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The Too-Perfect Saint: Tossed Aside by My Fiancé and Sold to Another Kingdom, Vol. 5

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By Fuyutsuki Koki and Masami. Released in Japan as “Kanpeki Sugite Kawaige ga Nai to Konyaku Haki Sareta Seijo wa Ringoku ni Urareru” by Overlap Novels f. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Amelia Mason. Adapted by Shaenon K. Garrity.

I always enjoy it when a series that has long since evolved away from its title decides to backtrack and remind us of it. Sure, we remember the “tossed aside’ part, mostly as her fiance is such a clown, but it’s easy to forget the ‘sold’ part, especially because she was sold for a lot of money – money that had to come from somewhere. It’s never really come up since then, mostly as the purchase of Philia as the Saint turned out to be the best one they’ve ever made, but it does make you wonder where the money to pay for her came from. As it turns out, their world is not all that different from our own, and it turns out that a lot of the money came from grants being given to various research and development facilities around the kingdom. Which can be a problem if some of those researchers are, shall we say, a bit obsessed.

Having finally wrapped up the wedding (and sent Mia home, so alas she is not in this book), Philia and Osvalt are finally ready to embark on their honeymoon… but Philia is still Philia, which means their honeymoon involves a lot of research. She’s touring the ruins of the country to try and figure out if there’s a way to stop the magic fluctuations in the volcanic area so that they can get more flowers. While there, unfortunately, they come across what seems to be an attempted break-in… and then, at another site, they catch those responsible. The main culprit is a merchant named Harry, who smiles but seems to lie as easily as he breathes, has been selling arms to the country just in case of foreign invasion, and has a far closer connection to Philia… or rather, Philia’s attendants… than anyone realizes.

Leaving aside the spoilery relationship that makes up the bulk of the last half of the book, it is entertaining seeing Philia actually coming to terms with herself as an emotional being. Getting married seems to have freed up her body to actually do things like smile and cry, and I don’t think she’s come to terms with it yet… nor has she come to terms with losing somebody near and dear to her, which we come close to this time around. She’s mirrored by Osvalt, who his brother doesn’t trust to deal with tense political situations because he’s too empathetic, but he ends up doing really well here, showing off that empathy can also be “really good at reading people”, which is actually quite handy for political situations. Lastly, a brief wish: I really hope we’re not suggesting Grace will marry Reichardt when she grows up. I like her as the little sister of the group, and hope she stays in that role.

That said, if she keeps saying things like “I’ve never seen a magic tool that large before”, I may have to reconsider. Oooooh, Matron!

The Isle of Paramounts: Reborn into a Slow Life Among the Strongest in the World, Vol. 2

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By Heiseiowari and Noy. Released in Japan as “Tenseishitara Saikyou Shu-tachi ga Sumau Shima deshita. Kono Shima de Slow Life wo Tanoshimimasu” by SQEX Novel. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Alex Castor.

The general theme of this book seems to be that everyone has a certain amount of stress in their lives, and that the best way to get rid of it is to totally relax in a place where your work can’t get to you. The two mages who were sent to check on Reina, and don’t really like her much, by the end of the book are just another part of the extended family being built up here. Of course, it helps when everyone on the island is so ludicrously powerful that there’s no point in stressing – you’ll just die if you don’t relax. Above everyone else is Arata, who gets annoyed every time someone implies he’s not human but by the end of the book is starting to get why they say it. As far as we can tell so far, he’s literally omnipotent. Even the vampire, who is able to take anyone else out no trouble, has issues dealing with him. He is OP Guy personified.

Arata and Reina have gotten completely settled in on this island (and are essentially acting like husband and wife, though his cluelessness and her shyness means they’re not really going much further than “we’re really good friends”). They’re also getting new visitors: as I noted above, two of Reina’s fellow mages wind up washed ashore on the island, and are quickly forced to get used to what life is like here. (Notably, they both specialize in an element and are jealous Reina can use all of them, while she’s jealous they’re really strong in one of them, calling herself a jack-of-all-trades.) We also meet the ancient dragons and ogres… or at least their teenage versions, who are fighting for supremacy but refuse to let Tailtiu join… not because she’s a girl, but because she’s too strong.

There’s a glorious scene midway through the book where, I thought at first, Arata had been yeeted to a completely different light novel to solve their problem and then yeeted right back. As it turns out that’s not true – while the Saint and the Hero were trying to summon someone to solve their problem, they exist in this world as well, and as it turns out Arata can solve the killer dragon problem but can’t help with church politics. I get the feeling we’ll see them again. I’m also not sure if this series is going to go polyamory, and if it does how many wives Arata will get. Reina is a given, of course, but Tailtiu, who is currently in the “little sister” role, does not look as if she’s prepared to stay there, especially as, once again, Arata solves all her personal issues by punching a few people till they understand. That said, give his “no, no, mustn’t have sexual thoughts about anybody” attitude, I doubt I need to worry for a while.

This is sort of a slow life series, even if the life is hanging around on what is basically the island where the gods live. I enjoy it.

Pick of the Week: Mostly Books Starting with ‘H’

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MICHELLE: As glad as I am to see a new volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday? coming out, it’s Hibana all the way, this week.

ASH: I’m definitely excited to see both of those releases this week, but after realizing Aki Shimizu created Hinatsugimura, I’m going to have to make that horror one-shot my pick. (I was always a little sad we didn’t get the final volumes of Qwan in English.)

SEAN: Yes, I’m picking a Tokyopop title. The winner for me this week is Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko!, because I love yuri with adults. Even if they both think it’s one-sided yuri.

ANNA: Sometimes you have to give it up for long running series – What Did You Eat Yesterday? is my pick this week.

KATE: While none of the new series piqued my interest, I’m excited for another installment of Hirayasumi, which manages to be funny and heartbreaking without lapsing into sentimentality.

Royal Spirits Are a Royal Pain! Give Me a Regular Romance, Vol. 2

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By Rei Kazama and Fujiazuki. Released in Japan as “Tensei Reijō wa Seirei ni Aisarete Saikyō Desu…… Dakedo Futsū ni Koi Shitai)” by TO Books. Released in North America by J-Novel Heart. Translated by okaykei.

Last time I described the events in this series as being “a political hotbed”, and if anything I feel bad now for underselling it. I joked online that TO Books waylaid JNC after it had licensed Trials and Tribulations of My Next Life as a Noblewoman and sold them this series, like Sheldon Leonard’s tout trying to sell Jack Benny a horse. (Never let it be said I don’t provide modern references for the youth of today.) This book starts out with Deirdre and company getting involved in major rivalries, then moves to finding out that half those rivalries were not what they were told about at all, and ends in… well, I’ll talk about the last quarter or so of the book later. It’s absolute dynamite, though. The writer knows that light novels are drenched with 6-year-olds who talk like they’re middle-aged women, and so decides to weaponize it, with everyone not in her family seeing Deirdre as a terrifying creature.

Deirdre is six years old now, meaning her parents are finally letting her out of the house so that she can have destined encounters with dusky pretty boys… destined encounters that she totally ignores, of course. She’s also going around to various domains and trying to patch things up between the rulers and the royal spirits, who have made it perfectly clear that if they have to choose between destroying the entire nation and Deirdre, the nation will lose. Unfortunately, things are still very bad with the Empress and her family. What’s more, the faction that was supposedly opposing our heroine and her family… may not be after all? It turns out there’s another family in this race behind the scenes manipulating things. Oh, and there’s also an Evil Religion. It *is* a reincarnation book, after all.

Let’s talk about the last quarter of this book, which is when I started to compare it to T&T. It certainly racked up a hefty body count, and not the bodies that I was expecting. I had wondered whatever happened to the magical Wikipedia that Deirdre used in the first book, but it comes back with a vengeance here, as it’s a great way to summarize all of the backstabbing and manipulation that’s been happening to either keep the empress on the throne or get her off of it. Even Andrew, the closest thing in the Royal Family they have to an ally, doesn’t fully trust Deirdre and her family as they’re simply too powerful, too eccentric, and do not remotely care about power or the throne. Deirdre is here as a spirit guide. That said, she is quietly amassing a badass group of young girls who will presumably grow up to be a badass group of young women. Assuming they get to grow up.

The epilogue of this book shows us Deirdre about to turn ten, and I am assuming by the cover of the third book we’re headed off to the academy that always happens in these sorts of books. That said, I’m sure politics will not go away. Also, the thirteenth volume that just came out in Japan is the final one, so while we have a long way to go there’s at least an end point.

Once Upon a Witch’s Death: Celebration Rings Over Crystal Waters

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By Saka and Chorefuji. Released in Japan as “Aru Majo ga Shinu Made: Aokiumi ni Shukufuku no Kane wa Narihibiku” by DENGEKI no Shin Bungei. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Megan Turner.

When I reviewed the first book in this series, it was the only book in this series, and I wondered in the review if there would be any more of it. Since then, of course, we’ve had three more volumes (the fourth of which seems to be the final one). And an anime, which was not particularly popular here but was well received by the few who watched it. Fortunately, almost two years later, we finally have the second volume, with the third scheduled for the summer. Of course, I watched the anime as well, which leads to the problem that I broke one of my rules, which is “try not to watch an anime that passes where you’ve read”. This second volume contains the bulk of the back half of the anime, so folks who watched it know what’s going to happen. Fortunately, the story is still well-told, and honestly, we read this for Meg being a freakish gremlin in any case.

While technically not a short story volume, this book can be rather neatly divided into four sections. 1) Meg goes with Faust and Sophie to a giant witch convention that only happens every twenty years, and while there runs into a young girl who seems to be lost and also is more than she seems… and also a terrifying witch who has another bad prophecy for Meg. 2) Meg notices that a young girl… and later, her mother… have a dark mark on their necks that no one else can see. Faust says it’s a sign they’re going to be a sacrifice to Satan, and warns Meg not to get involved. Meg gets involved. 3) The huge tree in the town is overfloweing with magic and needs to be destroyed… but Meg has made friends with the spirit inside the tree, who is also getting corrupted. 4) After the events of Story 3, Meg has a broken leg, and goes to the city of Aquamarine to get treatment from a powerful medical witch. While there, she also learns about her past.

The first book was there to introduce us to Meg as a goofy little ball of energy who talks and acts like a dirty old man, has a big heart full of compassion, and seems to think she’s just an ordinary minor apprentice to a witch. This second volume is here to remind you that her master is possibly the second most powerful witch in the world, she’s best friends with the third most powerful, wants to intern with the fourth most powerful, and also is habitually achieving the impossible seemingly every single day, especially in the back half of the book. We see Meg basically invent her own magic here, twice, and most of it has to do with the fact that society has tried to math up magic to the point where it’s forgotten about the feelings. Since Meg is zero logic and all feelings, it’s no wonder she’s destroying all the common sense laws of how to cast spells.

This reads breezily, has a great main character voice, and some surprisingly dark horror within its pages. it’s a winner. Also, you can sing the title to the opening line of Secret Love by Doris Day.

Secrets of the Silent Witch -another-: Rise of the Barrier Mage, Vol. 2

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By Matsuri Isora and Nanna Fujimi. Released in Japan as “Silent Witch: Another – Kekkai no Majutsushi no Nariagari” by Kadokawa Books. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Alice Prowse.

It can be difficult to review books that are tension-filled, well-written, and give fans of the series exactly what they want but have one particular thing that is not to the reviewer’s taste. This is that sort of book for me. I mentioned online that I hate amnesia plotlines, but that’s not quite true. I don’t mind, say, the reincarnated person having no memories of their time in Japan, that sort of thing. But it’s amnesia designed to break a couple apart and make them both upset that I don’t like, and that’s what we get here in spades. It’s handled very well, especially because, thanks to the vagaries of the plot, the two of them hadn’t seen each other in forever, and events conspired to make things suspicious. Throw amnesia on top of it, and you have a really good book that STRESSES ME OUT. Just fix it and get married, dammit.

A few years after the events of the first spinoff book, and Louis Miller has it made. He’s commander of the Magic Corps, well-respected for his barriers saving lives, has fought several dragons, he now looks and talks like a respectable gentleman, and he even has a nice house of his own. All he needs to do is become one of the Seven Sages. This is because Rosalie’s father has demanded that he fulfill all these conditions before he’ll let Louis marry her, and has, in fact not allowed them to make contact with each other all this time (something, it later turns out, he forgot he did, because as a dad he’s kind of awful). Fortunately, Rosalie’s father has to retire soon as his magic power is weakening, meaning there is a Sage opening available. Now all he has to do is duke it out with the guy from school who hates him more than anything in the world. Oh, and the other candidate. Who is… wait, who is this twitching creature?

Yes, fans of Monica can relax, because though the book doesn’t focus on her, she is in it, and gets a scene where she completely shows off why she’s a sage and why it happened so quickly. In the main series, Louis gets questioned about bullying Monica all the time, and mentions that he only bullies the strong. He’s clearly thinking of this, as she destroys both the other candidates. That said, a lot of Louis’ problems in this book are Louis’ own fault. He’s so obsessed with his goal, but only a few people know why he’s doing it, so everyone just assumed that he’s a terrible person… even Rosalie doubts him, when they meet after so long and he looks and sounds like a different person. And then she tumbles off a roof. I will also note that, aside from the actual bad guy, Glenn Dudley reminds us once more why he’s such a giant pain in the ass. I respect Louis for not murdering him.

Not to spoil an obvious thing, but things do work out and they both live happily ever after. So next time we get back to Monica’s present-day adventures… whenever that is, as Book 8 isn’t scheduled yet. Fans of the series who don’t get very stressed about amnesia ruining true love should love this.

Manga the Week of 2/18/26

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SEAN: It’s February, read manga. It will get you through February.

ASH: Thank you, manga, for your unwavering support.

SEAN: Airship has the print debut of Magical Buffs: The Support Caster is Stronger Than He Realized! (Zatsuyou Fuyojutsushi ga Jibun no Saikyou ni Kidzuku Made), which starts as a “thrown out of the party for having support magic” title, but at least this guy has a childhood friend to help him realize he’s actually awesome.

ASH: It’s always good to have a childhood friend who has your back.

SEAN: Also in print: Witch and Mercenary 5.

Digitally, we get two debuts. I Wish I Could Meet You Again on the Hill Where That Flower Blooms (Ano Hana ga Saku Oka de Kimi to Mata Deaetara) is a one-shot light novel in the genre of “tragic yet heartwarming movie about teenagers and time travel that gets made into a movie”. A genre Airship has so many of.

ANNA: It sounds wistful, I wonder if it is wistful.

ASH: It does though, doesn’t it? And I do tend to enjoy this particular genre.

SEAN: Magic Maker: How to Create Magic in Another World (Magic Maker: Isekai Mahou no Tsukurikata) is an ongoing light novel in the genre of “I am reincarnated into a fantasy world and proceed to revolutionize it as a young child because I am so amazing”. A genre ALL publishers have so many of.

Dark Horse Manga has the first omnibus of Gunsmith Cats Burst, the sequel to the classic manga that assumes that what fans really want is more Bean Bandit.

ASH: Aww, beans.

SEAN: Ghost Ship gives us 2.5 Dimensional Seduction 17 and Creature Girls: A Hands-On Field Journal in Another World 14.

Hanashi Media has stopped putting everything in the last week of the month, so we got I Got Reincarnated as a Cultist Mob in an Eroge Full of Maniacs with Death Wishes 3 this week, and next week we get The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage 3.

Ize Press debuts The Merman Trapped in My Lake. A girl finds her ancestor trapped the titular merman in the titular lake. The girl is named after this ancestor, and looks just like her, but surely that won’t lead to trouble.

ASH: When has it ever? (This does sound like something I would read…)

SEAN: Also from Ize Press: Kill the Villainess 5, Lady Devil 4, Murderous Lewellyn’s Candlelit Dinner 4, See You in My 19th Life 9, and Semantic Error 5.

J-Novel Club’s one debut is in their Knight imprint. Finding My Way to (You) in This MMO World (Game no Sekai ni Tenseishita Ore ga ** ni Naru made) has a boy setting out to make his fortune – then getting conscripted – suddenly remember his past life from another world! What’s more, he’s got to guard the princess… who’s a prince in disguise! If you like the same old light novel plots but wished they were gayer, this is for you.

ASH: I mean, it surely can’t hurt.

SEAN: Other JNC light novels: The Fearsome Witch Teaches in Another World 2, Holmes of Kyoto 21, In Another World with Household Spells 4, The Invincible Little Lady 7, Lady Bumpkin and Her Lord Villain 6, A Late-Start Tamer’s Laid-Back Life 14, and Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter 19.

Other JNC manga: Flung into a New World? Time to Lift the 200-Year Curse! 5, The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects 12, Housekeeping Mage from Another World 9, and Scooped Up by an S-Rank Adventurer! 3.

Kodansha’s print debut is Love at First Memory (Ore to Mou Ichido, Hatsukoi), a Nakayoshi manga about an heiress who finally decides which of her suitors she loves… then she gets amnesia in an car accident, and they all insist they were the one she picked! This is from the author of Boss Bride Days and Springtime with Ninjas.

MICHELLE: I can only assume that wacky hijinks ensue.

ANNA: Sometimes I’m in the mood for wacky hijinks.

ASH: Wacky hijinks can be healing.

SEAN: There’s also The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set, a big box of all the GITS titles uncensored (yes, they have THOSE pages).

ASH: Goodness!

SEAN: Also in print: Blue Lock 27, Go! Go! Loser Ranger! 16, Parasyte Paperback Collection 3, Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister 14, Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: IruMafia Edition 3, and What Did You Eat Yesterday? 23.

MICHELLE: Oh! I didn’t realize there was a new volume of What Did You Eat Yesterday?!

ANNA: Woah!!!!

ASH: Oh! I was somehow unaware.

SEAN: And digitally, we see A Couple of Cuckoos 27, Forest of Piano 11 through 18 (the final volume, and these are the first new translated volumes since 2019), Hozuki’s Coolheadedness 29, My Boyfriend in Orange 15, Sayabito: Swords of Destiny 7, and That Beauty is a Tramp 7.

One Peace Books has a 5th volume of Hero Without a Class.

Seven Seas time. For danmei, the big release (literally) is The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong Box Set, a deluxe hardcover version of Bakarina: danmei edition. There’s also a mini-artbook and mini-posters.

ASH: That is a sizeable release!

SEAN: For other titles, we see Get Married So I Can Curse Your Firstborn and Finally Be Free! (7-dai Tatarimasu node Hayaku Kekkonshite Kudasai!), a Monthly! Spirits series about a vengeful god trying to unvengeful herself by cursing seven generations of a family. Unfortunately for her, the 6th one is so unpopular there may not BE a 7th!

ASH: Whoops.

SEAN: Grim Night Tales (Endan Yobanashi) is a Sunday Web Every series that is basically an anthology of horror short manga.

ASH: A horror manga anthology, you say?

SEAN: Hibana is a BL manga from the creator of Classmates. A girl finds that her boyfriend is falling for another guy… and getting far too obsessed with him. This comes from Magazine Be x Boy, and is done in one.

MICHELLE: Oooooh. I have heard great things about Classmates.

ASH: Classmates is excellent. Granted, I generally tend to enjoy Asumiko Nakamura’s work.

SEAN: Also from Seven Seas: The Greatest Wolf of My Life 2, The Lady Knight and the Beast-Eared Child 5, My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files 5, My Kitten is a Picky Eater 7, Only I Know the World Is Ending and Getting Killed by Rampaging Beasts Only Makes Me Stronger 4, This Is Screwed Up, but I Was Reincarnated as a GIRL in Another World! 18, The Too-Perfect Saint 5, The Valiant Must Fall 6, and The World’s Fastest Level-Up 7.

Square Enix Manga gives us Dragon and Chameleon 6, Mr. Villain’s Day Off 7, and Wash It All Away 6.

Steamship has a 5th volume of Loving Moon Dog and a 5th volume of The Villainess and the Demon Knight light novel.

Titan debuts Gizmo Riser, a MAGCOMI series about a slave who inherits some amazing gloves from his uncle so he can destroy the state.

ASH: I wish him well.

SEAN: Lots from Tokyopop. Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko! (Ayaka-chan wa Hiroko-senpai ni Koishiteru) is a Web Action yuri manga about two women who are completely in love with each other, but absolutely think the other one is straight.

Destiny Paradise Night is a one-shot BL manga from Honey Milk. A guy dumped by his girlfriend saves someone from jumping off a bridge… only he wasn’t really. Also, he’s a sexy idol.

EX-Rank Lover: My Doting Ex-Boyfriend Wants to Make Love to Me Again and Again! (Dekiai Moto Kare wa Saikai H de Torotoro ni Aishi Tsukushitai – Amayakashi Jouzu na Nikushoku Gokujou Teku ni Oborete) is a josei one-shot from LoveParfait. A receptionist finds that the new employee at her office is her ex from high school… and he’s really hot now and wants to get back together!

Tokyopop also has Formerly, the Fallen Daughter of the Duke 7 and Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim 3.

Viz Manga debuts Centuria, a dark fantasy from Shonen Jump +. A stowaway on a slave ship gets powers from the gods of the sea, and that’s where his troubles begin.

ANNA: I’m a little curious!

ASH: Likewise!

SEAN: Also from Viz: Assassin’s Creed: Forgotten Temple 2, Choujin X 11, Hirayasumi 8, Hunter x Hunter 3-in-1 5, Jujutsu Kaisen 29, Kingdom 4, Mission: Yozakura Family 21, Snowball Earth 8, Steel of the Celestial Shadow 9, and Ultraman 21.

Yen Press debuts Hinatsugimura, a one-shot horror manga from Nemuki +. A group of travelers wait out a storm in a mansion. That ALWAYS goes well.

MICHELLE: It might be a trope, but sounds kind fun nonetheless.

ASH: Yup. I’d read that.

SEAN: Also from Yen, No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular! 26.

ASH: I’m out of touch and didn’t realize that was still running!

SEAN: Don’t use manga for firewood! Read it!

Even a Replica Can Fall in Love, Vol. 4

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By Harunadon and raemz. Released in Japan as “Replica Datte, Koi o Suru” by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Andrew Cunningham.

There are spoilers for this book, at long last, as it becomes impossible to try not to give everything away like I’ve tried in my previous obfuscating reviews.)

Last time I mentioned that we could all guess what Nao’s decision is, and I was absolutely correct, but that’s not what makes this book so interesting. What first surprised me is how long it takes Nao to avoid having to answer the question, first telling Sunao that she’ll answer her before the end of the year, and then essentially trying to cram in as much life as possible into those days, even as she continues to worry about how Sunao is doing. There’s a great scene in the book where Sunao gets a bloody nose during a sports event, and everyone completely panics, even as she grumpily insists that she’s fine. It helps to underline the idea that Sunao is fragile, especially when Nao is out and about, and that Nao’s decision is entirely about her, rather than about Aki or her own love. And then she takes Aki and Ricchan on one last big blowout date, on Christmas day, to an amusement park. SHE may not make her decision till 3/4 through the book, but WE know it from page 1.

Now that it’s apparent that when the original and the replica are both “out and about”, the replica generally can’t be seen, Nao is trailing along with Sunao more often. This allows her to see the aforementioned game where Sunao is injured, as well as look at all the photos from the class trip, which she is burning into her brain. She’s also talking with Satou about things, because one thing that might make Nao hesitate in her decision is she has no idea what will happen to Sunao, or how she’ll be affected, after it occurs. There’s just no way to know, especially if you’re Nao. And of course there is Aki, who knows what her decision is, and respects her own autonomy, but spends most of this book brutally sad and depressed, and you can see why. In the end, Nao chooses to… well, what DOES happen?

The other big surprise for me was the last quarter or so of the book. Where Nao winds up in Replica Heaven, basically, and meets up with Ryou, who explains that after they have “finished their work”, replicas come here to essentially live an afterlife. They’re in a school, and though they can’t leave it (there are dorms), and time doesn’t really pass, they can learn, and read books, and even date other replicas. And they all seem pretty content with this… except Nao. It was very hard for me while reading this section not to think about the Talking Heads song “Heaven”, which its chorus “Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens”. Nao can’t get over how the entire thing is essentially in muted greyscale, but as it turns out that’s not the Replica afterlife, it’s HER. She gets remonstrated for not only making the wrong decision but making it badly, trying to do the most dramatic thing ever in order to burn herself into everyone’s brain. And more importantly, she needs to go back.

This is, for all intents and purposes, the end. But we’re not done, as we’re finally going to get what I’ve wanted from the start: Sunao’s side. She was just as big a part of the finale of this book as much as Nao, and her “I no longer hate myself” made me well up a bit. This is really good, folks.

Re: ZERO ~Starting Life in Another World~ Short Story Collection, Vol. 4

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By Tappei Nagatsuki and Makoto Fugetsu. Released in Japan as “Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu: Tanpenshuu” by MF Bunko J. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Sarah Moon.

This fourth volume of short stories definitely expands the palette, as Subaru, Emilia and Rem/Ram don’t appear at all. They’re mentioned a few times, but for the most part the purpose of these stories is to flesh out and develop other members of the cast. This is good news, though the fact that Yen Press has been putting out the Short Story volumes well after they came out in Japan means that sometimes the stories don’t quite have the hit the author wanted, I suspect. For one thing, I’m starting to get a bit sick of Priscilla, mostly as we’re in the middle of Arc 7, which features her, we’ve had a few EX volumes with her, and the last short story volumes have had her. The author clearly LOVES writing her and Al, so I don’t expect this to change anytime soon. On the other hand, the first half of the book is very welcome, as Felt is easily the least developed supporting character in Re: Zero to date. No, not like that.

There are four short stories here: 1) Felt has announced herself as a Royal candidate, but is still grumpy about the whole thing, and she’s angry at Reinhard all the time. She is trying to get some allies, however, even if they happen to be the Three Stooges (published before Book 6); 2) Their group heads back to Reinhard’s domain, away from the political turmoil of the royal capital, but have to deal with an abandoned baby (published between Book 12 and 13); 3) Priscilla and Al have to deal with a few nearby villages seemingly being infested by undead, in a story that is literally called Price, Prejudice & Zombies (published with Book 18); 4) Otto is waylaid as he tries to leave a town and forced to mount a rescue mission for a missing girl, but ends up getting captured himself (published with Book 13).

The Felt stories are the highlight of the book. She’s loud, coarse, and angry throughout both of them, but also proves to be a sharp cookie and is surprisingly astute when it comes to Reinhard, who tends to wear his heart on his sleeve a bit too much because he hasn’t experienced the failures of life that Felt has. The whole point of the Royal Selection is that all the candidates could be very good rulers but that the folks in charge would hate them, and you can see that here. The Priscilla story is a sort of horror mystery, and mostly serves to show off a character that it then seemingly kills off, and once again show off the bond between Priscilla and Al. The Otto story is the slightest, but also shows off that he has a good heart, frequently to his detriment.

Next time, we’ll focus on Crusch and Anastasia. That said, I think next up we have a new EX book, which returns to the story of Wilhelm and Theresia. Till then, gosh, Re: Zero continuity is complex, but this was good.

New Game Plus After Defeating the Last Boss: All These Beautiful, Problematic Girls in the First Town Have Gotten Really Attached to Me… , Vol. 1

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By Touwa Akatsuki and Falmaro. Released in Japan as “Last Boss Toubatsu Go ni Hajimeru Nishuume Boukensha Life: Hajimari no Machi de Wakeari Bishoujotachi ga Mechakucha Natsuite Kimasu” by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Kamishiro Taishi.

Just the title should tell you that we’re in old, familiar territory. First of all, this is from the author of ridiculous OP harem battle light novel The World’s Strongest Rearguard, whose anime is out soon. More importantly, there are levels and classes and stats, though thankfully a lot fewer stat screens than Rearguard ever had. New Game Plus is what some games have where, after finishing the game, you get to start over at Level 1 but you get to keep all your old gear and skills. In return, there’s stronger everything. That’s essentially what happens to our main character here. He also gains a bevy of new party members, who dominate the cover art. (He’s in the upper left corner. You’ll have to squint.) They’re fanservicey as hell, and all fall in love with him immediately. But don’t worry. Just like Rearguard, nothing will actually happen. This is about comfy rather than horny.

A young boy, Crow, is a thief. Who has no mana, unlike almost everyone else in the world. Naturally, he’s abandoned and lives in the slums. Fortunately, he can make friends and allies, even though he longs to be a magic user. Years later, he is Level 100, and he and his three level 100 party members (all gorgeous women) face off against a demonic dragon. They win, but Crow dies taking a curse meant to kill their swordfighter. He wakes up (sigh) talking to a goddess, who says he can be resurrected, and change his class. He immediately wants to be a Sage, the most powerful magic class. Now called Might, he’s back in the starter town he grew up in, and also looks 15 again rather than in his late 20s. But… he’s a sage! He can use magic! It’s just he’s Level 1 again. But… as he finds out, he’s still as strong as he was before.

If you’re looking for serious and deep, flee. If you’re looking for a long-running, consistently released series, flee as well – this had two volumes and then stopped, the author seems to be like that. If you’re looking for goofy fun with really likeable girls, some gratuitous fanservice, and an immediate found family, this is for you. If you’ve read Rearguard, no, he doesn’t have magical orgasm powers when his party sleeps like Akihito does. That said, I’m going to append a “yet” to that, because we also see him drawing out the girls’ secret hidden powers by kissing their hands. He can see locks on people’s chest that break when they fall in love with him, and he is breaking locks left and right, because he’s nice, powerful, polite, and doesn’t leer. Much. As for the girls, there is blue-haired swordfighter with a rather poorly hidden secret, her friend who claims to be a paladin but see previous secret, and an awkward mage with a large hat, small bust, and love of making her own homebrew potions rather than following the recipe. They’re all great, and funny. Might? You know what Might is like, you’ve read these. He’s a potato-kun. But a nice one. Kazuma wishes he were this guy, but Kazuma is more entertaining.

Again, this series has one kind of audience: those who like fantasy books with cute girls who like a nondescript hero. It’s a must for Rearguard fans, though, despite not having Best Lizard.