Gleipnir, serialized in Young Magazine Third and set to be adapted into an anime in April, is a work full of plot twists, mysteries, and a relentless plot mixed with horror. Among these, we'd like to introduce you to a character who plays a major role in the story: Aokie Reina (Elena), the older sister of the heroine Claire!
Is the older sister of the heroine Aoki Koa (Claire) a scary girl?
Gleipnir begins when protagonist Shuichi Kagaya, who for some reason has the ability to transform into a costumed monster, has his secret discovered by heroine Benia Aoki (Claire). Shuichi is threatened, demanding that she do as she's told if she doesn't want her secret revealed. Claire offers a settlement: Shuichi must find his sister Elena, who murdered their parents and disappeared.
Was it Elena who murdered his parents?
Shuichi and Claire set out to search for Elena, and found her quite easily. However, Elena had become a monster far beyond their imagination. They thought she had only killed her parents, but it was clear that she had killed more than one. She readily confessed to killing her parents. She claims she killed them because they were doing bad things, but it remains unclear whether there was any other reason. In the end, all we know about her is that she's a mysterious, dangerous person, and nothing else.
Actually Socially Impaired?! What's Aokie Rena's Personality Like?
You'd think Elena, who murdered both of her parents and has apparently killed many more, would be a crazy person, but she's actually a socially awkward person who has trouble interacting with others. Based on her sister Claire's testimony, Elena's social anxiety seems to have been there for a long time. However, she's not completely free of insanity, and she sometimes becomes mentally unstable and acts recklessly. It's unclear whether this is a side effect of becoming a monster or whether she's become accustomed to a brutal environment.
Is she actually a kind person?
At first glance, Elena seems like a crazy final boss, but her true nature is actually quite kind-hearted. Originally, she wasn't the type to kill people, but a certain incident in the past led her to enter a world of combat. As a result, in order to survive, she needed to defeat enemies and become mentally stronger.
The one who turned Shuichi into a monster!? What is the relationship between Elena and Shuichi?
The protagonist, Shuichi Kagaya, didn't know why he was able to transform into a monster in a costume. However, when Elena and Shuichi met, Elena confessed and apologized for turning Shuichi into a monster in a costume. At this point, Shuichi had never met Elena, but Elena clearly knew about him. Furthermore, the reason she transformed Shuichi into a monster was clearly because she was concerned about him, suggesting that there was some unavoidable reason behind it.
Shuichi and Elena were childhood friends!!
In fact, Elena and Shuichi were childhood friends, and other childhood friends were also heavily involved in the mystery surrounding this incident. However, Shuichi had lost his memory for some reason. Or rather, he had only forgotten about Elena and the others. It is currently unknown why Shuichi lost his memory, but it is likely that Elena or someone close to her is involved.
Like the older sister, like the younger sister! Are Elena and Claire quite similar?
Claire, the younger sister with a bright and fearless personality reminiscent of a modern gal, and Elena, the older sister with poor communication skills and a penchant for standing out, seem completely different. However, they actually have quite a few similarities. Claire was initially saved by Shuichi after attempting suicide, but instead of thanking him, she was a terrible girl who threatened to reveal her true identity if he didn't listen to her. Elena, on the other hand, was an unbelievable monster who not only murdered both of their parents, but also clearly committed even more murders.
Later, her sister also commits mass murder...
However, as the story progresses, Claire and her friends become embroiled in a killing spree between people with special abilities and commit murder. Furthermore, they are surrounded by a group of clearly superior enemies, and find themselves in a situation where they are almost killed. So, Claire uses her friend's special ability to increase the number of plants (oleander) that emit poisonous smoke when burned, and then sets them on fire. Although it was self-defense, Claire ends up committing genocide, killing as many people as her sister.
Claire is determined
Claire is sharp-witted and displays a boldness that seems almost psychotic, ruthlessly killing anyone who tries to kill her. However, she only takes on the dirty work herself to avoid shifting the blame for the murders onto Shuichi and his friends, and she is the type of person who would sacrifice herself without abandoning her family. Her older sister, Elena, also seems to have made a tragic decision, and perhaps Elena's reasons for getting her hands dirty and her decision to transform Shuichi into a monster and take on everything on her own are similar to Claire's. In fact, both sisters are determined, and in that respect, they are similar.
What is Elena and her friends' true purpose?
While Elena's true purpose remains shrouded in mystery, it appears to be to "stop a certain person who has already collected 100 alien coins and gained immense power." Elena and Shuichi's past, as well as other childhood friends, appear to be heavily involved in this. Elena has independently gathered allies to stop this certain person, but some of them appear to be quite radical.
How strong is Bakemono Elena?
When Shuichi and his friends first faced Elena, her power was so overwhelmingly superior that it wasn't even a fight, but her true abilities remain a mystery. However, her friends seem to respect her, so we can assume she's quite strong.
[Gleipnir] Aokie Rena Summary
At first glance, she seems like a very dangerous older sister, but as the story progresses, I've come to believe she may actually be a character with the same tragic resolve as her younger sister, Claire. While there are still many mysteries surrounding Elena, she's undoubtedly a character who will play a major role in the story. For more details, be sure to tune in to the anime, which will air in April!
