Revision 2

Overview

Brad and Kagura are human characters that Emma and Koo encounter during their journey through post-apocalyptic Japan. They are officially described as "unlikely allies", a careful choice of words that suggests their partnership with the protagonist duo is neither straightforward nor entirely trustworthy. In a game where director Kota Furushima has emphasized that every single character carries "great secrets," Brad and Kagura exemplify the narrative's atmosphere of pervasive uncertainty.

The "unlikely" qualifier is significant. Emma has lived in total isolation within a Colony. Feared, shunned, and treated as an outcast because of her Blight affliction. The idea that any humans would willingly travel alongside her is remarkable in itself. That these particular humans are described as "unlikely" allies goes further, suggesting that there are reasons (beyond Emma's outcast status) why this partnership should not exist.

Brad

Brad is described as a human ally, but his true intentions remain explicitly unclear in all official material. He occupies a space of deep narrative ambiguity. Present enough to be useful, suspicious enough to be dangerous. Of all the supporting characters revealed so far, Brad's behavior has generated the most discussion and speculation among those who have analyzed pre-release footage.

The Koo Incident

The most damning evidence against Brad's trustworthiness comes from a specific scene revealed in pre-release coverage. In this scene, Brad was observed conversing with Kunai, the mysterious swordswoman, while Koo was nearby, whimpering and limping from an arrow wound. During this exchange, Brad was asking for Koo's name.

The details of this scene are deeply troubling when examined closely. Koo, Emma's companion and closest ally, has been injured by an arrow. Brad, who is supposedly allied with Emma, is not attending to Koo or expressing concern. He is having a calm conversation with Kunai and inquiring about the injured dog's identity. The juxtaposition of Koo's suffering and Brad's apparent indifference raises immediate questions: Did Brad or Kunai inflict the wound? Was Brad gathering intelligence on Koo for purposes unknown? Why does he need to ask Koo's name if he is truly an ally who has been traveling with Emma?

None of these questions are answered in the footage. The scene is presented without exposition, allowing the player to draw their own conclusions. A storytelling approach consistent with Furushima's stated design philosophy of layered secrets and character-driven mystery.

Brad's Relationship with Kunai

Brad's familiarity with Kunai adds another layer of suspicion. Kunai herself is a figure of deliberate ambiguity. A swordswoman whose allegiance is never stated. If Brad is allied with Emma, his casual rapport with Kunai raises questions about divided loyalties. If Kunai turns out to be antagonistic, Brad's association with her becomes deeply problematic. Conversely, if Kunai is ultimately benign, the scene may be a deliberate misdirection designed to test the player's willingness to trust.

Kagura

Kagura is paired with Brad as an unlikely ally to Emma and Koo. Significantly less has been revealed about Kagura compared to Brad. Limited details about their background, abilities, motivations, or even their specific role in the partnership have been disclosed in pre-release coverage. This relative obscurity may itself be a narrative choice; if Brad is the character designed to attract suspicion, Kagura may be the one hiding in plain sight.

What is known is that Kagura, like all characters in Beast of Reincarnation, harbors great secrets that intertwine with the main storyline. Furushima's statement that "every character carries great secrets" applies to Kagura as fully as it does to Brad, Emma, or Koo. The scarcity of information about Kagura may be the most telling detail of all. In a game built on layered mysteries, the character about whom the least is known may ultimately be the most surprising.

Thematic Role

The introduction of human allies changes the dynamics of Emma's journey. As a Sealer who has lived in total isolation (feared by other humans for her Blight-afflicted appearance and vine-like hair) encountering people willing to travel alongside her represents a strong emotional development. For the first time, Emma is not alone among her own kind.

However, the game refuses to let this development be simple or comforting. The "unlikely" designation, Brad's suspicious behavior with Kunai, and the director's repeated emphasis on secrets all suggest that trust is a resource more scarce than Spirit Stones or FP in this world. Players are not just navigating combat encounters and Nushi boss fights, they are navigating a web of relationships where every ally might be concealing something vital.

The presence of Brad and Kagura also serves a gameplay function. In a story centered on two characters (a woman and her dog) human allies introduce new narrative perspectives and potentially new combat dynamics. Their interactions with Emma and Koo provide opportunities for dialogue, character development, and plot revelations that the protagonist duo's isolation would otherwise preclude.

Director Quotes

Furushima has been deliberately vague about Brad and Kagura in interviews, consistent with his approach to all character reveals. His most revealing statement applies to every character in the game: "Every character carries great secrets." When pressed about specific characters' allegiances and motivations, he has consistently deflected, suggesting that uncovering these secrets is a core part of the gameplay experience rather than something to be spoiled in pre-release marketing.