Mar 20, 2026
Author's Commentary #20:
Time to talk about Chapter 20: Deep Blue eyes.
Okisato's backstory is finally here, and boy is it gut wrenching. Obviously, there will be chapters later down the line detailing how Kana ended up like that, but they won't occur in this volume. Now that we finally know the basis of Okisato's drive, let's talk more about the members of the sinful six that have yet to get their bios.
フラビオ・バルト (Flavio Baltho) is how Flavio's name would be spelled in katakana.
His birthday is January 3rd. I chose this date at random, so there's no greater significance behind why this date is his birthday.
His favorite piece is the rook.
Flavio was heavily inspired by Beeves from Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore. That being said, he's no fire breathing dragon, or obsessed that much with gold.
マルジャッタ・ヴィルタネン (Marjatta Virtanen) is how Marjatta's name would be spelled in katakana.
Her birthday is June 6th. I chose this date at random, so there's no greater significance behind why this date is her birthday.
Her favorite piece is the queen.
フェレモナ・クスクタ (Pheremona Cuscuta) is how Pheremona's name would be spelled in katakana.
Her birthday is February 1st. I chose this date at random, so there's no greater significance behind why this date is her birthday.
Her favorite piece is the queen.
オラヴィ・ヘルキネン (Olavi Hellkinnen) is how Olavi's name would be spelled in katakana.
His birthday is April 21st. I chose this date at random, so there's no greater significance behind why this date is his birthday.
His favorite piece is the king.
Assuming I decide not to heavily revise his character, I feel Olavi will be in the running for being one of the most vile and evil characters in all of fiction. That being said, he's already gotten some revisions in terms of design as how he looks more like Old Weisz from Edens Zero. That actually was going to be who he'd originally be modeled after, but I ended up giving him a more goofy design at the time. Here, he's getting the design I originally intended for him.
As for the game, it features a Ruy López Opening: Spanish Countergambit. Since Okisato's still young and inexperienced at the time of this match, I thought it made sense for him to play the Spanish Countergambit. He makes some other mistakes, but it's ultimately Kana's big blunder that turns things around. But while this might be a huge blunder, had Okisato played anything other than what he did, Kana would instantly regain her advantage. He truly has his mother to thank for teaching him this line as a puzzle beforehand, as without it, he never would have beaten her after she played that move. The sad part is that him beating her lead to Kana suffering one of the most gruesome deaths in the series, which is saying something.
One other thing worth noting is Skaberghast. While he did aid in turning Kana into what she became this chapter, you can tell he also wasn't fully on board with it as he did have the hots for Kana despite her already being married and having children. I will confirm that this disgruntlement is why he sometimes throws a hint or two to Okisato and doesn't get along with Olavi.
Finally, allow me to talk a bit more on why this chapter, originally part of Season 7, is here in Volume 4. When I originally wrote Season 6, I hadn't written out Okisato's backstory yet. Here, I felt including it now would enhance the story. I also added some volume revisions, most notably making Okisato younger than when he originally faced Kana in Season 7, thus having the event occur earlier in the timeline than in the original. There he was 12, which I felt was just a tad too old, thus I made him younger here so that the event would have more time to effect his growth and development. Now that the backstory is done, it's back to the present, only unlike in the original Season 6, we now know why Okisato's hatred of Agatha is warranted.
That's all for this commentary. I hope you enjoyed it.
