doki

I loved this story, so, so much. It’s been such a long time since I’ve read something that felt so simple, yet at the same time stayed with me. It wasn’t heavy, but it was deep; it was entertaining without being frivolous, and I loved how all the characters respected each other in their own ways.

I also found it quite sad when I thought about the possibility that Taesun might only be mortal. Since Taesun is human, while Geumryang is an immortal snake deity, their lifespans are completely different. Eventually, Taesun could grow old and pass away while Geumryang continues to live forever. Geumryang and his children would then have to experience the pain of watching someone they love disappear.

And yes, maybe Taesun could reincarnate, but reincarnation doesn’t necessarily mean being the exact same person. He would have different parents, a different family, different experiences, and a different life. They met in this life, with these names, these personalities, and these versions of themselves. That exact Taesun could never truly be recreated.

But I keep thinking about what the author said in the Creator’s Note about “the miracle could happen.” In the flashback, when Hwansuh left the mountain because he wanted to experience life among humans—poetry, music, and simply mingling with people—we saw someone sitting there in historical clothing, smiling at him. And then, in the present, when Geumryang was choosing the ring for Taesun, they talked about reincarnation. He said that, from his experience, waiting for someone to reincarnate wasn’t actually such a bad feeling.

So I keep wondering if Na-in might be the reincarnation of that person we saw in the flashback. Maybe that’s the connection we’re supposed to notice.

And honestly, I really hope that if the author ever makes some kind of sequel about Hwansuh and Na-in, we get to see more of their story — and maybe, somehow, we’ll discover that Taesun is still alive and became immortal too.

Please, let it be so.

I just really loved how this story managed to be emotional and profound without ever feeling unnecessarily heavy. It was simple, but it had so much underneath it, and it’s one of those stories that actually stays in your mind after you finish it.

And if there are any other stories, side stories, or extra content related to this, please let me know! I’ve never really understood how Twitter works or how to follow the author there, so I’d love to know if they’ve posted anything else about Hwansuh, Na-in, Geumryang, or Taesun.

Guys, please let me know when the sequel is fully out and completed. I still can't believe it's real... it feels unreal.

I honestly thought this story would never continue. I had randomly opened my notifications just to see if there were any new uploads or chapters—deep down, I guess I had never stopped hoping. Who would have thought that the author, that absolute angel, would give us the reunion we had all been dreaming of: Shion and Nezumi together again?

I cried so much years ago when they said goodbye. Ever since then, I've gone back to reread the final chapters of the novel over and over, just to experience that bittersweet feeling again, hoping to catch every little detail about their relationship that I might have missed.

I've known this series since I was around 12–13 years old, and now I'm 26. It's such a strange feeling to taste that same nostalgia again and to feel those butterflies in my stomach while reading their conversations in the sequel.

I still can't believe that not every story is left forgotten, and that not every author cruelly abandons their characters. You can really tell that the author missed Shion and Nezumi just as much as we did.

Please keep me updated with any news! I'm also really hoping they'll adapt the sequel into a manga. The novel is beautifully written, and reading it is an amazing experience, but I really, really want to see them together—not just imagine them.