
I just read the 96 English translated novel chapters ( https://maplesantl.com/the-symbiotic-relationship-between-newbie-and-oldbie-list-of-episodes/) and I LOVE the story. There are only a few chapters left which I can read on ridibooks for free if I use the “1 free chapters per day”, which isn’t a devastatingly long time to wait (Korean raws but I use a translation extension). OR I could buy the 65 side stories and then I might as well just buy the last few chapters too. It seems like a lot of chapters for being side stories (not another volume or a sequel), I heard it’s 19+ (compared to the main story which is 15+) but there must be more going on than them doing the boombayah right? Since it’s so many chapters.
What is it about? Was it worth reading? It is worth buying? If anyone has an opinion please share!

It kinda hurts how alone he is in all of this. ML knew where he was but he didn’t even remember ML existed. Now he knows, and has met him serverat times, but he’s still forced to face everything inside that horrible place alone. While also feeling like he’s going insane and has to worry about both everything he knows and everything he doesn’t know.

1. I think the person who helped original MC when he was a child who he can’t remember is himself, he’s tried something similar before but failed (maybe even more then once). Maybe he’s tried ”moving in the shadow”, but time he makes sure his past self picks up his younger self and then they’ll be two of him. Maybe a monster in a dungeon will speak to him like they did to his dad (adoptive)
2. How little we know about his parents is kinda sus, maybe they even had good intentions and were killed - they obviously knew about the child experiment thing and put their own kid there (which is awful) but feel like there’s something missing - they were killed after all
3. His (adoptive) dad is so fine

Fantasy? Amazing art? Quality plot? In this economy???
I was a bit sceptic since Jonak had a fiance who he obviously loved, but I really liked how his feelings for Ilse weren’t overbrushed or taken lightly, it made the story deeper and more bittersweet. Looking at Jonak through Adian’s eyes is heartbreaking and sweet at the same time becuse he loves him so much it hurts.
The only reason I want the second couple to get together is because the brother wouldn’t come back and hurt MC or try to get in between the main couple. Keep him distracted plz but I don’t like the brother and his lack of accountability, reflection on his actions, or consideration of MC’s feelings (both now and in the past). His parter just got from one toxic relationship into another.
Although I don’t wish to see the brothers past relationship, it would be interesting to know just how mutual it was. Given MC’s character he’d probably feel guilty if the brother caught feelings and would blame himself for ”leading him on”. He could also feel pressured to accept his feelings because feels that he is indebted to his mom and doesn’t want to hurt her by hurting her son or ”breaking up the family”. If he agreed the brother could’ve threatened to expose them to the mom to keep him from changing his mind, or he became a blackmailing manipulator after they broke up idk. We know how much MC tries to maintain a good image of the brother to the mother, the act in the hospital was a power-move by the brother to show ML how much MC could take from him, as well as reminding MC of the power he has over him and that he’s is aware that he’s taking advantage of him. We know MC feels responsible for everything and blames himself for everything so if the brother’s feelings were much more intense than MC’s, he’d still believe that they were equally responsible for what happened in the relationship or even that he’s the one to blame the most.
Or maybe it started out innocent and sweet, but MC withdrew out of guilty towards the mother or he just lost feelings over time. I just feel regardless of if MC’s feelings were strong or not, he would’ve never acted on it and just try to bury it as deep down as possible. But because of some reason he gave in. We know that the brother did not accept MC breaking up with him, acting like it didn’t happen and try to make a move on him several times against his will. Taking advantage of that MC feels that he has to take care of him. He’s a big contributor to why MC eventually breaks down mentally and emotionally, tired of having to go between overworking and coming home to an environment that is toxic and feels imprisoning. He’s probably forcefully stuck in a spiral where he resents the brother, feels guilty and blames himself for resenting him, and everything turns into him resenting himself.
So while MC is happier and the brother is becoming a better person, which is good for everyone, I just feel bad for the brother’s partner who’s feelings are played and trampled with. We know he’s a pushover, so it just feels like he’s ”happy with what he gets” and he deserved more than that.