Kokutan-douji

Kokutan-douji, also known by the name Ren, was a villager of Momogengou in Jakoku. Directed to find his true mother by a mermaid, the boy and his companions traveled to Onigashima, punishing criminals along the way. He moved in with Kayo Sudou, investigating the validity of the mermaid's revelation alongside the murders occurring in Enbizaka. He was Allen Avadonia's reincarnation.

Early Life
Born from an ebony tree trunk in Momogengou, Jakoku in EC 828, Kokutan-douji was raised by Kurookina and Kinouna in the village. As he grew up, the boy constantly felt like there was something he should've been doing. Treated coldly by the villagers for his peculiar blond hair and blue eyes, the child only ever played with Inukichi and the two became close friends. At some point, Kokutan-douji began sitting along the nearby shore to think about his strange feeling.

Journey to Onigashima
In spring of EC 842, while brooding along the shoreline again, Kokutan-douji saw a mermaid appear before him. Too surprised to stand, the child confirmed his struggle find his purpose in life. Hearing the mermaid reveal he needed to meet his mother, Kokutan-douji noted he had Kinouna taking care of him before the mermaid explained his real mother was a pink-haired tailor in Onigashima. He questioned why she hadn't come for him and she insisted his mother didn't know, telling him to call himself "Ren" so she'd recognize him.

Once the exhausted mermaid left, Kokutan-douji returned to the village and told Inukichi what had happened. The two then agreed to head to the southern island together, Inukichi admitting he wanted to experience foreign culture in Enbizaka. Soon after, the two left the village and were quickly stopped by a lone woman in a monkey mask, suggesting they take her along too. Once the woman introduced herself as the Sixteenth Saruteito of the Lang Clan, she told them that her clan's founder had said the legendary blades she forged were in Onigashima.

Kokutan-douji and Inukichi abided and the three began journeying for Onigashima. During their travels, the group was attacked by a thief and promptly defeated the bandit. Later on, the group learned about a corrupt magistrate pocketing the people's money on his authority. The three then brought the magistrate to justice before continuing their travels. Later on, the three met a retired crepe silk wholesaler. Afterward, they punished a scoundrel and tattooed playboy.

Meeting the Tailor
Once they finally arrived in Onigashima, Kokutan-douji went to meet the local tailor; at some point, he tore his sleeve. Finding Kayo Sudou at the Sudou Shop atop the hill, he apologized and explained he had come there for her. When she pointed out his torn tabbard, the boy admitted he came for that too before taking it off and handing it to her. As she examined it, the boy reluctantly asked if she had ever given birth to a child.

After Kayo confirmed she had birthed a son with hair and eyes just like his, the surprised boy told her about the mermaid's revelation and his resulting journey to meet her. Once Kayo admitted her child had been named "Ren", Kokutan-douji tried to continue before Kayo added that she was confused before swiftly hugging him tightly. Requesting he let her believe him and hold "Ren", the shocked child allowed it before they agreed to live together at her home until they confirmed the validity of the mermaid's tale.

Fulfilling Destiny
After Kayo was arrested for murdering the Miroku Family, he transformed Grim the End into a sword and carried out the tailor's execution atop the hill, beheading Kayo. Several days later, he visited Kayo's head put on public display at the execution site. Later during the visit, he was greeted by a traveling monk, Gakusha. After being asked who he was, he explained that he was the one who cut off Kayo's head, admitting that she was a sinful but pitiful woman. As Gakusha prepared to hold a memorial service for the murderess, the boy joined hands with the monk and chanted the traditional rites for her. Some time after, Kokutan-douji regained his memories as Allen Avadonia.

Personality and Traits
Kokutan-douji was a kind and righteous boy. Unable to ignore injustice, the teen was dedicated to punishing the "bad guys" for their misdeeds and always involved himself in solving whatever crime he witnessed happening. As a result, he often got involved in other people's affairs, though never becoming a nuisance for them. Aside from this, the boy struggled with understanding his purpose in life, always feeling he should be doing something important, and ended up brooding.

However, after being told he needed to meet his mother by the Demon of Envy, Kokutan-douji became determined to find and befriend Kayo Sudou, hoping to reconnect with his supposed real mother. However, while being on amicable relations with the tailor, he was still cautious about whether the mermaid's revelation was truly accurate, though certain he had met Kayo once before.

Character Connections
Allen Avadonia: Kokutan-douji's previous reincarnation. Allen recalled his life as Kokutan-douji centuries after returning to spiritual form.

Kayo Sudou: Kokutan-douji's friend. The boy maintained a close relationship with the tailor, living with her and being called the name of her dead son. After she was convicted of her crimes, Kokutan-douji was reluctant to execute her and pitied her after her death, later performing funeral rites for her.

Saruteito: One of Kokutan-douji's traveling companions. The woman joined Kokutan-douji in his travels to Onigashima.

Inukichi: One of Kokutan-douji's traveling companions. The man joined Kokutan-douji in his travels to Onigashima.

Gakusha: A monk Kokutan-douji's encountered. The boy told Gakusha the story of Kayo as well as the murders she committed. He later joined him in carrying out Kayo's funeral rites.

Kurookina: The man who raised Kokutan-douji. Kurookina found Kokutan-douji as an infant and raised him as his own in the village of Momogougen.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Kokutan-douji's name is written in Japanese kanji as 黒檀, using the kanji for "ebony wood" and "kid" respectively.
 * He bears many similarities and parallels with the Japanese mythological figure Momotarou; both boys were born from plants and travel to an island called Onigashima.
 * His birth from an ebony tree may be a reference to Allen's confinement within Black Box; in some versions of the myth of Momotarou, the boy is born from a box.
 * His alias, Ren, written in Japanese kanji "煉", using the kanji for "executor".
 * He also shares his alias with the romanization of the name of his representative Vocaloid Kagamine Len.

Gallery
Concept Art=

Appearances

 * The Weathered Head at Onigashima (first appearance)
 * Seven Crimes and Punishments (story) (mention only)
 * Deadly Sins of Evil: The Tailor of Enbizaka
 * Seven Crimes and Punishments (album)