I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time (Light Novel) Vol. 1

I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time Light Novel #1

by Mato Kousaka, Suzu Yuuki (Artist), Jennifer Ward (Translator)

TAKE A HAMMER TO OVERWORK!

Alina Clover signed up to be a receptionist for the Adventurers Guildthinking it would be her ticket to the good life―stable pay, regular hours, and safe workplace conditions. Unfortunately, her dream gig turns into a nightmare of endless paper work and overtime whenever the adventurers she helps coordinate get stuck clearing a dungeon. But people aren’t made to grind forever, so Alina sneaks off at night to give the monsters holding things up a beatdown, courtesy of her massive war hammer. Keeping this all under wraps to avoid violating her office’s ban on second jobs is difficult, especially when the tales of her exploits start to spread, but Alina somehow manages to keep her identity safe…until the leader of the strongest party in the guild catches her defeating a boss one fateful night! Does Alina have what it takes to stop her life from going topsy-turvy?!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Magic, Adventure, Action, Fiction, Comedy

232 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2021

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, but I'm not rounding up because Alina slaps Jade around a bit too much. But this is a surprisingly good novel that lets you guess that there's more to Alina's feelings long before the truth is revealed at about the three-quarters mark.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than an average light novel. Good plot with proper stakes and interesting characters. Alina with her desperate need for regular life and no overtime was fun in her single-minded focus, especially as it was grounded in her backstory, and Jade made a good hero, even if he wasn’t exactly a romantic one. Some unnecessary repetition and problematic descriptions of women, but nothing too bad. The ending is good and complete. I’d read more.

I received a free copy from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Benjamin Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was surprisingly good, though I went in with certain pre-conceived notions and some misgivings, the way the story was mapped and plotted out with surprising twists and turns truly delighted me. I was pleasantly surprised to have what I thought was supposed to happen be smashed to bits, though I was alright if it kinda went the way I thought it would. I was expecting hilarity to ensue from Alina's dungeon escapades and her identity to be hidden from everyone save Jade, but I will say what was presented was much better.

The issue I have though, and the reason why I rated it down from the 4 stars I was sure I wanted to give, was largely because of the characterization of Alina. She just came across as so one-dimensional, with no depth and very little character progression. Although more than midway through, the author finally decided to reveal Alina's backstory, and close to the end decided to give her some sense of emotions, it felt like it was a little late. By then I had kinda tired of her single mindedness and somewhat annoying personality. And though it can be chalked down to her character being a schtick, it still kinda irked me just that little bit. And it didn't help much that Jade was kind of wimpy and whiny and a tad annoying, though that was most probably planned as the comedy routine of this series. It will probably take a little for me to get used to.

This series has potential in spades, and I most probably will be continuing on with it because despite certain annoyances, it is chock full of fun and adventure, and peppered with some funny moments. As for the characters, I do hope that in the next or future instalments, the author will fill in more to at least give some dimensions to some rather flat characters.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alina Clover is always properly compensated for her work. That's not the problem. The problem is that Alina is so routinely saddled with extra work that she has no choice to but see things through to the end. Such is the life of a receptionist. Such is also the life of a receptionist for the adventurer's guild's field office. And yet, who could foresee that the most dedicated paper-pusher at Iffole Counter is also the land's most fearsome and terrifying monster-slayer?

I MAY BE A GUILD RECEPTIONIST, BUT I'LL SOLO ANY BOSS TO CLOCK OUT ON TIME v1 rides on the familiar rhythm of a workplace romantic comedy but whose context is the array of oddities that comprise heroic adventures, dungeons, dragons, and creatures of mythos. The novel pitches readers a resolutely stubborn protagonist with an extraordinarily simplified worldview: Alina specifically applied for a low-key job to maintain an otherwise low-key lifestyle. Too bad for her, the local heroes are a bunch of sad-sacks. And as such, if nobody cleans out the local dungeon, then her desk work at the guild piles up. As the old saying goes, if you want something done right...

Alina's peace and quiet is upset by two recurring dynamics: (a) her occasional moonlighting as The Executioner, a warhammer-wielding adventurer known for her merciless slaying of high-level baddies, and (b) the needs of Silver Sword, an adventurer group spearheaded by a kind-hearted dingus, named Jade Scrade. I MAY BE A GUILD RECEPTIONIST v1 marks the crossroads of these two problems with Alina's overwork. When the really nasty dungeons start showing up, and nobody can clear them, who will the guildmaster turn to for help?

Readers shouldn't expect more than casual combat and awkward, sniping dialogue from this novel. However, the author favorably balances Alina's humorously blasé concern for life-or-death encounters with the apparent urgency everyone else has for acing dungeons. For ages, readers have encountered careless heroes, arrogant swordsmen, and mutinous sorcerers. Rolling those awkward dispositions into a young woman whose bane is overwork (and who doesn't much care for the fawning eccentricities of adventuring itself), gives the author room to conjure a unique scenario or two.

The book risks redundancy, as Alina has no life beyond her work, and the Silver Sword crew has no skill when understaffed and short a vanguard officer. And the book risks heavy-handed dramatic irony, as Alina's peace is sundered the instant a tenacious new dungeon flashes on the horizon. But these minor narrative notes aside, I MAY BE A GUILD RECEPTIONIST v1 is straightforward and entertaining. The book yields measured expectations with good results. Readers needn't worry about Alina falling in love, readers needn't worry about horrible secondary characters not getting their comeuppance, and readers needn't worry about unnecessarily overpowered baddies wreaking havoc (too much).

Alina is a normal young woman simply trying her clumsiest to succeed at a normal job. She doesn't care about ancient relics left by the old gods and she doesn't think too hard about the skills hierarchy that defines the adventurer worldview. She's a trauma survivor and she thinks quite highly of people who make decisions for themselves and own the consequences thereof. And it's these experiences and perspectives make that her fearless in times of need. Now, if only the guildmaster would approve the much-promised increase in staff headcount at the field office...

[J-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a crack fic (in a good way).

Also, Jade just wants to love you, silly receptionist, so don’t smash him away too much.... he might not come back when you finally realize that you love him. Just saying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Joana Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting twist on the light novel power fantasy

This is the story of someone who just wants to live her life, and will do everything she can to maintain her peace. She's the most powerful fighter in a city of powerful fighters, and all she wants to use it for is to make it so she can go home on time instead of having to do overtime to clean up after adventurers can't clear dungeons. Because we all know that when you want a job done right, you need to do it yourself.

While I did find myself a bit annoyed by Alina at times, I did sympathize with her a majority of the time. She has a big, over-exaggerated personality you'd expect of a shonen protagonist, wrapped up in a delicate-looking girl who doesn't actually want to fight, until she realizes she has to. As I said in the headline, it's an interesting twist on the typical power fantasy you find in this genre, and I'll definitely be picking up the next ones in the series.

[Nanappp · Rating 4 out of 5]

ขอถอนคำพูด เอ็งแม่งสตอล์กระดับต้นจริงๆละ😂😂😂 แต่มันก็ต้องทำอะ อ้ย ตลก555555 อนิเมะดัดแปลงบางฉากและเพิ่มฉากให้น่ารักกว่าเดิมเยอะเลยยย~~ ใดๆ หลายข้อสงสัยคลายหมดจากการอ่านนิยาย คือ แท๊งก์เรื่องนี้ทนมากจริงๆ ทนแบบทนนน5555555555

มังงะค่อนข้างจะตามนิยายเป๊ะๆอยู่ๆ หลายการดัดแปลงอนิเมะกับมังงะทำได้ดีกว่ามาก ในอนิเมะอาลีน่า เจด รูรูริน่ารักกว่าปกติอีกก 😍 (ลอว์บทก็คงเส้นคงวาดี) มีความเป็นไปได้ว่าจะใช้ 3 เล่มต่ออนิเมะ 12 ตอน

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed the first 4 volumes of the manga. Volume 1 of the light novel covers those adventures and more while providing details and expanded explications of what happened in the manga. Will definitely be looking for more of the light novels and likely the manga as well since I enjoy the manga artwork. Extremely glad I got hold of this volume and future volumes!

[Chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, that was a very excellent read. It was pretty trope-laden, but the story was entertaining, very well written (and very well translated too, for that matter), and entertaining all round, without trying too hard.

I want to read more!

[Jorja Novalei Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes!!!

Far more than what I expected. A kickass female lead just wanting to avoid overtime but getting suckered into more work lol it’s quite good and I didn’t expect to like jade however apparently I do lol great book can’t wait to start volume 2 tonight

[Kurious · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why this exists, let alone how it's a series

Shallow, zero characterisation, flimsy almost nonexistent plot, bland prose, only decent thing about it is the cover.

If it was free it would still be overpriced.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good writing saved it from being 1 star. Stalking is trivialised, there's too much meaningless violence, and there's an OP MC (which I usually like) who builds no threat or anxiety. Honestly, I was pretty close to DNF'ing it.

[Ada]

***Why not***
The title sounds stupidly fun but based on some things mentioned in reviews it really sounds like I wouldn't enjoy it.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and funny. Relatable female main lead. Looking forward to the next book. Very interesting thought about whether you have to do something just because you have the power to do so and whether you should.

[Aloysius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but the female protagonist's not my cup of tea. Too much "Yan", and not nearly enough "Dere".