By Fukurou Kogyoku and jonsun. Released in Japan as “Chiyodaku Ōkoku Judgment: Ane to Ore to de Isekai Saikō Saibansho” by MF Bunko J. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Genevieve Maude Hill-Kaminishi.
Siiiiiiiiiggggggggghhhhhhh. Yes, I know. The moment I chose to review a novel with a cover like that, I should have changed my expectations. But I’m sorry, even if you’re here for the tits on the cover, this book really only gives you a few opportunities. It’s odd to see a book that is throwing so many cliches at the wall, most of it deliberate and “it’s OK because I’m winking at the audience”, fall down as much as it does. If it’s meant to be an ecchi title, it’s pretty half-assed about its faux-incest and fanservice. If it’s meant to be a parody of isekai, the entire second half turning serious kind of kicks that in the head. Honestly, the serious second half is the only reason I managed to finish the book, as once the book gets to the main case, it’s quite good. Unfortunately, it’s Phoenix Wright fanfiction. The other characters even admit it’s Phoenix Wright fanfiction.
Akuto Satou, a “typical high school boy” who loves fantasy light novels and games, is going to visit his stepsister Tsukasa Wagatsumu, who is 12 years older than him and a district court judge in Japan. Then, while listening to her complain at the local bar, the two of them are transported to another world! (OK, the exclamation point is likely unnecessary at this point.) Princess Ecstasia Itou of the nation of Chiyodaku has brought them to… a fantasy world that has used magic to make itself as much a clone of Japan as it can, despite also having elves, dwarves, and dragons. They’re even adapting the Japanese court system… but unfortunately, they need a real judge rather than the princess and her magical lie detector. They especially need this as the former hero is on trial for murder… and he insists he’s guilty.
I have so many questions. If you’re going to have Tsukasa regress (physically and mentally) to fifteen years old, why *explicitly* say “except for her breasts, they stay adult”? There is a stressed-out elf girl (ticks box), a stoic maid who also is super strong and falls for the hero almost instantly (ticks box), a wily fox girl who acts older than her five years old (ticks box), but these are used just as character types, nothing is done with them at all. As I noted above, the actual case they’re brought there to try, which ends up showing an immature king who’s forced to take over from his late father stubbornly ruining the lives of the hero’s party who saved the world, their decades-long struggle afterwards, and the hero’s traumatic survivor’s guilt making him suicidal, is a terrific plot… that jars horribly with everything else in this book. Lastly, the “copy paste” gimmick feels like utterly lazy writing, and utterly lazy worldbuilding. Both in universe and out of it.
This appears to have only been two volumes and cancelled in Japan, but had a manga announced last year, so I assume an anime is imminent. But honestly, unless you really love cliches, just play Phoenix Wright.
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