Profundis

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

An era when compassion for the weak has disappeared, instead stared at them with eerie eyes.
Thirteen years ago, the life of a peaceful family of four was thoroughly destroyed.
One mutant that crawled out from the depths of the world.
Old Calamity, the most powerful star, ‘Almuten’.

Baek Yugeon lost his one and only older brother left to the encounter once again.
Woo Shinje, an S-class Hunter who appeared just in time, saved his life.

“Be a guide to ‘Erewhon’ and obey my orders.
Endure anything that come to you, and…….
Follow me into the gates.”

He whispered his long-cherished desire.
Join ‘Erewhon’ and die together with them.
Yugeon is in the midst of those who want to ruin him.
Love and hatred that bloomed between Woo Shinje and him…….

“Don’t try to escape with death.
I, as your guide, won’t let you do that.”

Associated Names
One entry per line
프로푼디스
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Global Examination (1)
Success Oriented Guide (1)
Every Romance Leaves Its Trace (1)
Even If Everyone Hates You (1)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Book that i like
  2. Korean BL
  3. Angsty, Dog's Blood Dramas
  4. BL books that kind of elevate
  5. I plan to read

Latest Release

Date Group Release
02/25/23 Hsubeans Translations extra 3
02/20/23 Hsubeans Translations extra 2
01/20/23 Hsubeans Translations extra 1
12/30/22 Hsubeans Translations c10 part2
11/30/22 Hsubeans Translations c10 part1
11/15/22 Hsubeans Translations c9
10/30/22 Hsubeans Translations c8 part2
10/15/22 Hsubeans Translations c8 part1
09/30/22 Hsubeans Translations c7
09/10/22 Hsubeans Translations c6
08/15/22 Hsubeans Translations c5
07/30/22 Hsubeans Translations c4
07/15/22 Hsubeans Translations c3
07/10/22 Hsubeans Translations c2
07/05/22 Hsubeans Translations c1
Review
26 Reviews


Lalareadstuff
Lalareadstuf
Jul 22, 2022
Status: v5
yall this thing is crazy this shouldnt be a hunter/guide novel but a horror lol

(considering the author also wrote another horror type bl deadman switch, I guess they love writing disgusting monsters lol)

aside from the outrageous 'romance', the setting of the novel is so fascinating, thats the only reason I kept reading til the end. You know how most of the actual dungeon crawling/ hunter novels have powers that goes mostly for 'wow' factor? fire, ice, lightning etc etc and fights not so gruesome?

the hunters/awakeneds in this novel... more>> got god awful powers honestly. and the fights..... they fight in the most gruesome way possible... like telekinetic ability user bursting out human heads... the poison dude melting ppl.... and the monsters are genuinely terrifying?

i LOVED reading this shit

the romance tho 💀💀 I mean the way how the MC, yoogun ended up with the main ML is a little baffling. But honestly after a few days since I finished I think I sort of understand now??? they have this
Spoiler

codependency

[collapse]
going on. both have fuked up way of understanding romance. plus with the background setting of how the world is on verge of apocalypse and the society order is just fuked in the novel, I think I understand how they ended up together???

ppl wont really like it if they come only for the romance.

all five of them need therapy I swear 💀 <<less
54 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
jch
jch
Jul 13, 2022
Status: c2
if you're unsure whether or not to pick this up, I say START READING NOW. This is an amazing story and the author has great storytelling skills. I wish I could write more about how good it is, but I'm not good with reviews so just read it already.

Short description of setting:

... more>>
Spoiler

It's the classic Awakened hunter world with gates, guilds, etc. But there's also something called guides (the MC is a guide). Guides are very rare, and they help calm Awakened ppl or else the Awakened will go on a rampage because of oversensitivity or whatever. Many Awakened go insane and/or die because they don't have consistent access to a guide, and higher-ranked Awakened need to be 'guided' more often.

The 'Erewhon' in the summary is the name of the best guild in the country, the only one with 2 S-classes in it.

[collapse]

Anyways the chapters are so satisfyingly long, to the point where it took me ~45 min to read one. So it's not actually a short story even if it only has 11 chapters + 3 extras.

To the translators: thank you so much for doing such an amazing job especially since the chapters are so long <33 <<less
19 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Violaaa
Violaaa
Mar 05, 2023
Status: --
It's sh*t I don't know how these type of novels always get high rating. Why do you all give high rating to novels filled with r*pe and abuse? I need the answer people, you all give low rate to good novels but give such novels high ratings, people nowadays are obsessed with these abuse type of genres, you all are crazy in the head I hope you know that yourselves.

Ok now moving on the reason I hate the mls:

1. They sexually harass him,

2. They don't care whether the MC... more>> gets hurt or not,

3. The innocent face one who choked MC hope you choke on your own shit,

4. They don't care about mc's feelings,

5. They treat MC like a plaything,

6. They don't know about consent,

7. They only care about their pleasure,

These are some of the reasons but there are more. <<less
17 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
jeanieha
jeanieha
Aug 02, 2022
Status: --
For many who like cute or soft romance story, this is definitely not your choice. Since it is hot steamy, may be a bit violent romance. The setting is about end-of-world situation where people are crazy in between choosing dead or alive. All characters have deep self-hates and desperation in somehow that makes them want to kill everyone. The story has a lot of thrilling actions and the emotion is climbing to climax so those who seek for rough romance in battlefield will super love it. Through darkness, all 5... more>> main characters found each others warmth, self-forgiveness, and light for themselves to continue to live. There are not so much pains. Harsh in body, and sweet in feelings, absolutely bittersweet story that cannot bore you till end.
Spoiler

All 4 semes saw uke as their first soulmate love. "In this dark world, you appear to us like God" said by Shinje. Even they knew who uke chose, the other 3 still longing for uke as their ideal vision of guide. They all treat uke as their most special light in their own style. No characters are perfect, because they are not born as normal person, they grew up with harsh and un-kind world where they fight not only for the world, but also fight for their own morality. If using physical body to heal, they are not human anymore, so the story is progressing to turn all 4 semes (cruel in beginning, and soft heart till the end) transforming from a machine to a human because of uke.

[collapse]

They deserve to have their light of hope at the end T^T. I do not like NP, but first time, I wish the author will give NP ending instead of 1v1. <<less
16 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Kieukieu
Kieukieu
Oct 24, 2022
Status: c5
This novel caters to a very specific taste and I had assumed naively that I could stomach the r*pe and yandere tags but boy oh boy I was dead wrong..... this author does not pull any punches. I mean the writing is just so damn compelling and entertaining, the story pulls you in immediatly, and the translator did an amazing amazing job, but I couldn't take the constant abuse of the MC.... my poor sappy soul needs some romance, a little tenderness, some fondess fostered for the ML before I... more>> can turn a blind eye to some of their behaviors, but thats a personal problem. I have to drop this novel for now, 😩 I can't take it....I will go read somthing really sweet and sappy and return to this at a later time. <<less
13 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Neelambori
Neelambori
Oct 15, 2022
Status: c7
This is an interesting story with the similar premise of many Hunter/awakened/dungeon series. The mystery is intriguing and I can't help but compare this to s-classes that I raised.

Spoiler

MC has a brother, ML's name, looks personality is similar to Sung Hyunjae, one of them seems like Song Taewon etc

[collapse]

But only surface level similarity. It's horror mostly and everyone is kind of f*cked up. I'm glad to see a story like this is being translated. The translation is very good as well.
12 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
kirakirakira
kirakirakira
Jul 05, 2023
Status: Completed
I'm so speechless after reading this. I even don't know why I started reading it, I think I was in a masochistic mood and was checking my bottom line. This story broke right through my bottom line and made an abyss in my soul. I hate it. There is nothing I love in it. But at the same time I feel my life would have been a little different if I hadn't read it.

It is truly a very, very powerful novel. There is so much wrong happening in it, and... more>> this wrong breaks my heart, but the author never pictures wrong and morally right. You always remember it's wrong, it's just that... the situation is like this, there is no other way. And it is frustrating and painful - but this pain is worth it.

So what I want to say: I didn't enjoy the story in the least. But it's a great story. <<less
9 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Couldnt_Tell_Ya
Couldnt_Tell
Sep 24, 2022
Status: c6
ah my god what a winner, I was looking for a good bl with smut and gore dont ask and they delivered. Very descriptive in both.

Story-wise, amazing as well. There is a main cp

I was a little hesitant at first cause the plot summary was a lil confusing, but it's pretty much a story about a guy who is a guide, someone who can calm and heal hunters with their body, and four hunters that are a part of a team that he was forced to join so they will... more>> save his brother from death.

As you read the story though you learn more about each of the characters and their story, it gets heartbreaking and you can see how they turned into the f*cked up people they are now. <<less
7 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
SavingRemedy94
SavingRemedy
Mar 07, 2023
Status: 8 part1
I am dropping this. Maybe one day I will pick it up again, but for now, my brain cannot take the abuse. I briefly skimmed over the tags before reading this, thinking, “Yes, it’ll be dark and gritty, but I’m kind of in the mood for something a little edgey and smutty. I’ve read these types of things before.” Yeah, I was wrong. I can’t handle the depravity.

The MC is basically r*ped every time the other four guys get injured or just feel upset. It’s not the usual r*pe either.... more>> The author basically goes into detail about the MCs guts almost bursting as the other extremely strong and completely insane men pound into him without a single feeling of remorse or guilt on how they are almost killing the MC. It’s the type of descriptive that makes me sick to my stomach. There’s no remorse from any of the characters either because of their abilities.
Spoiler

Shinje, who I think is the ML but could be wrong because I haven’t finished the story yet, often goes into this headspace where he is f****** straight thru the MC’s stomach or tearing the MC apart. Haessu, I think it is, he is always joking about peeling off the MC, ’s skin, dismembering him, pulling out his fingernails or teeth.

[collapse]
If this was only a single piece of the story or something easy to skip, I probably could have moved past it to get to the rest of the story. But no, it’s in every single chapter scattered throughout it so that you don’t know if you will miss an important plot piece if you skip thru it. And the chapters are sooo long. I don’t mind long chapters. They can be a nice surprise if it turns out to be a really cool story or you love the characters. I do mind it if the story itself is depressing and the MC is being f***** to death. This is really what got me.

What surprised me was the depth of the characters and the extensive world building. The plot is fascinating and everything you’d want in a dark, depraved, horror story. I’m a big fan of HP Lovecraft, and I felt like this was a modern apocalyptic take on his stories, with the main characters all switched out for anti-heroes. It was hard to put this down just because of the plot and the world the author created. It just got too depressing for me.

The characters themselves were also very well thought out. The author did a great job of making them just barely human enough, but full of various forms of madness.
Spoiler

I really appreciated how this was thought out with the Awakened’s abilities. Their senses are extremely heightened, which, for anyone who has difficulty dealing with being overwhelmed by outside or inside stimuli, makes a lot of sense. It’s easy to see how they became the way they are and why they are so insane.

[collapse]

The story almost has that feeling of what the world turns into when you’ve gone two days without sleep. It’s very neat to read and I like examining the parallels and analogies. I just couldn’t take it for as long as the story is going on.

Would I recommend this story? I’m still not sure. I think if you don’t mind or like reading about a character getting viciously abused, then give it a try. If you get squeamish at the thought of blood, give this a hard pass. <<less
6 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
gurochi7
gurochi7
Jan 21, 2023
Status: v5
this novel is... what should I say..... like the author has this really cool (what's the word) vision (?) for the worldbuilding they want to create for their work, but like, their need to write smut won?? and I say this in the positive way jdfahkgjk

dungeon crawling novels are the most generic and everywhere you can find type of novels in kr novel world, and in the bl side, guideverse novels are also like hunterverse and omegaverse mash-up, most of the time, melodrama, smut filled novels.

and profundis here actually managed... more>> to like have this really cool solid hunterverse/guideverse worldbuilding in the background, very realistic, gritty apocalypse backdrop, and lovecraftian horror type monsters (omg I fricking love the monster in the novel).

BUT THEN boom the smut fest............

i mean it's not really THAT bad, as far as most r*pe harem novels go. the mls knows what they are doing to MC is r*pe, the MC knows what is it, and all the parties acknowledge it and even say the word on screen. I mean.... I know many novels that don't even use the r word and just shove it under the rug lol.

the saving grace is the MC baek yugeon. I thought he was going to be like most bottom MCs, where they suddenly change from strong ch to weak ch in the vicinity of the MLs. tbh he's an ant in the middle of the elephants from the very start. the fact that he didn't go insane is just.... the way his personality remained unchanged until the very end was very earning as a reader. that was the reason why his decision to stay with the scum ML was somewhat understandable... because I know he is going to be happy with his choice. he didn't forgive the ML, but he will be happy, they are both striving to better themselves, and they are going to happy and that's enough.

10/10 for word building, and for satisfying my craving for lovecraftian horror

7/10 for romance

10/10 for character likability (baek yugeon is my baby)

10/10 for smut (*consensual s*x scenes - they are some of the spiciest s*x scenes ive ever read) <<less
5 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
earlgreyt
earlgreyt
Mar 19, 2023
Status: Completed
The translation is incredible, really well done and flows beautifully.

Ultimately this is a pretty dark story filled with very flawed characters who are searching for their own destructions (salvations). Despite that, the plot and characterizations were very vivid, and despite the dark/cruel/horrific moments, there was a lot of delight as well.

The story is much longer than you think from 13-ish parts. Every chapter was packed with stuff and very long as well. The pacing was well-executed, the slow moments were staccatoe'd with quick actions. I wish there was a bit... more>> more of slice-of-life elements, but the story is gratifyingly "tight." What I mean by that is: every element and detail contribute to the progression of the plot, so it's very low on filler material (except some of the smut).

The worldbuilding is pretty excellent though it does draw from a few cliches in the genre (like dungeon attacking / gates / monsters) that are pretty typical, but it does its own spin on things.

Spoiler

I also thought the r*pe/non-con was handled well as well as the power dynamics in the relationships because of that. Unlike in some other novels, there are no excuses made for it. It's openly acknowledged as a horrible act done in a cruel and horrible world. The MC is really a very strong character and takes revenge in his own way.

[collapse]

I'm really grateful to the translator for bringing up such an excellent translation! <<less
4 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
bluedrop
bluedrop
Feb 26, 2023
Status: c4
It's very well written but like another reviewer said, the smut scenes kinda turned me off.

I came here for the smut honestly and I actually do have a thing for reading dubcon (and maaaybe sometimes noncon)

But this was kind of hard to read no lie. I'll come back to it mostly for the story but maybe I'll just wait for the webtoon to finish.
4 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
ppkz
ppkz
Mar 06, 2023
Status: extra 3
so glad I stumbled upon this 😭 I read b class guide last month and wanted a more intense version of it (as if it wasn't already)

"I can fix him" nah these ppl really said "I can ruin him"

the endgame couple is really toxic and yet also sweet af.

... more>>
Spoiler

"It's broken enough, I'll have to cherish it even more. I'm keeping you for the rest of my life."

[collapse]

I'm obsessed.

Highly Recommended for ppl who want some dirty/toxic/intense stuff. Not for ppl with faint heart, heed the tags. The TL-er also has more tws on their site.

The background plot also F**KS. Didn't expect much from a BL action, but it exceeded all my expectations.

dirty smut + good plot 👌☠️ what a find. <<less
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Ewokz408
Ewokz408
Jan 05, 2023
Status: --
Wow, so good! So happy to read a really interesting, genuinely creepy dirty, sweet, horrifying m/m story.

Spoiler

I really wanted it to end with 4 MLs redeemed & living to serve the MC till they’re old and gray. I think I liked Shinje the least, so yes, harem ending would have been best.

[collapse]
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Snowhite143
Snowhite143
Dec 09, 2022
Status: c5
I love the premise of the story which is why I survived till chapter 5 despite how unbearable it is for me when smutty scenes are involved. Honestly I often seeks that tag everytime hence me being here. But dub-con ain't really my thing I guess so I had to stop to consume other sweetness from other novels for a while. My poor soul needs to balance the diet to survive.

So for readers who have the endurance then you should try this one. Special thanks for the translators btw. 🥰
3 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
MiAmigo
MiAmigo
Oct 23, 2023
Status: Completed
I was honestly departing on how to score this for a few minutes...

the story is great and the plot is also really good... BUT the mental trauma this story gave me from all the stuff that happened to the MC.. I think I’ll need therapy ;-;

the MC doesn’t deserve anything from the mental to physical abuse that is portrayed and I still feel really bad even after finishing the story. Though if your looking for mental trauma this is the perfect story 100/10

the Espers are very possessive and obsessive!... more>> And I’m not sure I’ve I like any..

Though there are VERY many questionable things happening.. (r*pe, a lot of mental and physical abuse, violence and what not...) I must say the plot development and overall story is one of the best I’ve ever read! So if your prepared to go to therapy for one of the best harmen storys this is a must read! <<less
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
SheeLey
SheeLey
May 04, 2023
Status: Completed
Plot: 10/10

Characters: ⭐/10

Translation: 10/10

... more>> I read it, and it's really good (unexpectedly).

I don't think I would like it because of the other review, about the TW, gore, grapes, and abuse.

But the cover, you see, it look so hot (heh).

So I just trying to dip my toes a lil bit, but slipped, and then diving in this story.

It's about a twisted love, between someone who lost everything, and someone who don't have anything. The two forced to be with another for something. For the goal they want is what the world need.

Imagine being born, get tortured and unloved, and no one teach you about common sense. Because you are seen as a tool, by someone who made you. So I understand Shinje's POV.

Because the main reason in this story isn't romance, where ML hurting and get saved by MC, but about revenge, and accepting for being oneself, a human.

And I understand Yugeon too, at first maybe because his brother, and only because he was at the bottom of food chains, but Yugeon is cool headed, and actually thinking about himself. He know his own values, and putting it on use.

And I love the other characters too, they have their own flaws, their heartache (actually I only read a glimpse of every flashback they have why they become a hunter at Erewhon coz I'm scared of a heartbreak), and I believe when Yugeon is giving them his piece of mind, they forget about how lonely became a hunter is, because Yugeon seeing them as a person.

Anyway, this is great, beware of the abuse and grapes, because it's the pain of this story. <<less
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
chan10
chan10
Mar 24, 2023
Status: Completed
i really love this novel ❤️ although it's a toxic story, I love how it's written. I was actually looking for some manhwas and I stumbled on this and found out that it has a novel so I read it and I didn't regret it ❤️. My fav character aside from yugeon, taein & chan (he's a brute yes but he's cute🙃lol)
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Sleepy_sheepy
Sleepy_sheep
Mar 10, 2023
Status: extra 3
This is such a gem.

Abusive, gritty and dark. Heed the trigger warnings.

Amazing worldbuilding - guideverse - MC, a powerful guide, is forced to join a guild of powerful superhuman S-rank hunters who seek his guiding. MC is just an ordinary human, aside from the guiding powers. Broken, crapshoot post apocalyptic world where monsters emerge from gates, the ‘awakened’ people fight, and ordinary people are defenceless and can only die in pain.

Plot is tight, characters are well-developed (and psychotic). Genuinely horrifying, gory, and throw in a dash of existential dread here... more>> and there - Cthulhu esque horror. IMO MC develops something akin to Stockholm syndrome, he experiences a lot of trauma to say the least. Some parts I could barely stomach.

Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy action-thriller and horror. <<less
2 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
zapzesty
zapzesty
Sep 27, 2023
Status: c10
I took off 1 star for how legit sad this book made me and not the good sad, the devastating kind of sad. Actually maybe I should have taken off 2. Please understand this is purely about personal preference and does not reflect on the writing and the translation because both were brilliant.

To people on the fence reading this book please only read if you like very dark romance because this 'love' story is sick and twisted.

MC is by far the best thing about this book I only read for... more>> him and really wanted to see if he could get some kind of happy ending. But to also maybe hopefully see all the ML's in the harem die horrible painful deaths with them knowing that they themselves were terrible people who deserve nothing but the worst. In other words I wanted FIREY retribution (Which is probably not a good reason to use to force yourself to finish a story, and I am now just realising that :/).

Was I niave? Was I stubborn? Was reading this story like lifting weights but for my brain and nothing can hurt me now ever again?

Yes to all of them.

But for real the dark romance girlies will love this (just please check the tags) but fluffy romance girlies stir clear this ain't for you!!! <<less
1 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Leave a Review (Guidelines)
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.