Bakemono Tekina Nani ka

He is enthusiastic about being distinguished from the other Hoshina warriors. When Kojiro begins assigning descriptive names to people whose actual names he does not know, the retainer wants a memorable designation of his own.

Kojiro's inability to find an ordinary human comparison produces the deliberately blunt "something like a monster." The exchange establishes the warrior as comfortable participating in the absurd humor surrounding Hoshina's otherwise bloodthirsty group.

Like his comrades, he initially belongs to a warrior culture that treats dying proudly in battle as admirable. Tokiyuki's intervention pushes the group toward applying the same courage to survival.

Bakemono Tekina Nani ka is a trained samurai capable of fighting as part of Hoshina's force. He participates in the withdrawal from Kawanakajima while the provincial army pursues the retreating warriors and civilians.

His established fighting is collective rather than built around an individually named technique. The Hoshina warriors become particularly effective when coordinating their aggression around the objective of keeping themselves and the civilians alive.

No supernatural ability has been established for him.

He appears during the conflict between Hoshina's warriors and Kiyohara's government. Tokiyuki arrives intending to prevent the Suwa-affiliated rebels from sacrificing themselves in a battle they cannot win.

After the rebels agree to withdraw, Kiyohara refuses to let them escape safely. Bakemono Tekina Nani ka therefore becomes one of the warriors fighting through the retreat while Tokiyuki attempts to command the evacuation.

When the Hoshina retainers reappear years later, his actual name is finally revealed as Maki Kyuutarou. The reveal resolves the intentionally vague designation Kojiro gave him during their first campaign together.

Yasaburo Hoshina is the lord under whom Bakemono Tekina Nani ka serves.

Kojiro gives him the "something like a monster" designation after struggling to describe his appearance.

Tokiyuki Houjou convinces Hoshina's force to choose survival over an unnecessary death in battle.

Kiyohara Shinanokami is the oppressive provincial official whose rule provokes Hoshina's rebellion.