#nazrik

AFK Journey provides voice-overs in four languages: English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. They can be switched anytime in Settings, and I honestly think gamers should do so more often. Not only is it free, but it's always fun to listen to different voices of the characters and if you're multilingual, enjoy the subtle differences in translation and localization.

Here's a sample of how Nazrik sounds like in Korean:

First of all, Nazrik's Korean name is Nafei (나페이), pronounced just like his Chinese name (那非). He is voiced by VA Suho Sohn (손수호), who also voiced Wind Archer Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom.

The most unique thing about Korean Nazrik is that he almost always uses formal speech. The only times he uses informal speech is toward his enemies (For example, all Halians whether he's actively fighting them or not. He also speaks in hostile informal speech against Merlin and the Arcane Council when he believes them to be Halian spies, but once he realizes that they're not his enemies, he switches back to formal.), his peers and friends in Crimson Dreams, and Tuft and Bey of Veilwatch Camp who are assumed to be his co-workers and/or subordinates.

Which means he also uses formal speech to Gala, a child. (BTW this scene is in Tuttleton where he tries to convince Gala that Merlin is an imposter.) Awww it's actually kinda cute and wholesome😌😌 The formal speech was also extra effective when he tells Gala that once she's out in the battlefield she's a warrior, because he sounds like he respects her as an individual and future warrior despite her age.

Anyway, Korean has multiple speech levels, which are unique sets of verb endings to indicate the speaker's respect toward their audience and the formality of the situation. (also annoys the heck out of Korean learners) Nazrik speaks in one of the most formal levels, the Hasipsio-che. For people more familiar with Japanese, a rough equivalent would be the desu/masu form.

I've noticed that Korean AFK Journey localization tends to give this kind of speech level to more male characters compared to Japanese which also has easily-recognizable polite speech signifiers. Some examples that I can think of off the top of my head are Indris, Thador, Faramor, Perseus, and Bryon. I'm guessing it's because Hasipseo-che is considered rather masculine due to its rigid, formal, businesslike tone and possibly its association with the military (that's how South Korean soldiers and officers are required to speak to each other). This doesn't necessarily mean that the characters who speak this way are stiff; their dialogues and the VA's voice and acting can give the characters multiple levels of nuance and depth.

In Korean Nazrik's case he comes off as cool and polite but also aloof and cold, as if he's intentionally distancing himself from others. Which totally fits his loner nature, especially when you consider he hates the Hunting Goddess but has to hide it among her devotees(who are also his people) for 7-8 years. And the deliberate contrast between the polite form of his speech level and the aggressive contents of his dialogue when he's suspicious/hostile/angry (and he's like, suspicious and angry 80% of the time LOL) is top notch. It makes him sound genuinely intimidating (and sexy😏😏😏), the epitome of cold rage. In addition, his VA is exceptionally good at delivering the simmering anger and pent-up sorrow within. Even in dialogues/interactions without voice, the speech level and tone adds tension and extra layer to the character.

When ToD gets updated to Peaks of Time and we can finally hear the voice dubs in Crimson Dreams again, I highly recommend viewing it again with the Korean dub. And please GET INSPIRED TO CREATE MORE NAZRIK ART/FIC COME ON GUYS I'M STARVING OUT HERE