Not 100% confirmed verbally by any character yet but all signs point to yes. Them not being lovers would be the bigger plot twist at this point.
Never mind, answered my own question. Original title is a proverb
Proverb
Even a goblin can do tricks with bushes.
meaning
A metaphorical saying that no matter how talented people are, they must be provided with certain conditions to show that talent.
Super interesting because “Fate Makes No Mistakes” is something Yama directly mentions in chapter 60 and such a fitting title.
Hello! First of all, I don't mind ur Ted Talks at all. They are wonderful, insightful and informative since it is downright unbearable to pore over the raws without having the slightest clue what is going on. Very much appreciated! I have been wondering about the name just as well. Our Russian guys translated it as "A goblin needs a forest, too", explaining that it is a Korean proverb, which means that everyone needs something to rely/hold on to, and if this happens, it empowers u in many ways, making ur vertually invinsible. It immediately makes GM' words pop up in my mind: "We all need something to hold on to whether it is an object, animal or a person. Without having it, we just fall". So probably it is really clever word play. I just can't categorise this gem of a story as simple yaoi. It is so epic, beautifully tragic, touching and very human. Rarely does a film/book invoke such an emotional storm in me, making me experience a wide range of different feelings. And what I particularly appreciate is the fact that the author doesn't create drama and conflict out of nothing by deliberately making the characters dumb, illogical or inconsistent. All the characters seem like real full-fledged people! And GM character is precious as many authors' common mistake is when they attempt to create complex, complicated, non-conformistic characters, they frequently make them act as jerks, trying to justify their actions by some kind of trauma. And then by some magic trick they become good, humble and affectionate. It doesn't work this way. Here the author managed to create the atmosphere of utter hopelessness and desperation. When the character acts the way he acts because he has no other choice, when he has to choose between bad and worse like always lose-lose situation. And despite all this, he tries to smooth out the edges and tie up loose ends as much as he can. 704' reaction is quite adequate and understandable. ( like OMG he doesn't fall in love with someone who mistreats him for no good reason. That is sooo refreshing). Yet, judging by his latest angry outburst he has developed some kind of connection? Because he is clearly no longer satisfied with merely physical relationships. Otherwise he wouldn't have flown off the handle when Chugin taunted him about GM just sucking yang energy out of him. He obviously got offended by this "revelation" like that is the only reason why they have sex, which is unusual reaction since "bang for yang" was the initial deal. I guess he is really conflicted about how he feels about their "relationships". Maybe through all the years of physical relationships he has formed some kind of attachment and subconsciously started to want more ( a piece of affection) as it often happens with only sex relationships. He is genuinely concerned about San despite knowing that what happened isn't his fault, which another indication that he isn't as emotionally distorted as we thought in the beginning. What led to that is another question. Also, I like ur speculation about GM, being his gatekeeper. It makes a lot of sense. However, I pictured the beginning of their relationships differently. Remember this scene where Yama says to GM if he doesn't have sex, he isn't going to last long. And GM replies that he hates humans since they are rude and vulgar. Maybe 704 was the one who managed to see GM while he was wearing a shadow mask, which made him stand out, distinguishing him from other humans in a favourable way. Sometimes my imagination runs wild. Hehe...There are so many things about this work I would like to address, but that is going to be a real Ted Talk. Again, thank u for spoilers and interesting ideas! U are an angel.
No it’s not like that I can spoil if u want
Their not I can spoil tho
Thanks!
Yes spoil pls
Basically he loves 704 but because 704 is a reaper he can’t feel emotions because if he does how can he oversee tragic deaths and send people to the afterlife so basically he tries to hint that he loves 704 but if he does get his emotions back Yama will send him to hell because then he’ll be ineffective as a reaper.
[chapter 60 spoilers]
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It’s cute that Chugin thinks he deserves to know what’s going on when it took 704 roughly 20 years to figure shit out. I mean, honestly Chugin, when you’re tasked with kidnapping and locking up Yama’s lead reaper one would assume Yama is not real big on transparency. How good does he have it in the North?
My baby 704 is so smart ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
Confronting Yama to tie in the title reference. That’s my boy!!! You are perfect and can do no wrong, 704, because Fate Makes No Mistakes, baby!
Side note- Super curious if anyone could help translate the Korean title better and provide more insight? Something is definitely lost in translation for “Even Goblins Gather When There is a Bush”.
Chugin is very obviously going to help 704 escape or lose him somehow, right? We wouldn’t hear Yama give clear instructions of where to transport and how to imprison 704 otherwise. I mean, this is basically Chekhov’s escape plan, right?
If nothing in this world is a mistake and there is no coincidence, would this be another careful plan by Yama? Is he setting up Chugin now?! Am I just paranoid? Dammit, Yama, why do you have to be as sexy as you are untrustworthy? (╯°Д °)╯╧╧
Yama: (RE: San) I don’t intend to kill him but that doesn’t mean he won’t die.
What the hell kind of cryptic answer is that?!
Ugh, remembering both San and Eunjae are orphaned victims of Hwan holding each other and finding comfort in one another at the end there broke my heart.
The callback to strong spiritual minds being deliberately broken by Hwan so the door to their spirit would open or widen for Hwan to enter reminded me of 704 explaining something similar to San on the phone when Eunjae was attacked and how, as a Goblin, San is the gatekeeper to Eunjae’s door. As long as San is standing guard Eunjae is mostly safe because Hwan would need to avoid or kill San to enter.
I wonder if Geumseon was also the Goblin gatekeeper responsible for guarding the door to a spiritually-strong-sighted-human 704 and whether or not being lovers came before or after. Both Geumseon and 704 have separately warned San not to get too close to Eunjae and when pressed why 704 says, “you can ask Geumseon.”
Geumseon explains that he’s an unregistered Goblin in the Underwood for being deemed uncooperative. Would make sense if he broke some rules for loving someone he wasn’t supposed to and failing to protect them or why he would have such history with Hwan.
This story is so intricately woven. There is so much foreshadowing planted in the dialogue and all these tiny details.
It’s so much fun to reread and pull apart these threads of repeated patterns or set ups that don’t get re-referenced until some 50+ chapters later.
There are so many formulaic BL out there that it’s super refreshing to have something we can dissect and share theories about and collectively feel excited about when we’re right. Anyway, thanks for powering through another Ted Talk lmao. Love to hear more of all your thoughts and theories! ヾ(☆▽☆)