost. When Saruteito prepared to leave, she convinced Anan to give them to her if he found them, in exchange for one of her hand-forged katanas as a replacement.

### Later Life

Following Kayo's execution, Anan gave up looking for his family's heirloom. When Neifian and the other members of the Freezis trade house were ordered to return to Maistia, he decided to accompany them and exile himself from Jakoku for his failures; he also took the opportunity to visit foreign countries like he had wanted. On the day of their departure, Neifian spoke with him about her plans return one day and forcibly open Jakoku's ports for trade. She then asked Anan about why he was joining her; when he explained his intentions, he learned from Neifian how there were rumors of an enchanted katana causing trouble in Bolganio.

Inspired by the possibility that this could be related to his family's heirloom, Anan boarded the ship with Neifian and departed for Maistia. Searching throughout both Maistia and Bolganio for the blade, he located the rumored katana in EC 882 and found that it was a "vessel of virtue" known as the "Venom Sword". Although intending to return to Jakoku and present it to the magistrate, he passed away before he could do so, leaving the blade in the care of his son.

## Skills and Abilities

As a trained samurai, Anan was skilled in martial arts and could effectively wield a katana; however, he showed little ability outside of combat. Despite his thorough investigation, the man failed to find any relevant information about the location of the Twin Blades of Levianta. The samurai similarly failed as an interrogator, asking the same questions for years without result.

## Character Connections

Kayo Sudou: Anan's cousin. Despite their familial relationship, Anan only saw Kayo as a means of fulfilling his duty to his grandfather and so treated her coldly. Due to this, he questioned her and eventually cast her back out despite her poor mental health, showing no sympathy for the losses she had suffered.

Gato Okuto: Anan's grandfather and superior. He was intensely loyal to his grandfather and would fulfill any orders the man gave him, despite being interested in abandoning this duty and learning more about the outside world.

Reina Tsukimoto: Anan's servant. Not knowing Reina's true nature as the god Levia, Anan was often annoyed by even the smallest mistakes she made and her considerate demeanor that prevented him from carrying out his duties. He was similarly bothered by her tendency to be nosy, though appreciating her taste in fashion.

Neifian Moray Lucif: Anan's partner in the Freezis Foundation. He was initially drawn to her due to her foreign appearance and knowledge, spending time hearing her stories of the distant nations she had visited. Following the Enbizaka murders, he accompanied her in traveling to Maistia, keeping in close contact with her even after decades had gone by since they had physically talked.