Hajime and his crew are at it again.
There is a lot in this volume that I enjoyed, and a lot of it has to do for the reasons I love this series. Hajime continues to be his usual overpowered self, and it really shows in this book. More so than the anime I think, as a lot of the carnage he causes comes through a lot stronger. Not really spoiling much here, but we also get to see him meeting up with some of his old classmates. This was a real treat for me, and anyone who enjoys this series for the same reason I do is going to get a kick out of it.
The intro of a new character works and her dynamic compared to the other two women is quite unique. I am curious as to where they take her in later books, but for now she is delightfully annoying and frustrating in equal measures. She also presents a character that actually challenges Hajime when they fight, and proves that despite how over powered Hajime is, there are things in the world that can make life difficult for him.
Lastly, there are some elements in this book that set up a potential plot later on if my guess is right. This just wants me to read more as every element that is added that hints at the things to come just drives my curiosity further. This is something that I don't see a lot of in other light novels weirdly enough. Most are fairly episodic with their own resolutions instead of a strong over-arching plot or goal like Arifureta has.
In the end, I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series as I believe it will finally surpass where season one of the anime left off. If you want unashamed power fantasies with a little hint of revenge thrown in, this series is for you!