Belaf

"Belaf"

- A human child…Beautiful…

Belaf is one of the Three Sages of Ilblu. As human, he used to be one of the key members of the Ganja Suicide Corps and is now one of Ilblu's most important residents.

Appearance
Belaf has a long, centipede-like body and a head reminiscent of a flower. He has almost no facial features except for what is at first glance two empty eye sockets, but are actually more akin to mouths. A proboscis-like tube protrudes from each hole to eat and his voice also comes from these openings.

As a human, Belaf was thin and tall. He had wild silver hair and a large scar across the left side of his face. His eyes were light blue colored and he always had an intense expression on his face.

Personality
Belaf's will go to any means possible to get what he wants, even if it means destroying his own body. He will, however, be considerate towards others, as shown when he gave Riko the choice what to trade for getting Nanachi back.

Belaf was a much warmer person when he was human. While still intense and intimidating, he was very insightful to others' thoughts and feelings and helped raise Vueko's confidence during their travels. He was also just as intelligent; he served as the main translator between the Abyss's island natives and the Ganja crew.

Ganja Arc
Belaf was once a human and part of the Ganja Suicide Corps who aimed to find the Golden City at the bottom of the Abyss. He served as one of Ganja's Sages, as well as the main translator for the Abyss's native people. After Ganja had created a Camp on the 6th layer and started to suffer symptoms of an unknown body-hardening disease it was Belaf who discovered the source of it.

He also fell ill, due to them having no alternative source of water, but was later healed by "medicine" given to him by Wazukyan. It is revealed the food Wazukyan had fed Vueko, Belaf and other Ganja members, who gotten infected by the "Pseudowater", is broth made from Irumyuui’s children and to his surprise it not only gave nourishment to the infected, but also alleviated the symptoms of their infection.

Upon this reveal, Belaf was shocked that he consumed Irumyuui’s children and suffered a mental breakdown, blaming himself heavily for having willingly eaten the broth while he was under the effects of the Mockwater. He is later seen being fed by Vueko due to having starved himself to the point of being unable to move and yet still pleaded for her to stop feeding him broth made from Irumyuui’s children.

When Irumyuui, after her last transformation, started to consume predators of the 6th layer Belaf, still plagued by guilt pleaded to her to consume him as well to make up for having eaten her children. A giant hole opened up in Irumyuui, allowing Belaf to walk right inside her. As Belaf’s flesh was consumed he was simultaneously reconstructed and transformed into a Narehate. The other Ganja members, struck by the "beauty" of Belaf’s new form, concluded that they would be forgiven for eating Irumyuui’s children if they offer themselves up to her in the same way and Wazukyan proclaimed that this is the home they had been looking for.

Early Life as Narehate
During one of Bondrewd's, reportedly many, visits to the village he brought Mitty with him. Belaf was able to sense Mitty's true immortality and decided he had to have her for his own. Bondrewd refused to sell her to Belaf no matter what was offered.

So instead, Belaf sacrificed all 724 of his arms and legs, half of his body, part of his sensory organs, and "reduced and used their Value" in order for Mitty to be reborn in the village. Belaf uses Mitty as his main source of food, since no matter how much he takes from her she regenerates due to being immortal.

Ilblu Arc
After Nanachi hears from Majikaja, during a conversation about Value, that Belaf is in possession of the supposed-to-be-dead Mitty they ask Majikaja to take them to Belaf. Upon visiting the sage's house Nanachi is moved to tears out of happiness to be reunited with Mitty, but is shocked moments later as they watch how Belaf extends his feelers to drink from Mitty. Because Nanachi wants to save Mitty from more torment they offer themself up to Belaf in exchange for Mitty.

Later on, Riko visits the sage since she has been informed to find Nanachi with him. Riko finds Nanachi and Mitty with Belaf and he tells her that the Mitty he has is a clone created from the original brought by Bondrewd to the village whom he wanted to use as a nutrition source. Because he couldn't afford to buy Mitty directly from him, he sacrificed half of his body to have the village replicate her. He also tells her about how Nanachi offered themself up to him and that he is willing to sell her back to Riko in exchange for something of similar Value.

He suggests to her to trade both her eyes, both her legs or her complete digestive system to him. Before Riko can make a deal with him Majikaja closes up her mouth, tells her not to be hasty and Riko gives up for the moment.

After Nanachi wakes up, from the trembles of the ongoing battle between Faputa and the villagers, and asks Belaf what is happening, he informs them that their dream is now not a dream anymore.

Belaf informs the still confused Nanachi that he has bestowed his memories of the past to them, due to having to take his leave now. For him, his memories represent his Value. So in a sense, he transfers his Value to Nanachi because he likes the relationship they have with Mitty.

The conversation is loudly interrupted by the roars from the ongoing battle between Faputa and the villagers. Belaf tells Nanachi Faputa has returned and will not stop her rampage until the village is completely destroyed. He also lets them know he releases them, and they may go wherever they want now.

As Nanachi is about to take their leave with Mitty, Belaf points her in the direction where the barrier started to disappear. If Mitty should be brought beyond, she will cease to exist. This is because every being that was created in the village can only exist in it, and will stop existing if taken outside it.

He promises if Nanachi should choose to remain, he will do anything in his power to protect Mitty and them. Nanachi is torn, due to the happiness she feels for having gotten a second chance to see Mitty, but decides their blessing wasn't given to them by Mitty just to remain in a dream. This time, Nanachi chooses to set Mitty free with their own hands and starts making the way to the end of the barrier. Belaf as well, starts heading for the barrier.

As he fades more and more, he internally monologues that, whether it be despair or joy, all things you collect add to your Value.

Belaf and Nanachi have arrive at the battle scene and, after a short exchange between Nanachi and Faputa, Belaf advances towards Faputa. Faputa notes that the smell of her mother is strong on Belaf and decides to kill him first. As Faputa starts tearing through Belaf, he has an inner monologue of having a gift for Faputa which he hopes for her to accept due to understanding now that when he begged Irumyuui to take everything from him she left this behind because she wanted Faputa to see it.

Faputa shatters Belaf's head apart and thus his "gift" is set onto Faputa, in a smoke-like mist, being the feelings and memories he held of Ganja's past. Belaf thanks Faputa for being with him in his final moments and tells her she will have have to decide her own Value during end of her destiny and he encourages her to move forward without fear as he wants her to enjoy her adventure. Afterwards, Belaf passes away.

High Regeneration
Belaf sacrificed most of his body in order to obtain Mitty. Most of it seems to have been healed over time.

Nutrition Absorbtion
Due to his bodily changes as Narehate, Belaf is able to absorb nutrition from other living beings by inserting his proboscis-like tubes into one of their orifices.

Quotes

 * (To Vueko) "Beauty is in the eyes... Whether you are ugly and inflamed, or fallen in the face of impossibility, or denied a chance to even stand up... Glare... love... anger. That gaze is the essence of beauty."

Trivia

 * Belaf's scar on his face, when he was still human, stems from being tortured when he was about 14 years old. He was also poisoned with sap from a tree.
 * The language spoken by the native tribe of the Abyss has some resemblances to places Belaf had traveled to, so he finds it relatively easy to understand.
 * Belaf and Wazukyan were both transformed into "organs of the village," so they can withstand being outside for a short while. However, many portions of them would be lost forever if they set foot outside.