Summary
Hazel Grouse is a character in Saiyûki Reload who first appears during the "Even a Worm" arc. Originating from the affluent Western continent, he crossed the ocean to visit Tôgenkyô. Although he dresses in ecclesiastical attire, he is not a religious figure but rather a monster exterminator who follows the legacy of his master, a man who served as both father and mentor. After witnessing his master’s death at the hands of monsters during his childhood, Hazel harbors a deep-seated desire for revenge and intense hatred. He learned of Tôgenkyô from Ukoku and traveled there with his bodyguard, Gat, aiming to eradicate the youkai now ruling the land. Hazel possesses a unique revival technique that allows him to replace souls. He utilizes the souls of defeated youkai to resurrect humans who died from youkai-inflicted wounds. The origin and timing of this ability remain unknown, and he suffers from lost portions of his childhood memories. Physically, he is a striking young man with silver hair, blue eyes, and a neutral expression, speaking with the distinct intonation of the Western continent. While he appears elegant and soft-spoken, he is actually self-confident and has a knack for annoying others. Beneath this demeanor lies a sharp intellect and high physical prowess. He shows affection toward Sanzou but maintains a contentious, cat-and-dog relationship with the other three youkai, particularly Hakkai. In the Reload Gunlock anime adaptation, Hazel’s backstory differs significantly. He was originally a human who killed youkai and was punished by being transformed into one himself, an event that led to the death of the priest who raised him. He continued his slaughter until he was killed by Gato under orders from the Great Spirit. Feeling remorse, Gato used his own life energy to revive Hazel, a process that imbued Hazel’s pendant with the power to revive humans using youkai souls. To protect Hazel, Gato altered his memories so he believed he had killed and revived Gato instead. In the series finale, Hazel attempts to kill and revive Sanzou to recruit him in the extermination of demons. Gojou, Hakkai, and Gokuu intervene, resulting in Gato’s fatal injury. Before dying, Gato reveals the truth, allowing Hazel to regain his memories. Defeated in his youkai form and believing he has wasted his life, Hazel asks Sanzou to kill him. Sanzou obliges, offering comfort by stating that no life is ever truly wasted.
