Woo-hyun, who doesn’t have much time left due to the skill penalty that reduces his life force, decides to hide this fact and quietly prepare for his end alone. However, as Woo-hyun tries to leave, Seo-heon, his longtime friend, changes his attitude affectionately, saying he will try to change Woo-hyun’s mind. Meanwhile, Lee-han, who has been like a younger brother to him, confesses his feelings. Regardless of Woo-hyun’s wavering emotions, his life force continues to decrease, and his physical condition worsens…
[Preview]“I guess I’ve been neglecting you lately.” After thinking to himself for a while, Seo-heon came to an unexpected conclusion and stood up without hesitation.
“If you still want to leave in a month, you can do so.”
“What?”
“I can’t accept it right now.” A long shadow was cast.
“We’re not the kind of people who can be defined by just a piece of paper like this, are we?” Seo-heon tore up the resignation letter in front of my eyes. It was something I had spent quite a long time thinking about and writing, but he was still as willful as ever. Moreover, it was annoying how skillfully he mixed in words that would make me react sensitively. As he intended, my conscience was pricked and hurt.
“It’s not like we’ll never see each other again just because I leave the guild.” My once-confident voice faltered. Seo-heon’s words made my resolve weaken. Moreover, I felt ashamed because I had partially lied, intending to minimize the time I would spend with Seo-heon during my remaining days.
“Really?” Seo-heon asked sharply, as if he had read my mind. Seo-heon definitely doesn’t have any special mental skills. Even if he did, it shouldn’t be strong enough to break through my mental barrier level, so why does it feel like he’s reading me like an open book?
While I was at a loss for words, Seo-heon came to his own conclusion. “I guess I’ll have to try courting our dear Vice Guild Master to keep him around.”
To be frank, I question my own masochism for delving so deeply into the story. Throughout, I found myself shouting at the protagonist, urging them to stand up against the manipulative character – it was exhausting. The sexual scenes were highly uncomfortable to read, and there were quite a few. Both the main character (MC) and love interest (ML) lack any redeeming qualities; I cannot change my stance on this, even if you disagree.
I had hoped for a similar experience to "Kill the Villainess," but the ending couldn't have been more different. In that series, the MC dies along with the ML, only to be reborn in an alternate universe – their origin point. The plot revolved around men (excluding the ML) who refused to accept rejection, attempting to pursue the MC through manipulation. Ironically, the ML shares traits with those characters, making me wish for the MC's escape from his grasp. But alas, the MC was also trapped in his love.
The quote "If I think of this sorrow as love too, I can endure it" resonates, but not in a positive way. I found myself rooting against them, wanting both to suffer.
To sum up, this story doesn't appeal to my taste. I continued reading out of curiosity, akin to rubbernecking at a car accident.
Regarding the ML, one reviewer mentioned people being put off by his relationship with another man. No, it's not just that. His treatment of the MC, gaslighting, manipulating emotions, chasing him relentlessly, and even controlling his life are major turn-offs. He's a terrible person, and I deeply regret investing time in this story.
The main character's perspective is quite unreliable, which becomes apparent early on. Despite being powerful, kind, and respected, he has low self-esteem, which affects his understanding of others' perceptions. For instance, the male lead (ML) is deeply fixated on the MC, to the point of offering to harm someone from their past, all before becoming a guild master. There's also a guild member whose jealousy ML misinterprets as his usual cold and antisocial behavior, when in reality, it stems from the MC's affection for the other person.
The MC seems oblivious to ML's possessiveness, and there might be more to the ML's relationship with his alleged partner than meets the eye. It appears to be a potentially manipulative contract. The MC is heartbroken by the unrequited love, and given ML's manipulative, obsessive, calculating, and controlling nature, it's concerning. It's possible that ML故意 uses harsh words to manipulate and hurt the MC, without realizing the full extent of his actions.
I'm curious about how ML's behavior will change once he learns about the MC's limited life expectancy, a result of the MC sacrificing himself for the guild, which is essentially ML's career. It's a complex dynamic that promises further emotional turmoil.
What stands out is the narrative's approach, which does not place blame on the ML for the protagonist's actions but acknowledges them as a result of the ML's actions. The story emphasizes that trying to protect someone without giving them agency to share burdens and make their own decisions is actually自私. This message is reinforced through instances where other characters compare the protagonist's self-sacrifice to the ML's.
However, the ML is portrayed as an antagonist, lacking remorse, and the story ends abruptly. I hope the additional content provides closure. Ultimately, the MC and ML are shown to love each other selfishly, albeit from vastly different perspectives. The translator's work is commendable, but I must admit, I would prefer a different choice of words for a specific term mentioned in a sexual context.
The ML doesn't actually date his partner for love; he uses them as a pawn to catch the antagonist. Their relationship isn't as affectionate as portrayed earlier. The ML has loved the protagonist (MC) since childhood, and his actions aim to clear the MC's parents' name. What I admire about the ML is that he's not the self-sacrificing type; he believes it's better for them to die together than for one to survive alone, causing pain. He deeply regrets making the MC feel hurt when he saw them with his "fake" partner and even experiences trauma from the MC's disappearance.
In the climax, the ML catches the MC, they argue or communicate, and eventually, they become intimate. They form a unique bond where sharing their life forces means if one dies, the other follows. The story doesn't delve into the specifics of their remaining time together, but they find happiness in their reconciliation and decision to live as a couple.
Overall, despite the initial partner storyline, which might upset some, I found the story compelling and engaging. The MC's badass nature, despite his depression, adds an interesting dynamic. I enjoyed it so much that I paid for the completed chapters, giving it a solid 5/5 rating.
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