Fe continues to feature behind-the-scenes looks at each chapter, and one is a self-deprecating remark that tells you all you need to know about this entire volume: “Would the fool who thought ‘I can totally finish the whole flashback within the span of volume 6’ when they started writing this section please raise their hand?!”
Love of Kill has never been a series to completely leave readers in the dark or confused about the story. Compared to some other manga, the series has been pretty generous with clues about the leads’ pasts. Still, mysteries have been laying in wait, and we’re finally going to get to the root of them.
Volume 6 doesn’t dive right into the flashback arc though. First, Ryang-Ha and Chateau must go off grid to avoid being tracked down. The bonus chapter includes more of the homeless man they meet then and introduces a friend of his, but despite the lack of other characters, these chapters are not that romantic. Chateau spends much of her time being either naïve or remorseful. Ryang-Ha would rather have her say thanks than sorry, and she does tend to receive his “punishments” for forgetting, but these moments are typically short. You’d think they’d be closer than ever before, but that wall between them feels like it’s been fortified a bit rather than weakened a bit. And Chateau’s denseness and cluelessness certainly adds to it. I mean, how do you get to be her age and not get what stealing alcohol from her because she has “more than one body to consider now” is playing at? Geez Louise.
Ultimately, the story shifts back to the past. Even from the opening pages, it’s clear this arc is less about twists and turns versus just getting everything out in the open. I’m sure there will be a surprise or two somewhere, but really, with what we have all learned before the past arc started, there are just not going to be a lot of dramatic revelations. This doesn’t mean this section is unnecessary or boring; in fact, there’s something freeing about just enjoying the story rather than scrutinizing every little detail for the truth.
In-story, it seems like Chateau’s memories are returning in full, as very little of the story so far features her. So far, it’s Ryang-Ha’s backstory about he came to meet Chateau originally — well, technically both Chateau and the real Ryang-Ha. So far, there hasn’t been any narration, which gives this a more stand-alone, prequel tone rather than a flashback.
Besides talking about how volume 6 doesn’t cover the past arc in full, Fe also apologies for Love of Kill being shorter than usual. It’s not an super thin volume, but if you pick it up with some other manga, it’s likely to be one of the lighter books at about 160 pages with all the extras.
With the main story ending at page 135, between that and the story segueing to the past, the action — one of the series’ highlights — is also limited. Between that and the tepid romantic developments, volume 6 lacks a lot of the natural Love of Kill spark, but the start of seeing the two young Ryang-Has and Chateau is going to draw all the attention away from the volume’s shortcomings.