healing unaddressed trauma one contract at a time

(episodes or ep# refer to the webcomic. chapters or ch# refer to the webnovel)

Arrival in the Asfahan Capital

Ch.182 - In the book, Lloyd isn't pathetically weepy about being dragged to Asfahan, but he’s still unbelievably petty and orders Javier to be dragged there with him (they get a few days to prepare before leaving). I guess some part of Javier still delusionally believed he wouldn’t be stuck with Lloyd forever.

Ch.182 - The Queen sends Novel Lloyd to serve as the representative of those impacted by the Monster Domino. In the webcomic, the Queen sends him just to see what he'll do lol

Ch.182 - Not really a difference so much as a more detailed political breakdown, but the Sultan is refusing to admit fault in starting the domino, which in the book, caused damage far beyond what Lloyd was able to partially reverse from just the Frontera estate (ch.159). As a result, national tensions are high enough to put the two countries at the brink of war.

Ch.184 - Novel Lloyd was so accustomed to people looking down on him for being poor, he can immediately tell the Sultan intends on treating the envoy with similar disrespect, and he watches with some amusement as the rest of envoy crashes out from this realization. Webtoon Lloyd is just crying in the corner.

Ch.184 - The padashar is golden plate in the novel and an egg-shaped pendant in the webcomic.

Ch.184 - The leader of the Queen’s delegation, Count Ventura, explicitly tells Lloyd not to use the padashar. To accept such an item would put them under the thumb of the Sultan and would be an insult to the Queen. Lloyd totally agrees.

Ch.185 - So Lloyd’s padashar party lasts multiple days and nights. He would've kept partying for the entire six months too if they hadn’t arrested him.

(ch.184 and ep.92 - King of Wealth Redistribution ❤️ - He does pretty much everything the same in both versions, except for the webcomic's reference to The Little Match Girl, for which he bought that child a hotel.)

Ch.185 - Suho never had a credit card. In fact, he was so poor that credit card debt would have been a luxury. During times of delayed payments, he would subsist on only one packet of instant ramen a day, eating the noodles for lunch but then saving the greasy soup to mix with some free rice for dinner. The nutrition was terrible, but it kept him from waking up from hunger pangs at night. Is it any wonder this man is obsessed with money?

Ch.186 - Lloyd's chat with Sultan goes down near identically between versions EXCEPT it's the Sultan who gets offended that Lloyd asks him to sign a contract, and Lloyd has to reassure him that it's for both their benefits. In the webcomic, Queen Alicia is the one who has this reaction back in Episode 37 regarding the suspension bridge contract.

Ch.187 - The Sultan has dozens of children with his many wives, and Scheherazade is his favorite. However, he never expresses this or any other form of approval for her in any way. Thus, she has devoted her entire life to trying to earn his acknowledgment, even if it involves dying to protect him in the original novel or *shudder* seducing Lloyd.

—

Befriending the Kandahar Rebels

(ep.94)

Ch.188 / Ep.94 - Novel Lloyd uses his lullaby to put Scheherazade to sleep at night, so he can begin his plans. Webtoon Lloyd gets himself beat up by her first. I can't even say Scheherazade has a worse temper in the webcomic; Webtoon Lloyd just had it coming.

Ch.189 - Javier is sooo pissy about Scheherazade getting the lullaby for “free,” it’s hilarious how Lloyd has to reassure him that nonono he's going to scam her too, don't worry about it babe

Ch.189 - All the wealth of the Sultanate is concentrated in the capital, Ahinsya. The further out people are from the capital geographically, the more destitute they are, and of course, there's no class mobility. Kandahar is the most distant and thus poorest region suffering from the drought.

Ch.189 / Ep.95 - "Lloyd = Water = Good" is webcomic-exclusive branding, but Novel Lloyd still does go overboard making sure every citizen gives him credit for the water. He even makes Javier wake up all the citizens in the middle of the night so Lloyd can personally dole out the first round of fresh water. The book citizens don't throw rocks at him, but they still think he's creepy.

Ch.189 / Ep.94 - In the book, Hamang rolls his water-filled self back to town. In the webcomic, Ggoming has to carry him 😭

Ep.95 - The Sultan didn't take the padashar away from Webtoon Lloyd, which is his own fault at this point. Lloyd uses it to contract labor and meals for the qanat construction. In the book, Lloyd uses the rebels for (free?) labor.

(ep.94 and ep.95)

Ch.191 - I thought Novel Lloyd was actually surprised by the kidnapping! He puts up a whole fake struggle in the book and for what? To get clubbed in the head? Dumbass.

Ch.191 / Ep.95 - Novel Javier follows Lloyd during the anticipated kidnapping, just to make sure everything is okay. Webtoon Javier stays and guards Lloyd's room so Scheherazade can't get in.

Ch.191-192 - In the book, the rebel leader Damieta Termes is blonde. I chose to ignore this.

Ch.193 / Ep.98 - Termes’ young son already died from the drought before Lloyd arrived. In the webcomic, Lloyd and his summons start bringing in water just in time to save the son, so Termes unties Lloyd in an act of gratitude.

Ch.191-192 - Novel Lloyd's recitation of his adventures is so rambling and boring and excessive that the rebels are blown away by the TMI of it all. Webtoon Lloyd, however, knows how to put on a show.

(ch.191 and ep.96 - What's funny is they yammer on pretty much the same way. It really is just better presentation from Webtoon Lloyd.)

Ch.193 - Termes is all cute and nervous about meeting Queen Alicia. Then they walk in on her during her training, and there's just a pile of beaten up knights behind her. He remains nervous the entire time.

Ch.193 - Lloyd and Alicia have pretty much the same conversation in both versions, but I thought this book-only part was cute:

"So, you wish that I grant him asylum to my kingdom?" "I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty." "Your gratitude comes too early," pointed out the queen. "I did not grant your request yet." "However, I, Lloyd Frontera, have no inkling of doubt on Your Majesty's mercy and grace." "Tsk. I wonder how long your shamelessness will last," quipped the queen. "I am overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty." "Enough with your overwhelming gratitude." (ep.193)

—

Building the Qanat

(ep.97 - Thank you for your sacrifice to comedy, Javier. 🫡)

Ep.97 - Only Webtoon Scheherazade blasts the pants off Lloyd.

Ch.194 - Novel Lloyd wears clothing during this arc. I really wish I didn’t have to mark that down as a difference.

Ch.194 - They lock Scheherazade in a room for like two months to keep her out of the way on the construction work 😭 Javier guards/trains her during the day, and Lloyd lullaby attacks her at night. In case anyone was wondering where she went in the webcomic.

Ch.196 - Javier guards Scheherazade during the day and blasts tunnels during the night, but he finds the sleep deprivation helpful as it pushes his manaheart training. Lloyd however does not appreciate this.

It was the guideline Lloyd had left for Javier. And on the side, he spotted a note.... [I'm going to get some sleep while you dig this. Good luck.] “…” Should I go back and punch his face? Javier tightened his grip on the sword. (ch.195)

Ch.196 - The skeletons’ skill connection with Lloyd means they feel empty when he’s gone, so a select pack of them go to help Lloyd before he even sends for them. It’s so cute! 🥰 They pretend to be dead bodies during the day so humans don’t attack them. The webcomic makes it so Lloyd summons them first and gives them...slightly less convincing disguises.

(ep.97 and ch.195 - Still pretty cute tho)

Ep.97 - Webtoon Lloyd tries to make Tordes (the scammer) the Qanat sacrifice, instead of the skeletons. For some unfathomable reason, the way Webtoon Lloyd treats Tordes is what catches the King of Hell’s attention multiple times. This is even when we first see his design in the webcomic! Novel Lloyd never hunted down Tordes in the first arc.

—

After the Qanat

Ep.98 / Ch.197 - Webtoon Lloyd is unimpressed with the dehydration-proofing skill, as he's like 'When would I ever need this?' Novel Lloyd is thrilled though; he even thinks, "'Wow!...I mean, I could fall in Hell out of great misfortune, but even then I'd be okay.' But, well, it was apparent such a thing wouldn't happen." 🙂 Irony is fun.

Ep.98 - Only Webtoon Scheherazade tells her dad she'd rather be beheaded than get with Lloyd, who “disgusts” her in the way he “moves and looks.” Oof.

Ch.198 - Lloyd and Javier love fresh coconut juice so much that they eat nothing else for an entire day, except Lloyd for some reason thinks coconut juice tastes "similar to a fresh, fizzy Coke"? (What is wrong with the coconuts in their world...?)

(ch.196 and ch.198 - I think this is the first time Novel Javier shows his abs)

Ch.199 / Ep.98 - Novel Lloyd skips town as soon as he catches onto the Sultan trying to keep him tied down. This works because in the novel, the Sultan didn’t actually negotiate to own Lloyd; he’d only planned to threaten to overturn the negotiations if Lloyd didn’t cooperate the next day. In the webcomic, the Sultan demands the kingdom hand over Lloyd in exchange for monster domino compensation, so Lloyd pretends to be insane to be let go. Ultimately, Count Ventura ends up looking like the biggest asshole from this change. The guy actually helped Novel Lloyd leave by making up an excuse that the latter’s health was bad, but he sold out Webtoon Lloyd like Mr. Krabs lost Spongebob in poker.

Ep.98 - Webtoon Lloyd kept the padashar. Novel Lloyd would be proud.

—

Julian and Scheherazade

(Webtoon Emily and Kougar's romance subplot also reaches its climax in this arc, in case anyone wanted to reread those parts.)

Ch.200 - Julian’s graduation letter is addressed to Lloyd in the book and to his parents in the webcomic. Novel Lloyd is so proud and happy for his little brother, he rereads the letter a bunch and even ends up carrying the letter around with him. Suho got isekaied before completing his own degree and even though he doesn’t technically need a diploma in this world, he still carries that pang of regret in him, so it means a lot that Julian credits his ability to graduate to Lloyd’s actions 🥹 and again, more evidence that the webcomic altered Julian’s role because they didn’t know how to make the brothers close while Webtoon Lloyd was still clinging onto a loner mindset. Which I get but honestly, omissions like this made me wonder what Julian’s purpose was meant to be while reading the webcomic.

(ep.99 with abbreviated text from ch.200)

Ch.200 - The Countess force feeds Lloyd a lot of dinner, which I think is her thing in the novel. She also does this in chapter 156 after he survives the zombie mastodons. She will make a great grandmother.

Ch.201 - Emily brings Lloyd breakfast in bed every single morning.

Ep.99 / Ch.201 - The Countess comes up with the idea of reselling the Asfahan luxury goods at marked up prices in the webtoon. Lloyd tells the Count to handle it in the novel.

Ch.201 - Without the lullaby, Lloyd estimates Scheherazade worsened insomnia will set her back about ten years in attaining sword master status. Considering that the sultanate is still their enemy kingdom, that's no skin off his back.

Ch.202 - Javier finally delivers his mole cricket insult!!! 🙌🏼

"[Master Lloyd] there is something comforting and familiar about you, especially when you're covered in dust during construction....Like a mole cricket. The way you dig dirt so industriously, drill holes so faithfully and flatten the earth so meticulously reminds me of that insect. In particular, when I lay my eyes on your ugly and wiggly bottom as you struggle to shovel up the ground is the spitting image of a mole cricket. Not only that, your bottom smells just the same."

Simply devastating.

Ch.203 - Scheherazade knew exactly what she was doing when she told the Count she couldn’t sleep without Lloyd lololol

(ch.202 and ep.99 - When both versions illustrate the same scene, you know it's a banger.)

Ch.203 - The Count and Countess can do that married couple thing where they converse over facial expressions. In this chapter, it involved freaking the fuck out over this woman who needs Lloyd to sleep.

Ch.203 - Scheherazade’s sound recording orb costs as much as a mansion.

Ch.203 - Novel Lloyd gives Scheherazade a few days to think over the five-year work contract deal, so she ends up staying at the manor. Webtoon Scheherazade punches Lloyd in the face and storms out. Again, hard to say that version of him didn't deserve it.

Ch.204 - When the King of Hell visits his dream, Novel Lloyd is immediately like, 'I'm not compensating you for killing your employee! That was self-defense!' which is undeniably funny. The webcomic cuts that, but adds the messenger box interrupting according to the "rules" but like...there was never really an explanation of what that meant. I guess the webcomic didn't get to fully flesh out their changes to the messenger box.

Ch.204 - The royal academy gives top-placing students a fancy royal carriage ride home, which is how Julian and the knights got stuck on the route back to the county.

Ch.204 - OMG Bunny Julian is in both versions!! Sadly, Buff Bunny Julian is webcomic-only.

(ep.101 and ch.204)

Ch.205 - When cutting up the boulder, Novel Scheherazade looks like she’s slicing up a giant potato, but in like a badass way. She is able to protect her blades when slicing through solid stone, because her training with Javier put her on the edge of conjuring up a sword aura.

Ch.205 / Ep.101 - The Count is a lightweight who gets drunk on champagne and rambles on about how much he loves his sons over dinner. The sons are very embarrassed. Meanwhile, Scheherazade’s entire internal world is collapsing as she realizes this is how a parent should love their child: unconditionally and unabashedly. In the webcomic she runs out of dinner crying but in the book she just sorta sits there in devastation. Scheherazade spent her whole life striving to become a sword master to earn her father’s acknowledgment, but if that was a pointless effort then what is she even doing here, begging for Lloyd’s lullaby? I could really feel her entire world crumbling to dust and leaving a gaping hole of loss in its place.

Ch.206 - The night encounter between Julian and Scheherazade was so cute and awkward!! I’m so sad the webcomic had to abridge it all. I mean they kept the scenario that Scheherazade tries leaving at night, and Julian accidentally stops her, but that’s it!! In the book, he asks if he can follow her on her midnight lunchbox stroll, and Scheherazade is like fine, but then she immediately leaps over a wall thinking that will shake him off except then she hears a crash and he fell off the wall trying to follow her??? It turns out he brought her some digestive medicine because she looked uncomfortable at dinner, but he also brought strawberry candies to help cover the medicine's bitter flavor, and in return, she helps stop his bleeding, and they start talking for real!!

Ch.206 - Novel Julian doesn’t fall in love with Scheherazade at first sight, like in the webcomic (ep.101). Rather, he becomes worried for her when she grows depressed at dinner. When she asks him why he worries for her, he says “no reason,” he just does. This makes Scheherazade cry because no one has ever cared for her without a selfish reason before. After talking all night and sharing her life story with Julian, that’s when the pair catch feelings.

Ch.207-208 - Novel Lloyd is more brotherly talking to Julian about his crush, i.e. there’s a lot more teasing and borderline useless advice.

(ch.207 - No seriously, he keeps saying “don’t fumble this” over and over because he has no dating experience and thus no other advice 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Ch.208 - "First love. Much like measles, it was an emotion that blossomed inside everyone at least once in their life." WTF is this analogy?? Apparently South Korea didn't eliminate measles until 2006, so Suho very likely had measles as a kid, but still!

Ch.208 - At age 14, Suho’s first love was a cashier girl at a book rental place. He didn’t recognize his own feelings back then and ended up renting out huge stacks of books for no reason, until she quit and he never saw her again.

Ch.208 - Javier has received lovestruck gazes from exactly 860 women in his life.

Ch.210 - The play-by-play of Julian and Scheherazade running to confess their feelings at night is near identical between the versions, and I'm not gonna lie, the writing in those scenes had more urgency than some of the novel's fight scenes. BK Moon does not play around with this ship.

Ch.210 - The Count nearly passed out when Scheherazade asked for Julian's hand in marriage. Even Lloyd was shocked she moved so fast! But the Count approved that request the same night, and the wedding took just a couple weeks to plan after the paperwork was cleared.

(ep.103 with text from ch.210 - Runner up for my favorite illustrated scene)

Ch.209 - Solitas has completed his jeweler’s training on the wood block! Now he can advance to stone, and in maybe ten years, he’ll be crafting up treasures for his engagement.

Ch.209 - There are only 18 lady dragons out there within Solitas’ age range, and one of them is the dragon king's half-human daughter. He rules her out though because c'mon, a princess? So out of his league.

Ep.103 - Only the webcomic brings up the Delivered People (DP) system currency and The World's Strongest skill at this point. Considering when that Chekov's Gun goes off, I'm very interested to see what it replaced in the book!

Ch.210 - Lloyd gave Scheherazade the lullaby for free since they're family now~

Ch.210 - The Sultan never showed Scheherazade any love because he didn’t want to make her the target of her siblings’ jealousy. He wanted her to become a sword master first so she could defend herself, and only then would he reveal his true heart, to which I say: Too little, too late buddy! She found an actual loving family now, bye byeeee~ 🎶

(ep.103 - Since the webcomic cut out so much of their father-daughter dynamic, I found the Sultan’s reaction a bit random in my initial webcomic read-through, but now I’m glad they kept it. Treat your kids right or they will not visit you in the nursing home.)

—

End of Comparison Part 7: The Asfahan Sultanate

Dang, I think this was my favorite novel arc yet! Lloyd's politicking is excellent, Scheherazade’s internal struggles were real, the Julian/Scheherazade romance was adorable—and it all reads even better when they don't have to rush through half of it!

The adaptation ratio is usually about 20 novel chapters to 10 comic episodes, but this time the ratio was 28 to 11 so nearly 50% more condensed than usual. Of course, for the page-space they had, the webcomic did well capturing the gist of all of it while faithfully building on the humor of the original. It's just fun seeing the details filled in.

Up next: The Royal Garden

—

Best part of the novel that I wish was in the webcomic: Julian and Scheherazade falling in love. All of chapter 206. I can't copy it all down. Go read it.

Best addition to the webcomic that wasn’t in the novel: Scheherazade’s idea of seduction

(ep.93, 94)

—

Favorite novel scene to see illustrated: Lloyd's credit card padashar party, specifically him buying all those luxury goods to send to himself