Taming the Obsessive Attachment

I read a few chapters and felt uncomfortable, decided to drop it, but then I came across unfvckthewor's review, which convinced me to keep going. And I'm glad I did!

It's a challenging read, especially at the beginning. It wasn't until around chapter 16 that I finally felt immersed and comfortable enough with the characters and the premise to truly start enjoying the novel for all it offers.

We see the world through Jae-jin's eyes, and it's messed up. He knows it's messed up, and even Eui-woo recognizes that something is off (or at least that he's not 'normal').

But they are both characters trying to make the best of the terrible world they've either been thrown into or the harsh world they grew up in. They are also navigating the complexities of their relationship and feelings for each other, now that they know they can't be separated. (Is it a survival need? Lust? Hate? Resignation? Infatuation stemming from fascination? Love? What kind of love? Etc.)

The novel is a psychological mindfuck that had me gripped as they explore the depth of these feelings. It does an excellent job of making you empathize with Eui-woo without ever condoning his actions. But then, how do you punish or guide someone who was never taught ethics in the first place?

It's hard to describe this novel because the discussion could go on and on. It's a constant battle between each other and themselves, over and over again, until they reach physical, mental, and emotional compromises. By the end of the novel, I felt both exhausted and incredibly accomplished by how far they've both come. This was one of the best novels I've read this year, and I really rooted for both of them and their future.

Just be prepared for some heart-wrenching angst.

I just finished reading the MTL because I couldn't wait... And I can't believe I actually LOVE THIS?! First, if you want to read this, bear in mind that there's a lot of sexual abuse (SA). So if you can't accept that, don't start and complain later. Go read another light-hearted novel.

The male lead (ML) is indeed EXTREME. But, you have to understand that he was born and grew up thinking that sexual abuse in guiding is a normal thing. The setting for the Espers in this novel is that when they were born, they were taken by the government and put in a military camp to learn to be killing machines. Common human sense is not in their minds at all. They are brainwashed to think that sexual abuse, injuries, and even death are normal things.

The main character (MC) is a regressor. After spending a lot of time in the future with the ML, he totally understands why the ML is like that. Now that he has regressed, he wants to tame the ML and have a normal love relationship and life with him. So even if the ML sexually abuses him, instead of getting mad, he tries to coax and teach the ML how to have sex properly.

You could say that it wasn't easy to teach a killing machine to become human, but at the end, both the MC and ML learn how to live with each other properly.

The ML has a cute and childish way of speaking, while the MC is mature and always gives in to the ML, but not in a weak manner. When I read the novel, despite being confined and assaulted, I never thought the MC was weak-hearted. He knows he wants to live with the ML, so he never gives up on taming him.

I think only in the last chapter does the ML finally have a stable mind, looking like a normal human. It feels weird when the ML talks seriously because before that, I only saw him as an immature brat ?

There's a lot of smut, but the plot itself is good too, and not that complicated since the story focuses more on their relationship.

++ I would definitely reread this again when the translation is all done ?

It was really great, and I got really hooked on it, but I can't read from chapter 50 onwards *sobs*. GalaxyTL seems to have taken it down *sobs harder*, and now I don’t know where else to read it.

This is hands down one of my favorite Korean BL webnovels of all time. I understand the low ratings because their relationship starts out VERY rocky and there's a lot of nonconsensual content involved in the beginning, but their development over the course of the novel is phenomenal. The growth that both characters, although mostly on Seo Euiwoo's part, undergo cannot be understated. That's not to say that Kwon Jaejin doesn't have his own baggage that he has to deal with.

The plot revolves around Kwon Jaejin, an ordinary man, who one day encounters Seo Euiwoo, an esper, on his way home. Jaejin is then exposed as a guide (a "mutant," or a late awakener) and gets kidnapped and imprisoned by Euiwoo for four years. It takes four years of back-and-forth fighting and development until they finally understand each other and even start dating. However, one day, a gate (like a portal) opens up in Euiwoo's mansion while Euiwoo isn't home, and Jaejin dies. The story then takes place when Jaejin goes back in time to four years ago.

**Spoiler**
- Being a mutant means the government wants you dead, plain and simple. Jaejin and Euiwoo's chance encounter was mainly due to the fact that Euiwoo, the only S-Class Esper in Korea, couldn't be guided by anyone who wasn't S-Class, and Jaejin is the first S-Class guide to ever exist. The government wants "mutants" dead only because they can't control them. Normally, once a baby is tested to be a guide or esper, they are forcefully kidnapped into the military and raised as a weapon. They are not raised with any morality, just to be military dogs who follow orders. While this doesn’t excuse Euiwoo’s actions, it helps explain why the novel focuses on his development as a human being.
- The main reason Euiwoo kidnaps and keeps Jaejin prisoner in his mansion is because the government is extremely likely to find Jaejin and kill him if Euiwoo lets him go back home. Even Jaejin himself is aware of this, but he still hates it.

So, yes, even though the couple is extremely problematic, I still can't help but love the story. Jaejin's grief over his lover, the twenty-four-year-old Seo Euiwoo that he left behind after regressing, and his fear that he was "killing him" by changing the timeline are powerful themes. A significant portion of the novel is about Jaejin learning to live with this grief and finding a way to move forward. He is rational but also very compassionate to those around him, which becomes more evident in the second half of the novel when things get intense. His compassion really shines through in the end.

I could spoil so many of the twists, especially the big one that left my jaw hanging wide open, but I choose not to. Reading the novel the first time was such a ride because both leads kept needing to develop for the sake of the plot, adapting to every new situation and fighting at every moment just to live happily. Like, my god. THEY ARE FIGHTING HARD!!!!

I know the nonconsensual content will be a huge turn-off to a lot of readers, and I understand why 100000%, but Euiwoo really grew on me as the novel went on, and even though he's totally crazy, I think the main character is also a bit crazy.

Jaejin definitely gives off "I Will Fix Him Vibes" at the beginning, but as the novel progresses, you realize that Seo Euiwoo definitely corrupted him a little. LMAOOOO Jaejin became just as equally obsessed with Euiwoo, and the commenters were SCREAMING for it. It’s only fun when both are on the same level, after all ;)

**Spoiler**
BTW, they definitely have a lot of intense sexual scenes. Like, seriously... not even going into detail. If you’re a veteran of this genre, you can probably imagine it yourself.

I will always defend this novel even knowing how problematic it is because their development is *chef's kiss* to me. The novel explores so many unique and interesting ideas from a regression and worldbuilding standpoint that I can't help but love it for what it is. Author, please release more side stories! I love them too much...

**Edit with Major Spoilers:**
I have a lot of thoughts about this novel, and I'll still love and defend it to the very end. I actually reread it recently, so I have a more fresh take on it. I disagree that the author tries to make the reader forgive the nonconsensual aspects; I think the author has a decent amount of self-awareness regarding the unhealthy parts of their dynamic. A lot of revealed information is drip-fed since Kwon Jaejin isn't the most reliable narrator. The author makes it very clear that a lot of Seo Euiwoo's actions are unforgivable and inexcusable, especially the big one later on. A lot of Kwon Jaejin's built-up and suppressed spite resurfaces when it's revealed that Seo Euiwoo wiped his memories of his childhood and family. I don't think Kwon Jaejin ever truly forgives Seo Euiwoo for that (even after things get resolved), at least there's no indication of it. But I wholeheartedly believe he can still love Seo Euiwoo despite that. Is it realistic? Not really. But I don't read fiction for realism.

I admit that a lot of the novel is contrived, like Seo Euiwoo being overpowered to the point that the whole novel's conflict could be resolved if he just used his S-class esper powers to take over Korea or something. But I love that the novel is more about his development and understanding what it means to be a human being, and learning that there's more to life than just plain violence.

I don't like nonconsensual content, but I don't drop novels just because it's present. I don't like the novel because it has nonconsensual content; I like the novel because Seo Euiwoo and Kwon Jaejin have a complex relationship forced by a dystopian esper/guide setting. Even the Korean commenters said that the main couple would've had a good relationship from the start if circumstances were different. But that's not this story, and nobody is forcing you to read a story that has nonconsensual content. I'm particularly flabbergasted at the idea that a story could ever "justify" nonconsensual content in the first place... not that this story was ever trying to do that. We can disagree all day about the interpretation of their power dynamics (I think Kwon Jaejin stands his ground quite a lot and is able to draw boundaries that are followed by Euiwoo), and that's just an agree-to-disagree moment. I'm more confused by the blatant virtue signaling from other readers over an R-19 BL smut novel that came with the appropriate trigger warnings. At least it did in the original source material.

Sorry for being a total Shen Yuan (mentally ill reader moment), but it's baffling to think that reviewers have to be lectured about consent in another review. I'm just a guy who read a novel; I don't know why we’re being told that nonconsensual content is bad when, yeah, clearly it is. We know, thanks.

If you are interested in stories that delve into the complexities of abusive relationships and trauma bonding, this one might resonate with you. However, it's important to note that themes such as rape and confinement are prevalent, which can be distressing and triggering for many readers. This is particularly evident in the "sentinel/guide" genre, where these themes often play a central role.

This is the first sentinel/guide story I've read, and it quickly became apparent why the genre is often criticized for its reliance on non-consensual scenarios. The fantasy setting is designed to explore relationships that are often predicated on power imbalances and coercion, which may not appeal to everyone. Many five-star reviews attempt to soften the harsh realities of the narrative, such as describing Seo Eui-woo's repeated sexual assault of Kwon Jae-jin as a "rocky start" to their relationship. The author seems to want readers to empathize with Eui-woo, suggesting that his actions are somehow mitigated by the fact that Jae-jin was initially confined to his home.

The world-building and character development in this story are inconsistent and often feel contrived. For example, the justification for Eui-woo's actions—such as the execution of mutant awakeners—seems more like a plot device to create conflict rather than a well-thought-out aspect of the world. Jae-jin's character, in particular, is portrayed in a way that undermines the gravity of his situation. Despite enduring years of abuse, he is depicted as being surprisingly resilient and even grateful for the opportunity to "tame" Eui-woo.

The narrative includes several instances of Jae-jin contemplating or attempting suicide, but these moments lack depth and feel more like plot devices to heighten drama. For instance, one chapter mentions that Jae-jin attempted to kill Eui-woo and considered suicide, yet later in the same chapter, it's unclear whether these were actual attempts or just thoughts. The inconsistency in these portrayals makes it difficult to take Jae-jin's emotional journey seriously.

Furthermore, the story's portrayal of consent is deeply problematic. Even if Jae-jin agrees to sexual encounters, the power dynamic between him and Eui-woo remains profoundly skewed. Eui-woo's ability to force himself on Jae-jin at any time means that any semblance of consent is nullified. This is a critical issue that the story fails to address adequately, leading to a narrative that is both morally troubling and emotionally hollow.

In summary, while the story may offer some compelling moments, the heavy reliance on non-consensual themes and the lack of nuanced character development make it a challenging and potentially harmful read. It's essential to approach such content with caution and consider the impact it may have on your emotional well-being.

The best ever ??