@GeorgeMTO it could be some of the after story content like arifureta.

This is such a weird yet heartwarming series.

Author said in a previous afterwords that there isn't much romance in this series, and it's definitely not focused on that, but the ship between Gwinn and Melty was plenty.
For the second part, the action was good and Lutz is definitely stronger than I thought in battle. Donaldo was handled well as a character, with a good redemption arc, and I liked how Claudia was able to acknowledge his atonement while still not wanting to forge a connection with him.

@Jon-Mitchell said in Path of an S-Rank Adventurer Vol 1 Discussion:

I think he's a bit of both, grimdark and tsundere. (or I have a different impression of what the term means)

In fairness to you, grimdark is fundamentally a genre descriptor, not a character descriptor, so I think there's probably a much larger degree of subjective variance here. To put it another way, I think we'd all agree this story isn't grimdark.

As for Hyse's grimdarkness specifically... /shrug. I'm not invested in arguing against it, but looking at that Wikipedia entry, there's a consistent emphasis on cynicism, nihilism, and "doing bad things even when doing good is an option".

It's for that reason that I pointed out the "giving the only remaining flower to Prescea" thing -- that's fundamentally not a grimdark thing to do, and it happened much closer to the start of the story. He also didn't directly take credit for it, and simply reported that he failed the quest because the flowers were corrupted in the fight (IIRC they only realised he gave the only saved one to heal the queen when the queen herself reported it or some such?).

But there's definitely room to disagree (I can't really defend him wearing all black).

Emperor: And don't ever approach my capital

Oh... This sure isn't going to bite him in the ass one day.

Man, the twists this series gives are wild - never see them coming. I was aprehensive about this POV shift, but Liner is the MC now.

Same. I hope to get more worldbuilding with this nation, since it’s (afaik) the only one named in this series that is distinctly fictional. Shit’s about to go down tho, and I’ll be there

@dragon3010 said in The Greatest Magicmaster's Retirement Plan Vol. 19 Discussion!:

I cant see this murder being pinned on him tbh

I did say "facts be damned"...

I guess we'll find out in a few months.

@LightningLeaf I dunno, I thought she was acting a bit koi? (runs off)

@HarmlessDave said in Let This Grieving Soul Retire Vol. 10 Discussion!:

@infiniteriches - at least Krai showed them (while being completely oblivious to it) that they could take another path. Maybe they'll have a redemption arc.

If they all survive. It appears that Adler was seriously hurt and is still not healed, and Yuden, my favorite monster centipede, got waxed in the fight with Kayraa.

I liked this story overall and looked forward to the weekly releases. I really liked the reveal while Tao was listening. However, I think it could be improved with a bit more attention to the characters. I thought Aurelio was inconsistent - I would have liked for him to be a complex character with a consistent story line to back up his actions. The shocking violent banquet was good but felt a bit out of place, as there wasn't a lead up to it in Luca's or Aurelio's point of view. The end felt rushed and incomplete, with a story line that was interesting but went too far beyond the main events at the estate. It could have been a good cliffhanger. I think there are some great things here that would benefit from a more detailed story and with some sections retold from another main character's point of view.

Im just glad to see everyone getting along so well. Especially all of the different parts of the extended family.

@gomily Thanks! Ahh good looks like the series is healthily releasing new volumes. So we should get a good chance at major story lines being introduced and concluded.

On Amazon I couldnt even find the light novel in the Author section, let alone the recommended associated titles.

v11 is coming out in Japan in June, by the way.

Minus the attempts to kill Noor & Zadu, the "god" seems like a very chill guy.

I want to write down the timeline to help myself understand:

Kokuyou and his brother were living with his mentor who experimented small pox on these two and many other kids/his disciples. Mentor inoculated Kokuyou with a human strain and his brother from a livestock strain. Kokuyou's face was disfigured with poke marks and he almsot dies. His brother is fine. Mentor wants to then inoculate himself against small pox. Kokuyou switches his livestock strain with a human strain and he dies. Kokuyou's brother kills himself out of guilt. Kokuyou flees that place, is attacked by a bandit. Kokuyou does first aid on himself and seeks asylum in a village where Yo and her family too live. Yo and her family are kind to him. So he incoluates them with small pox to build immunity and teach them medical stuff. The bandit lives in the same village and is trying to turn the village incl. village chief agaist him. Kokuyou infects bandit with small pox to make him a "seed bed" to take samples to inoculate others (??) Small pox spreads in the village. Since the village was hostile to him and he was almost driven out he justs ups and leaves when small pox pandemic starts and does nothing as "revenge". Village chief somehow survives, has half baked idea of how the small pox "vaccination" works and infects a small child starting a new pandemic. village chief is in search of Kokuyou for revenge because he couldnt "cure" small pox with his shamanic techniques and was jealous of kokuyou's reputation and "good life". village chief is arrested for attack on the imperial family member and for starting the pandemic and dies.

corrections, additions welcome. Thanks.

@LightningLeaf Probably by the next volume...

(Am I secretly giddy that we get trains? Yes I am!)

Receptionist Nap Alliance

Dog chews.
Haruka-kun would approve.

P2 C8:

“I really like it when you smile, Boss,” Reko said.

bruh~
Asura, don't you dare touch that child

“I’m telling you to sit up straight. How much longer do you plan on exposing this pathetic display?”
Upon hearing that, King Arnia quickly sat up properly in his throne and Asura settled herself in his lap.

bruh

Then, she grabbed his face with both hands and tugged it towards herself.

bruh~
(she likes to tease)

“What kind of impression do you have of me? I have no interest in men. All I did was talk to him.”

...bi!Mother

“So what, we’re a comedic mercenary troupe?” Jyrki sighed, spreading his arms out in exasperation.

...meme

P3 C1:

Everyone hated the police in my previous life as well.

👀

me, reflecting on Mother sitting in da King's lap: ...bro, she gon' be ya sidewife
Yord Sara Christ, she gon' groom 'em 😔

the scene of Mother screaming for Marx like that was tricky to visualize 🤔
had to make it kinda funny to work 🤷🏿‍♂️

P3 C2:

“It would take me about ten seconds.” Lumia smiled wryly. “I’m not very good at lock picking.”
“Neither am I. It would take me about eight,” Marx said without opening his eyes.

ded

“I’m a huge fan of Jeanne’s, so I’m looking forward to the day you feel comfortable enough to share your stories about her.”

death flag

“Do you want...to lie down on me?” Iina asked a little excitedly.

bruh 🤭
she's definitely an interesting gag character

Marx had been doing push-ups next to the bed

hell yeah, son 💪🏿

...bruh, that's not funny
damn, Reko
. . . what da fuq
Asura, what'd you do to these kids? 😔

“Sorry ’bout that. Can’t seem to control it around you.”

it's her womanly charms 🤭

P3 C3:

“I’m hiring you for a job. I’ll have one of our young’uns monitor you. He’s a Great Hero candidate who can match me blow for blow in a match. But he’s much too happy-go-lucky, so train him up for me, will ya?”

bro, you do not wanna do that, bro
rethink this, bro
just say you wanna bang Asura, bro

Yeah, that’d be great.

~bruh

[new challenger]
...gurl, you dressed to da nines

P3 C4:
i feel like the author's pro death penalty for some reason

damn, y'all...

is homosexuality unheard of here?

tragic backstory!~ 🥳

P3 C5:

Half an hour after breakfast, the members of Moon Blossom assembled in front of the inn. They were completely decked out in their usual black robes, with daggers hanging from their belts.

*insert Western.mp3*

Her sexy looks made it hard to remain calm when she looked up at you with her teary eyes.

👀

“After that, she came to us and presented us with two choices: death or obedience. Only one thought entered my mind when I saw her divinity with my own two eyes. I wanted her to step on me.”

ded

“Is the [redacted] a group of people who hang out and have weekly game nights or something?”

what is this slander?

P3 C6:
*[redacted] tells all*
😳👀

If you want to talk to someone, then go find a priest!

mofo said "get therapy" 🤭

It’s because I peered into the abyss and spent time with true darkness.

that's the second time i'm reminded of the line "We live in the shadows to fight the shadows."

. . . Chucky

I’d forgotten everything and was living in such peace, and yet you brought me back to life.

domino effect meme:

a prodigy embarrasses her peers a small village becomes a hotspot for vacation a 3 year-old has an epiphany a recovering psychopath stops at a fork a bandit duo turn over a new leaf a knight tries something new an orphan and a slave get adopted a hero learns to appreciate life a 15 year-old gets her booty whipped an 11 year-old loses his virginity

P3 C7:
...well that's fucked

*sees illustration*
...EDGE!