I Really Am a Slag Shou! Chapter 128 Discussion

Actually a pretty good QT! And, man, is it a short, short list.

Another reviewer noted that the ML is "possessive but not overbearing" and I completely agree. He's actually one of the most respectful possessive MLs I've had the (dubious) pleasure of reading. Even in arcs where he starts off kind of yikes, by the end of it, he genuinely loves and respects the MC, and he always (well, nearly always) tries to make sure that the MC is comfortable/consenting before initiating anything. And he actively does this!

Spoiler

For instance, in the "entertainment" arc, he starts off extremely possessive/controlling of the MC, including having the other followed/watched. However, by the end, after a (admittedly handwave-y) series of psychiatrist visits, he actually outright states that his previous actions were wrong and wasn't representative of actual love -- that people in love value and respect their lovers boundaries, which he had not done up to that point. This is legitimate, deliberate framing from the author!

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Like, I've seen quite a few QTs with "incidentally respectful MLs", and a few that makes overtures to respectful MLs only to go back on it a few arcs later, but I Really am a Slag Shou! actually seems to be invested in keeping its MLs, no matter how badly they start off, as, uh, Decent Human Beings. Like, the author actually knows what consent and healthy relationships look like!

Spoiler

OK, so there's a vaguely minor exception in the emperor/prince regent arc, where there's no deliberate consent obtained, and the MC actually isn't sure if he's in love with the ML even by the end, unlike previous arcs, but it's a small blip in the grand scheme of things.

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So overall yeah this is pretty good. The MC isn't really smart, more like he wins over the ML by sheer virtue of being a good person incapable of being too scummy, but that's kind of the charm of it. And while the arcs are fun, the endings are fairly predictable since the ML will always end up in love with MC by the end, but I kind of like seeing what kind of absolute batsh*t last minute happy ending the author will manage to pull from a harrowing situation. It's a cozy little thing, and a great guilt-free popcorn read, which is more than I can say for other QT stories.

EDIT: OK, scratch that. The guide/sentinel arc has basically all the dubiously consensual (bordering on assault), bad s*xual politics that I hate about BL novels, and QT novels in particular. Hoping that the next arc will be better, but I'm not holding my breath honestly.