Well, this isn't the homecoming anyone expected...After liberating Gaeabrande from the tyranny of the Demon Lord, Seiya and Rista are rewarded (punished, really) with a return trip to Ixphoria. But due to the pair's failure to save the B-ranked world, the baddies have leveled up and plunged Ixphoria into chaos, transforming it into an SS-ranked hellscape! With the added penalty of Rista's healing being sealed and no access to the Hero class, Seiya must now save the world as...a Jolly Piper...?
Reader’s discretion is advised if you’re reading this book/series. The contents in this book are more gruesome and graphic compared to the first two books, as well as there are mentions of slavery, torture and abuse.
Given the warning above, this book was not what I was expecting at all. It was much darker than the previous two volumes and much more descriptive. The beginning of this book starts off with Seiya returning back to his default skills but with memories of his past summoning with Rista. Seiya grows a soft spot for Rista – paying attention to her, talking to her gently and giving her importance over the others, much to Rista’s pleasure. However, it doesn’t last long when Rista accidentally opens a portal causing a demon to enter into the spirit world and the interaction leaves Seiya with amnesia. Luckily the amnesia doesn’t last long but their close interaction soon becomes a distant memory.
I feel very bad for Rista. I’m sure everyone reading this book will find that Rista is one happy and positive goddess. No matter how depressed and lonely she gets, she’s always staying positive and happy. I just don’t understand why the others seem to always overlook her; it almost feels like they treat her as a child or a nobody and my heart goes out to her. Since volume one, Rista is not strong or knowledgeable like the other Gods and Goddesses or even the hero, for that matter. She is the Goddess of Healing and there doesn’t seem to be much she can do in the way of fighting or helping the hero. The treatment she gets from not only the hero but the other’s surprises me on how strong Rista is but also saddens me that she’s always feeling down and has to find ways to cheer herself up.
I felt that this volume just made the hero ten times more demonic. The first quarter of the book shows Seiya in a new personality. He’s much kinder to Rista and when he gets amnesia he loses his “cautiousness”. From his reckless behavior and attitude it’s really easy to understand why Seiya is as cautious and prepared as he is. However, I felt some of the things he did were unnecessary and his words to Rista were a little harsher than they needed to be.
This volume does a good job of not focusing on details that were already focused on in the first arc (volumes 1 & 2). We do not go through Seiya’s entire training arc in detail, or have to read through repetitive descriptions on how Seiya is cautious or prepared for any case scenario. Instead, this volume focuses on the battles and the world Seiya and Rista interact with. Discussing how the world works, what they see and hear and more descriptive battles are all key elements to this volume.
Overall, this was another good entry in this series and there were a lot of improvements as compared to the last two volumes. I still feel bad for Rista being neglected to a degree and hope the next volume treats her better since she deserves it.
I don't know the first two book were decent this on just seems eh.Im also tired of restas abuse and how shes ok with being beaten as long as it means shes being touched.It is done way to much and has become annoying to read.I do not know about reading the next book having the pov character say things like he punched me into the ground then used me as a anchor well at least his arms around me that is like a hug. made me want to get into some action as fast as possible and sadly it never happens not here sorry to busy with other things to actually have some action
The first section of this book was the best I have seen in the series so far! (And the book's final boss did not get left behind).
The tension and creativity behind this arc is amazing. I still don't like how Rista gets treated, but the way Light Tuchihi described the post-apocalyptic world of Ixphoria goes beyond anything I have read.
I give it five stars. I really enjoyed the reading. But a note to newcomers, the contents of this book may not be suitable for all audiences, reader discretion is advised.
A darker and less comedic LN compared to the previous entries in the series, but a solid entry all the same. Good set-up for future instalments. Look forward to seeing what happens!