Once again, the plot has advanced and nothing has been resolved. This non-stick story thing where character struggles end without affecting them has well outworn its welcome.

This volume I just interested the Saturday-morning "I'll get you next time!" as they run away into the text.

If I was lacking a sense of caution, it was because they had stolen it from me.

I might be reading too deeply into this, but I wonder if this line should be interpreted more literally, especially given the nickname he received.

Er, Charlotte's fiancé is weird.

Textbooks for his school are a treasure.

@Makine The author is currently writing a new web novel about the adventures of Tomochika's apprentice Fukura who was introduced this volume.

People getting set up and left to dry sure has been a thing in this series.
The problem in Neptotes case is...if he's making copies in his own handwriting of all these incriminating documents concerning forbidden research, how did he avoid realizing what they said?!
The others, yeah, more believable.
But he isn't portrayed as illiterate, copying by rote.
...It is Volume 16, this being my first major "Hey wait a minute" is in truth doing quite well.

Vice-Commanders are unsung heroes staying out of the limelight. So claims Friede.
Um, Friede, isn't your father a Vice-Commander?

If the author likes classic American sitcoms, we might see this:

The Jade Wings decide to take a boat down the river to Nao-town. It's a three-hour voyage, aboard the Minnow. A storm appears....

3 seasons volumes later they're still attempting wacky schemes to get off the island.

So join us here each part, my friend,
you're sure to get a smile,
from seven stranded castaways,
Here on Jade Wings Isle!

@Kotenmaru said in The Boy Who Ruled the Monsters Vol. 2 Discussion!:

It makes it clear that this is an exception to the normally quite effective barrier, and not just something anyone could do.

Why anyone with a minimap can do it. There's probably untold isekeid people we just never hear about that can do this.

Anyway I'm assuming the divine wrath of god either can't penetrate the barrier or the church is rather disinclined to find out because it would make them look bad if word got out.

Lenka I can't even say I'm surprised lol

Yup, Ein is going to wipe the floor with Rogas and Hiem. They're done for.

It felt like the weakest volume so far. Only relevant character outside of Liam was Lardon, and while I don't mind her being and advisor, I'm not a fan of Liam acting like a upper controlled by her. We also got another overpowered loli dragon which felt unnecessary and risks overshadowing everyone else.
Maybe the novelty of the series is wearing off and I'm starting to lose interest, but this time I was a bit disappointed.

@karasutengu said in Management of a Novice Alchemist Vol. 4 Discussion!:

Well, Nord did have a letter of introduction from Leonora didn't he? And Sarasa truly trusts Leonora right? So why wouldn't she make crap stuff for him?

True. But I interpreted Leonora's letter as giving enough wiggle room to blow off Nord. He was important enough that she pretended to help but not important enough to pull a favour with a friend.

@KopiCAT said in The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage's Carefree Life in Another World Vol. 5 Discussion!:

Could anyone explain to me how it was obvious by this point that Sharanla was a reincarnator as well?

Because I get the impression that this was something the author decided on the moment he wrote it. And not from the start, when she was first introduced as the lover of that gang boss. Did I miss something? I'm not under the impression that this novel is very subtle, rather the opposite, so... really, did I miss something?

Pretty sure there is nothing subtle about this series. That being said, in part I, Sharanla knew full well what a Ninja was, at least her idea of one, which differed from Anzu's. She had an ancient magic tool, though the fact that the story introduced it was one 'dug up from ancient times' so that suggests something other than reincarnator. The fact she was introduced with the same kind of attitude as Zelos' sister less than a quarter of the novel later from Zelos' dream/story about how much he hated his sister was a bit of foreshadowing that could be called very subtle. (In hindsight, sure, I didn't pick up on it. I think that is the reason that dream and that woman's introduction were in that volume, however.)

Other bits of foreshadowing - the whole Dark God as Homunculus thing came up again, that was also in Volume 3.

EDIT: Welp, Volume 4, Part 11:

"Right... Yeah, everyone in this world seems super weak for some reason. Should be an easy win if we can time everything right."

The fact this was a conversation between Sharanla and Reinhardt, and Sharanla didn't seem to respond with a retort pretty much fingers all three assassins as Otherworlders in Volume 4.

Beryl feels his father is impossibly beyond him.
It seems his father may not share that opinion.
And feels that it's a misconception that is twisting Beryl's life in negative ways.
So I'm thinking there's gonna be an all out duel with results Beryl doesn't expect, nay, that Beryl finds inconceivable.

If so, this will force a reevaluation of his abilities.
Of his self-image.
He's not going to become arrogant, but hopefully at least a little more comfortable with the concept that he is skilled.
More than just having a good eye.

I think that how Yuta (real world name of Yuto) gets funded to keep playing beyond his one month vacation may end up being something like "government funding to study effects of time speeding up" or something like that. I have been wondering for a while why the author mentioned it was an experimental technology with unexplored consequences and interest from politicians, rather than handwaving the whole thing.

thought plot was thin, 'beams' were crutches, and character development weak. it was almost entirely without substance (like chewing bubblegum instead of eating)

sometimes bubblegum is ok .

this ain't fine literature, but it was ok for what it was

Holy copyrights Batman! Mini 4WD, Back to the Future, and Zoids all in one release?!

Okay, Mini 4WD isn't really as copyrighted as Gundam, Zoids, and Back to the Future.

Mini 4WD is a 1/32 scale toy car. You can see one on the cover of this volume, and if you've played Yakuza 0, you may be familiar with Pocket Circuit.
They're heavily customizable, tunable, and not terribly difficult or expensive to get into (like $20-$30 for a starter kit). That said, if you start getting really into it, things start to get kinda crazy. If you're interested in falling into that rabbit hole, you can look at the r/mini4wd subreddit.

@Phabiohost said in Now I'm a Demon Lord! Vol. 11 Discussion!:

So has the life-span disparity between him and his other wives been addressed? I guess he's going to need to find some way to extend their lives and youths for a while unless this story is going in the slightly darker direction of him and Lefi being the only ones left in the end. (Sans children)

Unless there is a time skip, the story will probably end before anyone dies of old age leaving it unaddressed. Or he will become a god and pull every one up with him.

@philhouse Note that there was a mixup in the schedule and volume 2 was accidentally released while volume 1 was not yet done streaming. This has been rectified, and Lady Rose Vol 2 will be back in December!

Until then, please enjoy the final parts of Lady Rose Volume 1. 🌹

@LightningLeaf Going by the afterword, next volume's plot was supposed to be this volume's plot, but the Beth plotline expanded into a greater explanation of her charitable organizations as well as a way to restore Opal's reputation, and it took up the whole volume.

Re-reading the comments above has me laughing at how completely most of us have forgotten the countries, politics, and minor characters :)