Popoid@ddy

There's only one answer to that: We don't know!
Seriously, there's not much to reject either possibility~

Yes, he’s really dead. Literally no other character has suffered a deadly injury like his and survived unless they were really op. Jaeil is NOT op. He’s just a weak aberrant that was killed.

The rumor that weak aberrants are killed during the test is spread by illegal aberrants to paint the corps black. It could be a lie, a fact, or a partial fact. I thought it was true, given those lifeless eyes, until they showed a bit more of Ishaan's character.

I doubt he would be so casual about the whole thing, 'Oops, the kid died,' kinda way. They're lying, and they're probably using the weak aberrants for experiments or something, but downright killing kids on the test, then sending that kinda guy to clean it up... nah, makes no sense. Or his whole character could be around guilt, which we already have Auclair.

You do know that the whole thing with the Aberrant corp is that they throw the rookie recruits at anything dangerous till there’s only a cell left? Why would they care about weak ass aberrants if they don’t even care about normal ones? I get why you think he’s alive but based on the grim story, there’s literally no way he’d still be alive unless it was for a pretty dark reason.

Now that I’m almost caught up, I kinda hope he’s still alive being extracted for rapture somewhere… but given that he’s weak enough to be disposed of, it’s unlikely. But still hope he’s alive.

Balling my eyes when I saw him in the first 3 chapters they did him dirty

No, seriously, I thought he was dead for sure until a couple of earlier chapters gave us more about cell 3’s mentor. I’m still not sure about his morals, like 100%, and he was there with Juni when they became red ties, and he seemed thrilled! So maybe he shares Sayeon’s madness and believes in sacrifices for the greater good or something. I don't know.
But I think he might be Butcher's little brother. And it's true that guy mentioned they have different sets of morals, but if Butcher hated hurting kids, then his bro wouldn't allow it either, right?

I think you’re misunderstanding; it doesn’t matter what he thinks since it was the white haired girl who killed Jaeil. I think you’re just trying to cope right now and that’s fine but like you’re taking drastic measures hoping Jaeil is still alive lol.

lol, I feel like that one detective who loves reopening old cases. I guess we'll see, haha~