ARE BOTH SOMEWHERE IN

this blog is solely about han yujin's magical worldview and how everything operates in his mind. let it be known everything described here is a mere translation of actions in real life, viewed through the imaginative eyes of a neglected / heavily bullied teenager with no real support system in his life.

yujin writes everything that happens in his life on his online blog, following the narrative of jebewon explained below.

warning: bullying and neglect.

ꕥ content order.

01 – basics
02 – story
03 – characters
04 – reasons

ꕥ —— basics.

' what's a chunibyo? '

chūnibyō is a japanese colloquial term used to describe teens with grandiose delusions, who desperately want to stand out or make themselves heard, and have convinced themselves that they have hidden knowledge or secret powers. it can also overlap with a fantasy-prone personality, where an individual with this trait (termed a fantasizer) may have difficulty differentiating between fantasy and reality and may experience hallucinations, as well as self-suggested psychosomatic symptoms.

' facts. '
– his delusions began when he was nine years old.
– he has changed schools twice because of bullying.
– yujin wears an eyepatch on his left eye, and bandages around his arms and hands.

ꕥ —— story.

yujin's delusions follow your typical fantasy-adventure narrative, set in a kingdom named jebewon. as the chosen one, yujin is set on quests to improve the livelihood of the kingdom every day, to hopefully rid it of the dark creatures surrounding it.

jebewon represents his everyday life, damaged by the toxic people in his life: those being his parents and bullies. jebewon once cast a perpetual glow over its contented inhabitants – there was light, music, magic, and love everywhere. now, given his fragile state of mind and growing insecurities, it was taken over by thorns and is dark, and cold, where people shiver in fear and never leave their houses.

ꕥ —— characters.

' the prince / the chosen one '
the prince is a key player in all of this. he's the true savior of jebewon, meant to free its people from the claws of shadow. obviously, that's yujin.

' the baker '
the baker is a new character added to the story. she's a bit older than the prince, and poses as an older sister to him. she's caring and sweet, and the prince gets healed when he eats her pastries. the baker represents yujin's new friend, jiwoo / @cakepop.

' the soldier '
the soldier is a new character added to the story, a companion that offered to face the war alongside him. she's responsible and mature, wise beyond her years and the prince can't help but admire her from afar. she comes from a distant land and the prince wishes to know more about her. the soldier represents yujin's new friend, rosie @alexithymia.

' the queen '
the queen is an absent figure in jebewon. she's confined to her chambers, in the highest tower of the castle, where no one can reach her. the queen represents yujin's sick grandmother mirae, who's in a retirement home, hours away from him.

' shadow '
shadow is the main antagonist of the land. he's the cruel and cold tyrant who terrorizes the kingdom every day. he's capable of great dark magic and is the only one who can physically disarm and hurt the prince. he represents yujin's bully and neighbor, jung nathan.

' the princess ' [ dead. ]
the princess was the only other positive force in jebewon. she's described as kind and brilliant, possessing a magical voice that can heal wounds. animals flock towards her, safe to be in her presence. she's like the bright sun. the princess represents lee wonhee, the most popular girl in school, and yujin's ex-crush.

' the ice queen '
the ice queen is an enemy who lives far away, in her kingdom. she sends storms his way and adds more quests to his list, under the threats of corporal punishment. the ice queen represents yujin's mother, minjoo. the ice queen's separate domain mimics his mother's second home, because he suspects the woman is cheating.

' the black mage '
the black mage is a complicated, hidden character with good intentions. they only see each other during the night, because the man lurks in the shadows. he tries to communicate with the prince, but they speak different languages. the black mage represents yujin's workaholic father, jaesook.

' the dragon '
the fire-breathing dragon is a violent enemy, who physically abuses the prince whenever they face each other. he's tall and imposing, with sharp teeth and claws. the dragon represents yujin's other bully, hwang minho. the fire mimics minho's smoking habits.

' the fool '
the fool is a lying anti-hero, who doesn't seem to have a set goal in the story. he can be understanding and gentle to the prince, only to betray him the next second. he has a close connection to the ice queen. the fool represents yujin's butler, kim jiwoong.

' the thief '
the thief is one of the prince's many enemies. she lies and cheats to get her way, manipulating the prince and stealing his belongings to get him to do whatever she wants. the thief represents yujin's older sister, nabi.

' the knight '
the knight is a minor, hidden character in the story. he only appears when it's convenient for him. although he's not as deceiving as the thief, he still poses a threat, eager to steal the prince's quests and medals. the knight represents yujin's younger brother, yurin.

ꕥ —— reasons.

yujin's neglect and both physical / mental abuse from his bullies have caused him to create a separate reality in his mind, to help him cope with his existence. although there are struggles and it isn't all healthy for him – because the delusions warp his views of reality and how he perceives people – being the prince motivates him to keep going.