Anime News Network has published an exclusive interview with Dr. Poro, the writer behind the manga The Vermilion Mask, offering a rare look at the person shaping the series.

The conversation digs into the origins of The Vermilion Mask — how the project came together and where its ideas came from — along with a more personal thread: the ways the manga's characters reflect their creator. Dr. Poro also shares a telling detail about their own gaming habits, explaining why they always choose the healer in RPGs, a preference that says plenty about how they approach character and story.

Creator interviews of this depth are relatively uncommon for working manga writers, who often stay out of the spotlight mid-serialization. For readers of The Vermilion Mask, the ANN piece offers context on the mind behind the series — and a few clues about where its sensibilities come from.