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The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker Light Novel #1
The World’s Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country’s Novice Seeker, Vol. 1
Corporate slave Arihito Atobe's death in a freak bus accident marks the beginning of his new life as a kind of adventurer called a Seeker. Reborn into a fantasy world, he settles into a previously unknown job class called "rearguard," capable of providing his (all-female) party with critical attack, defense, and recovery support. And it comes with an added bonus: Simply being at the back of the party line increases his companions' fondness for him! Freed from the shackles of corporate life, Arihito is eager to start fresh as a newly minted Seeker!
328 pages, ebook
First published November 10, 2017
153 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 27, 2020
This read very much like the tutorial level of a pretty standard, unexceptional JRPG video game. If you enjoy your isekai fantasy series with a pretty lackluster harem trope, then you may find this entertaining. It’s more Smartphone than Arifureta but with dungeon/labyrinth elements that you have already seen in those and other series. The primary difference being that our male lead boosts his teammates abilities to overpowered levels rather than being overpowered himself.
March 15, 2020
WSR has the drawbacks of its genre. It is one part detailed battles against monsters, one part geeking over character statistics, and one part watching the protagonist be surrounded by girls who want to get his clothes off. And a sliver of plot development. This could still have been a better light read if the surrounded-by-girls wish-fulfillment part of the fantasy hadn't been allowed to crowd out the story. There's a fun novel trying to get out here, hence the third star.
October 21, 2019
I liked this less and less as it went on and became a more generic isekai power fantasy where he gets All the Girls.
April 23, 2020
Isenkai.
O protagonista mais velho - 30, morre em um acidente de ônibus e é transportado para um mundo magico para ser um Seeker, junto com a chefe dele.
O livro foco muito no conceito de rearguard, midguard e etc para explicar porque o protagonista é tão forte.
Ja no começo o livro vira um Harem e não desenvolve o mundo satisfatoriamente. Onde diariamente tudo é resolvido com facilidade e o heroi sempre se da bem e leva todas as mulheres.
O protagonista mais velho - 30, morre em um acidente de ônibus e é transportado para um mundo magico para ser um Seeker, junto com a chefe dele.
O livro foco muito no conceito de rearguard, midguard e etc para explicar porque o protagonista é tão forte.
Ja no começo o livro vira um Harem e não desenvolve o mundo satisfatoriamente. Onde diariamente tudo é resolvido com facilidade e o heroi sempre se da bem e leva todas as mulheres.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2022
This is the first volume of this light novel series. it has over 250+ pages and 5 chapters plus some exclusive content. It is an isekai series (reincarnated in another world) and I consider it to be different and interesting.
Main character, Arihito, because of kind and polite personality, gets a lot of help from the guardians and older seekers of this place. Ironically, Arihito saves his old tyrannical boss, Igarashi (Valkirye), from his old life, the first day that they were exploring the Easy Dungeon. Arihito getting special mercenary tickets was able to hire a Beast-Folk, Thereisa, (Lizard-folk) and (Rogue profession). I feel Arihito has a controlling and over-protective personality. It seems that in his former life, he was an orphan and was "fatherly" to the younger orphans while growing up. A lot of people, including his old boss Igarashi, would take advantage or Arihito's generosity and kindness.
Arihito's , 6 people team, is made up of all girls. The three other girls, seem to be dead weight for the team. The most qualified is Elitia, she is a warrior (but is forced to use a Cursed sword), then the other two, one is (Gambler) Misaki, (because she thinks that she is lucky), the other Suzuna a shrine maiden (because she would help out her Dad at the shrine in her past life). Because of Arihito's over-protective personality, he includes these other girls in his team, nurtures, finances, and protects these girls even though they seem to be just trouble.
The objective of this new world is to have the seekers improve in level and grow as "adventurers". As they level up, they improve in skills and equipment. As they improve, then they migrate to more difficult "dungeons". The kind of adventurer profession and the skills that one has in this place are optional. Depending on a seekers choices, they advance or don't advance.
Arihito as the team leader, tries to bring out the best of each person around them. This positive synergy, allows for incredible feats and growth from the main characters. Arihito's profession is not really known, but somehow, all of the skill choices he gets are (OP) over-powered. Arihito is a rearguard team member. Rearguard means that as a team member in the formation, he stands at the back like a Mage or an Archer. Since he has special skills that support in defense and offense to the members of his team, the other team members gain confidence and get better at completing their goals (defeat all different types of monsters found in the dungeons, even super difficult named monsters, that act like boss floor monsters in a regular type of dungeon.) The more monsters the team defeats, the more awards and coins they gain which improves their lodgings and equipment.
So this is a typical isekai harem light novel series with a lot of unique points of view and changes. The only thing I would remove, is that the author sometimes over-explains things that happen and actions always speak louder than words. If author describes actions, then additional explanations about those actions become unnecessary. So far, my favorite character is the beast-folk Theresia. I find her genuine, determined and brave. Out of all the team members, Theresia is the only one that protects and worries about Arihito. While the other team member girls consume more than they contribute, Thereisa is the only one that pulls her own weight and actually carries Arihito sometimes.
My first impression on this new light novel series is that all the people that go to this alternate reality world, go to like a purgatory (ante-room to a heaven-like place). Arihito is the main character, used to be an office assistant. Apparently there was a bus accident and most of the people that passed away in this accident meet again in this alternate reality world-purgatory that examines whether you are a good person or not. People that have bad actions, are chastised with karma points. People that do not move forward to complete the goals set out by this place, receive little or no help. In this purgatory kind of place you can "die again" and become a beast-folk kind of being. Apparently what type of beast-folk person depends on what "monster" killed you in this place.
If there really is a purgatory and a heaven-like place at the end of our lives, I hope that all of the good things we have done in our lives count, as they are counting for the main character, Arihito in this alternate reality world, light novel series.
Main character, Arihito, because of kind and polite personality, gets a lot of help from the guardians and older seekers of this place. Ironically, Arihito saves his old tyrannical boss, Igarashi (Valkirye), from his old life, the first day that they were exploring the Easy Dungeon. Arihito getting special mercenary tickets was able to hire a Beast-Folk, Thereisa, (Lizard-folk) and (Rogue profession). I feel Arihito has a controlling and over-protective personality. It seems that in his former life, he was an orphan and was "fatherly" to the younger orphans while growing up. A lot of people, including his old boss Igarashi, would take advantage or Arihito's generosity and kindness.
Arihito's , 6 people team, is made up of all girls. The three other girls, seem to be dead weight for the team. The most qualified is Elitia, she is a warrior (but is forced to use a Cursed sword), then the other two, one is (Gambler) Misaki, (because she thinks that she is lucky), the other Suzuna a shrine maiden (because she would help out her Dad at the shrine in her past life). Because of Arihito's over-protective personality, he includes these other girls in his team, nurtures, finances, and protects these girls even though they seem to be just trouble.
The objective of this new world is to have the seekers improve in level and grow as "adventurers". As they level up, they improve in skills and equipment. As they improve, then they migrate to more difficult "dungeons". The kind of adventurer profession and the skills that one has in this place are optional. Depending on a seekers choices, they advance or don't advance.
Arihito as the team leader, tries to bring out the best of each person around them. This positive synergy, allows for incredible feats and growth from the main characters. Arihito's profession is not really known, but somehow, all of the skill choices he gets are (OP) over-powered. Arihito is a rearguard team member. Rearguard means that as a team member in the formation, he stands at the back like a Mage or an Archer. Since he has special skills that support in defense and offense to the members of his team, the other team members gain confidence and get better at completing their goals (defeat all different types of monsters found in the dungeons, even super difficult named monsters, that act like boss floor monsters in a regular type of dungeon.) The more monsters the team defeats, the more awards and coins they gain which improves their lodgings and equipment.
So this is a typical isekai harem light novel series with a lot of unique points of view and changes. The only thing I would remove, is that the author sometimes over-explains things that happen and actions always speak louder than words. If author describes actions, then additional explanations about those actions become unnecessary. So far, my favorite character is the beast-folk Theresia. I find her genuine, determined and brave. Out of all the team members, Theresia is the only one that protects and worries about Arihito. While the other team member girls consume more than they contribute, Thereisa is the only one that pulls her own weight and actually carries Arihito sometimes.
My first impression on this new light novel series is that all the people that go to this alternate reality world, go to like a purgatory (ante-room to a heaven-like place). Arihito is the main character, used to be an office assistant. Apparently there was a bus accident and most of the people that passed away in this accident meet again in this alternate reality world-purgatory that examines whether you are a good person or not. People that have bad actions, are chastised with karma points. People that do not move forward to complete the goals set out by this place, receive little or no help. In this purgatory kind of place you can "die again" and become a beast-folk kind of being. Apparently what type of beast-folk person depends on what "monster" killed you in this place.
If there really is a purgatory and a heaven-like place at the end of our lives, I hope that all of the good things we have done in our lives count, as they are counting for the main character, Arihito in this alternate reality world, light novel series.
August 4, 2021
I really wanted to like this series. The premise is good enough and the world has creative and interesting elements, but as others have noted the tropes and arguments over bath time became the entire book. I gave up in volume 2 because I was skipping too many pages of total and complete nonsense. My alternative title for this book is ‘arguing about bath time in another world - where there are 3 beds and 6 people, wait did something soft just touch my arm?’
It really has 9, count them 9 different bath time and bedtime arguments by the time you get halfway into the 2nd book. And these can go on for 10 to 30 pages. So I rage quit and I found myself thinking about the progression system afterwards too, it just could have been done so much better which is upsetting.
Truly truly an absurd level of garbage in what could have been a good series. I feel like the author killed a beautiful thing and they seriously need to go watch some porn and only write during their post-nut clarity period. Take away the keyboard the rest of the time.
So 2 stars for an interesting premise and minus 3 for the pain and suffering of wading through the author’s sex fantasy garbage in what is sold as an adventure fantasy book. I’m not some anti sex culturally repressed person and don’t mind a bit of romance and sex (between adults!) in fantasy books, but this is a mid-jerk red faced teenage boy thought pattern rendered into words. And I rather wish I hadn’t read it.
It really has 9, count them 9 different bath time and bedtime arguments by the time you get halfway into the 2nd book. And these can go on for 10 to 30 pages. So I rage quit and I found myself thinking about the progression system afterwards too, it just could have been done so much better which is upsetting.
Truly truly an absurd level of garbage in what could have been a good series. I feel like the author killed a beautiful thing and they seriously need to go watch some porn and only write during their post-nut clarity period. Take away the keyboard the rest of the time.
So 2 stars for an interesting premise and minus 3 for the pain and suffering of wading through the author’s sex fantasy garbage in what is sold as an adventure fantasy book. I’m not some anti sex culturally repressed person and don’t mind a bit of romance and sex (between adults!) in fantasy books, but this is a mid-jerk red faced teenage boy thought pattern rendered into words. And I rather wish I hadn’t read it.
October 29, 2024
This book was a complete shot in the dark. Picked it up at a HPB and thought i'd give it a shot. and truthfully, i really enjoyed this one.
Short version, a bus full of japanese businesspeople crashes and most of them die. they immediately get reincarnated in a labyrinth world where people called "Seekers" go through the labyrinth and make money there. you can pick a class you're suited to. like valkyrie, rogue, priestess, etc. our main hero, a 28 year old dude. (yayyy not a teenager!) ends up picking rear-guard. essentially a support buffer. Along the way he teams up with some of his old co-workers from the other world as well as some new faces.
While this is definitely like a harem anime as all of his companions are women, it isn't an awful gary stu. He's pretty much a normal guy and can't do anything for himself, he can only really buff his allies.
It's one of those light novels that have the "stats" on some pages. you know when you see stuff like
Arihito has gone up a level
Theiresa used Speed strike
Theiresa deals 5 damage
that sort of thing. but seeing the damage dealt is actually quite interesting and never took me out of it.
The world itself isn't AMAZING by any means, it's your stereotypical "get points by beating monsters, more monsters you beat the higher rank you go up, the better rank, the better your living location" but the backdrop is common enough that the author while describing the world only really spends any significant amount of time on things that make it unique. and i appreciate that.
Probably one of the only issues i came across was that he gathered up too many party members too fast. in this first book he already has a valkyrie, a thief, a priestess, a berserk warrior, and a gambler. so 6 including him. it's a minor gripe, but so many characters coming in at once made it harder to see all of them have their individual moments.
By far, my favorite character is Thereisa. See, in this world, if you get killed in the labyrinth, there's a small chance you'll get turned into a demi-human. essentially you become a mute who takes on the visage of the thing that killed you. So since apparently she was killed by a lizard, she has some scales and a tail, also a mask so she never shows her face. The author is good at making her a sweet character despite never saying a single line of dialogue. Not really a fan of Kyouka, the ex-boss of the MC, but we'll see if she gets any better.
The book definitely kept my interest and wanted me to see further into this world, like, what do the higher levels look like? why are there gods buried in the labyrinth? who's the overall villain? all in all, it was a very good first volume which brings in a lot of mysteries and keeps having you turning pages. the book was about 360 pages, and i read this basically in ~2 days. it was honestly hard to put down. Not PERFECT, but definitely enjoyable enough.
Solid 4 out of 5 and i've already bought volume 2 which is coming in the mail.
4/5
Short version, a bus full of japanese businesspeople crashes and most of them die. they immediately get reincarnated in a labyrinth world where people called "Seekers" go through the labyrinth and make money there. you can pick a class you're suited to. like valkyrie, rogue, priestess, etc. our main hero, a 28 year old dude. (yayyy not a teenager!) ends up picking rear-guard. essentially a support buffer. Along the way he teams up with some of his old co-workers from the other world as well as some new faces.
While this is definitely like a harem anime as all of his companions are women, it isn't an awful gary stu. He's pretty much a normal guy and can't do anything for himself, he can only really buff his allies.
It's one of those light novels that have the "stats" on some pages. you know when you see stuff like
Arihito has gone up a level
Theiresa used Speed strike
Theiresa deals 5 damage
that sort of thing. but seeing the damage dealt is actually quite interesting and never took me out of it.
The world itself isn't AMAZING by any means, it's your stereotypical "get points by beating monsters, more monsters you beat the higher rank you go up, the better rank, the better your living location" but the backdrop is common enough that the author while describing the world only really spends any significant amount of time on things that make it unique. and i appreciate that.
Probably one of the only issues i came across was that he gathered up too many party members too fast. in this first book he already has a valkyrie, a thief, a priestess, a berserk warrior, and a gambler. so 6 including him. it's a minor gripe, but so many characters coming in at once made it harder to see all of them have their individual moments.
By far, my favorite character is Thereisa. See, in this world, if you get killed in the labyrinth, there's a small chance you'll get turned into a demi-human. essentially you become a mute who takes on the visage of the thing that killed you. So since apparently she was killed by a lizard, she has some scales and a tail, also a mask so she never shows her face. The author is good at making her a sweet character despite never saying a single line of dialogue. Not really a fan of Kyouka, the ex-boss of the MC, but we'll see if she gets any better.
The book definitely kept my interest and wanted me to see further into this world, like, what do the higher levels look like? why are there gods buried in the labyrinth? who's the overall villain? all in all, it was a very good first volume which brings in a lot of mysteries and keeps having you turning pages. the book was about 360 pages, and i read this basically in ~2 days. it was honestly hard to put down. Not PERFECT, but definitely enjoyable enough.
Solid 4 out of 5 and i've already bought volume 2 which is coming in the mail.
4/5
July 17, 2024
I picked this up because I read the first four volumes of its manga adaptation, and all of them blew me away. The light novel source material typically has more content than its manga and more detail about its world building and characters, etc. so I was looking forward to this one.
Unfortunately, that is not the case here.
Well, there IS more information, and the scenes shown in the manga ARE extended, but nothing is deeper as a result. It's weird. It's all the same events but they are conveyed in ways that are very different.
Kyouka Igarashi, for instance, is presented in the manga as some genki-girl who happens to be Atobe's boss, and does all the same work that he does, including the long hours, and she isn't bothered by them so, because Atobe never said anything, she didn't realized that he saw her as a ruthless slave-driver. Here, in the light novel, there is a much more confused image of her at work; was she pushing all her on work on Atobe because her superior only gave her the promotion because her wanted has a "pawn" for something?
There are other things about her presentation, but I don't want to list them all, because there are other things.
Combat is weird. There is some game-like interface that lists out each action. Even when it comes to the defeat of a major monster, it will say something like "Boss monster took 5 damage. Boss Monster defeated". This is boring. It is a strange thing to do. The manga's presentation is more dynamic and exciting.
Finally, there is this thing about Atobe himself. His character is less clear as well. In the manga, he is definite in his refusal to form a party with Igarashi, because he doesn't want to be under her thumb anymore, and later changes his mind when he sees her bravery and willingness to go it alone. Here, he DOES want to form a party with her from the start, but isn't willing to actually do so, as much from nerves and awkwardness as from their previous relationship. I get the sense that he changes his mind because he thinks her to be reckless and needs someone looking out for her, and he is more insistent on being recognized as party leader.
In short, the light novel vs the manga is like the difference between thick and thin soup, respectively.
I will be sticking with the manga version. It's a shame, because this single light novel volume seems to contain all the main storylines for the first four manga volumes.
Unfortunately, that is not the case here.
Well, there IS more information, and the scenes shown in the manga ARE extended, but nothing is deeper as a result. It's weird. It's all the same events but they are conveyed in ways that are very different.
Kyouka Igarashi, for instance, is presented in the manga as some genki-girl who happens to be Atobe's boss, and does all the same work that he does, including the long hours, and she isn't bothered by them so, because Atobe never said anything, she didn't realized that he saw her as a ruthless slave-driver. Here, in the light novel, there is a much more confused image of her at work; was she pushing all her on work on Atobe because her superior only gave her the promotion because her wanted has a "pawn" for something?
There are other things about her presentation, but I don't want to list them all, because there are other things.
Combat is weird. There is some game-like interface that lists out each action. Even when it comes to the defeat of a major monster, it will say something like "Boss monster took 5 damage. Boss Monster defeated". This is boring. It is a strange thing to do. The manga's presentation is more dynamic and exciting.
Finally, there is this thing about Atobe himself. His character is less clear as well. In the manga, he is definite in his refusal to form a party with Igarashi, because he doesn't want to be under her thumb anymore, and later changes his mind when he sees her bravery and willingness to go it alone. Here, he DOES want to form a party with her from the start, but isn't willing to actually do so, as much from nerves and awkwardness as from their previous relationship. I get the sense that he changes his mind because he thinks her to be reckless and needs someone looking out for her, and he is more insistent on being recognized as party leader.
In short, the light novel vs the manga is like the difference between thick and thin soup, respectively.
I will be sticking with the manga version. It's a shame, because this single light novel volume seems to contain all the main storylines for the first four manga volumes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
I went in not knowing what to expect as I have never read a light novel before, and it went just how you would think; it's like reading an anime. You get the good and the weird, the wonderful story with the odd descriptions of boobs jiggling as they only do in anime. Honestly it was a fun read, if you enjoy isekai anime then you would enjoy this book. I loved it enough to get the second one and will more than likely preorder the third book in the next couple weeks.
The characters are fun and likeable, and the premise is interesting almost like "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?". If you're a fan of that anime I would definitely recommend this book.
The characters are fun and likeable, and the premise is interesting almost like "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?". If you're a fan of that anime I would definitely recommend this book.
October 22, 2022
The first chapter or two I wasn't sure about this book but it started to grow on me quickly. The world building is fascinating and the further in the book the more questions I have on the layout and structure of the world. Not a huge fan of the harem aspect and how it's used in the volume, but the world building and the magic/battle system keeps me interested. Definitely left me wanted to read volume 2.
July 17, 2022
Every aspect of this novel is a weaker attempt at something I've seen done better in some other LN series that I've read. The lackluster protagonist, the boring dungeons, the "numbers go up" LitRPG elements, the generic setting, etc. Hell, even the harem stuff is shallow and boring. It's not even so bad that I can be angry at it for wasting my time.
This is store brand isekai.
This is store brand isekai.
November 3, 2019
Promissing
An enjoyable first novel to what I hope will continue to be a good series. Typical overpowered main character in a harem situation which means the conflicts in this novel were easily resolved.
An enjoyable first novel to what I hope will continue to be a good series. Typical overpowered main character in a harem situation which means the conflicts in this novel were easily resolved.
December 21, 2019
Couldn't out it down
I had read the sample and then I needed to know more. This story did not disappoint me the candor and flow of the story keeps your attention and before you know it the story is done.
I had read the sample and then I needed to know more. This story did not disappoint me the candor and flow of the story keeps your attention and before you know it the story is done.
March 1, 2020
Oddly titled book is entertaining.
Slightly more sophisticated then regular light novels, or maybe I just like the story hook?
Similar to Rise of the Shield Hero. It you like that series, I think you will like this too.
Slightly more sophisticated then regular light novels, or maybe I just like the story hook?
Similar to Rise of the Shield Hero. It you like that series, I think you will like this too.
October 12, 2021
I read the manga volume 1, and I was pretty confused at points. I think this story probably functions better as a light novel, where some of the functions of the afterlife can be explained in more detail.
January 5, 2022
Short but good.
Finished the book in 2 hours. But it's good enough that I want to read the next book. The ending and finding out what the sellers for is surprising, but there where a few hints in the story. The extra chapter is something else to.
Finished the book in 2 hours. But it's good enough that I want to read the next book. The ending and finding out what the sellers for is surprising, but there where a few hints in the story. The extra chapter is something else to.
September 17, 2025
Honestly, would be higher if not due to some issues that are not a problem with this book. i just know progress after volume 8 has stalled for years and the mc is super dense. I will probably continue at a later point because the world is one of the best.
July 6, 2020
A fun, light-hearted romp of an Isekai.
August 11, 2020
Great start
I've seen this book for a little while now and debated about buying it. I'm very glad I did. Enjoyed the story and characters. Already bought the next book.
I've seen this book for a little while now and debated about buying it. I'm very glad I did. Enjoyed the story and characters. Already bought the next book.
July 28, 2021
Didnt really expect to have liked this more than i had
September 2, 2021
Great
This is a great start. Love the concept and the characters. I will be following this series for sure enjoy!
This is a great start. Love the concept and the characters. I will be following this series for sure enjoy!
January 21, 2022
This is a great entry to the isekai genre and a great series but be ready for a loveable but seriously dense protagonist.
August 5, 2022
Interesting concept but wasn’t for me.
September 25, 2021
無關劇情
「但她前幾天因為有人而醒了過來……」
角色名字叫做「有人」真是妨礙閱讀
而角色名字叫「五十嵐」沒感覺，叫「珠洲菜」卻會覺得說不定很好吃
「但她前幾天因為有人而醒了過來……」
角色名字叫做「有人」真是妨礙閱讀
而角色名字叫「五十嵐」沒感覺，叫「珠洲菜」卻會覺得說不定很好吃
February 18, 2022
A little too GameLit for me, but I'm forgiving for the volume one in every series.
February 7, 2021
At the beginning you'd think that this is just like any other isekei lightnovel, sure it has all the usual tropes but whats really interesting here is the plot. The mystery around why people are reincarnated in this world and why they are forced into the mentioned profession is really interesting.
There are a lot of questions that remain unanswered at the end of this book and instead they are answered right at the beginning of the 2nd book of this series.
This series seems promising, I'll read the remaining books of this series.
There are a lot of questions that remain unanswered at the end of this book and instead they are answered right at the beginning of the 2nd book of this series.
This series seems promising, I'll read the remaining books of this series.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews