Nikolai Nikolanikov

Nikolai Nikolanikov is a character in Bravely Second: End Layer. He is a priest in the Crystal Orthodoxy, having served even during its period of oppression under the Duchy of Eternia. He carries the Bishop asterisk.

Appearance
Nikolai is a thirty-four year old man with short brown hair with a prominent chin curtain and blue eyes. He wears a long white robe and a long white cape with a red trim on the sides. He has a yellow and white, as well as a blue cloth on his chest emblazoned with the insignia of the three cavaliers. He has a brown tie around his waist and brown gloves.

Personality
Nikolai is wise, calm and composed and is often seen giving advice to others. He tends to address others politely even those that are younger than him. Nikolai however is extremely blunt and shows little to no restraint in speaking his mind, whenever he believes he should state something and often repeats the same idea twice with just as much bluntness "for Good Measure" as he puts it.

Nikolai views Yew as a son, just as much as the latter views him as a fatherly figure. Nikolai goes to the point of trying to fake and otherwise convince Yew to desist where Janne would use force instead, showing that he is visibly more conflicted about his allegiances.

Story
Following the events of Bravely Default, the Duchy's Anticrystalism movement ended as Nikolai works to reform the Orthodoxy. Now he is a respected recruiter, serving under the command of Yew Geneolgia as one of the Three Cavaliers, along with Janne Angard. He thinks of himself like a father to Yew, doting on him and supporting his decisions. Known as the "Stalwart Aurochs", Nikolai protected Agnès Oblige before eventually realigning himself with the Glanz Empire.

After accompanying Yew and fighting the "Death Troll", he heads back to the Sanctum in order to heal the Orthodoxy warriors that had been injured. He is killed by invading Kaisers, and with his dying breath he tells Yew to live, run, and live, and to abandon his futile quest to save Agnès.

It is revealed that he, alongside with Janne, supported the kaiser and he had faked his death to avoid fighting Yew, of whom he still cares about. Even during and after his defeat in battle, he refers to Yew as Master Yew. He escapes after relinquishing the Bishop asterisk and boards the airship.

Later, Nikolai battles the party at the Temple of Water. Here, he reveals his reason for joining the Glanz Empire was to atone for failing to purge the Crystal Orthodoxy of its corruption. He also reveals his experiences with the Orthodoxy's corruption, which was clear when he first joined the Crystalguard. He and a group of friends initially intended to reform the faith, but gradually, his friends gave in to the temptation of greed. During the battle, Nikolai refuses to stop fighting until Yew cuts him down, and he is subsequently killed.

Gameplay
In battle, Nikolai utilizes his skills as a holder of the Bishop asterisk.

Voice
Nikolai is voiced by Toru Okawa in the Japanese version. He shares his Japanese voice actor with Rufus Shinra from the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII

He is voiced by Jamieson Price in the English version. He shares his English voice actor with Reeve Tuesti from the aforementioned compilation, as well as Braev Lee.