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Viscount Saito Chevalier de Hiraga des Ornières (Japanese: 平賀才人 Hiraga Saitō, pronunciation: /saɪtoʊ hirɑːgɑː/) is the male protagonist of Zero no Tsukaima. He was originally from Earth (specifically Tokyo, Japan) before becoming Louise's familiar.
Appearance
Saito is a young man with blue eyes and black hair, who wears a blue, loose, long-sleeved jacket-like top with a raised collar over his short-sleeve white t-shirt. He also wears a pair of black jeans partnered with some blue and white sneakers.
Personality
Before the story, Saito's bio in the light novel states that he was average in everything, be it his grades, sports, or charming his female classmates. He has large amounts of curiosity; if something interests him, he will pursue it. He is fiercely loyal to his master, Louise, showing the willingness to fight in spite of the odds if it means protecting her. As a student, Saito was leading somewhat of a mundane lifestyle, waiting for something interesting to come his way. He has also stated to be a little slow on the uptake as he never thinks before acting thus ending up being summoned.
After being summoned, he proves to be highly adaptable, as he shrugged off being kidnapped by elves. He also has instincts of subserviency to Louise due to her violent behavior, and his peaceful upbringing. However, this strongly contrasts his willingness to fight and to help others. Saito has also proven to be a bit manipulative, holding the weaknesses and emotions of others against someone in conflict. This is demonstrated on a regular basis when he is faced with Louise's constant temper tantrums, using her weaknesses as his defense mechanism.
Saito also appears to be emotionally strong in certain situations that involve defending his beloved. He tries to see others for who they really are rather than for their social standing or whether they have magical capabilities or not. Despite this, Saito is still a teenage boy with perverted desires for multiple women, in spite of his devotion to Louise, which always leaves her extremely jealous and feeling betrayed.
Because he comes from a world filled with advanced technology with an even longer and more brutal history of conflict than Halkagenia, he isn't blind to all of the egotism emanating from many of the nobles indigenous to the area.
Saito is also a ladies' man, often showing him in romantic situations with most of the female supporting cast.
Background
Before coming to Halkeginia, Saito had an ordinary life in Japan. While walking home with a computer in his hand, he stumbled upon a large green portal. Saito reached out to touch it, and it teleported him to a foreign world where he is later deemed Louise's familiar.
Powers and Abilities
There are Runes inscribed into Saito's hand as a result of his being bound to Louise. They read (ガンダールヴ Gandāruvu). These runes glow when his Gandálfr powers activate. As a Gandálfr, Saito has the ability to use any object that was made with the intent of being used as a weapon at an extremely high level of skill. He also becomes significantly stronger, faster and tougher. Even weapons that he had never touched before, such as a M-72 Law and a World War II Zero Fighter, can be instantly understood and utilized. This physical augmentation fades more or less instantly when he stops using the power, which can result in him falling unconscious if he'd been wounded previously. That he can only use items specifically crafted for the purpose of weapons was revealed by Derflinger after a failed attempt to use an ornamental sword.
It has not been made clear whether Gandálfr powers could be used in
conjunction with purely magical weaponry such as a wand or a staff. Even with these abilities he doesn't defend himself at all against Louise's constant beatings.
At the beginning of the third series, the magical runes on Saito's hand mysteriously disappear because of the events of Season 2 and Saito's position of Gandálfr is in question. Thus, he loses the power to use weapons expertly and becomes annoyed that he can no longer protect Louise. He regains the power of Gandálfr when he is re-summoned by Louise. With the return of the runes, Saito is knighted for the feat of stopping an entire army by himself, and given a hero's welcome at the Academy.
Saito is named after Gennai Hiraga who is an Edo period Japanese scientist, and his name is written as "ability man." [3] This could hint at despite Lousie calling him stupid, Saito is in reality very smart. In fact he came to Halkagenia with a laptop and a basic understanding of computer science. With a hinted joke that like his ancestor, Saito might have knowledge of Pharmacology, ores, inventions, and electricity.
After being revived, Saito works out a lot and learned crude swordsmanship from Agnes, Derf states that even if the power is gone Saito's body still remembers battle and is higher than hers. Granted he learned only crude swordplay, and not iado until later. Even with a body forged from experience, Saito is still a brain type, meaning without his familiar powers he can't fight as well as a body type person.
In the light novels it is revealed that not only is Saito the familiar of Louise, but also the familiar of Tiffania. Tiffania being another void user like King Joseph de Gallia, the Pope of Romalia, and the Founder Brimir. The introduction to Zero no Tsukaima F confirms this showing by having all the void familiars posing in front of the void users. Saito is seen in a dramatic stance in front of both Louise and Tiffania who are wearing priestess attire.
Weapons
- Derfflinger
- SIG Sauer P226
- AK-47 (light novel only)
- M72 LAW
- A6M Zero fighter
- Mitsubishi-F-2A (anime only)
- Flak 88 anti-aircraft/anti-tank gun
- Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger tank (light novel only)
- Katana
Magical Items
- Medusa Glasses
Quotes
- (To Louise) "I don't mind if I sleep on the floor. I don't care if my meals taste awful. It can't be helped, so I'll keep going. But, if I don't want to bow my head down to someone, I can't bow down to him!"[4]
- (In his dream) "A Japan without Louise's presence... It would be meaningless to return back home! Louise... Louise!!!"
- "I'm not a man if I can't make the girl I love smile!"
Trivia
Named after a Japanese Edo period scientist.
Also Known As
- Gandálfr
- Lífþrasir
- Saito Chevalier de Hiraga
- Our Sword (by Marteau)
- Darling (by Kirche)
- Dog, Perverted dog, Stupid dog (by Louise)
- Water Flea (by Louise)
- Low Creature (by Louise)
- Mr. Knight (once by Cattleya)
- Partner (by Derflinger)
- Lord of De Ornielle (by Queen Henrietta)
- My Ivaldi (by Tabitha)
- Brother (By Julio Chesaré) (Novel)
- Mr. Familiar (By Henrietta)