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Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (WN)
Type
Web Novel (JP)
Genre
Tags[ ]
One entry per line
Rating(3.7 / 5.0, 1238 votes)
5    46% (567 votes)
4    17% (206 votes)
3    12% (154 votes)
2    9% (116 votes)
1    16% (195 votes)
Language
Author(s)
One entry per line
Artist(s)
One entry per line
Year
Example: 2012
2013
Status in COO
Status in Country of Origin. One entry per line
8 Volumes LN (Ongoing)
179 Chapters WN (Completed)
140+ Side-Story Chapters WN (Ongoing)
Licensed
Yes
Completely Translated
No
Original Publisher
One entry per line
English Publisher
One entry per line
N/A
Release Frequency
Every 8.1 Day(s)
Activity Stats
[Graph]
Weekly Rank: #357
Monthly Rank: #211
All Time Rank: #153
Reading List
[Graph]
On 13940 Reading Lists
Monthly Rank: #307
All Time Rank: #22

Description

Links are NOT allowed. Format your description nicely so people can easily read them. Please use proper spacing and paragraphs.

Seventeen-year-old Hajime Nagumo is your average, everyday otaku. However, his simple life of pulling all-nighters and sleeping in school is suddenly turned upside down when he, along with the rest of his class, is summoned to a fantasy world!

They’re treated like heroes and tasked with the duty of saving the human race from utter extinction.

But what should have been any otaku’s wet dream quickly turns into Hajime’s nightmare? While the rest of his class are blessed with godlike powers, Hajime’s job, Synergist, only has a single transmutation skill. Ridiculed and bullied by his classmates for being weak, he soon finds himself in despair.

Will he be able to survive in this dangerous world of monsters and demons with only a glorified blacksmith’s level of strength?

Associated Names
One entry per line
From Common Job Class to the Strongest in the World
ありふれた職業で世界最強
平凡职业成就世界最强
Related Series
Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (LN) (Light Novel)
Recommendations
Suterareta Yuusha no Eiyuutan (6)
Konjiki no Moji Tsukai (6)
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (WN) (4)
Blessing from the Goddess and Transfer to Another World! ~No Thanks, I Don’t Need a Special Ability~ (4)
The Dungeon Seeker (3)
Sevens (3)

Latest Release

Date Group Release
07/15/18 bakapervert c323
07/08/18 bakapervert c322
07/05/18 bakapervert c320-321
05/13/18 bakapervert c319
05/12/18 bakapervert c318
05/06/18 bakapervert c317
05/05/18 bakapervert c316
04/29/18 bakapervert c315
04/22/18 bakapervert c314
04/15/18 bakapervert c313
04/09/18 bakapervert c312
04/08/18 bakapervert c311
04/01/18 bakapervert c310
03/25/18 bakapervert c309
03/17/18 bakapervert c308
123…15
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138 Reviews sorted by


Renaxan
New Renaxan rated it
July 9, 2018
Status: c322
For me this novel actually categorized as bad isekai before, so im stopping read after conclusion of tortus isekai (arround 180). Before hand, the character and setting inside of this story just too much and too inbalance in detail but its not the main problem. The main problem is how edgy the MC in this story, and there's goes with much worse added harem and cliche plot (in bad way) later until tortus world done.

Then im trying to read again when it comeback to earth, (arround 180+) this novel... more>> become slightly unique compared before, the story just become 'slife of life of isekai character who get back to earth and still op'. Altho the edgy still same, the story not much involved MC arround anymore, focus each arc can change to other character (altho most arc still have MC done in). Furtherless, its quite interesting when reading abyssgate arc and how much suffer MC in earth against his own 'members'. Tips : You might be okay even you read from when its return to earth if you want avoid early damn edgy arc but you will much lost in detail so if possible try to endure. Its 5/5 for the story in earth alone, -1 since consideration of early isekai arc. <<less
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Amplify
Amplify rated it
May 8, 2016
Status: --
If you want the short version:
Don’t read Arufureta, don’t fall for the younger teens who’ve never read anything else and have no standards as this series is not worth your time.

For a longer explanation:
The first volume is actually pretty decent, a somewhat typical revenge story about a guy who’s at the end of his rope, cling to life despite the odds, fighting his way to freedom and a better life while gaining interesting abilities along the way and dreaming of getting back at those who put him into... more>> this position. Then the second volume begins and the series nosedives faster than a Japanese kamikaze bomber at Pearl Harbor.

The first volume isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s pretty decent and if this gets an anime (which will prove that there is no god), with luck or a miracle it would be 12 episodes limited to just the first volume events. After the first volume and he gets back to the surface though? Any clever writing or rich storytelling goes straight out of the window; now he’s a dark & edgy guy, riding his magic fueled indestructible motorbike, with his 300 (?) year old beautiful loli vampire girlfriend on the back, headshotting dinosaurs with his hand held railguns, talking about how he hates everyone and will kill them while actually saving everyone and upholding justice, sticking it to ‘the man’ whenever he gets the chance, and having all the women in the world want him while the men are gibbering retards who can’t fall over themselves fast enough to f**k up and make the MC look ‘better’.

Why does he do these things? Because the author says he can. There’s little (if any) attempt to justify why he or his harem can do the things they can when the rest of the universe doesn’t work that way, that’s just how things work now even if it means pulling these things out of his ass, and there’s no attempt to give the story any depth or creativity. The whole thing is the novel equivalent of having a few adults go into the children’s sandbox, then kick the kids out so they can drink beer and smoke there because they think it’s cool.

I’m all but certain that the author was beaten up in high school a lot, probably still is even now, and this ‘novel’ (I hesitate to use the term for it) is his outlet for the stress & anger where he beats up his bullies, gets all the girls and looks cool in a sociopathic spergfest through his self insert Marty Stu style MC. A psychiatrist could have a field day with him and this drek, but if you have the sense of ‘cool’ normally limited to pre-teens and man-children then MAYBE you could find some enjoyment in it.

For the rest of us however, 4/5 for the first volume and 0/5 after that. <<less
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DahAnnaKushina
DahAnnaKushina rated it
June 12, 2016
Status: v6
I admit, I liked it... I really did like it...

Then it went f**k all.

Okay, first of all, there was a few reviews who are going to make the same point as I am...

... more>> Such as the one by Amplify, which states the first volume was pretty good and the rest was absolute sh*t.

I liked the first volume... I would rate it about... 4 stars if I were to be magnanimous, but yeah... the novel as a whole is utter sh*t, and if it can't stand together as a good novel, then it is rubbish.

Firstly, the character's attitude, I like it, the need for survival, but then again that's me on a daily basis, so that's probably why. It was after he discovered he was being left behind that he wanted to get revenge and kill everyone.

Which is why I like him. If it stayed like that the entire book, then I'll go with it, I would have rated the novel 3 stars!

But it f**king didn't.

He wants to survive more than anything... but doesn't want to be heartless.

Well, he talked about how everyone was naïve to think survival requires convention. Well, look who is being f**king naïve now!

That's not even past the first volume and the sh*t head is already contradicting himself!

Then comes the girls! Oh the f**king girls.

One is a vampire princess who he initially rejects because he didn't want to get involved with her. So... he let her join him.

Of course, I was alright with that as far as I saw it they had similar attitudes and were similar in power. It's like they were both just travelling for one reason.

Oh... wait... here comes the f**king therianthropic human who decides to be just the f**king ckuster f**k of tropes! So, this bunny girl suddenly is useless and insecure, and always required the others to help her as far as I'm concerned. Oh, she also has strong ass feelings for the protagonist.

Well, she's stereotypical, fell for the protagonist for some unearthly reason. And now has the other heroine be a stereotypical sh*t. What the f**k?

Now, remember naïve little protagonist? Oh, he suddenly is even more f**king naïve, have you seen how he acts? It's like watching twilight trying to act.

Well, as you can see... I'm on volume six. And I've covered some basic points.

Well, let me tell you one thing...

Utter. f**king. sh*t. Happens.

I'm not joking, the tropes only grow, the other side story for heroes is in some God-awful place where filler stories exist.

Ugh... I'm just so pissed off at how this book turned out, I thought I was thinking it was getting better, but I stopped.

At this point, if it even gets better, it's too late. The author should have made it better ages ago, and no diverted to some random sh*t. <<less
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Leonitus
Leonitus rated it
May 8, 2016
Status: --
This novel starts off with the MC being a really nice guy then going to the dark side. But he overcomes what happened to him and slowly goes back to being the nice guy although a tsundere. It was a nice change of pace for the Psychological tag, where normally all the MC’s just crave revenge or just don’t care about anything. I honestly am annoyed at all the people who hate on this novel because the MC goes back to being a good guy slowly as he regains his... more>> humanity, a part of this novel I really like.

Spoiler

Like seriously he is overcoming his trauma and going back to the way he was. What is so insanely bad about being a nice guy?

[collapse]
I love the characters and there is some great comedy. Sometimes the comedy is a little repetitive though.

Spoiler

Example: Tio’s perverseness can be just flat gross or it can be absolutely hilarious at others

[collapse]
And for the people complaining that he got too OP too fast think on some of these points

Spoiler

Eating the monster flesh was a instant boost but he still almost died constantly in the first dungeon and he was in the dungeon for months. When he meets back up with his teacher four months have passed. Most of the other dungeons are meant to be possible for people that don’t have other age of gods magic, he was a cheat crafting character who got god level crafting magic that can be used with other god level magics, and he has knowledge of technology way beyond the world he is in. Also everyone who is saying he “suddenly became a genius” I find a little funny. If your problem is how he made a gun in the beginning I will say most guns are not overly complicated things. If your problem is that he knew how to make a car, it explains that it moves because of magic so all he had to do was make the shape, put wheels on, and give it power. If your problem is the drones then think about how simple they are, a bird made out of floating metal and a magic camera. With all these factors if he wasn’t OP then he would have to be a complete “incompetent”... sorry. Also, IT IS A FANTASY! Sorry for the rant just annoyed at the internet

[collapse]

I definitely recommend giving this a read but beware of a non-heartless MC. <<less
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DDark
DDark rated it
May 13, 2016
Status: --
Starts out promising. You are given clues on main characters progression as a person, only for it devolve so badly, horrendously into a self righteous piece of sh*t while "acting" like a badass (he seem to think so). There is little to no world building besides the things the author establishes so MC can be OP, everything else ends up feeling paradoxical. The characters are all shallow, they are nothing but tropes, and they are never elaborated into anything beyond that. The Narrative is just sad, please be a bit... more>> more original next time. And then there is the romance, it starts out stating some things about pure and devotion just to end up as a harem, a pretty poor harem at that and the only requirement to join the MC's harem is to have a crush on him. The writing quality is half decent and probably the only reason I read so long, but don't worry, later on it also somehow managed to devolve. I feel like I wasted quite a bit of time reading this shallow *fanfiction*. It mostly feels like the authors dream life put on paper, he wants to be a hero and get all the girls and that's about it.

All ratings are default at half value and depending on merits and demerits the scores are added or subtracted.
World Building: 2/10
Character/s: 7/20
Narrative: 9/40
Writing Style/Quality:7/20
Depth: 1/20

Rating: 26/100 <<less
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Blublade
Blublade rated it
September 10, 2016
Status: c90
This is simply put one of the worst novels out there. It however deserve a reading if only for the very first volume.

Immediately we have a problem, the protagonist is depicted as your average bullied loser who's got absolutely nothing going for him. It's going to be "that" kind of story. Then suddenly something happens and the MC has a complete reversal of personnality, dare I say when he does it becomes extremely entertaining. Than once he's out and start getting an harem this simply put become a cringefest of... more>> epic proportions. The MC is so edgy it hurts to read. He keeps on saying sh*t like he does whatever the hell he wants and he's cool and stuff but he's doing nothing of that. He is being lead on by his harem, does whatever they want him to do, keeps saying he's a bad guy and sh*t but he always do the right thing. Cognitive dissonance : The novel.

Simply put if you want to read something written by someone who had no life experiences and has no idea what socializing is then do read this, don't expect this story to be even remotely believable altough.

It's sad because if the MC was actually his own man and doing whatever the f**k he wants like Summoned Slaughterer MC then this story would have been decent. Instead we got what nerds think an anti-hero is. The MC is no anti-hero, he's more like a typical shonen protagonist but edgier and "darker".

This isn't a light novel, it's basically a wish fulfillment fanfic made by a bullied virgin loser who has no idea how to write women or even men for that matter. <<less
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Albedos_Ahoge
Albedos_Ahoge rated it
June 13, 2016
Status: --
Terribad novel. Vol 1 was actually pretty good, but then it went down really fast. MC got a broken personality and a cliche harem which for no reason like him.

Don't waste your time reading this.
34 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Aszure
Aszure rated it
April 3, 2016
Status: --
I see a lot of negative opinions about the later arcs, which I understand - to some point.

As we can see in the summary, our MC falls into the abyss, and has to face several hardships until he can return - stronger than ever... The first arc is quite dark, therefore the Psychological Tag. And quite a number of readers believe that the first arc is the best one and that the author ruined it in the later ones..

Which is, to my opinion, not fair. True, the author focuses more... more>> on the Harem later on, but with the past of our MC he simply deserves the love, the people around him. So if you are fine with Harem Shenanigans, a dark beginning and a fluphy, heart warming continuation, an OP Main Character who doesn't mind showing his badass'ness, i'd recommend this novel. <<less
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Fuannai
Fuannai rated it
April 6, 2016
Status: --
People complaining how he gets dragged by the harem later on after escaping dungeon. But why not? It’s not like MC turned into a heartless evil MC. He turned into someone who focuses on survival.

... more>>
Spoiler

he didn’t even seek vengeance to the one who caused his fall. And he’s not slave to his harem but to Yue. In other words he’s an “Under”.

[collapse]

Author made good reasons for the events that occurred not just randomly power ups MC or make MC help his harem. The people who rated this low because MC became mellow probably forgot that MC was kind at first but got hardened by the dungeon. They probably thought MC became a trigger happy murderer. Lmao.

Spoiler

but he could’ve become trigger-happy if not for Yue or the loli teacher in who preached him go no end.

[collapse]

It’s a good read. And you’ll love Myuu. So I recommend this. <<less
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fallen dust
fallen dust
April 29, 2016
Status: --
NEVER in my life have I had the urge to vomit after reading a novel, but this complete sh*t in the form of novel almost made me vomit. Actually I did vomit. The most annoying thing in this novel is of course the MC. After getting betrayed, tortured and almost killed the MC decided to dedicate his life to be ruthless and become a killing maniac.

He will constantly act tough and rough, say cool things like,
"I don't care about this world or its people"
"I don't care about... more>> my classmates"

but immediately after like a perfect little hypocritical tsundere, we see the same cold MC who doesn't care about anything is risking his life to save everyone and upholding justice in the world. We see him using rubber bullets so he doesn't kill people, even thought the other guy is trying to kill him. He'll say " I don't care about if you live or die " while clearly risking his life trying to save people like a Tsundere Superman. The name "Hajime" itself irritates me for some reason. This MC is one of those annoying type of character who likes to act cruel and dark, but in the end he'll do entirely opposite of what he acts like and will uphold justice and save the day.

What's even more annoying is the authors sense of humor, he tried to be funny but miserably failed in his attempt. This failed humor made this novel even more annoying. I really don't know how it got a 4+ rating. <<less
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Dream Seeker
Dream Seeker rated it
May 26, 2016
Status: c84
I can not defend this novel, but beyond of what it could of been. It's opening credits were the premise of mature darker anti-hero story, but it later develops into makeshift antihero story centered around slapstick pseudo love that is nothing more simplistic time filler dropped in "Higher powers are out to get humanity" that progressed by will of main character. Though, it's not hard nor boring read so if you are okay for taking things as come then I recommend this series to you. Also the translators are wonderful... more>> and mostly consistent so you don't have to worry about not being able to read the next chapter. <<less
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Bananana
Bananana rated it
April 5, 2016
Status: --
Great start, you'll feel the protagonist is right in his actions no matter how brutal. Although the story has a harem like development it's interesting because he's not a harem seeking guy, quite the opposite actually. And his reactions to the woman coming to him seem natural for his character.

Overall: a good well written story with plenty of comedy to even out the dark sh*t happening. Definitely worth a read.
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Yimfor
Yimfor rated it
February 20, 2017
Status: c161
In my opinion, Arifureta is one interesting story.

The first dungeon arc had a very good storyline and didn't forced the characthers to do something againsts their personalitys. Even the changes from Hajime's personality were made correctly. The encounter with Yue was also good (in a harem perspective, because we know how boring it could have been like in other harems storys). Also, it finished with a sense of accomplishment that you can't help but feel happy about how it turned.

... more>>
Spoiler

I'm counting when they exited together the first dungeon as the end of this arc

[collapse]

The thrill you had when the first arc ended is what motivates you into reading future chapthers, and yes, it will lose force in a certain time
Spoiler

For me, it was when they were in the Volcano's dungeon

[collapse]
but it will regain a bit of the thrill in the third arc
Spoiler

When Hajime meets for the first time his classmates and his ruthless personality will be changing a little (with a good excuse for it).

[collapse]

I would reccomend it, since the first arc is what made the story interesting in the first place, and leave the decision to continue this or not for your own choice. Who knows, maybe you will not lose the motivation to continue it and will finish it to see how it ends? <<less
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Smooth Che
Smooth Che rated it
January 14, 2016
Status: --
Defenitly recommended! IF you enjoy Xianxias like ATG, TDG, BTTH etc., you will most likely enjoy this one too.

The similartiy it has with these Xianxias is, that the MC can be rather ruthless towards enemies that want to hurt him or the people close to him, he also knows how to treasure them and is not a total mindless basta***

The story starts quite dark, but later it turns more light hearted with a lot of romance moments. The harem is not forced. The flow of the story is great,... more>> sometimes you can't stop reading because the atmosphere is so tense, sometimes you can't stop laughing at the hilarious situation they are in. Good character development especially with the MC. Would recommend if you enjoy Action/OP MC with romance moments! <<less
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mechafanboy
mechafanboy rated it
October 24, 2016
Status: v3c6
Read some of the reviews prior to reading this one and figured it wouldn't be too bad at the worst. Particularly given it's strong Antihero/revenge backdrop it setup extremely early on.

Unfortunately, instead of delving further into the dark side of things, it completely turned into a romcom. Just... There's literally not even a shade of the darkness you could feel from the first half of volume 1 or so. It's entirely gone and became absolutely generic overpowered protagonist doing things others could only dream of, aka nearly every single "reborn... more>> in/teleported to another world" type stories that are so prevalent during this time period.

Wouldn't be half as bad if the overall plot or the writing is fun to read, but frankly, the author's writing tends to focus heavily on descriptive text which isn't bad if it serves a purpose, but when a large number of those texts are dedicated to characters who show up once or are just reiterations with even stronger emphasis on "how they've grown", then frankly, it reeks of trying too hard to be interesting in my opinion. <<less
16 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
Overclock
Overclock rated it
January 29, 2017
Status: c50
Decided to write this seeing the negative reviews. I agree with some points, but not with all. Harem? So what? He gets it easy enough sure and unrealistic, but who cares. Men like woman. Your boy readers would want a harem if they could and after volume 1 it aims to those readers. For those who call harem wish fullfillment in a fictional work aimed at youths, get over yourselves. I'm sure your idea of normal romance is idealized delusions of a virgins as well.

Dark? How dark did you want... more>> it to get? Rape and impregnating all the girls, leaving with a smile? Killing anyone who so much as looks at you funny like a psychopath? Don't put your dark delusions on a light novel.

Never thought it was great past volume 1, but not the worst. <<less
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Demonic Reader lv 451F
Demonic Reader lv 451F rated it
June 24, 2016
Status: c90
FIVE STARS for the world building arc. Then gradually drops from the sky, pass MC, sinks to ocean floor around c90, after MC gang safely run away from exploding volcano.

Boring of repeated fighting actions started to accumulated. Poor class harem is creeping in and kick away the canned romantic. Predicatable dialogue and next scene. So, after 100th ch, nothing left.

Drop is the final resolution.
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omnipwnage
omnipwnage rated it
April 23, 2016
Status: --
It starts of as a great read (4.5/5) as it includes a great deal of bitterness, resourcefulness, survival, revenge and misery to make for a compelling story. However, the story eventually just decides to throw basically all of that away and turn into wish fulfillment porn the likes of which I never expected. I read a decent chunk after that, and it didn’t look like they were willing to go back to those earlier themes in the least, as the MC was too overpowered to bother caring about his own... more>> past. Personally, I have a theory on that subject, which I’ve decided to believe is true.

Spoilers because It contains the event which changed everything

Spoiler

At the bottom of the first dungeon, during the last bit of the fight against the hydra, Hajime is up against the wall watching Yue fight against the hydra and losing. He then manages to use the last of his strength and kill the hydra. Afterwards, he wakes up in a luxurious room and is somehow not dead. The theory is that he is at the very least in a coma and still in the first dungeon. That would explain why everything goes the way that works best for the MC, ie the summoned hero’s inability to defend themselves and others, the reason for the MCs ridiculous stats, the MCs genius out of no where, all the wish fulfillment happens -after- he wakes up at the end of the first dungeon. And the reason why nothing really bad happened to him after that incident as well (at least where I decided to stop reading)

[collapse]
If that theory every actually turned out to be true, and the story return to what it was like before (the author having trolled us the entire time) I’ll go ahead and pick this series up again and denote it as the best story ever written. <<less
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Cenarous
Cenarous rated it
December 26, 2016
Status: c97
so lets be sincere. this isn't a bad novel.

yes the first volume was the best volume but many people aren't truly looking at why, I see many complaints on the MC personality change from a dark antihero to someone who "contradicts himself" but lets be honest the character is growing as a person, in the beginning he was all hatred and dark because he literally almost died. by being able to talk his problems with someone he was able to calm himself down and for that I thank thee because... more>> lets be honest for every person who hated that the MC changed there would be one who would have hated it if he stayed the same old I hate everyone and don't want to do anything but be a complete d*ck because that so interesting as a story (insert sarcastic eye roll)
Spoiler

its actually great that the MC had a coming to reason moment when his teacher basically told him are you really going to be happy by being a massive d*ck to everything and he realizes his teacher has some point and actually grows as a character.

[collapse]

the Girls have there problems as it may have been more interesting with just Yue or just Yue and Kaori (she makes the most sense as a love interest as you learn this from the beginning) but at least the MC isn't one of those dense retards who just can't make up his mind. that's a plus for the fact that he's 17.

the real problem that I saw and many others brushed across as they were complaining about the other problems is the pacing of the story. mainly his overpower artifacts that allow him to basically pull the because I can moments... sure he can have the overpower states but the pacing would have been much better if he got a different power from the God magic collection, first he wouldn't make traveling pretty much pointless and the story would be completely different if he grew as a character while having to coup with one arm and eye until he got the artifact power...

the first volume starts out really dark and acts like he gotta do everything just to survive and makes everything out as bad ass so I can understand why people were disappointed from the later volumes but it mellows down quite quickly in the other volumes. don't expect heavy drama as its more of a harem story as the genre files state its got its problems here and there but its not a bad story to read lightly. I'm still only on 97/150 chapters out as of now however, I believe that as time goes on tension will slowly build, not through combat but more physiological level with the whole crazy religions. <<less
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singlespace
singlespace rated it
April 24, 2017
Status: c86
Starts fairly strong in world and character building, but suddenly falls off a cliff as the story opens up. It's so abrupt you'd think that it was an entirely different person writing.

I stuck with it for quite awhile afterwards, hoping the writing would improve, but it became worse and worse.
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mwpitufo
mwpitufo rated it
April 26, 2018
Status: v6
I rarely write reviews but I want to leave something helpful for someone thinking about reading this series instead of the extreme and unhelpful reviews this series seems to get. I think the extreme reviews come from the fact that this series follows two very different styles. It initially portrays itself as a dark revenge type story in the first volume, which generally appeals to one type of audience, and then quickly transitions into a more light-hearted harem story, appealing to a very different audience.

The overall story is not bad.... more>> It is a fairly straightforward hero-transported-to-another-world story except the MC is not the "hero". The scale of the conflict predictably goes beyond just the human vs. Demon to the realm of the gods. Even though it is predictable, that does not mean it is not well done. This is a web novel series after all; you go in expecting predictability.

The story focuses on Hajime, the bullied loner with a good heart, who gets forced into a constant life-or-death struggle and does a 180, becoming cold and a bit of a self-centered jerk. This is the part where the dark-hearted fanboys enjoy the series but it does not stop there. Many of those people complain about the subsequent story where he becomes a more stereotypical protagonist with a sense of justice while claiming he does whatever he wants. To me, this part of the story is more about Hajime gradually returning to the kind person he used to be while trying to cling to his cold persona because he does not want to be the weakling he used to be. The disconnect between his words and actions many reviewers criticize as unrealistic, I believe is his own disconnect of wanting to appear uncaring while being unable to resist his conscience to do the right thing.

His harem does detract from the overall quality of the story. I almost gave it a 3 star rating because of Shia and Tio. This is not your typical harem because Hajime actually does choose a girl while the other members of the harem follow despite their one-sided love. It's a bit unrealistic how they all still love him so much despite how cold and sometimes even cruel he is to all but Yue. Shia and Tio are meant to be the comic relief of the group but their antics often come off as too ridiculous, awkward, or just plain disturbing (in Tio's case).

His classmates tend to be one-dimensional characters. This does not detract too much from the overall quality however, because they are not the focus of the story. The parts about what his classmates are doing while he is on his journey, I find to be a refreshing change of pace. Enough time is spent on them to satiate my curiosity about how they are doing but it does not get so involved as to take the focus away from this being a story about Hajime and his return to humanity.

The world itself is fairly well done. There is nothing groundbreaking or particularly exciting about the setting but it manages to incorporate both the cliches of a hero-transported-to-another-world we have come to enjoy and sufficient twists to keep it from getting too boring.

Overall, if you are like me and can enjoy both dark and light-hearted stories, then you just might enjoy this series. It's hard to tell whether the author tried to do something new in changing from one type to another or started out wanting to write a dark series and decided he didn't like it. Either way, the series can be enjoyable if you can accept a bipolar hero-transported-to-another-world story that cannot really decide what it wants to be. The story's great, the setting is good, the writing is above-average, and the characters are OK. <<less
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