Herman Melville is a tall man with white, slicked-back hair, with a section falling over his forehead. He has gray eyes and a full beard with a mustache. His usual attire includes a cream-colored long-sleeved shirt paired with a matching puff tie featuring a whale design at its end. Over this, he wears a brown vest with black accents, complete with a white pocket square on the left breast pocket. He complements this with black pants and shoes. A wooden pipe is a frequent accessory, and he occasionally carries a black jacket.

In his younger years, Herman had a slightly different appearance. His hair was still slicked back, but more of it fell down from his left forehead to his cheek. His beard was shorter, with a slight goatee. His outfit consisted of a pinstriped three-quarter-sleeved shirt paired with suspenders, light-colored pants, and Oxfords.

Herman Melville is a generally reserved and quiet individual, though he demonstrates strong leadership skills as the former head of the Guild. His loyalty to the organization and its members is unwavering, as is his devotion to his “ship,” Moby Dick. Having spent many years aboard, Herman holds a deep affection for Moby Dick, viewing it not just as a vessel but as an old and cherished friend. He describes the ship as “very beautiful” and expresses regret over its mechanization by the Guild.

This profound connection to Moby Dick drives Herman’s decision to stay aboard during the Guild’s emergency plan. Despite the ship’s imminent crash, he chooses to go down with it, honoring his bond with what he sees as a companion in its final moments. His actions highlight his steadfast loyalty and the respect he holds for the things and people that have shaped his life.

Herman Melville is described by Ango Sakaguchi as one of the earliest members of the Guild, joining during the organization’s prime and earning a reputation for his dedication and loyalty. Ango referred to the Guild during Herman’s tenure as “beautiful,” highlighting its former glory.

It is later revealed that Herman once served as the Guild’s leader, holding the position two generations before Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald assumed leadership. This detail underscores Herman’s deep roots in the organization and his significant contributions to its legacy. His history within the Guild further emphasizes his steadfast devotion to its mission and members.

Herman Melville’s ability, Moby Dick (白鯨モビー・ディック, Mobī Dikku), manifests as a massive, mechanical white whale capable of floating in the sky. According to Herman, the Moby Dick was originally a living creature that roamed freely through the skies. However, the Guild captured and heavily modified it, converting over 70% of its body into a mechanized air fortress. Due to these alterations, Herman lost his ability to control the whale as he once did.

It is implied that Herman’s ability extends beyond controlling Moby Dick and may involve creating volant white whales. This is supported by an incident during Herman’s interrogation by Ango Sakaguchi, where a small, white whale reminiscent of Moby Dick was left on the bench where Herman had been sitting. This suggests that his ability enables the creation of similar entities, though they may vary in size and functionality.

Herman Melville first appears alongside the other Guild members during their interruption of the battle between Kōyō Ozaki and Atsushi Nakajima. Later, he accompanies Fitzgerald as they capture Atsushi and summons Moby Dick to facilitate their escape.

During the Guild’s emergency plan, Atsushi encounters Herman while searching for the control terminal aboard Moby Dick. Herman informs Atsushi that the airship has been evacuated as part of the Guild’s plan to crash it into Yokohama. Despite the grim circumstances, Herman provides Atsushi with the location of the terminal and reflects on Moby Dick’s former glory as a living creature before its mechanization by the Guild. He expresses deep regret over the danger the vessel poses to the city and declares his intention to go down with it as an act of atonement.

Following Fitzgerald’s defeat, Atsushi and Ryūnosuke Akutagawa manage to locate the control terminal and attempt to halt Moby Dick’s descent. However, Herman reveals that external forces have already seized control of the ship, rendering their efforts futile. As the situation escalates, Kyōka Izumi, piloting an unmanned aircraft in which she is imprisoned, crashes it into Moby Dick, causing the aerial fortress to plummet into the waters of Yokohama, thus averting a larger catastrophe.

In the aftermath, Herman is approached by Ango Sakaguchi, who persuades him to cooperate in an interrogation. Initially hesitant, believing he has little valuable information to offer, Herman eventually agrees to accompany Ango, signaling a shift in his role within the unfolding events.

The name Herman is of German origin, combining the elements “harja,” meaning “army,” and “mann,” meaning “man,” thus signifying “army man” or “warrior.”

The surname Melville is of Scottish origin and translates to “settlement on infertile land,” reflecting a geographic or locational heritage.