The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna's Journey, (Light Novel) Vol. 1

The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna's Journey (Light Novel) #1

by Rokusyou • Usuasagi, Andria Cheng-McKnight (Translator)

A THIRD CHANCE AT LIFE

After being summoned to another world as the 68th hero in order to protect the world from monsters, Setsuna Sugimoto is abandoned because of his weak and sickly constitution and waits for his inevitable death. But when he meets Kyle, the former 23rd hero, he is given another chance at life and inherits Kyle’s vast knowledge, power, and life force. Having finally gained the freedom to travel the world, Setsuna embarks on a journey as an adventurer, where he’ll encounter all walks of life, meet new people, and say good-bye to others―each one bound to leave their mark on him and the world.

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novel

234 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2020

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s mentioned multiple times in this volume for the main character to “take your time to enjoy this journey. Don’t rush things. You have plenty of time to figure things out” and it’s that feeling that pretty much sums up the book’s atmosphere.

It’s not an action packed fantasy. It’s the story of how a guy who’s never had anything going for him meets a person who changes his life and gives him the tools to live however he’d like, and thus Setsuna sets out to fulfill that wish… very methodically. Reading this book feels like indulging in a warm glass of tea after a long day, if you let yourself go along with its pace, it’s got such a warm and welcoming feeling to it. There are times when I wished it would progress a little faster, but after finishing the volume, I look back on the experience of reading it fondly and am looking forward to future installments.

My only qualm is that the writing feels a touch juvenile and surface level at times, and emotions are not really explored in any depth. I hope those aspects improve going forward.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoughtful isekai fantasy with no major battles or romances (at least so far), but a young man finally getting a chance at having a life. There's some political intrigue and conflict but also character development and some nice touches in the world-building. Setsuna is my kibd of hero: curious, open-minded, intelligent, and kind.
Highly recommended for teens and adult adults who enjoy character-based fantasy with a slow pace.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, since by description it sounds like something I would like. Standard isekai premise: protag is summoned to this world to be the wonderful amazing hero and for whatever reason that does not play out as intended. I think it would be subversive at this point to write a plain old hero isekai story with no caveats or gimmicks. What attracted me to this over any of a hundred million other near carbon copies is that it is not so much about heroic battles or amassing a harem of monster girls but rather going on a journey in a new world and finding family along the way. Classic setup, nice and sweet, hard to go wrong, but also hard to make special because it has been done before. In a non-isekai setting I think of The Teller Of Small Fortunes, or closer to this here story Frieren. There are plenty of other travelogue type stories. Mushi-Shi, Kino's Journey, Elaina, Spice And Wolf, I can go on all day, some closer to Setsuna than others. Each has its own strengths and there is no reason that similar types of stories cannot be told until the end of time with slight variations.

To write one that stands above the rest it must be in some way exceptional. After the first chapter I was intrigued by the unusually somber tone and heavy themes, so I thought it might turn out to be more thoughtful than your standard straight-to-anime isekai light novel. The main story starts with a cliche: the MC inherits super mega ultra strong magic to make him effectively invincible. If this was a battle shounen, I'd drop it on the spot like it's hot because that can only ever serve to eliminate all stakes in any conflict. To make Superman a decent character and to give him some kind of obstacle he could not instantly overcome, DC writers created kryptonite. Lex Luthor and Batman can actually trouble him now. As far as I know, having read the second book too, there is nothing that can challenge Setsuna. I actually do not hate it for this kind of story. He could do everything instantly and gain power, fame, fortune, anything, but he makes a decision to travel around and learn things the hard way, with the occasional allowance for convenient use of super-magic. Outside of the battle shounen genre, the ultimate powers are not very important and can be used to further the proper core of the story: character development. A book about ephemeral scenes relies heavily on characters, which is why I picked it up - I like that. I'm freaky like that. I like most of the characters and think they are written well enough, though a certain angsty, angry teen feels extremely heavy handed. I recently read another book with a similar one-dimensional ball of anger recently (Skyward Inn), so I was maybe more annoyed than I otherwise would have been.

Writing I think could use some work. There are at least a dozen instances of Setsuna saying "Oh and by the way I did this magic to the thing so now it's unbreakable and perfect and amazing" in not quite those words, well after the thing was initially used and he would have spelled it. This reads like what it probably is: the author finding a plot hole and filling it in later rather than reworking the original scene. If you want to include Setsuna using his limitless magic on a piece of jewelry, say, as he creates it, I have no problem with it. Just include during that creation his thought process: why give it these characteristics and not something else? Why give it any special magic at all? That kind of forethought reveals a lot about a character and their motivations and it provides easy foreshadowing. If an action is an afterthought for the character, it is usually meaningless in the story. We want books full of meaning. If you put some warning magic on an item five chapters ago, you can now write that being useful, or just giving a false alarm. Many of the described magical items' attributes never come up again.

In short, while the premise is nice and it's not entirely bungled, it is also not so uniquely handled as to make it special. I figured three stars is appropriate for middling stuff.

[Tuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel easily sets itself apart from other fantasy isekai stories in that the goal isn't one of rebuilding or saving a kingdom from ruin, or even defeating some world-ending overpowered monster, but rather, of just exploring what it means to live and enjoy life. Generally this allows the author to establish and maintain a rather peaceful, relaxing, hopeful, and encouraging vibe.

Initially the premise starts on familiar well tread ground with the typical plot points for the genre: a teenager or young adult is summoned to the other world, encounters a goddess midway, and receives the new worlds blessing or power, and then is tasked to do the kingdoms work. However, the "twist" occurs before he could even say his name, his life ending illness was brought with him into this new world sending him collapsing immediately after his summoning and forcing him to remain bedridden for a year. As if repeating the last year of his life, he lays there waiting and wishing to die and just before it happens, he meets the previous hero. Quickly befriending him he both takes a liking to him, befriends him, and reveals (uinawarely) that he wanted to end it all, but the hero, aware of his innermost thoughts, offers him the chance of a lifetime, the ability to leave the room that he found himself in and explore the world and see what it means to live a fulfilling life, just as he himself did for thousands of years. As stated, the story isn't about saving the world but of living, actually living a fulfilling life, and as much as Setsuna wanted to say no, he embraces that opportunity and takes it, all so he can leave the sadness and hopelessness that defined his life.

Setsuna's new found freedom offers him a chance to explore what it means to live. Considering his upbringing it is no surprise that he sees everything as shiny and new and wants to take it all in as fast as he can. COnsidering his childlike naivity brought about from this, his personality allows him to be someone that others fear could be taken advantage of and additionally as someone whom everyone wants to throw some support their way. These interactions are nice to see with the guild he joins with a receptionist who treats him like a kid that he practically acts as a protective mom too, the highest ranked guildmember who treats him like a third son, his son who acts standoffish to Setsuna and is easily angered by him but grows after interacting with him, and even the old man Setsuna meets on one quest who also acts like a dad to him. Each interaction or scene is a really good read.

The scene that was the most interesting to me is the one that the cover illustrates. Setsuna and Alto, a human wolf hybrid that he befriends, serve as the protagonists moving forward. Their origin story in this volume is really emotional and great and I love how the two interact. They feel made for each other. And, honestly, I can't wait to see where it goes from here. In terms of Setsuna's character, Alto serves a a really good purpose for him and helps alleviate some of the worries many of the characters had about Setsuna going forward. And for Alto, Setsuna is definitely someone whom he needed in his life.

Overall, I love the world, and I love the story. I love the vibe, and I love how unique this feels as compared with other stories. It will be interesting to see how things turn out when saving the world or just hiding out in the boonies is not the objective or goal. Honestly, he even turns his back on the kingdom and leaves it.

Only content warning here is period typical racism/slavery (beastfolk), and violence against children.

[Ghostea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A certain freedom is afforded in the light novel format that does not apply to other literary forms. Light novels can get away with simplistic storytelling and loose writing as long as the project is entertaining. This is true of the Isekai genre and is even more exponentially prevalent when dealing with ‘OP' protagonists–with comedy often a suitable replacement for strong prose and character development beyond surface-level observations to push the humor forward. This is not inherently a fault of the genre but rather a welcome norm that allows authors to play with all sorts of scenarios and emphasize the fantastical elements to a hungry readership that craves easily accessible escapism.

There are standouts within the genre that only adhere to the light novel name in structure alone, a continuous story spanning several volumes garnered with familiar themes. However, there are a few titles that manage to embody a more classical storytelling structure with an emphasis on character development over fantastical sensationalism. Rokushou Usuasagi's “The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna's Journey” is one such title that stands out in such a manner.

The story is told through protagonist Setsuna Sugimoto, who is given a chance at a ‘third life,' having been sick in his first and a useless hero in the next world until a previously iseakied man from Japan gifts the sheltered persona his powers and knowledge. This contract is built on the premise of Setsune promising to experience a ‘normal' life that he was previously denied due to poor health. Consequently, the young adventurer is given infinite power but chooses to practice a purposeful passivity to garner life experiences without the allure of absolute power.

While this helps pace the action in an enjoyable reserved manner, this narrative device gives Setsuna humbleness and innocence in his interactions that act as the most notable draw to the story. The young hopeful is very introspective, and his conversations with fellow travelers reflect this reserved personality and an openness to learn from others despite the power disparity. In addition, this pacing allows the reader to digest the dynamics of the other world in bits that make it feel more comprehensive than those that throw out a slew of concepts and quickly explain them away with quick exposition. Indeed, plenty of familiar tropes and ideas (infinite storage, a level-up system, drama between guild members) are present in the book. Yet, how Rokushou Usuasagi approaches these elements has an appreciated depth not often found in the genre.

The art from Sime practices the same degree of reserve, and the work avoids common mistakes like focusing on fan service or conveying scenes with little in common with the story. It is not stunning, but it is the perfect complement and adds little reflections of the adventures of Setsuna. The physical release is well presented, and the book is neatly compact. The trade-off is that the text feels slightly condensed, but those struggling with this can check out the e-book version.


For readers who actively crave those over-the-top isekai stories, the considered pace of “The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna's Journey” may not offer the instant gratification of more boisterous titles. But for those who like variety in tone, and particularly those that seek light novels whose prose matches closer to what one would consider ‘traditional' means of fantasy storytelling, the book should be a treat.

[Aelvana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setsuna has spent his entire life sick and in the hospital, which is why it comes as such a surprise when he's summoned to another world as a hero. Only he's just as sick and bed-bound in his new life, too. But as his life is withering away, he meets Kyle, a previous Hero, who saves him and gives him everything he could have ever dreamed. Now Setsuna is free to explore a world he's never known, to grow, to live, in whatever way appeals to him.

This is a bit slower-paced, but I really liked how it works out. It's less the actual physical journey of Setsuna and more the steps he's taking as he's learning, for the first time in both worlds, what it is to truly be independent and live on his own. Setsuna is given a ton of cheats, but in many ways he doesn't feel as overloaded as a typical isekai protagonist, since the powers are mostly there to serve as a safety net as he figures out the things he wants to do and how to survive in a world entirely unsuited for his previous mentality.

For one thing, he's mature enough to realize he needs to work to earn his own money, and despite having enough on-hand to provide for all his needs, he makes the conscious decision to live within what he's actually earning. I think that does a lot to show who he is as a character---Kyle chose to hand him a lot of help, and Setsuna's not too proud to use it, but at the same time he's wise enough to know he needs to engage with the world if he truly wants to live in it.

I also really like his relationship with Alto, a boy he takes in as his apprentice. The two of them are both extremely lonely, and in each other they find both purpose and the family they've both been longing for. Alto isn't that much younger than Setsuna, but his restrictive upbringing means he knows even less about the world than Setsuna, and frequently acts much younger than his age. Setsuna isn't really ready for this degree of responsibility (especially on his rather low income), but he knows what will happen if he doesn't step up, and he can't bear just leaving things alone.

The book does tend to reiterate some scenes a bit too much when it's replaying the same thing from another character's point of view. The added perspective is nice, but I wish these scenes felt less clunky.

Overall I'm excited to see where this goes next. I rate this book Recommended.

Content Notification: There is an innkeeper who is male who dresses like a woman and calls himself Dahlia.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story. Setsuna has spent all his life bed-ridden. When he dies, he finds himself in a different world as a hero summoned there by magic. But even though the summoning was supposed to give him magical powers and strength, he still suffers from the same illness, and so is abandoned.

Then a person called Kyle appears and offers to give his life to Setsuna, with all his magical powers and thousands of years of knowledge. Setsuna takes over Kyle’s body, and sets out as an adventurer.

The world follows the basic hero tropes, with quests fighting monsters and exploring labyrinths. Setsuna with his superior knowledge soon advances as an adventurer. But the book isn’t about his quests, it’s about the people he meets along the way. He makes an impression on everyone, their stories told from their points of view. Everyone is nice and only good things happen. The best part is when Setsuna adopts a small wolf-boy who has been kept as a slave and takes him as his apprentice. The book ends with the pair heading onto their journey.

This is a book where nothing much happens, and there isn’t much of a plot. Nevertheless, the story was wonderfully cozy and left me feel good. I would definitely read more.

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

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting start. Chill sort of isekai with a quite different tone to many. Think it might be exploring similar territory to the High Elf Slow Life one that's recently been translated and I enjoyed that. Could still go off the rails but a good start & more than good enough to encourage me to pick up the next one.

[MyDoRyS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly sweet story, a bit dark, so definitely for adults only. But it is a perfect Slice-Of-Life. This is not a "full of action" light novel, it is more of a slow-paced one. Alto is my favorite! The editing is a bit weird and the world building is poor, but the story is good enough to keep you reading. Onto my net adventure, Happy Readings!!!

[Tenome · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly bland volume. 95% of it is your usual isekai adventurer filler, and he doesn't even start his titular journey until the last chapter. It feels like this entire volume was the prologue for volume 2, when the story would actually start.

[Astar Spades · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would die for either Setsuna or Alto. Also, I love that this light novel doesn't fall into the weird trend where the main character, their love interest, or their friends try to justify sexual assault or pedophilia and are still somehow made out to be the heroes. Very wholesome, I loved it.

[China · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good!

[ReadToBreathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
I was not a fan of multiple characters speaking about the same events.