Hakuyuu Ren

* Manga
* Anime

**Hakuyuu Ren** (練 白雄 *Ren Hakuyū*) was the First Prince of the Kou Empire. He was the oldest son of the founder of the Empire, Hakutoku Ren, and was supposed to become the Emperor after his father's death. However, he was assassinated in an arson before his coronation could take place.

## Personality

Hakuyuu was a very serious person. He inherited his father's severity and valour. He strongly believed that all human lives have equal value regardless of their status. Even in a war, he saw the enemy as humans just like everyone else. He thought that lineage doesn't matter, and that a person's will is the thing that will take over eventually. He wanted to create a united world with no more wars, but they must unite the world through conquest first. He thought that as long as he can swing a sword, injury is alright.

## Story

Born as the first son of Emperor Hakutoku, Hakuyuu was the crown prince of the Kou Empire. He held the same belief as his father and younger brother Hakuren, who wanted to unite the world to save people from the horrors of war. They spent their lives fighting against armies to unite the Tenka region into the Kou Empire so no more wars would ever need to be fought again. He also taught this way of thinking to Kouen, his loyal follower.

When civilian women from Gou were brought to Hakuyuu as war prisoners, he ordered them to be clothed, fed and released. He made it clear that they are fighting against soldiers, not the people. After Hakuyuu gets wounded in a battle they lost against Gai, he speaks to Kouen, who saved him. Kouen holds Hakuyuu's life as the crown prince above everyone else's, including Kouen's himself, but Hakuyuu tells him that every person, a prince or a common soldier, all have the same value.

When Judar was brought to the Kou Empire by Gyokuen, she encouraged him to look for suitable King Vessels. Judar quickly pointed out how Hakuyuu and Hakuren were somehow different from all other possible king candidates. Gyokuen prohibits him from taking Hakuyuu or Hakuren to a dungeon.

At some point, Hakuyuu and Hakuren became suspicious of their "mother", especially after the mysterious death of their father. As a result, Arba, who had been possessing their real mother Gyokuen for at least nine years, decided to get rid of the sons too. Hakuyuu, Hakuren and Hakuryuu ended up in a fire in the palace while being attacked by Al-Thamen magicians and traitorous Kou soldiers. Hakuyuu and Hakuren did their best to get out, but eventually it became clear that the flames and incoming enemies were too much for them. After Hakuren had already died and Hakuyuu was badly burned, he decided as his final deed to save Hakuryuu at the very least. He told Hakuryuu that he must accomplish their mission, to strike down the Kou Empire's greatest enemy — their mother.

The little Hakuryuu was shocked and confused, but Hakuyuu stabbed himself and splattered his blood over Hakuryuu in order to prevent him from burning as well. As his final words, he told Hakuryuu to run outside, before collapsing and dying.

## Extras

### Volume 22

#### Omake paper

Kouen says that his dream for the future used to be serving Hakutoku, supporting Hakuyuu and Hakuren, and becoming one of the pillars of the Kou Empire.

### Volume 23

#### Omake paper

When Kouen saw Hakuryuu for the first time, he thought that he looks just like Hakuyuu, Hakuren and Hakuei. When Koumei saw Hakuyuu for the first time, he thought he looks like the sun you can't look directly at.

### Volume 26

#### Omake paper

Hakuyuu is put in the seventh rukh type category: The daring and resolute king type. They are natural leaders, human beings who seem perfect and garner the awe and reverence of people. However, they tend to be kind of dark in nature deep down.

### Volume 37

#### Omake paper

When asked about his plans of the future, Kouen said he was going to inform the princes about the new world.

## Appearance

Hakuyuu had dark blue hair that had been tied up with a decorated hairpiece. He had blue eyes and a mole on his chin just like his mother and siblings. He wore decorated Kou-style robes with black, white and blue colours. His face looked like his father's.

## Relationships

### Kouen Ren

Kouen was Hakuyuu's loyal follower. He saw Hakuyuu, as the son of Hakutoku, as someone way more valuable that anyone, even Kouen himself. However, Hakuyuu taught him that all humans are of equal worth. As Hakuyuu's follower, Kouen also became to believe in their ideals of a united world that's been rid of war.

After Hakuyuu and Hakuren's deaths, Kouen, as the new first prince, continued to strive for the princes' goals. Although he had no interest in becoming the emperor himself, he used the Metal Vessels together with his siblings in order to conquer the world into one. He was angry at Gyokuen for having killed the princes, but saw fulfilling their goals as more important than taking revenge on her. However, he was still trying to gather knowledge in order to one day be able to avenge the princes. He extressed being envious to Hakuryuu when Hakuryuu had seemingly killed Gyokuen, beating Kouen to the punch.

The sword that worked as Astaroth's Metal Vessel was given to Kouen by Hakuyuu. After losing to Hakuryuu, Kouen asked him not to throw the sword away.

After the end of the final battle, Kouen said he was planning on visiting Hakuyuu and Hakuren's graves to tell them about the new world.

### Hakuryuu Ren

Hakuryuu looked up to his older brothers, but especially Hakuyuu. As a child, he used to say that he would grow up to be like them, but could never be as great as them. After their deaths, Hakuryuu develops an obsession with avenging them. Hakuryuu copied a lot from Hakuyuu, including clothing style. When he starts his revolution in Kou, Hakuryuu changes his hairstyle to resemble Hakuyuu's.

## Skills

Hakuyuu was a skilled warrior, having survived from numerous battles. He used a sword as a weapon. His sword was a normal-sized broadsword.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Magi: Alf Laylah wa Laylah.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Concept art.
3. ↑ Night 242, Page 9.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Tegaki: King Vessel Selection.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Night 278, Pages 13–15.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Night 130, Pages 1–2.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Night 130, Pages 16–18.
8. ↑ Night 278, Page 10–12.
9. ↑ Night 278, Pages 16–18.
10. ↑ Night 279, 5–9.
11. ↑ Night 278, Pages 5–6.
12. ↑ Volume 37 omake paper.
13. ↑ Night 242, Page 10.