Hans

Hans is Andersen's tenth Apostle, a former Follower who dies defending the Metaverse's Sixth Floor. Recreated by Ethan Cart at his own request, Hans serves as the village's welcoming protector until the Tower's collapse restores him to life.

Biography

The Metaverse and its gods

Hans meets Jaehwan and Runald at the Sixth Floor village and immediately recognizes Andersen's World Power within Jaehwan. He welcomes them into a modest home, guides them through the settlement, and protects other villagers when Alliance Harvesters demand people as quota material. Although a Harvester's Setting burns his shoulder, Hans refuses to cry out and later throws himself between Jaehwan and the attacker within its Sanctuary. Andersen takes control of Jaehwan's body, defeats the Harvester, and identifies the crying Hans as the tenth Apostle believed dead for five hundred years. (Chapter 116)

The apparent reunion is possible because Hans and the other Followers asked Ethan to turn them into Dolls. Their reconstructed histories maintain the village and preserve Andersen from being forgotten, but their souls are empty shells repeating the prayer embedded in death. Hans can welcome guests, secure the captured Harvester, imitate Stab practice, and explain Andersen's “naked heart” Worldview, yet 「Doubt」 finds no living soul behind those memories. When Jaehwan tells the villagers their diligent prayer may stop, the Doll makes the broken sound of a damaged music box and appears to weep. (Chapters 117–120)

Hans gives Runald a sword before the Allies leave. Ethan later summons Hans and the other historical Followers as crow-masked Dolls in battle, and those remaining gather around the dying god, declare themselves his Followers, and pray. After Jaehwan destroys the Metaverse, Hans is the first of the Tower's dead shown emerging from a pillar of light. He looks down at his restored body in disbelief and cries as Andersen recognizes him, while officials confirm that the souls killed within the Tower are returning to life. (Chapters 123, 130, 134, and 175)

Appearance and personality

Hans is a massive, middle-aged man with a beard, rough hands, and enough strength of frame that his body crumples dramatically when emotion overwhelms him. The restored Hans appears as a half-naked giant. Red-rimmed eyes and frequent tears accompany the reunion with Andersen, while his ordinary expression is a broad, easygoing smile. (Chapters 116–117 and 175)

Warm, practical, and protective, Hans serves tea, finds lodging for visitors, organizes villagers, and tries to shield weaker people even when he cannot defeat their attacker. He retains deep trust in Andersen while explaining her habits with gentle familiarity. His loyalty to Ethan is equally deliberate within the Doll's preserved history: Hans says the Followers requested reconstruction so their prayer could keep Andersen from disappearing, then chooses the god who bore those histories as his new object of faith. (Chapters 116–120 and 134)

Powers and limitations

Follower resilience and combat background

Hans was Andersen's tenth Apostle and says that a sword was once used, though no named Skill, Setting, or individual historical feat is given. The recreated Hans carries a spear at first contact, can bind a badly damaged Harvester's soul form, and withstands considerable burning pain without screaming. He cannot resist the Harvester's World Power or Sanctuary command unaided, and Jaehwan must block the final flames. These scenes establish courage and physical resilience rather than high-level combat strength. (Chapters 116–117)

Doll reconstruction and Prayer

As a Doll created from the Sixth Floor's buried history, Hans can act, remember, communicate, labor, and direct Prayer. The reconstruction's critical limitation is the absence of an original soul: its responses come from implanted memories, and the prayer of the moment of death repeats for centuries. Ethan can later manifest Hans in a crow mask as part of a wider Doll army. The Metaverse's fall finally restores the actual dead soul through a miracle compared elsewhere to the Fruit of Resurrection, but no post-restoration combat ability is shown. (Chapters 118, 120, 130, 134, and 175)

Relationships

• Andersen: Hans served as Andersen's tenth Apostle, died protecting her cause, and requested reconstruction partly so continued Prayer would keep her from disappearing. Their reunion is the emotional center of both his Doll existence and his resurrection.
• Ethan Cart: Ethan recreates Hans and the other Followers at their request, letting their histories persist. Hans later declares himself Ethan's Follower and prays beside the wounded god.
• Runald: Hans welcomes Runald as Andersen's new Follower, pats the child affectionately, joins his Stab practice, and gives him a sword used during the later confrontation with Beris.
• Jaehwan: Hans initially assumes Jaehwan is Andersen's Vicegerent and hosts him with complete trust. Jaehwan protects Hans from the Harvester, discovers the Doll's emptiness, and ultimately brings about the event that restores him.

Items

• Spear: Hans drops a spear when he recognizes Andersen's power, but the text gives it no name or special properties.
• Runald's sword: Hans gives Runald an unnamed sword before the Allies depart. It serves as the child's weapon against Beris.