Ray
Ray |
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| Kanji: | レイ |
| Rōmaji: | Rei |
| Nickname(s): | Rei Sleepy Cyclops (by Yugo; formerly) |
| Characteristics | |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 11 (2045) 12 (2046) 13 (2047) 15 (2049) |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Eye Color: | Dark Green |
| Birthday: | January 16, 2034 |
| Height: | 150 cm (2045) 168 cm (2047) 177 cm (2049) |
| Blood Type: | AB |
| Professional Information | |
| Farm Identifier: | 81194 |
| Affiliation: | The Human World |
| Prev. Affiliation: | Grace Field House(Escaped) Shelter B06-32(Escaped) TheParadise Hideout Unnamed School |
| Occupation: | Vice-CEO |
| Prev. Occupation | Student |
| Personal Status | |
| Relatives: | Black-haired man(Ancestor,†) Isabella(Mother,†) |
| Status: | Alive |
| Debut | |
| Manga | Chapter 1 |
| “ | ” | |
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— Ray
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Appearance
Ray’s full appearance.
Ray is a slender boy with average height, marked by his slightly disheveled short black hair, which is parted to the right, allowing longer strands on the left to obscure part of his face. The hair around the sides spikes subtly, following the contours of his head, while his striking triangular, forest-green eyes with small irises contribute to his sharp and intense appearance. Ray typically sports the standard uniform of Grace Field House—a simple white long-sleeved button-up shirt paired with white pants and brown boots. His identification number, “81194,” is tattooed on the left side of his neck.
By 2047, Ray transitions to a new look, no longer wearing the Grace Field uniform. Instead, he opts for long black pants, a long-sleeved white shirt, and his familiar brown boots. At thirteen, Ray’s hair has grown slightly longer and messier, and he has experienced a growth spurt, standing nearly as tall as his mother, Isabella, who is 170 cm tall.
Upon reaching the Paradise Hideout, Ray’s style evolves again—he adopts an untucked white dress shirt, black pants, and a matching black scarf. When he and Emma set out on their search, he dons a white coat and a backpack over his outfit.
Later, at fifteen years old, in the Human World, Ray’s appearance changes further. His hair grows longer, especially around his face, and he becomes slightly taller. He now wears a black jacket, a light scarf, and a backpack slung over his shoulders.
Personality
Ray has a complex personality that can come across as aloof, introverted, and sarcastic. He often distances himself from the other orphans, preferring to immerse himself in books rather than play. Despite this, he maintains a deep affection for his fellow siblings and participates in games like tag or hide-and-seek when he feels inclined. Although he sometimes clashes with them, particularly due to his blunt nature and low tolerance for silliness—especially Emma’s antics—his protective instincts drive him to great lengths to ensure their safety.
Ray’s straightforwardness can be both a strength and a flaw. He does not shy away from sharing hard truths, as evidenced when he bluntly reveals his role as a spy to Norman. He believes honesty is a form of kindness, preferring to deliver the truth rather than offer false hope. Driven by logic and cold reasoning, he often formulates plans with the aim of involving the smallest group necessary, even if that means excluding himself. Over six years, he worked tirelessly to guarantee Norman and Emma’s escape, but this effort came at a significant cost, potentially involving the loss of other siblings who were shipped out.
His sharp intellect and manipulative tendencies make him a cunning strategist, excelling academically and solving complex problems with ease. According to his friends, he excels at nearly everything he undertakes and is known for his level-headedness and meticulous nature. However, his tendency to rush into plans can backfire, leading to moments of despair when his strategies fail—like when the plan to save Norman falls apart, causing him to withdraw from others.
Ray exhibits a strong self-sacrificial streak, going as far as contemplating suicide through self-immolation to aid the escape plan. He grapples with feelings of guilt over having watched his siblings perish and views his life as “cursed,” stemming from his early knowledge of the farms and his mother’s true nature. This background fuels his belief that dying might be the only way to atone for his perceived failures.
However, following their successful escape, Ray begins to shift his perspective. He starts to embrace the possibility of a hopeful future, expressing gratitude for the safety of his siblings—a stark contrast to his earlier belief that they would be a burden. This newfound optimism allows him to commit to living, protecting his family, and atoning for past mistakes. He becomes more connected with his family, gradually healing from his previous emotional wounds, and resolves to avoid acting independently.
Despite his softer demeanor, Ray retains his sharp wit and remains capable of taking decisive action against human threats. He refuses to jeopardize the safety of his family, even in situations that might seem morally ambiguous, understanding the sacrifices made by others.
Throughout his childhood, Ray often chose solitude over socializing, dedicating himself to studying and reading. He aimed to finish every book in Grace Field’s library before turning twelve, not out of passion, but as a means to boost his test scores and secure his status as a “Premium quality good.” His true interests lie in understanding mechanisms, cooking, art, and photography, showcasing a rich inner life beyond his initial facade of academic dedication.
History
Ray was born on January 15, 2034, at Grace Field, where his existence began through artificial insemination by his mother, Isabella. A year later, he was relocated to Plantation 3, setting the stage for his complex journey.
Unlike most of the other children, Ray retained memories from before his arrival at the orphanage, which included moments from his time in his mother’s womb and the traumatic procedure of having the transmitter implanted in his ear. As he grew older, he began to notice discrepancies between his past experiences and the reality he faced daily. This awareness led him to uncover the dark truths behind the orphanage, including the nature of the tests, the ominous gates surrounding their home, and the significance of the numbers tattooed on his neck. As these revelations weighed heavily on him, Ray experienced intense feelings of guilt, loneliness, and despair, unable to share his burdens with anyone. While he and Isabella were privy to the grim fate of the children who were shipped away, his isolation only deepened his sorrow. Ultimately, feeling powerless, Ray decided to take matters into his own hands. In a moment of desperation, he cut his ear to disable the transmitter, prompting Isabella to take notice and leading to a pivotal deal between them. His insistence on escaping with a select few was driven by the harsh reality that he could not save everyone.
Ray’s bond with Emma and Norman was particularly strong, given their close ages and shared academic excellence. Together, they created cherished memories, including playful moments like communicating through tin cans during Norman’s illness, sharing laughter, and exploring the mysterious gates of Grace Field House.
On his sixth birthday, Isabella overheard Ray humming a lullaby she had sung during her pregnancy, which prompted him to confront her about the orphanage’s dark secrets and his suspicions about being her biological son. After confirming his theory, Ray agreed to become her spy in exchange for various favors that would aid in his escape plans. While he pretended to be loyal to Isabella, this role allowed him to gather crucial resources for a device designed to facilitate the escape of the other children.
When Ray turned seven, he devised a bold plan to set himself on fire the night before his twelfth birthday. This drastic measure aimed to distract Isabella while simultaneously enacting revenge on the demons by denying them a “premium quality” meal.
In the following years, despite lacking a genuine passion for academics, Ray adopted a diligent study routine to excel in the orphanage’s tests and maintain his status as “premium quality” meat. He set a personal goal to read every book in the Grace Field library before his twelfth birthday. During this period, he focused on creating a device to disable the transmitters, coordinating a meticulous escape plan, and collecting lighter fuel from the gifts he received from Isabella, which he intended to use as a last resort to help Emma and Norman in their quest for freedom.
Skills and Abilities
Intelligence
Ray is recognized for his exceptional intelligence and strategic acumen. Initially, he struggled with tests, but as he matured, he consistently achieved perfect scores, earning the reputation of “The Walking Encyclopedia.” His quiet, methodical nature enables him to think ahead, devising optimal solutions to complex problems. Ray’s extensive reading equips him with knowledge of the outside world, making him an invaluable asset to his group during and after their escape from Grace Field House.
His keen perception allows him to understand the grim reality of the orphanage as a farm, where the children are treated as livestock, without needing to witness it firsthand, unlike his peers Emma and Norman. Ray was also the first to identify the demons’ physical vulnerability, specifically their middle eyes, and he quickly devised a plan that led Emma to eliminate a wild demon before it could harm him. This highlights his ability to think on his feet during critical moments.
Ray’s quick wit is evident when he grasps Norman’s extermination plan against the demons and when he analyzes the complexities of the Seven Walls within the world he and Emma enter.
Hyperthymesia
Ray possesses hyperthymesia, allowing him to remember details from his infancy and even moments spent in his mother’s womb. This remarkable memory capability enables him to uncover the secrets of the orphanage and confirm Isabella’s identity as his mother. His memory is so sharp that he can recall not just the titles of books in the archives, but also their precise locations on the shelves without needing to check.
Physical Strength
Although Ray does not engage in physical activities with the other children regularly, he displays commendable physical prowess. Reports from Krone indicate that he is physically fitter than Norman. He has demonstrated significant strength, such as kicking open the door to Krone’s bedroom with ease.
Ray and Pepe are cooking Yakisoba.
Culinary Skills
Ray’s culinary talents were honed under the guidance of Mujika, making him an excellent cook. He frequently prepares meals for the Grace Field children, and they often praise his cooking skills. His speed and efficiency were particularly highlighted when he and Pepe quickly prepared yakisoba for a food stand run by Mister.
Enhanced Stamina
Ray has shown remarkable stamina, capable of maintaining a rigorous pace for extended periods. Alongside Emma, he successfully followed Mister for days without faltering. He also demonstrated his endurance by outrunning a wild demon for several minutes before Emma intervened.