Zarathustra's Topics (204)

Why no one is talking about one the biggest revelations in this chapter?
No, not the fact that Seungho is whipped. The shippers already knew that.
A lot happened between the time Seungho left his hoes and before he gets into Nakyum's room
First, it's the awesome parallel of images between Seungho in the snow and Nakyum in the snow in the chapter before. Both looking at the other's quarters, hesitating but also longing. Such a beauty juxtaposition of scenes.
Then, remember some chapter's back, the last time they slept together? Chapter 49 ended with a mystery. Everybody was confused about whose thoughts were the ones we saw. The vast majority believed that it was Nakyum thinking to himself but I suppose the author decided to clarify that it was actually Seungho thinking.
I actually had thought that it was Seungho and even posted here but then there were so many people with good points that it was NAkyum and I ended up convinced it was NK.
I can't help but think the author decided subtly clarify because it may be important to understand Seungho's resistance to intimacy and why he turned back to rough sex as soon as NK started to confess his desire, touch his face and kiss him. "I've decided that this is how I am going to live. This is what suits me" . For whatever reason, or 'realization' Seungho had, he decided that meaningless sex would be the way he would live.
It is interesting to go back to that chapter and now read it knowing that it was Seungho who was already putting his defenses up and trying to remember of his deal to himself not to get involved.

When 'This is not what it looks like' is actually true.
At first I had the impression that Seungho was back to his orgies and whoring around but I am looking again at that scene and comparing to his previous 'meetings' with his hoes and I think something is different.
It is interesting that none of them are naked. One guy is flat out passed out. The other is 'trying' to give Seungho a BJ but apparently Seungho is not interested in it. Seungho is fully dressed by the way, not his usual disrobed or half naked like in all the other times before. He is also sitting a little distant from the group when in general he is on the floor messing around or naked after fucking someone.
Seungho fully dressed is important because there are layers and it's highly improbable that he would have disrobed, fucked and then bothered to put all his clothes again. Also, one may say that this is because they just started or got there but the scene shows a guy already passed out and one of the them without shirt ( the one sad sod trying to get Seungho's dick).
I think the author likes to play with the readers, especially using Seungho that almost never is given inner thoughts like Nakyum. We are supposed to be as confused as Nakyum figuring out his lord, trying to understand what is going on and then assuming things at first impression. We assume Seungho is having sex in these meetings. I think he is gaslighting everyone.
Like Seungho taking the bait and saying he will share Nakyum. Everyone is falling for it because he said so but just like that scene is not what looks like ( Seungho has his hoes around but he provided drugs and actually didn't bother take off clothes or fuck anyone).
Same way I call bullshit that Seungho will let any of his slimy fuck buddies touch Nakyum. This is the guy who had a death stare for the tailor who had his hand on NK's waist. He may be spinning in denial but he is just too possessive and psycho for NK to just sit and watch his precious lowborn be touched by other men.
The funny thing is that this is the exact opposite of a man/woman caught cheating and saying 'This is not what it looks like' to his spouse.
Seungho isn't back to sleeping around but he wants to give the impression that he is.

I wish Mangago enforce some kind of etiquette for the topic section as it did for the main page. ( that used to be cluttered with a lot of things that were not topic)

I don't know but I think most people use the 'Topic' section as comment instead of topic.
There are pages and pages of the same repetitive and mostly one liners posts that are not really anything that are put up for discussion. It is mostly reactions.
There used to be more of topic section in here with some readers doing analysis but now it's endless posting with 0 replies --- because really they all look the same and are not adding any topic.

I wish Mangago had some kind of change as it did with the main section where post a message that tries to cut the random chatter. I understand it's more of changing behavior, there is a comment section in here for all of us to put the usual quick knee jerk reactions to chapters but wouldn't be so very nice if we actually had 'Topics' that are more elaborate and meant to discuss an idea or opinion?
The worst part of it is that when someone do post a topic that is meant for discussion or analysis, it gets lost among the torrent of repetitive plainly narrative one liners and you have to go back pages to see if anyone posted something more substantial that makes you think.
How about use the comments section for the quick reactions and then let's try use the Topic section for an actual topic of discussion?
Don't get mad at me, maybe everyone will enjoy more. There can't be much satisfaction on just seeing clutter in the topic section, right?

First of all, I loved this chapter although I am getting cold for this story because I sense Seungho will be neglected as character more and more from now on that a newer, hotter, shinier, 'cleaner' version of seme has been introduced.

Seungho looked stunning - classic asshole mood - and the author seems to be creating even more gorgeous outfits for him each time.
Seungho in this chapter:
Running away from Nakyum and trying his hardest to go back to the safe life he used to know. That means the booze and the whoring.

Seungho is becoming aware that he cares for NK and also that NK is developing feelings for him. He doesn't want either, feelings are a hassle for him. It was easier for him when NK hated his guts. It meant control and the well established master and lowborn dynamic. Now their sex is becoming more intimate, he is losing his grip. Between the pounding and panting, the moments of tenderness are getting more common, despite his efforts to keep it impersonal... Nakyum now reaches for him, cups his face, kisses him with wanting, clings to him for comfort... he doesn't know what to do with NK's candid confessions of desire. Even if he was confused before, Seungho clearly got to the point of a realization when he caught himself planting a caring kiss on a sleeping Nakyum.
I don't think his plan is make NK jealous, I think he really wants to push Nakyum away, fight whatever emotional bond this relationship may be creating before it's too late for him.
We don't know how much of the conversation between Inhun and NK he knows. He probably knows about the prostitute thing but does he know what caused Inhun's insult? If he found out that NK was asked to spy on him and didn't do it even to impress Inhun, that must have confused him even more. Seungho probably only knows people who would stab him in the back at any chance. NK denying something Inhun asked and refusing to betray him must have been the strangest thing for him to find out.
Now, the problem with Seungho falling in love is that this also makes him weaker to his enemies. Be Inhun or this new foul, Nakyum became his Aquilles heel.
There is a scene in here where the snake slut says 'I always thought Yoon Seungho is very easy to read. You simply need to watch closely'.
That bit is wrapped up nicely in the chapter in the whole sequence that ends up with the fuck buddy reading Seungho like a book.... the kiss meant for NK to see, Seungho keeping NK away and then his manipulation in provoking Seungho into proving that NK is not really precious or special.
I have to say that I am actually glad this little garden snake is becoming the best villains of this story, especially after the disappointment with the assassin -- that guy will not do any actual harm to Nakyum or be a real bad guy for that matter because his job is fan service and fuck Jihwa. Nevertheless, I think Seungho development already stalled, even more if the next chapter is really an arc where the assassin kidnaps Nakyum.
Seungho as a character actually deserved better than be outshined by a fan service caricature of himself.

Such a cute story!!!
The only thing that would make it better is if Atsuchi didn't say that Masato HAD to be the bottom and just said that whenever he felt more comfortable with, he would be okay with it. I find weird these love stories where the partner love is conditional to being the top. It doesn't need to happen but the important part is being willing to.
Anyway, Yaoi is 99% tropes so I guess nothing to do but I just get peeved on these convos where the seme implicitly says there will be their way only.

I'm in minority group but I usually don't like side characters distracting from the main couple in a story.
Since the hit man is hot and Jihwa is a somewhat clumsy villain that we end up forgiving we do know they will be paired up and that means almost no one will really get much punishment for the plot.
I know Seungho is already supposed to be bad but I was kind of hoping he actually were more lethal for this enemies, either to keep with the period but also because it would add more to the paradox of he going sweet on a lowborn but being unforgiving to anyone else. Just my taste however. For all the bad press that Seungho gets it, for the genre, he is really not all the monster that most of in this trope are. I still flinch reading Caste Heaven but POTN and Seungho childish way to get Nakyum doesn't register as 'monster'.
Anyway, I suppose my beef with side characters is that chapters are so short that every time I see a character being introduced with fan service love connection, I start getting a scratch that maybe the author is losing sight of the main plot or it minimizes the threat.
I mean, we all know a hot character like that will not really be portrayed as horrible and harm Nakyum. He will not end up dead or pose a real threat to the characters because otherwise he would need to meet his fate.
It's entertaining but somehow having all the male characters to be gay and paired up is a pet peeve for me. I wish a real villain had been introduced for a good physical contrast to the subtle villainy of Inhun.
The hot assassin is here just to fuck Jihwa and although it is still fun, somewhat the assassination plot suddenly looks a bit ridiculous to fear.
I know I will get a lot of throwback but it's just a particular pet peeve with side characters and won't stop me from enjoying the story.

I have to say that we are so used to smut in Yaoi that I think we don't see it as anything else.
I see many readers complaining that the story has a lot of smut and no plot.
That's one opinion and here is other:
Seungho's main form of communication is sex. He doesn't talk his feelings, he fucks.

This is then the main way he deals with Nakyum and that's why we got the episode after Nakyum run away. The thirst and despair in Seungho is clear. He also wants to punish Nakyum. He both wants to satiate himself with Nakyum, like someone who just got back what they thought it was gone -- and he wants to punish him.
It happens again in this last sex. He knows Nakyum is off. He knows something happened. A normal person would have a war of words, fight, nag Nakyum or if using violence, even use his ways as master to punish servants but what is his brilliant plan? To fuck the truth out of Nakyum ... what by now, he may be learning that doesn't work.
So while some only see the sex as smut ( and thus unnecessary) I really see these sex scenes as plot and coherent with Seungho's way of communicating.

What we learnt from chapter 50:

- Mighty Yoon Seungho has fallen; (Well, we knew that already but it's always good to see it)
- Nakyum looks precious when he is sleeping. How could Seungho not feel in awe of his lover's cuteness?
- Seungho's bums and back lines deserve a painting of their own.
- Seungho's mind is finally catching up to his dick. Dude hasn't slept around since he got a taste of sweet Nakyum and it took this long to notice something is going on with him?
- Jihwa is a lame partner in crime. He would sing like a canary and rat you out at the door.
- The way Jihwa dreamt of Seungho holding Nakyum and his expression. Even Jihwa knows what Seungho feels for NK.
- The hot hobo assassin still needs a bath, probably.
- Seungho's servants are the best spies.
- Seungho is the kind of man that won't let it go. He smelt a rat and he found it.
.- Inhun is cooked!!

It seems the author is going on circles and trying to pick up on the love triangle what is fucking annoying when so much already was developed and invested into the Hen x Ivan pairing.
It is time to wrap it up whatever Alek arc is going to be and frankly if the author keeps going after the Alek x Hen angle at this stage it will be lame.
Since the new little dude was introduced, make something of it. Even if the majority doesn't like the new character, it would be a mess to discard him ignoring that there was already interaction and sex between Alek and the new guy.
Hen's imprint arc seems to have been abandoned or forgotten.
I hope the author is not lost because it is starting to feel like they don't know now what to do with the characters.

I gave up trying to figure out whose inner thoughts were those in the last scenes.
Now the biggest doubt for me is: Was that pee or cum on Seungho's face? LOL.
I was sure it was cum but I see a lot of people saying that Seungho got a golden shower from Nakyum so I don't know.