Nagae Iku

Iku Nagae is a character from the Touhou Project, making her first appearance as the penultimate boss in *Scarlet Weather Rhapsody*. She is a messenger of the Dragon Palace, whose primary duty is to observe the daily mood of the atmosphere. Iku questions the battles between humans and youkai, and often wonders about these daily duels. As an envoy of the Dragon Palace, she understands the language of the dragons, and is responsible for conveying important information to humans and youkai. She is characterized by her scarlet hagoromo, said to grant the ability of flight to those who wear it. She typically resides in the clouds, where she elegantly observes the dragon god, causing little harm to humans. She possesses the ability to read the atmosphere, quickly adapting to her surroundings, and avoids disturbing the environment unless an urgent matter arises. Iku is portrayed as laid-back, not seeking the spotlight, uninterested in others' actions, and often prefers observing. She can manipulate lightning, sense earthquake portents, and has a strong defensive ability, able to nullify or avoid attacks. Her design is inspired by the oarfish, a species known as 'messenger from the Dragon Palace' in Japan.