Don't get me wrong, I love the story, but I think the author has overused the plot of Brian pushing himself to the brink of death for the sake of the ML. Like, bro, I understand that you want to build a future where the ML can live a long, happy life, but WHY ARE YOU DESTROYING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS?
Every two chapters, this man is practically dying! He's cracking his bones, pushing his body beyond its limits, depleting his mana, and taking every single burden upon himself when he literally has other options. And the lighthouse situation actually pissed me off so badly. THE KING ASKED HIM TO BUILD THREE, AND HE COULD'VE LITERALLY NEGOTIATED! Just say, "No, Your Majesty, I can build two. Take it or leave it." WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU IN SUCH A HURRY THAT YOU HAD TO PUSH YOURSELF TO THE POINT OF DEPLETING ALL YOUR MANA?!
And that's what frustrates me the most. It's not even that Brian doesn't have alternatives. HE DOES! He could've negotiated, divided the responsibilities, asked for help, or simply set a reasonable limit. But no, apparently, the only way he can express his love is by sacrificing his own health and putting himself on the verge of death every fucking time.
If this had happened once or twice, I could've understood it. Maybe he genuinely believes he has to bear everything himself to secure the ML's future. But this man keeps doing the same shit EVERY SINGLE TIME, even when he knows exactly what the consequences will be. WHY?! WHY ARE YOU SO DETERMINED TO MAKE EVERYTHING AS DIFFICULT AND LIFE-THREATENING AS POSSIBLE?!
And the worst part is that the story keeps framing all of this as an act of love and sacrifice. BRO, SACRIFICE ISN'T AUTOMATICALLY MORE MEANINGFUL JUST BECAUSE IT ALMOST KILLS YOU! I understand that he loves the ML and wants to build a future where the ML can live a long, happy life, BUT HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO BUILD THAT FUTURE IF YOU KEEP DESTROYING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS?!
At some point, it stops feeling tragic and starts becoming repetitive. Every time a problem arises, Brian chooses the most self-destructive solution available, pushes himself to the brink of death, and leaves me wondering why he couldn't have used his brain to find another way. I don't mind a character struggling with suicidal tendencies or having such a deep-seated disregard for his own life, but I do mind when the story keeps recycling the same conflict without making meaningful progress.
I genuinely think the author is overdoing this trope to the point where it's making the plot feel tacky and frustrating. I want to see Brian actually use his intelligence to build the future he wants for the ML, not repeatedly destroy his own body when perfectly reasonable alternatives are available.
BRO, YOU HAVE A BRAIN. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. YOU CAN NEGOTIATE. USE THAT SHIT SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF NEARLY DYING EVERY OTHER CHAPTER. I'M BEGGING YOU.
Don't get me wrong, I love the story, but I think the author has overused the plot of Brian pushing himself to the brink of death for the sake of the ML. Like, bro, I understand that you want to build a future where the ML can live a long, happy life, but WHY ARE YOU DESTROYING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS?
Every two chapters, this man is practically dying! He's cracking his bones, pushing his body beyond its limits, depleting his mana, and taking every single burden upon himself when he literally has other options. And the lighthouse situation actually pissed me off so badly. THE KING ASKED HIM TO BUILD THREE, AND HE COULD'VE LITERALLY NEGOTIATED! Just say, "No, Your Majesty, I can build two. Take it or leave it." WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU IN SUCH A HURRY THAT YOU HAD TO PUSH YOURSELF TO THE POINT OF DEPLETING ALL YOUR MANA?!
And that's what frustrates me the most. It's not even that Brian doesn't have alternatives. HE DOES! He could've negotiated, divided the responsibilities, asked for help, or simply set a reasonable limit. But no, apparently, the only way he can express his love is by sacrificing his own health and putting himself on the verge of death every fucking time.
If this had happened once or twice, I could've understood it. Maybe he genuinely believes he has to bear everything himself to secure the ML's future. But this man keeps doing the same shit EVERY SINGLE TIME, even when he knows exactly what the consequences will be. WHY?! WHY ARE YOU SO DETERMINED TO MAKE EVERYTHING AS DIFFICULT AND LIFE-THREATENING AS POSSIBLE?!
And the worst part is that the story keeps framing all of this as an act of love and sacrifice. BRO, SACRIFICE ISN'T AUTOMATICALLY MORE MEANINGFUL JUST BECAUSE IT ALMOST KILLS YOU! I understand that he loves the ML and wants to build a future where the ML can live a long, happy life, BUT HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO BUILD THAT FUTURE IF YOU KEEP DESTROYING YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS?!
At some point, it stops feeling tragic and starts becoming repetitive. Every time a problem arises, Brian chooses the most self-destructive solution available, pushes himself to the brink of death, and leaves me wondering why he couldn't have used his brain to find another way. I don't mind a character struggling with suicidal tendencies or having such a deep-seated disregard for his own life, but I do mind when the story keeps recycling the same conflict without making meaningful progress.
I genuinely think the author is overdoing this trope to the point where it's making the plot feel tacky and frustrating. I want to see Brian actually use his intelligence to build the future he wants for the ML, not repeatedly destroy his own body when perfectly reasonable alternatives are available.
BRO, YOU HAVE A BRAIN. YOU HAVE OPTIONS. YOU CAN NEGOTIATE. USE THAT SHIT SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF NEARLY DYING EVERY OTHER CHAPTER. I'M BEGGING YOU.