One of the most ridiculous scenes of the novel continues to get laughs out of us no matter how many times we reread it. It's such a train wreck of a situation.
Just like how Kim Dokja was called Yoo Joonghyuk's bitch by the Landlord Coalition members in volume 2, so too was Yoo Joonghyuk called Kim Dokja's bitch in volume 6. It's equality.
Our team has basically completed the ebook changes for the Peaceland section, so we wanted to give a summary of what the differences between the serialized version and the ebook look like. We usually do this in a single post for the entire volume, but the Peaceland arc has had the most amount and most significant changes of ebook changes to date. It will be easier to do it separately.
We won't go into full detail about every change. We just want to give an overview for those who are curious. As we've said in the past, the serialized version and the ebook version play out the same, and the broad strokes of the arc are the same. The ebook merely expands on many of the scenes, and deepens the lore by giving us more information about the Japanese incarnations and the conversation about grey morality in the apocalypse. It also expands on the connection between authors and their creation, as well as authors and readers. There was also an added plot thread that wasn't there that blended well with the existing storyline.
We won't explain what all we did or didn't add. You will be able to read it for yourself in the coming days. Just know that we did our best to blend the two versions in a way that wouldn't affect the integrity of the serialized version.
This is a bit lengthy, so we'll put it under a Read More. Spoilers for Volume 6, if it is your first read.
Overall, the racial tensions were toned down as there was a shift from Japan vs Korea to Disasters vs Small People. This was always here, but it was made much more obvious in the language, namely in that the Disasters are referred to as such (with their faction not being the "Japanese faction" or "Japanese incarnations" but rather just "Disasters" used in narration). Kim Dokja reasserts numerous times about it being Disasters vs Small People as well.
Rather than famous Japanese Historic constellations, the authors changed the focus to yokai/demons in the ebook. Most of the Japanese forces now have Japanese yokai as their sponsors. This is based on the the 5th scenario since Japan was dealing with an invasion of yokai while Korea dealt with the theme of Chronos.
The initial encounter between Kim Dokja and Shin Yuseung with Japan now specifies names and sponsors of the Japanese enemies, including the introduction of the major minor character for the arc, Michio. As such, the scene is longer with more dialogue. It also features more detailed fighting/torture of the Small Person Gillemium. Shin Yuseung's first real on screen fight was also extended to show off her skills, including showing early on how she picks up skillsets from the other party members.
The walk to the Japanese base with one of the captured Japanese incarnations has been taken by Michio, who is friendly toward Kim Dokja. Michio takes much of the original backstabber's dialogue and thought processes, but we are also given more details about what is going on with the Japanese incarnations. The scene has also changed some of Kim Dokja's expectations and thought processes to reflect the changed plot (as he expects they will run into the Snake where they're going, but is surprised by a different "snake". This context doesn't exist in the serialized due to Kim Dokja knowing the other major Disaster is the incarnation of a Historic constellation figure).
The entire fight against the Prime Minister (who has a different title in the ebook due to having a different sponsor) plays out roughly the same, but there are more details about the Japanese side (and Kim Dokja piecing together that things are different in this turn and figuring out what's going on) and added system notifications, including telling the reader what the new scenario is when Disasters side with the Small People instead. This was left out entirely in the serialized version, including all further mentions of the changed scenario other than telling us that our party is now on the Small People's side.
The fight against the Prime Minister in the serialized version is heavily focused on the historical context and showdown that highlights how Dramatization works and how powerful it is. This is shown through a folklore version in the ebook.
Dialogue between Kim Dokja and Han Suyeong has been somewhat expanded upon throughout the arc to add more back and forth.
Once Kim Dokja, Han Suyeong and Asuka Ren are traveling to find Kyrgios, there is expanded dialogue to talk more about Izumi, the Japanese incarnation who is now Yamata no Orochi's possessed incarnation, and how the Japanese side got to this point. There's also some humanization of the ones who chose to become Disasters, following along ORV's themes of no black-white mentality.
Han Suyeong's bullying of Asuka Ren gets worse.
Asuka Ren gets an entire extended scene to build up her character and her powers as Peaceland's creator. It also changed her backstory and history with her work a bit to show more anger and frustration on her part, adding more details in general to her motivations and guilt.
Kyrgios's training scene is also expanded upon, giving the readers a chance to understand Kyrgios more and see the bond form between him and Kim Dokja.
The fight in Veronica is much more expanded upon, adding in Lee Jihye getting a moment to shine because there is a moat now that was not in the original serialized, and showing her, Gong Pildu, and Michio taking down a Disaster. This also gives more depth to Michio's character growth from his cowardly figure.
Some added narration and dialogue throughout the arc also adds competence to the party members to show they don't need Kim Dokja to act. Also, that Kim Dokja filled Lee Hyeonseong in on his plans in Peaceland before everything, as Lee Hyeonseong now has dialogue that tells us he's at least somewhat aware of the major plans and the Snake.
Many of Asuka Ren and Kim Dokja's scenes have added dialogue, expanding on the conversation of readers and authors.
The fight with Yamata no Orochi has been expanded upon to conclude Izumi's (and the Japanese faction's) story.
Kizumi Hiroshi, the incarnation who gave Yu Junghyeok the Totsuka no Tsurugi, has some of his role somewhat subsumed by Michio, who also gets a final scene with Kim Dokja to wrap up his narrative arc.
The final conversation between Asuka Ren and Kim Dokja where he questions her for a clue about tls123 has been tweaked and slightly expanded upon.
