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Honestly its kind of crazy how divisive her character is in this comment section when you consider she has done literally 0 harm to anyone ever. Shes basically just an adorable sponge for abuse. And it has got me thinking why are characters like this so hated? In general I think people don't tend to like weak characters. Lots of series have these abused and sad protagonists and they get labeled boring, weak and useless and those series get dropped in droves. I think because from a narrative standpoint you are just stuck as an outsider watching this cute kid be traumatized and bullied over and over again and you just have to wait for someone to come save her. "Narratively" she is a bad heroine because she is a passive participant in her own story. She does not drive the narrative or make decisions or is capable of any heroic or interesting plans. So as the audience we are stuck next to her waiting for plot to happen off screen to move her to a new location or meet a new character. Along the way we don't really see any new facets of her personality or growth that could make up for the lack significance she has on the plot. All we see is that shes a cute abuse sponge and she has been one from chapter one and has not made much progress in over 30 chapters. When bullied at the table she said she'd be more upset but she has been treated well now so isnt as sad but again this is very passive behavior. She says nothing while still looking like a kicked puppy so the viewer is left frustrated for her and her lack of action.
As a function of what her character is we are only left satisfied when a different character helps her. It means that the only affection we have for her is from pity and not any achievement or trait of her own. It is the same empty feeling we have for OP characters who we are supposed to like because they get some great cheat and breeze through the story with inflated stats. Their personality is never developed because they have a crutch that carries them through the story. without an interesting character quirk or unique skill or development they are left as very boring trope characters.
The massive amounts of constant and repetitive abuse is being used to cover her lack of development. the more you feel bad for her the more you are supposed to like her. not because you learn more about her unique thoughts and dreams but because she is pitiable. The people who don't like the story see this as being a boring character because they are right. She is boring. I am not saying the story is terrible. I don't even think she is necessarily a bad character but as a "Lead" She is boring because of her inability to display a strong sense of character or action.
I don't hate the story I like all the mysteries that have been dropped about whose kid is she really? Does she really have holy powers? Why does the count abuse her so much what is their connection? But as a vehicle for the story to be delivered it feels like you are in a ditch with spinning wheels going nowhere while you wait for help to run down the road and push you out of the ditch. This is at least my hypothesis as to why she is so disliked by a lot of long time readers and comes off as bland. idk I find discussing her character and its flaws a lot more fun to read then the character itself but if people like her then all the power to you. Why did I write an essay for a manga character instead of my actual writing assignment who knows but if anyone reads this-thankyou and im sorry this is such a waste of time