Valga Cromwell (バルガ・クロムウェル), commonly known as Old Man Rom (ロム爺), is a member of the Felt Camp and the former owner of the Stolen Goods Warehouse. He played minor supporting roles in Arc 1 and Arc 3.
Born a slave, Valga was a leading figure of the Demi-Human War, feared as the Great Strategist who held deep hatred for humanity. His death was falsified by the Kingdom of Lugunica, and, after escaping his imprisonment decades later, he took on the name Rom, eventually finding himself in the Royal Capital's slums, where he raised Felt. He joined Felt's camp following the announcement of her candidacy as one of the Royal Selection Candidates at the Royal Selection Ceremony.
Appearance[]
Rom sports a bulky figure. As a giant, he stands at a towering 220 cm (7'3"), though his hunchback-like style of walking makes him look shorter. He has white strands of hair lining his eyebrows and is bald. He wears a sleeveless vest and possesses a crimson symbol across the left side of his head. His primary weapon is a massive club that he uses to smash opponents.
When he was young, he was much leaner, and his eyebrows stood up in addition to having more hair. He wore black pants, a red cape, bracelets with bones on them, and a necklace.
Personality[]
Rom is good-natured, intelligent, and wise. He is a known alcoholic and frequents the enjoyments of drinking. He has a high awareness when it comes to sensing hostility. He is especially protective of Felt and values her as a treasured family member.
When he was young, Rom held an immense hatred towards humans and desired to exterminate every single one of them. He used his intellect to produce complex strategies that furthered his goals. However, caring for Felt over the years eventually eased some degree of his burning hatred for humanity, and he personally believes that she saved his way of life.[1]
History[]
Rom was born as Valga Cromwell of the nearly extinct giant race, and he was raised as a slave of an unnamed noble. While being a slave, he experienced a living hell until he was one day saved by a man named Libre Fermi; Valga would begin to foster a hatred of humans as a result of the environment he lived in.[2] Libre soon became Valga's friend, teacher, and mother figure after freeing the giant.[3] In addition, he became acquainted with Doltero Amule and Setanta around this time.
During the Demi-Human War, Valga was one of three leader in the Demi-Human Alliance, serving as the Alliance's strategist. At some point in time, he found Sphinx, brought her into the Alliance as an ally, and they set up a hidden base at testing grounds in Shamrock Valley. According to unconfirmed reports from the Royal Army, Valga personally utilized his forces during the Battle of Castour Field and contributed to the Kingdom of Lugunica's defeat there. After the usage of Sphinx's magic circles and the corpses she was gathering became known to Libre, the two of them disagreed over her methods and they began growing estranged as a result. Three years later, at the Battle of Aihiya Swamp, Libre was personally killed by Sphinx and turned into a corpse soldier, though the Witch would hide the Poison Snake's manner of death from Valga. Without Libre's charisma to continue leading the Demi-Human Alliance, Valga chose to invade Lugunica Castle in an attempt to attack the Kingdom at its heart.
At the Battle for Lugunica Castle, Valga would be accompanied by Sphinx and the corpse of Libre. Although he was too weak to fight on his own, he had magic circles engraved on his body to increase his power, and alongside them, a bone from an ancestor of his. Sphinx then used Sacrament of the Immortal King in tandem with the bone, which increased Valga's size to a 10-meter-tall giant. He fought against the Sword Demon, Wilhelm Trias, but he ultimately lost the battle and supposedly died. However, in reality, his continued survival was left a concealed fact and he was taken to the main McMahon Manor as a captive, with only select individuals such as Gionis Lugunica and Miklotov McMahon knowing this fact.
A few years after the Demi-Human War ended, Stride Vollachia was moving across Lugunica with unseen aims. He somehow found his way into Sphinx's Testing Grounds in Shamrock Valley and found a magic circle there that was left by Sphinx. This magic circle had the ability to nullify the covenant that the Kingdom had with the Divine Dragon. Valga, who knew about the magic circle's effects, opted to discose what it did to Gionis. After Stride's death, Valga told Miklotov that he only chose to divulge the information because Stride's faction would have killed his fellow demi-humans.[4]
An unknown amount of years later, Valga started calling himself Rom, escaped from his captivity either by force or with permission, was given custody over Felt by a man with golden hair and crimson eyes, and he raised her as his granddaughter. On one occasion in the years following his captivity, Rom visited the Oni Village to see Setanta for unknown reasons, and the two had a disagreement. Before leaving, he told Ram and Rem to never forget to be close sisters.[5] In the future, Rom also gained ownership of the Stolen Goods Warehouse and began selling illicit items that Felt stole from other people in order to get by.
Abilities[]
Keen Intellect: Rom was once feared during the Demi-Human War, not for his physical strength, but for his strategical mind. His strategies were so impressive that he was considered one of the most dangerous threats alongside Sphinx. He has since taken up a position similar to that of a strategist in the Felt Camp, though he prefers to be classified as an advisor.
Equipment: Rom wields a Spiked Club in combat. He can casually swing it around with one hand and crush wood with ease.
Trivia[]
- In the first section of Felt-chan's Royal Selection Life from Zero, it is implied that Rom has a debt to an unknown group of people affiliated with a man who has golden hair and crimson eyes.[6][7] These physical characteristics are shared by Felt and all members of the Lugunican Royal Family.
- According to the author, Rom's birthday is February 20.
References[]
- ↑ “I already made that vow a long time ago. That girl saved my way of life, ye know.” Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 4, Felt-chan's Royal Selection Life from Zero, Section 6.
- ↑ He was born to the giant species, who are on the verge of extinction. He was born and raised as the slave of a detestable noble, but he was saved from that environment by a demi-human called Libre, and since then he fostered a hatred of humans... 2018 Rom's Birthday Q&A
- ↑ The one called Libre was the benefactor who was his mother, teacher, and friend. 2018 Rom's Birthday Q&A
- ↑ “But I don’t like the way they were going about it. There was no distinguishing people with what they did, even my brethren would have died. That’s not remotely what I want. ――That’s the only reason why I helped you out.” Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Curtain's Close, Section 3.
- ↑ Rom responded quietly to Setanta’s hateful sounding remark, and he turned his back on him. Stepping hard on the ground, the old man sought to leave the village as he went down the mountain path. As he passed through Rem and Ram’s side, he said――, “Always be close sisters. Don’t forget that.” Re:Zero Prequel: The Oni Sisters of the Hidden Village, Chapter 1, Section 2.
- ↑ “I’m indebted to ye all. If I can return what I owe, then I don’t mind taking on this job.” Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 4, Felt-chan's Royal Selection Life from Zero, Section 1.
- ↑ Inside the box where she could only see the ceiling, her gaze met with someone’s face when they peeked in. For some reason, a shadow was cast upon the face, and she could not see it because it was smudged black. However, she knew the person was the owner of golden hair and crimson eyes. Re:Zero Tanpenshuu Volume 4, Felt-chan's Royal Selection Life from Zero, Section 1.
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