Ricardo Welkin is a male kobold beastman and the brawny leader of the mercenary group “Iron Fang” in the series Re:Zero, known for his massive build, booming voice, and wild, instinct-driven fighting style.
Name: Ricardo Welkin
Gender: Male
Race: Dog-type beastman (kobold)
Affiliation: Iron Fang (mercenary group), camp of Anastasia Hoshin
Role: Leader of Iron Fang, front-line commander, “father figure” of the Anastasia camp
Age: 39
Height: 206 cm
Weight: Over 140 kg
Birthday: January 12
Voice Actor (CV): Kenji Nomura
Hobbies:
Making puns
Howling into the distance
Drinking alcohol
Special Skills:
Puns and wordplay
Imitating dogs (despite actually being a dog-type beastman)
Detailed knowledge about Anastasia Hoshin
Ricardo is an extremely tall and massive kobold, standing at 206 cm with a weight exceeding 140 kg.
His body is covered in short brown fur, emphasizing his beastman nature and his powerful, muscular frame.
His build is rugged and intimidating, projecting the image of a front-line warrior.
Everything about his physique says “brawler first, talk later.”
At first contact, Ricardo can be off-putting: his voice is very loud, and he talks in a relaxed, slang-filled regional manner, paying little attention to distance or volume.
This makes many people uncomfortable when they meet him for the first time.
Underneath that rough exterior, however, he is warm-hearted and deeply compassionate.
He is straightforward, emotionally expressive, and values bonds and loyalty very highly.
Ricardo naturally takes the role of a “dad of the camp” for Anastasia’s faction.
He looks out for those under his care, worries about them, scolds them when needed, and celebrates with them when times are good.
He has a playful side as well: he enjoys telling puns, joking around, and doing dog imitations despite being a beastman himself.
These lighthearted traits balance his ferocious battlefield presence and make him more approachable to those who get past his initial intensity.
Ricardo speaks loudly enough that it often feels like he is shouting, even in casual conversation.
He uses a laid-back, regional, slang-heavy way of speaking that makes him sound earthy, direct, and a bit rough.
His speech style creates the impression that he is always in high spirits, even when talking about serious matters.
Because he doesn’t “lower his volume,” he can seem crass or overbearing at first glance.
He also has a habit of slipping in puns and jokes, which he personally enjoys a great deal.
Whether other people enjoy them as much as he does is another question entirely.
One of his characteristic attitudes toward Anastasia is his blunt observation that she has no close female friends, joking that she would be “easy to approach” at such times.
This teasing tone shows both his familiarity with her and his willingness to speak frankly to someone he respects.
Ricardo has no magical talent and no divine protection.
He is a purely physical warrior who relies on raw instinct, experience, and brute strength.
In battle, he wields a large machete-like blade as his main weapon.
His fighting style is self-taught and almost entirely based on instinct, intuition, and battlefield experience rather than formal training.
Despite the lack of magic or refined technique, his wild, instinctive combat style is powerful enough to be considered genius-level in its own way.
He reads the flow of battle through his body rather than through analysis, and his long-developed intuition guides him to effective decisions in the thick of combat.
He typically leads from the front, charging ahead as a vanguard and using his own body as a rallying point.
By putting himself on the line before his subordinates, he raises the morale of Iron Fang and sets the tone for their aggressive fighting style.
Ricardo serves as the leader of the beastman mercenary group known as “Iron Fang.”
As their commander, he is both their strongest warrior and their emotional center.
He leads by example, not by lofty speeches.
His readiness to fight at the front, take the greatest risks, and protect his subordinates earns him deep trust and admiration.
Ricardo’s leadership style is rough but affectionate.
He treats his subordinates as a family of sorts, backing them up in battle and looking after their well-being off the battlefield.
The members of Iron Fang respond by following him wholeheartedly.
Their loyalty is not forced; it grows naturally from his courage, reliability, and genuine emotional bonds with them.
Ricardo and Anastasia Hoshin have known each other since long ago.
He recognized her talent as a child and, during a certain incident in their shared past, “invested” in her potential.
This early act of faith in Anastasia helped form the basis of their current partnership.
Over time, that initial investment grew into a deep, long-standing bond of trust and mutual benefit.
Ricardo is extremely knowledgeable about Anastasia, to the point that “Anastasia knowledge” is listed as one of his skills.
He understands her habits, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses better than most.
Within Anastasia’s camp, Ricardo often functions as the “dad” or “old man” figure.
He helps support and stabilize the group around Anastasia, providing both muscle and emotional grounding.
Ricardo cares deeply for Mimi Pearlbaton, Hetaro Pearlbaton, and Tivey Pearlbaton.
He treats the three of them like precious juniors or even like children who need watching over.
With Mimi in particular, the relationship has a very lively, cheerfully chaotic energy.
Ricardo’s booming, rough persona pairs with her energetic nature to create a loud but affectionate dynamic.
Hetaro and Tivey also fall within his circle of protection.
He worries about them, encourages them, and acts as their reliable guardian on and off the battlefield.
His protectiveness toward these three reinforces his “father of the camp” image.
They, in turn, trust him as a dependable, if somewhat noisy, pillar of strength.
Ricardo’s charm lies in the contrast between his appearance and his heart.
He looks like a dangerous barbarian, but he behaves like a loud, joking, warm-hearted father figure.
His loud speech and unrefined manner make his first impression rough and sometimes scary.
However, those who get to know him discover a caring man who values comrades, loyalty, and shared experience.
His fondness for puns and dog impersonations adds an almost silly layer to his otherwise intense presence.
This blend of ferocity and humor makes him a distinctive, memorable character within the Re:Zero world.
Re:Zero
Hetaro Pearlbaton
Tivey Pearlbaton
Iron Fang (Ricardo’s mercenary group)
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