Ryuu to Yuusha to Haitatsunin

TL:DR Excellent parody of fantasy media with fun characters rooted in medieval history and a surprisingly hype finale Story: 8/10 A gut-busting send up of fantasy games, seen through the lenses of a simple courier. Very funny, the comedy comes both from parodying standard fantasy tropes and from the characters. For example, there's a reoccurring segment detailing the herculean (and absurd) efforts of a government office dedicated to ensuring the world staying in medieval fantasy world stasis. The author gets really creative with how generic fantasy tropes might actually come to be ("why is there a dungeon in the middle of the city?") and it's damn funny. Obviously, allcomedy is subjective but if you like a little whimsy then this manga will work for you. The plot is mostly episodic with reoccurring characters. The author's knowledge of medieval history is a strong influence on the episodic plots. For example, one chapter uses the topic medieval forest usage rights to mix with fantasy RPG mechanics as a legal XP farming location (with a malevolent forest warden). This leads to my next point: the worldbuilding is surprisingly in depth. Despite being a parody, the author takes the time to really dive into how an JRPG-style fantasy world would actually work. However, there is an overarching plot that is woven through most of the latter half other manga, including a genuinely epic finale volume with a continuous plot that brings together everything laid down in the previous chapters. It's unexpectedly good, and makes for a satisfying finale. Despite the more serious tone, there is more than enough build up (and comedic relief) that is works without tonal whiplash. You know what's even more impressive about all this? The manga was actually cancelled by volume 6. The author managed to cram an action-packed, tightly written and genuinely emotionally compelling and thought provoking final arc with build up in whatever number chapter the publisher let him have less and I didn't feel it was rushed at all. Whether this reflects generosity on the part of the publisher to give the author as many chapters as needed or they really are just that good, it's a good sign when literally being cancelled doesn't slow the manga down a single bit! The manga includes a segment most chapters going over the real medieval history that inspired that chapter, which I found rather interesting. The author is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about medieval history. Character: 7/10 Yoshida is our main character and she's a good protagonist, a half-elf outsider with a good excuse to ask questions about the world and the owner of a strong work ethic and a short temper. There are a few other major characters. They each have their respective quirks that make them fun to watch. Oddly the main character has the least amount of development, though she's still fun. Mostly it's the other major side characters, like a certain hapless criminal wizard or a cleaver-wielding knight who's fond of kids and violence. However, many characters often show up again, either in minor roles or just in the background. In fact, these little background appearances might be advancing a minor side-story of it's own, like a romance between two characters that develops in their background appearances. It also helps to make the world feel alive, as this manga is primarily set in one small (by modern standards) city, to have people show up again every now and then. Art The art is quite good with simple but charming character designs that all feel distinct. The backgrounds are details and the action is well drawn and can feel quite epic. The art is a benefit to the comedy, with expressive characters. Overall: 8/10 Brilliant satire, enjoyable characters and a surprisingly good plot. I definitely recommend this for any fan of fantasy or even just medieval history due to the strong influence.