Amazing story with great world building and what feels like a not OP protag who really grows chapter per chapter. the magic is really fun to read about and even this early on we have learned of at least 3 different schools of magic and "seen" them in action. cant wait to see where this goes.

EDIT 1/2: so I read the stuff this translator was putting out but got kinda tired of being unable to have consistent scheduling from them. which ive heard personally they have reasons so im not... more>> mad, just a consumer that moved on. but I went and found a site that did some crappy translations upto 300 and read all of that but then I got kinda mad that they havent released anything in over 3 months there so I went to see if I could just translate it myself. it was pretty hard to find the RAWs but then I remembered this site has the korean name of the novel. found them, but each chapter costs a certain amount of money and im a poor cripple lol so now im almost 200 chapters ahead of any currently translating site so im f*cked.... gg

but other than that my prediction was right, we end up finding out about an amazing world of many types of magic and our MC is thrown into the sh*t with it all and it just gets better and better. even through the other shitty translations I read this author is amazing man, I wish I had money and could read korean so I could experience how he wrote it but oh well.

EDIT 2/2: its now about 3 months after my first edit. I learned korean enough to fix machine translation errors and found a korean pirate site that has the chapters. im currently on chapter 516 and the story has continued to be amazing and even has some hilarious bits later on that floored me. there are some things that I personally dont like about the MC's personality and the way he makes choices but they are explained by the way he was brought up and his goals so its not that big a deal. its pains me to see that the translator here isnt even on chapter 200 yet, like I said ive heard they have their reasons but that doesnt mean that the people dont deserve someone that can release chapters at a decent speed without stocking chapters to make money off of them.... <<less

I have very little criticism of this series. In fact, I wanna start by debunking other people's criticism. Both of these low star reviewers have terrible criticism.

1. No, this story has no romance. It has one girl that has a very short term crush on the protagonist. It goes nowhere and ends shortly. That's not an excuse for a 1-star review....
2. I don't even know where to start with the 3-star review. He admits to skipping 28 chapters then talks about how he got lost trying to follow what's going on.
3. Do not skip to chapter 28... This is horrible advice. I don't even recommend skipping chapter 1. It's a slow low-action start. That's the only reason that guy is complaining. The story shifts from low-action to high action around that point. Some people will like it, some won't.

The only real criticism I have is the translation is a bit spotty. I've seen a few times where they got the names mixed up.

The novel just started but... it's hard to believe that this is a web novel/Korean. It feels more like an American YA debut novel. Maybe this was supposed to be a webtoon, but moo point. The characters are interesting and they are true to their motives, it doesn't look like it will be a typical character arc of need vs. want. All the characters will stay true to their wants. However, they are also doing incredible things with their magic which is more typical of a web novel. The world-building... more>> looks promising. Its for sure not going to be LoM level but the characters are adapting into the environment, which is always nice to see. The plot... didn't start nor do I see any foreshadowing of it... a bit of a shame but that's fine. As for the rating, I don't want to give it a five but four doesn't seem fair either... whatever I'll give it a five since it looks promising. <<less

Ch. 92

Watch our adorably psychopathic MC explore the secrets of black magic in a world filled with a myriad of magics.

The world is Cyberpunk but with magic instead of tech.

... more>> The MC is mostly emotionless and amoral, but has a sense of gratitude. So, because he ends up indebted to nicer people, he has a moral compass by proxy.

The world is interesting, the magic is interesting, and the story is interesting. The MC himself may take a bit to grow on you though.

Ch. 188 Update

My original review was right on the money. The author is using the MC's emotionless to his advantage and creating interesting situations and motivations. The MC is a little dull as a character, but the situations he creates and the reactions of the characters around him are very interesting. <<less

Have no idea what to write at the moment, but it's pretty good. Things go up to the notch when MC became a solver at 60-70 chapter ish. We finally got some decent villains other than hooligans and a bunch of Xian Xia-style pretentious Young Masters/Gang Leaders.

Here, the difference between black magic and magic is the source of those power. Magic like usual is energized by mana, while black magic is powered by emotion and sometimes, life force. Mana is produced from the body of wizards, but warlock has to suck the needed emotions and life from other sources, which is other humans. Why? because more often than not, their own emotion is not enough to use, or even if they have any at all. Like in MC's case, he... more>> has near to no emotions but instead has extraordinary control of them. And sucking our own emotions and life forces should sound like a bad idea itself.

Oliver, our protagonist, is an orphan who (is forced) to work in a mine by the orphanage system. Until one day, he met a warlock who takes him as a disciple. His age is a bit ambiguous but it should be somewhere around 13 to 17. He is pretty much emotionless, has no interest in anything other than black magic, and came up as naive/childish because of his age. Which I think is interesting because he really does not know about the world he lived in. Thus he often asks people about what should be seen as common sense or general knowledge, which is refreshing to see in today's shounen (?) genre protagonist.

If you want to see how far is 'emotionless'/'autistic' (?) he is, let me get you some example:

Spoiler

• • Has no concern when presented with a bunch of mangled and mutilated bodies, but instead just curiously questions the perpetrator even though he knows that he is the next target.

• • Basically for every enemy he fought, there will always be an awkward moment where MC suddenly ask them something lol. He also has zero hatred or anger toward every one of them, even if they had done some f*cked up sh*t to him.

• • No other emotion except for the pities of a child who lost his toys when seeing the first mother he had sucked emotions from, had become an alcoholic, and throws her dying baby carelessly for a penny.

• • Rate people from the beauty of their... emotions (which produced some funny misunderstanding lol).

• • Doesn't think human experimentation, drug making, and demon summoning are wrong, but well that's just what the majority of warlocks are but for very different reasons.

• • When dying, he just regret that he can't achieve his dream anymore, which is meeting demons and seeing the 'beautiful light' (basically the extreme emotion people with obsessions made when dying) once more.

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Unlike other Korean novels, the pacing is quite good, and we can easily understand the conversation (who talks with who). The author's description is immaculate, we can know a lot of the places' descriptions and swift well. The battle scenes also don't disappoint. Sometimes I could only imagine the grotesquely beautiful images if it would be illustrated. Lots of strange and disgusting monsters as well as equally horrible spells and experimentation-related things.

This world is dark as expected, a lot of prostitution, child workers, drug making, and all of the sh*t organizations do no matter noble/well-meaning they are. It's a derivative from 19s Britain, I mean, the author doesn't even bother changing the names anymore lol. So far all we know from other countries is 'the new world, 'the great empire from the east', and 'the coastal kingdom', which I think is America, China, and Japan respectively.

Here is the general overview of Oliver's journey if you don't mind minor spoilers:

Spoiler

• • Enter one of the many warlocks family (basically, just like a sect).

• • Shits happen, now he's the one in charge (involuntary), but he's still doing his basic responsibility.

• • Go to Landa (London) because of the family's knowledge, he has learned them all.

• • But end up as a beggar and brought up by an ex-solver (mercenary but more 'kind' (?)), because remember, he doesn't really know anything.

• • Help the beggar association here and there. Then the ex-solver guy, who basically treats him like his own son, helps him to prepare to become a solver so MC can continue to reach his dream.

• • Then finally, we can feel that this is a western fantasy genre, not just a Xian Xia/Wuxia reskin LMAO.

• • Anyway his solver arc, the current arc of the translation, we can finally see the worldbuilding and lore drop.

• • And do keep in mind he doesn't care or bother what his employer's moral compass is, there's the lab who do human experimentation, a guy who makes addictive and harmful mana alcohol (well, he did do a pilgret, cigarette imbued with emotions business back in the family. so no surprise there), a man who bribes, a pe*ophile, all those scum, MC will accept if they offer the right price.

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The no romance or sub-romance tag seems like a lie... Yeah MC has no interest in b*tches, but there are just a lot of them. That I feared it might become a harem like a certain 'no romance' novel, which is also Korean... and also has a protagonist with no interest in women, but ends up having a bunch of them anyway...

-If what I raged the most about the harem of 'that' novel, is the fact none of the husband (MC) or his wives even liked each other (to the point MC treats his offices like his home, like what's the point of harem like that anyway???) and the author treats the original timeline like it's worth nothing just to build that harem.-

Then what I f*cking hate about this novel, is how it cut the IQ of any female who ends up liking the MC to -100. Oh, here we got a woman, in her 20s, with traumatic experiences with men, who had seen the worst of societies, and a highly capable individual in leadership/politics/interpersonal relations, acts like a lovestruck 9 years old in front of the still teenage protagonist :)))

The thing is, I don't mind things like that, IF it doesn't change their personality in a 180 degrees flip. Or at the very least, make their age and background story more appropriate for such personality... Is this like the author fetish or something?? you want to create capable women characters, but don't want them to have 'too much' power so you add a bunch of weaknesses (both in their capability itself and their emotional skill) because they are woman... like what the logic in that? the female leads here LITERALLY won't be alive or in where they are right now if they don't have even a bit of emotional control.

A shame really, because I really like their personality before they became a bunch of idiots.

Oh, how I hope it stays true to the 'no-romance' premise, or at least doesn't go into the harem territory. But with the amount of relevant (beautiful) female characters and no decent-faced young male character other MC... Yeah, there's no hope. If Oliver actually doesn't end up with anyone, I will lick the author's feet LMAO.

Someone should change the tag if they had an update on MC's relationship status in the raws tbh. <<less

A pretty well-written novel with frustratingly awful start and somewhat low potential (based on MC's power system).

If you look at its current high rating (4.5) and think that you will see some kind of masterpiece here than you will be disappointed.

The first thing I want to point out is that the first 27 chapters were a torture to read.

... more>> Protagonist here starts as an incredibly dense guy with close to no emotions, 0 common sense, communication disorder, pushover personality and no ambitious.

My description is not exaggerated, this is protagonist's basic setting here. (Though if you think how much of a genius MC here is, his situation makes no sense. He literally can learn anything at first glance, has a working head etc. But it feels like he was living somewhere in the woods all his life and never seen other humans before novel began.)

He will gradually grow as a person, but it's a relatively slow process.

While I could still tolerate this kind of development, the thing that annoyed me just as much is side-characters' level of intelligence.

Idk why, but most of the cast are on the level of xianxia third-rate villains. This situation will also improve in future chapters. MC will finally meet some people with brain a bit later.

Then comes power system. It's okay by itself, but it's still somewhat wacky and shows low potential for a novel of this type.

MC is a warlock. Who are warlocks here? They are called black mages or semi - wizards (as deragotary term) because instead of mana they are using human emotions which wizards collect from other people. It's an interesting concept but I don't have much hopes for it later into the story.

Imagine a battle in the future where enemy wizard is casting a meteor by using mana and here our MC is throwing a power of 'love' at him lol.

After this frustrating start, novel is gradually transforming into a basic readable western fantasy with a somewhat dark setting, though it remains unknown how much this situation will last as MC's growth and pursuit of knowledge is going into some unknown direction. Will the plot and power system be good in the later chapters or not is a mystery. <<less

I liked this novel despite its flaws.

It has a rather slow start and the MC lack of desire and own initiative can make difficult to some. But as he explore the world things get more interesting.

The MC is like a robotic tarzan trying to learn human emotions, while being a warlock that uses emotion extracted to fight wich is ironic.

The characters are kind bland personality wise and the development that do happen often feel kind forced. And despite main magic system about dealing with emotions thematically it never seen to... more>> pass a rather superficial level.

I do enjoy the magic system. The warlock emotion literally distilled into liquid is a pretty interesting concept. But is not as deep as I wanted it explored. Maybe because alongside there is another 2 magic system, alchemy, world tree etc.. Still what was show was interesting.

The same goes for worldbuilding a magic steampunk autonomous city with different and factions is also a interesting concept.

I'm in conflict thinking if the plots are good but the MC is not the best to explore this world or if worked because the MC is such way. <<less

It's still in the early stages but so far, it's really effin good.

The magic system is wonderfully unique and the world exudes a very depressing sense of realism.

I forget I'm reading a translated book and that's the mark of a Translator doing a really good job.

Not much more I can say at this point in time except to repeat that it's really effin good.

Wow, I really liked the writing style of this. You can feel that the world is 3D, the characters are interesting, and the plot actually flows, not pushed. It's an adventure kind of feeling and that it's fun, entertaining, and gripping. MC here is emotionally deficient, with naivety of a 5-year old. His moral compass is incredibly clear of obstacles. There was no black and white. Everything's just gray. Then he meets people, and you somehow could see him live a life with more colors. It fills his gray world,... more>> and somehow, I could sympathize his obsession with "beautiful lights." He could be be sincerely kind but his curiosity is also such a strong motivation that could blur black and white. MC is very, very interesting.

In summary, this novel is worth your time as long as you're not here for a quick rollercoaster ride but a slow, scenic ride.

I paid for a few chapters as well (omg I feel like a bourgeoisie!) to show my support for translator. That's how much I liked this novel. <<less

Such an amazing novel

Story follows a naive MC with a very limited emotional range. MC was an orphan who grew up in the mines, but chance encounter with a warlock brings him to the greater outside world.

This novel has one of the greatest character development I’ve ever read, the MC despite his emotional state, still manages to befriend people and unbeknownst to him begins to develop emotions and connections he cannot explain.

This is a mixed bag for me, on one hand it's a korean novel which in my opinion always start strong but drag everything out to the point of destroying the story. While on the other hand it has a unique power system and world that could be truly interesting and engaging if there was a relatable character to explore it.

The MC sits on the autistic side of the intelligence scale. He is a savant, not a genius by any means. On the intelligence scale there are three general settings,... more>> genius which is marked by great processing and understanding with little emotional intelligence but given time he can understand. Common and ordinary people who are smart to a point or dumb to a point and understand emotions. Then there is our MC a savant, he doesn't understand but can just do. He is so profoundly s*upid and lacking in awareness that it hurts to read.

The main problem with this novel is the lack of ability to explore it with someone who could feel the same wonder as the reader. I mark it higher than most other novels however for not being a cringy transmigration novel filled with moder references that break immersion. <<less

The novel may seem ordinary at first glance with its world building and characterizations, but the author's exceptional writing skills and captivating storytelling make it impossible to put down. While it's unclear where the story is headed, the writer's top-tier skills give confidence that it will continue to be a thrilling and engaging read in the future.

A reviewer recommended skipping to chapter 28.... and oh boy, this is horrible. You have some sort of fetch/repair quest being completed and now this old witch is acting like a 2d NPC as she follows the every whim of our MC. Then we got some weird CN grunt who takes up practically the whole chapter just to show off our cool and dashing our MC is. Where our MC proceeds to monologue how deviously cunning this rando muscle man is as the MC start to talk some alchemy BS... more>> to show off to everyone in the room.

So yeah, this is my second attempt in reading this fic. The start was boring and pretty bad. The second time was even worse when starting at the second arc of the novel. I didn't see any genuine characters who got unique personalities. Just a NPC and a CN villain who are only there to prop up our MC onto his special pedestal. I can bet that later on, neither one of these people will be brought back later on or even mentioned to build a living world as events so far appear to wait solely on our MC to take direct action.

From my two experiences, I can say that this here is rather lackluster. <<less

Got to say. Just skip the chapter up to 28 and start go back and forth if you curious about his history.

There is a bit of slow pace again in ch 80++ but gaining pace in 100++.

If you looking a total blank emotional canvas and bits by bits get coloured, this is the novel for you.

Tried reading it till chapter 37 but I give up.

I don't even know what the goal of the story is, and why is the "romance" tag not included in this site? I started reading it because it apparently did not have "romance" but that's false (Well atleast till chp 37 which is where I gave up)

There's a female character that literally follows him everywhere and gets upset and starts crying if he does something alone.

Either way, good start but it's just... Bland.

I can vouch for the quality of the story but some people will definitely be turned of by the style of writing I imagine.

The story is written in a way that it feels slow phased but I actually think it's really not. Like a lot of things happen in each chapter and action becomes more frequent when MC gets to learn black magic. There are no training montages since MC is a genius but he improves by battling strong adversaries. Oh, also MC is autistic. This is not a joke... more>> or an insult, but just a heads up.

The power system is very interesting. Mages, Warlocks, Druids, magic manipulators, altered humans, demons, believers, cultists, (hackers). Each of these work via different principle and so far we've only seen very little of this systems limits.

So far only one Con I've had with this series are some debates where both characters in the situation talk the same. (You'll know these part when both characters say "Can I ask you a question?" or "Amazing" during the dialog) I'm not sure if it's a problem with the translator or the author since it just feels like vocabulary being limited. But this is something that's easy to fix and didn't affect my overall reading experience. <<less

Pretty decent, I see only have one problem with this.

Mainly the main character is a Gary sue, he can just do anything he wants really. It's a good powerfantasy dynamic of the character being a childlike gremlin, and other characters being quite confused. But it feels strange sometimes as the world building pushes up the world as an extremely harsh place to live. The main focus of the main character. Is that he is a sociopath using magic that forces you to use emotions. Which is extremely nice, and quite... more>> creative for a premise. In that, him being a Gary Sue does not nessarily matter as much. As physical character growth is not that important. Emotional character growth is the focus here, and I think its quite well done. <<less