Race: Human
Birthday: 7/22/2007
Height: 5’3″
Weight: 110 pounds
Runo Saito (斎藤 光希), born in 2007 in the mist-shrouded hills of Nagasaki, is a devout Japanese Christian and a prodigious demon hunter whose youthful appearance belies her seasoned expertise in combating abyssal threats. Taking the helm of her clan at only 21, Runo stands as a beacon of the Saito Clan’s enduring legacy, a lineage of ninja-like guardians who have shielded Japan from demonic incursions for over four centuries.
Her family’s conversion to Christianity dates to 1581, when clan progenitor Takeshi Saito—a shadowy Iga enforcer—was liberated from a possessing oni by Italian exorcist Father Matteo Ricci, forging an alliance that birthed the White Church’s demon-hunting ethos. Over generations, the Saitos evolved from feudal assassins to sanctified warriors, their guerrilla tactics—stealth ambushes, secret tools like enchanted kunai, and wind-veiled strikes—proving invaluable against yokai and Nephilim alike.
This culminated in the Great Demon War of 1666, where Runo’s great-great-great-grandfather, a prime-age Saito heir, fought alongside the Seven Sages, his katana cleaving locust-shadows during Abaddon’s banishment. Today, as members of Japan’s largest denomination, the White Church (Shiroi Kyōkai), the Saitos operate from Nagasaki’s neo-Gothic cathedral, blending ancient ninjutsu with cybernetic enhancements like neural-rosaries for digital exorcisms.
Runo’s own path crystallized in tragedy. As a carefree child, she treated her clan’s rigorous training—passed down through her father, Homura Saito, a fiery katana-master—as a mere game, favoring playful wind tricks over discipline. This changed irrevocably at age 12 (2019), when a rat-like Nephilim slaughtered her closest friend during a botched patrol. The loss etched a no-nonsense resolve into her core, transforming her into a relentless trainee who honed technique over raw power, her slight frame belying a mastery of precision strikes and demonic lore.
By 18 (2025), she had become a full-fledged hunter, her wisdom on infernal hierarchies proving pivotal in containment ops. That year, she mentored the visiting American paladin-in-training Mechtild Jager, forging a sisterly bond through shared hunts and cultural exchanges. Recognizing Mechtild’s affinity for blade-work, Runo lent her the family heirloom katana, “Lord’s Retribution”—a flame-etched relic once wielded by Homura—preferring her own arsenal of kuna, blessed for anti-demonic potency.
Runo’s abilities center on wind manipulation, a clan gift amplified by her faith’s holy rites. Her signature “Heavenly Blade” guides kunai through gusts for unerring strikes; “Cross Execution” forms a cross-pattern trap of kunai, summoning lightning to purge ensnared foes; “Zephyr Veil” cloaks her in illusory winds for stealth; and her ultimate “Razor Tempest” unleashes a kunai-filled whirlwind that shreds enemies while shielding allies. These techniques emphasize skill and strategy—Runo lacks superhuman strength, relying on guerrilla agility and demonic insights to outmaneuver horrors.
Personality-wise, Runo is a study in contrasts: her post-trauma no-nonsense demeanor manifests as stoic efficiency, a sharp tongue for inefficiency, and unyielding protectiveness toward the vulnerable, driving her to patrol Tokyo’s undergrid or aid church orphans. Yet, the weight of her clan’s mission burdens her—secretly yearning for a “regular” life of casual dates or office drudgery, she confides doubts to mentors like Archbishop Kenji Voss, grappling with the isolation of her calling.
Faith sustains her, enjoying scripture studies and community service as a “church girl,” but grief resurfaces in quiet moments
Off-duty quirks reveal her softer side: a weakness for cute things, like adopting her calico cat Zephyr (a rift-scarred stray she nurses with tender care), or indulging in anime marathons and plush collections. She bonds with allies like Setsuna Aoki, Raiden Takahashi, and Hikari Nakamura.
During Mechtild’s investigation into the Tower explosion, they meet each other again. Runo has come to America because she’s concerned about the rumors of the Temple of S’s use of demons. Eventually, Runo decides to join Mechtild’s group.
