By Heiseiowari and Noy. Released in Japan as “Tenseishitara Saikyou Shu-tachi ga Sumau Shima deshita. Kono Shima de Slow Life wo Tanoshimimasu” by SQEX Novel. Released in North America by J-Novel Club. Translated by Alex Castor.

There have been a lot of amnesia plots over the years, and one of the more popular has always been “what if a bad person gets amnesia and ends up being really good?”. Now, the person affected here is not exactly a villain per se, but the previous few books have certainly featured her as a sort of mentor from hell, and all the magical folks seem to have a twitchy reaction when her name is brought up. As such, the most interesting part of this book is not the reaction of everyone else to the amnesia, but the reaction of the amnesiac to everyone else. Because it also hits on another popular plot line for amnesia stories, which is the person not really wanting to get their memories back. For the moment, they have their wish, but I’m not sure that will fly in the long run. Especially when Mina tells us who they actually are.

After the events of the last book, it’s not much of a surprise when Arata goes down to the shore and finds a woman there on the beach. Unfortunately, she’s forgotten who she was, and takes on the name Nanashi briefly. But that’s OK,everyone ELSE knows who she is – Edinburgh Emil Edelheid, the most powerful magician in the world. The trouble is that while Reina and the others have many stories of what she was like as a teacher – terrifying – all Arata can see is this nice woman who enjoys playing with his daughter. After a while they gather the other Celestial Mages and the Hero’s Party, and everyone arrives at Arata and Reina’s place – leading her to realize that they need more houses. Meanwhile, remember the gorgeous ogre girl from the last book? Well, her brother now knows who she’s in love with, and he’s reacting like the way a teenage overprotective brother would. Is a big fight really the best way to resolve all this?

I mean, given this cast, yes, it pretty much is, but it also requires Sakuya to confess, which she does almost by accident. I do actually wonder if we’re ever going to leave the Isle again – the cast members that we were flashing over to the mainland to see are now all basically here. Sakuya’s won the heart of her man. Arata and Reina are still not having sex, but everyone treats them as if they are. Tailtiu has made it very clear Arata is not going to have only one wife. And the hero’s party are a polycule, they just don’t know it yet. They even buy a house – well, build a house. There are still a few things left to resolve on the island, notably the High Elves, who show Arata a horrible island-killing problem and then tell him “we’re dealing with it, go away”, but for the most part… why not just get married and live happily ever after?

Because there are five more books to go, that’s why. Still, this remains a solid “OP guy constantly insists he’s normal” series.