And I think is flippant to dismiss Jun/ko as a serial killer. As for “My nonsense” please there is no need to get hostile. We both have difference of view that is all.
They were an assassin that killed for money. You could say a job suited for a serial killer.
And to the victims’ family I’m sure MC is just that. As ruthless and remorseless a monster as Jun/ko is seen to be.
As for Jun/ko more willingness to kill to please sensei. It seems they would do anything for sensei and that sensei could do no wrong.Which to me makes sense if Gensai is the replacement father in Jun/ko’s head for their own one. Also gives opportunity for Gensai’s own twisted teachings and lack of morals to take root in Jun/ko head. MC says Jun/ko need to please sensei drove them insane.
“Gaining his approval was something I had eventually given up on. But Jun never did give up, and it drove him insane.”
Maybe MC hatred of Gensai was the only thing that saved them.
I played as a sadistic Ronin and honestly they still never seemed as bad. Maybe it’s beacuase we can see their train of thought, but even at there worst they never killed pointlessly.
Honestly you’re trying too hard in defending something that shouldn’t even be defended. Murder is murder, be it for money or for pleasure doesn’t make it any more excusable. There was a dozen jobs our MC could have picked, they went with assassination so they’re just as bad.
The difference is that one is a legalized killer working for whoever payed the highest price while the other is in for themselves and is considered a criminal in society’s eyes. Ethically, they’re both scum. Also who says a merc can’t enjoy what he does? IMO it takes a special kind of individual to wake up one day and decide murder and wars is how they’re going to make a living from now on…
I do get why people want to redeem Jun/ko, I really do, but to be honest I would prefer not to.
Mostly because I love them as a villain. They are cruel, brutal, crazy and very terrifying (at least to me) and that’s amazing. Through the three books we’ve had, they are the constant threat to the MC and the group and sometimes it feels they are more scary and dangerous than the demons. And I’m looking forward to the final confrontation between MC and Jun/ko. It will be epic, I’m sure!
Redeemed good guy Jun would lost his charm. At least for me. I simply love to hate him.
But I’m sure a lot of you feel the exact opposite. We all play our ronins differently after all.
And MC went after a child to end the demon’s game at the end of book 3 without remorse.
A contract killer can get paid and also enjoy it. Being one does not exclude the person from enjoying killing for either fun or impulse and a brutal Impulsive MC can fit the bill of that definition of a serial killer and contract killer. (Even if they want to excuse there actions with regret)
Yeah they went after said child to save their students…again reason.
And not really serial killers are usually to impulsive to be contract killers. Don’t get me wrong there are exceptions, however this is how most define them.
And no a brutal impulsive Ronin doesn’t kill without reason…I know because that’s how I played.
Of course. All I want is the option to forgive him - if, and only if, he redeems himself. I wouldn’t want to take the option of revenge from the players that want it. And I agree that he is a pretty great antagonist.
I’m just saying that for those of us that actually like Jun it would be cool if there was a redemption route.
This thread is evidence enough we all play our ronin’s differently, and I think that’s good. It certainly made me think about the game in a light that I haven’t previously.
I wish Jun/ko was redeemable but after reading some of the people’s opinions around here and looking at the way the story is heading I’m starting to lose hope in that. Jun/ko will either be one of the last demons we have to kill or the one (…still don’t fully trust the Emperor…).
What can we realistically do at this point that would heal Jun/ko? Absorb all of their negative energy? Do some pep talk? Their trauma goes all the way back to infancy so we’d have to erase or put aside a great deal of themselves to turn them into someone acceptable. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a wounded animal is to put them down, because there’s no cure at hand to save them in time (or just none at all).
Not every story ends the way we want it to, that alone doesn’t make it bad though… we just have to deal with it. In fact I sometimes twist my nose at authors that bend too much at the whim of the people because then it stops being an actual story and becomes more of a fan-service. Luckily this is a CYOA so multiple-endings are expected, so there’s still a sliver of hope.
As far choic if games go SOH is surprisingly liner, which isn’t a bad thing. It more Final Fantasy than say Skyrim.
Or perhaps it’s the episodic nature of the series that makes it seem so.
And Jun/ko has theirs as I described early some of which maybe not be excusable but can be sympathetic.
Like IvoryOwl said you have to be a certain type of person to decide to go murder and make a living from it.
From Book One
"
The power I had with my katana resting beside the samurai’s neck-I knew it all too well. No honest assassin would ever tell you otherwise. The thrill, that surge of power over another human being it was euphoric"
It sounds like the Ronin can be that way and enjoy killing like a serial killer even if they have the excuses of contracted one.
By the way my Ronin is brutal Impulsive perverted charismatic and protective so I know too
I think they where referring to the surge of adrenaline, as someone who’s been in combat I know that feeling. But when it’s all said and done apart from their past as assassin, the Ronin hasn’t killed anyone without being provoked as far as we have seen. Not so much with Junko.
