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The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (Light Novel) #1
The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (Light Novel), Vol. 1: Holy Maiden Summoning Improvement Plan
Seiichirou Kondou is a 29-year-old accountant and major workaholic. When he's accidentally transported to another world, not only does he demand a job, he starts whipping the lackadaisical Royal Accounting Department into shape! But when he gets in over his head and nearly dies from overwork, the handsome Commander Aresh steps in to save him, and the two develop a unique, physical relationship...as a form of medical treatment?!
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2019
75 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 1, 2024
This is one of those books that works better as a manga. While I'm enjoying the manga version a lot, I struggled with the novel. I'm not sure if it's due to the author style of writing or it's due to the translation, but the story didn't grab me, I struggled to finish the book. Everything is told to us but is not shown, which makes everything weird. Not even knowing this was going further than the published manga up to now made me enjoy this as I hoped.
May 28, 2024
After falling in love with the manga, I was ecstatic to see the light novel was getting an official release -- to the point where this is one of the books I was most excited for this year. And overall, I am... whelmed -- in a good way.
The manga is a fantastic adaptation, so while I was expecting the novel to add more to the story that had to be cut out/down, I was pleasantly surprised to find that no, the story is basically the same. I don't think one medium adds or detracts anything from the story overall. I did, though, really enjoy getting more descriptions of economic/political web of the kingdom, and getting to hear more of Seiichirou's internal thoughts.
I really love how Seiichirou's perspective is completely turning the kingdom on its head, and I LOVE the background politics to a story like this, especially with the focus on economics. It's such an interesting premise for an isekai story.
I love Aresh and Seiichirou's dynamic, as well, as I have a major soft spot for relationships centered on one character taking care of the other and trying to get them to take better care of themselves as well. I also LOVE how Aresh is learning how Seiichirou thinks and adapting his actions and arguments to fit his perspective and logic. They are a very interesting pair, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for them.
The manga is a fantastic adaptation, so while I was expecting the novel to add more to the story that had to be cut out/down, I was pleasantly surprised to find that no, the story is basically the same. I don't think one medium adds or detracts anything from the story overall. I did, though, really enjoy getting more descriptions of economic/political web of the kingdom, and getting to hear more of Seiichirou's internal thoughts.
I really love how Seiichirou's perspective is completely turning the kingdom on its head, and I LOVE the background politics to a story like this, especially with the focus on economics. It's such an interesting premise for an isekai story.
I love Aresh and Seiichirou's dynamic, as well, as I have a major soft spot for relationships centered on one character taking care of the other and trying to get them to take better care of themselves as well. I also LOVE how Aresh is learning how Seiichirou thinks and adapting his actions and arguments to fit his perspective and logic. They are a very interesting pair, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for them.
May 4, 2025
I never thought I would enjoy this volume so much! When I first started reading the first chapter, it started off a little slow. I was confused and I was thinking of just reading the first volume, and picking up the next two later. Skrew that! I'm picking it up right now!
I love how refreshing this is. This isekai with one-sided forced proximity and the other takes advantage of it, it's exactly up my ally! I wasn't expecting it to go the route it did in HOW the forced proximity would happen, and I love it so much.
I love how hard Aresh has fallen. Both MC and ML are grumpy x grumpy, and they both frustrate each other. One won't take care of himself, and the other won't let him overwork. It's so cute!
It's nice that the Seiichirou is pretty OP, and things work out for him. It just makes for a good story with unknown territory in what he's going to face next.
Absolutely 5/5. Same as the other Japanese novel I read earlier this year, "You Can Have My Back." Both must reads, this one is so good! I'm looking forward to the next two volumes!
Favorite quote that made me so giddy; I was kicking my feet in the air:
"I don't ever plan on letting anyone else take care or you... Either way Seiichirou, I know you can't give me an answer now, so I'm going to take advantage of that. This is the most efficient path, after all." -Aresh Indolark
4.9/5 🌟
Only one teeny tiny thing that kept it from a 5 is that the author kept adding repeated already known and explained knowledge as if it wasn't already explained a good 4 times already. Very minor detail, but it's okay! It wasn't a huge deal. Maybe it's a running joke for an isekai. ☺️😆
I love how refreshing this is. This isekai with one-sided forced proximity and the other takes advantage of it, it's exactly up my ally! I wasn't expecting it to go the route it did in HOW the forced proximity would happen, and I love it so much.
I love how hard Aresh has fallen. Both MC and ML are grumpy x grumpy, and they both frustrate each other. One won't take care of himself, and the other won't let him overwork. It's so cute!
It's nice that the Seiichirou is pretty OP, and things work out for him. It just makes for a good story with unknown territory in what he's going to face next.
Absolutely 5/5. Same as the other Japanese novel I read earlier this year, "You Can Have My Back." Both must reads, this one is so good! I'm looking forward to the next two volumes!
Favorite quote that made me so giddy; I was kicking my feet in the air:
"I don't ever plan on letting anyone else take care or you... Either way Seiichirou, I know you can't give me an answer now, so I'm going to take advantage of that. This is the most efficient path, after all." -Aresh Indolark
4.9/5 🌟
Only one teeny tiny thing that kept it from a 5 is that the author kept adding repeated already known and explained knowledge as if it wasn't already explained a good 4 times already. Very minor detail, but it's okay! It wasn't a huge deal. Maybe it's a running joke for an isekai. ☺️😆
March 22, 2024
Such a fun, easy to read Japanese fantasy BL light novel! I have not read the manga yet but plan to because I need more Seiichirou and Aresh ❤️ No idea how many light novels there will be but the next one is releasing June 18, 2014
✔️Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️”Forced” proximity
✔️MC needs protection
✔️Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️”Forced” proximity
✔️MC needs protection
May 25, 2021
From what I can count, this is my 3rd Yaoi isekai to read but this time, there’s very little tropes (besides the dumb “saint” girl who went with the uke) and our uke Kondou here is pretty much mature. Basically the uke is a “corporate slave” who unexpectedly (without the help of truck-kun or getting killed) transports to a different world. He works in the accounting department in that different world and there he meets the handsome seme of all, the knight captain Aresh-san. It’s obviously adorable that Aresh is always concerned with Kondou cause Kondou works very hard and is dependent on magic supplements to him going ( Aresh doesn’t let him).
If you are sick of the other overly Yaoi sex crazed isekai, look no further with this one, read it!
If you are sick of the other overly Yaoi sex crazed isekai, look no further with this one, read it!
July 28, 2021
fucking amazing the world building and how things developed
March 2, 2024
Volume one of the original light novel has finally been translated, a year after the first manga came out. I’ve read the first three volumes of the manga adaptation, and they cover most of the novel, so the story was familiar to me.
Seiichirou Kondou, 29, is an overworked accountant in Japan who on a rare day off comes to the rescue of a school girl who is being sucked into ground by a white light, and he’s sucked in too. They find themselves in an alternate world, where the girl, Yua, has been summoned as a Holy Maiden, whose job it is to save the world from a deadly miasma.
Kondou is a tag-along, who the kingdom feels honour-bound to protect, but nothing more. He could spend his days being idle, but he doesn’t know how, so he asks for a job and is pointed at the royal accounting department. He’s horrified by the lazy work-culture there, and in no time reorganises the whole place. But he doesn’t stop there: he needs to salvage the kingdom’s finances too.
There’s one problem: his body is unable to handle the magic the world is permeated with, and everything from food to air is slowly killing him. In an acute health crisis, he’s rescued by dashing Commander Aresh Indolark, who heals him with magic, which only makes things worse. Out of options, he needs to acclimatise Kondou’s body fast to magic. And that means having sex with him.
Aresh appoints himself as Kondou’s protector, making sure he takes care of his health. And every now and then, a healing is needed, which requires more sex. Their odd relationship is a matter of necessity for Kondou, but for Aresh, it gradually becomes more.
I read the light novel in order to get a deeper view of the story. In places, that happened too, but the manga adaptation is fairly faithful to the story. Kondou seems more driven and single-minded here. There wasn’t much from Aresh’s point of view, but he emerges as a slightly different figure than in the manga in the end. The side characters also have a more meaningful role. The world itself remains a bit vague, so the manga does a better job depicting that.
This was originally a serialised web novel, so every chapter repeats much of what has been told many times already. Apart from that, it’s well-written and easy to read. Translation works too. The story ends without a cliffhanger, but in such a point in the men’s lives that I absolutely have to read more.
Seiichirou Kondou, 29, is an overworked accountant in Japan who on a rare day off comes to the rescue of a school girl who is being sucked into ground by a white light, and he’s sucked in too. They find themselves in an alternate world, where the girl, Yua, has been summoned as a Holy Maiden, whose job it is to save the world from a deadly miasma.
Kondou is a tag-along, who the kingdom feels honour-bound to protect, but nothing more. He could spend his days being idle, but he doesn’t know how, so he asks for a job and is pointed at the royal accounting department. He’s horrified by the lazy work-culture there, and in no time reorganises the whole place. But he doesn’t stop there: he needs to salvage the kingdom’s finances too.
There’s one problem: his body is unable to handle the magic the world is permeated with, and everything from food to air is slowly killing him. In an acute health crisis, he’s rescued by dashing Commander Aresh Indolark, who heals him with magic, which only makes things worse. Out of options, he needs to acclimatise Kondou’s body fast to magic. And that means having sex with him.
Aresh appoints himself as Kondou’s protector, making sure he takes care of his health. And every now and then, a healing is needed, which requires more sex. Their odd relationship is a matter of necessity for Kondou, but for Aresh, it gradually becomes more.
I read the light novel in order to get a deeper view of the story. In places, that happened too, but the manga adaptation is fairly faithful to the story. Kondou seems more driven and single-minded here. There wasn’t much from Aresh’s point of view, but he emerges as a slightly different figure than in the manga in the end. The side characters also have a more meaningful role. The world itself remains a bit vague, so the manga does a better job depicting that.
This was originally a serialised web novel, so every chapter repeats much of what has been told many times already. Apart from that, it’s well-written and easy to read. Translation works too. The story ends without a cliffhanger, but in such a point in the men’s lives that I absolutely have to read more.
June 22, 2022
I LOVE THEM!
I have been reading the manga for a while now, so finding the translation for the novel was a dream come true and honestly, I love it so much. This novel proves that competence is *sexy* ;)
I have been reading the manga for a while now, so finding the translation for the novel was a dream come true and honestly, I love it so much. This novel proves that competence is *sexy* ;)
April 21, 2024
A somewhat distant, jumping back-and-forth, writing style seems to be common in Japanese literature, and I still need to get used to it every time I started a new Japanese novel.
But setting that aside, I found myself hooked from the start. I haven’t read/watched that many isekais, but I find it refreshing that this Kondou didn’t have to climb the magic ranking or being overpowered. He simply utilized his “corporate slave” mentality and his brain, doing what he does best, and gain the support of some powerful people in the kingdom he’s been transported into.
Ofc hisphysical interaction with Aresh, the tsundere commander, is the main lure of this story. Gonna switch to the manga version now to let my eyes feast on this couple. This light novel included some illustrations, too, but I haven’t gotten enough. 😉
But setting that aside, I found myself hooked from the start. I haven’t read/watched that many isekais, but I find it refreshing that this Kondou didn’t have to climb the magic ranking or being overpowered. He simply utilized his “corporate slave” mentality and his brain, doing what he does best, and gain the support of some powerful people in the kingdom he’s been transported into.
Ofc his
June 18, 2024
3.5 stars- Look, is this light novel full of fanfic-style cliches? Yes, absolutely and that’s what makes it fun. Overworked accountant gets dragged into a fantasy world where the magic makes him sick so a handsome commander starts taking care of him. It’s got the fuck-or-die trope and a very possessive love interest. Their constant bickering and getting on each others’ last nerve was great, I love how easy it is to upset Aresh. Time for the next volume!
CWs: assault (not between the MCs), dubcon, disordered eating, kidnapping, classism
CWs: assault (not between the MCs), dubcon, disordered eating, kidnapping, classism
March 7, 2024
Is this book truly worth four stars? I'm not sure, to be perfectly honest. It gets repetitive, because apparently editors can't be bothered to change things from the original serialized format, and consent is a little murky, although that could charitably be a parallel between Seiichirou's health issues and the fact that he and Yua were forcibly isekai'd (abducted) to solve another world's problems in the first place. But I had a very good time reading it, and I've decided that since this wasn't for work, that's all that really matters.
December 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐
Was it the best read of my life? No. Did I enjoy it tremendously anyway? Absolutely XD This story is legit so dumb, which makes it enjoyable and hard to put down.
RTC
Was it the best read of my life? No. Did I enjoy it tremendously anyway? Absolutely XD This story is legit so dumb, which makes it enjoyable and hard to put down.
RTC
April 2, 2024
Ya me había enamorado la adaptación al manga, pero la novela ya es el summum. Qué maravilla!!!! El manga es muy fiel, pero la novela tiene mas detalles y más cositas explícitas sexuales (pero poco) que en el manga se pierde. Vale muchísimo la pena leer la novela si sabéis inglés, id a por ella. Ojalá se animaran en España porque es una historia que gustaría a los lectores de fantasía con romance LGBTIQ y es muy apta para lectores juveniles también por ser light novel y porque el contenido sexual es apto para gente joven a partir de 16 años ya que, como digo, hay más chicha pero poco explícito realmente.
March 19, 2024
What an odd yet great read. The contents of this light novel cover about to where the manga is currently in English publication, so the events weren’t new to me, but it felt like everything was turned up to eleven, and I loved it. Kondo’s snarkiness, Aresh’s puppy love, Yua’s obliviousness to her privilege — it all came across much more staunchly in the novel version. I also loved being in Kondo’s head, he’s such an unusual protagonist in how he deals with his situation — a salaryman to the core for sure, but also a subtle jab and critique of what work culture in Japan has turned its ordinary people into. The novel is also a lot blunter with its handlings of the steamier side of things, which coupled with Kondo’s no-nonsense, efficient to the extreme take on life makes for some humorous scenes. All in all, I’d put the novel leagues ahead of the manga in terms of enjoyment, and I was already quite enjoying the manga. I will definitely be looking forward to the next installment in this series.
April 21, 2024
Thanks to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
3.25 stars
This was a nice and fun book, the right one to take a break with. The story is nice, even if the excuses used in this book are quite feeble (but fun, and original too!).
Anyway, that said, I had a lot of fun with this one: the MC is a workaholic, or as it's called here a corporate slave, and he simply has to work, there is no way around it.
Kondo is teleported into a new world, where magic is real, by mistake, since the people of this magical world were summoning Yuri, a school-girl in the normal world who has the power of the Holy Maiden because they need her to purify their world (a magical miasma is creeping in and the only way to defy it is to make the Holy Maiden purify it), and since Yuri called for help when the magic happened (because she was completely oblivious to this new world too) Kondo tried to help her and find himself summoned to the other world too.
But there is no need for him, the people of the magical reign don't know what to do with him, so they decide to take care of him in general (pay for housing, food, that sort of thing) and consider him somehow like a pet or something similar. But Kondo has other ideas. He wants to work (or better, he needs to) and so he finds himself in the Account Department since he is an accountant on Earth too. And he sort of does magic within this department! It was so fun seeing him at work, and seeing him planning and scheming!
Kondo is a workaholic without hope, but he is cunning too and can be pretty nice (and oblivious to the world around him), and it was nice to see him interact with the other characters. Aresh is just too cool, and their relationship is pretty funny, but Norbert is the top. He is like a labrador and he is just so nice and so happy all the time! He is a refreshing character, and even if he is in the role of support rather than a main one, he still steals the show!
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I am seriously thinking about reading the manga, because it should be a ton of fun too!
3.25 stars
This was a nice and fun book, the right one to take a break with. The story is nice, even if the excuses used in this book are quite feeble (but fun, and original too!).
Anyway, that said, I had a lot of fun with this one: the MC is a workaholic, or as it's called here a corporate slave, and he simply has to work, there is no way around it.
Kondo is teleported into a new world, where magic is real, by mistake, since the people of this magical world were summoning Yuri, a school-girl in the normal world who has the power of the Holy Maiden because they need her to purify their world (a magical miasma is creeping in and the only way to defy it is to make the Holy Maiden purify it), and since Yuri called for help when the magic happened (because she was completely oblivious to this new world too) Kondo tried to help her and find himself summoned to the other world too.
But there is no need for him, the people of the magical reign don't know what to do with him, so they decide to take care of him in general (pay for housing, food, that sort of thing) and consider him somehow like a pet or something similar. But Kondo has other ideas. He wants to work (or better, he needs to) and so he finds himself in the Account Department since he is an accountant on Earth too. And he sort of does magic within this department! It was so fun seeing him at work, and seeing him planning and scheming!
Kondo is a workaholic without hope, but he is cunning too and can be pretty nice (and oblivious to the world around him), and it was nice to see him interact with the other characters. Aresh is just too cool, and their relationship is pretty funny, but Norbert is the top. He is like a labrador and he is just so nice and so happy all the time! He is a refreshing character, and even if he is in the role of support rather than a main one, he still steals the show!
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I am seriously thinking about reading the manga, because it should be a ton of fun too!
June 10, 2024
This series has been my favorite from page one, and I was so excited when I got ahold of the light novels.
Seiichirou is a workaholic like many people and gets drawn into a different world along with a high school girl named Yua. Yua is the otherworld's Holy Maiden who is meant to save the world while Sei was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was he? He singlehandedly restructured the kingdom's finances and proposed a plan so that they would no longer need a holy maiden.
Then he runs into the commander of the Third Royal Order, Aresh Indolark. Aresh saves Sei from magi sickness and from that point on inserts himself into the older man's life to help him acclimatize to life in this new world. But then he falls in love and starts acting like a spoiled puppy.
The grumpy x grumpy trope is one of my favorites because we get to see said grumpies become less so all while falling in love. I adore this entire story, so I really hope that more people get to read it!
Seiichirou is a workaholic like many people and gets drawn into a different world along with a high school girl named Yua. Yua is the otherworld's Holy Maiden who is meant to save the world while Sei was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was he? He singlehandedly restructured the kingdom's finances and proposed a plan so that they would no longer need a holy maiden.
Then he runs into the commander of the Third Royal Order, Aresh Indolark. Aresh saves Sei from magi sickness and from that point on inserts himself into the older man's life to help him acclimatize to life in this new world. But then he falls in love and starts acting like a spoiled puppy.
The grumpy x grumpy trope is one of my favorites because we get to see said grumpies become less so all while falling in love. I adore this entire story, so I really hope that more people get to read it!
April 12, 2024
***12 april 2024***
⭐️4 - i liked it
Translator: Murphy, Jenny / volumes 1- 4 of the manga
I really don't know why i bought this. I'm not a big fan of light novels. The few I've tried feel very clunky. This one is not an exception. Lots of repetition.
Still I enjoyed myself. It's really perfect for when you don't have the time/brainpower to concentrate on a somewhat more difficult prose and/or plot. But if you enjoyed the manga I would not recommend reading this too. It's really not necessary.
I do hope Seiichirou will find something to really like about Aresh. It feels a bit too one-sided at the moment.
⭐️4 - i liked it
Translator: Murphy, Jenny / volumes 1- 4 of the manga
I really don't know why i bought this. I'm not a big fan of light novels. The few I've tried feel very clunky. This one is not an exception. Lots of repetition.
Still I enjoyed myself. It's really perfect for when you don't have the time/brainpower to concentrate on a somewhat more difficult prose and/or plot. But if you enjoyed the manga I would not recommend reading this too. It's really not necessary.
I do hope Seiichirou will find something to really like about Aresh. It feels a bit too one-sided at the moment.
April 25, 2024
This is a light novel so even though I really liked it, the writing is at times not the best. There is quite a bit of repetition since it was serialized. Also way, way too many epithets which seems to be a common theme in the the translated light novels I've read. The first volume of the novel ends about halfway through vol. 4 of the manga. Maybe a little less. I love Aresh. He's trying so hard to keep Seichirou from working himself to death. I believe in you 3rd captain! I continue to be annoyed with the holy maiden but I do find it hilarious how non-plussed Seichirou is when she starts to throw her little tantrums.
June 5, 2024
I love this series so much. I originally read the manga and was so excited they were releasing the light novel too! Definitely pick it up if you like isekai.
My favorite part is the MC is just an average accountant from our world who was accidentally summoned, everyone was annoyed that he was just a "tag along" but he ends up being even more useful than the holy maiden and does an entire overhaul on the kingdoms finances and how they deal with the miasma. I can't wait for book 2!
My favorite part is the MC is just an average accountant from our world who was accidentally summoned, everyone was annoyed that he was just a "tag along" but he ends up being even more useful than the holy maiden and does an entire overhaul on the kingdoms finances and how they deal with the miasma. I can't wait for book 2!
July 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ this shit is hilarious
December 23, 2025
More detailed review to come…but overall this book was like nothing I’ve ever read before and so completely ridiculous. In other words: fun!
August 2, 2025
At this point an isekai about an accountant felt more like a question of when rather than why 😂 I really enjoyed the world building though.
December 22, 2025
loved whatever workaholic, scary mother hen dynamic was going on here
May 18, 2025
Like many other readers, I think I benefited from reading the manga adaptation before the original novel, because the manga better explains certain things that happen in the narrative, but I think that the novel also does the same: explaining certain things that were not well explained, shown, or were even cut in the manga adaptation. There isn't precisely a trove of deleted scenes in the original novel, absent one scene in particular, but there's definitely a lot more explanation of what is happening, and I think it adds a lot to the narrative. That being said, and perhaps this is simply down to the nature of the English translation, while it is still a fun story, it can be a bit dry at times. It's still a fun story, and I enjoyed it from that perspective.
If you're interested in where things stop, Volume 1 of the Yen Press novel release ends in the middle of manga Volume 4, Chapter 22.
Perhaps the oddest narrative choice was to jump from introducing Seiichiro, and then immediately have him and Yua in Romany, and only then go back to explain what happened to them. The manga does away with this entirely, keeping events entirely chronological, and combining two meetings (having Helmut appear at the meeting where Seiichiro asks for a job). It's simpler and easier to understand.
The story generally plays out the same as it does in the manga, but with a particular difference: .
The novel also makes Camile a far less sinister figure than the manga does. The manga ramps up the ominous nature of his presence and interest in Seiichiro, and maybe that's the point, to make it more tropey, but the novel makes it very clear he likes Seiichiro's competence and wants him as a worker. There's a definite element of romantic and physical interest as well, but the manga frames it, at least initially, far crueller than it is in the novel. In the novel, it thus makes a lot more sense that he cares more about Seiichiro's well-being.
The manga does an interesting thing in Volume 3, Chapter 14, to replace a scene in Novel Chapter 5 entirely, .
As for things the manga added, at least up through what's in Volume 1 of the novel, the pillow gift seems to be entirely made up for the manga. It's not a bad addition, and I honestly like it. Seiichiro still wants a pillow at least once in the novel, so it's not entirely made up for the manga at this point, but the manga is not without its own additions. I think it helps improve their relationship, as well. Orjef's obsession with learning the identity of Aresh's crush is also entirely added for the manga.
There's also a general odd thing that the novel and manga both sidestep, which I've seen in other josei/boys love fantasy isekai novel-original titles like "The Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation": how the fantasy world handles (or doesn't want to handle) patriarchy and societal sexism: ?
I feel a bit mixed on the art. I think Aresh is well-drawn, if still not as handsome as he in the manga. I prefer Seiichiro's manga design more than the novel one. The other characters are fine, though I think part of that is because I don't entirely like the mangaka's art style. That being said, at least the novel artist can draw horses. The mangaka cannot at all do so for some reason, which is odd, considering this is a fantasy series and again, we have at least one drawing of a horse in the novel.
The writing itself is a bit bland, again perhaps to mimic Seiichiro's mindset. I like him as a character, and the story itself is a nice criticism of modern capitalism and Japanese work culture in particular. Perhaps the English translation also plays into the tone a bit, but that's the only thing I can judge by as I don't read Japanese. It's one of the more enjoyable Japanese light novel translations I've read, and far more compelling than say, "The Case Files of Jeweler Richard", while the boys love aspects make it a lot more compelling than fantasy historical novels like "The Apothecary Diaries", and it's certainly better written than any of the "Bungo Stray Dogs" light novels I've read. That being said, if I had the option between this and say, a boys love manga, manhwa, or a number of English-original m/m novels, I'd probably choose those instead. This is still great for what it is, and I really love a lot of the tropes it plays on, as well as the cast and character dynamics. If you enjoy the manga, I would recommend giving the novel a try, too.
If you're interested in where things stop, Volume 1 of the Yen Press novel release ends in the middle of manga Volume 4, Chapter 22.
Perhaps the oddest narrative choice was to jump from introducing Seiichiro, and then immediately have him and Yua in Romany, and only then go back to explain what happened to them. The manga does away with this entirely, keeping events entirely chronological, and combining two meetings (having Helmut appear at the meeting where Seiichiro asks for a job). It's simpler and easier to understand.
The story generally plays out the same as it does in the manga, but with a particular difference: .
The novel also makes Camile a far less sinister figure than the manga does. The manga ramps up the ominous nature of his presence and interest in Seiichiro, and maybe that's the point, to make it more tropey, but the novel makes it very clear he likes Seiichiro's competence and wants him as a worker. There's a definite element of romantic and physical interest as well, but the manga frames it, at least initially, far crueller than it is in the novel. In the novel, it thus makes a lot more sense that he cares more about Seiichiro's well-being.
The manga does an interesting thing in Volume 3, Chapter 14, to replace a scene in Novel Chapter 5 entirely, .
As for things the manga added, at least up through what's in Volume 1 of the novel, the pillow gift seems to be entirely made up for the manga. It's not a bad addition, and I honestly like it. Seiichiro still wants a pillow at least once in the novel, so it's not entirely made up for the manga at this point, but the manga is not without its own additions. I think it helps improve their relationship, as well. Orjef's obsession with learning the identity of Aresh's crush is also entirely added for the manga.
There's also a general odd thing that the novel and manga both sidestep, which I've seen in other josei/boys love fantasy isekai novel-original titles like "The Gentle Noble's Vacation Recommendation": how the fantasy world handles (or doesn't want to handle) patriarchy and societal sexism: ?
I feel a bit mixed on the art. I think Aresh is well-drawn, if still not as handsome as he in the manga. I prefer Seiichiro's manga design more than the novel one. The other characters are fine, though I think part of that is because I don't entirely like the mangaka's art style. That being said, at least the novel artist can draw horses. The mangaka cannot at all do so for some reason, which is odd, considering this is a fantasy series and again, we have at least one drawing of a horse in the novel.
The writing itself is a bit bland, again perhaps to mimic Seiichiro's mindset. I like him as a character, and the story itself is a nice criticism of modern capitalism and Japanese work culture in particular. Perhaps the English translation also plays into the tone a bit, but that's the only thing I can judge by as I don't read Japanese. It's one of the more enjoyable Japanese light novel translations I've read, and far more compelling than say, "The Case Files of Jeweler Richard", while the boys love aspects make it a lot more compelling than fantasy historical novels like "The Apothecary Diaries", and it's certainly better written than any of the "Bungo Stray Dogs" light novels I've read. That being said, if I had the option between this and say, a boys love manga, manhwa, or a number of English-original m/m novels, I'd probably choose those instead. This is still great for what it is, and I really love a lot of the tropes it plays on, as well as the cast and character dynamics. If you enjoy the manga, I would recommend giving the novel a try, too.
February 8, 2025
Super Jelly Aresh really said “You’re my wife now. We’re having soft tacos later.”
July 11, 2024
This was cute but I prefer the manga. I really liked the part with Norbert's pov.
Read
March 2, 2024I still love this series so much ! Sad to say that imo this was the weaker translation I’ve read.
I still highly recommend it for anyone who hasn’t read it previously, as it’s a great story and very enjoyable.
Unfortunately I’d previously read another translation that I prefer over Yen’s, so that comparison does haunt me on some level
I’m happy to have it physically on my shelf, I just wish it had retained the lengthier descriptions that captured their growing feelings for one another
I still highly recommend it for anyone who hasn’t read it previously, as it’s a great story and very enjoyable.
Unfortunately I’d previously read another translation that I prefer over Yen’s, so that comparison does haunt me on some level
I’m happy to have it physically on my shelf, I just wish it had retained the lengthier descriptions that captured their growing feelings for one another
August 29, 2025
Ayer me encontré el manga y ya con el primer capítulo quedé OBSESIONADA. No habían más capítulos en español, me fuí al inglés, no había más traducción en inglés, me fuí al raw en japónes... Pero como no entendía nada me terminé leyendo toda la novela que es super corta. Concuerdo con que el manga le da un plus del 1000%, espero algún día leerlo completo en español (o inglés)
Claramente soy fanática de la dinámica no-me-preocupo-para-nada-por-mi X estoy-super-preocupado-por-vos-tevoyacuidartodamividateamo *gritosss*
Más allá del romance, la trama es súper interesante. Nuestro protagonista, Seiichiro, con 29 años termina en un mundo mágico mientras va por la calle y escucha el grito de una chica que está siendo succionada por un portal, ella era la diosa destinada a salvar ese mundo. Y él, un random que se coló en el procedimiento.
Aun así, el reino se compromete a cubrirle sus necesidades básicas para siempre, pero él pide que le den un trabajo. Y desde ahí, se encarga basicamente de rellenar todos los huecos financieros del reino jajs.
Me la pasé muy bien viendo/leyendolo y todos los personajes son super entrañables. En especial ERWIN aaaaa desde que apareció en el manga no me puedo sacar de la cabeza que el primer ministro es ÉL y por eso no hubo jamás un atisbo de duda de mi parte, beso abrazo.
Claramente soy fanática de la dinámica no-me-preocupo-para-nada-por-mi X estoy-super-preocupado-por-vos-tevoyacuidartodamividateamo *gritosss*
Más allá del romance, la trama es súper interesante. Nuestro protagonista, Seiichiro, con 29 años termina en un mundo mágico mientras va por la calle y escucha el grito de una chica que está siendo succionada por un portal, ella era la diosa destinada a salvar ese mundo. Y él, un random que se coló en el procedimiento.
Aun así, el reino se compromete a cubrirle sus necesidades básicas para siempre, pero él pide que le den un trabajo. Y desde ahí, se encarga basicamente de rellenar todos los huecos financieros del reino jajs.
Me la pasé muy bien viendo/leyendolo y todos los personajes son super entrañables. En especial ERWIN aaaaa desde que apareció en el manga no me puedo sacar de la cabeza que el primer ministro es ÉL y por eso no hubo jamás un atisbo de duda de mi parte, beso abrazo.
March 1, 2023
Awesome. (Plus I can see JoongDok in them xD)
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