Responses
I think you are probably right its kind of the only option because no one likes the ML right now and I don't see him getting better but he is obviously the male lead so they are going to have to make everyone worse by comparison or give them some bullshit bonding moments to force them together. They are going to have to do some kind of retcon on him though because i will never accept him as a ML if he really was fine with helping slavers and watching women be abused. Thats just scummy.
Wait you actually explained it perfectly
I like the master too but i think the author will portray him very bad in the later chapters to make ML look better and acceptable.