¯_(ツ)_/¯'s Topics (85)

Facts just take this outta here ppl lol

Also- should add that Yama says what he really wanted to entrust Chugin with was not 704 but the bow but now that the bow is out of Chugin’s hands this is fate as well. Assuming this means 704 took his bow back and what Chugin was meant to do in the Hwan scheme is now up to 704?

The cliffhanger though, How am I gonna wait 20 more days just to see some Geunsum and 704 affection.Nevertheless this chapter was filled with emotions, and thank you for the summary like always (づ￣ ³￣)づ

One question though why was Chugin wearing a bathrobe, seem rather suspicious don’t you think?

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Northern reaper has a name! Err...number, rather, and it’s 944.

Hahahah nice timing on 704’s part though showing up right when everyone else is gone and yeah Chugin definitely woke up with clothes on. that bathrobe is sus.

Geunsum and 704 better hug in the next chapter, I’ve been craving for some scenes between them for like 2 months now, I’m really not joking when I say I’m obsessed with them, they live rent free in my head .And why was Chugin wearing a bathrobe, I DONT NEED SLEEP I NEED ANSWERS.

A hug looks promising! Honestly, the last thing 704 says is “it’s cold” so I’m pretty sure he’s asking for one??? I like to think that Chugin figured Yama would come by at some point and has been lounging around in a bathrobe for this very moment. The answer I really need though is can Yama get into one too? PLEASE. How many more chapters must he torture me with that outfit?

Thanks a lot for the summary. you`re an angel. the chapter was very sad indeed. but what i don`t get is where did San go? did he to go to catch Hwan or what happened? i don`t get it.how he disappeared just like that!!!

wow, you know i guess i just assumed he had already goodbye to Eunjae last chapter with that forehead kiss so I didn't think much of it. but now that you mention it, i have no idea??? i don't think he's still in Geumsun's house bc I don't think he's so cold that he wouldn't come see Eunjae after he's passed out and it wouldn't make much sense for him to go after Hwan by himself. i honestly have no idea lol. he really disappeared, huh? maybe he made himself scarce for the Geumsun/704 reunion and temporarily really no longer exist bc of plot reasons lol. but still pretty weird!

right?. how can he disappear like that. even GS didn`t start his plan with San yet and they didn`t even catch Hwan yet, if he disappeared already, how they`ll catch Hwan without San around as GS said he`ll return all the painful memories to him to make Hwan notice him. i think there`s something missing as u said that actually happened during the time Eunjae was sleeping.but not yet revealed, cuz if San disappeared like that. i`ll cry a mountains of tears lol.

just wait for Masahiro & Taiga arc (from chapter 52 to 62). I’m the one uploading this manga but even I’m only here for them.

hahahaha omg ty you're the best

a doujinshi is a self-published work not hentai lol

oh suujin explained it here :)
http://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/12021280/

we're on mangago, every manga should be feared

Yeah, I figured. I’m so used to seeing smut in that space though.

Thats mrm

lmao

"unspeakable yaoi" ahahahaha same it scared me for a sec

Ugh glad that was distracting bc I just finished the chapter and (╯°Д °)╯╧╧ crying forever, hbu?

Honestly unnie I come here every time a new chapter drops to find your comment, you’re an angel and I’m enormously thankful to you

Doing Gods work

ahh, tysm!!! ^edited with summary now that i can think straight. i love this story so much i don't mind screaming into the void about it but also really glad to know that i'm not haha.

٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

I’m obsessed with it too, especially the love hate relationship that geunsum and 704 have going on, plus Yama is a hot mess...again thank you for the summary beautiful (づ￣ ³￣)づ

Thanks so much for the summary. now this chapter makes me sad. ┗( T﹏T )┛
i don`t want that plan to happen .i don`t want San and Eunjae to break like that. also San will disappear from this world and Eunjae memories of San will be gone if San is gone. ┗( T﹏T )┛ i hope that there`ll be will another plan either than this. i always felt that there`s a storm that gonna happened （/TДT)/

ikr? SO sad! i genuinely don't think everything will go according to plan though. there's a lot of factors already set up ready to foil said plan. The most important being: 1) 704 being AWOL right now 2) Hwan already knows of San's involvement with Geumsun by looking into Eunjae's memories and 3) Yama's promise with his throne on the line (thank god for San) bc I think they'll have to rely on that promise to get out of this entire mess in the end otherwise San wouldn't have forced it.

I can't make any guesses on what 704's and Geumsun's ending will be as we still don't know their beginning. I can't tell if they'll be an ambiguous tragic couple all the way through or not but I would wager that San and Eunjae will get a happy ending. Although happy may be subjective. Worst case scenario probably reincarnated with no previous memories but still reunited. Although a fresh start may be better for them bc with the exception of finding each other in this life everything else sucked?

Assumptions relying heavily on symbolisms in the artwork and plot points of common tropes and how the story has been set up thus far. I could be completely wrong though. Let's be sad and nervous together. ヾ(❀ T﹏T )ﾉ~

I think the same thought. but if we think about it. Hwan can`t remember San even if he knew his involvement with Geumsun. GS has to make his plan to let Hwan enter san as it means that he has to remove his goblin marks and his power from san, so Then San will be a human as he was before?if that`s happened then San will be dead or i get this wrong?
I think the same about the reincarnation part too. but if Eunjae forget San , i thinks it`ll be very sad, cuz san already was forgotten once, as he chose to be forgotten again to protect his loved one is making his character more pitiful.but i think we`ll be stopped in a big cliffhanger as the author said S2 will be about 70chs.

Thank you so much for being able to read all the new chapters and thank you very much once again

      Thank u so much! U are a savior since Google translate doesn't always make much sense to me, and I really love ur perspective on the story. In the wake of how the events unravel in this chapter, I came up with a theory about how 704 became a reaper. As the author said that all the characters are linked together and share the same key words, it stands to reason to believe there must be a lot of overlapping in terms of their fates. San is willing to sacrifice himself even if he ceases to exist and EJ forgets him, but  EJ's life will be no longer threatened by Hwan and he will get a chance to lead a normal life. What if 704 found himself in the same position? At this point I have no doubt he was the victim of Hwan. How exactly he died is still unclear of course. And we know GM was severely wounded and would have died if Yama hadn't saved his life. Maybe 704 made a deal with Yama: he saves GM's life, 704 becomes a reaper but forgets GM. Probably Yama himself proposed this to 704 since he knew only too well that GM would throw himself under a bus for the sake of 704 and he could use 704 to control GM and make him catch Hwan.
        I know each of the characters symbolizes one of the four noble plants that's why I find it hard to believe that 704, who symbolizes perseverance, hope, beauty and purity, committed some kind of heinous atrocities since only this way one becomes a reaper. At this point it is still unknown whether it applies to committing a suicide, but it could still be a possible cause.
      Also, I am really buffled with Yama's strange obsession with 704. He never misses the chance to harass him and taunt GM that 704 is his reaper. Maybe this way he is trying to get some insight into what made 704 so precious for GM, who used to hate humans and sex with them... And from chapter 60 I got the vibes as though he finally got what he had always wanted when he calls 704 "my reaper" in a rather creepy way. Like now 704 is in his power and at his mercy thus, he can do whatever he wants to him...
     

Yeah, I’m unsure as well what physically (and spiritually?) happens to San with his Goblin markings removed. From what Geumsun described of the marks it stops San’s life flow so I think San will be human again with his soul still intact that he stepped into the Netherworld with but his body has stopped regenerating?

So… spiritually human again = yes? But… physically human = no? Does that make him technically dead? Human/Goblin hybrid bc he’s still running on Yang energy as his life source? It’s all very confusing.

And I think you’re right about the cliffhanger. I’m already mad about it lol.

Yes!! We’re absolutely on the same page!!! I wrote an essay about it here : https://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/10433232/

Additionally, the last chapter also reminds me of 704 talking about the soul door to San in the past when Eunjae was attacked and that 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 think Geumsun could absolutely be the Goblin gatekeeper responsible for guarding the door to a spiritually-strong-sighted-human 704 in the past. In the official acrylic stands put out by Lezhin and the author 704 is also holding a gold fan - Geumsun’s namesake!!!!

      Thank you for your reply and the link! It is great to find someone as passionate as me about this work. Btw, these acrylics are gorgeous. This tiny cup with plum blossoms, depicted on it is an ingenious way to portray the bond between GM and 704, the latter being the well of life for the former. I guess your gatekeeper theory makes a lot of sense. Given it is true, the pieces are more or less coming together. Yet, it immediately raises a helluva ton of questions lol. Surely I appreciate when the story is intriguing and keeps u at the edge of ur seat, but now my poor head is swollen with all sorts of "conspiracy" theories!
     You addressed the last confrontation between GM and Hwan, where the latter taunts him about how he lost everything, and I totally agree with you that "everything" must be the reference to 704. Hwan also says that this happened because of GM's arrogence, and this part really sparked my curiousity. Does it mean that 704's death is GM's fault at least partially?? I am dying to know! Obviously Hwan says this out of sheer spite, but there must be something else. It may have something to do with GM, being an unregistered goblin, which in turn means being considered "uncooperative". Provided he was initially registered in the Netherworld and was assigned to guard 704, and then falling in love with him, decided to cut off all the ties with the Netherworld since he no longer needed to rely on vitality capsules, legally available to only registered goblins, and probably didn't want to get 704 involved in the Netherworld affairs. Knowing Yama's ingenious ability and insatiable passion to throw each and everyone under a bus to make his own ends meet, GM must have found the perspective of him using 704 to his own advantage the least appealing. Needless to say that is a bold step for a goblin, and for whatever reason GM could not ward off Hwan on his own. That is why Yama "ever-so-subtly" brags about "his reaper", losing the opportunity to lay his hands on 704 in the past?
   Or in another possible scenario GM was an unregistered goblin from the very start and had a "by-chance encounter" (since we already know that "fate makes no mistakes") with 704, saving him from Hwan or whatever and thus being bonded with him by fate, and had no other choice but to guard him.
   But again why "arrogance"? Provided that 704 was made into a vessel at some point, was it GM who proposed this? Or simply complied when 704 decided to do this? And as you suggest, he wanted to sacrifice his life in the end, realizing there was no other way around, and GM managed to kill him, sending to the Netherworld.
     And what has really been plaguing me all this time is if one of the above-mentioned scenarios is true even in a remote way, it contradicts the whole "being a sinful reaper" part or at least for me pieces don't come together. Since GM, being quite complacent and not confronting Yama about how 704 could possibly become a reaper means that 704 actually committed some kind of crime (for fuck sake, what crime could it be??) and GM is sure of that. Another indication is that scene when he refused to have sex with 704 when the latter approached him for the first time. Like he didn't want to have anything to do with 704, considering him "lost forever". It is so hard to untangle this knot of various emotions he is going through. Like he can't reconcile with 704, being a reaper since he genuinely disdains them. But he can't bring himself to hating 704, which in a way destroys the inner integrity with himself. He can't stop loving and caring about 704 to the point of self-denial even despite that shell of a human he became. And this blindfolded sex thing. As long as he doesn't see 704's face, he can pretend 704 is just a grim reaper, who doesn't deserve affection and respect. He has to supress his feelings all the time, pretending to be a "rude and uncaring bastard", which goes against his nature, putting additional strain on him. Otherwise he will condemn 704 to Hell.
     I am obviously missing something, and it was a long rant lol.
   

I don’t know if you watched the goblin(Kdrama) but in this drama, there’s grim reaper and his great sin that lead to him being reborn as reaper in his next life was committing suicide so maybe, 704 killed himself in order to protect geunsum

Oh, yes. I watched it. And in the beginning after going back and forth with this idea, I came to the conclusion that it was exactly what happened. I mean 704 committing suicide, but at that time I thought Hwan drove him to suicide. Then I had second thoughts because I wasn't and still isn't sure that a suicide is considered to be a sin in this manhwa universe. Regardless, it is an interesting theory. 704, dying to protect/save GM' s life - never thought about it from this perspective. Time to make up new theories lol! Thank you for the comment!

Oh my god you’re the sweetest person ever, keep the theories going, I enjoy reading your theories more than I enjoy reading the manhwa itself, you seem to have such w wild and big imagination, and you have interesting ideas about what you think will happen so please keep delighting us with these outstanding theories (づ￣ ³￣)づ

You are very nice here! At times I get carried away lol. At this point only the author is in the know. I am sooo impatient for the next chapter.

Oh my god. You know, I always assumed the “I hate reapers” stance Geumsun takes was bitterness for 704’s emotion-less state, general disdain for all things Yama, and a flimsy excuse for as to why he’s to dick to 704 to avoid attachment/condemning 704 to hell. I never considered that Geumsun could have hated reapers to begin with. Watching someone you love become something you hate adds a whole new level of angst I wasn’t ready for. But I do love angst so I like where your head’s at.

The word count I’ve put into this story is beyond embarrassing so I definitely don’t think anyone’s rant could ever be too long. I honestly loved all of it. More, please!

I love any and all media with subtext I can theorize about. It is so much more rewarding to be able to connect with others and see things in entirely new perspectives. Though sometimes I run the risk of the source material becoming far more disappointing than fan theories haha. Honestly a lot of times I find myself way too overwhelmed to respond to other’s A+ theories bc there’s so much I’m excited about and can get too carried away.

I’m definitely nervous as we’re coming to the end of season 2 that there won’t be enough screen time left in the final season to juggle both the climax and Geumsun and 704’s backstory to feel satisfying. BUT I’m going to reach further than normal (excuse me as I fasten my tin foil hat lol) and suggest we might be getting a Geumsun and 704 spin off? The reason: the last episode landed on Eunjae’s birthday and the author tweeted about drawing something for Eunjae’s birthday last year but missed drawing 704 and Geumsun’s birthday which will happen after season 2 concludes. In addition to the “main” story, they’re also working on other projects so I’m hoping the good news is one of those other projects being a GM and 704 spin off. And maybe that’s where their birthday drawings would be most appropriate.

I think if the acrylic stands reveal anything about the time period of the past then it would make a lot of sense to separate the projects. I think it’s obvious there’s a lot of interest for Geumsun and 704 at this point. L*zhin cut a pretty dope animated teaser video for the pairing on Twitter and IG (posted April 21). The caption is “This world and the underworld, present life and past life. A couple that burns coldly between cold and passion!” It’s pretty impressive and got so much engagement. So there’s definitely money to be made there lol. I’m already buying this story in both Korean and English and would probably do the same for a GM/704 spin-off . Fingers crossed!

RE: goblin status - I am so curious as well on what GM’s registered goblin status was in the past. If I had to guess though I think the first theory you have would be correct. San mentions that Geumsun doesn’t have to hide the meaning of his name because he’s already so well known and the way Chugin and his green haired Northern reaper friend talk about Geumsun it sounds like he’s well known in their parts as well. I think falling out with the Netherworld would make him more infamous than being unregistered all along. It would make a lot of sense if whatever went down with 704 and Hwan would cause him to break off cooperating with the Netherworld too.

RE: Yama possessiveness about “his reaper” - Honestly, this had me so puzzled for the longest time. I couldn’t figure out if Yama was into 704 or into Geumsun because my mind applied yaoi logic that any 3 hotties in a room together must be a love triangle lol. At this point though, I truly think Yama’s entire relationship with and interest in 704 is a calculated act put on to appeal to/control Geumsun.

Yama is SO conniving. He doesn’t hesitate to get physically violent with 704 alone when 704 upsets him but repeatedly voices his concern for 704’s health in front of Geumsun. I think this is an entirely calculated act done to reassure Geumsun that 704 is in good hands so Geumsun can stop worrying about 704 and worry instead about Hwan.

I would not be surprised if Yama made some deal with Geumsun to release 704 if Hwan was killed and any possessive mentions of 704 is reminding Geumsun of the work to be done. When Geumsun calls Yama to pick up 704 he says “Keep him safe. Until I go get him again.” almost like it’s agreed that’s what will happen if Geumsun succeeds. Yama makes no mention of 704 being “his reaper” here or denies him. Yama simply says “…fine. Good luck”.

I think if Yama had real genuine interest in 704 or if his possessiveness stems from lingering regret for not having laid his hands on 704 in the past he would say no or be more difficult and remind Geumsun again who 704 belongs to. The easy agreement makes me feel like that is exactly what Yama wants. 704 is simply Yama’s possession to make Geumsun fall in line. I think he may be a bit fucked now that 704 is MIA though and I’m both excited and terrified to see how Yama reacts lol.

RE: Hwan’s “arrogance” accusation/who’s fault is it for whatever happened to 704- If 704 was made a vessel at some point I would guess that it would not have been Geumsun who would suggest it.

1. ) Geumsun says that the person with the strong spiritual sight also told him how to kill Hwan. If 704 was smart enough to figure that out I don’t think he’s the type of person to wait for someone else to ask him to execute his own idea. I remember that the author labels both Geumsun and 704 as alphas in one of the extras. 704 would definitely take it upon himself to get shit done.

2. ) I can’t imagine Geumsun or 704 putting each other in danger on purpose. I think it would undercut the type of relationship I’m led to believe they had in the past. I have like a half developed theory that the “arrogance” is thinking 704 wouldn’t act on his own or that Geumsun wouldn’t ever lose him. I have no real reason for this theory besides wondering what would be the most heartbreaking thing for Geumsun since that seems to be the through line for the story.

RE: 704’s sin status - I think @Haneul is right and the sin is suicide. Perhaps whether a suicide mission is considered martyrdom or a sin depends on whether it’s a success or a failure and seeing as how Hwan is still alive it looks like 704 is paying for that sin and maybe that’s why Geumsun hates sinners bc arrogantly thought 704 wouldn’t chose to leave him. I’m also remembering here that Geumsun is technically an immortal sacred being with a different moral standard so perhaps he does see such acts as selfish and sinful.

RE: blindfolds. I think you’re right that it would be easier to treat 704 as another reaper Geumsun can have have emotionless sex with and avoid condemning to hell if he can’t see 704’s face but I’d like to suggest alternatively that Geumsun is just a mess and there’s no way for him to have emotionless sex with 704 in the first place lol. so maybe it’s to stop 704 from seeing his face and figuring him out. I mean, from their very first time Geumsun has shown zero self control lol. He slips up over and over again to the point that it weirds 704 out. even though Geumsun was hesitant to have sex with him to begin with and seemingly (devastatingly) accepting that 704 is now nothing more than a reaper who doesn’t even know his own name I think the way he actually treats 704 during that first time shows there’s just still SO much love there he needs a flimsy excuse to hide.

Oh, god dammit. I take back what I said about it not being possible to rant too long. I believe I may have and I’m truly sorry lol.

I wanted to watch this but was scared I'd be wishing the whole time it was Fate Makes No Mistakes instead or drawing comparisons lol. Is it worth watching?

Let me tell you it was definitely worth every second of my time, I’m a picky watcher and I loose interest faster than light, but this drama got me hooked, it was perfectly done. I don’t cry, like at all believe when I tell you I’m a cold hearted bitch and it’s not easy to make me cry. But this drama got me sobbing, specially when the grim reaper cries, whenever he starts crying, tears instantly start to come down. And the OSTs are just perfect. I highly recommend you watch it , I can assure you, you won’t regret it

   You can rant however long you want: it makes another engaging story and I love your speculations and theories! I guess it is the third story I have to write down my thoughts to prevent my head from exploding, which awoke such an intense emotional response in me and where I unconditionally love all the characters!
    I honestly hoped that at least some light would be shed on GM/704 relationship during the second season, but at the same time I was worried sick that the author would simply rush through it cause at this point I am enormously greedy for A Huge Mindblowing/Epic/Tragic/Romantic/ You name it flashback I suffered for and deserved lol! I can't agree more that it must be made into a separate story to properly portray all the aspects of their relationship. Now I feel less concerned since judging by the meticulous build-up of the storyline with fastidious attention to the detail so far, I can tell with certainty that it is either going to be a veeery long third season or just like you suggest a spin-off, which may kick off in season 3 and then gradually progress into a spin-off. (Relatable: fingers crossed!) Surely a spin-off would be the most perfect outcome since it should be as long as EJ/San story, which makes at least one season plus that is a completely different era! I have been wondering how far we are going to leap back in time. Judging by the acrylics and San's remark that GM could be easily be EJ's ancestor, that would be helluva long journey. Like it was the end of the second season, we still didn't know the age and the name of two characters lol! I also obsessively keep speculating on who 704 could possibly be. I haven't come up with anything better than a clairvoyant/exorcist. For some weird reason I believe that he made a living through his strong spiritual vision or it came into play anyhow.
    You make a good point about Yama, playing a "conscientious master" in front of GM and turning into a "ruthless slaver" should he only look away. At first I kinda brushed it off but now it makes me wonder. I really wish you were right about GM, striking a deal with Yama to relieve 704 of his reaper's duties as it would mean at least some ray of hope for 704 and GM in this absolute gloom. But does it actually mean him no longer being a reaper and being reincarnated in case of which GM will lose him again? Or him being under "GM's jurisdiction", whatever it means? " And will he be allowed to learn emotions without condemning himself to Hell in this guise? I go get him again" part sounds like "he will be mine from now on". It would be rather symbolic if in the end it turns out that both of them struck a deal with Yama to save one another.
You actually voiced my initial thoughts when you said that 704 decided to take the matter into his own hands, turning himself into a vessel to annihilate Hwan, probably without GM knowing, who would obviously have strong objections to that. From the very start he has given me the vibes of someone who is really stubborn, assertive, brutally honest sometimes to the point of being rude, responsible, conscientious- a man of honour in a way. I bet that is exactly the way he was in his human life. His nonchalant "damn. It is cold" was priceless!

In the light of the recent events when he was awol despite Yama's likely wrath, I started to gravitate back to this idea. This would line up with your suggestion about GM's "arrogance" in believing that 704 would never leave him.  At some point I got these vibes, too.
    But most importantly this "becoming a reaper due to a failed suicide mission" finally made sense to me! Goodness, thank you for the fresh perspective. It has been haunting me like forever!
     As usual thank you for the spoilers! Honestly it took me a while to put all my emotions into words. The latest chapter was heartbreaking and epic in a way. Just looking through it without reading your summery was an emotional turmoil, which left me almost on the verge of tears and then feeling elated with a stupid smile on my face. From this intense scene between GM and EJ I have no doubt GM was reliving the loss of 704 and despair of the only one, carrying the burden of hurtful memories. When he says in a resigned way "Fate has never been on my side", it is a direct reference to this tragedy I guess. And then 704 unexpectedly
 appears on the doorstep like in some twisted turn Fate suddenly decided to have mercy on him and be on his side this time. Or speaking about the key words, one of them is obviously "fate", but maybe it is also "collaboration ( like mutual help)". Assuming that 704, sacrificed himself without saying anything to GM, just like San is about to do now, all of them ought to unite and stick together in the face of the mutual threat. Like basically it is a repetition of the past tragedy, and maybe it is time to take the bull by the horns not just passively drift along and fight back and changed the Fate, who brought all of them together. At this point they remind me of a family.
    And Yama...Scheming, plotting, calculating, always smug and unreadable...At first I thought it was him who acted as Fate, playing with human lives, bringing them together, separating them on a whim. Like he knew! He knew for sure, god dammit that 704 would end up developing emotions, GM would be able to completely hide his affection to him, San and EJ would fall in love with each other, and this ridiculous "imprisonment"! Imprisonment, my ass!! He was sure that 704 would outsmart Chugin and escape! He wasn't raving and raging. He just let it slide...What was the point? For whatever reason it makes me even think that Yama wanted 704 to reflect on his involvement into San's situation, how he feels about GM and eventually come to the latter like develop more self-awareness...At this point it seems like a too-smart-ass plan! And whether Yama is really Fate here or just someone, taken in the flood of Fate is still open to debate.
     Another thing to support "collaboration theory". In Russian unofficial translation (official one doesn't existI wish I could buy it not only in Engish since Russian is my native tongue) the name is "Токкеби тоже нужен лес", which is something like Dokkaebi ( it stands for a goblin) needs a forest, too. I checked this out and it is a Korean saying, meaning "if you have something to hold on like support, you are able to change the world".
    Lol. I guess we could have "who can rant longer" competition!
    P.S. 704 really needs a hug! Both of them need honest affection. At this point the situation is spiraling out of control anyway, so whatever!
   I want to hibernate until the next chapter...

* GM wouldn't be able to hide...

Collaboration is a great word! I’m totally on board with this theory! I think despite their best efforts of hiding Eunjae safely away he is still very much a main character (arguably THE main character if we’re going off initial premise and the story’s hook) so he will ultimately have to be at the center of the climax. 944’s reassurance for his safety is a big red flag that Murphy’s law is about to strike, right? As you said fate is changing for Geumsun and even though it looks like San and Eunjae are following in his and 704’s footsteps I think a lot already has happened to change their perspective and new problems they haven’t anticipate will force them to do things differently this time around like giving up the idea of self sacrifice and have to work together or ‘collaborate’ so to speak. Perfect key word!

The scene between Geumsun and Eunjae was SO intense. Geumsun has been notably desolate since chapter 67 but shockingly near catatonic at the start of 68. He’s physically crumbling just smoking that cigarette. I mean we know it’s hard for him because he must be reliving his own past and it’s sad enough just to understand how heartbreaking Geumsun’s words are for Eunjae because he knows first-hand the pain of being the only one to remember but, even though I’ve thought that 704 must have acted on his own in the past for a long time now, it wasn’t until reading your response here that I could see Geumsun’s state this last chapter in a new perspective that supports that theory.

I believe Eunjae cries and asks, “how can it be like this? Like this, unilaterally…” No one is giving Eunjae a choice here and it’s heartbreaking. San has already decided for him. Geumsun’s severe emotional state makes more sense if he’s having a hard time taking away Eunjae’s choice bc 704 unilaterally decided for him in the past and took away Geumsun’s choice as well.

Despite what Geumsun said to 944 I think there’s a chance he left Eunjae’s memories after all or since we see him using the blue goblin flames to pull the memories maybe they’re safely stored away and can be brought back if needed. Unlike 704 (who you described perfectly btw!) Geumsun has been shown to be unable to do what’s necessary for the greater good in the past (i.e. kill San) so having to do something he doesn’t feel is right would absolutely break him and we’re seeing it.

You brought up some really great questions for what it would mean for Geumsun to “go get him again”. Lots of problems to consider, yeah, would 704 reincarnate? Would his memory be restored? What would being under Geumsun’s jurisdiction look like if Geumsun doesn’t even work with the Underworld? So many unknowns! Honestly, I never thought of what a ‘happy ending’ could look like for these two. Despite asking Yama to keep 704 safe until he can go get him again, it’s always felt a bit to me like Geumsun has resigned himself to going out with Hwan in the end. Hwan’s goal at the end of the day isn’t consuming San or Eunjae. They’re both just meals for him to recover quickly. His end goal is revenge and killing Geumsun. Even Yama says so to Chungin and 944 when they complain about Geumsun, “Don’t you think Geumsun would make the ideal bait? …He is the sort who is prepared to throw himself away for that purpose if needed.” The sadness we’re seeing from Geumsun makes even more sense if he’s reliving painful memories while having already accepted it’s the end for him.

I was rereading chapter 49 and when Yama sees the mark on 704’s neck as a warning from Geumsun he thinks “such arrogance”. So maybe total coincidence or maybe the arrogance is indeed his possessiveness over 704.

THANK YOU for the discourse. Your rants have been absolutely eye opening.

I think I’ll hibernate too

       Relatable from start to end! You know it used to be impossible for me to imagine what a happy ending for them would be like as well! Especially after the reason why GM can't show his love and affection was finally revealed, things appeared despairingly gloomy and dark. I couldn't see any legit way-out. But I got the impression that the author makes a deliberate attempt to put the reader in each character's shoes and makes us experience precisely what they do. And she did pretty good job, I must admit! And that is one of the reasons why she doesn't reveal all the details of the plot not only to keep the reader intrigued. I mean many were buffled and furious with GM's attitude, distrustful of him, thinking he uses 704. I guess at first many mistakingly took this attitude for this recycled over hundreds of times yaoi trope when the seme acts like a total jerk cause of some childhood trauma/being tsundere/yandere and so on and the uke gives him a cold shoulder at first, but then both of them fall in love bla bla...lol! But that is ultimately how 704 felt and still feels in a way about GM: he thinks GM despises him, plots schemes with Yama, uses him for yang/now as a stand for someone else, basically has seen him mostly in the negative light up until now whereas GM is absolutely otherwise. While as you said GM is already resigned to be perished in the end, and if our guess about his deal with Yama is right, that is about 704, being reincarnated after all. Feeling of hopelessness due to seeing no way-out! Precisely my feeling up until the end of the last chapter! The same could be said about what EJ and San go through.
     I guess this work is also about second chances. I would interprete it as Fate, making no mistake in recreating the past events to let the characters learn their lesson, correct the mistakes and redeem. It reminds me of "Back to the Future", but here the characters travel back in time in a more figurative way. It makes me hope for a happy ending

I forgot to ask but I’ve been really curious so I’m circling back now bc I clearly can’t hibernate: what are the other 2 stories you had to write down notes for? Also, is it a glitch that your last 3 replies are showing up empty for me?

Oh, yes, I have just checked, and indeed there is just empty space!So weird! Just let me know whether u will get this text, and if everything is fine, I will send you the rest. Since I can't hibernate myselfmy mind keeps returning to the manhwa with ridiculous frequency, and if the characters had to pay the rent for occupying my mind space, I would be insanely rich.

I can see this one but not the 3 before it. :/

     I suddenly remembered the manhwa EJ was drawing. It is called "Transmigration", and it may be a bit far-fetched, but it stands to reason to believe its name has some sort of symbolism. Like each of the characters is going through hardships, which purify their souls, bringing them to the higher level of consciousness just like cranes, flying up to the Sun in the acrylics. I wouldn't take its name literally like "reincarnation" or something.
     Yes, catatonic is the perfect word to describe GM! No ordinary "amenities" exchanges with Yama, which says a lot. I assume all of these taunts/sarcastic jokes of his plus putting on airs of a more badass than he really is mean in a way defence mechanism to somehow cope with the dismay of the situation and not to go insane. I am under the impression that he is much more on the gentle side than he seems at times. I bet in the relationship between him and 704 he was more gentle and compliant one. And I can't agree more that however sensible and collected he is, he is by no means the type who can easily do something which goes against his grain, throwing his moral values to the winds. And being put in the situation where he has to do things he finds ultimately disdainful visibly has its toll on him. When he is hugging EJ, trying to console him, it feels like they are two fellow souls in misery who just refuse to understand what they did so wrong to be abandoned in such a cruel manner.
       As for GM's "arrogence", I reread chapter 60 as well. And Yama says similar words upon seeing the bite mark "What an utter child!", which confirms your theory about GM's possessiveness. I would say, perhaps, overprotectiveness or a blind belief that he would be able to protect 704 at all costs and he would never abandon GM.
      You nailed it with Murphy's law! The northeners have already proven that they are "the safest" At this point honestly it can be a meme! Besides, yes, the author said that these guys must remain inseparable till the very end. That is why all four of them are inevitably going to be thrown in this mess together. Fingers crossed: no self-sacrificing!
     Going on more philosophical side, that is an interesting concept of a sin. Basically, both GM and 704 are paying for the sin of "arrogance". In the sense that each of them tried to bite more than they could chew. Obviously, out of benevolent intentions, nonetheless both of them ended up being punished for inability to maybe listen to one another, depriving his partner of a choice in a way (I guess the last one applies to 704 more). Curiously enough, that is not a story about people who deliberately tried to hurt each other, toxicity and so on. As I see it, that is a story about people whose love and affection to one another were so ultimate that they were misled to believe that love is a one-sided sacrifice...it is kinda challenging for me to coherently articulate my ideas here conflicted about this part. I assume that the dynamics of the current state of the things gives us a glimpse of what could possibly happen in the past. In chapter 65 Chugin makes an attempt to reason with 704 as to why he shouldn't be overobsessed with human matters ( to which 704 amicably advise him to back off). But then he goes back and forth with the idea that he is indeed doing this for San like a selfish desire to prove his existance (aka self-sacrifice/arrogance) and circles back to GM, maybe wondering what the latter actually WANTS for the first time. I am drawing kinda strange parallel here: like it is a bizzare repetition of the long-forgotten events, but on the rewind, when the past and the present are about to fuse (like in the teaser). I suspect in the past it was left off at the point where 704 decides to sacrifice himself for the sake of the greater good without asking GM what he actually WANTS and dies. In the present plotline it picks up from the moment 704 is about to throw himself away for the sake of San, dutifully and meekly taking the whole responsibility (aka for the greater good), however eventually he starts having second thoughts about the true nature of his fervour and whether it is just one self-serving act. It coincides and intertwines with his thoughts of GM, the person who is ready to give his life  for him and whose life is just an empty void without him both in the past and the present, which 704 couldn't appreciate and traded for the great good, being blinded by the sense of duty. I am wondering whether it is going to brought up in the last chapters and lead to 704's realization about GM's role in his life (possible getting back memories??), seeing him as someone who will always be there for him. You know so many possible scenarios!! I kinda got the whiff where the wind is blowing, but...