Wow! The author did a great job in this story. I feel this is the first time I felt much dept in current bl

You have been warned this might contain spoilers! And also a long ass analysis essay.

In chapter 1&2, Dennis finding the cliff and saying: "It is like the end of the world"( signifies the author subtly portrayal of a demarcation between two worlds) Todd mentioning he comes out to hunt every summer and his dad taught him to hunt though he doesn't anymore, he also stated that his dad respect him and he too his dad( this might potentially mean that they hunt human soul mostly the corrupted ones). Todd also mentioned that he came from the forest over the cliff... If he did then do you mean to tell me he scaled the cliff up or... (And Dennis didn't seem to buy that but still choose to ignore). So the concept of the manager knowing of this entities but still choose to keep the lambs there is like there is a bargain... These entities were allowed to hunt only if they have permission from the herd keeper.The author had even foreshadowed the end of their relationship multiple times, in chapter 5 with Dennis talking about his past how he watched his white dog got killed by another dog and the disappointed expression on his family faces, is a foreshadowing of chapter 6( sheep killing chapter)(I think it symbolizes killing his past trauma and his past) I think this is the chapter where Dennis realize Todd was not a human. This was later confirmed in chapter 8, once again the foreshadowing of their outcome, and unlike what most people believe I think Todd did indeed likes Dennis. In the chapter with their dialogue about how Todd said he went to settle something in town (I feel Todd might have tried to break a rule by letting Dennis go, but Dennis can't seem to let go of him) it seems Todd also knows Dennis knew about him being a inhuman but still choose to continue their relationship. Todd also said that he had been thinking about them, and he also stated: "You know how messed up this might get, right?" Also shows that Dennis might have already know about his possible outcome but still refuses to end things (by asking if Todd also wants to leave him also) and Todd saying he won't let him go. Todd also stated that Dennis is the first one that meant this much to him( once again shows how Dennis was probably not the first person to have encountered Todd) then Dennis asked Todd if he is afraid of the future but Todd said no, making Dennis to promise he won't too(despite knowing of his outcome).

Now to the end chapter. At the end of the webtoon, They spend some time together and at the last moments it was already winter and time for the contract to end(they spent the last weeks together playing in the snow and a soliloquy from Dennis about how he enjoyed their last week together and the feeling of regret he keeps getting, also how he has confirmed his love for Todd) after that Dennis went to the manager to complete the task of shepherding leaving Todd behind and telling him to meet him at the tavern in the town. He told the manager about meeting someone but the manager reacts extremely and that he should have followed the rule of 'trusting no one' also asking him if he understood now, told him to go back and when Dennis went back on a horse he saw blood all over the mountain leading to the cliff and heard Todd calling his name from there, he mumbles to himself that Todd promised he won't leave him, and this is the first time he had experience a love so deep, and he should have known Todd was just lying, and how he won't let Todd go, but he would promote him just one last time(also referencing to chapter 8 when they made a promise about not being scared of the future and when Todd also promised not to let go of him), then he jump over the cliff. The horse turn back and ran off, as we had a glimpse of the mountain scenery covered in snow without any traces of blood, unlike what we saw when Dennis first came.

To conclude my analysis, I feel Todd is not just a figment of Dennis imagination due to loneliness and longing for love, but might also be real but not just human( maybe a mountain spirit or a shape shifter...).And I feel like to support the claim that what Todd hunts might not necessarily be the sheep would be a logical explanation like this; if Todd having only be after the sheep then the entire herd might have been dead completely because the author might have subtly stated that Dennis was not the first one that has been lured. And also I feel the manager rule was not entirely about the safety of the sheep herd but from the countless number of times he might have to change the herd keepers. Also his reaction at the end might be from the surprise of Dennis returning even after encountering Todd, that was why he asked Dennis if he 'understood now' and asked him to go back.