Syosetsuka ni Narou Discussion Thread

[bludvein]

If you want an intelligent and strategic MC that visibly improves skill-wise without ever stepping into overpowered territory, I 'd recommend Mother of Learning(not a Narou title, but still a web novel). That would pretty much fit your criteria perfectly.

[tonyorobsky]

Mother of learning is wonderfull

A MC that use tactics and can improve skill-wise??
There is this that I found earlier in the day: "Strongest at the weakest" (最弱にて最強の)
It's about a guy summoned in another world, like the Japan from the edo period, but with magic, elves and beastmen. He kept his cheat ability secret, and it's not a battle oriented cheat so he need to use his brain and use others well considering their skills.
I only read 7 chapters but I like it so far (and one of the charm in this transported story is that unlike most transported works, the country is japanese-like and not a mix a western countries, it's very refreshing)!!!

... ... I need to hold back a little with the reincarnation/transported stories; and go back a little to western novels with action-SF or action-thriller, things that were like Deception Point, Hellhole...

[Harens]

Mother of Learning?
I think I've read some of that a while ago.
Is that the one where the mc is a student who has an older brother who's adored by his parents and a little sister who he doesn't get along with?
I just remember reading the very first couple of chapters to it.

[bludvein]

Originally Posted by Harens

Mother of Learning?
I think I've read some of that a while ago.
Is that the one where the mc is a student who has an older brother who's adored by his parents and a little sister who he doesn't get along with?
I just remember reading the very first couple of chapters to it.

Yeah, that's the one. Link is here. If you only read the first couple chapters you're missing out, since things don't really get rolling until chapter 4-5.

[Avrorrange]

Originally Posted by bludvein

Yeah, that's the one. Link is here. If you only read the first couple chapters you're missing out, since things don't really get rolling until chapter 4-5.

Customary questions:
Harem?
Is the MC still considered OP because of his skills?

[bludvein]

Originally Posted by Moe Connection

Customary questions:
Harem?
Is the MC still considered OP because of his skills?

No and no.

So far there isn't any romance at all except failed ones, and MC is stuck in a time loop so he isn't exactly out to test the waters. As for OP, definitely not. While Zorian has improved, a few years is not enough to take him to the point of being able to solve his problems. Even if he reached the peak of his abilities, there is no way he can win against some characters in a straight fight since he has an under-average mana supply. Luckily it's very rarely a straight fight, since Zorian is heading in the direction of being a master of preparation and dirty fighting.

[tonyorobsky]

Come on!! Dirty fighting is a bad way to put it !!!!
Considering his situation, he is legitimatly cautious!!
He knows his magic power is limited, and he makes up for it with precision, tactics and tools, but not to the point of being called dirty fighter (except by the battle addict friend).

[Avrorrange]

Originally Posted by bludvein

No and no.

So far there isn't any romance at all except failed ones, and MC is stuck in a time loop so he isn't exactly out to test the waters. As for OP, definitely not. While Zorian has improved, a few years is not enough to take him to the point of being able to solve his problems. Even if he reached the peak of his abilities, there is no way he can win against some characters in a straight fight since he has an under-average mana supply. Luckily it's very rarely a straight fight, since Zorian is heading in the direction of being a master of preparation and dirty fighting.

No OP...
No harem....
*sad*



Just kidding!

[bludvein]

Originally Posted by tonyorobsky

Come on!! Dirty fighting is a bad way to put it !!!!
Considering his situation, he is legitimatly cautious!!
He knows his magic power is limited, and he makes up for it with precision, tactics and tools, but not to the point of being called dirty fighter (except by the battle addict friend).

Don't get me wrong, as I'm a big fan of not fighting like an idiot. It's self-defense, not a sport. More novels should adopt this.

[Mechatrill]

For a protag that doesn't use power but instead leverages intelligence and strategy, the best example I know of would probably be the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher.

In a world where everyone has superpowers, the main character, Tavi, is the only one who doesn't. That pretty much means he has to make it up with raw cunning instead, and he does so very well indeed...

[bludvein]

Originally Posted by Mechatrill

For a protag that doesn't use power but instead leverages intelligence and strategy, the best example I know of would probably be the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher.

In a world where everyone has superpowers, the main character, Tavi, is the only one who doesn't. That pretty much means he has to make it up with raw cunning instead, and he does so very well indeed...

Tavi was admittedly crazy awesome, but eventually he became OP as well. Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden character is more of the same.

But this is branching off into novels you can't just read on the web for free.

[Kaito Yamakage]

One more chapter to the end of volume 10 of World Teacher.

Spoiler for Vol 10:

Lots of fun interactions in the past few chapters, since they got Hokuto, he returns to visit the grave and comes across his dear old father, along with his older brother.

Father still holds a grudge over the exploding gold coins he was given years back and attempts to get more money out of Sirius, thinking that Sirius can't pay just because he doesn't want to, they start talking about taking Emerilia, Risu, and Hokuto as their slaves.

He basically gets totally pissed off after that and tortures his brother and father into unconsciousness.

They finally come to realize they're screwed when he pulls out his mantle from Elysion showing he holds some power there, at a level beyond the rural noble family his father is part of.


As a final blow after he leaves the mansion, he gets Gargan company to investigate the primary source of the families finances, and gives them plans for better devices to completely destroy their finances, then he sends a letter to Risu's sister about how some rural noble was planning to make her sister into his slave. Thus the King of the neighboring country now holds a grudge against them as well.

Thoroughly owned.

[tonyorobsky]

Codex Alera!!! I loved Tavi!! That's a kind of MC I love!!!
I read the first 4 volumes, and I have volume 5 & 6 on PDF
Haven't read them yet because I read the first 4 in french and my PDF are in english
When I start a serie in one language, it's always disturbing when the following is only available in another language which (there are some things I must rediscover due to a lack of knowledge in vocabulary)

Also another recommandation: "Different world of stupid "things" - the world by Kaware ~" 異世界の愚か『もの』 ～世界よ変われ～
Again, different world trip. The MC woke up in a forest without memories, except feelings that "this sort of thing happened" or "i had this kind of feelings" (when it comes to personal history), but he remembers common knowledge.
So he quickly realise that he is in another world, and is further surprised that he longed for it and was tired of the previous world.
Then he encounter his first monster and defeat it by using magic (he instinctively felt the presence of magic in him and didn't hesitate to use it).
He decide to stay in the forest to study and improve his magic, and more importantly because there is no lack of preys for food and there is a known source of water nearby.
After 6 months he leave the forest to explore the new world he is in.

The guy knows how to use his head, his body... and especially how to use magic
And even though he isn't bad and don't like bad guys, he isn't really an ally of justice. Shirou from FSN would definitly hate him XD !! Hajime from Arifureta would definitly approve his decisions XD !!

[Senia]

Just started 二度目の人生を異世界で

I have to say, on one hand it's interesting to see a nice protagonist with a somewhat crazy but at the same time rational personality. On the other, having a rational personality at the same time puts more emphasis on how regardless of how rational they are, they will still be inevitably be dragged along the rails of generic developments.

Spoiler:

In this case, while it was nice that the protagonist knew to suspect the women he rescued, it felt a bit painful how developments inevitably still led to him teaming with them anyway. There's never an option to just ditch them and have them never appear again is there...

[laon]

Originally Posted by tonyorobsky

Also another recommandation: "Different world of stupid "things" - the world by Kaware ~" 異世界の愚か『もの』 ~世界よ変われ~
Again, different world trip. The MC woke up in a forest without memories, except feelings that "this sort of thing happened" or "i had this kind of feelings" (when it comes to personal history), but he remembers common knowledge.
So he quickly realise that he is in another world, and is further surprised that he longed for it and was tired of the previous world.
Then he encounter his first monster and defeat it by using magic (he instinctively felt the presence of magic in him and didn't hesitate to use it).
He decide to stay in the forest to study and improve his magic, and more importantly because there is no lack of preys for food and there is a known source of water nearby.
After 6 months he leave the forest to explore the new world he is in.

The guy knows how to use his head, his body... and especially how to use magic
And even though he isn't bad and don't like bad guys, he isn't really an ally of justice. Shirou from FSN would definitly hate him XD !! Hajime from Arifureta would definitly approve his decisions XD !!

Tried this. Beginning was good but it got too wordy with less and less action soon after (which is fine if this was a drama novel, it's not) and I just can't believe the interaction MC did to the slaves he just saved, it's like the author base it on his interaction with his long time friends and the novel, up to ch. 17, focus way too much on it when they (the slaves) haven't even done something that would make me care for them. Since the rest of the novel probably won't change much I probably will drop this soon.

[amatsunagi]

はみだし勇者と愚連隊　人外と歩む異世界戦記
Romaji: Hamidashi yuusha to gurentai　Ningai to ayumu isekai senki
Alternative Title: Jutting out hero and tough gangs　War chronicle of walking along with non-human in another world
Author: Hebikurage (蛇海月)
Started on: 2014/10/11
Link: n3255CI
Keyword / Tags: (R15) (Violence description) (Fantasy) (Another world summoning) (Harem (scoffed at)) (Elected few (LOL)) (Rising up) (Trip) (Double standards) (Irregular updates)

Spoiler:

Satou Kazuki wishes to go to fantasy world. Obtaining powerful weapon, fighting against enemy of justice, defeating monsters, meeting with comrade in arms, and who knows maybe creating a harem? He always admires story like that, and that's what he come to enjoy light novel and manga. One day, along with his classmates, Kazuki is summoned as the braves to fend demons that will invade the country. However, only him who doesn't have any aptitude as the others, plummeting his reputation even lower than before. He accidentally overheard the plan of using the braves as tools for war, and tells to his classmates, but no one believes him, not even his buddies. With no knights wanted to join under him, Kazuki is disappointed and in his anger, resolved to gather his own knghts to wreck the plan. But... a mercenary wolfman who is an expert at eating without paying, assasin pantherwoman who is sharp-tongued, water dragonian priest who is better at destruction than healing, ...all he gather are members full of troubles!?

Summoning template. This one is good with protagonist develop without being too overpowered. Reminds me to Suikoden, and in current state, practically a successful one since you can feel the bond between the team. The expectation is strong in this one, recommended

異世界転生-君との再会まで長いこと長いこと
Romaji: Isekai Tensei-Kimi to no saikai made nagai koto nagai koto
Alternative Title: Another world reincarnation-A long time and long time till I met you again
Author: Anikki Brother (アニッキーブラッザー)
Started on: 2014/08/17
Link: n2409CG
Keyword / Tags: (Another world reincarnation) (Fantasy) (Harem) (Princess) (Magic) (Friendship) (Double standards) (Rising up) (Cheat) (Specialist) (Demons) (Demi-humans) (Hunter) (A little bit erotic)

Spoiler:

Vert Jihha recollected the memories of his past life as high-school DQN Asakura Ryuuma when he reach 8 years-old. Aside from confusion that he felt about his identity, he is still as the same as old DQN he was. No cheat, no talent, no ambition, Vert only challenge is to survive in this world and find "her" again who also reincarnated to this world.

Looking at the original synopsis, the most that you will get from this are comedy story... and seriously, that's what really happen in the first few chapters: A brat who was a delinquent in his former life, he doesn't have any good points you can expect from him: not bright (as expected from delinquent?), zero magic talent (for all hard work he put, can only learn levitation magic, which is to make things float in the air), evasion from using blades (despite a delinquent), almost no ambition (at most his future as a farmer is secured), except his blessed environtment: kind parents who spoils him, childhood friend, at the same time a royalty with bright future who is madly in love with him, and their relationship is supported by the king, thqueen and everyone else, much to his dismay. The real stuff however, much more than just a love-comedy, his memories as Asakura Ryuuma trigger confusion to his identity and insecurities, to the point of thinking "no one know the true me", or "this life is fake" that, had not he met with the ramen guy, he would surely lose hope and eventually go crazy. With the revelation of another who are also like him, and the tragedy that happened (twice), draws a resolution of him to go on a journey, getting stronger and settled the line about him and his past, In a simple way, this is a Seinen themed story with Shounen progress added with love comedy as bonus, done in the right way. Okay, it shounen, and it ought to be so cliched with repetitive plot, but hey, you can't lie to yourself that you would still enjoy the hot-blooded fight scene. Not only that, this is also one of very few stories that demonstrates natural shuraba/catfight scene in a right dosage which is quite hard without making it too forced. If there is a flaws, there are several things that I could think of
- the instance where Vert confront the slave trader which is annoying. He boast that he is a rebel to rules, yet shrink right away when he knows that slavery is protected by law? Sure, I know it stupid to act rashly but that's no reason to back off like a chicken. And he still have the nerves to act "look I'm not interested in your business, but you've got to help with mine" like a jerk.
- Some of his actions are sometimes exaggeratingly a peace idiot (oh, how much I hate that stuff), dunno, maybe it's because I read too much R15 and R18 stuffs from narou, but the option of "not killing no matter what" is kind of disagreeable to me, since I know most of it will end in a bad way.
- His lack of confidence.
Yet you somehow know some of his feelings that you can't disagree with him, and thankfully, he develop albeit very slow, so I guess it is offsetted.

All in all, this is truly a betrayal to my expectation, totally recommended

魔神オークの願い
Romaji: Majin orc no negai
Alternative Title: The wish of demon god orc
Author: Magami Daiku (馬神大久)
Started on: 2014/11/19
Link: n7920CJ
Keyword / Tags: (R15) (Violence description) (Happy end) (Another world) (Demon humans) (Spirits) (Magic) (Harem)

Spoiler:

Long time ago, the world once falls into the dark ages where demon rules and woman suffers. All of it ends when the Spirit Queen, through the media of one human, subjugate the Demon God Orc and freed humanity from sufferings. The Spirit Queen then put curse on mans which continue to this very ages...

In this world where Women stands above men, Jiji, a kind but slightly perverted boy, dreams to become a spirit knight so he can protect mother and his childhood friend. But his dream starts to crumble apart when he knows the path of him to spirit knight is almost impossible, yet he didn't give up, even if he have to sell his soul to demon

Hahaha, don't be fooled, contrary to the serious synopsis, the plot is actually quite comedic and funny. Well, basically the truth are different that what is written in history, and Jiji, knowing the truth, agreed to grant Orc (who is a perverted good old-man) wishes and make things right again. A love-comedy fantasy type story, recommended

魔法師クローの冒険譚
Romaji: Mahoushi Kurou no Boukentan
Alternative Title: The adventures of magician Kurou
Author: 人生ガンバル (Jinsei Ganbaru)
Started on: 2014/08/24
Link: n4885CG
Keyword / Tags: (R15) (Another world) (Magic) (Magic-user) (Harem)

Spoiler:

This is the story of Kurou, a young boy who travels to another world to fulfill the contract with an evil goddess. The payment is to dispel his curse, a curse "that makes all woman who looks at him, falls in love to him but he cannot fall in love at all"

In a way, this one is a little bit surprising as. As expected, the story is presented in a cheerful atmosphere, due to protagonist Kurou being stupid and kind of childish, yet I couldn't swept the feeling that something dark will happen in the story. The part where Kurou put on a damned artifact which contain the hatred curse to offset his curse is a little bit disturbing (not pointing why he would wear that thing, obviously because he is stupid), due to the fact:
- rather than offsetting the cursed, it just ended in lessening the effect
- artifact cannot be taken off, and it's curse caused the wearer to be hated by the others
- artifact is made by sacrifing human souls.
and the most disturbing part is that he doesn't feel any remorse nor guilty conscience when wearing that thing, which means if he were told to destroy a world as a payment to dispel his curse, he would gladly do it.
Well, it just all speculation since it's still hard to see where the story will go with just current chapters, and sadly, the updates are irregular~ hopes it will still continues since I have expectation on this

[sasuke706]

Suppose I'll contribute some new titles some of you may be interested in. Loosely following Amatsunagi's format because why not, right? I won't actually be translating the summaries, just putting it into my own words from memory.

Title: 異世界の迷宮都市で治癒魔法使いやってます
Romaji: Isekai no Meikyuu Toshi de Chiyu Mahoutsukai Yattemasu
Alternative Title: Working as a healer in a Dungeon Town in another world
Link: n2740ca

Spoiler for :

Satou Shiki had a miniscule ability to heal people and was involved in some slight religious incidents (like leading a small cult) because of it, and is one day randomly attacked and finds himself in fantasy town after getting stabbed, but perfectly fine.
Once there, he follows after a cleric by (male) instinct and works as a healer for several months after learning he's an amazing healer over there until said cleric gets tired of his sexual harassment and flexible work ethics and tosses him out (where the story starts). He, at a loss of what to do, decides to challenge the dungeon, but has no talent in fighting. So he stumbles across a cheap dark elf slave girl for sale that knows how to fight, except she had recently had her face mauled and was blind. He buys her, heals her up, and sets out to see what he can do.

I've actually been following this one for a long time, but never brought it up due to it being fairly laidback with no real developments, but it recently got published, so I figured why not bring it up.

The novel is essentially slice of life of the protagonist raising the loli dark elf and trying to manage his sex life (that he doesn't have) while remaining a cool master in her eyes. While he does get into fights in the dungeon, they're extremely short and clearly not the focus. The protagonist is cheat healer, but it's all he has going for him; he can't fight worth a damn. He casts healing spells that are considered archbishop class easily, but tries to avoid doing so to avoid attention from the church.

One thing I really like about this one in particular is, while there are no shocking or sudden developments, the author makes you know what the protagonist is thinking, why he's thinking it, and how he reaches the conclusion he does. He makes mistakes in judgment, tries to use to head to solve problems to varying success, and tries to be an overall good person due to the elf loli, but you can probably at least agree that it was reasonable he made that decision at the time. I consider his thought process refreshing compared to a lot of things I've been reading (giving the conclusion then explaining later, or just not explaining at all), and I would call his chains of logic perfectly reasonable.

Title: 異世界人にとって俺のレゾンデートルは
Romaji: Isekaijin nitotte Ore no Raison D'etre
Alternative Title: The Raison D'etre for I the offworlder
Link: n5752cc

Spoiler for :

Nishio Harutake walks through his door home and randomly finds himself somewhere he doesn't recognize. He struggles to survive (albeit in a comical manner), eventually goes on to join the military, trying to find his reason for existence in this new world full of reincarnated people.

This is a more serious title than compared to the first WN I mentioned (although the start is definitely mostly comedy) and the title doesn't start to make sense until a decent ways in.

The world the protag randomly finds himself is full of reincarnated people, people who were summoned, and people like himself who just outright appeared for no reason by what people can only assume is accident. The main difference is the former two generally have high physical capabilities and cheat abilities given them to by god when coming there, but the third type of people are as ordinary as can be. Though in Nishio's case, he's actually severely weak, to the point where they think a 4-year-old could beat him up.
The world isn't too far off technologically because while a good deal of its inhabitants are reincarnated people, most of them never got old enough in their first lives to learn advanced enough techniques to replicate it over there.
The story is a harem although not a really overbearing one. The protagonist starts off with a happy-go-lucky attitude which he ends up severely regretting, as well as regretting his mindset of refusing to kill when he has the chance.
All this makes him ponder why he's there and what he can hope to accomplish as he strives to improve to not suffer the same regrets in the future.

He gradually has been getting stronger as the series has been progressing, but he hasn't crossed over into cheat territory yet, and his powers don't come from nowhere, getting lucky, or some sort of emotional outburst. He gets a sudden power boost thanks to another cheat character, but it's still nowhere near enough and he still spends a good deal of his time training to slowly get physically stronger.

Overall, I like this one quite a bit. Interesting characters, and while not to the extent of the first WN I mentioned, the author keeps you up to date with what Nishio is thinking or feeling at the moment. I particularly like the main heroine's backstory simply from that I didn't see it coming when it did despite early hints in the story; I just didn't think it was going to be a serious story at all when I started it.
The heroines aren't little girls as well and it shows in their advances. Although they do still get in each others' ways.

-------------

As for 灰色の勇者は人外道を歩み続ける, I think the author has pacing issues. The prologue wasn't the best paced, but he ended the prologue on a cliffhanger yet he's doing a series of side stories that I quite frankly don't care about in the least. I'm tempted to remove the series from my follow list and just forget about it until it has a lot more story piled up.

I've also started and caught up on Mother of Learning and am now keenly aware of how slowly the author updates. Good story, though.

[tonyorobsky]

... OK!! Here is my part:

Madan of the magic land (Shooter of the magic land) - 魔法の国の魔弾
cruel depiction (you don't say!!), VRMMO FPS, different world trip, cheat, fantasy, magic, elves, dwarves, beast people, modern weapons, harem?

A 19 yo guy who played a VRMMO game of guns and modern warefare (his name in-game is Hunter, and he was strong) is transported in a different world in the body of his avatar with all his in-game abilities and equipments.
He is alone in a forest with an wooden cabin. He thinks that since there is a cabin there he will meet someone if he stay there, but he met nobody. After a year, sick of the loneliness, he leave the place in search for people.
After several days he find a hint of human presence, he is happy, but when he gets there, it's a burning village with plenty of corpses (all beastmen), and several soldiers (humans) on the verge of killing a 10yo girl (beastgirl)...
He wanted to find humans, he wanted company, and what he found is a massacre...
Our gamer will have to adjust to this world, use his in-game skill and equipment to fight, protect... and kill, even if he doesn't like it...
And there will be a few pretty girls , it's heartwarming (and sometimes ecchi) during those times

[jaydreadzz]

Originally Posted by Kaito Yamakage

One more chapter to the end of volume 10 of World Teacher.

Spoiler for Vol 10:

Lots of fun interactions in the past few chapters, since they got Hokuto, he returns to visit the grave and comes across his dear old father, along with his older brother.

Father still holds a grudge over the exploding gold coins he was given years back and attempts to get more money out of Sirius, thinking that Sirius can't pay just because he doesn't want to, they start talking about taking Emerilia, Risu, and Hokuto as their slaves.

He basically gets totally pissed off after that and tortures his brother and father into unconsciousness.

They finally come to realize they're screwed when he pulls out his mantle from Elysion showing he holds some power there, at a level beyond the rural noble family his father is part of.


As a final blow after he leaves the mansion, he gets Gargan company to investigate the primary source of the families finances, and gives them plans for better devices to completely destroy their finances, then he sends a letter to Risu's sister about how some rural noble was planning to make her sister into his slave. Thus the King of the neighboring country now holds a grudge against them as well.

Thoroughly owned.

since i stop reading it awhile ago, i got one question :
who is Hokuto? can you tell the details about how they meet her?

[Kaito Yamakage]

Originally Posted by jaydreadzz

since i stop reading it awhile ago, i got one question :
who is Hokuto? can you tell the details about how they meet her?

Spoiler for Hokuto:

Hokuto is a legendary wolf monster that they come across a few chapters prior. It's seen as something like an object of worship by the beast race clans, especially the silver wolf ones that Reusu and Emi are from.

When they go to do a job they come across him by chance, and Sirius starts getting all these flashbacks.

Hokuto is actually a puppy that he picked up in his original world when he was still studying under his teacher, it died and reincarnated then it ended up in that world as well. Thus, they meet again and Hokuto still recognizes him.

It's like a 2+ meter silver wolf that can rival Sirius in strength, and it basically becomes his new team mate/pet.


Before he set off on his journey after leaving school, he had a special carriage built made out of rare metals that cost him like half of his fortune and has all sorts of traps in it, basically a trailer house like carriage.

Though it was so heavy made out of rare metals that it needed a number of good horses to pull and they couldn't prepare them in time for the journey, that's why they took a job that the horse farm was having problems with, when they found Hokuto.


Some other monsters ended up killing all the horses, but since they find Hokuto he decides to pull the carriage for Sirius and them, so they basically have this armored carriage decked out being pulled by a 2m silver wolf.

Edit: BTW thanks above posters for more suggestions, was just about to start looking for a new series to start and some of those sound interesting.