I was convinced that Ferlin was going to be a new heroine, but I guess being more interested in Siegfriend doomed her in the end. Still, I appreciated that she was killed after going berserk and becoming too dangerous, less so the fact that Erich wasn't able to do so by himself.
Speaking of our protagonist, I hope we won't have to wait too long before seeing what he's truly capable of, sometimes it feels the author started the story with an overpowered protagonist in mind and then decided writing a newbie would be more interesting.
Next volume we should have female Mika back, I hope we'll get an answer of at least a solid hint if she's in love with Erich and we should expect an harem ending outside of the Hendersons.

@Lily-Garden IIRC in lieu of getting a manga adaptation for being the Grand Prize winner it's instead getting translated and published in Japan? So there's certainly an avenue for it if it does well there!

Gods I'd love to see this in its manga and anime form...

fingers crossed

So this time it was maids.
Caim's sister didn't wet herself but now is a wanted fugitive. Will their father try to reach Caim for help?

@karasutengu said in From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Vol. 8 Discussion!:

@Geezer-Weasalopes said in From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman Vol. 8 Discussion!:

Inviting him to a hot springs?
You shameless hussy, you!

Way to go girl way to go! Keep it up...

And she sure did in this part. As my Australian friend used to say to his missus - "Good on ya, sheila". (And no, Shelia was not her name)

@Pieta said in Miss Nicola the Exorcist Vol. 1 Discussion!:

For an isekai, the book shows an uncommon amount of interest in the other world. It's not just that it is "reminiscent of historical Europe" as a lot of novels put it - Nicola places it somewhere in the 19th century, but also notes that it is not our 19th century based on various anachronisms, like coed schools. The book also touches on differences in etiquette and behaviour, like how backchanneling which is expected in Japanese conversations would be considered rude here, or how even the way knocking before entering works differently. I really like other worlds being treated as actual worlds with unexpected sides to them so this was right up my alley. And overall, the book seems surprisingly well-researched*, for example the five rules for dealing with spirits touch on both Japanese and world folklore in ways that I could recognize, which was a pleasant surprise. The way Nicola mixes western and Japanese occultism, with neither being a perfect fit for the other world, was also intriguing.

*) Mostly, then there's a plot point that depends on the West not having a concept of witching hour, unlike Japan, which, well...

Plot-wise, once it gets through the opening shenanigans, it's pretty good. I especially liked the first half, with the two sisters, one alive and one dead, both being drawn to action independent of the other when overhearing the same heartless comment by the man who caused the suicide of the older one. I only wish the eventual outcome for that man had a lot more teeth.
In the second half, the unknown narrator's first-person horror dreams being mixed with the third-person story were a great touch that kept the tension high.
And there's more than one great "tiny detail that actually turns out to be important" moment.

I agree with all of this. The main reason I pushed through the slower start was because it touches on the various anachronisms and differences in culture. Most isekai royal academy stories just plop the characters in a strangely-modern school with strangely-modern uniforms (I'm pretty sure historical Europeans would throw a hissy fit over the short skirts.)

Once the occult stuff picked up it went from good to great.

@pcj said in The Countess Is a Coward No More! Vol. 3 Discussion!:

@Makine said in The Countess Is a Coward No More! Vol. 3 Discussion!:

Wait wait wait. How is this the same writer as Lady Bumpkin? Lady Bumpkin is like a degree of magnitude better written.

Maybe this one is older and their writing has improved since then?

I'm late and I've not read Bumpkin, but alternatively -- perhaps the editor(s) on that one had more say and/or talent?

Heaven knows my prior flaccid attempts at creative writing before and after someone else provided feedback were markedly different.

@PeachyGreen it reinforces my belief that this series was written for a younger audience.

Let’s get the topic back on track. Thank you

@Propagandist said in Butareba Vol. 7 Discussion:

Thanks to the team for another release. I'm not following weekly, but I buy every ebook when they come out (and when I notice they come out).

Managed to snag the earlier volumes for this series thanks to the Kadokawa sale. Otherwise I would’ve had to wait till I have unused monthly coins before getting the ebooks (which would’ve taken much longer since I’m actively following another series).

So we're looking at a 3 monthish+ wait for a full release? That's fair enough I suppose considering the novel releases twice a year. The JNC releases will be approximately twice as fast and in the meantime I've got narou. Assuming this has 7-8 volumes total by the end it should be done in 2-3 years, assuming there are no delays.

Wow, the first time I read a light novel that finished. 😅

@myskaros Thank you so much! It's fixed now.

Grimdark finally showed up.

Dead foes rarely cause more problems

@Lex Hot springs always are...especially if they are coed (heh, heh).

So this was written first.

Upheaval Arc is a good title for what's going down.
The events the Genos Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere have experienced are impacting the kingdom at some level, and there are those displeased by this.
They be changes goin' down.

Still waiting (insert waiting emote)

@Gad-Onyeneho-u4rduhi Thanks for the clarification.

Not as big a surprise as Vol. 9, but another book in this series is a good thing. Looking forward to it!