Claire

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Claire Bernardo (克莱尔)
Alias(es)	Greed — Claire’s possible game-derived fate as one of the Demon King’s Eight Generals 34 605
Species/Race	Human; possesses an awakening demon-race bloodline 801 885
Gender	Female 33
Affiliation	Bernardo Merchant Guild; formerly aligned with the Southern Church through her family; later supports the Commoner Army 464 627 802
Occupation/Role	Bernardo Merchant Guild heiress and business strategist; mage and spirit contractor; Commoner Army leader 384 390 802
Status	Active 916
First Appearance	Chapter 26

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Demonic bloodline manifestation	178	Red begins appearing at the tips of her formerly black hair, prompting concern that Mel’s prediction may have been correct.
Basic magic user	182	Casts [Fireball] on her first day of instruction after learning only foundational magic theory.
Magic Power Talent Level 9	310	Her exceptional magic talent is formally measured during the Gard Royal Academy entrance examination.
Level 15	318	Listed as Level 15 during the academy’s forest examination.
Contractor of Elf King Audley	390	Completes a Contract Ritual and is selected by Audley, a King-class spirit with the form of a Metal Great Dragon.
Level 38	571	Reaches Level 38 by graduation despite limited practical combat experience.
Further bloodline awakening	801	Her hair becomes essentially fully orange-red after exposure to Liberia’s unstable witch magic power.

Background and History

Claire is the daughter of Freli (also rendered Frayley) Bernardo. Her father abandoned his identity as a scholar, killed a noble, and fled with Claire; the two survived as traveling merchants while remaining wanted. Claire never met her mother, who came from the southern coast and had orange-red hair. 33 34

While traveling with the Bernardos, Mel recognizes Claire’s name and circumstances from the game’s backstory. In that version, a merchant’s daughter named Claire loses her father to wanderers, is sold to slave traders, and eventually becomes Greed, one of the Demon King’s Eight Generals. Mel warns Freli that his death could lead Claire down that path; Claire herself asks whether joining the Demon King’s Army would let her avenge her mother. 34 35

Claire initially travels with Mel and Freli toward Oak City. Though uncertain about her future, she chooses to “live with hope.” Her father keeps her hair short and dresses her plainly while traveling, believing that drawing attention would endanger her. 36 40

After Mel saves Claire and Freli from Church-backed soldiers, he begins teaching Claire basic magic while recovering. She proves extraordinarily gifted, immediately producing a Fireball after a single day of study. Archmage Guweiste later recognizes Claire’s pure, abundant magic power and takes her as a disciple. 177 181 182 202

Claire attends the Gard Royal Academy, where her Level 9 magic talent and connection to Guweiste make her a prominent candidate. She uses her merchant upbringing to gather information on her fellow examinees, leads her team cautiously during the forest test, and sponsors academy examination materials through the Bernardo Merchant Guild. 310 318 322

Alongside her magical studies, Claire expands the Bernardo Merchant Guild. She partners with Mel to manufacture fountain pens, delivers his share of the first batch’s profits, and helps establish the guild’s encrypted membership-card banking system. She later considers partnerships with nobles and royalty to scale the guild’s card and fountain-pen businesses. 341 383 384

During a staged invitation supposedly sent by Mel, Claire is ambushed by remnants of the Exar Royalty. She escapes by summoning Audley and flying back to the Academy, though Audley warns that their level gap prevents a prolonged fight. 440

Claire’s family initially pledges itself to the Southern Church, and she assists the Inquisition’s search for the Exar prince. As political conditions worsen, however, she abandons neutrality to stand with Mel against the nobility. 464 620 627

When an Apostle erases Mel from others’ memories, Claire cannot remember him but recognizes that Liberia’s distress is connected to the missing person. After Chocolate explains what happened, she agrees to help locate Mel. 712

Claire later becomes a key Commoner Army figure. She commands forces from the back of Audley, manages battlefield decisions, works to link the army’s northern and southern fronts, and considers using a noble crusade meeting to eliminate enemy leadership. 801 802

Appearance

Claire initially has dark skin with a reddish undertone, short black hair, and refined features inherited in part from her southern-coast mother. As her bloodline awakens, red spreads through her hair until it becomes almost fully orange-red. 33 34 178 801

• Dark reddish complexion associated with the southern coast 33 34
• Initially wears her black hair short for safety while traveling 40
• Develops orange-red tips in her hair before the color spreads upward 178 440
• Later possesses nearly fully orange-red hair, a sign associated with her demonic bloodline 734 801

Personality

Claire is practical, observant, and unusually mature for her age. As the daughter of a traveling merchant, she learns to judge people carefully and recognizes deception behind polite appearances. She also understands the value of information, partnerships, and prestige in business. 26 321 384

She is ambitious without concealing it. Claire seeks positions, such as Student Council President, because they would expand the Bernardo Merchant Guild’s influence and commercial reach. Her business judgment leads her to pursue scalable ventures rather than attempt to monopolize markets beyond the guild’s funds. 384 496

Claire is deeply attached to Mel. She eagerly learns from him, seeks him out during the academy entrance examination, falls for the false invitation because she believes it may be a private outing with him, and ultimately promises unconditional support for his cause. 181 315 440 627

As a military leader, she remains composed under pressure. She prioritizes evacuating guild personnel during crises, evaluates political divisions within the Church, and is willing to consider direct action against hostile nobles. 476 802

Abilities & Skills

Magic Talent

Claire is regarded as a magic prodigy due to the purity and quantity of her magic power.

• Cast [Fireball] after only one day of basic magic instruction 182
• Has Magic Power Talent Level 9, placing her among the academy’s standout geniuses 310
• Was personally accepted as Archmage Guweiste’s disciple 202
• Her magical potential is linked to an incompletely awakened bloodline with significant latent power 390

Spirit Contract: Elf King Audley

Claire contracts Audley, a King-class elemental spirit that takes the form of a colossal Metal Great Dragon.

• Audley chose Claire during her Contract Ritual 390
• Allows Claire to fly, providing a decisive escape option against ground-bound opponents 440
• Can carry Claire and multiple companions during an evacuation 476
• Controls metal elements, making armed and armored soldiers particularly vulnerable on the battlefield 801
• Its strength depends on Claire’s available magic power; sustained combat rapidly drains her reserves 440

Merchant Guild Management

Claire plays a central role in developing the Bernardo Merchant Guild’s commercial power.

• Evaluates partnerships as necessary for expanding card technology and fountain-pen production 384
• Collaborates with Mel to mass-produce fountain pens and distribute profits 341 383
• Uses guild influence to sponsor Gard Royal Academy examination materials 315
• Provides rare materials and production support for Mel’s desert laboratory 809

Strategy and Leadership

Claire applies her commercial judgment to political and military matters.

• Leads her academy team’s early withdrawal after securing 30 metal balls, avoiding unnecessary risk 322
• Organizes the evacuation of Bernardo Merchant Guild personnel from the Imperial City 476
• Directs Commoner Army operations to connect northern and southern forces and sever enemy trade routes 802
• Issues military orders to continue pressure against retreating Gard royalty 891

Relationships

• Freli/Frayley Bernardo — Her father and fellow traveling merchant. He is fiercely protective of Claire and fears Mel’s warning that she could become a Demon King general if he dies. 33 34
• Mel Carlo — Her first magic teacher, close ally, and romantic interest. Claire later promises to support his campaign against the nobility unconditionally. 181 440 627
• Archmage Guweiste — Her master, who immediately identifies Claire as a magic prodigy and chooses her as a disciple. 202
• Liberia — Close friend and frequent companion. The two research teleportation magic together, support one another during Mel’s disappearance, and fight alongside each other against the Sky Apostle. 587 712 916
• Audley — Her contracted King-class spirit, a Metal Great Dragon-shaped Elf King who provides flight and metal-elemental power. 390 440
• Chocolate — An associate who explains to Claire that Mel’s existence has been erased from her memory and later plans to travel with her to find Mel. 712 722

Notable Quotes

“Yes, I will support you unconditionally, Mel.”
— Claire 627

Trivia

• Claire’s birthday is May 29. 512
• In the game knowledge remembered by Mel, Greed’s original boss encounter deducted players’ gold coins whenever they took damage; player backlash later changed it into a reward event. 34
• Claire’s early red hair tips were the first visible sign that her appearance might eventually resemble the orange-red-haired game character Mel feared she would become. 178