synopsis
After his roommate gets in a serious traffic accident, Ken decides to join a beta test for his favorite video game to pay off the bills.
But as the game progresses, things fall apart, and the players must face their past to move forward...
the game
mercenaire: an mmo shooter with unique rpg-like elements
You are a mercenary out to hunt down targets for rewards.
Your targets may range from precious items, to elusive beasts, to even fellow bounty hunters...Choose between three distinct player races, several classes, and unlimited gameplay!*note: Mercenaire is a fictional game and not currently playable.
Ken Harada (he/him)
An 18-year-old design student struggling with a cocktail of mental health issues and unresolved trauma. Barista by day and gamer by night, he constantly distracts himself with work instead of truly facing his fears and insecurities head-on.He joins the Mercenaire beta tournament to help pay for his friend's hospital bills, feeling responsible for the accident said friend was involved in. In-game, he goes by the name Liu.
rika ishikawa (she/they)
A 16-year-old in her first year at an all-girls’ high school. Apathetic about her perceived “womanhood,” she struggles to connect with her peers on multiple fronts: fashion, romance, elegance, gossip... this struggle even extends to her best friend Erry, who she feels she neglected while taking care of her terminally ill sister, Luca, in middle school. On top of it all, her family refuses to tell her where they relocated Luca for further treatment.Rika joins the Mercenaire beta tournament to learn the whereabouts of her sister. In-game, she goes by the name Hazel.
leo nishimura (she/her)
Ken’s classmate and first school friend after three years, studying in their school's fashion department. Though a social butterfly, Leo prefers to kindle long-term, meaningful relationships with others, which she struggles to do so due to her family's financial troubles. She works hard to maintain an outgoing social persona while also upholding a high work ethic to retain her scholarship, and quietly feels jealous towards others who seemingly have it easier.Leo joins the Mercenaire tournament as a way to help financially support her family and her dreams of attending a prestigious fashion college. In-game, she goes by the name Asteria.
ray inoue (any pronouns)
The owner of the café that Ken works at. He has also been Ken's primary guardian for the past three years due to unforeseen circumstances in Ken's life. Friendly but firm, Ray becomes a mentor figure to everyone at the café.
liu
Ken's avatar in Mercenaire.Liu belongs to the Antari race, a dragon-like people with high mana output. Their extra eyes, which form from scars, increase the rate at which mana seeps from their body when open.Liu's primary gameplay revolves around serving as a Dodge Tank. Speedy and deadly, he swerves around attacks while taunting enemies, assisting teammates with buffs, and landing well-timed strikes.
support
ko-fi and patreon memberships
High-Resolution Illustration Downloads
Illustration Speedpaints
Behind-the-Scenes Work
Exclusive Sketches
Early Access to New Episodes
about the dev
saesuns
Hi! I’m Ema, a freelance illustrator and comic artist based in Northern California. I am currently pursuing a BFA degree in Animation/Illustration, with a concentration in Story. I am also active in the V-tuber (virtual streamer) sphere as a 2D character artist, Live2D rigger, and streamer.I love writing stories that explore deep interpersonal relationships and the struggles in navigating them. ELEGY is one such story which peers into such struggles through the lens of video games and young adults.Thank you for reading ELEGY and for supporting my work!