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Love of Kill
Love of Kill
Love of Kill
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Love of Kill
Cover of Love of Kill volume 1 by Media Factory
殺し愛
(Koroshi Ai)
GenreMystery,[1] romance, suspense[2]
Manga
Written byFe
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
ImprintMF Comics Gene Series
MagazineMonthly Comic Gene
Original runOctober 15, 2015 – January 14, 2023
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed byHideaki Ōba
Produced by
  • Soujirou Arimizu
  • Norio Fukui
  • Hideo Hirata
  • Sora Kimura
  • Nobuhiko Kurosu
  • Nori Yada
  • Yuki Matsuura
Written byAyumu Hisao
Music byKei Yoshikawa
StudioPlatinum Vision
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTokyo MX, SUN, KBS Kyoto, BS NTV, AT-X
Original run January 13, 2022 – March 31, 2022
Episodes12
Manga
After the File
Written byFe
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: Yen Press
ImprintMF Comics Gene Series
MagazineMonthly Comic Gene
Original runMay 15, 2023 – February 15, 2024
Volumes1

Love of Kill (Japanese: 殺し愛, Hepburn: Koroshi Ai)[a] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fe. It was serialized in Media Factory's shōjo manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene from October 2015 to January 2023. The manga is licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Platinum Vision aired from January to March 2022.

Plot

[edit]

During one of her bounty hunter missions, Chateau Dankworth comes across Song Ryang-ha, a professional hitman, who begins stalking and brokering her information in exchange for a date. Though reluctant, Chateau complies yet refuses to open up to him. Despite this, Ryang-ha continues to save her when she is under attack and seems to know her past.[2]

After Chateau and Ryang-ha both become targeted by Donald Bachmann, the two are forced to confront their common past: Chateau is the daughter of the heir to the Nobel family, a lineage of French aristocrats, who becomes targeted by Nelson Nobel, her father's stepbrother. The real Song Ryang-ha was ordered to escort her to safety, but she accidentally inflicts a fatal gunshot wound on him out of fear; meanwhile, the current Ryang-ha, a nameless victim of child trafficking saved by the real Ryang-ha, adopts his name after the latter dies.

Characters

[edit]
Chateau Dankworth (シャトー・ダンクワース, Shatō Dankuwāsu)
Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu (drama CD),[3] Saori Ōnishi (anime)[4] (Japanese); Erin Yvette[5] (English)
Chateau is a newly recruited bounty hunter working for Ritzland Support.[2] She is reluctant to trust Ryang-ha and constantly rejects his romantic advances.[2] After she is captured by Donald, she is forced to remember that her true name is Chateau Nobel, the daughter of the heir to the Nobel family, who was escorted by the real Song Ryang-ha after her father's stepbrother ordered the Hong Kong triads to assassinate him. Chateau accidentally inflicted a fatal gunshot wound on the real Ryang-ha during the mission and went into a catatonic state, until she was found by Officer Dankworth. Despite knowing her true identity, Chateau rejects her nobility and declares herself to be a member of the Dankworth family.
Song Ryang-ha (ソン・リャンハ, Son Ryanha)
Voiced by: Koji Yusa (drama CD),[3] Hiro Shimono (anime)[4] (Japanese); Ryan Colt Levy[5] (English)
Ryang-ha is a hitman wanted by at least 20 organizations for singlehandedly taking down the Hong Kong triads.[2] Since meeting Chateau, he stalks and brokers her information in exchange for spending time with her.[2] After the two go on the run from Donald, flashbacks from their past reveal that he is a nameless victim of child trafficking who was saved by the real Song Ryang-ha and adopts his name after the latter dies.
Euripedes Ritzland (エウリペデス・リッツラン, Euripedesu Rittsuran)
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (drama CD),[3] Kenyu Horiuchi (anime)[6] (Japanese); Mick Lauer[7] (English)
Ritzland is the owner of Ritzland Support and is married to a 25-year-old entrepreneur.
Indian (インド人, Indo-jin)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara (drama CD),[3] Kōhei Amasaki (anime)[6] (Japanese); A.J. Beckles[8] (English)
Indian, whose real name and personal details are unknown, is an immigrant from India working as a secretary at Ritzland Support. He is named Jim (ジム, Jimu) in the anime adaptation.
Hou (ホー, Hō)
Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno (anime)[6] (Japanese); Alejandro Saab[9] (English)
Donny (ドニー, Donī)
Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (anime)[6]
Jinon (ジノン)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase (anime)[10] (Japanese); Erica Mendez (English)
Nikka (ニッカ)
Voiced by: Masakazu Morita (anime)[10] (Japanese); Nicolas Roye (English)
Mifa (ミファ)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa (anime)[10]
Song Ryang-ha (ソン・リャンハ, Son Ryanha)
Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda (Japanese); Chris Hackney[11] (English)
The real Song Ryang-ha is a Korean student and apprentice of Donald Bachmann. He was ordered to escort Chateau to safety, but on the way, he took in the current Song Ryang-ha to save him from child trafficking. After Chateau accidentally kills him, the current Song Ryang-ha adopts his name.

Media

[edit]

Manga

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Love of Kill is a manga series written and illustrated by Fe. Fe first published the story on Pixiv under the title I Wanted to Read a Manga About an Assassin Couple in Love so I Started Drawing One (殺し愛カップル漫画が読みてぇなぁと思ってたらなんか書き始めてた, Koroshiai Kappuru Manga ga Yomitē nā to Omotteta kara Nanka Kaki Hajimeteta) in October 2012 and gained over 5.4 million views on the website.[2] Fe followed up with a sequel titled A Short Story About the Assassin Couple in Love Manga that I Just Wanted to Read About (殺し愛カップル漫画が読みたいだけの小話, Koroshiai Kappuru Manga ga Yomitai Dake no Shōsetsu).[2] Within three years of the stories being published, it was picked up for serialization by Media Factory's shōjo manga magazine Monthly Comic Gene since October 2015 and has been collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes. In November 2022, the series reached its climax, with the series ending in January 2023.[12]

A drama CD adaptation was released as a bonus item bundled with the physical release of the March 2018 issue of Monthly Comic Gene, released on February 15, 2018.[3]

A spin-off manga that takes place after the original manga's ending was serialized in the same magazine from May 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024.[13][14]

In October 2020, Love of Kill was licensed in English for North America distribution by Yen Press.[15]

Volumes

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No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 March 26, 2016[16]978-4-04-068238-9March 30, 2021[1]978-1-97-532281-6
2 October 27, 2016[17]978-4-04-068570-0June 1, 2021[18]978-1-97-532528-2
3 April 27, 2017[19]978-4-04-069159-6August 10, 2021[20]978-1-97-532543-5
4 October 27, 2017[21]978-4-04-069478-8October 5, 2021[22]978-1-97-532545-9
5 April 27, 2018[23]978-4-04-069831-1November 23, 2021[24]978-1-97-532547-3
6 October 25, 2018[25]978-4-04-065192-7February 22, 2022[26]978-1-97-532549-7
7 April 27, 2019[27]978-4-04-065652-6April 26, 2022[28]978-1-97-532551-0
8 October 26, 2019[29]978-4-04-064085-3June 21, 2022[30]978-1-97-532553-4
9 June 27, 2020[31]978-4-04-064561-2August 23, 2022[32]978-1-97-532555-8
10 December 25, 2020[33]978-4-04-680044-2January 17, 2023[34]978-1-97-534196-1
11 July 27, 2021[35]978-4-04-680554-6March 21, 2023[36]978-1-97-535018-5
12 March 26, 2022[37]978-4-04-681236-0July 18, 2023[38]978-1-97-536726-8
13 January 26, 2023[39]978-4-04-682071-6December 12, 2023[40]978-1-97-537671-0
14 February 27, 2024[41]978-4-04-683212-2February 18, 2025[42]979-8-85-541106-5

Anime

[edit]

On December 11, 2020, Kadokawa announced that an anime television series adaptation is in production.[43] The series is animated by Platinum Vision and directed by Hideaki Ōba, with Ayumu Hisao handling the series' scripts, Yōko Satō designing the characters, and Kei Yoshikawa composing the music. It aired from January 13 to March 31, 2022, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[44][4][10] The opening theme song is "Midnight Dancer" by Toshiki Masuda, while the ending theme song is "Makoto Period" by Aika Kobayashi.[6] Crunchyroll streamed the series.[45]

On January 13, 2022, Crunchyroll announced that the series will receive an English dub, which would premiere on February 23.[46][5]

Episode list

[edit]
No.Title [47]Directed by [b]Written by [b]Storyboarded by [b]Original release date [48][c]
1"What's Your Name?"Hideaki ŌbaAyumu HisaoHiroaki YoshikawaJanuary 13, 2022 (2022-01-13)
New bounty hunter Chateau Dankworth meets master assassin Song Ryang-ha and is defeated by him, so she is surprised when he tries to flirt with her. Over the next month, Song constantly invites her on dates, even capturing valuable bounty targets for her to get her attention, but she ignores him. Chateau's boss, Euripedes Ritzland, is asked to apprehend Song who 8 years previously assassinated dozens of high ranking triad members. Euripedes warns Chateau to focus on her current less dangerous target. Chateau is contacted by Song who has already captured her target and requests a date on Christmas Eve which she reluctantly agrees to. On Christmas Eve, Song has a good time while Chateau stubbornly refuses to accept it is a date. Over dinner in his hotel room, Song reveals Chateau's target, a pimp who would rob his girlfriend's clients, is dead and stored away for Chateau to collect, though Chateau is suspicious he wants nothing in return except time with her. Euripedes witnesses Song with Chateau and is unsure what to make of it. Via flashback it is shown Chateau was found as a child with a dead unidentified man and unable to remember her name.
2"Target"Hideaki ŌbaAyumu HisaoHideaki ŌbaJanuary 20, 2022 (2022-01-20)
A man watches Song returning home. Euripedes worries about Chateau getting involved with Song. Chateau retrieves the body of her pimp target. Euripedes reveals to Chateau the man who hired them to find Song, the eldest son of a triad boss, was just assassinated by Song. Chateau is shot at by a man with a spiderweb face tattoo, causing her to crash off the road. Song becomes suspicious when Chateau, who normally rejects his calls instantly, starts letting the phone ring endlessly. Spiderweb chases Chateau into the woods and overpowers her. Song arrives, finds Chateau's car and tricks Spiderweb into answering Chateau's phone revealing their location. Spiderweb leaves Chateau alive but gives her a message for Song that he is a traitor and must pay for his past. Chateau awakens in a hotel where Song admits her current situation was indirectly caused by mistakes he made. As she has a fever, Chateau passes out again but tells him about the spiderweb tattoo. Song cannot be sure but he suspects he has met Spiderweb somewhere before. Due to her fever, Chateau dreams about the night she was found as a child with the dead man.
3"Room"Motohiko NiwaAyumu HisaoMotohiko NiwaJanuary 27, 2022 (2022-01-27)
Seeming depressed Chateau has a shower but is furious when Song manages to take her clothes to be cleaned, including her underwear. Before she leaves, she passes on Spiderweb's message. Song remembers 5 years previously when he and Spiderweb, revealed to be called Hou, both worked for the same organization and Hou was furious when Song was going to be promoted first despite Hou having worked there longer. Chateau returns to the office where Euripedes is upset at her absence plus the destruction of her car. Chateau later finds Song at her home. He notices a picture that interests him of Chateau with her parents. Chateau reveals Euripedes knows about him but Song is not worried since if it is revealed Chateau and the company benefitted from Song capturing bounties for them, their reputation would be ruined, so their only choices are to kill him or work with him secretly. Chateau is confused why Song is risking his life, but he points out she is doing the same by associating with him, having not once properly rejected him. Chateau's mother calls to remind her about the anniversary of her father's death, upsetting her, so Song leaves.
4"Real Face"Norihiko NagahamaAyumu HisaoHiroaki YoshikawaFebruary 3, 2022 (2022-02-03)
Chateau visits her father's grave while her mother meets a young man named Brian, a friend of Chateau's from childhood, and decides to tell him the truth. Song meets Chateau in the cemetery's church but she declines to spend time with him. Three men attack the church so Song kills two and interrogates the third, learning the target was actually Chateau. Chateau rushes to find the church's missing nun and finds Hou holding her hostage. Despite fighting back, Hou knocks Chateau unconscious. Song calls Hou to demand to know what he wants. Chateau's mother reveals how she and her husband adopted Chateau at a young age as her husband had been the police officer in charge when Chateau was discovered with the dead body whose passport identified him as Song Ryang-ha. Chateau claimed her surname was Nobel, but no record of a Chateau Nobel existed anywhere and when the case went cold Chateau was adopted and became Chateau Dankworth. Song meets and defeats Hou but the car he was hiding Chateau in explodes. Despite having been shot, Hou draws a knife and insists they continue their fight.
5"Limit"Hideaki ŌbaAyumu HisaoHideaki ŌbaFebruary 10, 2022 (2022-02-10)
It is shown Chateau escaped the explosion. Hou remembers how a triad member, Seung-woo, took him in when he was a drug addict and became his mentor, before Song killed Seung-woo during his assassination of the triad leaders. Hou manages to stab Song but is shot and killed. Song retrieves Chateau and escapes but passes out from his wound. Another unknown assassin reports Hou's defeat to his boss and asks what to do next. With help from Jim, Euripedes' secretary, Chateau gets Song to a back-alley doctor, but Jim also reports everything to Euripedes, so Chateau suggests Song quietly disappear before Euripedes arrives. Song offers to take her with him to a life free of responsibility, but she refuses so he leaves, after teasing her first. Euripedes suspends Chateau for three weeks. After her suspension ends, Song contacts Chateau to inform her he is leaving on a trip. Chateau begins to suffer memory flashes of the dead man while he was still alive. Chateau, Euripedes and Jim all go undercover on the cruise ship Artemisia to guard one of Euripedes' relatives, a VIP highly influential in world politics and finance. Song also boards the ship, as does the unknown assassin.
6"Dark Dream"Motohiko NiwaAyumu HisaoHiroaki YoshikawaFebruary 17, 2022 (2022-02-17)
In the past, an unnamed child is rescued by a man, who names the child Song Ryang-ha. Chateau and Jim learn the VIP is Hawk, Euripedes' wife who owns a multibillion-dollar corporation and, through her powerful family, is politically connected. Song appears before Chateau, who suspects he is there to assassinate Hawk. Song neither confirms nor denies this but instead challenges Chateau; as long as Chateau can see him he will not do anything. With Euripedes' agreement, Chateau agrees to share a room with Song for the whole voyage, with Euripedes and Jim monitoring via cameras. Song notices Chateau is struggling to sleep and, after some teasing, carries her to bed where she quickly falls asleep, surprising Song that she must trust him. Song points out Chateau's clothes make her stand out while she should be undercover, so he takes her dress shopping, despite her obvious discomfort. Jim arranges extra reinforcements to keep Hawk safe. Euripedes asks to meet Song in private, revealing he knows Chateau does not remember much of her past except that her original surname might be Nobel. Jim's reinforcements, Jose and Cedran, arrive. Song evades Chateau to meet Euripedes at the rear of the ship, his disappearance worrying Chateau. Euripedes is stabbed in the throat by an unknown attacker.
7"Bullet"Motohiko NiwaAyumu HisaoMotohiko NiwaFebruary 24, 2022 (2022-02-24)
It is shown Euripedes was stabbed by the unknown assassin. Song directs Chateau where to find Euripedes and chases the assassin who escapes after warning Song he and Chateau must remain on the ship. Euripedes manages to tell Chateau it was not Song who stabbed him before he is flown to hospital with Hawk and Jim. Chateau is confronted by the assassin Jinon Won. Chateau locates Song and points her gun at him, Jinon having offered to spare her mother's life and pay her a large sum in exchange for Song. Surprisingly, Song agrees to be handed to Jinon. Overcome by guilt at Song's agreement to be traded and fear for her mother, Chateau attempts to shoot herself so Jinon no longer has a reason to kill her mother, but Song angrily stops her and begins choking her while insisting she be more honest with herself and others. Jose and Cedran are suspicious the voyage has not been cancelled following Euripedes' departure. Jinon's boss is shown manipulating events. Song chokes Chateau unconscious. Via flashback, Song is shown as a teenager diligently studying so he can one day work for Donny, the man who rescued and named him. However, Donny instead gave Song an important secret mission.
8"Confusion"Hiromichi MatanoAyumu HisaoHiroaki YoshikawaMarch 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)
Chateau dreams of being in the car with the dead man who told her he is Song Ryang-ha, a friend, and she told him she is Chateau Nobel. Jinon murders Jose and Cedran. Euripedes finally wakes up so Jim decides to meet the ship at the next port, but is shot by another assassin. At the port, Song leaves the ship and meets Jinon, explaining he has left Chateau aboard as she is not to be involved further. Jinon and another assassin, Nikka, begin driving Song to meet their employer, who they claim is Donald Bachmann, a.k.a. Donny, whom Song claims he does not know and resists Nikka's attempt to interrogate him further. Chateau is located aboard the ship by Jim who survived with minor injuries thanks to his car's bulletproof glass. They attempt to leave the ship but are stopped by Jim's would-be assassin who tries to capture Chateau. Working together, the assassin is shot and knocked out. Donny calls the assassins phone but Chateau does not answer it. Song is taken handcuffed and blindfolded to meet Donny.
9"A War Trigger"Hideaki ŌbaAyumu HisaoHideaki ŌbaMarch 10, 2022 (2022-03-10)
Donny explains his assassins are anonymous orphans he raised himself. He also reveals Song Ryang-ha was the name he gave one of his orphans who died, meaning Song is not the original Song Ryang-ha, but an impostor. Chateau and Jim smuggle themselves off the ship with the injured assassin who explains Donny is known as the Trigger and is paid by clients to use his assassins to start wars all over the world. Chateau asks Jim to protect her parents, and then resigns so her actions will no longer tarnish Euripedes' reputation. Nikka allows Song to free himself so they can fight. Several guards are killed and Song's recently repaired wound is reopened. Chateau breaks down the gate to Donny's mansion with a truck. Song weakens from blood loss and through flashback shows that when he was a child he was also in the car with young Chateau and the real Ryang-ha. Song collapses and seems to accept his death. Bored, Nikka casually reveals Chateau is outside before walking away. Jinon confronts Nikka over letting Song go. Forcing himself to recover, Song rescues Chateau from the guards and happily calls her an idiot for almost dying trying to rescue him.
10"Help"Motohiko NiwaAyumu HisaoMotohiko NiwaMarch 17, 2022 (2022-03-17)
Chateau and Song hide in a homeless camp to treat Song's injuries. To atone for accidentally helping Song escape, Nikka promises to find and kill him. Chateau and Song awkwardly thank each other for saving each other. Donny decides not to send Nikka after Song but still demands they find Chateau who he has been searching for since she was a child. Song is forced to pickpocket for cash, revealing that due to an unpleasant childhood he was forced to learn criminal skills before learning to read or write, causing Chateau to feel guilty. Chateau wonders about Donny's organization and why they are interested in her, but Song refuses to answer. Angry, Chateau attempts to leave to find out herself. Song loses his temper and threatens to snap her wrist to keep her obedient, but then relents and explains he is not willing to lose her after he spent so many years trying to find her after losing her the first time. Chateau suddenly remembers that when she was a child she shot someone. Via flashback it is shown that Donny had asked the original Ryang-ha to look after a man named Lizst Nobel, and on his way to meet Lizst he encountered and then saved a young Song from child traffickers.
11"Worst"Mitsutoshi SatōAyumu HisaoMitsutoshi SatōMarch 24, 2022 (2022-03-24)
Ryang-ha, a university student, looked after Song for a week while waiting for Lizst. As Song was about to leave, Ryang-ha got a call from Lizst begging him to find something Lizst hid. Lizst was then shot while still on the phone by Seung-woo, who was furious the girl he was looking for was not there. Song helped Ryang-ha and they found a young girl asleep hidden in a suitcase. Stealing a car, they drove away, unsure what to do with her. She woke up, crying, but managed to say she was Chateau Nobel. Realizing she was Lizst's daughter, Ryang-ha decided to take responsibility over her. Breaking into a cabin for the night, Song decided to leave. For a moment, Ryang-ha was uncertain if he should kill Song to keep his whereabouts secret, but let him leave. On the road, Song met the surviving child traffickers who wanted revenge and chased Song into the woods. Ryang-ha guiltily decided to bring Song back, leaving Chateau sleeping and also leaving his gun. Unable to find Song, Ryang-ha returned to the cabin where Chateau, having woken up scared and alone, hid in the closet with Ryang-ha's gun, and when he tried to open the door, she shot him. Adult Chateau, having remembered all this, collapses in Song's arms.
12"My Name"Motohiko NiwaAyumu HisaoHiroaki YoshikawaMarch 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)
The trafficker beat Song badly but Song managed to kill him. Ryang-ha was shot in the neck but initially survived and escaped in the car with Chateau. Song passed out, waking up in hospital a week later where a police detective, presumably Officer Dankworth, Chateau's future adoptive father, informed Song that Ryang-ha died after getting Chateau to safety. Devastated, Song took Ryang-ha's name as his own. In the present, Song brings Chateau to another of his safe houses where she is so exhausted after remembering everything she sleeps for two days. After waking, she is furious that Song knew everything the whole time without telling her and yet finally understands why she never once properly rejected Song, because deep in her mind she had recognized Ryang-ha's name and could not bring herself to reject the man she accidentally killed. Donny meets with the head of the Nobel family and Nikka takes Jim hostage while Euripedes manages to keep Chateau's mother safe. Chateau attempts to hire Song to assassinate Donny but he tells her she will have to work with him as an equal, which she happily accepts, but is confused when he refuses money and tells her to work out what he really wants as payment.

Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Love of Kill

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Love of Kill (Japanese: 殺し愛, Hepburn: Koroshi Ai; Chinese: 相愛相殺) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fe that follows the romantic and suspenseful entanglements between two rival assassins, a bounty hunter with amnesia and a mysterious hitman obsessed with her past. The story blends action, romance, and organized crime elements, centering on protagonists Chateau Dankworth and Ryang-ha Song as they navigate deadly pursuits and emerging feelings despite their professional conflicts. The manga was serialized in Media Factory's shōjo magazine Comic Gene from October 2015 to January 2023, and collected into 14 tankōbon volumes by Kadokawa Shoten. In October 2020, Yen Press announced the English-language license for North American distribution, with the first volume released in March 2021 and the final volume, 14 (After the File), released in February 2025. Originally posted by Fe on their personal Pixiv account, the work gained popularity in the shōjo demographic for its mix of thriller tension and emotional depth. An adaptation, produced by , aired from January to March 2022, consisting of 12 episodes directed by Hideaki Ooba and written by Ayumu Hisao. The series premiered on and other networks, with (now ) licensing it for streaming in and select regions, where it was in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, and . The anime faithfully adapts the manga's early arcs, emphasizing the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the leads while highlighting themes of memory loss, loyalty, and forbidden attraction.

Story and characters

Plot

Love of Kill centers on Chateau Dankworth, an amnesiac working for the organization Ritzland Support, and Ryang-ha Song, a professional hitman with a mysterious obsession toward her. The story begins with Chateau assigned to capture Ryang-ha during a routine mission, leading to an intense cat-and-mouse encounter where he overpowers her and reveals his fixation, complicating her professional duties. As the narrative progresses, Chateau and Ryang-ha find themselves compelled into an uneasy alliance to confront mutual adversaries from the criminal underworld, including mafia syndicates and rival assassins seeking to eliminate them. This partnership unfolds through high-stakes bounty hunting operations and assassination attempts that force them to navigate treacherous missions together, heightening the dangers they face. Core conflicts arise from Chateau's fragmented memories causing identity crises, persistent trust issues between the pair, and intensifying threats from organized crime elements that exploit their vulnerabilities. The series explores thematic elements of and obsession intertwined with moral ambiguity, framing the protagonists' evolving relationship within a thriller-romance structure that blurs the lines between enemies and allies in a world of violence and deception.

Characters

Chateau Dankworth is the female protagonist and a skilled employed by the Ritzland Support Company. She possesses exceptional proficiency in techniques, executing jobs with cool pragmatism and . Suffering from due to a traumatic childhood incident where she accidentally killed the original Ryang-ha Song during a triad attempt, Chateau has adopted the identity of Dankworth after being taken in by a , rejecting her noble birth name of Chateau Nobel. Her guarded personality manifests in reluctance to form deep bonds, particularly as she consistently rebuffs romantic overtures from her partner. Song Ryang-ha serves as the male protagonist and a formidable hitman whose true affiliations remain enigmatic. At 32 years old, he is renowned for single-handedly dismantling the triads, an act that placed a massive bounty on his head from over 20 underworld organizations. Adopting the name of his childhood savior—the real Ryang-ha Song—after the boy's death from wounds he inadvertently caused, Song harbors deep vulnerabilities rooted in his past as a child trafficking victim. Outwardly carefree, he displays merciless boldness in combat, showcasing superior armed and unarmed skills that make him a one-man force against enemies. His obsession with Chateau drives him to stalk her and trade sensitive information about her past to secure time together, revealing a complex mix of persistence and hidden emotional fragility. Among supporting characters, Euripedes Ritzland acts as the 25-year-old representative of the Ritzland Support Company, earning the nickname "Boss" for his underworld expertise. Audacious yet calm under pressure, he appears older than his age due to the stresses of managing volatile operatives like Chateau, whom he frequently reins in during missions. Hou functions as a key figure from Song's past, a former member of his original agency and his one-time mentor, who now operates in the shadows with a history of guiding young assassins through the criminal world. Donald Bachmann, known as Donny, leads a powerful organization in the port city of Barosela, training war orphans into elite operatives and pursuing as a rival with undisclosed motives tied to past underworld conflicts. The series' character arcs center on the evolving dynamic between Chateau and , shifting from initial antagonism—sparked by a bounty hunt—to a reluctant partnership amid shared threats from pursuing organizations. Chateau's growth involves confronting fragments of her lost memories, gradually softening her emotional barriers while affirming her chosen identity, whereas 's development exposes his vulnerabilities through flashbacks to his traumatic origins, deepening his attachment to Chateau beyond mere obsession. Supporting figures like Euripedes provide mentorship and logistical aid, facilitating this interpersonal evolution, while Hou's reappearance tests 's loyalties and unresolved mentor-protégé tensions. In the anime adaptation, these characters are voiced by as the stoic Chateau, emphasizing her pragmatic detachment; as Song, capturing his carefree yet intense demeanor; Kenyū Horiuchi as Euripedes, conveying authoritative calm; and as Hou, highlighting his seasoned, enigmatic presence.

Media

Manga

Love of Kill (Japanese: Koroshi Ai, lit. "Killing Love") is a Japanese series written and illustrated by Fe. It was serialized in Media Factory's magazine Monthly Comic Gene from October 2015 to January 14, 2023. The main series comprises 93 chapters, collected into 13 volumes, with a 14th volume released on February 27, 2024, containing epilogue spinoff chapters serialized from May 15, 2023, to February 15, 2024. In , published the volumes under its MF Comics Gene imprint. The first volume was released on December 26, 2015, featuring chapters 1 through 6, which introduce the core premise and central characters through initial encounters and setups. Subsequent volumes followed roughly every three to four months, with each typically containing 6 to 7 chapters that advance the narrative arcs involving professional pursuits and interpersonal tensions, without resolving major conflicts early. Cover art often highlights the protagonists in poised, contrasting poses—Chateau in sharp, professional attire emphasizing her precision, and Ryang-Ha in more relaxed yet intense expressions underscoring his persistent demeanor—reflecting the blend of suspense and emotional undercurrents. Yen Press licensed the manga for English release in North America in October 2020. The English edition began with volume 1 on March 30, 2021, translated by Eleanor Ruth Summers and lettered by Chiho Christie, with the 14th volume released on February 18, 2025. Fe's artistic style significantly shapes the 's action and romance elements, employing dynamic paneling to convey frenetic motion in combat scenes, such as hand-to-hand fights and shootouts, which heighten tension without overwhelming the page layout. Character designs are distinctive and genre-appropriate, with clean lines and expressive features that balance stoic intensity for action beats and subtle emotional nuances for romantic developments, drawn solo without assistants to maintain a personal touch.

Anime

The of Love of Kill, titled Koroshi Ai in Japanese, was produced by the studio and directed by Hideaki Ooba. It originally aired in from January 13 to March 31, 2022, across networks including , BS11, KBS , , and AT-X, comprising 12 episodes with each running approximately 24 minutes. The faithfully covers the manga's storyline up to the end of volume 7 (chapters 1–42), serving as a direct animated rendition of the original source material. Key production staff included Ayumu Hisao as series composition writer, Yōko Satō as character designer, and Kei Yoshikawa as music composer. The opening theme , "Midnight Dancer," was performed by , while the ending theme, "Makoto Period," was sung by . For international audiences, acquired the license and provided streaming in regions outside starting with the Japanese premiere. Home video distribution occurred in via Kadokawa, with Blu-ray volumes released in multiple parts beginning April 27, 2022.

Reception

Critical response

The manga Love of Kill has garnered a generally positive reception among readers, earning an average score of 7.50 out of 10 on based on ratings from 5,553 users as of November 2025. Reviewers have praised creator Fe's artwork for its dynamic depiction of action sequences, which effectively captures frenetic and high-stakes chases without overwhelming the reader. For instance, in a review of Volume 3, critic Krystallina noted that Fe's illustrations allow the art to "do the talking" during intense confrontations, making the violence clear and engaging while advancing the plot. However, some critiques point to pacing issues, such as abrupt resolutions to major fights that leave character motivations feeling underdeveloped, as highlighted in the same volume's analysis where the showdown with Hou is described as ending "too quickly." The 2022 anime adaptation received more mixed responses, with an average MyAnimeList score of 6.90 out of 10 from 70,055 users as of November 2025. Anime News Network's preview guide emphasized the series' unique blend of suspense and romance, but several reviewers criticized its tonal inconsistencies, particularly the jarring shift between ultraviolent thriller elements and an obsessive love story that borders on uncomfortable stalking dynamics. Richard Eisenbeis described it as "a clash of two different genres, ultraviolent crime drama and domineering love story," appreciating the absurdity but questioning the creepy undertones of protagonist Ryang-ha's fixation on Chateau. Similarly, Rebecca Silverman pointed out the "unsettling stalker romance" that undermines the potential for a compelling cat-and-mouse narrative, suggesting the show tries too hard to force romantic appeal early on. The animation quality received commendations for fluid action visuals in key scenes, though some noted it lacks the depth to fully convey emotional nuance. Thematically, Love of Kill explores motifs of obsession and through Chateau's fragmented past and Ryang-ha's unrelenting pursuit, which critics have analyzed as adding suspenseful layers to the romance-thriller hybrid but occasionally at the expense of character believability. In the , revelations about Chateau's drive plot twists that heighten romantic tension, yet reviews like that of Volume 3 critique how these elements can feel rushed, prioritizing shocks over deeper psychological insight. The anime amplifies the visual intensity of these themes, with enhanced action choreography that echoes thriller aesthetics, but it has been faulted for diluting character depth through condensed pacing and minor content cuts from the source material. Nicholas Dupree from observed that the adaptation's leads lack sufficient tension or charm, making the obsessive dynamic feel contrived rather than intriguing. Overall, while the series is lauded for its innovative genre fusion, common weaknesses in pacing and tonal balance prevent it from fully realizing its potential.

Popularity and sales

Love of Kill has seen steady commercial performance in , with the manga series surpassing 1 million copies in cumulative circulation by June 2023 following its conclusion in February 2023. This milestone reflects growing demand for its blend of romance and thriller elements, building on earlier figures of over 750,000 copies by 2022. The English edition, licensed by , has released 14 volumes as of February 2025, expanding its accessibility to international audiences. The adaptation boosted visibility through streaming, achieving a 4.6 out of 5 rating from 22,366 users on . On , the series ranks #1400 in popularity with a 6.90 score from 70,055 ratings as of November 2025, while the holds #1017 popularity and a 7.50 score from 5,553 users. Digital platforms like have further supported engagement, offering volumes with consistent user ratings around 4.5 to 5.0. Fan interaction extends to social media, where the #KoroshiAi hashtag appears in artwork and discussions on sites like Pixiv and Instagram. Pre-official English release, fan communities contributed through online scans and forums, fostering early international interest. As of 2025, Love of Kill retains niche appeal in the romance-thriller genre without new adaptations, sustained by its availability across print and digital formats.

References

  1. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=24513
  2. https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/G0XHWM0XW/love-of-kill
  3. https://yenpress.com/series/love-of-kill
  4. https://www.pixivision.net/en/a/7203
  5. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=24514
  6. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2021/8/6/love-of-kill-coming-to-crunchyroll-in-2022
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15018116/
  8. https://myanimelist.net/manga/104710/Koroshi_Ai
  9. https://myanimelist.net/anime/44516/Koroshi_Ai
  10. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/Chateau_Dankworth
  11. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/Ryang-ha_Song
  12. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/Euripedes_Ritzland
  13. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/Hou
  14. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/Donny
  15. https://myanimelist.net/anime/44516/Koroshi_Ai/characters
  16. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-14/fe-love-of-kill-manga-gets-spinoff-that-takes-place-after-main-manga-end/.197080
  17. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-12-20/love-of-kill-manga-ends-on-january-14/.193173
  18. https://shojo.fandom.com/wiki/Koroshi_Ai
  19. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-02-15/fe-love-of-kill-epilogue-spinoff-manga-ends/.207612
  20. https://yenpress.com/titles/9781975322816-love-of-kill-vol-1
  21. https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855411065-love-of-kill-vol-14
  22. https://asianmoviepulse.com/2021/04/manga-review-love-of-kill-2021-by-fe/
  23. https://www.reddit.com/r/redikomi/comments/18gjz3p/love_of_kill_a_romance_suspense_drama_between_a/
  24. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-09/love-of-kill-anime-reveals-staff-visuals-2022-premiere/.174964
  25. https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=2004557
  26. https://koroshi-ai.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Chapters_and_Volumes
  27. https://vgmdb.net/product/10666
  28. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2021/11/8/love-of-kill-reveals-first-promo-more-info-ahead-of-january-2022-debut
  29. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2021/12/10/love-of-kill-tv-anime-reveals-premiere-date-and-more-cast-in-new-trailer-visual
  30. https://www.yesasia.com/us/love-of-kill-koroshi-ai-vol-1-blu-ray-japan-version/1109611865-0-0-0-en/info.html
  31. https://www.theoasg.com/reviews/manga/love-of-kill-volume-3-review/26660
  32. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2022/winter/love-of-kill/.180981
  33. https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2022/05/english-dub-review-love-of-kill-my-name/
  34. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000447.000012048.html
  35. https://www.lanovelibrary.com/love-of-kill/
  36. https://global.bookwalker.jp/series/291880/
  37. https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/107910283
  38. https://www.instagram.com/koroshi_ai/p/BxWzg6tnoV9/
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