Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Isekai

Sub-Tags: Heartwarming, OP, Strong Lead, Weak to Strong

A New Life and A Chance for Adventure!

Third Time Lucky

Life has always seemingly dealt Setsuna a bad hand. Constantly ill from a young age back on Earth, his unlucky streak continues as his chance at a new life is scuppered when even the hero summoning doesn’t get rid of his terminal illness. Given only the bare necessity of a hospital bed, it isn’t long before Setsuna realises that this otherworld is extremely harsh and that an early death is inevitable. 

Hope, however, sometimes comes from the most unusual of places. On Death’s door, Setsuna is visited by a wandering hero named Kyle. Having lived a long life, he’s decided to trade lives with Setsuna, offering him a chance to explore the world through the use of soul transference. As a result, Setsuna gains immense abilities and knowledge.

Using soul transference as a method for the protagonist to learn abilities and knowledge is unique among the usual tropes of the genre. Rather than focusing on a world transfer or a ceremony giving him power, the author of this story has opted for a technique full of personality. The transfer provides great insight into the former hero’s character. Choosing to hamper some of Setsuna’s power and information until after certain conditions have been met gives the impression of a jovial and teasing man. 

Gaining Life Experience

Looking at the start of Setsuna’s journey, the first volume acts as a prologue, and the true start of his travelling doesn’t begin until the last chapter. What this volume does provide, however, is a way for Setsuna to familiarise himself with the otherworld and his powers.

As is natural in most light novel fantasies, his journey to become acquainted with the world starts at the adventurers guild. A veritable well-spring of information, Setsuna plays the game well here, taking on multiple quests that revolve around doing things in groups rather than solo. Through these quests, he learns more and more tidbits of information on how to survive in this harsh world and what it means to be a traveller.

With his knowledge up to code, the last chapter provides the missing piece before Setsuna can set off and see the world. Up until this point, Setsuna’s unique magical abilities had yet to manifest, but after saving a child beastman slave, he unlocks an all-encompassing healing ability.

Naming the child Alto, Setsuna makes him an apprentice to free him from slavery. The two quickly form a father-son bond that’ll likely make for some wonderful heartwarming moments once the journey begins.

Overall, Setsuna’s Journey’s first volume is a major tease for the things we can come to expect once the protagonist starts to travel the world. Characters and world-building have already made themselves a highlight.

Throughout the first volume, readers are greeted with a highly detailed world filled with an array of history and culture to explore. Furthermore, characters are treated as complex and flawed beings, and this stretches to side characters as well as main ones – dynamics between father and son are done especially well.

There’s a lot to like about this fantasy series and undoubtedly a lot to look forward to as well.