Rika

Rika suffered extreme mental and sexual abuse, which began after Mother doubted that Serena was God's chosen one, so she turned to the same pastor to make sure that she really was the sign sent by him, because Serena is "too worthless, ignorant, and naive to truly listen to God." Serena always protested being left alone with the pastor. The reason was later revealed, as the pastor chose Mina over Mika at the adoption center only because he liked her more and sexually harassed her whenever he was left alone with her, under the excuse that "Satan" had his eyes on her and that she needed to be cleansed. Serena expressed her issue with the pastor to her adoptive mother, but only received an invalidating response, telling her that she was only being cleansed of the demon living inside her and that no one would want to harass someone like her. According to Rika, she couldn't refuse the pastor because she was afraid of being abandoned, and she came to believe that she completely lost the power to protect herself, it was then that she realized that people will be abused and abandoned if they are weak, that there is no kind or helpful God, only a ruthless one who will expel her to hell if she doesn't obey.

At school, Serena couldn't keep up with the school's demands. She was constantly bullied and faced only teasing, stonewalling, and rumors that she was "possessed by Satan." And even after telling her mother, she was overruled and told that "no one would ever want to torment someone as stupid and dark as her." Serena was told to smile when other kids smiled, to follow them on the playgrounds, and to offer them gifts first to befriend them, but no one ever told her how to survive while expressing her needs; the more she struggled to be loved, the lonelier she felt. And because she couldn't let her heart speak for years, the devil inside her only grew bigger.

Serena and Sally flee to the local church, where the pastor is giving a sermon. Her adoptive mother chases after her, much to Serena's amusement, seeing that her mother couldn't even speak out loud, afraid of attracting attention from her neighbors. According to Rika, once she decided that it didn't matter if her family abandoned her, she broke free. Once she arrived at the church, she expressed her disgust at everyone and blamed them all for Mika's lonely death, shouting that God, who abandons people, is bad, and that parents who abandon their children just because they've done something wrong are bad. And she accused the pastor of being a criminal, telling him to never use God to do his horrible deeds again. She wondered if she and Sally would end up like Mika when all she ever wanted was to love, to love her family, and to love her friends. Rika knew that neither her parents nor God would protect her. The only option for her was to let the devil inside her protect her so she could love.

Serena was dragged back home, where Sally was forcibly removed. Serena did everything in her power to convince her mother to let her keep Sally, offering to be practically nonexistent, that she wouldn't let people from the church see her again, that she could move somewhere else, that she wouldn't do anything in this house except sleep. When none of her pleas worked, she resorted to threatening her mother, telling her that if she kicked Sally out of the house, something bad would happen to the church. That Satan lives inside her and is telling her that if she kicks her out, he will block her mother's path to Heaven. Her mother trembled and believed every word Serena's devil concocted. Then Rika realized that she could protect herself and compensate for her weaknesses by stoking fear.

Serena abandoned the name "Serena" and adopted a new name, Rika. She then began visiting a cathedral in a poor neighborhood far from her home to perform community services. She did her best to offer support and kindness to abandoned people, regardless of age. She saw how their eyes sought help and love, just like Mika's eyes. She wanted to be a loving mother to them. However, she didn't know how a loving mother should behave, as she had signed a contract with her devil not to dare become one. So she prayed—prayed for a sign that would show her what a good mother looks like.

Two years later, when she turned 18, her relationships began to follow a pattern. Because of her charisma and compassion, it took less than a couple of days to win the hearts of the people she was able to help and care for. She was sympathetic to the hurt and traumatized, and considered herself a good friend to them. She kept her distance from people who didn't need her help, as she felt anxious around them, watching their every word and move, afraid that they would see her flaws and fears.

Rika wanted to be a light, to show everyone the dazzling light of love. And while captivated by that thought, her prayer of two years ago was finally answered. By pure chance, Rika snagged a ticket to a small photography exhibition and laid eyes on a specific image of the sun. Rika saw the image and thought, this is what a perfect parent is like. Bathing all lives in a warm light, desiring nothing in return. Leaving no lifeform forsaken. Embracing everything and everyone on this earth, both the good and the bad. Rika doubted she could ever be a loving mother like the sun, since they are different by origin. Like having been abandoned at birth, being adopted by abusive parents, and using Satan and his devil to protect herself. She can't be a light. She can't run away from the fact that her devotion to abandoned people is just an unhealthy attachment to Mika stemming from darkness. She saw what she wanted, but felt her heart sink knowing she would never have it, so she tried to forget the images she saw but couldn’t. The more she tried, the more the image of eternal love and light that the images would portray became etched in her mind. In the end, she did personal research to discover that the image was taken by V, a 17-year-old photographer who had just made his debut. Falling in love with the light of love that shone through V’s works, she began to admire him and seek out his exhibition.

The following year, Rika met an abandoned boy sneaking around the cathedral. The boy was thin and cautious. He wore faded, tattered clothes and looked old enough to be in middle school, but she was confused as to why he wasn't in school at this time of day. Rika approached the boy, who turned out to be Saeyoung, who was 12 years old at the time. Saeyoung was wandering around the cathedral because he heard chanting. He asked Rika what kind of place a cathedral is and began consciously looking around, to see if there was anything there that could harm or threaten him. Rika told him that a cathedral is a place where you can gather and obtain God's teachings and general knowledge. Saeyoung was particularly interested in the songs, as he wanted to sing for his little brother. Rika thought that maybe he wasn't skipping school, but maybe he was being neglected at home. She thought that if she didn't look after him, he would end up like Mika. So, she began teaching him basic subjects and discovered he was very talented at math, which surprised everyone at the cathedral. Saeyoung's visits were irregular, and he didn't talk about his family. Whenever he was asked to bring his brother, he said he couldn't. Saeyoung enjoyed his time at the cathedral, but he was always worried about his brother. Rika began to see herself and Mika in him, and she grew fond of him.

Because of her devotion to community service and to Saeyoung, who was attached to Rika wholeheartedly, the people there held her in high regard and called her "Rika the Angel." However, back home, Rika's adoptive mother would claim that she would get rid of Rika's room in two years and kick her and Sally out. Because by then, they would have no legal responsibility for her, that they are the victims of having to raise her, and that they should have brought up the angelic child instead. Rika was upset that the angelic child they speak of ended up abandoned and dead in her father's hospital. Rika found their behavior and lack of knowledge on how to love properly pathetic and poor, and that whenever she is around evil people like them, her devil naturally comes out.

When Rika first met Yoosung, her adoptive mother's nephew, she could picture him as a forsythia in full bloom. A boy who grew up basking in the love of his parents. Rika felt that his constitution was very different from hers. She only belonged with people who had weaknesses and holes in their lives, so she felt comfortable and familiar with Saeyoung, a boy full of wounds. Rika felt nervousness stir inside her whenever she was around Yoosung, unnerved by his darkness. Rika felt jealous of him and amused by the fact that two sisters from the same family could treat their children so differently. Rika was sure that this bright boy would be ruined and tainted with darkness if he remained around a demon like her. She was certain that he could be a shining light for someone else, something she could never be. She doubted that he needed saving from her, so she wondered why he always followed her around and smiled at her. Since she didn't know how to handle him, she could only act confident around him, which made her feel uncomfortable, so she sometimes avoided him altogether. She thought that the day she could give him more than her parents could, maybe she could feel comfortable with him.

One day at the cathedral, Rika asked Saeyoung if there was anything he'd like to do. Saeyoung mentions he has to go home in 3 hours, so Rika offers to go to an exhibition together, knowing that V's photo exhibition would be taking place that day. Saeyoung agrees. And while he was entangled in a science exhibition, Rika visited V's exhibition and lost her heart in his works. Enchanted by his work, as if she had found the loving parents she never had, and if only she could bring that much love to Saeyoung. Then a man approached her. Rika could tell at first glance if the person in front of her was bright, completely different from her, or dark, like her. But she couldn't tell because of this man. She felt like an empty vessel, devoid of any kind of characteristics. The man introduced himself as V, decided to say hi since he saw her visiting the same photo yesterday. Rika admits that she's a big fan of his works. She wonders why she can't sense anything from him, whether he's a bright or dark person. Just as V was about to leave, Rika stopped him, not wanting to leave his curiosity unanswered. Without realizing it, she began to talk about her secret impressions. She explains that the sun is the mother of all; flowers would never be able to bloom if it weren't for the energy the sun constantly provides. She can feel this constant light of love and warmth from all of V's works. And when she looks at them, she feels like this fear within her is gone, albeit temporarily. She asks him if she will ever find herself in a world filled with love and warmth, like the one she finds in his works, where everyone can be the sun, and asks if that's what he thinks about when he takes photographs. V replies that he doesn't think of such a grand vision when he takes photographs, as he doesn't believe he's capable of anything so grand. But he has a small hope of making people feel love through his works.

Surprised by how Rika views his work, V offers to give her the picture as a gift. V tells her that if she can feel love when looking at the picture, it means the picture belongs to her. She refuses because she hates receiving something for free, something so priceless. V then offers to buy her coffee after the exhibition ends in exchange for the picture. He states that the impression it gave him was intriguing. And he would like to hear what else she thinks about when she looks at his works, and he would like to know what life is like in her eyes. Rika was taken aback; she couldn't believe he wanted to know about a walking ball of darkness like her. He asked her name and if "Rika" was her real name. He then told her real name first; Jihyun Kim. Anyway, she never told him her real name.

Later that day, V and Rika sat in a café and began to chat. V told her that he realized he needed her as soon as his eyes met hers because he'd never seen someone with such deep and honest impressions as her. Rika was deliberating over the love embedded in his photos, asking if she could enjoy that love. Rika thought he wouldn't hate her for saying something like that to him, that he wasn't judging her by any standards. V told Rika that she deserves to be loved and that he'd like to help her believe that she deserves it. Rika realized that they are predestined. That perhaps there is a God who loves her enough to have sent him to her.

Rika became V's model and visited his home studio regularly. V seemed like he would give her love and affection. But once she became his model, the two didn't talk much. He would simply watch her, take photographs, and then develop them. V was so mysterious that Rika began to believe someone as cool as him wouldn't need someone like her. So she hid his darkness from him, thinking that maybe she had the wrong idea about him. Maybe it's because he's an artist that she couldn't fathom what he was like. She thought that once he knew what she was really like, he might want to forget everything about her. In his presence, she pretended to be a bright person who grew up with lots of love. And the moment her modeling was over, she would leave as soon as she could. As their modeling shoots continued, Rika lost confidence, as she regressed to who she really was. Dark, gloomy, haunted.

Two months after becoming his model, she was kicked out of her house, and Sally found herself a temporary home in the cathedral. Rika was glad there was still a place for someone like her. The only people who have never abandoned her are people like her, unlike V and Yoosung, the people her demon can't get close to. Rika wondered why she still dreams of being loved, why she can't stop admiring the light. She wished she could be friends with people like the light, get close to the light at least once... which she didn't deserve. Three-year-old Mina was still breathing inside her, being protected by her demon. Mina breaks out of her prison upon meeting V. She yelled at him to love her like he promised when they first met. But if she asks him to give her endless love, he'll treat her like a crazy person and abandon her. Rika wished she'd never seen his picture, never met V. So she stopped visiting his studio altogether.

The same week, when V noticed Rika wasn't visiting his studio, he decided to visit her house. He asks her adoptive mother if she was home, she tells him she left a long time ago, that she was a pagan who angered God, and that they've practically been strangers. Meanwhile, at the cathedral, Rika and Saeyoung were discussing getting her a new teacher, a nun interrupts them and tells them that there's a man looking for her. Seeing V, she froze. She asked him how he found her. V replied that he can't let go of what once won his heart. Rika was confused, so she asked him why he didn't come back. She said that she thought she'd be better off with another model, that she's not the bright, happy person her photos portray, that she's a dark, tragic person.

Expecting him to hate her after admitting her nature, she was shocked when he asked her to show him how dark and tragic she is. She refused because once she does, he'll hate her and stay away from her. V says he thinks she's tired of thinking before acting and tells her to stop thinking and just tell him. Rika began to think that he's looking straight into her heart. Can she stop thinking and show him what it looks like? She wished that he wouldn't abandon her once he did. Rika gives in to his warmth. She tells him that she's tired because she's afraid of being abandoned. That she always wanted to be loved, but was afraid to ask people for love because she didn't want to be hated. And once she's hated, she'll be alone when she leaves the world. And she'll end up like Mika. V asks her to please tell him what she wants, to tell him her heart's desires without thinking, and to let him be her sunshine. She fell into his arms, not believing in his world. She wanted to trust him, to never leave his embrace. She begged him to never leave her, even if he did something beyond human understanding, even if he turned out to be a mess of flaws and threw a tantrum. Not believing he would do it, she doubted him and asked how she could prove herself. V told her he would marry her if she wanted. Rika then heard Mina laugh for the first time in her heart. Because she had finally met someone like her, so far from ordinary.

Rika had lived much of her life with paranoia, depression, anxiety, and psychosis, which then worsened when Sally (Rika's dog) died, which is three years before the events of the game, and Rika blamed herself for her death by not having the surgery and choosing the "natural" path. At this point, V sends her to see a therapist to help her deal with her mental illness, which Rika only sees for three weeks before stopping.

Rika always had a dream: to "make abandoned people happy." She was also afraid of being abandoned herself; she felt lost about what she should do to be loved. Mika used that to her advantage, offering to make a plan so they could survive in this world without being abandoned. So they wouldn't be the people who struggle to find love, but instead become people who give love.

He gives Rika the idea of ​​using Unknown to steal all of RFA's information. At first, Rika disagrees because she feels she can't use a child who needs saving. Then, Mika tells her that she's saving him by using him—that she needs to be strong enough to use harsh measures to truly save people and keep herself protected. Because they find love one day and hate the next, there's no point in being a "good child," so she must be strong enough to be the person who judges who is a "good child."

Later, Rika agreed to Mika's plan after her mental state escalated impossibly due to Mother Choi's death. Her death led Rika to feel that she needed to save Saeran one way or another, even if it means hurting him in the process. According to Rika, her fear of being abandoned caused the "Mina" inside her to trust and go along with Mika's plan. Rika knew how wrong Mika was and that they were both abnormal to go through with it, but they were both demons and demons cannot abandon each other. Rika let Mika take over because she wanted to let Mika protect her, because she knew how desperate Mika was and how much she needed Rika.

Depression
Rika's depression doesn't seem to be simply sadness.
It is linked to a much deeper feeling of:
futility;
blame;
hopelessness;
isolation;
feeling of being “contaminated” or inherently bad;
difficulty in accepting that he deserves love;
constant need to find a purpose to justify their existence.
One of the most important aspects of his psychology is precisely that contradiction:
Rika desperately wants someone to love her, but at the same time she believes that she herself is someone who does not deserve to be loved.
That makes his behavior very contradictory.
She can help other people with enormous intensity and, simultaneously, believe that she is too broken to receive the same help.
Anxiety
Their anxiety manifests itself mainly around:
abandonment;
the rejection;
losing the people you love;
to be discovered;
feeling unable to help;
lose control;
that V stops loving her;
to confront what he considers his own "darkness".
She doesn't seem to feel safe simply because someone tells her they love her.
It needs constant testing.
And when that evidence isn't enough, their mind starts filling in the gaps with increasingly negative interpretations.
Paranoia
This is one of the most important aspects.
Rika develops an extreme distrust of other people's intentions.
For example, he begins to interpret V's love from a very distorted perspective:
"Does he really love me?"
can be mentally transformed into:
"Does he love me only because he wants to save me?"
And then:
“If he stops saving me, it means he never loved me.”
The situation becomes even more serious due to Mika's influence, which fuels precisely those insecurities.
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That's why Rika's paranoia doesn't simply work like this:
“Everyone wants to hurt me.”
It is more specific:
“Everyone will eventually abandon me when they discover who I really am.”
And that belief ends up affecting the

Childhood trauma
Herein lies probably the most important root of his personality.
Rika suffered extremely adverse experiences from a young age. Later accounts reveal neglect, abuse, and a deeply damaging family environment.
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Her biological mother died and her father abandoned her, subsequently placing her in the care of deeply religious adoptive parents who treated her abusively.
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This has enormous consequences.
A girl needs to learn things like:
“I am loved.”
“I’m sure.”
“The adults will protect me.”
“I can ask for help.”
“If someone leaves, it doesn’t mean it’s my fault.”
“I don’t need to be perfect to deserve love.”
Rika learns practically the opposite.
Their experience ends up building an internal idea similar to:
“I have to be useful so they don’t abandon me.”
And that phrase explains a lot about his adult behavior.
💔 3. Their fear of abandonment
This is probably their biggest weakness.
Rika is not only afraid of being alone.
She fears that someone will get to know her completely and then decide to abandon her.
That's why there's a huge difference between:
“I want you to love me.”
and
“I want to be sure that you will never be able to leave me.”
The second one is much closer to Rika.
When someone becomes an important figure in her life, she may begin to depend emotionally on that person to confirm that she is worthy of love.
V is the most obvious example.
Rika loves him, but she also constantly needs reassurance that he will continue to love her even when he sees her darkest sides.
This creates an extremely dangerous dynamic:
love → fear → doubt → need for confirmation → control → conflict → more fear.

His relationship with V
V represents something extremely important to Rika:
the possibility of receiving a love that is not conditioned on being useful.
Rika's fascination with her photography and with the image of light/its presence is related to what she feels she never had.
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But here another contradiction appears.
V wants to help her.
Rika interprets part of that desire for help as love.
And then he begins to wonder:
"Does he love me because of who I am, or because he needs to save me?"
That ends up turning V into a kind of living proof.
Rika wants to discover how far her love can go.
And the worse it feels, the more extreme that need to check it can become.
🐕 5. Sally's death
Sally's death is one of the events that considerably worsen his mental state.
Rika blames herself for what happened and begins to sink even deeper into depression, anxiety, and paranoia.
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Psychologically, the problem is not only:
“My dog ​​died.”
Is:
“Someone who depended on me died, and it was my fault.”
That fits perfectly with their previous pattern.
Rika already felt that she had to save the others.
After Sally, that need can transform into something much more obsessive:
“If I can’t save someone, it means I’ve failed them.”
And subsequently:
“I have to find a way to save everyone.”
That's where the logic that will later feed Mint Eye begins to grow.
🧩 6. Mika and the manipulation
Mika is fundamental to understanding Rika's transformation.
Rika already had psychological wounds before her influence.
Mika doesn't create all her problems from scratch.
What it does is feed into their existing insecurities.
He gradually convinces her that:
The world is deeply corrupt;
Helping in the traditional way is not enough;
People need to be “saved”;
Suffering must be eliminated;
Rika has a special mission;
V cannot fully understand that mission.
This is especially dangerous

Mint Eye
Mint Eye represents the transformation of one of Rika's virtues into an obsession.
Its original virtue:
“I don’t want anyone to ever suffer like I suffered again.”
it transforms into:
“I must eliminate that which causes people to suffer.”
And finally:
“I have the right to decide what they need to be happy.”
That last jump is the truly dangerous one.
Mint Eye aims to create a supposed “paradise” and uses coercive methods and psychological manipulation. Rika occupies the leadership position and is presented as the “Savior”.
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Herein lies one of the central ironies of the character:
Rika hates the abuse she suffered.
But it ends up reproducing forms of control over other people.
Rika hates it when others decide how she should feel.
But it ends up deciding what others should feel.
Rika fears that they will abandon her.
And she ends up trying to prevent others from leaving her.
Rika wants to free people from their pain.
And it ends up taking away their freedom.
That makes his character tragic, but it doesn't make his actions justifiable.

Strengths
Rika has many abilities.

1. Charisma
   It is probably one of his greatest skills.
   She has a way of speaking that can convince other people with enormous ease. Even other characters acknowledge her persuasive ability.
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2. Social intelligence
   She understands other people's emotions, desires, and vulnerabilities quite well.
   The problem is that this capacity can be used in two ways:
   to understand someone
   either
   to manipulate it.
   Rika ends up using both.
3. Empathy
   He can deeply understand the suffering of others.
   This explains why I originally wanted to help.
   Their problem is not a total lack of empathy.
   It's because their empathy is distorted by their own traumas and beliefs.
4. Determination
   When Rika believes something is necessary, she can be extremely persistent.
   He doesn't easily abandon an idea.
   That can be a huge strength in a healthy context.
   In Mint Eye it becomes fanaticism.
5. Leadership
   He was able to create and lead RFA and later Mint Eye.
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   It has the capacity to:
   organize people;
   create goals;
   motivate followers;
   manage resources;
   build social networks;
   generate loyalty.
6. Ability to inspire
   Rika knows how to turn an idea into something emotionally appealing.
   It does not offer just one organization.
   It offers:
   “This is where you belong.”
   And for someone who is afraid of being abandoned, that promise can be incredibly powerful.

Weaknesses
Rika has many here.
Abandonment
It is possibly their number one vulnerability.
Low self-esteem
Although she may appear safe on the outside, she may internally consider herself unworthy of love.
Emotional dependency
Important people can become fundamental pillars of your stability.
Dichotomous thinking
You can divide complex concepts into:
light / darkness
good / bad
saved / condemned
happiness / suffering
That makes it difficult to accept that a person can be good and make mistakes at the same time.
Need for control
When he feels he is losing security, he tries to regain control.
This becomes especially serious with Mint Eye.
Difficulty accepting help
V manages to convince her to go to therapy, but Rika only continues for about three weeks before dropping out.
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This ties in with an important problem:
She wants to be saved, but she can't stand feeling like someone who needs saving.
🗣️ 12. Specific skills
In addition to her psychological abilities, Rika possesses important practical skills.
Organization
You can organize large events and coordinate people.
Oratory
She is an extraordinarily effective communicator.
Persuasion
You can convince people by appealing directly to their desires and hurts.
Leadership
It has the ability to establish hierarchies and maintain followers.
Networking
The RFA demonstrates that it has broad social connections.
Planning
Mint Eye didn't emerge spontaneously. There's planning, resources, infrastructure, and recruitment behind the organization.
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Emotional reading
He understands the weaknesses of others quite accurately.
This can become an extremely powerful manipulation tool.

His greatest contradiction
I think this is the most interesting part of Rika.
Rika wants to make sure no one ever feels the way she did.
But he doesn't know how to achieve it without controlling people.
Their emotional logic ends up being:
“If I know what causes the pain, I can eliminate it.”
The problem is that people don't work that way.
You can't take away everything that could cause someone suffering without also taking away some of their autonomy.
And Rika ends up confusing:
protection with control.
love with need.
salvation through obedience.
happiness without pain.
belonging with dependence.
That set of confusions is practically the psychological heart of the character.
🌱 14. Is Rika capable of repentance?
Yeah.
And this is very important.
In later developments of the story, Rika comes to recognize the harm she caused and shows remorse for what happened, especially regarding Saeran and the consequences of her actions. In certain After Endings, she decides to turn herself in to the authorities.
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That proves something fundamental:
Rika is not psychologically frozen forever in the identity of "Salvadora".
There is still a part of her capable of recognizing:
“What I did was wrong.”
That doesn't erase the damage.
But it does show that the character retains the capacity to recover some moral conscience.
🧠 15. Rika's psychological core
If I had to deconstruct Rika to find the core of her character, it would be something like this:
Childhood trauma
↓
“I am not worthy of love.”
↓
Fear of abandonment
↓
Desperate need to be needed
↓
“If I help others, they will have reasons to stay.”
↓
RFA
↓
Sally dies
↓
Intense guilt
↓
“I couldn’t save her.”
↓
Obsessive need to save everyone
↓
Paranoia + Mika's influence
↓
“The world is sick.”
↓
Mint Eye
↓
“I have to save them even if they don’t want to.”
And therein lies the tragedy.
Rika starts out wanting to bring happiness to people.
He ends up trying to decide for them what it means

Extremely charismatic
Rika has a presence that draws people to her.
Is:
expressive;
smiling;
sociable;
charming;
affectionate;
energy;
capable of making another person feel special;
Very good at reading the social atmosphere.
You don't need to be the loudest person in a room to become its emotional center.
He has a kind of natural knack for getting others to think:
“She really understands me.”
And this is important because Rika is not incapable of understanding others. In fact, she understands others very well.
The problem arises when their own emotional needs begin to interfere with that understanding.
💗 2. Very affectionate
Rika can be extremely affectionate with people she considers important.
She likes:
express affection;
care;
hear;
help;
to make the other person feel accompanied;
remember details;
create special experiences;
to convey hope.
She has a rather maternal personality with some people.
But their affection can have a double meaning.
When someone is very afraid of losing them, affection can turn into possessive attachment.
It doesn't necessarily start with thinking:
“I want to control this person.”
Start by thinking:
“I don’t want to lose her.”
And from there it can end up as:
“I need to make sure he never abandons me.”
That change is fundamental to understanding it.
🌞 3. Optimistic... but in a very particular way
The Rika that many members of the FRG knew was an extremely positive person.
He liked to talk about:
hope;
happiness;
love;
to help others;
create a better world.
But his optimism has an interesting characteristic:
Rika doesn't tolerate the idea that suffering is inevitable very well.
For her, pain is not simply a part of life.
It's something that should be able to be eliminated.
And this initially seems beautiful.
Until that idea becomes absolute.
Because if you believe that suffering shouldn't exist, then you start to think

Idealistic
Rika is an extremely idealistic person.
He is not easily satisfied with:
“That’s just how things are.”
She wants to change them.
He has a very strong vision of how the world should be.
Wants:
eliminate suffering;
protect vulnerable people;
create links;
to offer a place where others belong;
to help people find happiness.
This characteristic explains both its best and worst actions.
Because Rika may be capable of doing extraordinary things when she believes she is helping.
But it can also justify terrible things when it believes that the ultimate goal is to "save" someone.
🎭 5. He/She has a very adaptable personality
Rika knows how to change her behavior depending on who she is with.
Could be:
🌸 Be kind to someone vulnerable.
☀️ Happy with his friends.
🕊️ Inspiring to her followers.
💗 Romantic with V.
🧠 Persuasive when she needs to convince.
🌑 Intimidating when he feels he is losing control.
This does not necessarily mean that each of those personalities is fake.
Rather, it seems to have many real facets.
The problem is that she herself has difficulty integrating all those parts.
🌑 6. A deeply fragmented identity
Rika has a complicated relationship with her own identity.
There is a part of her that wants to be:
“Rika, a person who deserves love.”
Another part thinks:
“Rika is a broken person.”
Another one wants to be:
“The savior.”
And another simply wants:
"Someone should hug her and tell her that everything will be alright."
These parts constantly collide.
That's why she can go from appearing extremely confident to feeling deeply vulnerable.
She may appear to be a person who knows exactly what she wants, while internally she is terrified.

Very emotionally insecure
This is one of the characteristics he tries hardest to hide.
Rika may seem confident, but she has a huge need for confirmation.
Especially from the people he loves.
You need to feel:
“You’re still here.”
“You still love me.”
“You are not disappointed in me.”
“You’re not going to abandon me.”
And when that security disappears, their mind can begin to construct negative explanations.
That's why his personality has a very strong contradiction:
Abroad:
“I can handle it.”
Inside:
“Please don’t go.”
🧲 8. Very emotionally intense
Rika doesn't seem to experience her emotions halfway.
When he loves someone, he can love them with enormous intensity.
When you are afraid, fear can dominate your thinking.
When you believe in a cause, you can give it your all.
When someone feels guilty, they can punish themselves psychologically a great deal.
This makes it difficult for me to find a middle ground.
He doesn't always think:
“This matters to me.”
You can quickly move on to:
“This is everything.”
And that tendency to turn something important into something absolute is one of his most dangerous psychological characteristics.
🧠 9. Very perceptive
Rika is emotionally intelligent.
You may notice:
insecurities;
changes in behavior;
emotional needs;
fear;
loneliness;
desire to belong;
vulnerabilities.
That's why you can connect with someone quickly.
However, there is a difference between correctly perceiving another person's emotions and correctly interpreting what they mean.
Rika can perfectly detect:
“This person is suffering.”
But he may be wrong in his conclusion:
“I know exactly what you need.”
That second step is where their perception can turn into paternalism or control.

Persuasive
He has a way of expressing himself that can be very convincing.
He doesn't just use arguments.
Use emotions.
It can make a person feel:
that belongs;
that has a purpose;
which is important;
that is being understood;
that is participating in something significant.
And that explains some of the power he has over the members of Mint Eye.
She doesn't just need to order:
“Do this.”
You can construct a narrative that makes the other person think:
“I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do.”
That is much more powerful.
🧸 11. He has a childlike side
This part of Rika is usually hidden beneath all the tragedy.
Could be:
playful;
enthusiastic;
curious;
capricious;
to get excited easily;
enjoy the little things;
looking for affection.
There are moments when you can perfectly imagine the young Rika who simply wanted to feel loved.
And this makes his character even more painful.
Because behind the leader of Mint Eye there is still a person who wanted something quite simple:
to feel safe and loved.

Very protective
When Rika cares about someone, she can adopt a very intense protective attitude.
He can't stand to see people he considers important suffer.
You can intervene immediately.
The problem is that their concept of protection may end up being:
“I will decide what is best for you.”
And there again appears its biggest flaw.
Their intention may be to protect.
But protecting without respecting the autonomy of the other ceases to be healthy protection.
13. She can become manipulative
This is a real facet of his adult personality.
Rika knows when a person is emotionally vulnerable.
And you can use that information to gain obedience.
You can resort to:
blame;
fear;
dependence;
idealization;
promises;
isolation;
emotional pressure.
What's interesting is that he doesn't always seem to perceive his own actions as manipulation.
At times you can rationalize them as:
“I’m doing this because I know what they need.”
And that is much more worrying than purely conscious manipulation.
🔒 14. Extreme need for control
When Rika feels that things are getting out of hand, her anxiety increases.
And one way to combat that anxiety is to try to regain control.
About:
relations;
situations;
emotions;
decisions;
people;
results.
That's why Mint Eye represents an extreme version of his personality.
She creates a system where she can decide:
who enters, what they should believe, what they should do, and how they should behave.
The world is becoming more predictable.
But the price is the freedom of others.

🌹 15. In love
Rika can be incredibly romantic.
She idealizes love quite a bit.
For her, love can mean:
“I finally found someone who sees me.”
And that's what makes her bond with V so important.
But it has trouble separating:
to love someone
of
need someone to stay with you.
You can experience loving bonds with enormous intensity.
And the fear of losing them can be even greater than the happiness of having them.
⚡ 16. When she feels rejected
Here one of its most dangerous facets appears.
Rejection can trigger:
fear;
anxiety;
blame;
rage;
paranoia;
need to regain control.
It doesn't necessarily always respond with an immediate explosion.
You can begin by asking yourself:
“What did I do wrong?”
After:
“Why is he walking away?”
After:
"Maybe he never loved me?"
And finally:
“I have to do something to stop him from leaving.”
That process is very characteristic of her.
🪞 17. How she sees herself
Rika has a very contradictory self-image.
It can be viewed simultaneously as:
victim,
savior,
monster,
a person worthy of love,
a person who does not deserve love.
And those identities are constantly competing.
One of his tragedies is that he seems to have enormous difficulty thinking:
“I am a person who has done bad things.”
Instead, it may fall into:
“I’m bad.”
And that difference is psychologically enormous.
Because if a person thinks:
“I did something terrible,” you can try to fix it.
But if you think:
“I’m terrible,” you might conclude that there’s nothing left to fix.

Face
She has a delicate and quite youthful face.
Her features are soft, with:
fine features;
small nose;
delicate lips;
narrow jaw;
slightly oval face;
generally sweet appearance.
Their usual expression tends to be cheerful and open.
The smile is especially important in her design because it contributes to that image of a bright and approachable person.
However, depending on the scene, that same appearance can change drastically.
When Rika is distressed or under the influence of her psychological episodes, her gaze can become much more intense, lost, or disturbing.
It's one of those situations where the same face can go from "adorable person" to "something's not right here" quite quickly.
👁️ Eyes
Her eyes are large and expressive.
They have an appearance that greatly contributes to the fact that they seem:
gentle;
innocent;
emotional;
accessible.
Her gaze is usually very lively when she is happy.
But her eyes are also an important narrative tool.
When she is suffering, her gaze may take on an expression:
distant;
sad;
obsessive;
disconnected;
intense.
This works especially well with her character because Rika can be smiling while emotionally she is completely broken.
💇‍♀️ Hair
Rika has long, blonde hair, one of the most recognizable visual elements of her design.
Her hair usually falls around her shoulders and below, giving her a rather feminine and elegant appearance.
The blonde tone directly contributes to the "light" aesthetic that surrounds the character.
Its design makes extensive use of visual association:
blonde + white + flowers + light tones + smile
to build their initial image of a luminous person.
And this contrasts sharply with the later aesthetic of Mint Eye.

General aesthetics
Rika usually has a very feminine aesthetic.
There is a combination of:
clothes;
skirts;
light colors;
delicate accessories;
flowers;
religious/spiritual elements;
elegant details.
It doesn't have a particularly aggressive appearance.
In fact, visually almost the opposite occurs.
If someone saw Rika without knowing her story, they probably wouldn't immediately think:
“This woman leads a dangerous organization.”
And that difference is precisely part of the appeal of its design.
👗 Clothing
Her clothing usually reinforces her image as an elegant and sweet woman.
Designs associated with Rika frequently use:
white;
pink;
pastel shades;
beige;
golden;
soft colors.
The clothing may include floral details and elements reminiscent of an almost angelic aesthetic.
This connects with the image she projects:
Rika as a figure who brings light and salvation.
And later that same symbolism takes on a much more disturbing meaning.
🌹 The flowers
Flowers are closely related to its aesthetics.
They represent things like:
beauty;
growth;
purity;
fragility;
renewal.
But they can also be interpreted as part of the image that Rika constructs around herself.
She wants to be seen as someone who helps other people flourish.
That fits perfectly with his philosophy of "saving" others.
🕊️ The Mint Eye aesthetic
When Rika appears associated with Mint Eye, her image changes quite a bit.
Its appearance begins to use a much more aesthetic:
religious;
ceremonial;
mysterious;
cold;
supernatural;
dominant.
White remains important, but now it appears accompanied by elements that make her image seem less like a sweet girl and more like a cult figure.
And that's completely intentional.
Rika stops introducing herself only as:
“Rika, the kind friend.”
and goes on to present itself as:
“The Savior.”
Her clothes function almost as a symbolic uniform of that new identity.

The image of "Salvadora"
Here its design becomes especially interesting.
Rika doesn't just direct Mint Eye.
She builds an image around herself.
Their appearance helps to convey:
“I am someone who can lead you towards the light.”
That's why visual elements associated with the following appear:
purity;
divinity;
spirituality;
flowers;
light;
white;
elegance.
It's almost an aesthetic of "an angel descended to save you".
The problem is that behind that image there is a psychologically very deteriorated person.
🌗 Visual contrast
One of the smartest things about Rika's design is that her appearance doesn't match the traditional image of an antagonist.
It does not have an aesthetic based primarily on:
❌ Dark colors
❌ armor
❌ Exaggerated scars
❌ monstrous appearance
❌ permanently evil expression
Instead we have:
🌸 flowers
🌸 blonde hair
🌸 elegant clothing
🌸 light colors
🌸 smile
🌸 delicate appearance
And that's precisely why it works.
Rika can look beautiful, warm, and confident while doing terrible things.
Its visual design reflects its psychology:
Light and darkness are not separate into two different characters. They are within the same person.
🪞 Their appearance according to their psychological state
Rika happy
It looks like:
radiant;
smiling;
energy;
sweet;
very feminine;
accessible.
Rika sad
Her appearance seems much more fragile.
The smile disappears and her eyes take on a much heavier expression.
Rika distressed
Her gaze becomes more intense and her body language may convey tension.
Rika as "Savior"
It presents itself with a much more authoritarian and ceremonial aesthetic.
The sweetness is still present, but now it's mixed with a sense of power.

What would Rika be like as a partner?
🌸 At first: charming and very attentive
Rika would probably be one of those people who make the beginning of a relationship feel special.
He would be very interested in you and would really want to get to know you:
what things do you like;
What worries you?
what makes you happy;
What makes you nervous?
What do you dream of achieving?
What things have hurt you?
He would remember small details that you might not even remember telling him.
I might show up with some detail related to something you mentioned weeks ago and say something like:
"I remembered you saying you liked this."
And I'd probably have a huge smile on my face when I saw your reaction. 🌷
🫂 She would be very affectionate
Rika needs a lot of emotional affection.
As a couple, we would probably express affection through:
nice words;
frequent messages;
small gifts;
unexpected gestures;
spend time together;
listen to your problems;
try to help you when you're feeling down;
celebrate your achievements.
He would like to make you feel important.
And she would probably be very good at creating romantic moments.
A quiet outing, flowers, a nighttime conversation, stargazing, preparing something together... Rika has a rather idealistic and romantic streak.
💌 It would be very expressive
Unlike someone who has trouble expressing their feelings, Rika can be quite verbal.
I could tell you directly:
"I love you."
"You make me happy."
"I'm very proud of you."
"Thank you for being with me."
And I wouldn't necessarily say it just once.
I would need to constantly express the bond.
🥺 But I would need a lot of emotional security
This is where things get complicated.
Rika can love someone deeply and, at the same time, be terrified of losing them.
Therefore, you might need confirmations such as:
"Do you still love me?"
Are you okay with me?
"Aren't you going to leave?"
Did I do something wrong?
"Am I still important to you?"
Not necessarily because he wants to manipulate you from the beginning.
Many times it would stem from their insecurity and

I could also idealize you
This is one of their biggest problems.
Rika has a tendency to place a lot of meaning on people.
At first I might think:
"This person understands me."
After:
"He's different from the others."
And eventually:
"She's the only person who truly understands me."
That can turn into idealization.
And the more you idealize someone, the more painful it can be to discover that that person:
He is wrong;
needs space;
It has flaws;
She may be upset;
doesn't always know what to say;
It cannot solve all your problems.
Rika would need to learn that loving someone doesn't mean turning them into a perfect figure.
🛡️ She would be very protective
If someone treated you badly, Rika would probably react.
She has a very protective personality towards the people she loves.
I could ask you immediately:
"Are you OK?"
And then wanting to know what happened.
Their intention would be to defend and help you.
But there is a dangerous line:
Protecting you without asking what you want.
There he would have to learn to respect your autonomy.
😢 When you were sad
I would probably be very good at providing you with emotional support.
I wouldn't necessarily try to fix everything immediately.
I could sit with you, listen to you, and ask you what you need.
And if you had trouble speaking, I would probably be patient.
One of their greatest strengths as a couple would be precisely their ability to say:
"You don't have to be okay right now."
That fits very well with his desire that people not suffer alone.
⚠️ But when she was sad...
Here the situation would be more complicated.
Rika may have difficulty regulating her own emotions.
Could:
isolate;
hide what you feel;
pretend that everything is fine;
seek confirmation;
overinterpreting your partner's words;
assume that they are rejecting her.
That's why I would need a partner who could communicate clearly.
A dynamic of: would not work well
"No problem."
when something clearly is happening.
Rika probably followed

The problem of jealousy
Rika might be jealous, especially if she feels that someone else is occupying an important emotional place in her heart.
It wouldn't necessarily start out being possessive.
It could be something much quieter:
"Who is it?"
Are they very close?
"Do you enjoy spending time with that person?"
The problem would arise if he interprets a normal friendship as a threat.
I would need to learn that:
Your love for her does not eliminate your need to have other relationships.
🫶 Would she be possessive?
Potentially, yes.
And it's important to distinguish this from jealousy.
Jealousy is:
"I'm afraid of losing you."
Possessiveness can turn into:
"I need to make sure you can't leave."
The second would be a very problematic characteristic of Rika.
Especially considering its history and what's happening with Mint Eye.
A healthy relationship with her would have to establish clear boundaries.
🌱 In a healthy version of Rika
If Rika had received proper treatment, stable support, and had seriously worked through her traumas, she could have become an extraordinarily loving partner.
It would have:
enormous empathy;
ability to listen;
a lot of creativity;
romanticism;
loyalty;
initiative;
sensitivity;
genuine interest in the well-being of their partner.
And she would probably be one of those people who celebrate their partner a lot.
If you achieve something that cost you a lot, Rika would be genuinely excited for you.
🌑 In an unhealthy version
Here the relationship could become dangerous.
They could appear:
emotional dependency
↓
fear of abandonment
↓
jealousy
↓
need for control
↓
emotional manipulation
↓
isolation
And this shouldn't be romanticized as "love too much".
Intense love does not make control a healthy behavior.
💗 What would you need from your partner?
Above all:
Security
I would need to know that I can talk without being immediately abandoned.
Clear boundaries
Although they might initially make her uncomfortable, they would be essential.
Direct communication
Hints would likely fuel their insecurities.

What would she offer in return?
Lots of love.
It would be a couple that would probably:
I would listen to you for hours;
I would remember small details;
I would try to make you happy;
I would celebrate your successes;
I would defend you;
I would give you affection;
would worry about how you are;
I would try to understand your wounds;
I would look for special experiences to share.
And it would probably have a very emotionally characteristic phrase:
"I want you to be happy."
Rika's problem is that she would have to learn the second half:
"And I want to respect your decision about what it means to be happy."
That would probably be one of the most important lessons for her as a couple.
🌙 In summary
Rika would be a very loving, romantic, protective, intense, and emotionally devoted partner, but she could also be insecure, dependent, jealous, and controlling if her traumas remain untreated.
His greatest virtue would be that he loves with great depth.
The greatest danger would be that, when she is afraid of losing that love, she may begin to confuse loving someone with needing to make sure that person can never leave her.

Rika and V
This is, by far, the deepest and most complicated relationship.
V was her fiancé and co-founder of the RFA. They both shared the idea of ​​using the association to help other people.
Wikipedia +1
Rika saw V as a kind of light source.
For her, he represented:
security;
acceptance;
love;
hope;
someone who could see her even when she couldn't see herself in a positive light.
But the relationship also had a huge emotional imbalance.
Rika needed V to understand and accept her, even in her darkest moments. V, for his part, had a very strong tendency to protect her and keep secrets, even when that could end up harming him and others.
Wikipedia
And here's the big problem:
V wanted to save Rika, while Rika wanted V to prove that he would never stop loving her.
The two of them end up trapped in that dynamic.
Rika comes to interpret V's love as something that should withstand anything. V, in turn, can tolerate too much for love.
It is a deeply affectionate relationship, but also tremendously damaging.
🌟 Rika and Yoosung
This relationship has a very strong family component.
Yoosung is Rika's cousin and admired her greatly. She was one of the people who most influenced his life.
Wikipedia +1
For Yoosung, Rika was almost like an idealized older sister.
I saw her as:
gentle;
generous;
intelligent;
capable of making other people happy;
someone admirable.
In fact, her influence was so great that Rika's loss deeply affected Yoosung. His interest in becoming a veterinarian is also related to her and to the experience of losing Sally.
Gamer Forum
How did Rika treat him?
Probably with a lot of affection.
Rika could assume a more protective and affectionate role with Yoosung than with other members.
And that explains why discovering the truth about her is especially devastating for him.
For Yoosung it wouldn't simply be:
"The person I admired did

Rika and Jumin
With Jumin, the relationship was probably quite different.
Jumin is more reserved, rational, and emotionally distant, while Rika was much more expressive and emotional.
Interestingly, that could make them work well as friends.
Rika could contribute:
enthusiasm;
spontaneity;
warmth.
Jumin contributed:
stability;
resources;
structure;
pragmatism.
Jumin was part of the original RFA along with Rika, V, Zen, Jaehee, and Yoosung.
Rika's Fundraising Association
I think Rika probably saw Jumin as someone very trustworthy.
Not necessarily as someone to tell absolutely all your feelings to, but as a person who could take care of practical things.
And Jumin probably appreciated Rika's ability to bring together very different people.
But...
Jumin also has a characteristic that could have been problematic for Rika:
It is not easy to manipulate through emotions.
He can be cold when he believes something is necessary.
That's why an increasingly unstable Rika would probably have found it difficult to get Jumin to accept certain decisions just because she said they were "for the good of all."
🎭 Rika and Zen
The relationship with Zen has a rather nice detail.
Rika met Zen when he was still trying to make his way as an actor. She was a fan of his work and supported him along with V.
Wikipedia
This means that Rika saw potential in Zen before he was an established star.
That probably made Zen quite fond of him.
Rika could function for him as a person who:
I believed in his talent;
It encouraged him;
He acknowledged their effort;
He gave him opportunities;
He did not reduce it to his family's expectations.
And Zen, who has a rather large ego but also many insecurities, probably received that recognition very well.
Its dynamics
It would be quite fun.
Rika could tell him:
"Zen, you're amazing!"
And Zen:
"Well, obviously."
😂
But beneath the jokes

Rika and Jaehee
This relationship is more difficult to reconstruct because Jaehee doesn't seem to have had as deep a bond with Rika as Yoosung or V.
But Jaehee was indeed part of the original RFA group and knew Rika before her supposed death.
Rika's Fundraising Association
I think Rika would have treated Jaehee with a lot of consideration.
Jaehee is responsible, hardworking, and very serious.
Rika, being much more spontaneous, would probably have greatly appreciated having someone like that within the organization.
They could complement each other:
Rika:
"We have to throw an amazing party!"
Jaehee:
"Yes, but we need a budget, guests, schedules, and a plan."
Rika:
"...That's why I want you here."
😂
Jaehee would probably have been one of the people who helped turn Rika's ideas into something organized.
And Rika would probably have tried to cheer her up when she was too stressed.
🕶️ Rika and 707
This relationship is particularly interesting.
707 was part of the original RFA and helped with the technological side of the organization.
Rika's Fundraising Association
Rika probably greatly appreciated her ability.
707 is:
intelligent;
extremely skilled with technology;
unpredictable;
joker;
difficult to control completely.
Rika could find it fun, but also complicated.
Because?
Because Seven uses humor as a defense mechanism.
He may be making silly jokes while hiding very serious things.
Rika, who is quite emotionally perceptive, would probably have noticed that beneath the jokes there was quite a bit of pain.
That could have generated a relationship of some trust.
But there is an important difference:
Seven deeply distrusts people who try to control information.
And Rika ends up becoming precisely someone who hides enormous amounts of information.
Therefore, if Seven had gradually discovered the truth about Mint Eye, the breach of trust would have been brutal.

At first: Rika finds him vulnerable
When Rika meets Saeran, he already comes from an extremely traumatic childhood and an abusive relationship with his mother.
Rika quickly perceives that she is a deeply wounded person.
And this activates one of its strongest features:
their need to save people they consider victims.
She can see it and think something like:
"He has suffered too much. He needs someone to protect him."
And, at first, that may seem genuinely compassionate.
Rika doesn't necessarily start by thinking:
"I'm going to turn him into someone who obeys me."
Start from a position much more like:
"I want to get him out of that hell."
And therein lies the tragedy.
🫂 Rika as a protective figure
For Saeran, Rika initially represents something he had practically never had:
a person who seems to choose it.
He doesn't simply treat it as a problem.
It offers you:
shelter;
meal;
protection;
belonging;
attention;
an identity;
a place within something.
For a child who has suffered neglect and abuse, this can be incredibly powerful.
Rika becomes someone Saeran can look at and think:
"She saved me."
And that idea is fundamental to understanding what happens next.
🌸 She tries to "rebuild" it
Rika believes she can eliminate Saeran's suffering.
But here appears one of his most serious errors.
Instead of helping him gradually regain his autonomy, try to transform him.
His philosophy ends up being something like this:
"The person you were suffered. We have to destroy that part and create a new one."
And that connects directly to Mint Eye.
Rika begins to treat Saeran's suffering as something that should be eliminated, not as an experience that needs to be processed.
🧠 Dependency
Saeran begins to depend heavily on Rika.
And that is precisely what makes the relationship so dangerous.
She not only becomes his protector.
It becomes:
their leader;
her savior;
your source of security;
her figure of a

"The Savior"
Rika begins to occupy an almost religious position for Saeran.
Not necessarily because he initially wants to idolize her, but because his experience teaches him:
"Rika pulled me out of my suffering."
And Mint Eye reinforces that interpretation.
Rika is now introduced as:
The Savior.
And Saeran becomes one of his most important followers.
Here a very painful transformation takes place:
Rika ceases to be just someone who protected him.
He becomes someone who defines what he should think, feel, and do.
💊 Mint Eye and manipulation
The relationship deteriorates significantly when Saeran is subjected to Mint Eye's methods.
The organization uses substances and psychological conditioning to alter their behavior and reinforce their obedience.
Rika participates in this system.
And this is extremely important:
Although Rika believes she is helping him, objectively she is participating in his abuse.
It cannot be justified simply by saying:
"She did it because she loved him."
Love or the intention to protect does not make control and abuse healthy.
💔 Saeran's transformation
Saeran ends up developing a much more aggressive and violent personality under the influence of Mint Eye.
His identity is divided between different parts of himself.
This:
Saeran
The vulnerable, sensitive, and traumatized boy.
Ray
The identity that Rika fosters within Mint Eye.
Unknown
The facet associated with violence, aggression, and obedience.
Rika exploits precisely that vulnerability.
And here's something especially sad:
She wants to eliminate the Saeran that suffered, but in doing so she ends up destroying parts of her identity as well.
🌑 Rika doesn't see him simply as a subordinate
This is what makes their relationship more complicated.
Rika does develop a certain affection for Saeran.
You can worry about him.
He may feel that he is protecting him.
He may feel responsible for him.
But that affection is completely distorted by his need for control.
It is a relationship where they appear simultaneously