For some reason, they removed my upload for chapter 13. While I'm the only one translate this and no official translation anyway. Go to mangadex if you want to read more chapters then
thank you for your service, quuen
https://cherrymist.cafe/story/booty-wurk/
It's well written if you treat this story as a politic psychological thriller that reflects some Korean social commentary. It's dark and fucked up. Not a boy love or anything close to romance at all.
Do you know if the pace picks up at some point? I’m at ch 27 and it’s been pretty slow after the graduation. There’s still like 60 more chapters to go so it feels suffocating in a way where you cannot relax expecting something fucked up to happen
where did you read
where can I read the novel in english
The link is literally included in the thread...
Just wanna drop to say I just finished translating the main story of the novel. (it's a happy end btw).
Coming into the side stories, you will see more from Heewon's POV.
Read here: https://lacquerinedichtruyen.wordpress.com/novel-english-critical-point-%ec%9e%84%ea%b3%84%ec%a0%90/
you are an angel
I LOVE YOUUU
So I'm picking up translating this novel. I'm doing from the first chapter and the beginning of season 3 of the manhwa simultaneously.
https://lacquerinedichtruyen.wordpress.com/novel-english-critical-point-%ec%9e%84%ea%b3%84%ec%a0%90/
Is the novel only few chapters? I can see only 9 chapters? Otherwise thank you so much.
It's a long novel. I'm still working on it
If you want to read from season 3 in the manhwa then start from chapter 9
I see. Thank you.
The site isn't english, what is the site name?
Nice, thanks for translating
The phone call scene at the end of this chapter is my favorite part in the novel (and I don't think the manhwa captured the feelings very well) so I translate it.
Sneak peak
Not the Yoon Hee-won who listened to my nonsensical talks over the phone, nor the Yoon
Hee-won who would still have the scar on his right hand, nor the Yoon Hee-won who calmly
confessed he was jealous of Im Ji-ho who he didn't even know. But the fact that we were
looking at the same sky where the first snow was falling, the hot sound of breathing that
seemed to come through the phone, and the thought that maybe I could understand Yoon
Hee-won even while staying in separate rooms—these things remained with me as traces
more hot and intense than anything else.
Full version
https://1drv.ms/w/c/4c2c86d0a6b4922c/IQB664Mmdj8uSa5TUWf8ZQidAVHu-jrU0sxwf-QPsagDrT0
Is there anywhere I can read the full novel?
Afaik, no. You can buy Korean version from ridibooks then use translation tool like how I idid
By any chance do you have link for the whole novel, please?
Finished S1 and S2 without really feeling anything tbh. The art was meh, the sex scenes were kinda creative, but that was about it. Then S3 dropped, I got curious again, and ended up reading the novel because I couldn’t wait for the ending.
And wow… the novel is actually well-written and surprisingly emotional — way more than what the manhwa managed to show. In the manhwa I never understood why the MC was into hardcore sex to begin with, or why MC and ML were even attracted to each other besides the BDSM stuff.
But the novel actually explains things. MC grew up super sheltered with strict Christian parents (they literally own a church). He realized his desires young but felt confused and repressed. So when he finally gained freedom in college, he threw himself into reckless sex thinking it meant “freedom.” Kinda dumb, but also very believable given his background.
The manhwa also cut a ton of slice-of-life moments between MC and ML — and that really hurts the story. Those small scenes are exactly why MC realizes he doesn’t want to just chase lust anymore. He genuinely enjoys the quiet, peaceful moments with ML. Even ML’s nagging comes from worry, just like MC’s mom or his tutor who low-key had a crush on him. MC can’t articulate his feelings well, but those good memories outweigh the bad, and that’s how he realizes he wants to be with ML. ML also has lots of tiny caring moments that the manhwa just… exclude.
The novel is this wild combo of intense drama (all the BDSM + drug plotlines) and wholesome slice-of-life. By cutting the small moments, the manhwa basically removed half the heart of the story. Those scenes aren’t “plot,” but they’re essential for the relationship development.
It’s not translated anywhere (and I’m not good enough to translate it), but I highly recommend checking out the novel however you can — Google Translate, ChatGPT, whatever works. The message is actually really positive: MC and ML learn from their mistakes, grow together, and appreciate their small peaceful, kinda boring life without giving up their kinks (they still do moderated BDSM in the end).
It's actually translated (badly) in Scribd is an MTL translation!
That translation was worse than most current MTLs :( Must be an old translation I guess. I used Gemini to translate and was quite happy with the result (obviously not perfect but understandable).
Do novel explain MLs backstory or why he is into bdsm.
Thank you so much for this ! I don't believe I have the motivation to go through the novel, but I'll keep that in mind, and that helps not being entirely annoyed by the manhua. :)
do you know where I can find the novel? Keen to translate it in gemini
Not really why he's into bdsm but he did shared to MC why he's so fixated on safety and his actual deep desire (very disturbing but he's always restrained himself from actually doing it).
Use a very clear context in your prompt. Like translate this boy love Korean novel set in modern time
https://booktoki469.com/novel/1707828?book=%EC%99%84%EA%B2%B0%EC%86%8C%EC%84%A4&__cf_chl_tk=k2MnUjs13p.W1c_oT3xn9.Z1RjX1jz.ILzobcV0Ln78-1765266622-1.0.1.1-vlxgtzKXnbQA1_VxlqFXbTTWWB_5WcuV_uHKcF9AOX0
I never actually read novels but this one sounds interesting. Is it under the same name?
I see. Thnks.
Thank you for this! I honestly see a potential in the plot but the art direction is not doing it justice, but I'm glad the novel is actually good and I'm not just a crazy psycho who thinks it's actually good/has so much potential
I don't know. I can see a lot of these points being accurately portrayed in the comic, but that's only because I'm familiar with being raised in two very religious communities, dealing with depression and self-harm (esp. with utilizing BDSM), and over coming all of that with hospilization, meds, and extensive therapy. I was immediately able to understand the nuance of being attracted to the exciting dangers of BDSM because he grew up being so sheltered by the church, but that may just be because I'm so familiar with it.
I do think they should have shown more time passing in the scenes when they're spending time eating together to show that he was actually enjoying being nagged. Only seeing his annoyance with the nagging and having to check-in with Heewon about everything makes Heewon out to be more controlling than he is. This could be mitigated with seeing Heewon's thoughts and his perspective about Wookyung not lying or seeing MC listening to his nagging. Like, "As annoyed as he looks by my nagging, I haven't seen him brush his teeth outside the bathroom anymore." Or something more to his character, "He should've just brushed his teeth in the bathroom to begin with. Why is he so difficult?" Even though its super easy to wipe up toothpaste off the floor. Lol
I think him jumping into situations where someone 'rxped' and him pretending that its normal (at the beginning) is still too extreme to me but yeah, its just weird to read this story. Uke always seems annoyed by heewon and has similar attitude with others too. Where is the love then. I wish story showed it...better.
It does get better in the raws it's actually cute!
YESS RHE NOVEL IS SO MUCH BETTER TO READDDD. i wish people read the novel first instead of the manhwa
I hope so.
I just wanna say this conversation (fight?) is supposed to be a turning point in their relationship (at least in the novel).
The manhwa version cut a lot of details and made it become kinda lackluster.
You can have a sneak peek listening to the audiobook version here.
https://lacquerine.wordpress.com
The manhwa adaptation has really gone downhill, especially since Season 4.
I get that the novel was super long, so it’s impossible to include every single detail—but honestly, I wish they had shortened the early parts and focused on adapting Books 5 and 6 more faithfully. Instead, they did the exact opposite. They dragged out the buildup for three whole seasons (covering just four books), and now it feels like they suddenly realized viewers are losing interest and want to wrap things up fast. That’s probably why they crammed Books 5 and 6 into one season—and maybe even Book 7, the finale, into Season 4 as well.
Because of that, the pacing is all over the place—it’s hard to follow what’s happening. The characterization also feels really flat, so it’s no surprise people are frustrated with both the ML and MC.
Seriously, if you love this story, just read the novel. Books 5 and 6 are the best part—they’re intense, complex, and do such a great job of exploring the relationship between the MC and ML. You really get to understand why they act the way they do, their emotions, and all those subtle details and symbols that make the story so rich. The manhwa just doesn’t capture any of that. It’s confusing, rushed, and the chemistry between the characters is basically gone.
TLDR: Do yourself a favor by reading the novel to follow the plot and check the manhwa regularly if you're into smut scenes :)
Hi, can you share the link for the novel, please? I had it but I can't find it...
English translation (ongoing, you need to sign up an account to read): https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-foul/
Korean (pirated, completed main story - missing side stories) :
https://booktoki468.com/novel/1752315?stx=%EB%B0%98%EC%B9%99
If you're interested in audiobook, I had a few snippets here: https://lacquerine.wordpress.com/
Thx!
https://lacquerinedichtruyen.wordpress.com/novel-english-critical-point-%ec%9e%84%ea%b3%84%ec%a0%90/