OVA
Description
Baku Madarame, known by the epithet Usogui or the Lie Eater, is the main protagonist of the story. He is a legendary figure in the underworld, recognized as a genius gambler who emerged at a remarkably young age. At just fifteen years old, he was already challenging and defeating members of Kakerou, a powerful and clandestine organization that oversees high-stakes, often life-threatening gambles. His reputation is such that he is considered one of the most formidable gamblers in the history of that shadowy world.
Baku's personality is complex and deliberately ambiguous, resisting easy labels of good or evil. His own close ally, Takaomi Kaji, describes him as neither a bad nor a good person, while his young bodyguard Marco notes that while Baku is among the ranks of "bad people," he represents a different kind. This moral ambiguity is central to his character. During a gamble, he can be ruthless and intimidating, psychologically dismantling his opponents as if consuming their lies, which is the source of his nickname. Yet, outside of these life-or-death games, he demonstrates a clear moral code based on his own judgments. He shows open disgust for individuals who selfishly trample on others, like Kaji's mother, but displays genuine kindness and empathy towards those who have lived in solitude, such as his loyal friend Marco. He holds a deep disdain for those who face death with dignity, instead preferring to see his defeated opponents in life-or-death wagers succumb with fear and despair.
Baku's primary motivation is to take control of Kakerou itself, a goal that drives the entire narrative. To achieve this, he must accumulate immense economic and political power before finally winning a deadly gamble against the organization's current, enigmatic leader, Kiruma Souichi (often called Hal). This overarching ambition leads him and his crew into a deep conflict with a rival criminal syndicate known as IDEAL. His role in the story is not just that of a participant but a catalyst, as he systematically navigates the hierarchy of Kakerou, forcing confrontations with its elite members and referees.
His key relationships are fundamental to his journey. He is often accompanied by Takaomi Kaji, a younger gambler who acts as his loyal protégé, and Marco, a formidable young man who serves as his bodyguard. The story begins when Baku meets Kaji at a pachinko parlor and helps him escape his debts, forming the core of their partnership. Baku's most significant and complex relationship is with his ultimate rival, Kiruma Souichi, the leader of Kakerou. Their past includes a previous challenge where Baku lost everything but had his life spared because the leader "didn't feel like taking it." This history and their intense psychological rivalry form the emotional and strategic core of the series.
Throughout the story, Baku undergoes significant physical and psychological development, often marked by permanent sacrifices. In one key arc, he suffers a severe injury to his eye, forcing him to wear an eyepatch for a large portion of the story. In another, he famously chops off his own finger to win a gamble, refusing to have it reattached so that his opponents will always be reminded of the extreme lengths he is willing to go to for victory. Despite his immense mental prowess, he is notably a non-action guy, lacking physical stamina and being unable to run for long distances without exhaustion, which makes him reliant on allies like Marco for physical protection.
Baku's notable abilities are almost entirely intellectual. He is a master strategist with exceptional analytical and deductive reasoning, often referred to as possessing "God's intellect and the Devil's calmness". He possesses a near-superhuman memory, able to recall millions of possible card combinations in a high-pressure situation. He is a skilled manipulator, able to plan moves far in advance and deceive opponents with remarkable precision. His signature catchphrase, "You are a liar," is typically declared after he has seen through an opponent's deception and secured his win. He also possesses a lesser-known but practical talent for voice mimicry, which he has used to deceive opponents in various gambles. A quirky but telling trait is his fondness for pickled plums, which he consumes when he is getting serious and becomes distressed when he is unable to obtain them.
Baku's personality is complex and deliberately ambiguous, resisting easy labels of good or evil. His own close ally, Takaomi Kaji, describes him as neither a bad nor a good person, while his young bodyguard Marco notes that while Baku is among the ranks of "bad people," he represents a different kind. This moral ambiguity is central to his character. During a gamble, he can be ruthless and intimidating, psychologically dismantling his opponents as if consuming their lies, which is the source of his nickname. Yet, outside of these life-or-death games, he demonstrates a clear moral code based on his own judgments. He shows open disgust for individuals who selfishly trample on others, like Kaji's mother, but displays genuine kindness and empathy towards those who have lived in solitude, such as his loyal friend Marco. He holds a deep disdain for those who face death with dignity, instead preferring to see his defeated opponents in life-or-death wagers succumb with fear and despair.
Baku's primary motivation is to take control of Kakerou itself, a goal that drives the entire narrative. To achieve this, he must accumulate immense economic and political power before finally winning a deadly gamble against the organization's current, enigmatic leader, Kiruma Souichi (often called Hal). This overarching ambition leads him and his crew into a deep conflict with a rival criminal syndicate known as IDEAL. His role in the story is not just that of a participant but a catalyst, as he systematically navigates the hierarchy of Kakerou, forcing confrontations with its elite members and referees.
His key relationships are fundamental to his journey. He is often accompanied by Takaomi Kaji, a younger gambler who acts as his loyal protégé, and Marco, a formidable young man who serves as his bodyguard. The story begins when Baku meets Kaji at a pachinko parlor and helps him escape his debts, forming the core of their partnership. Baku's most significant and complex relationship is with his ultimate rival, Kiruma Souichi, the leader of Kakerou. Their past includes a previous challenge where Baku lost everything but had his life spared because the leader "didn't feel like taking it." This history and their intense psychological rivalry form the emotional and strategic core of the series.
Throughout the story, Baku undergoes significant physical and psychological development, often marked by permanent sacrifices. In one key arc, he suffers a severe injury to his eye, forcing him to wear an eyepatch for a large portion of the story. In another, he famously chops off his own finger to win a gamble, refusing to have it reattached so that his opponents will always be reminded of the extreme lengths he is willing to go to for victory. Despite his immense mental prowess, he is notably a non-action guy, lacking physical stamina and being unable to run for long distances without exhaustion, which makes him reliant on allies like Marco for physical protection.
Baku's notable abilities are almost entirely intellectual. He is a master strategist with exceptional analytical and deductive reasoning, often referred to as possessing "God's intellect and the Devil's calmness". He possesses a near-superhuman memory, able to recall millions of possible card combinations in a high-pressure situation. He is a skilled manipulator, able to plan moves far in advance and deceive opponents with remarkable precision. His signature catchphrase, "You are a liar," is typically declared after he has seen through an opponent's deception and secured his win. He also possesses a lesser-known but practical talent for voice mimicry, which he has used to deceive opponents in various gambles. A quirky but telling trait is his fondness for pickled plums, which he consumes when he is getting serious and becomes distressed when he is unable to obtain them.