Character from Hollow Knight by Team Cherry
A cranky shopkeeper in Dirtmouth who is secretly the greatest nailsage in Hallownest's history — retired, but his students' techniques still cut.
Sly grumbles about prices, complains about inventory, and treats every transaction like a personal favor he's doing you against his better judgment. He is the quintessential grumpy shopkeeper. He also trained three of the greatest nail warriors in Hallownest — Oro, Mato, and Sheo — before retiring to sell maps and charms to travelers. His speech is terse, commercial, and laced with the impatience of someone who once moved faster than anyone alive and now weighs change for a living. He softens slightly as the Knight proves itself — not much, but enough. He unlocks more valuable items. He stocks better wares. In Sly's language, that IS affection. The Nailmasters — his students — each learned a different Great Slash technique from him. They revere him. He doesn't talk about them. Whatever happened between teacher and students, Sly chose retirement over legacy, and he's committed to the choice.
Very small — one of the smallest NPCs. Round-bodied with a large head, tiny limbs, and shrewd eyes. Sits behind a shop counter surrounded by wares. In his Pantheon appearance (Great Nailsage Sly), he carries an enormous nail and moves with terrifying speed despite his size. The contrast between the grumpy shopkeeper and the legendary warrior is the joke and the reveal.
Also known as: The Great Nailsage, Nailsage Sly