I cannot believe the author fumbled this story this hard this early on.
Let me be clear, my issues have nothing to do with the subject matter. But it has everything to do with pacing and how the characters are handled. Because the first chapter really sets up a story that’s going to be full of suspense and mystery, something like Erased, where the readers piece together the truth alongside the MC. I expected the priest to be a suspect and maybe even the real killer but it wouldn’t be confirmed until late into the series, or even if the reveal was early it would be to the audience and not the MC, which creates a sense of Dramatic Irony and horror.
It’s a lot to pull from a first chapter but that was the vibe I got and it turns out I was completely wrong in the worst way possible.
It takes a little over a single chapter for the priest to go “it was me all along”, for the MC to despair and then for some fucking reason forgive the priest, and then go back to him. And I’m just left standing there, “what?”
I know the MC is starved for a genuine and kind relationship, that the public’s rejection of him (understandably since most think he raped and murdered a child) would push him to cling to the first person who’s even slightly nice to him. But like even with that in mind his rejection and turn around is just way to fucking quick. He’s known this dude for like what? A couple weeks at most, if not days.
I think if the author had stuck with the idea of him being clingy and obsessed with the priest, immediately forgiving him or even lying to himself and pushing himself into a deluded state to cope with this new reality, it could work. It would make sense even. It shows him as someone so deeply unstable due this deeply traumatizing event, so desperate for any kind of human connection, that he could look over the horrible truth that his savior is who condemned him in the first place.
But we don’t get that characterization, he reacts with horror. He’s sickened by the truth and he’s compelled to run. And that also makes sense but it doesn’t make sense for him to have such a quick turn around, simply because the author barely spent enough time to build a convincing relationship between the two. Again, all of this essentially occurs w/in the span of a single chapter.
Okay but MAYBE it’s all a lie. Or MAYBE he’s not actually forgiving the priest and this is actually a ploy for revenge.
It still doesn’t really help how much of a whiplash this string of events was. This kind of reveal and reaction would take multiple chapters in a decent murde-suspense manga. Like Erased for example. A good reveal, even if it’s a red herring, requires build up. It requires suspense. It requires mystery. This manga tossed that all out for “OH PLOT TWIST (except it really isn’t because everyone and their mother expected this) IT WAS THE BLACK HAIRED PRIEST ALL ALONG” by chapter 3.
I love suspense and I love BL and I was really hoping for something that combined those interest but instead I got a cheap plot twist.
Let me know if it gets a lot better but for now I’m dropping this.
ain’t this the same author that got recommended by chainsaw man author fujimoto??
Wait really
yeah it is!!
Wait do u hv a link?? I wanna see what he said
why can’t y’all just appreciate a scumbag like us normal ppl
No fr I actually love the dynamic going on he makes the story much more interesting with the MC's personality and all
I agree with you but calling us the normal ones is wild
2/5 Stars
When I saw the manga cover I though, “oh this looks cute”. I skimmed over the summary, didn’t pay much attention to reviews, and dived in expecting a cute omegaverse romance.
What I got was rape apologism and a bitter taste in my mouth.
Words cannot describe how disappointed I am with this work. I don’t blame people for giving it a low rating. I’m doing the same myself.
And before anyone makes assumptions, it’s not that the content has rape, there are some phenomenal works that tackle themes of sexual violence, trauma, recovery, and other themes surrounding those subjects. I have no problem with rape in fiction. I have no problem with rape victims in fiction having complicated relationships with their assaulters. Hell if it’s someone’s kink it’s none of my business.
My point is my issue is not the fact the story wasn’t a fluffy cute romance or that it had rape.
My issue is the story pretends like it’s a fluffy cute romance and that the rape wasn’t really rape and it doesn’t actually matter. It tries really hard to convince you that “it was all a big misunderstanding” except no one with two functioning brain cells would ever actually accept the excuse the author tries sell to the readers and the MC.
“Gou couldn’t help himself! It’s an alphas nature.” This sounds like when rapists defend themselves by saying they were drunk. Or how men defend creepy behavior towards women by claiming they were programmed to be that way. If this is the genuine reality for this world then Motoki has every right to consider alphas no better than wild animals. Even dogs have more restraint.
But there lies in my next issue. How do you set up a character that is clearly headstrong, capable, and has very clear opinions on alphas who assault omegas and make him fall for his assaulter? I think you can explore how trauma and sexuality can often intertwine but I really struggle believing that such a character would actually fall for the bullshit excuses Gou gave.
Even if Gou didn’t intend to assault him, what a complete violation of his trust to steal his medication and put him in danger like that. How is that even remotely forgivable? How is that redeemable? How could someone like Motoki, who is initially presented at least a little bit mentally tough, ever stand to be around Gou after that. Rape or not.
And that’s my biggest problem with this manga. It has multiple opportunities to explore the complex, messy emotions that come from trauma (especially trauma from assault). The anxiety. The depression. The feeling of loss and betrayal. Gou is never actually given the opportunity to redeem himself. Neither characters are allowed to develop in relation to this traumatic event.
The story wants you to pretend the rape doesn’t exist when it is very present within the core theme of this manga. And that’s where it fails the reader and the characters.
I hope there’s no romance in this series. I want to see a story about a man raising his daughter successfully and learning how to love himself without relying on others.
But if there is a romance I would hope it’s with an older woman or a woman his age and not some young 20 year old, the way a lot of this kind of stories tends to do.
Fun fact about this artist but they used to draw a LOT of shotacon. Like that was a good chunk of their work but the one day, around the time they published this comic, they completely scrubbed their pixiv, twitter, and all socials we know about of that content. I’m not sure why and no one ever seems to bring it up but I think it’s hilarious.
The only reason we do know that this artist ever used to make that kind of content is because of manga updates and sites that still host their older works.
It’s kind of funny to me. You rarely see someone go to such lengths to completely rewrite their whole identity. Especially from the Japanese fandom. I’m not sure what the reason is but I like to think they read MDZS and had some kind of epiphany. Really cracks me up.
Do you know what's their username??
For what purpose doth thou inquire this foul bard’s former epithet? Doth ye seek the forbidden fruits that she hath hidden away from prying eyes?
I wisheth for what is forbidden th'ref're doth not hesitate to bid me what i very much needeth to heareth from thee
Nay fiend. I shall not disclose the source. Thou must venture to find it by thine own self.
what is this thread
In a silly goofy mood. I’m not disclosing that authors username because I personally am against the content and only know of it because I remember seeing her works all the time on mrm (and I looked her up on manga updates and yknow the dots connected).
this was a nice surprise
I see, must be pretty serious then. No worries
“Why include this!?”
Because it’s a sex dramedy. Because the author wanted to introduce conflict and also demonstrate that despite Mari’s base desires, he’s actually not crazy about every perfect dick he sees. Because we get a peek into why he’s so self-conscious about being seen as a girl.
Also if you’re more mad that he was at first excited about seeing another perfect dick rather than him being assaulted by a senior…you’re fucked up. He and Kengo aren’t in a serious relationship. He’s on the fence about his own feelings. He’s allowed to want to try and do things with other people because they’re NOT dating.
I seriously hate how this community treats even the most slightest of interest in someone that’s not the ML as cheating even when they’re not in a relationship. It’s annoying and it’s just a toxic mindset to have.
In the end the senior didn’t get his way. Mari beat him up. As he should!
I really don’t understand people who complain when conflict comes up in a manga. It’s super annoying to have to see comment after comment just bitching about this.
S(he) was fearless and crazier than him.
S(he) was his queen.
And god help anyone who hurt his queen.
SJKJSJSK I KNOW YOU DIDNT WRITE THIS
Props tot he author I didn’t think they’d be able to convince me that the ML was worth rooting for and ye here we are! Somehow the villain has become the hero.
(I mean of course he never was supposed to be a villain he was just super shady all the time.)
I know others feel bad for the Emperor and I do too but he’s still a bad parent. Like do I understand and empathize where he’s coming from? Sure. I also think he’s unfit to be a parent.
i so agree. i hate both his parents, the emperor and empress
not disagreeing with you but considering he was raped, I'm pretty sure he didnt even want to be one
Tis why I understand but also the kid did not ask to be a product of rape. My though it’s, “Why are you leaving him to be abused by the same person who assaulted you?” He knows what kind of person she is and be likely knows that Etienne is experiencing abuse of some sort but still allows it to happen.
I don’t hate him for this, I doubt he’s had the chance to process that trauma, but also that doesn’t really excuse it. I pity him but I don’t think being a victim justifies negligence.