By Haka Tokura and Eiri Shirai. Released in Japan as “Zatsuyou Fuyojutsushi ga Jibun no Saikyou ni Kidzuku Made” by M Novels. Released in North America by Airship. Translated by Maddy Willette. Adapted by Rei Geronimo.
I’ve gotten very used to light novels that are complete in one volume, explaining everything and resolving the plot, then having six more books after that as it caught popularity and the author has to suddenly come up with more plot and more characterization. It’s not very often I run into the exact opposite, though. This book features a main character with one of the biggest cases of self-hatred I have ever seen (and given I read light novels on the regular, you know it’s pretty bad). He has a childhood friend who is obsessed with him but also seems to have a bit of tragic backstory, and I was certain that by the end of the book we would hear about whatever it was that made the two of them like this to begin with. That does not happen. Instead, we get the guy doing the usual OP stuff (this is a “thrown out of the hero’s party” series, so of course), and then it just stops. To be continued.
Our main character is Wim, who is a support caster with a prominent “Abenteurer’s” party, and as you have guessed if you know this genre, the arrogant swordsman cruelly throws him out to that he can have his party consist entirely of women and him. (The one who replaces Wim, Sophia, rapidly comes to regret this.) Wim, unfortunately, has the self-worth of a sack of manure, so merely goes to the tavern he frequents and drowns his sorrows. Fortunately, he’s met by his childhood friend Heidemarie, who is a prominent member of the strongest party in the city. She wants him to visit them and show off his stuff. As does their leader Camilla, an Amazonian woman who screams badass. Wim has no idea what they see in him. After all, he’s only a support caster, an occupation that is useless unless you’re a multitasking genius. Good thing…
This book is not without its merits. I really did want to understand Wim, who really cannot even accept any praise or compliments without curling in on himself. Heidemarie also clearly has some issues. At first I thought she was the comedy stalker wannabe girlfriend, but as the book goes on it becomes clear that a) keeping tabs on him at all times may be smart, and b) she has almost given up on getting him to notice her. That said… at the climax of the book, we finally get to see his super special skill that only comes out when everyone’s life is on the line (we briefly saw it in a prologue, but it was hidden from us), and it basically turns out to be overclocking his brain to think faster, which most people cannot do but he is Stronger Than He Realized. It’s setting up for a flashback or for us to find out what happened to him to make him this way… but nope. He saves the day, he crashes and wakes up in a bed and is thanked by everyone, cue side stories, the end. It is almost comically unsatisfying as a single volume.
The series seems abandoned at 3 volumes, which for once may not be M Novels’ fault. The author seems to have abandoned it for another popular subgenre, as their webnovel page is filled with noble daughters having their engagements broken and then finding new love. More importantly, this has a manga, also by Seven Seas, and that seems to be far more popular, and is ongoing. Might be best to read that if you want more, rather than reading this book on a Wim.
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