If you're looking for a Fluffy x Serious Business story, this is definitely one of the better ones.
The Male Lead (ML) and Female Lead (FL) share the leading roles, but the narrative primarily focuses on the ML (the sword) for the overall storyline and the FL (a petite, succinct catgirl) for interactions and the bulk of character development. This approach works well for developing what would otherwise be a rather timid and quiet character.
The relationship between the ML and FL is mostly teacher-student, which adds a refreshing dynamic, especially when so many stories in this genre (particularly Japanese ones) tend to focus on romance. There is, however, room for interpretation in their relationship.
The action takes place in a gamified fantasy setting, and the execution is quite well done. The duo, consisting of one catgirl, has the typical growth advantage but is severely lacking in many other areas, from combat tactics to social skills and general world knowledge (one is a reincarnated soul, the other was a save file until recently).
Without delving into too much detail, the plot fits together nicely. There's an overarching mystery, the world has a palpable internal consistency, and there are various interlocking subplots and sub-mysteries. Characters introduced in one arc often reappear, and side characters have their own agendas, which may align or conflict with those of the main heroine and her sword-sensei. However, since this is a fluffy story, the antagonism rarely escalates beyond "highly suspicious" or "dangerous unknown," rather than outright hostility toward the main heroine.
If there's a downside, it's that the world itself is fairly average. It's not bad—quite consistent, in fact—but there's nothing particularly groundbreaking about it. You'll find towns, monsters, countries, dungeons, and so on, all of which are as average as you might expect.
In summary:
- The ML and FL form a tight-knit party that sticks together throughout.
- The action has strategy and depth, with plenty of political conflicts.
- The story features a gamified Western-style cultivation system.
- The relationship between the ML and FL is intriguing.
- The world and its conflicts are logically consistent.
- There are plenty of interesting characters. Followers appear in chapter inserts but don't permanently join the main party or follow every whim of the main heroine.
- The villains receive ample exposition on their backgrounds and motivations.
- The translation is good, though the first few chapters are a bit rough. Quality improves significantly once CardboardTL takes over the project.
Take from that what you will.
When I first started reading, this one wasn't my top pick, but as I continued, each arc captivated me more and more. Now, I'm hooked! I've read over 3000 chapters, and I can't help but wonder, where's the author? I desperately want them to keep writing; I can't stop now. Please, don't leave me hanging at chapter 3094. Some might argue that the setting remains repetitive, but let me clarify without giving away any spoilers. Yes, the main character's (FL) departure from the protagonist (ML) at the end of each arc is a pattern, but the settings themselves are diverse. There's even an instance where FL is an emperor and ML is a concubine. It's not all doom and gloom; when FL learns about ML's situation after leaving, she feels同情 and considers staying longer. However, time passes, and ML eventually pursues her. This happens later on after ML gains some enlightenment.
Unfortunately, I discovered that the author has passed away, leaving behind a fantastic novel incomplete. May their soul rest in peace.
I read this story for the plot, stayed for the smut *with* plot.
It starts out with a dubcon prologue that would most likely repel a lot of people. I stuck around despite it, and didn’t regret it at all.
As with a lot of smutty BL stories, many are accompanied by dubcon and noncon elements. This one, however, has a protagonist who enjoys the sex. Since he’s also labeled as a tsundere, the line between there being consent and it having none is often blurry.
I personally gained an immunity for such stories, and have seen worse tragedy novels, so I wasn’t really bothered. The plot was what really interested me.
I especially like how the MC was different from the original villain, and so his life turned out differently as well. From the get-go, other than being shackled by his identity as a dark attribute user, the MC was his own person. Starting from early chapters, he also didn’t think of the world as a game, even if he had an idea of what would happen. He thought Luca falling in love with him and becoming gay was really weird considering the original plot, but he wasn’t in complete denial because he really thought of Luca as a person. He accepted the fact that this world was similar but different, and that his actions would inevitably change things.
My favorite part about this is how the MC is stronger than Luca. It produced a really interesting dynamic of a powerful supposed last boss villain x a newbie, still weak, protagonist. The world-building is pretty in-depth too, really making it settle in that the eroge the MC reincarnated into had become a living, breathing world.
Is this still going ?
Without spoilers?
Excellent world and character building.
Superb translation including explanations of idioms.
Many cultural/historical (chinese) references.
MC and underlying story that does not follow most of the tropes. Out of all the novels I have read I would say this is in the top 5%. And that includes every single one here if you search by rating or ranking. (Top 100 or 50 at the time of this comment.)
That said. I am dropping this excellent series. i.e. I don't mind tragedy...but I prefer more of an upside in my reading. I may take it up again though, after I buy enough chocolate and ice cream for a mood boost.
Yeah i found 2 that i have readed till latest chapters 1 is i Was Mistaken as a Monstrous Genius Actor, 2 is sence is a medical novel.
Wait I'm confused I don't understand...sorry if I got it wrong
its goblins, what was it gonna be if not rape? its disgusting yes but in this novel the sides are reversed
If you ever wonder what it feels like to be the OP old man or master in anime or novels this book is for you
Please, Please change the chamber of commerce to Inc or Ltd, and how the fk are you people earning hundred million gold coins, where do you keep them, how do you transport them, you don't have a logistics networks for moving so many coins, Hell, how the fk are you even getting so much gold in the first place, the numbers are at the level of a Fiat Currency not gold coins
All i wanna know is will the mc become strong,even stronger than the s classes or is this gonna be just a guy helping out those stronger than him?
Haven't read it yet ..but i just checked out his harem list &..it's sooo looooong...and at one point the person who made the list just wrote *too many* under love interests.