Lu Zhaobei

Biodata

Background

Lu Zhaobei was abducted and sold to the YR Research Institute, where he became an Artificial Esper and endured physical and mental torment. He was confined to the institute’s Katebis Island branch before escaping after the catastrophe involving artificial esper Number 8792 28 47 48.

First Hunter Academy later retrieved him. He eventually met Zhou Zifu and returned to Seventh Hunter Academy with Dean Li Qin, whom he credits with giving him a second life 26 28.

Appearance

Lu Zhaobei is a black-haired, black-eyed youth who is often seen with a gloomy expression 23.

• He does not smile much and tends to remain on the fringes of student social circles 26.

Personality

Lu Zhaobei is reserved and polite, but empathetic toward others who have suffered because of their abilities. He sympathizes with Beixing’s circumstances and hates abilities because of his own experience as an Artificial Esper 26.

He is accustomed to obeying Li Qin and trusts that the dean will not harm him. Despite the misfortunes he has endured, Lu holds on to the belief that better things will eventually come 23 47.

He is cautious with people he does not know well and keeps secrets, yet takes responsibility for his friends: when Zhou Zifu accused Qi Yue of bullying him, Lu apologized on Zhou’s behalf and asked him to explain 26 27 28.

Abilities & Skills

Esper Ability

Lu possesses the strongest Esper Ability in Class A and is considered the student most likely to become Seventh Hunter Academy’s first S-rank esper hunter 32.

• He can produce flames at his fingertips, which he prepared when he heard an unknown person approaching him beneath the ruins 47.
• His artificial ability can reject his body; an episode forced him to take time off and stay in his dorm 27.

Relationships

• Li Qin — Dean of Seventh Hunter Academy, whom Lu trusts and respects for giving him a second life. Li introduced him to Qi Yue in the hope that they would become friends 23 24 26.
• Qi Yue — A Class F student whose support for Beixing improved Lu’s initial impression of him. They left the question of friendship unresolved; Lu later remained wary of Qi Yue even after Qi Yue freed him from a collapsed passage 26 28 48.
• Zhou Zifu and Zhou Ziyao — The red-haired twins care deeply about Lu. Zhou Zifu is a close friend who warns him to stay away from Qi Yue 27 28 29.
• Beixing — Lu empathizes with his involuntary ability and praises Qi Yue for supporting him 26.
• Zhang Shu and Yu Jin — Students from Classes B and C who gather around Lu, unlike his Class A peers, who avoid him because he is an Artificial Esper 32.

Story Role

Meeting Qi Yue

Li Qin brings Lu to Qi Yue’s dorm and introduces him as an outstanding Class A student. Lu initially believes Qi Yue is entertaining him only out of respect for the dean, but their conversation about Beixing and abilities leaves him with a warmer impression 23 24 26.

Zhou Zifu interrupts after fearing that Qi Yue has bullied Lu. Once the misunderstanding is addressed, Lu and Qi Yue part without agreeing to become friends. Although Lu agrees to Zhou’s warning to keep his distance, he remains curious about Qi Yue 27 28 29 32.

Return to the YR Research Institute

During the Weekly Assessment, Lu travels from Area A to the ruins of the institute’s branch facility in Area F. He secretly intends to retrieve what he left behind and bring some comfort to the families of the other test subjects 46 47.

A collapse traps him inside an underground entrance. Qi Yue clears the blockage, but Lu remains uneasy about why he is there. After Lu suggests they part ways, he enters the metal tunnel, unaware that Qi Yue follows him 47 48 49 50.