my profile is atrocious it’s all funny guy BL or whatever I found interesting and really enjoyed- don’t expect too much from here or me orz im the nerd emoji but im just talking outta my arse
okay please leave me now I’m so embarrassed oh my god go away go away go away go away go away go away stay the hell away from me
(AH before you open the comment, the rant is ridiculously long- FIVE PARAGRAPHS FEEL FREE TO SCROLL PAST THIS!! I just have annoying opinions and I like to yap, though it might all be wrong anyways. I do like reading about different takes, though! lots of spoilers till up to the current chapter 19)
Throughout the story, for a lot of decisions that Jaehyun makes I kept putting myself in their shoes and being like- “man this feels a bit dehumanizing”. The way the author portrays the system, adding a trust and loyalty statistic as something measurable in numbers as well as the way Jaehyun looks at characters for their benefits and benefits only? I mean a lot of reverse isekai stories I’ve been seeing lately feels exatly the same I won’t lie. Just- I don’t think he’s made a single genuine friend or true ally where if he spoke to them, I wouldn’t be like “this partnership isn’t conditional at all.” Like- the only power he has that requires consent from the other party is asking for citizenship while of the vassals he recruits are spontaneous and without warning. I don’t even know if he’s saving people just to save people anymore with the introduction of rewards for having a certain number of citizens.
Maybe I just wished Jaehyun took the time to talk to and know them all better as fellow people instead of relying on superficial gifts like rewards or by being a savior? I don’t know I mean I’m usually a fan of confident, competent MCs but it really feels like despite him saying he doesn’t want to become one, he’s developing quite a god complex. Like that ability to give citizens quests with any reward or punishments, buy anything listed at any time with his ridiculous amounts of money, bring people back to life at some point, see anything in the apartment, have an invisible hand for some reason I don’t know (I guess the equivalent to a cursor in a game (ngl I imagined the sims)) all without really doing anything but call the shots and have everyone else level up and kill for him?
The only instance I remember him being clever on his own was the hot oil at the very start. Maybe if I add the goblins and the wires lured to the first floor? But now it’s gotten too easy without any conflict. Or I guess conflict that directly affects him in any way. He says everyone must prove their worth to stay there yet I think the one time he’s ever had to kill goblins himself was at the beginning of the story where he threw a bunch of dumbbells at goblins from the top floor. And the quest for citizens to stay was to kill goblins- must that be the only way to measure worth? I guess if the parents of those two daughters from the house rewards are cool with it then I guess everyone else is. I do wonder if that’s the author’s intention to make him appear this way or if it’s just following the power fantasy trends
While reading, i’ve been having fun looking at things from the POV of Donggeon (the leader of the first group that arrived and throws a baseball good), because the story has a completely different and ominous vibe if that makes sense? Like at first, he’s just a genuine dude who apologizes and wanted to help save the grandma but they didn’t have the means to. Whenever we catch a glimpse of his thoughts now, it’s preoccupied by making sure they don’t misstep, that the survivors are ‘chosen’ by Jaehyun (which is completely right). Their leader and basically king, with him being a shut in, is elusive and doesn’t really interact with anyone outside of the reoccurring characters. He doesn’t recruit the survivors himself nor leave from the floor yet knows exactly what goes on in the apartment. He provides resources and facilities, preforms miracles, elects vassals (servants), and controls who comes in and out of his territory. With it being set in a apocalypse, this is a perfect paradise that will allow you to survive as long as you’re a citizen and do whatever quests Jaehyun gives you. I mean, if I was in this situation, sign me the hell up I’d rather live there than out with the monsters but I wouldn’t be surprised if things developed an actual religion or cult with how easily everything is accepted, no questions asked. (Plus the next time we see Donggeon in chapter 19, he literally has the title of ‘sixth angel’ it isn’t even servant anymore).
I’ll be real- at this point in the story, I’m kind of interested in following Donggeon’s POV as a protagonist because of how hesitant he’s been out of his whole group in trusting Jaehyun so easily. Plus, I like how genuine his smile looks when he’s out there saving people I hope he retains that humanityIM ROOTING FOR YOU, MAN, DON’T DIE- THERE HASN’T BEEN A SINGLE DEATH YET (EXCEPT THE MOTHER BEAR’S KID FROM THE PAST IG) YOU BETTER NOT BE THE FIRST
it was indeed a long rant and I didn't read all of it, just skim over it :'D
but still, I hope I got your point
for me I think it is kinda interesting that he doesn't necessarily see them as friends but more as something to fulfill his ultimate goal, which is getting his family back.. maybe he will turn around in the Future and realize that they are actual humans risking their lives , but maybe that story is too shallow to be like that, I don't know :'D
but I have to say, this is basically a "hunter story from the sight of the "evil one"" if you know what I mean.. best clarification I can give: the dokkaebis from orv. they have their own goals, see people as end to justify the means and give quests and whatnot.. and I think of someone realized they had power like that, they would simply act like that.. I think it's interesting to have a not necessarily upright MC who (mis)uses the power he has..
I once read a story where a human turned into one of those dokkaebis, but instead of him being a classic "villain like" character he was super helpful to the humans without any ulterior motive and that story was just so boring..
anyways, this turned into a long reply, but at least for me I think it makes sense that it is like it is
oh! i get whatchu mean :0 you mentioning him being similar to the dokkaebis is a really interesting take and I could totally see it. I guess what gave me the impression that this story wasn’t going to portray him in a darker light is the fact that none of his actions are ever treated like they’re morally dubious? for example, him assigning punishments of making the two boys sleep outside (with the monsters) if they failed to activate their powers/ complete his spontaneous quests without warning them beforehand. It felt more like a joke punishment that of course they’d accomplish but I wonder how they’d react if they didn't. Or the fact that none of the citizens batted an eye at his changes like the goblin quests everyone must do unless they want their facility rights taken away, except for the group of guys who were very obviously sketchy (which Jaehyun mocks the first time they meet).
However, I do remember that scene of him darkly looking at a chessboard with people as pieces when saying they had to prove their worth. Though I think thats as close to “villainous” -ish he’s been portrayed- in my opinion, most of his other decisions thus far have that energy of ‘leveling up’ or progressing in a video game that we’re all used to (but I could totally could’ve missed other scenes and if I do I apologies ;; regardless, that was the vibe I got so far)
That could be interesting if they ever go that direction, though! He realizes that maybe he’s game-ifying the situation too deeply with him not having to directly involve himself in fights except for having that birds eye view (his eye powers), invis god hands, or teleporting people. Though I don’t know orz I’ll keep my eye out for it though
thanks for the reply! your perspective was really interesting! (•ㅂ•)و✧
yeah I guess he doesn't give them harsh punishments bc he still "needs" them to fulfill his goal to find his family.. so yeah :'D
but I think he has no reason the be classically evil, so he's just coercing them to do what he wants with giving them access to the facilities and such..
I'll keep reading it for now to see how he changes (if he does at all) - like you said, if he realizes that it's not a game he plays..maybe when someone actually dies, who knows..
but yeah, it's nice to be able to have a good conversation about other viewpoints and see things you might have overlooked (that's rare on here )
my exact thoughts but even more elaborated, i love you random internet person <3