Robin

Robin is an exceptionally intelligent Bangboo belonging to Mockingbird, a notorious phantom thief organization operating throughout New Eridu. He joined the organization during its early years, when Hugo Vlad and Von Lycaon were still partners, assisting them in elaborate heists targeting corrupt members of the city's wealthy elite. Unlike most Bangboo, Robin possesses the unusual ability to speak the common language fluently, allowing him to communicate directly with humans and operate convincingly in sophisticated social environments. His intelligence and adaptability proved invaluable during Mockingbird's operations, particularly those requiring deception and carefully coordinated distractions. Following the dissolution of Hugo and Lycaon's partnership, Robin remained with Hugo and continued supporting Mockingbird's activities. He subsequently worked alongside Vivian Banshee after she joined the organization, helping its members execute their operations while also pursuing independent activities. Robin also established himself as a highly capable Bangboo trainer, earning recognition as a top coach associated with the Marcel Group.

During the Gilded Carrot Day celebrations, Robin accompanied Hugo to Starloop Tower and entered Ridu's Got Boo, New Eridu's prestigious Bangboo competition. Their participation concealed a carefully orchestrated theft targeting Astra Yao's treasured self-produced album, Stars of Lyra. Robin advanced through the competition and eventually confronted Eous, the Bangboo companion of the legendary Proxy Phaethon, in the semifinals. Their contest ended in a tie, but Robin and Hugo voluntarily withdrew after successfully completing their true objective. Hugo had exchanged Astra's original album for an enormously valuable collector's edition, leaving her with a technically more expensive possession while taking the recording that held greater personal significance. Their actions also attracted the attention of Von Lycaon, who recognized the methods of his former partner. Robin continued accompanying Mockingbird on subsequent assignments, helping Hugo and Vivian carry out their operations against New Eridu's corrupt aristocracy.

Appearance: Robin has charcoal-black body panels and a compact, rounded Bangboo frame with a large oval head, short torso, tiny tapered legs, and stubby arms. His face is a glossy black display set into a white front plate, with a single large neon yellow-green circular lens surrounded by a thick luminous ring. A small gold four-pointed emblem sits on the white faceplate beside the lens. Two long black ear-like antennae rise from the top of his head, each ending in a gold cap fitted with a circular engraved medallion. Fine dashed seam markings run around the upper edge of his face casing.

He wears a formal dark gray double-breasted suit jacket with black lapels, pale silver piping, and two round brass-gold buttons across the front. A crisp white pocket square protrudes from the chest pocket, while a vivid violet bow tie fills the space beneath his faceplate. His short arms end in smooth white mitten-like hands emerging from white cuffs. A black cape-like panel falls behind his shoulders with a deep violet inner lining visible along the side. His lower body is mostly dark charcoal, with two short rounded legs extending beneath the jacket.

Personality: Robin is sophisticated, theatrical, confident, and exceptionally articulate, displaying manners more commonly associated with an aristocratic gentleman than an ordinary Bangboo. He takes considerable pride in his intelligence and elegance, frequently speaking in elaborate, courteous sentences while treating ordinary conversations as opportunities to demonstrate his refinement. His natural flair for performance makes him particularly comfortable assuming false identities and participating in elaborate schemes. Robin enjoys being mysterious and occasionally makes deliberately provocative remarks to confuse his listeners, although his composure can disappear when confronted with unexpected embarrassment. He possesses a mischievous sense of humor and frequently indulges in playful teasing, particularly when interacting with individuals whose reactions amuse him. Despite his self-assured personality, Robin is surprisingly sensitive about romantic matters and becomes noticeably insecure when his attempts to attract someone's attention go unrecognized. He also demonstrates a responsible and attentive side, particularly when monitoring the health of his companions. Although he enjoys deception as part of his profession, his concern for the well-being of those close to him is genuine, and he readily abandons his usual theatrical behavior when serious matters require his attention.

Robin maintains a close partnership with Hugo Vlad, his owner and Mockingbird's leader, whose theatrical mannerisms strongly influence his own behavior. He is exceptionally loyal to Hugo, assisting with disguises and infiltration assignments while occasionally embarrassing him through excessively flattering remarks. Robin also treats Vivian Banshee with considerable affection and protectiveness, addressing her respectfully while monitoring her physical condition. Following Vivian's dangerous experiences with Ether corruption, he becomes particularly concerned about her health, regularly checking her heart rate and blood pressure while insisting upon medical treatment whenever he notices unusual readings. Vivian appreciates his concern but frequently becomes embarrassed by his interference, particularly when he comments upon her feelings for Phaethon. Robin remains acquainted with Von Lycaon through their earlier association with Mockingbird, although his strongest personal attachment outside the organization is to Butler, the Bangboo serving Victoria Housekeeping. Robin is deeply infatuated with Butler's courteous personality and desperately seeks his attention, frequently interpreting ordinary politeness as evidence of mutual affection. He sometimes adopts Bangboo speech around Butler despite being perfectly capable of speaking the common language, hoping to establish a more intimate connection. Robin also knows Eous, whom he encountered as a rival during the Ridu's Got Boo competition and subsequently questioned about Butler's feelings. His friendship with Coach Aster reflects his involvement in Bangboo training, while his encounters with Astra Yao and the Proxies Belle and Wise developed through Mockingbird's operations surrounding the Starloop Tower celebrations.

Combat Overview: Robin is a versatile combatant who combines theatrical trickery with a specialized magic gun capable of firing enchanted cards. His The Curtain Falls technique launches three types of cards: Hearts deliver devastating physical damage, Spades strike with enough force to stagger opponents, and Crowns release Ether energy that builds up supernatural corruption. Through Master of Disguise, Robin adapts his ammunition to his companions' combat specialties, enhancing the effectiveness of his attacks. His most powerful technique, Show Time!, involves throwing a magical grenade that explodes in a burst of Ether energy, damaging enemies and intensifying their Ether corruption.

Lore: Proxies are individuals who guide those who enter the Hollows. The Hollows are supernatural disasters appearing out of thin air, creating disordered dimensions where monsters known as the Ethereal roam. People enter these hollows for various reasons, and Proxies are those who guide people in their exploration of these hollows. Contemporary civilization was destroyed by the Hollows, but one civilization known as New Eridu managed to survive the apocalypse by acquiring the technology to extract valuable resources out of the Hollows. The Hollows then became industrialized and monetized under the city's administration, which gradually led to the increasing tension between monopolistic enterprises, gangs, conspirators, and fanatics.

The Ethereals are mysterious monsters that roam the Hollows. Ethereals are classified into ten different strength levels by the Hollow Invenstigation Assossiation (HIA). Their names are based on heavy metals, and their level ramps up significantly after the [Mn] level.

Bangboo are intelligent devices unique to New Eridu. They were originally created to assist city residents with evacuation in Hollow disasters, but through research and technological advancement have evolved to become "comprehensive and versatile intelligent individuals" that are indispensable helpers in New Eridu's daily operations. Most Bangboo are short and stout, only around knee-height. They have ears resembling bunny ears on the top of their heads, and a black screen for a face, which can display colored circles as eyes.

"Interesting little thing. You've caught my attention."

"M—My goodness, what ultimate happiness would that be... Just thinking about it leaves me speechless..."

"This is ridiculous! Absurd! I'm going to ask Butler right now and get to the bottom of this. You will not interfere!"