#Hallelujah smt

[yarrayora]

i dont think he knows about the face of true evil

[myossdeux]

more doodles

[skyflyinginaction]

Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL Official Setting + Shinwa Sekai he no Tabi translations 

I don’t own the raw scans or the translations in this post all credit for the translation belongs to Miel who did a wonderful job on it. The Nanashi bio was already translated by Dijeh and the rest are translated by them.

Asahi

In the early scenarios, she was supposed to be a tomboyish character who often used foul language. As you can see, she ended up the complete opposite (lol). Asahi was designed as a child whose parents had lovingly raised, and had her life planned out for her to survive in this destroyed world. They were hoping that she would one day be able to see the light of dawn, hence she was named Asahi. We based her design off themes of the sky, hence the goggles, hat and the blue color scheme to make a pure, orthodox heroine.

Navarre

A harmonious, all-green presence… Actually I just came up with that after (lol). But I think the meaning of Navarre's scarf color was shown pretty well in the game. His ghost form and the fact that he would be a partner was decided from the very beginning. I wanted him to be able to run around the map following the MC, so I suggested a mascot-like design that could float alongside the MC. I'm glad he was able to re-appear as a likeable character (lol).

Nozomi

In the previous game, she was an event character with only pixel art, but in this game, we decided from the very beginning that she would be a partner along with Navarre. We tried to keep the same imagery she had from the previous game but designed elements unique to this game. After she became one with Danu, I wanted a change in both mind and body. Her hair and eye color, as well as her physique are all mixed with Western features, and when compared to the main characters who are all children, she looks like a mature adult lady.

Hallelujah

We had planned to create a mixed-race child who would show what kind of world setting it was in this game. His brown-colored skin was the only thing that still remained of his initial draft; every thing else about him was totally changed from the initial planned scenario. We gave him a Ashura-kai styled outfit, as well as a school jersey to make him look like a child delinquent. The pointy ears and black nails were to give him a demonic feel. When he transforms, he changes color, and I think it perfectly represents the devs’ ideal image of him.

Chironnupu

When Chironnupu was created as a demon, I was requested to make him a mascot-like character. They did not want a standard cutesy character, but rather something that had a “Megami Tensei" type of cuteness. There are very few legends about the Chironnupu, so I got ideas from keywords such as Ainu, fox, divine spirits, and hunting, and instead of simply drawing a fox, I made him a young spirit that wears a carved wooden mask.

Gaston

When I first heard that Navarre’s younger brother was going to be in the game, I laughed… and I was very surprised. Of course they must have the same hairstyle and facial expressions to live up to the family name (lol). Since he is an elite member of the newly established Samurai group, I put his Samurai uniform over his inner wear, so that he looked like a medieval musketeer but set in modern day. The cross symbol represents God and the four archangels. Michael's spear was originally meant to defeat Lucifer, so I based its design off Lucifer’s motif.

Toki

Out of all the characters, this character had the most changes and was the most difficult to design. In the early designs, she was made to look like a miko (TN: shrine maiden) who served Lilith, so I wanted her design to emphasize her young age when compared to Asahi and Nozomi. That design later evolved into a tall, ephemeral type of girl, and then later, finally settled into the design of an assassin. She’s designed as a member of the Ring of Gaea, and her unmasked face has the cuteness of a Japanese doll but also a beauty that exudes an exoticism. 

Nikkari

This is a character that appears right at the beginning of the game, but we did not originally plan to have an illustration for him. However, there was a request for a illustration to show the worldview of this hunter from Tokyo, and how the world and the people he cared for were being overrun by demons. Thus we created illustrations for the 3 of them: Nikkari, Manabu, and Master. The name Nikkari is based off a famous sword, but you’ll just have to find out whether or not his sword is the real deal by playing the game.

Manabu

As a more senior hunter, he has become a unique character. Like Nikkari, we had initially only planned to have pixel art for him, so we made sure to exaggerate that reggae-like feel to convey his love for reggae, even if it's a tiny pixel art. Compared to veteran hunters, he didn't have much experience yet, so we designed him to still look a little naive. Having designs for the sub-characters was not initially planned, so I only had a short amount of time to design them, but I was able to take a breather and had fun while drawing them.

Master

When I was making drafts of his design, I borrowed the design of the adult form of the protagonist (lol). Since the character is a former hunter of an inhabitable society and a master of the company, I gave him unshaven stubble and thick arm hair to give him that rugged feel, but also gave him the outfit of a bar waiter to give him a sense of tidiness. Anyway, it feels like a strange coincidence that the pilot-style outfit worn by the original adult protagonist ended up being worn by Asahi instead. I wanted to see how well he would do.

Swordsman Hunter

During the idea stage, there were many variations for a non-human hunter. This is a lightly armored female hunter whose main weapon is a sword. Her personality also seems outgoing.

Professor Matsuda

This was the initial idea draft for Matsuda. Back then he was planned to be a NPC that you can speak to but didn’t have a character portrait. His facial expressions can���t be seen clearly from the small portrait, but you can see his hunched-back posture.

Elite Hunter

An elite hunter who has a high rank and is well-dressed. It's the type you don't see very often in the underground world of Tokyo, but it seems there’s actually some hunters who are living a privileged life out there.

Punk Hunter

A female hunter that catches the eye with her standing hair and studded clothes. Strong female hunters who live by fighting with demons are all cool-looking. The same goes for Nozomi. It’s no wonder Asahi admires them.

Child Hunter

The boy with the spear is an NPC you can talk to. During the designing stage he was made to be a little child hunter but the final version of the NPC seems to be older in appearance.

Gaea Elder

An old man who was created as a member of the Gaea. Compared to the fierce male members and cold-looking female members, he’s more of a good-natured old man character.

Asurakai Member

Most of the Ashurakai members were thugs in suits, so we had the idea for a man who actually looked dangerous because he had a drawn knife in his hand. Might’ve been a change after Tayama’s death.

[eerieayres-smt]

"And you, stringless puppet?" - Lucifer

Nanashi joining with Merkabah.

(Based on actual IV Apocalypse ending. Teeechnically you can choose Law in that game, lol) Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse © Atlus Artwork © EerieAyres

[cake-apostate]

In two Atlus games that came out relatively close together, there's a male party member who:

Appears to have no combat capabilities for most of the game until he reveals his true power, which is story-wise second to only the protagonist.

Uses opposing elements in combat.

Can't be romanced but is shipped with the protagonist, possibly more than the girls who can romance him.

Is the bastard son of an antagonist, and works for his father even though there's no father-son relationship. The party also takes down his father.

Is also the son of a prostitute who died when he was young.

All I'm saying is that Hallelujah and Goro Akechi should meet.

[thebladeblaster]

SMT IV/A cast Pokémon teams part 2

There’s a reason YHVH doesn’t have Arceus. I’ll explain it later.

[oozmium]

Hidden Relics and The Man Who Hid (Them) - Translation

This is a translation of Hallelujah's side story found in the SMTIVA artbook. There used to be a translation floating around for this a couple years ago, although it appears to have been taken down. So I've asked a good friend of mine to translate the story and I looked over it for lore accuracy.

A direct link to the translation hosted on their blog can be found here. But if you'd like to read it on tumblr, click the read more. Please enjoy your read!

One more thing: PLEASE DO NOT REPOST THIS TRANSLATION ANYWHERE ELSE. Instead, link back to either this tumblr post or my friend's blog if you wish to share it.

Hidden Relics and the Man who Hid Them

Original Writer: Mito Yoko

Translator: VerdantGrove

ENG Proofer: Elegy

note: translation notes can be found at the bottom.

— 

A single notebook rests in the man’s hand. That aged notebook is just one of the relics the man found in his former residence…it’s the memoir of a certain woman. The man places his fingers atop the warped cover just as he always does, and sets foot into the world of the memoir…

— 

Feb 12

Hallelujah found a pen and a notebook. He said it was a present for Mama. I used this when I was study-ing¹ with Angel. How long ago was that again? Hallelujah’s four now, so… No, no. I don’t wanna think about it.

Angel complimented my handwriting. He said “it’s not very well done, but repetition is key.”

Writing a diary so he compliments me again.

Feb 13

Three visitors. Ashura Kai came to collect the money, and give us food rashions². A little more than usual, thanks to the work I did. Mama will work hard for Hallelujah.

Feb 14

Zero visitors. Big fire in Shibuya. Scary. 

Humans are scarier than demons. Angel…

Feb 15

Four visitors. Tired.

Feb 16

Visito

May 2

Forgot about the diary. Writing every day is hard.

Jun 13

Ashura Kai came to collect the money. Guy in charge is annoying.

Luckily visitors were nice today.

Jun 15

We got canned food from the guests³. Hallelujah was super happy. But… I didn’t know what to say when he asked me “what’s a backblue⁴?”. If Angel were here, he would have told him. Have to study.

Jun 20th⁵

Hallelujah keeps yelling about wanting to go outside. Even though it’s dangerous up there. Even though I’m doing my best to live down here for him.

Jul 4th

Hallelujah and I talked about Papa. “Samyaza”... I get shy just saying his name. I’ll keep what really happened a secret for now.

He asked me, “why isn’t he with us?”

Why, I wonder?

Jul 15th

Ashura Kai came to collect the money.

Seems grades are good. Oh dear.

August⁶ 15th

The Ashura Kai⁷ came to collect the money. I ranted to a friendly guest, and their response was “poor thing.” They said I was such a poor thing, having to work and take care of a child at the same time.

Am I really a poor thing?

August 16th

Was all guests I hated today. But have to stay strong. For Hallelujah.

Sep 9⁸

Wrong. Something, wrong. Head spinning. Get mad when I look at Hallelujah. How can he laugh when I’m suffering this much? 

But all this suffering is for his sake.

He looks just like me and I hate it. Hate everything.

September 15th

Collected the money.

I’m mad. Can’t even look at Hallelujah.

September 2

September 21st

I hit Hallelujah yesterday.

He kept asking questions about my work, and I said “you know it’s all your fault” and hit him.

I even blurted out “it’s your fault Angel went away too.”

I’m awful.

September 30th

Hallelujah threw up.

While I was cleaning it up, he cried “sorry, sorry.” I said “you’re a lot more serious than you were when you were a baby,” and it made me laugh. 

I felt like that was the first time I’d laughed in a long time.

Then Hallelujah laughed too.

He laughed for me, even though I’d done something so horrible.

For some reason, it made me want to cry.

October 1st

I’m thinking as I watch Hallelujah sleep.

Hallelujah’s name was given to him by Angel.

It means “gratitude.”

I was really happy, so I tried my best to remember how to write it, even though it’s hard to spell⁹.

How the hell did I forget that? I’m such an idiot.

October 3rd

I hit Hallelujah and managed to say “sorry.”

He forgave me with an “it’s all righty.”

He patted me with his tiny little hands.

Sorry. Love you.

October 15th

That guest again. Always telling me I’m a “poor thing,” so annoying.

October 21st

I still have a lot of mixed feelings about Hallelujah.

But I’m not angry at him. Luckily.

Nov 15¹⁰

What am I gonna do? Hallelujah hit the man who collects the money. I got hit, then Hallelujah, he turned into something not human, got scary strong, then that guy, he wouldn’t move. Ashura Kai—no, oh my God, this isn’t what you should write in a diary.

But I want to calm down.

Hallelujah can’t stop shaking even though I’m hugging him tight.

Hallelujah was just helping me. He didn’t do anything wrong. That’s it, Hallelujah didn’t do anything wrong.

Hallelujah did not do anything wrong.

Hallelujah cried himself to sleep. Thank God.

It was hard, but I made up my mind.

We’re going to leave the Underground. I thought I wouldn’t survive if I wasn’t here. But that’s wrong.

I have everything Angel has taught me. It’ll be okay.

Leaving before the stores open is a matter of life or death.

I’ll keep Hallelujah safe.

—

“They sure do change easily, these ‘humans.’”

The man's cold and emotionless words reflect his hardened features as he emerges from the glow of the streetlights. And yet, for some reason he couldn’t place, when his eyes catch sight of these words of determination written in smudged letters, his hand stops. The man had never once thought about why that was.

Just as his hand stopped, he checked his smartphone for new notifications, but… The name which he hoped to see was still not there. Ignoring the many voices seeking out his direction, the man turns his attention to the rest of the memoir.

This memoir tells the tale of a mother and child desperately searching for a way to survive. Silently, the man continues to read…

—

May 19th

Our life on the surface has been going smoothly, thanks to us handing out Reds. I’m less worried about the demons. Hallelujah will be 10 soon. Seems like he’s made a friend called Chiro. I wonder what kind of kid they are?

June 12th

We got canned food as payment for the Reds!

Hallelujah was on the edge of his seat before we even opened it. He looks happy eating the fruit. I’m glad.

June 13th

Hallelujah fell asleep hugging the empty can.

It made him that happy?

June 15th

Studying with Hallelujah. I want to tell him everything Angel taught me.

June 28th

Hallelujah made me mad. It was because he took out that empty can when we were collecting relics. Is that thing his prized possession…?

June 29th

Making up with Hallelujah. I promised I wouldn’t put my hands on him without thinking anymore. Sorry, Hallelujah.

July 10th

I know what Hallelujah’s friend is now. It was a shock.

July 12th

I ran into that guest from our time underground. I wished they’d shut up about wanting me to come back to the city or wanting to look after me. Not to mention they told me how sorry they are for me again. I’m mad.

July 18th

Hallelujah has gotten good at looking for relics.

I told him “you’d be fine doing this on your own at this point” to praise him, but that made him extremely grumpy. Why??

July 20th

That guy’s here again. Ugh.

Even though Hallelujah’s forgotten what happened that day.

July 22nd

Hallelujah doesn’t seem to like studying. He said it was because he was gonna play with his friend, then ran off. Where’d this come from?

If only Angel were here at a time like this…

August 22nd

Had a conversation with a grumpy Hallelujah.

Studying is essential for proper judgment.

It’s essential in order to decide for yourself what’s important to you. Just like how I decided to believe Angel. …I wonder if I got through to him?

September 2nd

I found out why Hallelujah was acting so strange.

That man told him things. Things like “it’s my fault you got driven above ground” and “they want to get rid of me.” What the hell? Sure enough, humans are the worst. Way, way worse than demons!!

I want to explain. But what should I say?

September 5th

That guy has been loitering around us again.

Hallelujah is still feeling down too… Worried.

September 30th

I was debating whether or not to do this, but I’m going to tell Hallelujah.

That Angel really is an angel.

That he’s not human.

And… about what happened that day.

Tomorrow I will tell him. Angel, give me courage.

October 1st

The conversation went awful. “You’ve been giving me special treatment ‘cause I’m not human,” and “I can tell my dad was more important to you.” …I had thought it’d go like that.

October 3rd

Hallelujah’s in his room with Chiro, and he won’t come out.

If I was Angel, what would I do? …Maybe It’s because I’m always like this that it seemed like his dad was more important to me.

I have. To think.

October 4th

I’m rereading through this diary and thinking. I’ve written everything here, whether it’s the things that made me happy or the things that caused me pain. It’s really true that I hated that child. It’s really true that I loved him, too.

All of it. It’s all true.

October 5th

Received a summons from that man. I’m scared, so I’m bringing that weapon I snatched back then. I wonder; can I use it?

I want to talk with Hallelujah when I get home.

I’ve finally settled on what I want to say.

I like Hallelujah.

I love Hallelujah, because he’s Hallelujah!

I didn’t ask for us to make someone I could cherish other than myself just so I could abandon him.

When I had a chance encounter with Angel and was blessed with Hallelujah, I was really, truly happy.

I just wanted to do a good job of getting this happiness across to him, too.

…Can I even get that across to him? I’m an idiot, so I doubt I can.

But I’ll tell him as many times as it takes. Angel told me that repetition is key, after all.

Well, I should head out soon. …I know you probably wouldn’t give me a reply to this, so I’ll write it here.

See you later, Hallelujah.

—

The memoir ends there, and the aged notebook does not speak further. But the man knew. He knew of both the woman’s abrupt and miserable end and of the whereabouts of the child who lost his mother’s protection…

“Mr. Abe, it’s an emergency!!”

The man who was called—Abe, furrowing his brow, would go to respond to the insolent trespasser.

“Understood. The ‘final battle,’ yeah?”

Yes, at last, the curtain has risen on the battle between God’s Chariot and the Demon King. As Acting Chairman, it is his duty to finish this play, and yet…

“...Not a word from him.”

There were still no notifications from the person he longed to see—from Hallelujah.

That made one thing apparent—estrangement.

“Guess ya found yer angel… Eh, Ayako?”

Abe—the fallen angel who was once called an ‘angel’—imagined a future in which he would stand opposite his own son…and laughed.

<Fin>

TL Notes:

Studying is written in katakana here. It shows unfamiliarity with the written word.

Half of the word is written in katakana here, and the other half in kanji. I chose to portray this as a misspelling, as someone new to writing would be just as likely to misspell the word “rations” in English as they would be not to know the first kanji of the word haikyuu (rations) in Japanese.

Mama writes the word okyaku (visitors/guests) in kanji for the first time here. I marked this with a switch from “visitors” (neutral connotation) to “guests” (more respectful connotation of welcomeness).

Hallelujah seems to have flipped the kanji in the word “blueback (fish)”（青魚 lit. blue fish）to 魚青 (lit. fish blue); I had him flip the word “blueback” to “backblue” in the same manner. He likely read it left to right instead of right to left.

Before this date, the days were written in hiragana. This marks the switch to the use of kanji for each day. I decided to portray this by typing the numbers in proper date format (e.g. 20th instead of 20).

Before this date, the months were written in hiragana. This marks the switch to the use of kanji for each month. I decided to portray this by typing the months spelled out instead of abbreviated.

Rather than writing the “Ashura” in “Ashura Kai” entirely in hiragana as she had been doing previously, Mama writes the first kanji in “Ashura” here for the first time. I decided to portray this by using the article “the” to make it a more complete sentence, thus similarly showing a progression of education.

Mama returns to writing the date entirely in hiragana here in her distress.

Referring to it being difficult to write the kanji for gratitude (感謝). I paralleled this to spelling the word.

Same as TL note 8.

[navarresimp]

Waiter waiter more demon t4t please

[heta-magisch]

Hallelujah

[demifiendfumi]

An illustration of SMT IV Apocalypse X Ben 10 Alien Force with Nanashi as this world's Ben, Demons are now Aliens.

Redesigned are made to the characters to match the Alien Force Ben 10 series.

Two versions of the same image due to Hallelujah's original skin tone was yellow with a color picker, so I did a tanned skin tone on the left and the original skin tone on the right side.

*Don't repost without my permission or adding credit, I will put a watermark over the art if I have to*

[incorrect-smtiv-quotes]

Isabeau: “How would you rate your pain?”

Hallelujah: “0 stars.”

Hallelujah: “Wouldn’t recommend it…”

[soofireanon]

i like drawing him with a little tail :)

[anzuhan]

[koumori-1999]

apocalypse stuff

[cake-apostate]

Fun fact: Ryuji Sakamoto and Hallelujah share a voice actor, Max Mittelman. I was impressed when I found out, because to my ear, he made two very different performances.

Even though they're both similar in many ways (good bois, hero's best friend, love their mothers and hate their asshole fathers who abandoned them, often shipped with hero), I still find it kind of hilarious that Ryuji keeps blurting out that he's a Phantom Thief by accident, while Hallelujah literally let himself be electrocuted before he admits he's half demon (and also it took a literal army to force the issue).