@Hylebos missed that line, sorry.

E-mail sent.

@Gilbert-Lee-zb3dkss LurkingMcLurk linked you to the sticky for our general answer to this question. I can assure you that the series has not been dropped, it will begin streaming when it is ready, but I have no more answers for you other than that.

Added the timeline to my fan site. Also realized i am bad for not making updates since volume 7.

https://d-genesis-stats.com/timeline

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edit: mobile view fixed.
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Well thanks a lot that does help ease my mind a bit even more so since I thought volume 9 was the last but 10 was actually released not to long ago. Again this is my favortie LN. That uncertainty and complete lack of information is just terrible for my mind. Not super surprising though with the amount that JNC atually does.

Great to hear the series is still ongoing though! Maybe we will get a new translation started by Christmas!!!

@dennisambler

The English Wikipedia article indicate volume 17 was released on September 25, 2025.

I also believe that author's can self-publish ebooks on Amazon. I would assume other digital distributors might have similar options.

I updated the roster to add Hashimoto from the Manga V2 C13.

Also, I only even found that because I was learning a new AI tool (antigravity) and coded up a website for this.

https://landmines.daerma.com/roster

It is on github if anyone wants to contribute.
https://github.com/sorvani/tanwlm

I'm still tinkering with the character builder section.

@Ekun based on the last time Hero Bunko released a volume in December, it might not prepub even in 2026, but yeah still nice to see series people thought were dead continue publishing.

@jdmmis I agree that this would really be beneficial, just like updates on new additions to the Reading Library are.

@urstrulypwn that's already been answered here a few times.

@shiadra all the contest guaranteed them was the first book. Several of the authors have a v2 in some form of progress, but JNC haven't made any official comments about how continuations will be handled.

@BlueDragoon said in Pens Down, Swords Up:

To add my two cents to what @Serah said:

IMHO this series starts slow, and takes a little time to get to the good parts. But by the end of vol. 3 this has become my favorite series on JNC and I'm now reading ahead in the WN.

Once you get the introduction of the school and his new friends out of the way is where the series shines the most: as the protagonist begins his wandering journey out into the world casing chaos and misunderstandings everywhere he goes.

While vol. 1 was all about the entrance exam and school life, he starts adventuring in vol. 2, and by vol. 3 all the school stuff gets pushed into the background.

If anyone out there thought the school parts weren't very interesting, then I encourage you to stick around and try vol. 2.

Exactly!

That is also why the story description on the official page feels so misleading, as it sounds like it is all about a nerd excelling in school. (sure that might be interesting at first too)

Instead it is about adventure, action, finding his way through life - it sure has strong hints of Re:Life - where the protagonist goes the way he chooses (the way of freedom) because he was regretting his past life where the studies, railroaded his lifepath.

By all means it is so much better than what I have expected from the description of the official page!

@SomeOldGuy Sweet, Thanks!