i only read the main story and none of the side stories but...
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will iwol's sister ever remember their past or are there hints of her remembering it? its one of the only things im disappointed about by the ending. even though i know why it ended up that way, i don't think rewriting her past/memories is necessary to enforce her dying wish, if anything, it contradicts it. She wanted Iwol to forget the bad memories and move past her 'death', so it seems she didn't want to be the reason for him being sad - but now that she's actually alive, the fact that their previous bond has been erased from her memories is too cruel. He would have to acknowledge that every time they meet, and I get the feeling that's not what she wanted from her wish.
I started reading the novel because I heard they didn’t add the future seeing item which turned me away from the story a bit. Anyway the novel story is a lot smoother (just finished the main story and there were no forced spicy scenes) and the Gaia system made a lot more sense. Unfortunately, I think knowing the future and not understanding the Gaia skills properly will lessen the impact of the upcoming plot twists. It seems like the BL quota is overshadowing the amazing plot here.
I liked the Hwarang idol battle part but I can understand why they skimmed it since it didn’t add anything to the story.
I think the most important thing that was missing was the TeSTAR vs Onyx (TeSTAR’s main rival for the rookie award) bow and arrow version of paintball.The aim was to ‘look like they’re trying hard but not win first place so they aren’t taking attention away from other groups’.
It’s another subtly psycho Chungwoo moment taken away from us #－.－) (Moondae: he looked like a platinum player slaughtering all the bronze players). In the end he had to stop Chungwoo from going crazy LOL
The other one was during the bird variety show when he said he’d rather shoot the birds (with a bow) than with a camera.
I’ve already posted this before but thought I would do it again. It’s an epub compilation of all 644 translated chapters with the best non-MTL versions I could find (the final few chapters 629-644 are MTL because there is no human translation version out there but I’ve fixed it as much as I could so it should make sense to an extent).
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lhpkmdqhs67p5wata1kfg/dod-allchapters-cleaned.epub?rlkey=m5r2seoeygsy8mw4kjjz1qx7t&st=gat60l6n&dl=0
I had a friend request me for my list so I thought I'd post it here too.
Firstly DoD actually released official instrumentals versions for It's Me (Idol Inc.'s theme song) and Magical Boy which can be found on soundcloud and its also been covered by some youtubers. Tbh, the only other sources of DoD songs without AI assistance I know of are the youtube channels Catch Your STAR and Camellia. If anyone knows any other channels, let me know pls
Something I also like to do is listen to 'voice castings' on youtube which is basically when channels match TeSTAR's songs with an already existing kpop song with a similar concept to imagine what the song + their voices would sound like. Even if the video is monetised (which it usually isn't), the profit still goes to the original artist. I discovered a lot of kpop songs this way, so I do recommend this as an alternative for those who don't want to support AI generated music.
I don't remember if it's this season but for me personally its Moondae/Ahyeon/Baese's unit performance ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ
There's so many other things I'm looking forward to though. Honestly it was around this part that got me obsessed with the story so I'm really excited for new chapters.
Broooo wtf is this chapter is so cute but is this actually the official translation? Wdym ‘I got caught up watching skirts’ that could totally be misinterpreted
I’m pretty sure it’s a parody for Shorts but why skirts??? Lmfao what the hell
And ‘once u get addicted there’s no going back’ geez it makes them sound like creeps
This is going to sound oddly specific but im wondering if theres a manhwa/webnovel out there where the MC transmigrates or simply exists in a royal fantasy setting where they end up being and acting like a lousy prince or other noble. Like they're competent on the inside but act unlikeable on the outside or have a difficult personality. MC can be man or woman.
Just to clarify, im not looking for a villainess/villain that acts evil on purpose but is actually skilled, but one that genuinely acts incompetent and lazy like those princes who break off their engagement with the MC for a 'better' woman but come crawling back later.
The closest example i can think of is the MC from 'I have to be a great villain', but wondering if theres something more along the lines of a royal fantasy plot.
24 | BL lover <3 | besides reading manhwa i enjoy reading novels&I like to journal :>
I couldn’t wait for the rest so I read the novel from the beginning. It’s insanely cute
The only problem was that even though I read from the beginning again, it didn’t feel like I was reading it the second time bc of all the parts they skipped
Novel Jeongwon feels cuter and sneakier and they explained the games showing how much (internal) planning and effort he really put in to get his way. Cha Hyeon also feels a lot more sassier but in a funny way. Honestly it was just so addictive bc the chemistry between Jeongwon and Haewoon is amazing and such a rare find-unfortunately a lot of it was skipped over. I really highly recommend the novel~~
Hey guys I compiled all 644 chapters into an epub + cleaned the text. I'm not sure if the link will show up here, but if not, send a DM and I'll reply (feel free to send a DM if there are any other issues): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lhpkmdqhs67p5wata1kfg/dod-allchapters-cleaned.epub?rlkey=m5r2seoeygsy8mw4kjjz1qx7t&st=gat60l6n&dl=0
Hooray for side story! (and a new different story)
I've never seen any of those couple checklists but I had fun reading through them. Some of them made me LOL like 'regrets the past' for Taehyeon, so what that means is the entire story of how they got together is a dark history for him.
I don't understand exactly what Off the Record AU is, and I can't find anything from google search. From the checklist it seemed like actor/idol but how is it different from celebrity AU?
Update: I just finished the webnovel. Not the side stories but at least the entire main story and I’m left with another hole in my heart. Idk how to say it without light spoilers but a hundred chapters in and I felt like I couldn’t stop reading until I see how it resolves just to be sure everyone gets their happy ending. Hoyun frustrating me and playing with my emotions time and time again didn’t help lol
But in the end I’m satisfied. I particularly loved the main story scenarios especially Jiwon’s - it really resonated with me how much he had struggled and tried not to despair, but it’s also one of many moments where Hoyun shows how sweet he can be towards others. Anyway I might stare at the ceiling for a while and then find another thing to read.
I just started reading the novel for this.
It’s really fun. I think this is the only idol story I’ve read so far that I’ve enjoyed since finishing Debut or Die… maybe I prefer main characters who originally had a different job before becoming an idol?
I think overall I just like how the MC is genuinely trashy like the title says and his past life is relevant to the story, and it’s refreshing to see the team members are greedy for success and actually think for themselves instead of following everything the MC says. So yes, The Dawn members really carry the story for me and they’re all so fun and loveable and scary lol. So far Dajun is my favourite, especially his novel art, he looks like an angel.
Omg it’s doctor Elise!!!
Also why end the chapter like that ;-;
Yessss my favourite ship is sailing!!! ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ
Satowa sleeping on Chika’s shoulder!!
Yoshinaga sleeping on Momoya’s shoulder!!!
I’m so glad the manga hasn’t ended on the nationals. I hope the author takes the time to continue to explore more of the characters lives afterwards and their relationships and really write a story that gives everyone a proper happy ending.
On another note, something I love about this manga is that the national results were only possible because of the support of so many people that if you even take one person out, it might’ve changed the ending dramatically.
I don’t think I can name everyone but to name a few:
Chika’s grandfather - started the club and gave his koto to Chika
Tokise’s principal - made sure the koto club stayed alive for Chika’s grandfather’s sake
Tokise’s koto club’s former members: their performance inspired Takezou and Satowa to join the club
Takinami-sensei: composed for the club
Akira-sensei: taught the club for free (initially) and that wouldn’t have happened if her grandmother didn’t suggest it
Akira-sensei’s brother: taught Michitaka one on one
Hakuto’s club advisor: helped Takinami-sensei compose the final piece for Tokise (and without Mio he might’ve not pushed himself to be as good as he currently is)
And of course our MVP… the koto shop owner for letting Tokise practice every single night!
And our second MVP… Tetsuki for literally carrying the group starting with helping four of the members pass the entrance exam to Tokise LOL
And also Isaki for adopting Chika
(I’m realising there’s more than a few)
All we need is a new anime season or at least recordings of what the new pieces sound like ;-;
Some thoughts:
- A solid masterpiece. I love my hunter BL stories with suicidal MCs, I feel like there’s not many good ones and other than ‘death delayed by the will’ and ‘the hunter wants to live quietly’ so this was a good read.
- I loved the MCs backstory. I found it quite simple but I guess that’s what made it all the more relatable and tragic. Would like to know more about the friends although it’s not necessary for the story. Honestly the BL part wasn’t even the main focus I just kept reading because the plot was good and I loved the friends
-the chord members are actually so loveable especially Han Arin and Yi Joohyeon! I thought Arin’s powers were super cool and I would actually read a manhwa where she’s the MC
-the art is crazy and really carried the story! I’m more of a story>art person when it comes to reading but this was just insane for a simple BL story like it could be on the level of a popular shounen hunter manhwa IMO. The dungeons looked amazing and the idea of the seven wonders is simple but cool, same with the linked dungeon concept. Not to mention Yiseon’s restorer powers are so freaking unique and beautiful I just had to take a few seconds just to admire his powers. I saw someone say that the novel art is even more beautiful and after checking it out, it’s really insane and so perfectly representative of Yiseon’s soul (if that makes sense). I’ve never liked a character just because their powers are aesthetic lol.
-speaking Yiseon’s powers, the title ‘traces of the sun’ (which I believe is the English title) is genius. Yiseon is the sun and the dungeon has traces of his powers mhmm mhmm. Traces of the wonder is also a good title in its own way.
-I found the relationship between Yiseon and Sa Hyeon to be a bit iffy in the beginning but I really should’ve trusted the process more. To me it doesn’t feel like Yiseon’s relationship with the chord members are close but rather, it’s the just the beginning of him stepping out of the darkness into the light because he had put up a boundary between himself and everyone else before. I really do love how much the theme of friendship is emphasised here despite being a BL story and how all the side characters and extras had roles to play.
After all, it’s not realistic for the male lead to fix everything by himself. But still Sa Hyeon redeemed himself for me (as in I like him more, not that I ‘forgive’ him. Look, I’m just weak to obsessive male leads)
Overall a solid beautiful masterpiece, highly recommend. Would love to know more about the other chord members in a season 2 or side story but that’s my personal desire, otherwise its perfect as it is.
just in case anyone needs this information, the manhwa is now completed at 53 chapters. you can read all the actual chapters on Bato under a slightly different title 'Without the Male Lead, My Grades Are Doomed'.