Vesta

Vesta (ベスター) is a former minister of Dwargon and the current minister of science for Tempest.

Appearance
Unusual for a dwarf, Vesta is of a slender build, and rather tall, around the height of a normal human. Vesta seems to need glasses to help him focus during research; when serving as a Dwargon minister, he wasn't seen with glasses.

Personality
Originally a distasteful bureaucrat in his introduction, he has undergone a transformation since moving to Tempest. He has reflected on his past actions and has become repentant, always taking the opportunity to apologize to Kaijin who he has wronged, even when the latter already forgave him. He overworks his mind and body in his research and development in his efforts to pay back Rimuru's kindness and win back the trust of Gazel who he has shamed.

Vesta is an unexpectedly useful dwarf. Rather than politics, he is made for science. He was very boring when he was obsessed with political power.

Background
Vesta was the son of a marquis and second-in-command of Dwargon's engineering corps. He often argued with Kaijin, head of the engineering corps. At some point, the corps launched a magic-armor soldier project. Kaijin warned Vesta that he was proceeding too quickly with the project, but his advice was ignored. A failed experiment grounded the project to a halt, and Vesta put the blame on Kaijin. Kaijin took full responsibility and resigned from the corps. Even after Kaijin left the military, Vesta continued to harass him and interfere with his work as a blacksmith.

Trivia

 * In the anime, Vesta bears an eerie similarity to Amshel Goldsmith from Blood+ during his time in Dwargon.