Even the Villain Has a Story Chapter 204 Discussion

I don't recommend you read it if you struggle with su*cide ideation.

The story is good at times, ok at times, but the drama is potent. Since it's a web novels and quite long, you can't even skip the parts you hate.

The protagonist struggles with living, because he's under the control of the system, forcing him to kill people he doesn't want to and so on, to be a villain. The system doesn't even allow him to die. The ML is his hope from escaping from such life, but of course he can't let the protagonist actually die.

(below is rant and why I said it's not recommended if you have struggles with su*cide)

Spoiler

I haven't seen a moment where the protagonist has done a "bad" choice of actions that you think of in dramas yet. No "f*cking talk b*tch" thoughts in my head at all. He's doing the best he can given the information he's got. On the other hand, the ML acts like a f*cking brat. He is younger but he acts so wilfull. I thought he had a backstory or something but it's just blank even till this chapter 204. Because he doesn't have a story or a reason to be such a dunce, I can't empathize with him at all. Unlike the protagonist where all his development is shown and done.

Because it's partly theme and he's the ML, you can't escape this irksome guy. I'm not looking for all smooth developments here but it's really hard to read without being able to shout at this guy who said and made it clear in this chapter that he thinks "I don't care how hard it is for you to live, f*cking live hating me even b*tch" when he knows how hard it is. He doesn't even call it 'love' but 'selfishness' doing this much to someone else.

I'd feel so drain—actually I am very drained—if someone said that to me. He doesn't even acknowledge the current suffering and helping the protagonist through it and just say (to the effect of) "I don't care, you must live." If he wanted someone to live he could at least say "I want to you be happy" or "live happily" or something but he didn't. He even says he will stop any su*cide attempts by the protagonist.

That's to me crossing the line no one should ever cross. Denying someone the right to die however they choose (that implicates no one, aside from their own emotions which they should take care of it themselves) is the most egregious offense someone could do, and to me, that's both the system and this ML.

If you don't want someone to die just say it. Say you'll be sad. Say you want them to be happy. Help them be happy. Say to the protagonist you'll help him destroy the system if you promise to not look for ways to die.

Now that I got it out here I think I can continue reading somewhat. I'll let you know if it's worth the torture. Don't f*cking treat someone in your life like this. As someone with strong boundary skills, I can say they may not be dead, but you will be dead to them. If someone's being vulnerable enough to tell you all this and you answer with control and deprivation of autonomy and what reads like a curse? That's betrayal.

[collapse]

c218 update: at some point the immersiveness is breaking and all the main characters' actions and supposed thoughts became unrecognizable. The initial emotional scenes were done so well but at this point it seems a conflict is just forced to happen or something. In a nonsensical way. I'm not really invested anymore in any of the characters. The thoughts became hard to believe. If I take it as part of some self-deception or something maybe I could continue reading but really I think the author broke their own characters here.