Chapter Text
The recent hit novel series ‘Count Kim Hyunsung’ is currently going through a meteoric rise in popularity after its first several chapters. With a fresh and interesting take on the isekai series and a promising main characters, many fans flocked to the series expecting it to be the next big thing.
And currently, Nai is loving it.
The plot! The characters! The intrigue! With only thirty or so chapters out, the series captured his attention with its combination of humor and drama. He could go for days about how cool Kim Hyunsung is, how the plot seems like an epic fantasy with great potential, and the heart-pounding fight scenes.
Really… Who wouldn’t like such a story?
Nai scrolled through the comments on the CKH forum with a sigh. Currently there are still not many users frequenting the site. That will eventually change, but it’s pretty disheartening to see the lack of content.
Count Kim Hyunsung forums
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ckhforums.com/topic/reviews/count-kim-hyunsung-review
Tree_Leaf_Tutu rated it⭐⭐⭐⭐
3 likes, 0 dislikes
Guys, you’re missing out if you don’t check out this novel! I happened to pick it up because people are insisting that it’s “not like other isekais out there”. After some skepticism, I went online and searched up the title.
“Huh. The main character on the cover is handsome.” Not gonna lie, that’s what drove me to read it first. But it was the plot that kept me hanging on to each update! The author does a lot of worldbuilding, but her (I think they're a she) best area lies in the character’s characterizations. Everyone’s morals are gray and not everyone is good or evil.
Take Kim Hyunsung for example. He had to make some really hard choices for his self-interests. In one scene, he was forced to make a decision to agree to the destruction of a town. You can argue that it was an unavoidable decision to maintain his status and Charlotte’s status in the Empire. But what about the people who died tragically in the event? Kim Hyunsung might as well participated in their deaths himself, and the fact that he ran away from that fact is a real human response? I would have found it really unrealistic if he just got over it or somehow come up with a 3rd solution out of nowhere. The man is indecisive, easily shaken, and very, very human. And that’s what I love about him.
So enough about my rant. Let’s get to the reason why I didn’t rate this series 5/5. I think the story misses too many details. There are so many mysteries that I can’t count them all, and the author never addresses them! There’s a hyung that gave Hyunsung bread in the tutorial, presumably dead but WE NEVER SEE THE BODY. There are also sudden plot elements that are introduced without any buildup. For example, during a ball event, suddenly someone summons a demon and the macguffin character gets killed off to trigger a war. And then the demon was just forgotten by everyone.
I just wish that the author keeps these details in mind while reading. I know we’re following Hyunsung’s journey, but there are some very intriguing plot elements that she should expand on because I’m afraid the plot will suddenly turn into a typical power battle story otherwise.
Comments (11)
hyunsungs_tiddies
Damn, what an essay. What I can say is that it only gets better from here 👍. The fight scenes are 10/10 and I find the tension between Jung Jinho and Hyunsung delicious 😘 - What I wouldn’t give to be sandwiched between them.
hi
@hyunsungs_tiddies br uh
hyunsungs_tiddies
CKH’s world cold and hard, tiddy warm and soft
[deleted user]
hi idk where to post it and i just wanna ask if mc fucked anyone yet
hi
DUDE WHY ARE THERE SO MANY HORNY PEOPLE IN THE COMMENTS WTF
Nananana🍌🍌
@[deleted user] No, but there are some potential ships. The leader of the Black Swan seems pretty into him (not that he noticed), his spear girl is so in love with him but he’s too dense to notice that either. There was also this chess girl who died but ehhh, I ship her and Marquis Janice more. That was a tragic love story if I ever saw one.
Tree_Leaf_Tutu OP
@@Nananana🍌🍌 Ahhh, I haven’t gotten there yet so please don’t spoil! 😣
Nananana🍌🍌
@Tree_Leaf_Tutu Sorry!
hyunsungs_tiddies
@Nananana🍌🍌 What happened 👀
Nananana🍌🍌
@hyunsungs_tiddies🍌 I’ll start a new thread so the newbies won’t get spoiled.
Scrolling through the forums every day as he head to work - that has become Nai’s daily routine.
The train jostled and jerked as it continued its bumpy pace to his destination. Nai’s attention was focused on Tree_Leaf_Tutu’s review.
Speaking of reviews, isn’t it great if it can draw in more readers? It would be fun to talk about his interests with his friends, especially with people he knew.
Come to think of it… Nao works at a publishing company, doesn’t he?
Instantly, the scowling face of his friend came to mind. Nai chuckled a little as he thought about it.
Although he works at a different company than Nao, it was still very close by so he often dropped in for a visit. He’s also made some friends over there who enjoy pestering Nao just as much as he does.
Taking out his phone, Nai sent a quick message.
Taking his eyes of his phone, Nai brought a cup and put it next to Nao’s table, grinning as the other narrowed his eyes and took a sip.
“Why did you bring it?”
“I thought you asked for it!”
“I didn’t think you would actually do it… What are you up to?”
“So I can’t even bring my good friend a nice, hot cup of coffee anymore…” Nai pouted and brought out his phone again, this time showing the main page of the Count Kim Hyunsung wiki to Nao. “Anyway, you should really read this series!”
Nao sighed. “See? I knew you wanted something from me.”
“Hey, you get a drink and I get to show off my new favorite series. Win-win, yeah?”
“I’m busy. I don’t have time to read novels.”
“That’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard from you. Isn’t it your job to edit other people’s novels?”
“That’s just my job. I can’t do shit when the novels are so atrocious that it makes me want to pour bleach in my eyes. I’m not the one with the power to accept or reject the submissions, but one day… The day I get a promotion is the day that my suffering will end.”
“The day you get a promotion is the day this company will go bankrupt. You’re just going to reject everything anyone sends to you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Your standards are always too high,” Nai waved his hands around, “Have you looked at some of the ones you were going to reject closely? I think some of them had potential…”
“Yeah, more like the potential to find a living in the dumpster,” Nao scoffed, “Or drive me into retirement.”
Nai peeked over Nao’s shoulder and met the eyes of Noah, who expressed the same exasperation that he felt with Nao on a daily business. It seems like Nao’s coworkers are also used to his tirades.
“Nevermind those novels. I’m telling you that Count Kim Hyunsung is different!” Nai brought the screen to Nao’s face again. The cover image of Hyunsung staring forlornly to the side reflected off of Nao’s glasses. “I think it’s a good read if you give it a chance. It’s about a guy who gets transported to a different world. He starts off very timid but he gets stronger very quickly and he becomes a badass later on-”
“I don’t care. You’re going to be late for your work so just go.”
“...”
Meeting Noah’s eyes again, this time she looked like she was ready to wrangle some politeness into Nao’s head.
‘Are you sure I don’t need to teach that punk a lesson?’ Her eyes seemed to ask him.
Nai smile back. ‘He’s always like this, don’t worry about it.’
Blink. Blink. ‘Next time I’ll treat you to coffee.’
Blink. Blink. ‘Thanks for the offer.’
Whether or not he actually had a conversation with Noah or if their conversation was all imagined in his head, it doesn’t really matter. Nai began to head back to his own company building where he was faced with his own tedious workload.
Staring at the opposing building through the large window on his side of the office, Nai puts his hand up to his cheek and wondered if Nao was opening up a copy of Count Kim Hyunsung right this moment.
“That’s right… That tsundere guy would never let me know if he actually listened to me and read it. He knows I won’t let him live it down.”
For the rest of the day, Nai kept a closer look on the forums.
It was after work ended. Nai was absently refreshing the page while riding the train when he saw it:
Count Kim Hyunsung forums
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ckhforums.com/topic/reviews/count-kim-hyunsung
Count Kim Hyunsung
namesareoverrated rated it⭐⭐
2 likes, 1 dislike
Question to those to read this novel: Does the main character ever grow up? I read until chapter 20 and all I see is him whining and crying. I’m giving this series a chance bc my friend said it gets good and he gets super badass later on. But while reading, you can SEE how strong he is and he’s still hiding in a corner while people were dying! If this is the author’s concept of a hero, then he better fucking grow a spine.
Comments (3)
spritz&fries
@namesareoverrated lol chill dude. It gets good fr. Dude’s a beast on the battlefield and gets plenty of waifus.
Nananana🍌🍌
Yes, he grows up. Mentally? He’s still super dense and can’t see that the spear chick is super into him. But he goes through a lot from the BBEG. Masked dude is sick though. Top villain for sure.
hi
what I want to know is why you’re still reading this. you clearly know what you’re in for when he started tutorial by hiding. either stop reading or shut up.
Namesareoverrated… What an interesting name.
What’s even more interesting is how familiar his writing style is. It really makes you wonder who it could be, no?
Nai read the review. Then he read it again.
…
Judging from the content, doesn’t it seem like Nao (and it’s definitely Nao!) had already read past the tutorial arc?? Isn’t he already caught up to the novel?
This quickly?? And he typed up a review by the end of the day?
“Haha… This guy… Seriously…”
Nai couldn’t help but laugh.
It was clear that Nao didn’t like it. His standards for his own editing projects were already high enough that something like CKH is just one of the many rolling in the mud. But still, Nai had hoped…
…That if it was something Nai liked, Nao would also come to enjoy it.
But it was enough.
Just the fact that he picked it up was enough to call it a victory.
Nai pondered for a moment. The fact that Nao even bothered to leave a review of the series and create an account on the forums was already a big step in terms of commitment. Either he’ll eventually lose interest and drift away or he’ll develop an interest and keep posting on there.
The Nao he knows is prickly and stubborn to a fault, and also has a lot of pride, so…
‘Are you namesareoverrated?’ Nai thought about asking, but quickly changed his mind.
The best strategy while dealing with a tsundere is to keep them from retreating into their shell after too much teasing. A little teasing is okay, but it’s best to let him slowly come out of his shell… Avoid spooking him by revealing how much Nai knows…
But he really wanted to poke fun of Nao online. If he’s going to frequent the forum often, then what’s better but a playmate who can keep him from getting a big head?
Others who frequent the forum wouldn’t appreciate a user who does nothing but bash on their favorite series, so it’s the best if he can poke the wind out of Nao’s sails quickly before he gets lynched online.
Plus, Nai just wants a tiiiiiinsy revenge on Nao for dissing his new favorite series so much.
If Nao thinks names are overrated, then it’s up to Nai to remind him that names ARE important.
Nananana🍌🍌
Great analysis! I agree with the demon thing, I think it’s really interesting that there are gods somewhere on the continent but they never said anything about demons. I’m hoping author-nim expand on that too. Fingers crossed for a future explanation! 🤞🤞🤞