Synopsis

Makoto Takatsuki has awakened! After his triumph over the Great Demon Lord a thousand years in the past, Makoto has finally returned to the present. His closest friends and companions have grown a lot in the year he was absent: Lucy and Sasa are famed adventurers, Furiae is leading Laphroaig as the Saint of Miracles, and Noah has been elevated to the eighth goddess of the pantheon! Unfortunately, just as Makoto is settling back into his old life, he receives some devastating news—the Great Demon Lord and the Witch of Calamity have revived! While the Seven Nation Alliance prepares for the final confrontation with Iblis, Makoto reunites with his goddess after their long separation. She offers him a cryptic message, and he’ll have to work out what she truly means, even as the fuse is lit on the final battle for the fate of humanity! (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Glorious Hero Returns from the Past!

Having completed his role as part of the hero’s party in the past, the latest twist in the Elementalist’s tale sees Makoto, aka sleeping beauty, finally awake from his thousand-year slumber.

In preparation for the big finale in the next volume, the penultimate novel in the series aims to do a last bit of character development and world-building. In his absence, a lot has changed thanks to the good work Makoto did in the past, and there’s a concentrated focus on how these changes will affect the upcoming fight with Iblis.

For Makoto, the actions that he took have made a noticeable impact, especially on his status. His deeds have elevated him to a legendary hero, not that he notices it for a while, and he has found a certain level of newfound respect and recognition from all corners of the continent.

This plays in well with a new conflict that has arisen during Makoto’s absence—a growing distrust between Highland, Laphroaig, and the rest of the nations. Having failed in recent battles, Highland’s power in the region has started to waver. Couple this alongside recent victories for Roses and Laphroaig, and it’s obvious that power-hungry individuals will start making their move. Although not implicitly mentioned during the volume, Makoto’s title of Legendary Hero and his relationship with three of the nation’s leaders prove a nice bit of forward planning from the author, as they’ll both likely play a role in stopping the conflict or minimising it at the very least.

As for Makoto’s companions, the three years that he’s been gone have also seen them go through some changes. The group’s reunion makes for some very on-brand interactions as well as a few surprising ones. While Lucy and Sasa have always been comfortable showing their affection, it seems that Makoto’s absence has only reaffirmed Sophia and Furiae’s need to become bolder in their attacks.

Aside from relationship development, the group has also used the three years to upgrade their skills and status. Since the previous volume, Lucy and Sasa have become a world-class adventuring team. Meanwhile, Furiae has seen the most difference, as she has now become the queen of Laphroaig. These all help the group stand side by side with Makoto, who, in previous volumes, had been slipping away from them power-wise thanks to his Elementalist skills.

Finally, the one thing that hasn’t changed since Makoto’s departure is his thirst for battle. His battle and victory over Astaroth during the volume’s climax once again showcase Makoto’s ever-increasing power and promise big things for the finale.

Overall, Full Clearing’s twelfth instalment is not only a strong volume but also an important one tonally. In anticipation of having to clear through several important plot points, this volume does a splendid job of ensuring the stage is set. As a result, there’s plenty of character development and world-building to be had, making the novel feel full of content and ensuring that no page is wasted.

I Give Full Clearing Volume 12: 9/10