Esil Radiru: The Demon Princess Who Betrayed Her Clan for Jinwoo!

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Summary

  • Esil, along with her allies, initially tried to kill Jinwoo during his second visit to the Demon Castle.
  • She is the eldest demon princess of the influential Radiru Clan.
  • Jinwoo’s selfless act towards Esil ultimately resulted in her change of heart.

In Season 2 of Solo Leveling, we gradually move towards the Jeju Island Arc, yet before our protagonist, Jinwoo, can face off against Beru, the Ant King, he must first conquer every level within the Demon Castle. Post receiving his S-Rank license, Jinwoo chooses to return to the Demon Castle and gather the final piece of Holy Water of Life.

Throughout his dangerous expedition at the Demon Castle, Jinwoo encounters multiple adversaries, yet unexpectedly befriends one individual – Esil Radiru, the eldest princess of the Radiru clan. Esil is an intriguing character who offers comic relief and serves as a valuable ally to Jinwoo in their journey. Despite having limited screen time in the narrative, she manages to create a lasting impression on fans.

WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for the Solo Leveling Manhwa series.

Esil Was Sent By Her Father To Kill Jinwoo In The Demon Castle Arc

Jinwoo Easily Kills All Of Esil’s Allies

For the first time, Jinwoo encountered Esil when a group including her attempted to eliminate him on the 80th floor of the Demon Castle. As they attacked in armor, Jinwoo was unable to discern his enemies’ appearances. However, as Jinwoo prepared to deliver the final blow to Esil, her armor fell away. The sight of Esil’s vulnerable, human-like visage left Jinwoo momentarily stunned. Consequently, he chose to spare her life. Furthermore, Esil pleaded for mercy, demonstrating that she wasn’t a demon consumed by fury; instead, she showed signs of fear and acknowledged the overwhelming power of her adversary.

It seems that her pleading for clemency from the man who murdered her comrades might label her as fearful or cowardly. Furthermore, Esil appears to be self-centered in her actions, continually trying to take advantage of Jinwoo by seeking chances to harm him even though he grants her leniency. However, Jinwoo tolerates Esil’s deceit because he understands that, despite being a high-level danger, she doesn’t possess the strength necessary to eliminate him.

I’ve been curious for a while now. Do magic beasts feel fear? – Sung Jinwoo

In the Demon Castle, Jinwoo effortlessly eliminated each foe that came his way, but he faced a challenge acquiring permission to reach the 80th floor. Then, Esil proposes to aid Jinwoo in gaining access to the 80th floor, in return for sparing her life. Throughout the rest of their journey within the Demon Castle, Esil joins Jinwoo. As time passes, she abandons any thoughts of killing Jinwoo, given his unmatched ability to vanquish enemies on every level. Instead of harboring resentment towards Jinwoo for his immense power, Esil grows to appreciate and even like the Hunter.

Esil Shifts Her Loyalty Toward Jinwoo On The 100th Floor

She Betrays Baran To Help Jinwoo Survive

On their journey past the 80th floor of the Demon Castle, Esil functions as a guide for Jinwoo. During their travel, Jinwoo queries the demon princess about her origins within the castle. To his surprise, much like other monstrous beings found in any dungeon, Esil discloses that she and her entire clan were kidnapped and awakened within this very castle. Originally hailing from a demon realm, known as the Radiru clan, they are baffled about how they came to be trapped in the Demon Castle. Similar to Baruka and Kargalgan, Esil also mentions that they have been hearing an unknown voice since their arrival at the castle.

In line with our assumptions, this peculiar, enigmatic voice had been instructing them to eliminate humans. Regrettably, just as Esil was about to divulge more details, she suddenly malfunctioned. Previously, a similar occurrence happened with Baruka in the Red Gate Arc; however, the penalties for exposing the truth were graver for Esil because she also fell unconscious. Consequently, virtually every adversary in the Demon Castle mobilized to eliminate Esil, and as anticipated, Jinwoo dispatched them all.

Could it be that I tend to connect well with individuals who possess a more accident-prone or uncoordinated demeanor, similar to Jin-Ho?

Despite her initial intention of finding an opportunity to kill Jinwoo even after surrendering, Esil was deeply moved by his selfless act of protecting her by laying down countless bodies. This act instilled a sense of loyalty within her, which she later demonstrated when Jinwoo fought Baran on the 100th floor.

As I prepared to tread on the 100th floor, I requested Esil to depart, but this captivating demon princess chose to stay by my side till the very end. Baran, the formidable ruler of the Demon Castle, was none other than Esil and the Radiru clan’s leader. Moreover, Baran possessed a strength surpassing mine, making our battle a challenging one.

In this situation, Esil chose to aid Jinwoo by throwing a dagger at Baran, enabling Jinwoo to finish off the King of Demons. This unexpected act of allegiance ultimately proved beneficial for Esil, as with Baran defeated, her clan, the Radiru, rose to the top in the world of Solo Leveling. So, what started as a cowardly and selfish action from a young demon girl ended up making her a hero among her clan members.

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2025-02-21 22:28