The Reverend (神父様, Shinpu-sama?) is a secondary supporting character in the 86 -Eighty Six- series formally introduced in Gun Smoke on the Water.
He was the priest who took care of Shin and Rei in the internment camps. Currently, he is the military chaplain assigned to the Eighty-Sixth Strike Package.
Appearance[]
The Reverend is an elderly man who has silvery-blue eyes and hair of an Adularia. He cuts his hair short, sports a goatee, and has large eyebrows. He is often likened to a bear, towering and hulking with well defined muscles, fitting of his former profession.[3] One of his outfits in the internment camps included a black shirt.
Personality[]
The Reverend is a kind man with a strong sense of duty and faith. He once thought that violence could protect what he held dear, but realized it was not the path to salvation for anyone. He left the military after said revelation, becoming a man of the cloth.[3]
He is sympathetic to the plight of the Eighty-Six, enough to offer his services as a priest and living in their conditions. He didn't mind having the Eighty-Six see him in a negative light. While he had turned away from a life of combat, he didn't shy away from teaching the skills necessary for Shin's survival.[4]
Background[]
The Reverend was formerly a soldier in the Republic Armed Forces.[5] He eventually would retire to become a priest in a village outside of the current Eighty-Five Sectors. He was also close friends with Reisha and Yuuna, although it is unclear if their friendship blossomed before or after the Legion war began.
Once the Special Wartime Peace Preservation Act was ordered, he refused to escape to the Eighty-Five Sectors and remained in his village, even after it was turned into an internment camp. There, he kept the church operational, intending to provide the children left behind with an education should the internment of the Eighty-Six end. Few to none took his services, unwilling to trust an Alba such as himself.
Both Reisha and Yuuna would eventually be drafted to join the war effort, thus leaving their two sons in the care of the Reverend. He tried to teach them all he could, from his combat skills from his time as a soldier, to basic literacy for the young Shin.[4] He was present when Rei tried to murder Shin, and was the one who halted Rei as well as administer aid to Shin.
Chronology[]
Volume 8: Gun Smoke on the Water[]
Shin made a request to the military to find the reverend and when the two finally met, the priest was very happy to see his former ward, giving a him very strong hug that even Shin found painful until Grethe and Frederica had to intervene due to the young man almost fainting.
They continued their reunion and the priest was told of how Shin finally buried Rei, the reverend praised his former ward by commenting on how much he had grown. Shin then wanted to talk about his current troubles but was hesitant, the old man immediately sensed that it had to do with relationship issues and commented how Shin was acting his age, which put him at ease.
Volume 9: Valkyrie Has Landed[]
The reverend visited Shin while he was recovering after the events of the previous volume. He met Kurena when they happened upon each other at the door to Shin's room where his big size scared the girl, who ran away.
He later met Lena as she was going to visit Shin too. They talked for a bit, with the Adularia mentioning how happy he was that Lena had a positive influence on Shin and how he hoped she would keep helping the young man.
Abilities[]
The Reverend has a plethora of medical, physical, and spiritual skills. As a former soldier, he knew how to handle a firearm, survival skills such as hunting and cooking, first aid, and the basics of Feldreẞ combat.[4] He is also a competent teacher; He educated Shin on all the necessary skills to survive in the Eighty-sixth Sector.
Relationships[]
Shinei Nouzen[]
The Reverend cared greatly for Shin and taught him everything necessary to survive in the Eighty-sixth sector and on the battlefield. Their relationship remained unchanged in the present, with the priest being willing to help the young man with anything, like relationship advice.
Shourei Nouzen[]
Reisha Nouzen[]
Yuuna Nouzen[]
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- He has no lines in the anime