Every time I come back to read this, I always wonder how the fck it still has an above 8 s...

as someone who recently read a different story that exhibits similar tropes (pitiful mc being helpless against an awful, despicable rapey ml), this one is more grounded rather than overdramatic which makes it feel more like a tragedy. firstly, the rape scenes arent eroticized here; they're disgusting and disturbing (unlike the other story) and the way ml fucks mc to relieve his lust then discards him is consistent with his character. secondly, the story early on explains the ml's motivations, and given this context, it's realistic and believable for someone of his status in this time period to callously use and discard people with no regard to the fallout the victims face since it efficiently gets him one step closer to his ultimate goal; it's doesnt justify him at all but it's better than being excessively cruel for no reason (unlike the other story, where the ml's backstory were only explained much later when he's in love with mc to paint him as some sort of anti-hero martyr for whom we're supposed to feel sympathy. no, fuck him). thirdly, the mc isnt in love with him. ngl that's doing the heavy lifting here as it removes a lot of the frustration i feel for other stories where the mc like a dumbass keeps being swayed by his feelings for some goddamn reason. ml's actions have terrible consequences, so it's clear the author isnt trying to make some kind of rapeporn-to-love story with a side of angst (unlike the other story) but a story with angst/regret as the central emotional core. at least, this is the impression i have currently with 22 chapters, so i hope the author doesn't disappoint my expectations

The reason is that rape here is not romanticized. The portrayal of rape is quite realistic and horrific as it should be ...unlike the other manhwas where the uke shown to blush or moan and then fall in love with his rapist...