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82
9
Finished
Feb 24, 2016 to Jul 28, 2023
8.5/10
Average Review Score
100%
Recommend It
2
Reviews Worldwide
This is a must read for those who want good fantasy and good world building. I say those two things separately, because the manga doesnât have the typical âfantasy world buildingâ with deep lore and political intrigue; unless by political intrigue you mean an outrageously funny government workplace comedy like Parks and Recreation. The world building is immaculate in weaving together all the elements of sword and sorcery, actually considering how world shaking fantasy magic would affect the medieval world. This is what should be meant by a world âfeeling aliveâ; the sense that the world would actually function, with all of our already complexhistorical human systems meshing perfectly with all the most imaginative inventions of fantasy. The story really has it all. Its characters are beyond endearing, with a large cast all simultaneously navigating the chaos of fantasy society. The dedicated reader should pay attention to EVERY background character, because so many of them will continue to appear in gags and evolving tangential story lines in numerous easter eggs. And despite the story being mostly a slice of life workplace comedy, there is an overarching plot, heavily focused on later in the manga for its ending. And the plot is excellent; not for being dramatic or having shocking twists, but for being so tightly woven as a natural consequence of the premise itself. The real world of sword and sorcery is not one that can remain stagnant for too long, and the story is that of the evolution of this society, with every step of the way carefully constructed. This really shows what can be done with a fully realized world. As the world evolves, every character will have to adapt to the times. Some will rise against the tide, with the power to change the world. Others will meet them, and conflict will naturally arise. And all of this from the perspective of a charming little olâ courier elf girl? Can it get better than this? There is no guarantee that any comedy will be a hit with every single person, but this manga might be pretty close. Gags are highlighted and elevated by the sheer novelty and ingenuity behind every wacky concept in this world. Itâs almost the essential form of comedy where the manga so consistently catches you off guard with creativity and whimsy, and then it pulls you back in with the punchline that just fits the concept, the setup, and the setting so perfectly together. The way the world handles the existence of an âexperience point systemâ alone is so brilliant that it wouldnât surprise me if it spawned a hundred slop isekai anime riding on its novelty as a gimmick. And thatâs just the recommendation for a general audience. For those who have even an inkling of interest in medieval history, this must be a nerdâs bible. Gregorious Yamada has a true love for the medieval, and it really shows. He went and crafted something magical in this very real world. The Dragon, the Hero, and the Courier 9 out of 10
"Hello fellow citizens. I am Yoshida the half-elf, working for the post office of the Imperial City of Idazig. My job is to deliver letters and documents to wherever you need them to be, whether it be a castle in the sky or the bottom of an abyss." This is a comedy written by the biggest Middle Ages geek, hitting the fantasy genre from an entirely new angle! (Source: Shueisha, translated)
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.