Juste Belmont
From Castlevania Wiki - Forbidden Library
| Juste Belmont | |
|---|---|
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| Japanese name | Juste Belmondo |
| Appearance(s) | 1748:Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance |
| Role(s) | Vampire Hunter, Elemental Sorcerer |
| Weapon of Choice | Vampire Killer, sub-weapons, Magic Books |
| Abilities | Spell Fusion |
| Voice Actor(s) | |
| Seiyuu(s) | |
| Music Theme(s) | Successor of Fate |
| Gender | Male |
Juste Belmont (pronounced "Joost" or "Juiced") is a vampire hunter from the 18th century. He is the protagonist of Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, and the grandson of Simon Belmont.
Contents |
Personality
Juste cares deeply for his friends and is willing to go to great lengths for them. His faith in them is very strong. When it became clear that the return of Dracula's castle was a result of his friend Maxim Kischine's envy, Juste did not berate or chastise Maxim, but quietly understood his friend's position and let him know that he still believed in him. Juste said Maxim's apologies were not owed to him, but to Lydie Erlanger, a friend of theirs that was abducted and taken to the newly resurrected castle. Juste believes in the integrity of his friends, and strongly trusts their word.
Powers and Abilities
Juste Belmont is considered prodigious even among the Belmont Clan. He inherited a latent magical gene from his ancestress, Sypha Belnades, which was dormant in all his predecessors. This allows him to use magical tomes to manipulate elements such as fire, ice, lightning, and wind. Juste can use his magic in tandem with his sub-weapons to create an effect called Spell Fusion, which drains his magic energy. Juste also uses the Vampire Killer whip like Belmonts before him, and a variety of armor, accessories, and relics that have varying effects.
Appearance
Juste Belmont is tall and pale skinned with long white hair and light gray eyes. He wears white pants lined with buttons on the side, thigh-high black leather boots with silver garnishing near the bottoms and a black shirt. Over the shirt is a silver plate of armor emblazoned with a cross, which defends vital organs of his upper body. Perhaps the most striking piece of his attire is the red coat he wears, which has a long, flowing tail that goes all the way to his feet. He also wears a gold bracelet with a large red gem, which symbolizes his friendship with Maxim Kischine.
Juste has been criticized for resembling Alucard too much. Similarities exist, but are likely due to illustrator Ayami Kojima's art style. The primary resemblance they share is long, fair colored hair. However, Alucard's hair is platinum blond with a wavy tinge, whereas Juste's is white and very straight.
Story
Before Castlevania
Juste trained intensely with his best friend and cordial rival, Maxim Kischine. The two aspired to be vampire hunters, and they pushed themselves to the limit. They both cared sincerely for Lydie Erlanger, a young girl who lived near them. Her presence was soothing to the two young men, whose training was so strict and severe at times.
Juste and Maxim shared a strong bond. They both wore similarly styled bracelets to represent their friendship. At the age of sixteen, Juste was bestowed the Vampire Killer whip and full title of vampire hunter, and he took on the responsibility that his grandfather, Simon Belmont, left behind. Soon after, Maxim left on a training expedition to hone his skills.
Events of Harmony of Dissonance
Two years after Juste inherited the whip and Maxim left for his voyage, Maxim returned badly wounded. He brought terrible news with him. Lydie had been kidnapped and taken to a mysterious castle that was uncharted on any map. Maxim was suffering from partial amnesia and forgot much of his time away from home. Juste knew Maxim's honest character, and if Lydie was in danger, he wasn't going to risk not helping her.
Juste took his whip and followed Maxim through the mist and toward the castle. Both men knew the possibility of it being the dreaded castle of Count Dracula. When the duo arrived at the bridge leading to the castle, torrential rain beat heavily on them, and thunder and lightning clapped and flashed.
Maxim confirmed that to be the place he believed Lydie had been taken to. Though Maxim's memory was hazy, Juste still trusted his best friend. As they were about to enter the fortress, Maxim hollered and hunched over in pain. Juste asked if he was alright, and Maxim told Juste to focus on finding Lydie instead of worrying about him. Maxim urged Juste to continue on ahead while he regained a bit of his strength. Maxim promised Juste that he would meet him inside the castle. Juste agreed and proceeded across the bridge.
A shadowy figure obstructed his path and he scaled it, but once he reached the other side, it stood erect and revealed itself to be a massive armored knight. The hulk cut Juste off from Maxim. Juste, unable to penetrate its armor, rushed toward the castle while it chased him. As Juste approached the drawbridge, it began lifting and opening a gap between the castle and the path leading to it. Juste barely made it across the bridge before it closed, and the creature plummeted down a chasm. Juste had been separated from Maxim, but he pressed on inside.
Within the castle, Juste was attacked by several undead monsters, and in the Marble Corridor, he was surprised by a powerful figure that hovered before him. The being told him to halt, and was instantly able to discern Juste's Belmont heritage by reading the color of his soul. The creature emanated an enormous amount of power, which caused Juste to wonder if he was Death, Dracula's most loyal servant. The being confirmed he was, which was affirmation that Juste stood within Dracula's Castle, but he did not know how it returned. Death admitted that it could be so, but he cryptically said that the power that caused the castle to be was not that of Dracula. Juste didn't understand what he meant, but Death decided to leave, warning the vampire hunter that they would meet again.
Still confused, and worried for Lydie more than ever since she could be a prisoner within Castlevania, Juste continued his search, which led him to an expansive cemetery connected to the castle. Near it was an arcane shrine where he found Maxim. Maxim was standing in a daze, unaware of Juste's presence. Juste asked if Maxim was alright. He seemed fine, so Juste warned him about leaving himself so vulnerable. Maxim said that he thought he had been in the castle before. His memory was still foggy, but as he went deeper into the castle, glimpses of his past were coming back to him. He said that if he continued further, he may be able to remember more. Juste wanted to go together, but Maxim said they would cover more ground if they split, and therefore, they may find Lydie sooner. Juste agreed, and each hunter told the other to stay safe and alive before departing.
Juste's search for Lydie led him to a strange portal that he stepped through. On the other side, nothing substantial seemed to change, but Juste recounted that things looked a bit different than they had before. Beyond the teleport room, Juste found himself in a completely different part of the castle. It was chaotic in structure and didn't follow logical patterns.
Underneath the Treasury, he met a strange Merchant who had set up shop. Juste asked the fellow why he had set up a shop in a place such as that, and the Merchant told him of how he had been swallowed by dense fog while on one of his travels, and he was led to the castle. He searched for an exit, but when he couldn't find one, he did the only thing he felt he could – set up his shop within Dracula's Castle. Juste still didn't understand, but he let the man do as he pleased, and Juste made use of him by purchasing goods.
In the skeletal understructure of the castle, Juste met Maxim again. Juste asked his friend if he had found Lydie. Maxim shot Juste a maniacal gaze and angrily accused him of being one of Lydie's captors. Staggered, Juste asked him what he was talking about. Maxim claimed he didn't know the scope of Juste's powers, but that he had attained new powers that were greater than Juste's. After which, Maxim wished death upon Juste and ran off. Juste had no idea what had just happened, and wondered to himself if that truly had been his best friend.
After passing through another portal, Juste was taken to a Chapel high in the air. There, he found Maxim. Juste was on guard. He wasn't sure what to expect after the last encounter. Maxim was acting and looking normal. He asked Juste about the progress he made. Juste responded by asking if he truly was Maxim. Maxim thought it was a strange question and wondered what Juste meant by it. Juste decided not to go into the event that happened before, and asked Maxim how he was doing. Maxim's memory was returning to him.
He was positive that Lydie was somewhere in the castle, and that he had been in it before. Maxim also confessed that the reason he left for the training expedition two years earlier was so that he could become more powerful than Juste. Maxim felt that when Juste had inherited the title of vampire hunter, a wall had been erected between them, and Maxim felt less significant than his childhood friend. He decided to find the relics of Dracula to prove himself as a vampire hunter, just like Simon Belmont did fifty years earlier. Maxim obtained all six pieces of Dracula's remains, but after that, his memory was blank. All he could remember was that Lydie was brought to the castle. Juste was surprised that Maxim was able to retrieve the remains. Juste thought that the presence of Dracula's remains was what could have caused the castle to return.
Maxim apologized to Juste. It was his covetousness that caused Lydie to be endangered, and possibly Dracula's castle to return. Juste told Maxim to save his apologies for Lydie, and he reassured his friend, telling him that he believed in him. Afterward, the two separated again and continued their search for the missing maiden. Juste went to the peak of the castle's clock tower, where he encountered Death once again.
Strangely, Death asked Juste if he knew Maxim. Juste inquired about the question and Death went on to tell him that he believed that Maxim had gotten something which contained the power of Dracula. Juste proclaimed that Maxim had obtained Dracula's bodily relics. Death was appreciative of that information, and he reasoned that Maxim had brought back the castle. The relics would grant him the ability to do so. He told Juste that two spirits dwelled within Maxim's body; one being that of his normal self, and another evil spirit born from possession of Dracula's remains. Juste was hesitant to believe that, but Death ignored his skepticism and went on to talk about two castles that were constructed as a result of Maxim's dual personalities.
Juste asked about the castles and Death was surprised that Juste didn't realize there were two. Death had nothing more to say to Juste. The castle was in a transient and divided state, which wouldn't suffice for him. Death went through a large dimensional portal that connected the castles. It was Death's goal to see the two castles united.
Juste followed Death through the portal and arrived in the clock tower's counterpart in the other castle. Juste then fully understood that when he was going through the portals he found throughout the castle, he was being transported between a castle in the regular dimension, and another, more warped version in another realm. Death was telling the truth.
Within the chapel, Juste found Maxim, but it wasn't the Maxim Juste was familiar with. Juste asked exactly what this new Maxim was, to which Maxim replied that he was himself, just not the part of him that Juste knew. He proclaimed that he was a manifestation of the hidden desires within Maxim. Possession of Dracula's remains caused another spirit to take form within Maxim, and he was that other spirit. Juste realized that this other Maxim was responsible for abducting Lydie, and Maxim confirmed it to be true. Maxim further explained that his other self lost his memory, and as a result, the evil Maxim wasn't aware of Lydie's location. But Maxim would soon remember everything, and when the regular Maxim would recall where he hid Lydie, so would the evil one. Maxim summoned a creature for Juste to battle, after which, he disappeared. After defeating the creature, Juste rushed to the chapel in the other castle, where he found the regular Maxim, who was seriously fatigued.
Maxim was aware of his other self, and he entirely remembered everything. He remembered that he hid Lydie in the throne room at the peak of the castle, and somehow willed himself to forget in order to protect her from himself. He gave Juste his bracelet, which would allow Juste entry into the throne room. Juste did not want to leave Maxim in such a vulnerable state, but Maxim urged him to hurry and get to Lydie so he could get her out of the castle. Juste took the bracelet and hurried to the throne room. There, he at last found Lydie.
Juste asked how she was, and Lydie assured him that she was alright, and that Maxim had hid her there for her protection. She was unaware that Maxim was in fact the one that had abducted her, as she had been blindfolded when it happened. As Juste was about to get the maiden to safety, Death materialized in the room and whisked her away. Lydie called out for Juste to help.
Juste realized he must find Lydie quickly. He searched throughout both castles, solving puzzles which opened passageways deeper into the castles, as well as recovering the bodily remains of count Dracula that were scattered throughout the castles.
Juste finally found Death in an aquatic cave beneath the castle. The hunter demanded that Death return Lydie to him, but Death had given her to Maxim. Juste wondered why they pursued Lydie. Death answered that she was necessary for the revival of Dracula, and for the castles to merge together. Dracula's power existed within Maxim, and for the castles to unite, the evil spirit would need to wholly overtake Maxim. What was keeping the castles apart was that a part of Maxim's regular self was still there. If Maxim partook of the blood of someone dear to him, it would augment the power of the evil spirit, allowing it to totally take control of Maxim.
Juste couldn't allow that to happen, so Death decided to extinguish Juste's soul there, but it was the Belmont that came out victorious. In his last words, Death said Juste was already too late; that the castles would soon become one.
With Death out of the way, Juste journeyed to the center of the castle, where he found Maxim and Lydie. Lydie was unconscious and Juste quickly went to check on her. She was alive, but Maxim had already bitten her neck and partook of her blood.
Maxim told Juste that Lydie's blood had strengthened him enough to totally overcome the original Maxim. Juste attacked and the two engaged in a vicious battle that stopped when Juste dealt a heavy blow to Maxim, and Maxim's original self shined through for a moment. Juste was wearing both his and Maxim's bracelets, the sentimentality of which stirred Maxim's old self to briefly return. The Evil Maxim quickly grasped control again and tried to consume the old one, and the two spirits within Maxim's body struggled for dominance. Eventually, the relics of Dracula that Juste had obtained drew the evil spirit out of Maxim, and it materialized as a phantom of Count Dracula while Maxim fell unconscious from the intensity of the exorcism. Dracula's body was unstable, but if he drank Juste's blood, he would attain full strength. Juste defeated the weakened form of Dracula, who chided Juste, saying that his hunt was futile, since Dracula would return again and again, no matter what.
With the spirit of Dracula vanquished, the two castles began to dissipate. Juste, Lydie, and Maxim made it outside safely and rested in a meadow. Since Dracula was gone, the puncture wounds on Lydie's neck disappeared, and she was quietly sleeping. Lydie soon awoke, saying that she thought she remembered Maxim sucking her blood. Juste tried to convince her that it was only a dream, but Maxim wanted Juste to tell the truth about the huge event that happened.
The two best friends decided to tell her the story of their adventure in Castlevania another time, and to use the current moment to enjoy each others' company, as it had been a while since the three of them were reunited.
Image Gallery
 Juste from Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) |
Juste and Lydie from Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) |
 Juste from Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) |
 Juste from Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002) |
Trivia
- Juste's name is of French origin.
- Juste can equip items that reference other Castlevania characters. They are the Bullet Tip (which is called Christopher's Soul in the Japanese version), which allows Juste to fire projectiles from his whip like Christopher Belmont, and Cipher's Charm (which is a mistranslation of Sypha's Charm), which speeds up the rate at which magic points are restored.
- Juste appears in Portrait of Ruin as part of the special attack, Greatest Five.