I wish the English translations weren't like 10 chapters behind the raws because there's so much action going on in the recent chapters rn
Someone give this snake an Oscar the tragic backstory and acting is 10/10
I'm sensing a potential memory loss arc from Sam Myeong based on all of his head injuries, but I'm really hoping I'm wrong
The dichotomy of the freaky deaky sex party side stories and pure virgin angst main story is sending me bruh
Kaizen and Myth trying to one up each other by reuploading the same chapter damn
Please no more blue balling tomorrow PLEASE I BEG
I NEED TO SEE OLD MUGO DICK HIM DOWN SO BAD
I was skimming through previous chapters and noticed most of the story is told from either Myeongil's or Heonjae's POV -- like we get more insight into their thoughts and past experiences than we do with Jingi and this makes me wonder if season 3 will be told from his POV. Aside from his childhood trauma I feel like we still don't know enough about his personal motivations and feelings yet compared to the other two characters. I just want more of him!!
Heonjae was READY to shank Jingi with that umbrella omg he's unhinged. He's gone full yandere mode for Myeongil and I'm curious how the latter will respond to Heonjae asking him who he'd rather be with. I used to think this would end in a poly situation but now knowing HJ he definitely doesn't want to share Myeongil with anyone.
And at this point idk what's going on in Myeongil's mind... Like is he truly starting to fall for Heonjae or does he secretly have feelings for Jingi but is too stubborn to admit it? And Myeongil knows HJ likes him too and continues to hang out with him so idk...I really can't predict who's endgame (if there is one)
In ch 23 where the text says "nothing" it actually says "knotting", if you were confused like I was
Neji Hyuga lookin' ass twink here to sow the seeds of chaos they're already destructive by themselves they don't need your help!!
This is an 8-chapter short story and the blond bully is the top. I couldn't find the raws so I bought the chapters on official.
Basically dark-haired bottom is a masochist burdened by the pressure from his family and finds release when the top abuses him. Top continues to bully bottom until he sees bottom being kissed by his friend (brown-haired transfer student). We find out top secretly likes bottom since seeing him for the first time. Then it culminates to top sexually assaulting bottom (probs out of jealousy) and eventually bottom accepts the pain as pleasure and they kiss and become boyfriends.
I love bullies to lovers trope but this story went way too fast so I turned off my brain towards the end.
I was sick of being blue-balled by the wait for the english translations (couldn't find raws either past 13) so I went ahead and bought the rest of the damn raws on official.
Spoilers if you want to know the rest of the story after ch 13:
When the brothers were imprisoned as kids their prisoners took Sien to be trained as a priest at their church bc they considered him a child of god. He liked the special treatment until he found out one of their rituals included self-sacrifice from their followers to achieve holiness. One day the high priest tells Sien he's to be the next sacrifice and that it's a great honor to do so, but he can avoid it if he kills his brother instead. Sien tries to stab Sona while they're sleeping back in the cell but he can't do it and gets caught mid-stab by Sona. Sien begs for forgiveness and Sona forgives him. From then on Sien devotes himself entirely to Sona and swears absolute faith and loyalty to him.
Cut back to present day -- Sien is looking for Kirch but can't find him. He's still imprisoned with Sona while the latter fucks him daily. When Sien confronts Sona on Kirch's whereabouts Sona tells Sien that he forgets his faith and that he's been indulging in too much sin and desire. Sien begs Sona for forgiveness for his lack of faith and Sona tells him his sins can be forgiven if he does one thing -- offer to Sona what Sien's heart desires the most (Kirch).
When Kirch finally escapes Sona's study he tries to look for Sien and sees him getting on a carriage. He hides behind a tree and finds out that Sien is leaving for the parish (priest community). The people accompanying Sien worry that he's leaving too soon, but Sien tells them that there is nothing left for him at the palace. Devastated by his departure, Kirch retreats to the church heartbroken and defeated. Sona confronts him and tells Kirch everything he's done with Sien was done so he can shoulder Sien's sins -- so when Sien finally gives up on Kirch all of Sien's sins would be absolved and he would be able to enter priesthood as a pure man. Kirch goes mad at the revelation and asks Sona to kill him, saying he knows Sona hates him and wants him dead anyway. However Sona hugs him and tells Kirch "You were the last tribute offered to me for Sien's perfection, how could I not love you?"
Half a year goes by and Kirch is nowhere to be found at the palace. His fellow guardsmen continue to look for him, though one of them thinks that Kirch could've followed Sien after he left for the parish. Instead we cut to Kirch getting railed by Sona back at his private study. Kirch's mind is completely broken and he hallucinates, thinking he's with Sien and repeatedly calls his name. Sona tells him that he can continue imagining him as Sien, but ultimately Kirch is his and his alone, and one day Kirch will be reborn into someone who loves only Sona as well. Present day story ends here.
The epilogue is a flashback after the brothers were rescued -- Sien is looking out from his window at flowers falling from the tree in front of him. He sees Kirch down below speaking to an official about accepting the knight commander position in light of saving the princes. The official tells Kirch that Sona will be crowned soon and not to focus too much on the second prince (Sien). Later Kirch sees Sien outside picking up fallen flowers from the tree he was watching earlier. Kirch picks Sien up from the ground and brings him up to the tree to see the flowers blooming from the branch. Sien tells Kirch he was trying to pick flowers for Kirch to get his attention. Kirch tells him he doesn't have to do that because he'll come whenever Sien calls and he'll always be there to protect him. Little Sien hugs him closer and we fade out.
THE END
PS: The author notes that the title 'Patera' is a spoiler for the ending -- its original meaning is that of an offering plate used in Greek religions. Basically Kirch gets placed on the patera as an offering (to Sona) to absolve Sien's sins and become pure before entering priesthood.
Ending was kinda semi-depressing and plot was rushed, but art is good so I'll give it a 6/10.
I used a translator to read the rest of the raws until the end and it STILL didn't make any sense
ending also felt kinda rushed though it looks like the author plans on having side stories so hoping we get more clarity there
Why do I imagine first Mugo speaking in a British accent every time I read his dialogue
While we're all patiently waiting for the ENG version of season 2 to come out here's a rough summary of events leading up to ch 74 of the raws (spoilers ahead)
We get backstory of Jingi and Heonjae's family—dad was abusive towards mom and mom eventually killed him. She tried to cover it up but got found out by the uncle and got sentenced to life in prison. Uncle wanted revenge for his brother's death so he took Jingi in (Heonjae sent to distant relatives) and proceeded to sexually abuse him for years. Cut back the present and Heonjae plotting with the uncle to kill Jingi—his demands include money, a new house, and making sure the uncle never looks for him again.
Meanwhile Heonjae begins actively trying to not touch or do anything sexual with Myeongil. Myeongil thinks it's weird and keeps wondering how Heonjae is gonna try to make Myeongil like him if he keeps avoiding him. While this is happening Jingi goes back to sexually harassing Myeongil to make up for not getting some while Jingi was injured.
A while later Heonjae tells Jingi he confessed to Myeongil and intends to move rooms. He wants Jingi to send Myeongil to Heonjae's new room as his last request because he doesn't want to force Myeongil to come with him. Jingi forces a tattoo on Myeongil while sexually assaulting him (with Heonjae watching) and after it's over Heonjae comes to the 'rescue' by asking Myeongil if he wants to come live in his room once he moves. He promises him he won't touch him and will protect him. He tells Myeongil to think about it and moves out the next day.
After Heonjae moves out Myeongil doesn't immediately follow him. He asks Jingi if they fought and tries to figure out why HJ would move out. JG asks MI if he intends to move out and MI responds that he doesn't know yet. While HJ comes back to the room to move the rest of his stuff MI keeps asking him to stay (even trying cringe aegyo) but HJ is resolute. He tells them he doesn't want to live in JG's shadow and that living in this room feels like living in JG's room and JG's rules. He tells MI that he'll be waiting for him after taking the last of his stuff.
Now in the latest chapter (74) we see the aftermath of the first night at HJ's new room—might be implied that HJ sexually assaulted his new roommates while pining for MI. During recess MI keeps wondering when HJ is coming back to their room. Meanwhile JG starts sexually harassing MI while they're seated on the bench and when HJ comes over he tries to ignore what they're doing and tells MI that he has a work assignment next week. He then offers MI his checkered blanket and walks away. MI scolds JG, something like "you shouldn't be doing these things in front of your brother if you know he likes me" but of course this doesn't stop JG. JG instead ramps up having sex with MI, doing it freely in their room and the BATHROOM. Despite everything MI still hasn't moved out yet. The chapter ends with JG leaving the bathroom and discovering his alcohol jug still untouched under the sink.
I'm thinking we'll see drunk JG again next chapter?? Like the one in ch 16 where he treats MI like a lover and gets reallyyyyy affectionate with him. Wonder if MI will eventually move to HJ's room or if he hopes HJ will return...or maybe a part of him is stuck on Jingi and that's why he hasn't moved? Ugh I can't wait for the English chapters to come out!!
I read the raws up to ch 54 and this whole story so far is a one-step forward, 10-steps back kind of situation. I usually love dark tragedies and tropes but this was honestly too messy for me.
To summarize:
1) There's multiple instances of noncon 3p with Khalid/Emperor/Knox as the Emperor starts developing a deeper interest in Knox. The Emperor keeps reminding Khalid that Knox is just a slave for their enjoyment and inflicts a lot of sexual torture on him.
2) Everytime it seems like Khalid starts feeling affection for Knox it gets ruined by misunderstandings or jealousy and then we're back to square one of abuse and noncon again
3) Knox eventually tries to commit suicide but barely survives because Khalid+Emperor save him. It's also at this point that the Emperor discovers that Knox was actually trying to help him during the rebellion and he becomes mega regretful and apologetic towards Knox. The Emperor reinstates Knox's nobility back and grants him 3 instances of immunity from any crime. Khalid also finds out the real reason Knox kicked him out of the house when he was young and also feels terrible and regretful. However Knox wants nothing to do with either of them and as of ch 54 he begins ruling again as the duke of his household.
4) (completed novel spoilers) I didn't read the novel but based on KR comments the rest of the story goes something like this: Knox eventually goes to Khalid to have him help plot ways to curb the Emperor's power resulting in the Emperor capturing both of them and putting them in a dungeon. Then the Emperor drugs both of them and rapes Knox in front of Khalid while also physically torturing Khalid. Later Khalid kills the Emperor and Knox becomes the new emperor, taking Khalid in as his dog. There's no happy couple ending or redemption arc, basically Khalid continues to love and yearn for Knox while working under him as a servant again and his feelings remain unreciprocated.
I kinda wished Aeroc stayed an alpha in the second timeline... Seeing Kloff rejoice and feeling immensely relieved when Aeroc reveals he's been turned into an omega makes it seem like he would never accept being with Aeroc as an alpha and would continue to internalize his feelings + desires. Like I know he sees alpha/alpha relationships as taboo but the dynamic would've been so interesting to dig into as part of the alternative reality/timeline.
PULL THE BLINDS DOWN YALL
I love that they're communicating and getting freaky again but god you'd think they'd learn their lesson from Bruno spying on them