Once Upon a Witch’s Death: The Curtain Rises on a Neverending Story

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By Saka and Chorefuji. Released in Japan as “Aru Majo ga Shinu Made: Hateshinai Monogatari no Maku ga Agaru” by DENGEKI no Shin Bungei. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Megan Turner.

I guess I should start with something of a content warning. If you are deeply religious… well, you’re likely not reading Japanese light novels. But it did not escape my attention that a large chunk of this book gives the word “messianic” a whole new meaning. To be fair, Meg Raspberry being the greatest thing since sliced bread is not new to this series. However, she’s taking her act on the road now, and there’s a section in the Middle East where we learn about an all-loving savior who used prayer to heal the world. Named Asura, so we’re mixing and matching mythology here, and I guess I should be grateful he wasn’t explicitly called Jesus. Suffice it to say, though, Meg manages to do everything he did and even more, and saves the world to an even greater extent. It is a bit ridiculous, to be frank, and my “folks who hate OP don’t read this” warning should now be extended to “folks who hate literal miracle working.”

(See, even the cover is religious-tinged.) After the events of the last book, Meg is something of a celebrity among the Witch community. Back home, though, she’s not having a good time, being plagued by prophetic nightmares that are interrupting her sleep. Also, Faust invites Eldora to their home, and Meg discovers that Eldora was once Faust’s apprentice and daughter surrogate as well… and also learns much darker secrets. Now she and Faust are all awkward around each other so it’s great timing that she’s asked by Bennett, the Head Witch, to go on a tour of war-torn battlefields to use the emotional magic that she showed off in order to help save lives and heal the land. She agrees, mostly as this tour will end in Orloff, the country she was born in, laid waste and destroyed by… the witch Eldora.

Lest you worry this is all drama and tragedy, there is still a heaping helping of Meg being incredibly bubbly and annoying, and hitting on women while she continues to talk about a harem of hot guys. That said, the bulk of this book is to expand Meg’s world. She visits places where you have to prioritize which lives to save, and it’s no surprise that “the poor” is lowest on the list. She goes to places where a tree, much like the one she dealt with in the second book, has leeched all life and hope from the land, and the country’s religion is reduced to thievery. And she goes to Orloff, filled with the crystallized corpses of the country’s people, including Meg’s mother (who she finds a bit ridiculously easily, but hey, I’ll handwave it.) This is all well and good, but there’s also ominous foreshadowing. She’s got about 100 tears of joy to collect with 50 days to go, but I think the reader pretty much has figured out that there’s one witch who won’t survive the next book, and it’s not Meg. What is Faust planning, besides trying to assuage her guilt by any means necessary?

I’m really enjoying this series, and the next volume will be the finale. For those who like witches who are full of themselves but absolutely can back up their talk.

Re: ZERO ~Starting Life in Another World~ Short Story Collection, Vol. 5

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By Tappei Nagatsuki and Makoto Fugetsu. Released in Japan as “Re: Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu: Tanpenshuu” by MF Bunko J. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Sarah Moon.

I tend to enjoy these collections quite a bit, mostly as they are the exact opposite of a “let’s just throw together all the bookstore exclusives” short story collections we see from other light novel series. Most of these were taken from my nemesis Monthly Comic Alive, to be fair, but they are very much canon to the main series, and the author uses them to give us characterization and backstory that they can’t put into the main series itself. It also teases future events, or ties in with the present volume coming out in Japan. Basically, much like the Index series, you don’t need to consult the wiki, but it sure helps. It also allows for lighter fare, as I’m fairly certain that, while there are certainly stories dealing with death and tragedy, we are unlikely to have the main series’ own struggles here. It’s fun to see the gang. Especially if we haven’t actually seen them in about two years or so.

We’re down to three short stories this time around, and glory be, none of them have Priscilla. 1) About 4 years before the start of the series, we see Ferris learning healing magic from the foremost authority in the land… though he’s also an eccentric weirdo who Ferris doesn’t get on with. When his teacher is murdered, Ferris and Crusch try to figure out who the killer is. (published between Book 8 & 9) 2) About 9 years before the start of the series, Anastasia is trying to get the guardian of the three cats she met in the previous SS story she was in to join her, which accidentally ends up with her foiling a robbery/assassination and making a compact with a fox spirit who we all know well from the 6th arc. (published between Book 16 & 17, i.e. well before the 6th arc.) 3) A little while after the 4th arc, Otto is directed to visit his family, and Subaru and Garfiel come along. They not only find his younger brother, who is a vet, but also Otto finds a familiar face from the previous short story book, and they take on a dangerous spirit… but is it evil? (Published right before this book came out in Japan, i.e. with Book 21.)

As I said, all these stories are good in and of themselves, but also serve to jog our memory and plant seeds. The Ferris story reminds us of the close, deep bond that he, Crusch and Fourier all had for each other at this point in the story, and therefore reminds us of the tragedy to come. We also get to see more of Heinkel being the most hateful person in the entire series… though we’re also shown a big reason why, and you can see why it’s driven him to drunken fury. We get to see Anastasia’s stubbornness and greed, but also her intelligence and compassion, and it’s clear exactly why Echidna (no, not that one) saw something in her. As for the Otto story, I suspect maybe too many people were asking when Otto was gonna marry the cute girl he met in the last SS book he featured in? This author doesn’t usually torpedo ships, but it’s pretty clear that they see Otto’s value in being unlucky in general, and having a cute girl in love with him would only get in the way.

Next time we’ll get more of “the idiot” trio, as well as Rem and Ram, but we also introduce exclusive side story characters! re: Zero fans, of course, will want this. Non-Re: Zero fans will not.

New Game Plus After Defeating the Last Boss: All These Beautiful, Problematic Girls in the First Town Have Gotten Really Attached to Me… , Vol. 2

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By Touwa Akatsuki and Falmaro. Released in Japan as “Last Boss Toubatsu Go ni Hajimeru Nishuume Boukensha Life: Hajimari no Machi de Wakeari Bishoujotachi ga Mechakucha Natsuite Kimasu” by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Kamishiro Taishi.

And here’s where we find out why this series didn’t last past the second volume, and any goodwill I had towards it quietly vanishes. There’s a reason that writers love to create conflict for their characters: unless it’s handled well, everyone getting along is boring. Rearguard has a similar problem, but usually moves at a fast enough clip that it can avoid the worst of it. This book, though, really doesn’t pick up till about 2/3 of the way into it. Not great. And there’s also Falmaro’s art. I used to, if not like, at least not mind Falmaro as much. But as time as gone on, their art is not only fanservice for fanservice’s sake, but looks tedious. Everyone seems to fall with their legs spread open, or dance so their panties fly up. I think it’s meant to be funny? Hey, look at the obvious? It made me groan and want to move on.

(See? Even the cover art is an upskirt shot.) Returning back to their hometown after defeating the demons from Volume 1, Might and company get a hero’s welcome. They’re headed off to the capital as well, but there’s a bit of a worry. As Raksha, the dead demon who manages to nevertheless be alive enough to exposit, tells them, there’s another demon, a vampire, who’s even stronger than the ones from the previous book. And as they set off for the capital, it would appear that the vampire’s kin have been getting busier and busier recruiting new women (always young women), and they’ve even gotten a hold of one of Might’s old allies, Elk. Actually, Might’s old allies from his former “life” may end up being the cause of all these issues, along with a goddess who may not be what she seems…

So now that I’ve bitched about the entire book, what did I like about it? I did like how they worked in the old cast, though “mischievous sister goddess pretends to be her good twin to cause chaos” is a bit eye-rolling. Falina’s a good, noble girl who’s tricked badly and has to do her best not to turn evil. Unfortunately, vampirism is a real threat here, plus of course she’s in love with Might along with every other woman in the cast, so it’s hard to simply sit and do nothing. And given this is a book where everyone gets along, it was appropriate that Might’s vampire cure ended up making everyone fine with no after effects. Likewise, when Lystia returns home after running away, the reaction of most everyone is “ah well, you had your reasons.” Also, when we hear that Might’s so young at this point his voice hasn’t dropped yet (isn’t he 15?!), it makes sense why all the sexy teasing goes absolutely nowhere. This is about family, not who gets to be his lover.

The end of this volume wraps up most of the plot points that were outstanding, and it’s pretty easy to not write more. The author seems to have returned to Rearguard after a hiatus to write this. I hope they concentrate more on that, Best Lizard could kick the ass of any of these girls.