That is so true. There was never a deep character study for him. He was alway like that and never apologetic about his craziness.
Actually, this the the closest we’ll ever get to a “chasing” arc and there was never a true “redemption” arc. His character just organically developed (not sure that’s the best way to describe it).
Being with Tae did humanize him, but it wasn’t pointed out, it just kinda happened.
SPOILERS:
Way later (in the 3rd saga if I remember correctly), there was a scene where they’re cuddling and they reminisce about their past. Ilay laments that he would have liked to have known Tae since their younger years, but Tae is like no, if we had met sooner, we might not be here today as we are and he asks Ilay if he knew
From the moment they met they were going to end up like that to which Ilay replies that no, but he knew it the moment he couldn’t bring himself to kill him. Then he asks Tae if he regrets meeting him, but Tae first thinks about how in the beginning he wanted nothing to do with him, (hence why he ran that first time), but he does not regret it.
About half of the 3rd saga deals with them fighting because Tae admits that he lives with the shadow of death looming over him just for being with Ilay because either he could be hurt by Ilay or by one of Ilay’s many enemies. Ilay doesn’t like knowing that Tae lives with those thoughts and the conflict arises. Eventually they make up, but there’s that dark cloud, so Tae jokingly tells him that if he’s that dissastified then if Tae dies he could follow him to death. Tae was joking, but Ilay agreed wholeheartedly.
They do become a really cute couple in the later sagas (I doubt the comic will delve that much into the next two sagas).
I agree, sis. For me it feels more toxic when the author try to rationalize the psychopathic tendencies of the ML. And that the MC and we readers will understand those toxic behaviors because there was a reason for it. A psycho is a psycho. Romanticizing it by giving deeper justification is a bit...anyway, going back to Ilay - he is obsessed periodt. Yandere-ish. lol
I love that there is no deep justification about Ilay's psychotic behaviour. Like not the usual "misunderstood ML" bs. He is just psychotic because that's his vibe I respect that. Like, the author is delivering to us unadulterated toxicity & I'm here for it. I don't think all fictional characters need to have some deep justification so that they can be painted as "good" people who are misunderstood by society. This sort of story isn't everyone's cup of tea, which is fair enough. However, anyone who read so far & chooses to continue knows this is fucked up. Most mature readers who enjoy this type of fiction have basic self awareness about seperating fiction from reality. This is why, not every crazy character needs to be painted in soft colours. In fact,I sometimes prefer no justification, because justifying toxic characters & showing them as "misunderstood sad people" sometimes feels more problematic than just letting them bask in the glow of their batshxt crazy behaviour.
Thank you for attending my ted talk.