Synopsis

After blasting through the unforeseen incident that befell the students on their very first exam, Hero Raid Freeden and Sage Eluria Caldwin are now the resident power couple of the Vegalta Royal Institute of Magic. Despite returning to the Institute safe and sound, they are weighed down by more questions than ever before. The mystery of their reincarnation just gets curiouser and curiouser with each hint they obtain, and yet, life at the Vegalta Royal Institute of Magic goes on. The overpowered duo spend their days preparing for their next exam while running into the most unique and unusual characters—from a notoriously eccentric princess to a bubbly dragon summoner—but not everyone they meet is exactly as they seem. When secrets emerge and stories unfold, will these seemingly innocuous encounters eventually lead Raid and Eluria to the truth they seek? (Source: J-Novel Club)

The Heroes and Time Travel Troubles!

Having saved the magic academy from a monster attack, the latest chronicle in The Hero and the Sage’s Engagement saga finds them uncovering a disturbing mystery.

For its sequel, the story of rivals to lovebirds gets off to a lively start. Carrying on from the monster attack, it sees Raid and Eluria invited to the royal palace at the behest of the nation’s princess, Kristina. Far from a message of thanks, however, the two have unwittingly been drawn into one of the princess’s well-known shenanigans.

Unhappy that her childhood friend, Eluria, has gotten herself engaged, she challenges Raid to a medieval-style gameshow quiz, looking to see which of them loves Eluria more. Acting as a nice way to introduce one of the series’ more quirky characters, it also shows how well the story’s central couple knows each other.

With their hectic royal visit over in a flash, the main plot of the second volume starts as the deuteragonists prepare for the next slate of academic exams. Manifesting as a team battle between classes, Reid and Eluria end up having their own special roles to play due to their overwhelming abilities. Acting as mentors, their path to passing revolves around ensuring the team they’re training wins the battle.

This test of their previous life knowledge on strategy and battle is fine on its own, but it is thankfully elevated by the mystery of Reid and Eluria’s reincarnation being reintroduced. During the volume, another piece of the puzzle is revealed when strange occurrences happen around a rival team’s royal member.

Under the guidance of a shadowy figure, this member of the Celios royal family unknowingly unleashes powerful dragons to attack the crowd. Amidst the chaos, Reid and Eluria discover conclusively that they aren’t the only ones to have been reincarnated, a fact that’ll only heat up the mystery as the volume count increases. Unfortunately, this aspect is let down slightly due to a lack of focus on the unwilling vessel and the consequences of a dragon attack on the academy.

Away from the volume’s mystery plot, this novel also features a bit of romantic development between Reid and Eluria. As well as showcasing their cute morning routine, the author uses their time as mentors to get them on a first date together. Sweet and sugary in their own way, their regimented schedule for date activities is typical of their style.

Overall, the latest instalment of Reincarnated and Engaged successfully builds on its introduction. Alongside the welcoming of a host of new quirky characters, the second volume gives a much-needed revival to the series’ mystery aspect. Hopefully, as the series continues, the author will provide more character depth to both protagonists and side characters.

I Give Reincarnated and Engaged Volume 2: 7/10