We have a right to our own opinion but tbh, I dont feel comfortable with the words you have mentioned above: submissive slave, humiliating slave, etc. To avoid misunderstanding, criticizing, just don’t bring up the sensitive issues again, at least in here.
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Imma let you finish (saying this cause i couldnt bare to read more as you have a wide range of vocab and im a slow as shit reader) BUT Im not letting you go with some of the comments. Yes most of your comment is amazing and points out very good details and some nice constructive criticism, but “even creepier if you play as female and Jun is male”? Really? The book changes nothing of the behavior of the characters, only changing lines and some (SOME) actions because, you know, dick and a vagina are different (for anyone trynna flag for this part of the comment, the book talks about rape, cannibalism, murder, suicide, pedophilia, slavery, and child labor. No one who read this and finished it should be hurt or offended by names of fucking genitalia) point is: you see as creepier cause equality is bs (maybe not sure Im just an asshole but there is some merit to my point)
Secondly, Jun/Junko is very much consistant with her actions, and as to why she agreed to distripute the bands, its cause she wanted to make money to be able to get into the masquerade party where they needed to be in order to find the third student. Further more, the protag is BROKEN AS SHIT, for god sake the dude cut his friend across the face and almost murdered a kid in the process of trynna get everyone out of the tournament. You think he’ll just be jolly walking around and shiz acting like he had some dignity? Who lost that with his student(or students if you fuck up hard enough)
AND LASTLY because I aint gonna let anyone point fingers at my Junko (jesus christ the fuck is wrong with me) Junko is broken as well, spiritually, mentally, and PHYSICALLY TURNING DARK. For god sake we already seen what Jigoku did to her. Think of it this way, you see that only one person, ONE PERSON, in this entire world will stick with you and accept you for who you are, you think you can let them go? Cause I couldn’t letgo of someone that dear to me and I have a lot of dear and close people to me thankfully.
In summary: dont treat them like they’re normal and try going through some details again. It might change your view a bit.
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I decided to delve into Chapter 25 and finished it. I have to say that for me, this is the emotionally driven chapter for me. Even though my Ronin didn’t romance Jun, I understand the emotional hit it did to those who do. With two books to go, I hope whoever we romance and whatever happens, I hope our Ronin will have the ending we want them to have.
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There are pointed differences. Jun is sexist- that was intended, and his behavior reflects it. It’s not something you can handwave away, because it’s there and it’s for a reason.
This is not me saying that people shouldn’t love Jun. What I am saying is that for those who don’t, it’s not because they didn’t ‘go through some details’.
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Not everyone has the free time to finish a book in one day.
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WAIT! We are both men can I still have a baby with him!? Omg I want a baby with Jun. We can be a murder family swwooonn (in my game that is)
(Also you’ve seen my stats lmao my protective is 70+ percent. I can only dream of assassin family.)
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You can…adopt, that’s what Jun suggested.
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These posts don’t seem to have a lot of useful input; most people going about how this game is too ‘dark’ and so on. But the story is amazing, full of depth and all this was necessary to flesh out each character. So, please write the story you want and dont get swayed by others.
Also I really want to ask why there is no save at the end? I will wait another year and a half, Please dont tell me there won’t be a book 5!
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There will be a total of 6 books as devon has already confirmed 
and saves arent placed not unless the sequel will already be sumbitted unfortunately >.<"
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Thanks for the quick reply. I just wanted to confirm. I love this series, haters will be haters but people are really going too far. Am I the only one who saw the brilliance under the madness?
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i can’t blame people for not liking a series since people have different preference and people have the right to comment but to be honest i did love the book and how everything was presented especially with jun/ko but i did like the character already in the past so i knew id like this book. Aside from that the writing and plot was well written and paced that everything felt like it flowed freely and chapter 25 was for me the best chapter i read except for that ending but i cannot wait for book 5.
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I finished mine in 5 so yeah, I know
Ok fair you got me on that one. I will admit my mistake
Hey, thanks for your passionate response. It’s nice to see how much you’ve enjoyed the Hyuga series and, of course, Junko.
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I think it would be best to read my entire post before actually writing up a response because I fully accept that my own opinions are not exhaustive or even necessarily correct. It’s just one of many interpretations.
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Mentioning what was said by another user - Jun(ko)'s behaviour is different depending on all the sexes in question. Although the app itself may not change details in the writing, by switching around the sexes, you absolutely change the tone and implication of a particular scene. That’s just what being in a society is about. Reading about a woman forcing down a man is different from reading a man forcing down a woman. One is not inherently worse than the other, but they do have different implications as well as power dynamics. Don’t even get me started on the concept of ownership, particularly with regards to Jun(ko)'s behaviour towards the protag, or the stomach carving scene, or dehumanisation. They’re heavy topics. It’s not about these subjects being wrong, it’s just that they aren’t empty of bigger meanings.
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I specifically put in YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary. It’s all subjective. I disagree with your interpretation of Jun(ko) as well as the protagonist. Specifically, that the protag is “BROKEN AS SHIT” - I see no evidence of that in the writing. Heavily traumatised? Absolutely. This trauma has coloured much of the protag’s ability to connect with others, perhaps even making it difficult to interact rationally with Jun(ko) and Sensei. Broken? I don’t think so. The protagonist has successfully created new bonds with their travelling companions, to the point where they are protective of the protag and prefer that they don’t remember the person who carved “JUN” into their stomach. The protag, at no point, gives up, and never loses their sense of direction or purpose. When they receive a new objective, they chase it doggedly. The protag is very rational and also has a strong sense of loyalty. When they find out about cannibalism, they confront Sensei and inform him it’s wrong. At no point does the protag lose their moral compass. They know what black is white is, but also fully embrace that they occupy a large grey space where hurting someone is justified if it’s for the sake of the ones that the protag actually cares about. So people being hurt? Threatening a stranger (even if it’s a girl) to keep Masa(mi) safe? Totally makes sense for a masterless samurai.
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Funnily enough, I actually find that the protag has been walking around jolly with their captor, Jun(ko) (again, they are physically leashed with magic - whether the protag would remain by Jun(ko)'s side or not without the leash is irrelevant) who, again, in the midst of searching for the third student, wants to take the protag out on a date. That is fairly dissonant to me. I personally have found Jun(ko) characterised as a brutal character who doesn’t play by the rules - they just take what they want and won’t play fair. So it seems odd that, at this point, they would play by the rules.
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Regarding your last point: The point, however, is that the protag hasn’t been by Jun(ko)'s side. The protag has also changed. That’s why Jun(ko) is mad. The main reason why the protag has returned to Jun(ko)'s side is to regain the Jigoku, because it appears to be strongly tied to the protag’s sword skills. That motive changing depends solely on whether you want to stay by Jun(ko)'s side or not. In my case, I chose not to.
The overall characterisation and development of your protag in relation to Jun(ko) will vary, depending on how you play the protag. So neither you nor I are wrong. If you choose to leave Jun(ko) in the past, you will have a completely different playing/reading experience than those who choose to stay and attempt to redeem themselves with Jun(ko).
Anyway, it can’t be helped that there is so much discussion on Jun(ko) - Jun(ko) was the focus of the entire of Book 4. In my case, I just didn’t enjoy Jun(ko)'s character. You clearly loved them. To each their own.
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Hey! Thanks for your reply.
Actually, totally agree. I’ve never played as a gay character and I can absolutely see where you’re coming from.
I would agree only if Toshi(e) is privy to every single exchange between Jun(ko) and the protag. Toshi(e) still has duties to fulfill, and a lot of the stuff that goes on between Jun(ko) and protag is done in private, or can only be seen by those with magic (aka the red string/leash). Prior to their meeting at the masequerade, Toshi(e) wasn’t able to detect the protag who was travelling incognito. And perhaps given the fact that the protag did not follow Toshi(e) out, it could have given them a serious blow which led them to fleeing the scene (again, I’m not a fan of this given how strongly their relationship (romantic or not) had been developed).
So if, from now, Toshi(e) could attempt to keep track of the protag, it would be nice? But I’m not holding my breath.
On one hand, the scarring scene was extremely powerful and well-done. The protag’s response to it was equally appropriate - sickened and unhappy (one possible response to Momo(ko): You think I want to see [the brand on my stomach]?!! in Book 3 I think). Which is why Book 4 really disrupted the entire character development happening for me. I’d hope that, by confronting Jun(ko), the protag would be able to overcome this overwhelming subjugation of mind and body and be seriously cared for by whichever love interest… because LBR, it’s abundantly clear that all your travelling companions love the crap out of you, romantic or not.
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How would you feel if your ex carved their name into your chest as a permanent “reminder” and then kidnaps you and treats you like a slave? Which is what actually happens with the mc and Jun.
Yeah, doesn’t seem like that will happen and my mc hates his body enough now to want to keep it covered up to the maximum extend at all times. Pretty much like Sidestep in Fallen Hero and why my Sidestep at least won’t engage in sex or strip for Danny before he has a working regeneration device, which the last couple of updates have sadly made much more difficult to obtain.
I just didn’t see a good reason for the game to saddle this mc with the same kind of body traumas Sidestep has. In any case it would preclude my mc from feeling sexy or desirable ever again and if no other from of healing is available he’d try to burn all of the skin there no matter what additional agony and disfigurement that’s going to cause.
You and me both.
I actually didn’t had this had a trigger warning reflective of the actual content I might never have bothered as it is, but since I did enjoy the first three books in which my mc was allowed to actually be defined as hating Jun and there was no indication he craved a very submissive slavery/BDSM (at best) “relationship” I guess I bought this out of reflexive series loyalty I guess when I maybe shouldn’t have.
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My thinking and emotions aren’t the same as yours.
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Hell no absolutely I want nothing of that in real life. But the Ronin is not exactly the player, funny that in the past I really hate that saying in my country among a huge amount creators, fanfics or not, fictitious figures have no human rights, but. Saying this just because, I don’t know, hope could help you feel…better? I even doubt myself.
To be clear, they do love the characters they are writing, although love them being tortured though.
And yeah I want my Ronin could be a power bottom whatever.
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I really loved how this book was written. Slowly bringing out the mc and junko’s backstory was very well written. I cried quite a few times cause I’m a sap. But I do feel… “tired” whenever Junko does things that are extremely rude and dangerous like tying mc’s hands behind her back and pushing her head underwater to catch a fish with her mouth is just one of the things that sometimes makes me dislike Junko. I mean. I appreciate her as a character but come on. 
I was honestly hoping for Toshie/Masami/Momoko to rescue mc. Like dang it! Save her! But the ending… Omg why? I guess I kinda expected it but still. Hurts my kokoro like that.
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Can’t talk about Jun, but with Junko I can’t really say it was completely submissive since from the beginning we could deny sex with the safe word and as we regain the Jigoku they in turn become submissive.
When Junko is training us she’s doing so the only way she knew, which is the same way as Gensai, and follows with “to live is to eat” because the Jigoku is all about devouring the others, devouring the weak to survive.
From what I could tell Junko stopped trying to have me submissive as soon as regained the Jigoku(after killing the Oyamas) and really the only thing didn’t change was how possessive she was, which is understandable.
I see this as them attempting to win us over in a way we would like(one of the choices includes asking them why the sudden interest in the date) after hearing from Basho that we went out with Momoko. Halfway through Junko stops trying to physically stop you and is trying to do satisfy you into not leaving(like during the auction you can comment how the catgirl had a nice purr, and in turn Junko purrs for you and promises more later).
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