[Demon Slayer/12Gwi-Wol] Hantengu is always scared and terrified of almost everything, but he uses this to his advantage by killing his opponents while hating getting hurt himself.

Among the 12Gwi-ol, there is one who considers himself weak and victimized, and takes great pleasure in killing others. That person is Hantengu. Let's learn about him.

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(This may contain heavy spoilers for Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. I consulted this with the help of AI, so I appreciate your patience.)

 

1) Why Hantengu enjoys lying and killing others when it's not convenient for him

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Hantengu's nature has been deeply twisted since he was a human. He refused to acknowledge full responsibility for the countless incidents he committed, instead attempting to evade his guilt with lies and excuses. He also portrayed himself as vulnerable and sought to elicit sympathy. In reality, he was a thief and murderer, even mercilessly murdering those who tried to hide the truth he had learned. His evil deeds were not limited to simple crimes; they included the brutality of killing his own wife and children.

His deception and violence seem to stem from his own hidden malice and distorted psychology. While Hantengu views himself as vulnerable and a victim, this is an inexcusable deception, a falsehood for his own selfish gain. Despite his outward appearance of being timid when faced with a disadvantage, he was not afraid to eliminate his adversaries, revealing his undeniable sociopathic nature. Ultimately, we see that Hantengu's enjoyment of lies and murder was a ruthless choice for his own self-interest and survival.

Furthermore, Kikai enforcers Kamado Tanjiro and Shinazugawa Genya criticize him, saying, "Your logic is trash," strongly emphasizing that his evil deeds are inexcusable and that he must be held accountable. This reiterates that Hantengu is a demon who has committed evil deeds without any justification.

Thus, Hantengu's behavior, despite his cowardly appearance and demeanor, is driven by a deeply ruthless nature hidden within, a constant trait that has persisted since his human days.

 

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2) Hantengu's Unrepentant Attitude Even Before His Execution

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Hantengu's past is revealed only through fragments of footage and information, but further details are revealed through additional materials, including the second volume of the fan book. From childhood, he was a twisted figure with delusions and distorted thinking. He constantly viewed himself as the weak and the victim, while demonizing those around him and seeking sympathy. In the process, he constantly changed his name, age, and upbringing, severely forgetting his true self.

He once had a wife and children, but when his insincerity and delusion were pointed out, he would become enraged and repeatedly commit acts of violence, even killing his wife and children. He never reflected on his wrongdoings or felt any sense of responsibility.

In his old age, he received help from a caregiver for the disabled, but he secretly stole from this benefactor, harming him instead. He then attempted to conceal his crime by murdering a blind man who tried to report him. Even when imprisoned and interrogated, he refused to acknowledge his guilt, offering only the absurd excuse, "This hand moved on its own," only to incur the wrath of the officials.

Sentenced to death and imprisoned, he sobbed, insisting he had done nothing wrong. Then, Muzan Kibutsuji appeared, offering to transform him into a goblin and granting him power under the guise of redemption. Hantengu thus maintained his steadfast evasion of responsibility for his evil deeds, demonstrating the depths of his distorted nature.

 

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3) Why Muzan Kibutsuji Turned Hantengu into a Demon

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Muzan Kibutsuji turned Hantengu into a demon because he reached out to him in the name of "saving" him when he was terrified and sobbing under the guise of death row and extreme despair, conditions that no human could endure. Muzan used this method of turning death row inmates or those in extreme despair into demons to increase the number of demons that served his purposes.

Hantengu, sentenced to death and imprisoned, was frustrated, unable to admit his evil deeds and sins. Therefore, Muzan transformed him into a demon, granting him transcendent power and life. Through him, Muzan sought to expand his forces while simultaneously completing his vicious Demon Slayer Corps. For Muzan, Hantengu was a demon he could manipulate to suit his own purposes, and he expected them to utilize their brutal nature and abilities to remain loyal to him.

 

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4) Background of Hantengu's Split Ability

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Hantengu's split ability is linked to his name and his unusually cowardly personality. When the Demon Slayers were summoned for the first time in 113 years, he uttered a terrified, "An indivisible number, an ominous odd number," which is also related to his split ability.

His split ability is a unique way of using multiple clones in battle, rather than a single entity. Its strategic nature is evident in the fact that he conducted a series of espionage missions alongside Kyoko during the infiltration of a village of swordsmiths. This is evident in the fact that, in contrast to other single-person martial artists, Hantengu possessed exceptional clone tactical prowess, inflicting significant damage on the Demon Slayers.

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This ability, coupled with Hantengu's personality traits—his apparent fragility and timid demeanor, despite being his true self—created a unique talent for creating a variety of variables in battle. The anime, in particular, portrayed this ability with greater visual intensity and majesty, earning him high praise.

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5) Comprehensive Evaluation of Hantengu, the Demon Slayer Corps IV

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Hantengu is a Demon Slayer Corps IV demon who occupies a unique and complex position in Demon Slayer. He is a complete villain with a deeply twisted personality and a history of atrocities dating back to his human days. His unforgivable behavior, including lying, murder, and the murder of his family, are his defining characteristics. Even after becoming a demon, he uses his cowardly and weak demeanor to deceive his enemies. In reality, he constantly harasses the Demon Slayer Corps with his brutal attacks and sophisticated strategies utilizing the ability to divide.
Unlike other Demon Slayer Corps, his fighting style is not based on single-handed combat, but rather on a chaotic strategy utilizing multiple clones. This, in turn, places a significant burden on the Demon Slayer Corps, earning him high praise. However, his appearance and personality, despite being elderly and frail, make him difficult to gain widespread popularity. His tendency to flee from battles without achieving a clear victory also leads to his underestimation within the fandom. However, it's also true that Hantengu's contribution is undeniable, as Muzan's death provided the decisive momentum for Nezuko to overcome the sun.
In the anime, the appearance of his clones, the battle scenes, and the voice actors' impressive performances have made him a much more compelling character than in the original. However, his inherent viciousness, paranoid nature, and inexcusable criminal history further deepen his complexity and darkness. Ultimately, Hantengu establishes himself as one of the most extreme villains in the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, where the line between good and evil is blurred, and his presence plays a deeply symbolic and important role in the series.
Hantengu is a strategist who inflicts severe damage on the Demon Slayer Corps using his splitting powers and ingenious psychological manipulation. At the same time, his overt evil deeds and paranoid nature make him a ruthless demon who earns no sympathy. His presence is a prime example of the complexities of human psychology and morality, as well as the depths of villainy that the series explores.

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That's all.

Thank you.