| “ | What have I got in my pocket? | ” |
— One of Burglar's enigmatic riddles | ||
Burglar (忍びの者, Shinobi no mono) also known as Traveler (往還せし者, Ōkan seshi mono),[1] and Barrel Rider, is Goblin Slayer's master and mentor.
Appearance[]
Burglar is an old rhea with uneven teeth and milky eyes, though this is most likely due to his advanced age. He bears a goat patch and a few strands of hair, with three on the sides of his cheeks like whiskers. Like all rheas, he has the racial trait of short height and pointed ears. He dons a scarf with an intricate pattern over a straw cape.
Personality[]
Burglar acts in a demented and cruel manner, as shown when subjecting a young Goblin Slayer to brutal and harsh training.
Despite his superficial lack of sanity, he rescued the young boy and spent years training Goblin Slayer's mind and body in order to become strong enough to kill goblins on his own. His misconducts aside, Burglar had trained Goblin Slayer without anything in return, demonstrating a capacity for sympathy and kindness.
Background[]
Nothing is known about Burglar's younger years, nothing but cryptic clues. These clues include legends of Burglar once being a famous Adventurer, named among the greatest legends by the examiner from the capital,[2] and the Rogues Guild holds him in particularly high regard.
Burglar first encountered Goblin Slayer after saving the ten-year-old boy from being killed by the goblins that destroyed his village. He later trained Goblin Slayer up until they parted ways five years later.
Burglar has ties to the Rogues Guild and told Goblin Slayer how to find their locations via marked doorways.[3]
Chronology[]
Goblin Slayer Volume 2[]
In a flashback Goblin Slayer had, Burglar trained him in a dark cave, while also telling him riddles to solve. After his pupil solved several, Burglar questioned him about what he had in his pocket, which his pupil was unable to solve.
At some point, the old rhea informed Goblin Slayer he was going on a journey before leaving.
Interim post Goblin Slayer Volume 6[]
Sometime during his adventures, Burglar ran into Wizard Boy and Rhea Fighter, and he decided to take them under his wing like he did Goblin Slayer. While Rhea Fighter appears to thoroughly enjoy his tutelage, Burglar seems to be particularly tormented by Wizard Boy as he refuses to admit Burglar was his "master".
Goblin Slayer Volume 9[]
Burglar shows up in front of the farm as Cow Girl is doing laundry, making an off-the-cuff comment about her generous chest. He correctly guesses that Goblin Slayer lived here while referring to him as a talent-less wonder only capable of taking everything too seriously. He then inquires in a riddle-like way if Cow Girl and Goblin Slayer have settled down yet.
After Cow Girl sharply corrects him, Burglar, disappointed, suddenly brings up that an old magician once said the little things matter more than big adventures, and a dwarf said that a beauty she was unaware of was inside her. He then bids Cow Girl farewell before disappearing with the wind.[4]
Abilities[]
Burglar is a skilled and crafty fighter, relying on any methods he can to defeat his enemies and achieve victory.
Equipment[]
- Short Sword: Burglar carries a short sword, befitting his Rogue class to great effect, enough to be well known as a living legend.
- Platinum Mail: Goblin Slayer remarked once that Burglar wears Platinum mail under his robes, amongst the highest quality in defensive protection.
- Magic Ring(s): Burglar's most iconic piece of equipment is his Magic Ring which allows him to disappear and reappear at will. Presently it is unknown just how many Magic Rings he has
Intellect[]
Admittedly, Burglar is not much of a full-on fighter, instead relying on his incredible wit and intelligence to fight his battles for him. Credit is due to him for being wise enough that his sole known pupil is renowned for extraordinary resourcefulness, achieving much with minimal and the most basic of equipment.
Trivia[]
- In the anime credits, Burglar is credited as "Rhea (
圃人 , Rēa)". - Burglar is a clear homage to the iconic character Bilbo Baggins created by the famous fantasy author JRR Tolkien for his novel The Hobbit
- Thorin II Oakenshield and his party of Dwarves hired Bilbo, on Gandalf's recommendation, to be their "Burglar" in their quest to reclaim the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor and the treasures within from Smaug the Terrible
- Burglar's question, "What have I got in my pocket" is from "The Hobbit", in which Bilbo Baggins asks the same question of Gollum in their game of riddles in the creature's cave
- His alias of "Barrel Rider" also makes reference to when Bilbo and the Dwarves escaped Thranduil's dungeon by hiding in barrels and floating downriver to Esgaroth, and when Bilbo subsequently referred to himself as "Barrel-Rider" in his riddle to Smaug
- Like Burglar, Bilbo is known more for his intelligence, wit, and cunning than for prowess in combat
- Burglar's short sword is a reference to Bilbo's short sword Sting, an Elven dagger enchanted to glow in the presence of Orcs and Goblins
- Burglar's Platinum Mail is also a reference to Bilbo's Mithril chainmail corslet
- The Magic Ring Burglar carries that allows him to disappear and reappear is an obvious homage to the infamous "One Ring", the item of ultimate power from Tolkien's famous "The Lord of the Rings" books, around which the entire plot revolves.
