Okay i feel like i either missed something or i just forgot.. Treasa is aware of Rian's existence and presence in Cadgan..? like literally i can't remember if there was any previous ANYTHING about just.. the whole thing 😭
So, both Cadgan and Hector "made deals" with Rian. Hector to deal with his fear, apprehension, and just plain depression from what he went through and the guilt he has for not coming back or reaching out to the love of his life. Cadgan, on the other hand, he wanted a reprieve from the pain, such excruciating pain from the loss/rejection of the love of his life right at a very vulnerable point in his life. He couldn't deal with the pain, and I'm willing to bet the circumstances he met Rian went a bit like this. Caddy was so hurt, so broken, his emotions shattered, that he went into the Eye Valley to take his life. There, before he got the chance, he met Rian or at least the form he was in back then. Rian made a deal with Caddy. He will take away his pain, his suffering, in exchange for his soul, which allows him to properly exist in the mortal relm. A partial result of this deal was Cadgan losing his emotions for love, passion, lust, basically all the ones that would be affected by losing Hector. That's why Rian is the way he is as those are the ONLY emotions he has. That's also what Cadgan meant when he told Hector he couldn't be the man he wanted. He wasn't able to feel or show love or even be able to cry. That's what Hector was saying the flame he used to have in his eyes is but an ember, and Cadgan seems to not want to let it turn into a raging bonfire.
Am I close? 😊
If I am, fuck that's just, incredibly sad 😔 😟. He doesn't deserve this, neither of them do. The love they clearly still have for one another is far too special to snuff out.
i'd like to help with translation! i find this vn amazing, its making me think and wonder so much, as if it had awaken so many emotions on me, it made me cry and i feel so emotional towards it! i want to donate but i cant so i would like to help translating!
Does anyone know the method of unlocking the upper right corner of the Gallery in Page 6? Pretty sure I went through every possibilities during the C x H scenes.
So, im just guessing here, but is this story supposed to be loosely based on the colonialism of the British and Spanish? In say, the America's and others like Australia?
We took inspiration from the Portuguese in South America, but we didn't literally reference it,making this a more open ended story about colonization and the colonized.
Fuck, so I was right!!!! I knew it!! The spanish came in, guns blazing, killing everyone and failed. The Portuguese came, gave the locals trinkets, other shit they had never seen. Gained the trust of the locals that way, then wormed their way into the society ultimately taking it over right before their eyes.
Here's a question. Who thinks Cadgan/Rian will come clean to Hector? Or, will Hector find out on his own? What if he finds out without Caddy and Rian knowing? Will he have the stones to confront them, or will he keep it to himself in the hope that they will come clean, kind of as a test of honesty and transparency? Will he continue to stay once he does know? Or, will he feel too hurt, too betrayed? Will he feel stupid for not picking up on it? I mean, Cadgan and Rian did lie by omission to him several times. He asked what happened to him but never got a straight or believable answer from either of them. He knows something is up with the 2(?) 1.5(?) of them, he's just to love blind to dig deeper. Which is odd considering that's what badgers do, lol. Has Cadgan ever called Hector just Badger? If not how did he not catch that obvious clue that who he was with that night wasn't who he thought? We know they can't both be in the body at the same time so it couldn't have been the old Caddy Hector is hoping it is.
OMG I'm so sorry 😞 😔 😟!! I just thought it's been out so long most have seen it, even though I only found it months ago. I guess because I'm old, I haven't figured out these VN's yet nor that people actually read these comments, lol. I haven't got past this chapter though so who knows, I could be way off the mark. It's still an exceptional VN, up there with titles like, Adastra, echo, and Arches.
hey I know you mentioned that the story is mostly linear and certain choices will affect what happens but will the ending remain the same regardless? It’s made me curious.
Espectacular brooooooo tremendo trabajo hicieron 10\10 me encantó la NV la historia,como esta se desarrolla,la intriga y el sentimiento de querer saber más es asombroso,habrá más actualizaciones de casualidad? Con el fin de este capítulo quedé con la idea que la NV terminó 👌😎🤘
Hahaha I came to tell you how great of a VN you have, but people already did so it wont feel as good heh, I am not the kind of person that likes to be driven by emotions, but this story had made me go trough such a nostalgic journey, it makes me feel goo
I just finished reading through this for the first time in Build 7, and wow—I absolutely loved it. Devil's Gambit is an incredible VN, and everyone involved in its creation should be so proud of what they've achieved so far. I’m eagerly looking forward to future updates, and I highly recommend this to anyone considering giving it a read!
While waiting for the next update, here are a few things I loved:
All the characters feel wonderfully deep and complex. Hector and Cadgan, in particular, left a strong impression on me. Learning about Hector’s motivations and the layers behind his personality over the chapters and through the flashbacks was such a rewarding experience. Both he and Cadgan carry so much baggage, and their messy, contradictory humanity is beautifully written. Honestly, now that I know more about them, I’m tempted to start over from the beginning just to catch all the nuances I might have missed! The character writing in this VN stands out as exceptional—it’s evocative, emotional, authentic, and consistently compelling.
The worldbuilding is another standout feature. It’s subtle yet immersive, offering just enough detail to ground you in the setting without overwhelming you. The way you’ve portrayed the medieval influences—like the medical traditions and the societal relationship with God—is fascinating and feels authentic, yet there’s this unique twist with the elements of magic, nature, order, and dark gods that sets the world apart. It all hints at a broader, richly developed setting and it ignites my curiosity to learn more (even if it’s beyond the scope of this story). You’ve created something distinct and impressive here.
The unfolding mystery as Hector unravels the history of Rannai and its people also has me hooked. Characters like Rani and Ranzkai bring so many layers of intrigue, and I find myself eagerly theorizing about the what and why of this world. I didn’t expect to be so drawn into this element of the story, but it’s captivated me completely. I can’t wait to see how the mystery deepens and resolves in future updates, or to find out what truths are buried in the valley.
And speaking of captivating—there was some real good spice in here. The scenes were not only incredibly hot but also felt deeply tied to character development. I loved how Hector’s desires and kinks illuminated parts of his identity and insecurities, making these moments both fun and meaningful. The way dominant characters like Ranzkai and Cadgan were portrayed really stood out to me, too—they struck this perfect balance between being intense and feeling genuinely safe and caring, which is such a difficult needle to thread in fiction. You absolutely nailed it.
From the start, I thought I’d be firmly Team Cadgan…until Ranzkai showed up and really left me questioning that. But, maybe it’s actually false choice? Either way, Ranzkai is a 12/10 and a pleasure every time he's onscreen.
The sound design was another standout element of the experience. The tracks you’ve chosen are evocative and do so much to elevate the medieval atmosphere and emotional immersion. Some of the more emotional pieces really got to me in scenes like the dream. That said, I did notice a few moments where the absence of music made scenes feel a little too quiet, which stood out because of how good the other tracks are.
Overall, I had such a great time reading Devil's Gambit. It’s gripping, tragic, hopeful, and unique. The incredible attention to detail makes it clear how much time and care has gone into this project. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, especially for free—it’s such a gift, and I deeply appreciate the chance to enjoy it. I’m so excited to see how the story continues to develop and evolve. Keep up the fantastic work!
First ever comment on any VN I've read and it's been a lot. This one has been the absolute best for me even over all the popular ones. It also, destroyed me the most when there was none left to read. It made me feel ways that no other VN has yet to make me feel. So it felt less of a punch to gut and more like a, hit by a truck, type of feeling. I kid you not. I can't wait for the next chapter! Everything in this VN is perfect, the lore, the art and the writing style. I don't easily say that word but here, it would genuinely be a crime not to.
I couldn't help but notice it isn't very known yet and I plan on changing that. Or at least, I'd like to help by spreading the name further with my social accounts. I can't wait to see this VN bloom even more because it deserves every bit of it. Stay safe and healthy to all of you reading this and thank you.
I know right, i noticed it when i was skipping through dialog because i already know what was going to happen when suddenly i see the hands keeps flashing so i stopped, looked at his hands, and boom. I saw it.
We wanted to reproduce some of the dynamics of south American communities cancellation and exploitation and we did model the oppressors on the Portuguese conquerors with a pinch of Spanish royalty in the mix. The specifics though are fully original and no character or group directly reference any historical person or nation.
A machine translation floats around and we recently green-lighted a fan project but i don't have any link at the moment. Once it is available we'll likely link it from here directly :)
Hey, um, is there a delay in the public release of build 7? You did say to somebody that it would be released around the 15th of January but it hasn't happened yesterday.
I was wondering if it was delayed or if it was something else.
This story continues to surprise me in the best of ways with each following update 😌 I become so invested in the tale that I lose myself to it - even if just for a little while - and I think that’s really wonderful 💜
actually i kinda already think ik what it was about so let me ask u if rian doesnt have a body how did he and hector play together? (reread the last update and look closely at what each charecter has ;3)
True fact: i never put down official measurements. The characters are sized in proportion to each other in WIP concept art i did before the first update.
Going through a rough time right now, this vn genuinely brings my hopes and spirits up at shitty times and i know thats weird to admit but ig vns are how i cope. Thank you guys so much this vn means alot to me.
After seeing them switch bodies at the end of this build, was Hector talking to the REAL cadgan in the dream and ranzkai in person in chapter 12 or am I overthinking things...
Cause if that's real cadgan and not ranzkai fucking with hector's head then hnnnggghhhh hes so fineeeee
I think that it actually was him in the dream lol. Now I'm thinking back on all the times that Hector spoke with Ranzkai and bro was there the whole time listening lol
This update was such a good read, you weren't kidding Alpha0 when you said this build was going to be the most mind-boggling update yet. Ending left me shook and wanting more.
Can't wait for the next one which you hinted before will be the horniest one.
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SPOILER QUESTION
Okay i feel like i either missed something or i just forgot.. Treasa is aware of Rian's existence and presence in Cadgan..? like literally i can't remember if there was any previous ANYTHING about just.. the whole thing 😭
So, both Cadgan and Hector "made deals" with Rian. Hector to deal with his fear, apprehension, and just plain depression from what he went through and the guilt he has for not coming back or reaching out to the love of his life. Cadgan, on the other hand, he wanted a reprieve from the pain, such excruciating pain from the loss/rejection of the love of his life right at a very vulnerable point in his life. He couldn't deal with the pain, and I'm willing to bet the circumstances he met Rian went a bit like this. Caddy was so hurt, so broken, his emotions shattered, that he went into the Eye Valley to take his life. There, before he got the chance, he met Rian or at least the form he was in back then. Rian made a deal with Caddy. He will take away his pain, his suffering, in exchange for his soul, which allows him to properly exist in the mortal relm. A partial result of this deal was Cadgan losing his emotions for love, passion, lust, basically all the ones that would be affected by losing Hector. That's why Rian is the way he is as those are the ONLY emotions he has. That's also what Cadgan meant when he told Hector he couldn't be the man he wanted. He wasn't able to feel or show love or even be able to cry. That's what Hector was saying the flame he used to have in his eyes is but an ember, and Cadgan seems to not want to let it turn into a raging bonfire.
Am I close? 😊
If I am, fuck that's just, incredibly sad 😔 😟. He doesn't deserve this, neither of them do. The love they clearly still have for one another is far too special to snuff out.
i'd like to help with translation! i find this vn amazing, its making me think and wonder so much, as if it had awaken so many emotions on me, it made me cry and i feel so emotional towards it! i want to donate but i cant so i would like to help translating!
Does anyone know the method of unlocking the upper right corner of the Gallery in Page 6? Pretty sure I went through every possibilities during the C x H scenes.
It's based on the dialogue choices with Cadgan in the first dream sequence (in act 1)
Thanks :3
So, im just guessing here, but is this story supposed to be loosely based on the colonialism of the British and Spanish? In say, the America's and others like Australia?
We took inspiration from the Portuguese in South America, but we didn't literally reference it,making this a more open ended story about colonization and the colonized.
Fuck, so I was right!!!! I knew it!! The spanish came in, guns blazing, killing everyone and failed. The Portuguese came, gave the locals trinkets, other shit they had never seen. Gained the trust of the locals that way, then wormed their way into the society ultimately taking it over right before their eyes.
Close?
Here's a question. Who thinks Cadgan/Rian will come clean to Hector? Or, will Hector find out on his own? What if he finds out without Caddy and Rian knowing? Will he have the stones to confront them, or will he keep it to himself in the hope that they will come clean, kind of as a test of honesty and transparency? Will he continue to stay once he does know? Or, will he feel too hurt, too betrayed? Will he feel stupid for not picking up on it? I mean, Cadgan and Rian did lie by omission to him several times. He asked what happened to him but never got a straight or believable answer from either of them. He knows something is up with the 2(?) 1.5(?) of them, he's just to love blind to dig deeper. Which is odd considering that's what badgers do, lol. Has Cadgan ever called Hector just Badger? If not how did he not catch that obvious clue that who he was with that night wasn't who he thought? We know they can't both be in the body at the same time so it couldn't have been the old Caddy Hector is hoping it is.
Interesting. Havent played yet (didnt know it was a spoiler 😅) but this give a good chunk away. Im a bit more interested in trying the game out.
OMG I'm so sorry 😞 😔 😟!! I just thought it's been out so long most have seen it, even though I only found it months ago. I guess because I'm old, I haven't figured out these VN's yet nor that people actually read these comments, lol. I haven't got past this chapter though so who knows, I could be way off the mark. It's still an exceptional VN, up there with titles like, Adastra, echo, and Arches.
hey I know you mentioned that the story is mostly linear and certain choices will affect what happens but will the ending remain the same regardless? It’s made me curious.
Most VN's the ending changes based on then choices made, that's kinda the point.
Does the game contain nsfw scenes ?
m a n y lol
Espectacular brooooooo tremendo trabajo hicieron 10\10 me encantó la NV la historia,como esta se desarrolla,la intriga y el sentimiento de querer saber más es asombroso,habrá más actualizaciones de casualidad? Con el fin de este capítulo quedé con la idea que la NV terminó 👌😎🤘
Hahaha I came to tell you how great of a VN you have, but people already did so it wont feel as good heh, I am not the kind of person that likes to be driven by emotions, but this story had made me go trough such a nostalgic journey, it makes me feel goo
WHAT SIZE IS CADGAN? in terms of height and Yknow ;3 size, because i'm making a book all about him RAAAAAA. Thanks though :D
Size, yes.
He's like 8+ft tall and guessing 400ishlbs of brick shithouse. Everything can be extrapolated from there lol.
真的是惊为天人，故事文风画风都十分戳我xp，故事几度差点令人落泪，难得一见的好小说！
Thank you!
-Cool story/setting
-Hot & Horny situations
Not even finished but already killing it, A+
I just finished reading through this for the first time in Build 7, and wow—I absolutely loved it. Devil's Gambit is an incredible VN, and everyone involved in its creation should be so proud of what they've achieved so far. I’m eagerly looking forward to future updates, and I highly recommend this to anyone considering giving it a read!
While waiting for the next update, here are a few things I loved:
All the characters feel wonderfully deep and complex. Hector and Cadgan, in particular, left a strong impression on me. Learning about Hector’s motivations and the layers behind his personality over the chapters and through the flashbacks was such a rewarding experience. Both he and Cadgan carry so much baggage, and their messy, contradictory humanity is beautifully written. Honestly, now that I know more about them, I’m tempted to start over from the beginning just to catch all the nuances I might have missed! The character writing in this VN stands out as exceptional—it’s evocative, emotional, authentic, and consistently compelling.
The worldbuilding is another standout feature. It’s subtle yet immersive, offering just enough detail to ground you in the setting without overwhelming you. The way you’ve portrayed the medieval influences—like the medical traditions and the societal relationship with God—is fascinating and feels authentic, yet there’s this unique twist with the elements of magic, nature, order, and dark gods that sets the world apart. It all hints at a broader, richly developed setting and it ignites my curiosity to learn more (even if it’s beyond the scope of this story). You’ve created something distinct and impressive here.
The unfolding mystery as Hector unravels the history of Rannai and its people also has me hooked. Characters like Rani and Ranzkai bring so many layers of intrigue, and I find myself eagerly theorizing about the what and why of this world. I didn’t expect to be so drawn into this element of the story, but it’s captivated me completely. I can’t wait to see how the mystery deepens and resolves in future updates, or to find out what truths are buried in the valley.
And speaking of captivating—there was some real good spice in here. The scenes were not only incredibly hot but also felt deeply tied to character development. I loved how Hector’s desires and kinks illuminated parts of his identity and insecurities, making these moments both fun and meaningful. The way dominant characters like Ranzkai and Cadgan were portrayed really stood out to me, too—they struck this perfect balance between being intense and feeling genuinely safe and caring, which is such a difficult needle to thread in fiction. You absolutely nailed it.
From the start, I thought I’d be firmly Team Cadgan…until Ranzkai showed up and really left me questioning that. But, maybe it’s actually false choice? Either way, Ranzkai is a 12/10 and a pleasure every time he's onscreen.
The sound design was another standout element of the experience. The tracks you’ve chosen are evocative and do so much to elevate the medieval atmosphere and emotional immersion. Some of the more emotional pieces really got to me in scenes like the dream. That said, I did notice a few moments where the absence of music made scenes feel a little too quiet, which stood out because of how good the other tracks are.
Overall, I had such a great time reading Devil's Gambit. It’s gripping, tragic, hopeful, and unique. The incredible attention to detail makes it clear how much time and care has gone into this project. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, especially for free—it’s such a gift, and I deeply appreciate the chance to enjoy it. I’m so excited to see how the story continues to develop and evolve. Keep up the fantastic work!
First ever comment on any VN I've read and it's been a lot. This one has been the absolute best for me even over all the popular ones. It also, destroyed me the most when there was none left to read. It made me feel ways that no other VN has yet to make me feel. So it felt less of a punch to gut and more like a, hit by a truck, type of feeling. I kid you not. I can't wait for the next chapter! Everything in this VN is perfect, the lore, the art and the writing style. I don't easily say that word but here, it would genuinely be a crime not to.
I couldn't help but notice it isn't very known yet and I plan on changing that. Or at least, I'd like to help by spreading the name further with my social accounts. I can't wait to see this VN bloom even more because it deserves every bit of it. Stay safe and healthy to all of you reading this and thank you.
Thank you for your kind words!
You're very welcome!😄
It's part of the fixes scheduled for the next update.
Good to know! I really love the story, and knowing that was there bothered me. Anyways, thanks for the wonderful story the you blessed upon us!
I was legit didn't noticed this error until you point it out
I know right, i noticed it when i was skipping through dialog because i already know what was going to happen when suddenly i see the hands keeps flashing so i stopped, looked at his hands, and boom. I saw it.
I'm blind. I can't notice anything wrong
Top image shows top of hand is covered in black fur. Bottom image shows top of hand isn't covered in black fur.
I must ask. Are the lions meant to represent/reference the medieval Portuguese Empire?
We wanted to reproduce some of the dynamics of south American communities cancellation and exploitation and we did model the oppressors on the Portuguese conquerors with a pinch of Spanish royalty in the mix. The specifics though are fully original and no character or group directly reference any historical person or nation.
Does this game have Chinese?
A machine translation floats around and we recently green-lighted a fan project but i don't have any link at the moment. Once it is available we'll likely link it from here directly :)
If the translation is done, please tell me at the first time, thank you very much.
If the translation is done, please tell me at the first time, thank you very much.
how many builds would it take before releasing?
We don't have a precise number because elements of the story are expanded or cut all the time, but we're past the midpoint of the story.
absolute cinema is here !
ubdate?
Around the 15th of January there should be new public release,
Hey, um, is there a delay in the public release of build 7? You did say to somebody that it would be released around the 15th of January but it hasn't happened yesterday.
I was wondering if it was delayed or if it was something else.
Truth to be told, the 15 came but we were deep in work and we totally forg-
I mean. Releasing the 16th was always the plan.
Our entire PR and marketing team comprising of a cat and strange incorporeal voices suggested it. It took a 18 hours meeting to decide.
Ah, I can understand that.
Peak writing...
Wait so is rian a completely new character or what? Im having a hard time turning my head around, or is he ranzai?
spoiler.......
yeah from what i understand rian and cadgan can share the same body.
where Cadgan let rian borrow his body so Rian can be seen by Hector as ranzkai. so in short we been fcking cadgan all along but with a different soul.
you can see at the end of the chapter where Cadgan became a soul and Rian posses his body turning into Ranzkai
Ok so I know that Silvareth is sort of an antagonist but I
reallykinda want to see NSFW art of him, hope it happens in the story at some point.The game does have sprites of him being naked in the "Images" files.
You shall not be disappointed.
Does the game have nsfw art?
Yes, but there is a censored mode for the art (check the options)
Where can we find the soundtrack for this great VN?
There is a youtube playlist that has been linked a couple times down the comments.
you guys are awaking something inside me with these cadgan scenes cause mphhhhh...
also sorry for the ass trace over I have no real talent BUT I WISH THIS WAS ME FR FR
This is the intended use, yes! Yes!
i have no idea what they are praying for
in the latest ubdate
maybe for hector's ignorance on how Ranzkai has a physical body ;3
This story continues to surprise me in the best of ways with each following update 😌 I become so invested in the tale that I lose myself to it - even if just for a little while - and I think that’s really wonderful 💜
That's for the readers to figure out as the story goes on ;)
Also: SPOILERSssss
damn now i wanna know what he said
actually i kinda already think ik what it was about so let me ask u if rian doesnt have a body how did he and hector play together? (reread the last update and look closely at what each charecter has ;3)
How tall are Ranzkai, Cadgan, and Hector? Sorry I keep asking about their statistics, but I really love the design of the characters.
True fact: i never put down official measurements. The characters are sized in proportion to each other in WIP concept art i did before the first update.
i think itd make sense if hector was the smallest of the two i mean it aint like cadgan could be smaller ;3
Going through a rough time right now, this vn genuinely brings my hopes and spirits up at shitty times and i know thats weird to admit but ig vns are how i cope. Thank you guys so much this vn means alot to me.
Spoilers . . .
After seeing them switch bodies at the end of this build, was Hector talking to the REAL cadgan in the dream and ranzkai in person in chapter 12 or am I overthinking things...
Cause if that's real cadgan and not ranzkai fucking with hector's head then hnnnggghhhh hes so fineeeee
Those scenes in the dream were so hot mmpphhhh
I think that it actually was him in the dream lol. Now I'm thinking back on all the times that Hector spoke with Ranzkai and bro was there the whole time listening lol
So cadgan deep down is secretly freaky lmao.
I wonder now if he was there during ranzkai and hector's "ritual". He knew the growth of the hazeleaf at the ritual site was cause of ranny.
Probably also during ranny's little adventure with hector
This update was such a good read, you weren't kidding Alpha0 when you said this build was going to be the most mind-boggling update yet. Ending left me shook and wanting more.
Can't wait for the next one which you hinted before will be the horniest one.
( Those cgs are gonna make me go feral 😈 )
15 days untill its up on patreon hmmmmm...
第地一次游玩，在前两章节中对于Cadgan 幼年时的病状“能量向外流动”和性格变化，我便猜测存在“另一个人”的存在;后面对 Cadgan 的“体香”进行描写，与后面ranzkai有一样的描述，我便确定两者是一体的。本次更新证实了我的猜想，更期待下次更新！！
非常敬佩作者在文笔之间留下的线索和小提示，最后对与cadgan与ranzkai的亲密关系感到好奇。再次感谢作者的奇思。