Kuroinu Redux

Kuroinu Redux is a visual novel about Vult, a mercenary who betrays the allies who hired him to fight. In Eos, the western plains of the continent of Serenus, the centuries-long war between the allied races and the demon army of the dark-elven queen Olga appears to be nearing its end as her influence wanes. The Seven Shields Alliance, a union of seven strongholds on Eos’s northern border, seeks help from Vult and his Black Dog Mercenaries. Instead, Vult moves his headquarters to Queen Olga’s realm and leads his followers into the towns, villages and lands of former friends and allies.

The characters

The Seven Shields Alliance is united under Celestine Lucross, a high elf revered as the reincarnation of the Goddess Larentia. The people of the alliance adore and respect her, while demons despise her. Olga Dischordia is the dark-elf queen of a fallen kingdom. She regards dark elves as a noble race above others and, as a witch, can multiply monsters’ physical prowess; she is also blamed for centuries of war and atrocities.

Olga’s loyal attendant Chloe is a young knightess who has sworn lifelong allegiance to her queen. Half dark elf and half mortal, she despises men because of the abuse she suffered at human hands before Olga took her in. Alicia Arcturus, sole daughter of a prestigious noble family, commands the Knights of St. Iris, the main military unit at Fortress One. Her subordinates respect and admire her, and her skill comes from perseverance rather than her bloodline; she is unaware that Minister Beardsley is plotting against her.

Kaguya leads Fortress Three and a group of priestesses who worship strange gods. Quiet and difficult to read, she cares for her subordinates but is chiefly interested in her gods. A former member of her group, now an Evocator who has strayed from its righteous path, targets her for an experiment to create a god surpassing all others. Claudia Levantine leads the knighthood defending Fortresses Six and Seven and serves as Celestine’s personal bodyguard. A moral woman married to a civilian named Klaus, she is formidable in battle, though she has not had a child.

Story and presentation

The story runs for more than two hours and features full Japanese voice acting by professional performers.