I am APPALLED that nobody has tried this VN out yet! This is so good! The way the story was structured, the incoherent yet symbolic dream-- Everything about is so damn good! I'm just gonna ramble down below because I WILL spoiler the hell out of it and I am not apologetic about it.
But I just want to say that I absolutely adore this VN, no joke, from the art to the story to the sound and music-- They all just rubbed such a wonderful hole in my brain. I wish so many people tried this out because for it being your first VN absolutely stunning, amazing, gORGEOUS WORK I AM IN AWE OH MY GOD I REALLY LOVE IT!!!!
Spoilers of me talking/gushing/theorizing about it below~~
First of all, I love how even though we named our MC, we don't see them until at the very end, this made me think that the Little Boy was actually the nameable MC when in reality he was actually the villain all along! That was such a nice twist!
Though, Leighton's background is undeniably tragic. Really, some people aren't fit to be parents and this much is obvious when Leighton's mother heartlessly absued Leighton as a child, EVEN POURING BOILING WATER ON HIS HANDS??!!! That's just gone too far! Everything is! What she wanted wasn't even a child but an heir to continue their legacy, and the fact she prioritized their wealth (because if Leighton was "perfect" then their family's prestige or whatever would remain, rich people, or maybe it's the obsession with old money...)
Anyway, even though Leighton was, in some ways, justified in killing his own mother... It doesn't justify what he was doing on later on in his life. I'm sure the servants were to blame, Hugh (I assume the Head Butler because I'm sure Leighton only allows the MOST select people to enter the basement) even more, as they stand in the sidelines watching as the Lady of the Household beats-- I'm sorry I mean "disciplines" her child. And in some ways I get it, they're not in a position to possibly protect Leighton, the Lady has the power they don't. But based on how Leighton's dreams told him that there was no safe space for him, not even his room and only in his dreams, says that the servants failed to pick up the pieces of the broken child, not even comforting him or caring enough that it would make an impact on the abused child.
And I'm sure, the reason why Hugh didn't speak up a word about Leighton's cruel acts, were most likely because he feels a strong sense of guilt for seeing how the Son of the Household became, pushed to be twisted and broken. I think another reason why he doesn't speak up, other than Hugh's guilt, is the fact that Leighton might not be kidnapping people of his own volition to torture them in his basement.
We see that Leighton specifically says he wouldn't have done this at all if only they didn't break inside his house and tried to steal multiple things, the most precious one being his "plans" or "inventions" in the basement of his greenhouse. He would have called the police or threw them away, but whatever is in the basement is much more important and I think I might know why. Anyway, he seems like he won't kill someone randomly, only when given a valid reason, however if he is "bored" he might go willy nilly which might be why Hugh doesn't speak out and instead keenly understand's Leighton's behavior from lashing out impulsively (which could be how he was able to understand Leighton wordlessly).
Another thing I wanted to note was Leighton's sadistic side, he most probably got it from his mother in a twisted sense because from what we see, his Mother didn't enjoy inflicting pain on him, but she did it cruelly to make him "perfect" and once Leighton had enough and he killed his abuser who tortured him from a very young age up til he was probably an older teenager or young adult, the power he felt over finally being free became too much coupled with his initial grief and panic (in his dream segment) eroded his mind, especially if he wasn't taken to therapy or sorted his trauma and mental illness out.
Also, Leighton's "project" might be using the corpses of people as fertilizers for plants. We see that in his dream that after he kills his Mother, plants bursts from her body rendering Leighton speechless but enamored, after that we know that in his ideal dream life he abandons his family heritage to study and graduate from pharmacy and agriculture. It could explain the creation of fertilizers as he might want to experiment on the bodies of his victims to make them suitable for his "project" which might be a beautiful garden of flowers (see from the dream and when he lists down the crimes of the trespassers) that comes from his dreams, his safe haven. No effort might have been spent to make it utmost beautiful and perfect, which is why Leighton has gone absolutely insane for it.
And now finally, Leighton's appeal to MC. I have a few theories on it...
- MC's name (the one we input) might be the name of one of his parents (because even if we don't see the father, his compliance and silence to Leighton's were just as damning as his mother's abuse) which is why he was interested in MC in a sick sense.
- MC's last name (Bridget) might hold some significance to Leighton which is why he seemed intrigued by our mysterious MC and why MC themselves were brave enough to ask for an interview with Leighton even though he denied many and they were fresh out of college because they had a link to him (no matter how flimsy).
- Or MC being a new journalist was what caught Leighton's attention, a new journalist straight out of college, I can't imagine they have a company backing them up so they're most likely going indie and solo (and they might not be a prodigy or a big name because neither Hugh or Leighton acknowledge it). If so, the Leighton might just be astounded by MC's bravery/shamelessness, or maybe he wants a journalist as fresh as MC to possibly talk about his "project" (as he seems so keen on doing) to someone who possibly isn't being manipulated or controlled by their own company so they have their own freedom.
The options are endless! And I absolutely adore the mysterious way on which Leighton took such an interest in MC, then it again, it might be his cruel and twisted way to snuff out a life that was just young almost like how his own Mother snuffed his innocence as a child so very early on.
I'm sorry for rambling so much aaaa, but I really love it!!! I'm wondering if you'll ever continue this series but I wholly understand if this is the end and I'm just glad I received such a burst of interest.
Amazing job here~!! I'm looking forward to more~!!