babao

Woochan I know what you are!!

Other than that, this has got to be one of the more interesting idol regression manhwas I've seen so far. I needed to cope while waiting for Debut or Die updates and this is a gem.

Everyone is so handsome too!

Long words ahead with a bit of analysis and thoughts.

My previous comment was just a one-limer praise because it is interesting so far.

Looking into the character dynamics and current direction of the story:

The Cop has full sense and motivations. What he is doing can be considered as somewhat independent justice. His method, however, says otherwise. Constant pestering of a victim and minor (because Korea's legality is 21, unless I am wrong) with no proper warrant nor document for interrogation, furthermore not adhering to the proper process of interrogating a minor which is to consult with the legal guardian first.

Considering the circumstances, the Cop believes ML to be the perpetrator which usually gives leeway when it comes to interrogating a minor without a Guardian's consent and consultation. HOWEVER, again, there are intricacies such as involving the right government agencies to intervene and protect minor victims. Which, again, the Cop did NOT present accordingly.

He may be pursuing Justice, but how he presents it and how the narrative presents his character to be is by being a conceited person chasing his own interests all for the sake of a criminal case he couldn't solve back then. Whether is is his moral compass or his pride wearing down due to that incident, it will not justify his actions now.

TLDR: The Cop may have his justified motivations, but it does not justify the way he operates so far.

Moving forward, PROTECTING THE VICTIM/SOLE SURVIVOR should be the priority. Aggravating the victim for answers is NOT how an unsolved mass murder case should be handled. Should Jeongin be in actual danger, he should be ISOLATED from the source of danger. By aggravating him and purposely resurfacing traumatic memories, it will only lead to the victim acting rashly that may even trigger the perpetrator.

Classic example is what we see now at CH18, because the Cop rashly aggravated Jeongin, now suspicion and anxiety have made him irrational. Jeongin may now end up facing stricter surveillance and even house arrest if thing go for worse. Jeongin was already aware of the surveillance around him (to an extent of course, he may not know of the cameras, but he knows of bodyguards and physical attendants). He CONSENTED to the majority he has now - it was literally stated at the start of the story that Jeongin is aware of how Beomyeong treats him, protects him, and spoils him. He even knows that Beomyeong has also resorted to some degree of violence due to the nature of his power and connections. Nonetheless, Jeongin has never questioned it.

It was only when the 'Monster' was brought up and the fact that the 'Monster' is being targeted to be Beomyeong that Jeongin started to doubt everything. It is exactly because he is so devoted and loyal to Beomyeong that his mind is even more irrational and agitated because every fiber of his being wants to reject that, but every inch of his psychological and physical existence was reborn with FEAR from that incident. He continuously lives in fear because of that trauma. The 2 major aspects of Jeongin's life are against each other. His Monster and his Savior, the fact that he was given the idea that those two are just one person is too much for any survivor to handle.

As for our ML, I don't exactly have words about his actions. The surveillance matter will prove to be an issue later on now that surveillance suspicion was brought up. The cameras will become the first thing that Jeongin uses as evidence to prove in his mind that Beomyeong is someone he can't trust. As for Beomyeong, I really cannot justify nor figure him out as we are extremely limited in terms of POV considering the story is focused on Jeongin's POV.

The possibilities are endless but the highly likely ones:

1. Beomyeong IS the Monster. And the reason for surveillance is to ensure the sole survivor never recovers the memory of that incident AND erase any suspicion off of him by having the sole survivor trust him.
2. Beomyeong IS NOT the Monster, BUT is affiliated with them. There are stories where the antagonists are a family member of the ML and they try to plan an outrageous crime and pin the blame on ML to be the scapegoat.
3. Beomyeong IS NOT the Monster, and he really is someone who is also a victim/target by the Monster (or the Monster's organization) and that Beomyeong is doing everything to take down that Monster as well as protect the one person who may be key to defeating the Monster.

There are definitely a lot more other possibilities, but those 3 are the common ones when it comes to this kind of storyline. It just boils down to if you are or you are not the perpetrator, and if you aren't, then are you directly affiliated or are you a victim as well?

Either way, there are technically a lot of things wrong in this story. Beomyeong's surveillance and wiretapping, Jeongin's complacency and dependency on his legal guardian, as well as the Cop's aggressive methods of controlling Jeongin, both Beomyeong and the Cop are no good to Jeongin but at least Beomyeong has never brought up the one thing Jeongin fears the most just to control him.

Anyways, good good read. Really nice so far. I feel like we don't get enough quiet obsessive older tops like classic yaoi. I feel like a nostalgic tradfujo. Like there are a lot of toxic obsessive tops but most of them are flat out immature and loud, this one is quiet and chilling. I also enjoy the age gap because it emphasizes the power imbalance with our couple. This is what classic yaoi feels like.

That said, of anyone has a link to the novel for this, I'd appreciate it!