Blue Exorcist sees Rin struggle to get a foot in the door of the True Cross Academy, but luckily Mephisto Pheles was already running the show - so how did a demon become the Exorcist's Principal? The Son of Satan, Rin Okumura is doing his best to become the greatest Exorcist of all time- but the members of the True Cross Order are less than keen on allowing a demon into their ranks (or rather, another one).
The Vatican is, understandably, reluctant to trust a demonic entity such as Rin to kill his own kind. So how did Mephisto Pheles, one of the Eight Demon Kings, end up heading the Academy? The manipulative Trickster has big plans in store for Rin's Blue Flames, but Blue Exorcist Fans are on the fence regarding whether his intentions are good or evil.
Who is Mephisto Pheles?
A man of many names, over the past 1000 years or so Mephisto Pheles has been referred to as Loki, Trickster, Raven, and, his preferred name, Johann Faust. As a demonic entity from the pits of Gehenna (the equivalent of Hell) and the second strongest of the Eight Demon Kings, Mephisto uses his powers for good - hopefully - as the Principal of the True Cross Academy. During his time among humans, Mephisto has grown an affinity for Japanese pop culture and has a strong admiration for all things Manga. His incredible powers allow him to deter all demons from entering the Academy without his consent, as well as the ability to manipulate time and shape-shift - his creature of choice usually being a small, white Scottish terrier. Besides his flair for the dramatic, the King of Time is best known for playing mind games, using people as pawns in his personal game of chess. His brother, Amaimon, and half-brothers, Rin and Yukio are not exempt from Mephisto's schemes, in fact, they seem to be crucial components.
Mephisto is a key character to Rin's development in this Shonen Anime, but whether his goal is to assist his "little brother" or just use the Blue Flames for his own gain is up for debate. Regardless of the outcome, Rin would not have a future if it were not for Mephisto - who was sent by the True Cross Order to assassinate the young demon after Shiro Fujimoto's death. The Trickster, however, took matters into his own hands chose to spare Rin's life and enroll him at the True Cross Academy, food and lodging included. It is later revealed that Mephisto had given Shiro his word to protect the sons of Satan, who just happen to be his half-siblings. Although the demonic Principal manipulates Rin, and anyone else he comes in contact with, he seems genuinely ecstatic at the thought of the young Exorcist becoming the ultimate demon hunter. This suggests that this purple-haired character aligns with the humans, and Mephisto may not be such a bad guy after all.
Mephistopheles and Johann Faust
This extravagant demon has Germanic roots both literally and figuratively. Making use of the alias Johann Faust V and using German words in his spell casting, suggests that the demon is not native to Japan. The story of Johann Faust (c 1480–1540) tells the legendary tale of a power-hungry necromancer who makes a deal with the devil, Mephistopheles, to gain unimaginable powers, and in return, Faust would serve out his afterlife in Hell.
It is strange that the King of Time has adopted both of these names to identify himself, suggesting that he plays both sides to get the desired outcome. Mephisto prides himself on being a walking contradiction - a demonic Exorcist; wearing white while the rest usually don a black uniform; constantly eating junk food but insisting on the importance of a healthy diet, and referring to himself as both Mephistopheles and Johann Faust.
The Winning Wager Theory
The exact path that Mephisto took in order to claim the title of Principal for the True Cross Academy has not been directly discussed but, considering that the demon is a gambling man who accredits most of his success from making prosperous wagers, it is safe to assume that a bet had something to do about it. As a demon and Faustian, the deals that Mephisto makes come with the trade of favors, not money, with even Shiro Fujimoto falling into the trap as he sought help rising through the ranks of the True Cross Order. But what did Shiro have to offer in return? Some fans speculate that the priest's soul was on the line, which is why Satan was able to possess him in the end and - at his power level, dominion over the Paladin Priest should not have been possible.
The Vatican and the True Cross Order have shown countless times how reluctant they are to accept help from a demon, but somehow allowed one of the very things they hunt to lead their Academy. It is possible that this is a "keep your enemies close" type of scenario but, generally, those enemies are not given as much authority as Mephisto has earned. The Trickster must have found the right Exorcist in a time of desperation, willing to hand over the reins of educating future generations of demon hunters. During the battle at Gehenna Gate, Mephisto sentimentally mentions a man with whom he had formed a wager many years ago - possibly the very same man who awarded the demon his status. It is quite clear that, regardless of his Principal title, the True Cross Order does not completely trust Mephisto, as they don't hesitate to take him into custody when his brother, Amaimon causes havoc at the Academy. The disdain towards the King of TIme is palpable, and it appears that many members of the Order, specifically Arthur A Angel, are not happy with his demonic presence.