Gazel Dwargo

Name: Gazel Dwargo

Gender: Male

Race: Dwarf

Title(s): King of the Armed Nation of Dwargon, Hero King, Sword Saint

Height: About 170 cm

Affiliation: Armed Nation of Dwargon, allied with the Jura Tempest Federation

First Appearance: During the trial involving Kaijin and Vesta in Dwargon

Voice Actor (Japanese): Takaya Hashi

Gazel has a tall, solidly built body that looks like he is wearing armor, which is unusual for a dwarf.

Despite his stern public image, he actually has a free-spirited personality inherited from his grandfather, the first king.

Gazel inherited a carefree, impulsive temperament from his grandfather, the founding king of Dwargon.

However, having watched his father struggle with the consequences of that attitude, he deliberately plays the role of a strict, dignified monarch in public.

Since taking the throne, he has guided Dwargon with overwhelming charisma and competence.

These achievements earn him the title of “Hero King” among his people and foreign nations alike.

He is not only a ruler but also a strategist who keeps a close eye on world balance.

He is quick to recognize that Rimuru Tempest’s monster nation will become a pivotal force and chooses early on to support rather than oppose it.

Gazel is fundamentally fair and pragmatic.

He is willing to test others personally, but once he trusts someone, he supports them to the end and is unafraid to oppose his own retainers’ doubts if necessary.

First Encounter with Rimuru Tempest

Gazel first appears during the court trial in Dwargon after Kaijin punches Vesta.

He observes Rimuru’s behavior and the recovery potion created with skills, becoming immediately interested in Rimuru’s potential and danger.

Using his mind-reading skill, Gazel attempts to read Rimuru’s thoughts, but can only access Rimuru’s surface consciousness.

This inability to probe deeper makes him suspect that Rimuru might be a monster comparable to the Storm Dragon Veldora Tempest, and he treats Rimuru with considerable caution.

After the defeat of the Orc Lord, Gazel visits Rimuru’s developing settlement in the Great Jura Forest.

He wants to judge Rimuru’s true character and also has a personal desire to cross swords with him.

To that end, Gazel arranges a duel with Rimuru using swordsmanship alone.

Through their clash, and also after realizing that the dryad Treyni is present, he confirms that Rimuru is not an evil or malicious being.

Founding of the Jura Tempest Federation and Alliance

Recognizing that Rimuru’s monster country will soon become a central power in the world, Gazel acts before anyone else.

He becomes the first foreign ruler to establish diplomatic relations with Rimuru’s nation.

He concludes an alliance and opens formal diplomatic relations between Dwargon and Rimuru’s country, which later takes the name Jura Tempest Federation.

This early support helps legitimize Rimuru as the leader of a proper nation rather than just a monster lord.

Gazel backs Rimuru in both diplomacy and military matters as a true ally.

In return, Dwargon gains access to the advanced technology of the monster nation, starting with superior recovery potions.

He also approves the construction of a highway linking Dwargon and Tempest.

Cleverly, he has the entire cost of this road borne by Tempest, gaining strategic infrastructure with minimal expense to his own country.

Human–Monster Conference and Political Strategy

During the major human–monster conference (the “Human–Monster Summit”), Gazel plays a key role in preserving peace between Rimuru and human nations.

He understands that open enmity with human society would be disastrous for the world’s balance.

When the Kingdom of Falmuth’s army is completely annihilated by Rimuru’s forces, Gazel helps craft a political cover story.

He proposes attributing their destruction to the reappearance of Veldora Tempest, instead of Rimuru directly, giving humans a narrative they can accept without declaring full war on Tempest.

He also supports the plan for Youm Farmenas to establish a new kingdom in the ruins of Falmuth.

This allows a friendly human-led state to arise, further stabilizing relations between humans and Rimuru’s monster nation.

Continued Trust in Rimuru Tempest

By the time of the events in volume 8, Gazel’s retainers voice concern about Rimuru’s rapid growth in power.

They fear that Tempest could eventually threaten Dwargon or upset world order.

Despite their worries, Gazel firmly chooses to continue trusting Rimuru.

He declares that Dwargon will remain a steadfast ally, clearly showing his long-term commitment and judgment of Rimuru’s character.

Gazel also becomes one of Rimuru’s personal advisors, beyond their formal alliance.

He frequently gives Rimuru realistic political guidance, helps restrain Rimuru’s more reckless impulses, and quietly smooths over potential diplomatic problems.

As a child, Gazel once got lost in the Great Jura Forest.

There, he encountered Hakurou, an elderly but terrifyingly skilled swordsman, and became his disciple.

Gazel studied under Hakurou’s guidance and learned the Oboro-style sword techniques for roughly 300 years.

This training forged him into a master swordsman worthy of the title “Sword Saint.”

During his duel with Rimuru, Gazel notices something familiar in Rimuru’s sword movements.

That nostalgic sword style leads him to realize that Rimuru, too, has been trained by Hakurou.

When Hakurou and Gazel finally meet again, Gazel respectfully addresses him as “Sword Ogre.”

The bond between student and master remains strong despite the centuries that have passed.

Because Rimuru has also learned swordsmanship under Hakurou’s direction, Gazel starts calling Rimuru his “junior disciple.”

He uses this “senior–junior disciple” relationship as a friendly excuse to give Rimuru advice and special consideration.

Unique Skill: Dictator

Gazel possesses the unique skill Dictator, sometimes glossed as “The One Who Stands Above.”

This skill includes an advanced mind-reading ability often referred to as “Thought Reading.”

Dictator allows Gazel to read the thoughts of others from their surface consciousness down to their deepest subconscious.

Through this, he can discern intentions, lies, and hidden motives with alarming clarity.

The skill does more than just read hearts.

Gazel can also perceive the flow of power and energy in his surroundings and within opponents, allowing him to completely understand and even control that flow.

This makes him exceptionally capable in both combat and governance.

He can sense the emotions of his subjects and the killing intent or hesitation of an enemy, making his decisions precise and difficult to predict or counter.

Extra Skill: Heroic Aura

Gazel wields an extra skill called Heroic Aura.

This is a form of pressure or presence that only true heroes can emit.

Heroic Aura is a powerful intimidation field released by a superior being.

Against weaker opponents, it can restrict their movements, crush their will, and force them into submission without him needing to swing his sword.

In battle, this aura functions as both a psychological and physical restraint.

In politics, the same overwhelming presence helps him command respect in any council or negotiation.

Swordsmanship

Gazel is hailed as a sword saint for good reason.

His swordsmanship, honed over centuries under Hakurou and through real battles, is among the best in the world.

In pure sword technique, he surpasses Rimuru during their duel.

His style embodies impeccable timing, flawless defense, and lethal precision.

Even opponents who outmatch him in raw power or skills find it difficult to contend with his mastery of the blade.

However, later events show that his adherence to swordsmanship and honor can become a limitation when facing enemies who fight without such constraints.

Gazel’s mock battle with Rimuru is one of the story’s key turning points.

It is both a test of Rimuru’s character and a foundation for the alliance between Dwargon and Tempest.

The duel is conducted under a clear rule: swordsmanship only, no skills.

Rimuru internally knows that if he ignores the promise and uses his skills, he could almost certainly win, but he refuses to betray that trust.

On the other hand, Gazel ends up using his extra skill Heroic Aura during the fight.

He unleashes it to stop Rimuru’s movements and gauge Rimuru’s response under overwhelming pressure.

Rimuru does not get angry about this breach of the original condition.

Instead, he pushes through the Heroic Aura by sheer willpower and continues the duel head-on.

In terms of raw result, Gazel ultimately declares Rimuru the winner.

However, in pure sword skill alone, Gazel is the superior swordsman at this time.

Gazel’s decision to concede is based on Rimuru’s integrity—honoring the rule, refusing to rely on skills, and still managing to stand up under Heroic Aura.

By the end of the duel, Gazel has not only measured Rimuru’s strength but also gained deep trust in Rimuru’s personality.

Duel with Kondo

In volume 15, Gazel faces Kondo, a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Army and a fellow practitioner of Oboro-style swordsmanship.

Kondo is effectively a “sibling disciple,” having learned the same sword art from the same lineage as Gazel and Hakurou.

The duel between Gazel and Kondo is intense and represents a clash between two masters of the same school.

At first, they fight as pure swordsmen, honoring the tradition of Oboro-style.

However, in the end, Kondo abandons the concept of a fair sword duel and discards his fixation on swordsmanship alone.

He uses any means necessary to gain victory, breaking the “pure swordsman” framework that Gazel adheres to.

Because Gazel remains bound by his commitment to a true sword duel, he ultimately loses.

The defeat is not just physical but also philosophical, forcing Gazel to confront the limits of his current approach.

Resolving to Become Stronger

After the battle with the Empire, Gazel does not let his loss crush his spirit.

Instead, he treats it as a turning point and seeks to grow beyond his former self.

He consults with Rimuru about his desire to retrain and refine his strength from the ground up.

Rather than hiding his defeat, he openly acknowledges it and looks for a path forward.

Following this, Agera is dispatched from Tempest to Dwargon.

Gazel begins training against Agera, using her as a sparring partner to push himself beyond his old limits.

This shows Gazel’s core trait: even as a king and hero, he continues to learn and evolve.

He refuses to stagnate, proving that the Hero King is not defined only by past glory, but by constant self-improvement.

For Gazel, Rimuru is at once an ally, a junior disciple, and a political partner.

Their bond starts with a duel but grows into mutual respect and strategic cooperation.

Gazel often refers to Rimuru as his “junior disciple” because they both share Hakurou as a teacher.

He uses this relationship playfully, but it also reflects a real sense of responsibility and camaraderie.

In political scenes, Gazel frequently acts as one of Rimuru’s most grounded advisors.

He warns Rimuru when he is being reckless, offers realistic assessments of human nations, and helps Rimuru navigate complex international situations.

Despite being a king himself, Gazel does not act superior to Rimuru.

Rather, he treats Rimuru as an equal ruler and listens seriously to Rimuru’s ideas, even when they are unconventional.

At the same time, he refuses to indulge Rimuru blindly.

When necessary, he will admonish Rimuru, emphasizing responsibility over personal feelings, just as an older senior would guide a younger junior.

Their relationship symbolizes the bridge between human (and dwarf) nations and the monster-led Jura Tempest Federation.

Gazel’s trust and alliance give Rimuru’s nation legitimacy, while Rimuru’s innovations and power help propel Dwargon into a new era.