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For those skeptical about the romance arc and worried since its seems so many people dislike it. Other than the people who do love the romance and think its well done. Since the beginning of the arc I've liked it before the romance even started. I personally love the romance arc because the author somehow fit an isekai villainess romance type plot inside ranking action manwha and I just think that is so fun. Like the manhwa itself is unique and surprising on its own, but fitting a whole other sub genre is so fun. If you don't like romance in action fine. If you don't like romance at all, whatever. If it's not your cup of tea thats okay. But I personally love how the author combined two similar genres that usually never overlap to introduce the romance aspect. As a person who really likes isekai and reincarnation romance stories, especially all versions that involve a villainess and heroine, this whole arc is really cool in my opinion and definitely surprised me since its genre combining. Idk I think its unique and the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that does this even more and combines the isekai genre with something else and subverts your expectations is Surviving Romance, which is also really good.
I also think learning love is very important for Gongja in this story is actually really important for his growth. The whole story he's trying to be a better person to become a worthwhile human being and to do something with his life. He spends all his time trying to empathize with others and basically save everyone and puts life in such high regard. Don't you think it's strange that he doesn't even know what love is? That he hasn't even experienced life himself? It's just as his teacher said, how would you be able to truly understand all the pain in the world without understanding joy first. So I think this arc is more than just some random romance arc, which to me is more well thought out than most romance plots in action LN's and manwhas. And if you think their love is too over the top, I think its a good change of pace from the constant harems and indecision or even lack of care you get from MC's. I really do get why people hate romance in action manhwas because it really doesn't fit or is not done well and can ruin a story. But I don't think that's a problem here at all.