QUEENXFIREFLY

Penitent - Is a person who feels deep regret for a wrong committed.

In a religious context it is a person that repents for their sin, and in Roman Catholic tradition it is someone who confesses their sin to the priest and is tasked with a penance (task/devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin) by the priest. This “Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation” is meant to remove eternal guilt and sin. They then receive forgiveness from God. As we know guilt is a huge theme in Hand Jumper, especially for Sayeon (and Ryujin too).

Curious about this possible religious context too, since other titles in the webcomic like "purgatory" are also connected to Catholic theology (there are possibly other religious allegories in other places too). The episode "Purgatory" is also connected to Sayeon and Ryujin’s guilt; how they cannot forgive themselves so they remain in “purgatory” .

Pairing this with @autistic-elf’s great theory post on Sayeon possibly receiving the Penitent Relic from Wolhye. I found the words “accept her emotions and humanity ” in the post especially interesting, since “self-examination” is meant to be the first step in the “Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation”. That she will allow herself to feel penitence which may lead to penance? Which might lead to forgiveness of some kind? However, I know this story is likely going to be a tragedy of some kind so I feel like there might be some complications in this healing. The episode 112 title "Guilt will save the world" has always interested me too though, and what would "save" mean?

This is just a random thought, but I find it interesting how important Father Hope seems to be in this arc (we see him with Jinhee, Rarog mentions him and we know he is involved with the Cult of Naj too). He is a priest (though a fake one). I kind of wonder if it’s possible for him to task Sayeon with a penance? idk just a thought.

Anyway, let's properly start!

Is it Samin! Baby Samin!!

Hmm she’s just casually walking along the rail? Does essence help with balance too, or is she just so sure even at this age she could survive a fall from there?

She's holding a red paper plane hmm. Paper Planes can symbolize "youthful innocence" and letting one go can represent "chasing a dream".

A red one could represent that that "youthful innocence" is stained maybe?

Oohhhhh so Wolhye did know Samin!! This means she probably knew Sayeon too, right?

Hmm was she about to say Auclair casually at first? Before deciding to add Miss? Because of familiarity? And to try and add some distance?

She does not seem happy to see her.

If the Sea Wolves already tried to take Samin and Sayeon under their wings, only for Samin to disagree, then this must be after Sara's death, right?

I still wonder how Samin looked after Sayeon during this time? She's so small, and it would be a big responsibility to look after someone who is only 4 years old. That’s not even going into how she looked after herself.

Also what about money and everything like that? I guess there could be an inheritance and Samin might already be gaining money in the underworld too? Though she’s so young 😭

I also wonder about the government too? We know Sayeon went to school so she must have been in the system, right? They had Sayeon down as an orphan too I think? How did no one show up to investigate her? Did the Sea Wolves help forge some kind of story so the government didn't look into it?

Did Samin go to school too? Or is she not in the system? She kind of looks like she is wearing a school uniform here with the bag, but I'm not sure? It kind of looks like casual wear too?

Was little Sayeon left on her own too? Samin couldn't always be home, right? Like right now it looks like sunset, so Sayeon would be home from any kind of schooling she might have, right? Is little Sayeon home alone right now?

I could understand not wanting the Sea Wolves involved, but why the anger towards Wolhye too? Just because she is also a member?

Wait "Auntie"... Is that the word Samin almost called Wolhye before?

It's interesting that even though Samin seemed to be afraid of her mother, she is still so angry that she died and is angry at people that could have prevented it. I guess emotions are complex like that, even if she was afraid she still probably loved her mom too. It could also be a bit of a security thing too? If Sara was alive would people leave Sayeon and Sara alone? There would also be a little less responsibility on Samin alone?

Also I mentioned earlier how Samin was just casually walking on the rail. Could it be showing her mental state a little bit? That even though Sayeon is relying on her now, that she would take an unnecessary risk (even if the risk is minimal for an aberrant?)?

Wolhye looks so sad 😭

Hmm also the placement and color of the speech bubble is kind of interesting? It's right behind Wolhye's head, is it to symbolize this thought is also stuck in Wolhye's head?

Such a pretty green. A rather rare color to see in this comic (without it being connected to green essence). I wonder could you mean something?

Sara seemed to really care for Wolhye too? Or seemed to be softer to her?

“No one can tell the future”

Why would you say that when you live in a world with people who have magical gifts! Did you never question what Sara's gift might be!? The person “who is never wrong”?

Also I already strongly suspected Sara’s gift was some kind of “future sight”, and this seems to confirm it even further I think?

I kind of find it interesting that the number starts at 3 too? The number that Sayeon currently is in the Corps? And the last number shown is 10, the highest level you can attain in the Corps? Hmm honestly I didn't think we would see Sayeon become a level 10, since I thought the series would end before then (e.g. Sayeon would achieve her "goal" in another way), however this makes me wonder? 🤔

Bwhahah Samin is so blunt.

Oh Oohh I know everyone in the fandom was joking about Wolhye's crush on Sara, but was Wolhye actually in love with Sara. I guess that's why Wolhye reminisces so much on Sara and the kids (besides the story needing exposition).

I wonder what Sara thought about Wolhye? Earlier I said it seemed like she cared, but I wonder how much? Hmm I think others have mentioned too, but Wolhye and Ryujin seem like they might have a similar role to their respective Lee? Sara and Sayeon lost their husband/love interest, but then they were able to lean on their female "friend"?

Oh the "trust" word again. We know this word is important to the story. Sayeon always wants people to trust her, and just recently we got a confirmation that Sayeon trusts Ryujin.

It's interesting to see Sara use the word too. Hmm well Sayeon originally got the word from Samin, when Samin told her to "just trust her". I wonder if Samin originally got that saying from Sara maybe?

I also wonder why thematically Sleepy makes "trust" a big thing in the story? I wonder where it's leading us?

 Green background again. What does it represent?

I wonder if it's saying even if you trust someone you should still not let them decide everything themselves or something? 🤔

She was wearing brighter clothes but is now wearing black mourning clothes.

Her shoes were red, to symbolize she was part of the Lee family in a way? Since all Lee's have a red item? However now she isn't?

Also in another episode didn't Sayeon recently think about Ahn with blue shoes very similar to this? Is the blue and red shoes meant to show a foil between them in some way?

Hmm I feel like this scene could mean something? Samin is on the rail, a dividing line? She has the sun directly behind her.

One hand is holding the paper plane which might mean "innocence", though a stained one? However she's holding onto it over the ledge, but not throwing it (not making a dream?)? Then on the other side she has a pink band aid on her knee, which makes me think of Jaeil and his pink band aid? The one he got from Sayeon? So maybe it symbolizes love? Which is on the bridge side? The safer side?

For Sayeon will Samin take risks and stain her innocence?

"My sun, my star" Yeah sad lover girl.

Also if Sara is "the sun" then I kind of find the placement of the sun interesting in the above image (Samin) too. To say she is "watching over them" e.g. Sara's plan is in action?

That is the question, isn't it? What is her plan?

Ohh so that's why she hasn't been around.

And there's that famous saying too "Debts owed, debts paid". Another Wolhye & Ryujin parallel? 

Wolhye is using it more as an excuse to do what she wants to do anyway; to help Samin and Sayeon. Just like how Ryujin might have partly used it as an excuse to return to Sayeon in ep 71?

Oh it's sad to see what could have been.

Wolhye really trying to step up. She basically offering to adopt them.

Also Samin is holding the paper plane in the other hand here? The safe side? The bridge side?

Oh interesting it used to be Sara's Relic? Or..

Is it possible it could have originally have been Doyeon's Relic? Wolhye didn’t seem to have the Relic in the flashback in episode 112 (when Wolhye and Sara were visiting Doyeon’s grave). We know Doyeon likely had a Relic too (though in episode 1 it looked like it was a ring… is it possible for Relics to change its resting form too?). However, the fact that Doyeon’s grave was shown at all in episode 112 “Guilt will save the world” possibly points to this theory even more? To show Wolhye and Doyeon had a connection?

Hmm… Furthermore, I have heard a theory that he might have even killed himself and that is why Wolhye said “Doyeon was too kind for this sh!thole planet. That’s why he left, I think”. A Relic like this that seems to feed off your sadness or guilt, having to experience those emotions constantly to fight would surely start to affect your mind, right?

If true, it would also answer a question I've had since reading episode 58 too. Why was the funeral smoke purple? Is it because a purple-essence Relic was the reason for his death?

This might also be why Samin is so angry that Wolhye has it? Samin seemed to really love her dad, so to see someone else have it could hurt her even more?

Also could add some interesting symbolism if the Relic does somehow get passed down to Sayeon too?

Idk just a thought. I’ll need to see more, and this would go against another theory I had that Han might have Doyeon’s Relic ring? Though the only reason I thought of that theory was that they both likely have/had ring Relics (+ Sara killed Lt. Baek's daughter and there was a theory I heard where it might have been in retribution for Doyeon's death, meaning if Doyeon did have a Relic then the Corps might have it).

She only 11, but she scary.

I kind of get it, but I'm still surprised how much Samin seemed to hate Wolhye? Is she just taking her anger out?

And we are back to the present.

I find it so interesting that the Relic has the form of a Scythe. There is a lot of possible symbolism to that.

Wow so activating the Relic makes it rain? That's pretty crazy. Rain for tears?

So Relics are made directly from godlings. I've had that thought before, but the episode where we saw it being gifted made me question that theory. I suppose tears are still part of the godling though? Or there might be more to that story? If tears are what the Relic is made from then it is not necessarily only bones, but just parts of the body then that can be made into Relics?

I also wondered if godling blood then could be turned into a "Relic"? I've had a crazy thought/theory for awhile that Ryujin might mix her blood with a godling (with Lilith?)? Since it seemed like Raon might have been able to control Bones's blood when she mixed it with his? (huh his name being Bones feels interesting in this context too..). Idk just another of my random thoughts.

Huh it's also very interesting to learn that the size of the Relic effects the power of the Relic... What if you have the entire godling then? So Lilith really can be turned into "a weapon of destruction" (ep 53).

I've had a terrible thought and wondered could aberrants be turned into Relics?

Yes! Confirmation that the Relics have color types like the aberrants, and that effects what the "usage condition" is?

I wonder if the same godling can give out different essence color Relics? @queenxfirefly theory is that since godlings have white essence (all colors into one) they might be able to create champions of every essence color. If so, then could the same godling make different essence color Relics too?

Ha so it was connected to the godling Selume! Interesting!! I heard this theory in the Webtoon comment section a few episodes ago and thought it matched, however when it was revealed that Wolhye's Relic was a Scythe and not a sword (like we were shown) I had my doubts, but this confirms it is!

Hmm I wonder then if the weapons form can change depending on the user then? Or were we only shown the sword because it was a story, in other words because Jinhee didn't know and she was telling the story then we weren't shown the truth? It shows we can't always trust what we are shown then..

Also interesting to learn that the Relic is called Penitent.

Welp that doesn't look good for Snake. I don't see her coming back from that..

Is this maybe why the Well Godling only mentioned Wolhye in it's warning to Sayeon? Since everyone else is so below her threat level?

does that not look like she stood him up by controlling her own blood in his body, physically forcing his body to stand. is this not some blood bending type shit. im going crazy.

i WANT it to blood bending bc

1. fun irony of ryujin submitting to being a puppet when she has a puppetmaster type power,

2. implies a wider breadth of violation against a victim - she could not just injure someone by puncturing their body, but also force them to do things they do not want to do (tying in w the irony that this sort of existence is what she has grimly locked herself in to by working for the corps)

3. its like tailored specifically to be able to incapacitate sayeon and stop her from rewinding by freezing her movements (and thus her hand snaps!), making ryujin the armor piercing arrow hitting sayeons Achilles heel. like TAILOR MADE to counter sayeon its so beautiful it brings me to tears… only a yellow essence gift negation ability would be a better counter than this…

“but user lesbixch, if ryujin could blood bend, she wouldn’t need to pin father hopes legs down to the floor w her own blood” ok yes… true… its probably not the case that blood manipulation powers confer bodily control. it would be cool as fuck if they did tho.

so, what if they don’t? what is the thematic relevance of blood manipulation powers?

1. any violence ryujin commits requires harm to her body (overwhelmingly self harm). she bites her lip, plunges a knife into her hand, etc to be able to harm someone. theoretically, using too much blood might make ryujin anemic or outright pass out, depending on how she balances her essence healing. pushing herself to exhaustion does sound like another girl we know… it hurts ryujin on multiple levels to use her gift (esp if its only application is purely violent) and it builds towards the general message that committing violence is destructive to both victim and perpetrator, cycles upon cycles, etc. this great post also gets into the christ allegory, w ryujins stigmata, blood sacrifice and others

2. more abstractly, the spilling or exchange of blood evokes close ties, friendship - “blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb” etc. that ryujin can manipulate her blood - can form connections w people, build a little community for herself - is loosely part of this. ryujins whole deal is abt finding love and community after her mom abandons her, and then losing that love and community, and punishing herself for her guilt forever after. if sayeons aura feels like its rotting and festering, ryujins aura probably feels like its an open wound, constantly bleeding..

3. if we want to get psychoanalytic w it, the concept of someone’s bodily fluids entering another person, and then Penetrating them from the inside evokes some sort of bodily violation and assault. like yes, pretty much all weapons created from essence tend to be phallic and penetrating peoples bodies i know i know. all forms of violence r some sort of physical assault and some are more sexual than others. but there is smth abt ryujins power involving bodily fluids in such a way that i like to read as a particularly gruesome assault. i think that this is part of why ryujin would not like using her gift!! its not just that she doesnt want the corps to know it, she herself prob kinda hates it! ryujin is usually not the one manipulating ppl to do things, or encroaching on other ppls agency (she prefers to be the puppet instead..) i think even if her gift helped her survive and kill one of the gyeons who killed her nest, she would be pretty ambivalent abt this gift seeing how violent and coercive it could be. even when ryujin will punch anyone, shes kinda nonviolent abt it bc she knows what real fighting and death looks like LOL. like shes a softie shes a bleeding heart she cares too much she doesnt rly want to be slicing ppl up and ending lives if she can help it. she lets a begonia member go despite how she assumed he hurt sayeon. she maybe (?) could have killed juni to save yesol but she instead asked sayeon for help to save yesol. as much as she hates the gyeon family she has not brought up anything abt the cute little deal sayeon offered re: killing them. she doesnt want to kill ppl!!!

this third point thematically is present w/o the blood bending aspect, but would be strengthened much more w the blood bending of it all, bc it makes her ability that much more coercive. widens the possibility space of how she can violate a persons bodily autonomy lol, furthers the assault/violation vibes of it. explains why ryujin would dislike using it even as it is this powerful. I find that having some blood control over ppls bodies just enhances these points in so many ways. AND it means that the corps would risk having her wreck the other blue ties bc that sort of ability is just that tantalizing. who wouldn’t want an ability granting partial control over an aberrants body!!! they have to train her and use her!!

speaking of who wouldnt want an ability as powerful as that…… if sayeon knew ryujin could easily kill, and not just kill but control the body of her victims, she would absolutely go crazy. like ryujin is absolutely the queen piece on the chessboard, vitally important to any schemes sayeon can make. all while she is too at risk of ryujins power. much like ryujin turning around and betraying sayeon in yesol arc, ryujin could literally incapacitate sayeon and prevent her from rewinding by freezing her body, pinning her hands, etc. sayeon could be completely helpless in the face of ryujins ability. ryujin could be sayeons greatest tool and the most vulnerable chink in her armor. the knife that sayeon sharpens and then lethally cuts herself on… it would be soooo delightful I Wish To See It

ch111 (first kiss) also clued me in to how mins body and personhood is not just weaponized but violated in other ways, so during my reread I catalogued each time ppl touch him - most times r . sudden and one sided, such as ppl hugging, kissing, smacking, or putting a hand on him …

im not counting combat, such as training between sayeon and min, or combat w wolhye, etc. so sayeons first “punch” where she tricks min in the first five chapters or so is not here lol, but it is an important characterization moment: if min is fairly opaque due to his lack of internal monologue, then his speech tends to be honest, except in cases where it is necessary to lie. min doesnt speak much, so the times he does speak tend to indicate either his honest thoughts (“im sorry for cutting off your hand. i didnt want to do it”) or maintaining his cover as samin commanded him (questioned about samin: “i dont know who that is.” arguably he might be honest bc he knows her as red more than samin)

when min doesnt have anything honest to say, he keeps quiet. such as when iseul asks him early on his name and what his goal/dream is and min just says his name (sayeon talks abt world peace!<3) or when iseul asks whether min knows sayeon from before, and min doesnt answer until a dozen chapters later. these questions r some of the only times min is treated as a full fledged person w thoughts and emotions of his own. samin and sayeon both use him as a tool, samins gang understands him better but tend to condescend to him (see below lol), cell 3 is wary (or hates him in taehos case). juni mostly dgaf. ryujin doesnt talk a lot to him - notably calls him sayeons attack dog lol. no wonder he was making banana bread for iseul day 1

As for the screenshots and touch: the most positive physical touch seems to be with iseul, who pushes taeho away and touches mins shoulder as .. protection? and also hugs him and says he loves him LOL. jungwoo (silver, samins group) is being playful but min kind of looks pained. pink hugs min only after she denigrates him (“you’re a puppet, booooring”), and it seems more to assuage her guilt than something that would make him feel better lol. i wouldnt be surprised if hes not super fond of either jungwoo or pink, despite the fact that all of them share the role of samins second favorite (sayeon is always first!!) the fortuneteller lady is more neutral..? i dont think he was expecting the cheek thing but he cooks dinner and helps her get to bed so.. I guess he likes granny? but what i rly wanna get into is samins hold

mins past as a victim of trafficking implies either a lack of physical affection/touch, or experiencing violating, traumatizing physical touch (as in, being strapped down and operated on, but up to and including sexual abuse). he doesnt flinch back, though he does seem to freeze, as in the assault scene (first kiss). probably he grew up with very little positive and affirming physical affection. he may or may not be touch starved, but does not generally react to it. So when samin squeezes his cheeks, refers to him as a cute child, and promises him a Family, i think the physical affection is part of why he gets attached to her. shes the cloth mom LOL she provides affection even as she treats him as a tool and denies his personhood. i think paralleling sayeon holding his face the same way - explicitly threatening, demanding loyalty and obedience - reframes samins own hold into something more foreboding. holding a head in place, unable to move, restrained, caged. samin and sayeon r capable of great brutality and gentleness, sometimes both at the same time! sayeon only ever exchanges blows w him in training, while treating him as her attack dog!

re: sayeon, she also seems touch starved (sleeping w a plush rabbit, deriving comfort from being punched by ryujin..) so I find the resonances btwn min and sayeon fascinating. sayeon rejects samins kindness, a loving touch and a scarf around her neck. min watches. min would do anything to be sayeon, to have a scarf wrapped around his neck by family. Sayeon avoiding samins affection and min craving it…. physical affection being an important part of child development, and both either being denied of positive physical affection or forced into unwanted physicality. samin being at least partially the reason for both of them being the way they are….

the other samin touch is from the most recent chapter (124), where samin puts a hand on the umbrella min is holding, while saying she’s counting on him.. again, a light but loving touch. Cloth mom doing it again while sharpening min into her own personal knife. she sucks <3

So combining everything: min does not talk often, min does not have his own internal monologue, mins interiority is explored thru the voice of others (flashbacks) or thru fairly ambiguous cues like facial expressions. mins body is used as a weapon, and his own desires and thoughts are deemed unimportant, unheard and unvoiced. when not used as weapon, min is touched by other ppl in what i would argue r largely neutral to negative ways, in neutral to negative contexts. his body, agency, autonomy r all violated. the ongoing arc has been the tension btwn this reality and mins own burgeoning emotions and ideas - the desire to protect iseul, the desire to disobey sayeon, the desire to make samin happy. disobeying will have consequences, but it might also lead to a min who more openly voices his thoughts, who initiates touch or physical affection, and who has his own internal monologue. im very curious how things will go!!

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so with all that said I find it delightfully wonderful that samin is also mins Voice in his internal monologue. Even in his head the way he speaks to himself is thru her, he is not afforded a voice… not even in his own head… samin is a person in a way he is not.. his self talk is samin denigrating his actions, forever…. WOW!! GET A JOB STAY AWAY FROM HIM

Wow Iseul got a lot more powerful since like a month ago right? His gift and ability to visualize what to do has gotten a lot better. Is smartly using it too since he is "knocking it away" instead of trying to lift them all.

That's not ominous at all.

I have a feeling she will be just fine, especially since it looked like she might of activated her Relic?

A Sayeon appeared!

It looks like Taeho might of figured out why the officers are not appearing.

Wha she can take her gift that far!

Gift drop: Total Body Manipulation.

Ouch Taeho. He looks like he is breathing, but that looks really painful.

Oh a Min moment! What will his decision be? Sayeon and Samin basically want the same thing this time? If Min fights for real I assume he will seem too powerful for a mere trainee, so he will blow his cover? Running probably is the safest thing to do here... but I don't think Min and Iseul want to do that, not if it means leaving someone.

I like how the red blood(?) encompasses both Samin and Sayeon in the background. To say they are both opening up that metaphorical wound "obedience" from Min? They both want Min/White to obey, to take his own choice away?

Also side note, it's so interesting to look at Ryujin & Min parallels during this time in the comic, since Ryujin has kind of taken the role to "protect" and "obey" Sayeon from Min. Does that mean he is now "free" to break away from that role?

Oohh I really like this scene.

Every time I see either eyes or spiral-like things in the comic I now think godling! (even if I might be wrong). I do wonder if the raindrops ripples (spiral-like) could have something to do with the godlings though?

Or could it mean something else this time. I find it interesting that the rain ripple on the heads merges both Min's white (yellow?) with Samin's black. To show Min's lack of ability to act without Samin telling him what to do?

There is also the rain ripple on Min's back? Could that mean something too? Maybe something to do with being a traitor (back stabbing metaphor?)?

Hmm and now I see an eye, godling! Or not, I'm not sure yet, but it certainly is a striking scene, our eyes almost immediately focus on the umbrella's eye.

Min has a firm grip on the umbrella's neck, while Samin with her red gloves pat's his hand. The umbrella is the shape of a white goose/duck(?), with a red beak. The beak is a similar color to Samin's glove.

Hmm what do you mean I wonder. I had the thought the goose could represent Min, but why the eye that makes you think of godlings? ..Oh or Begonia! The eye has a similar shape to the Begonia symbol I think. It was likely Begonia that used Min for Rapture, right? Could it be saying that his history as a Rapture Ghost could be affecting the way he sees? The red beak might mean Samin has her hand around his metaphoric beak? He can't say what he wants?

Also definitely sounds like he has been holding back. Just how strong is Min?

I like this frame a lot too.

The umbrella's canopy is also red, to say he is under Red's influence? Control?

I wonder will Min go against this order? Will he use it to protect Isuel and maybe Taeho?

I really like this transition here too.

Samin calling him "White", which is not really a name, so much as a codename, however it seems it was the only "name" he had. The background is black, but then fades to the white background as Isuel yells "Min", a real human name. Which name will Min/White choose?

Another thing to note is it starts to fade to white, once Samin steps outside the umbrella. To show he has more ability to change now that he is distant from Samin? However he still is willing to hold up the umbrella (for now?)?

Oh but then it fades back to black briefly when Samin says "I'm counting on you, kid."

Min really doesn't want to disappoint Samin either.

Isuel really being the MVP so far. I love how he is using his mind as he fights. He's pretty good under pressure.

Oh I didn't think about that. Isuel has fought non-aberrants before (and had that brief fight with Yesol), but in that case he only needed to bind them. In this case it's kill or be killed.

I'm surprised he didn't freeze up with some of the gore, but when you are in the middle of a fight you might not have time to really think about it.

Huh did he run out of essence? Or could this be Wolhye's gift? I know her gift is an "area of effect", but we don't see her. Is her "area effect" a lot bigger then I thought originally?

Oh so it was Wolhye. Her gift must have a rather big "area effect" then. She is a very dangerous opponent.

Love the silly drawing.

Ooohhhhh a scythe!?

I didn't expect a tangible weapon? Unless there's more than meets the eye?  It's a purple essence Relic which makes me think it might have some kind of unique purple essence-like ability? Like if it hurts them does it mess with their mind of something?