Hakuren

Biodata

Background / History

Reputation before Big Tree Village

Hakuren was already infamous before meeting Hiraku. Known as the Ancient Dragon, she had rampaged in the west about a century earlier. Kuron later described her as a notorious troublemaker whose name was known throughout dragon society—and too dangerous to use casually in jokes 8 14.

She was also closely involved in Rasuti’s upbringing, claiming that she had raised her niece. Rasuti confirmed that the two got along well 8.

Attack and settlement

After Rasuti told her relatives about life in Big Tree Village, Hakuren came to test her niece’s partner. Hiraku interpreted her behavior as jealousy over Rasuti finding a partner before her, an accusation Hakuren denied. She breathed fire over the surrounding forest rather than directly attacking the village 8.

The village’s three defending angels attacked together, but Hakuren scattered them with a casual sweep of her tail. Hiraku subsequently defeated her, leaving her temporarily unable to fly. Her relatives extinguished the forest fire and joined her in apologizing at the village entrance 8.

Hiraku required Hakuren to help restore the damaged ground before joining the welcoming feast; she finally attended three days later. She remained in the village afterward, initially lodging with Rasuti before moving into a spare room in Hiraku’s house 8.

Village teacher

Hakuren tried several village jobs and proved capable of handling them through careful control of her strength. Her lack of initiative and habitual complaints frustrated Hiraku, although she completed assigned work properly. She eventually became the villagers’ teacher, explaining that educating them would reduce her own workload 8.

Her presence also unsettled outsiders. During a crisis involving the Demon King Kingdom, officials feared that letting her hear the details could result in the royal capital being razed 8.

Pregnancy and motherhood

Hakuren’s pregnancy was discovered when she found herself unable to transform into a dragon. Rasuti could not explain the problem, so they consulted Doraim. Hakuren asked him to notify Raimeiren first and delay telling Death, fearing that her father would prolong the celebration until the birth 20.

Although her relatives warned that pregnant dragons could become irritable, Hakuren initially showed no such symptoms. Instead, Hiraku struggled with her habit of sleeping during the day and staying awake at night 20 21.

With twenty experienced Demon Race midwives brought by Doraim attending her, Hakuren safely gave birth to a healthy boy, Hiraku Ichirou. She consulted Ursa while deciding on his name and welcomed her to see the newborn 22.

After giving birth, Hakuren resumed flying enthusiastically. Hiraku later judged that she was raising Ichirou well, despite Raimeiren’s concerns about her daughter’s earlier free-spirited behavior 23 29.

Appearance

• Human form: A large-breasted woman whom Hiraku initially describes as seeming scatterbrained 8.
• Hair: Long enough to tie behind her head for an unarmed exhibition match 10.
• Clothing: Usually wears skirts; changes into trousers for the exhibition match to allow easier movement 10.
• Dragon form: Much larger than Rasuti’s dragon form 8.

Personality

Hakuren combines intelligence and formal manners with poor everyday common sense. She is capable but unmotivated: without instructions, she tends to retreat to her room to eat and sleep. Her complaints usually precede genuine work rather than an attempt to abandon it, although Hiraku suspects that making every assignment troublesome might itself be a strategy 8.

She is proud, competitive, and sensitive about marriage. She objects when Doraim discusses their younger sister’s marriage in front of her, then becomes flustered when he points out that she is practically married in the village already. Hiraku considers her hotheaded, but believes she can retain some composure even when angry—while also worrying that she might deliberately run wild for amusement 9 10.

Her affectionate side becomes especially visible around Ursa and Hiraku. She is disappointed when Ursa ignores her dragon transformation, delighted when the girl thanks her, and protective when danger approaches. Doraim later describes her attachment to Hiraku as having made her practically a different person 16 17 22.

Abilities & Skills

Dragon Transformation and Flight

Hakuren can alternate between human and dragon forms and use her dragon body for long-distance travel and heavy transport 8 11.

• Flies substantially faster than Rasuti; a delivery circuit visiting both Raimeiren and Death nevertheless takes about two weeks 8.
• Carries passengers, including twenty mountain elves relocating to Big Tree Village 8.
• Uses large, four-legged platforms carried on her back to transport prospective settlers and cargo 11.
• Can perform delicate hauling work, such as lifting canoes out of a river 16.
• Pregnancy restriction: After conceiving in human form, she remains in that form until giving birth 20 23.
• Personal preference: Before her pregnancy, her reluctance to transform around Hiraku stems from wanting him to see her human form, not from a lingering wing injury 8.

Fire Breath

Hakuren’s breath can devastate forested areas and clear large concentrations of hostile creatures 8 17.

• Uses flames mixed with additional, unspecified effects during the tunnel expedition 16.
• Burns insect swarms and directs fire into their cave 17.
• Helps eliminate the magic-draining monsters occupying Sun Castle 26.
• Sends a visible flame signal from Sun Castle to the sky above Big Tree Village; Hiraku speculates that she reduced its power to extend its range 26.
• Limits: Her flames can ignite nearby forest, and allies stop her from using them underground when giants are behind the fighting area 16 17.

Physical Strength and Unarmed Combat

Hakuren is dangerous in both forms and exercises particularly fine control over her strength while human 8 10.

• Sweeps aside the coordinated attack of three angels with her tail 8.
• Endures Rasuti’s sustained punches before knocking her down with a single straight punch 10.
• Immobilizes a Death Knight through repeated stomping, despite ordinary physical attacks being ineffective at damaging it 16.
• Uses her dragon body to pin a giant centipede after her human-form punches fail to visibly injure it 16.

Scales and Durability

• Shows no visible bruising after exchanging heavy blows with Rasuti during their human-form exhibition 10.
• Contributes a scale to reinforce Ursa’s doll so that the girl will not break it by hugging it 16.
• A detached scale withstands an explosive weapon test briefly before shattering. Lu judges the attack capable of breaking it to be special-grade magic 22.

Teaching and Practical Knowledge

Hakuren teaches basic literacy and arithmetic to a varied group of village residents 8.

• Her students include male and female beastfolk, lizardmen children, Kuro’s descendants, and Zabuton's children 8.
• Her strength, combat knowledge, and judgment also qualify her to referee village tournament matches 10.

Notable Battles and Operations

Relationships

• Hiraku Machio — Husband and father of her son. Their relationship begins with her testing him in battle and being ordered to repair the damage; she later lives in his house and becomes deeply attached to him 8 22.
• Hiraku Ichirou — Son. His birth brings the extended dragon family together for a large celebration 22.
• Ursa — A child with whom Hakuren grows especially close. Hakuren protects and spoils her, involves her in naming Ichirou, and welcomes her as his big sister 16 17 22.
• Rasuti / Lastismun — Niece whom Hakuren claims to have raised. They share village duties and expeditions, and maintain a friendly but competitive fighting relationship 8 10 16.
• Doraim — Younger brother. He is visibly nervous around her, complies with her wishes, and helps arrange support during her pregnancy and childbirth 9 20 22.
• Death — Father. He is delighted that Hakuren willingly remains in Big Tree Village and hopes she will have a child; his tendency to become overexcited leads Raimeiren to restrict his visits during the pregnancy 15 20.
• Raimeiren — Mother. Visits to congratulate Hakuren on her pregnancy and later helps put Ichirou to sleep. She worries about Hakuren’s readiness to raise a child 20 29.
• Grafaloon — Sister-in-law and former sparring rival. Despite their old friction over Doraim, they are described as being on good terms by their tournament match 15.
• Seiren, Seki Ren, and Dors — Younger siblings. Dors seeks Hakuren’s company when fleeing an arranged marriage, and all three visit during her pregnancy 14 20.
• Zabuton — Fellow village resident and tournament opponent. Zabuton defeats her so decisively that Hakuren sulks afterward 15.