Synopsis

After getting fired from his adventuring clan for his lack of combat ability, Tori wanders around and runs into the city’s strongest adventurer—the White Witch! Since he has nowhere else to go, she hires Tori for his exceptional skill in…handling chores?! With his talent for cooking, cleaning, running errands, and other domestic odd jobs, he’s the perfect fit for taking care of the extremely lazy White Witch and the garbage dump she calls her house. Follow Tori as he grapples with his new job as the caretaker of the beautiful White Witch and her three familiars. Perhaps once he has cleaned up the place, he can finally live a cozy life in the woods with his new employer! (Source: J-Novel Club)

A Cozy, New Cleaning Life!

Written by MOJIKAKIYA and illustrated by Syow, one of J-Novel Club’s latest titles, A Cozy Life in the Woods with the White Witch, is a tale about finding your niche.

Following a banishment trope format, the series begins with its titular protagonist, Tori, thrown out on his ear after failing to meet his adventurer team’s fighting standard. At a loss for what to do next, he’s approached by the legendary White Witch. Far from being asked to join her in battle, their meeting leads Tori to become the witch’s housekeeper, where a life of cosy cleaning and chores leads to happy new beginnings.

At first glance, this series comes across as a comfort read. Tori’s new life as the White Witch’s housekeeper leads to a relatively stress-free environment compared to his former life as an adventurer. His day-to-day finds him introduced to and interacting with several of the witch’s familiars and the witch herself, helping them de-stress from a hard day’s monster hunting by cooking up a hearty meal or getting their affairs in order. Ultimately earning their favour and their friendship.

As the volume progresses, however, the story reveals itself to have more substance than just cuteness and fluff. Tori’s firing plays an integral role in developing the story’s central themes. As the witch’s housekeeper, Tori finds his niche and a sense of belonging. Tori’s talents for menial chores actually matter to the White Witch, and he’s able to become the hero he’d never thought he’d be while working as an adventurer.

Additionally, this series manages to avoid all the trappings found within the banishment genre. Leaving the guild comes as a sense of relief for the protagonist, and as a result, he doesn’t hold any animosity towards his former teammates. This is instrumental as the story develops a flexible idea around forms of support. Through his unconventional employment, Tori’s skills put the witch in his debt. As a result, he’s able to ask her to help his former teammates achieve their goals, something which is important to him since he’s known them since childhood.

Overall, A Cozy Life in the Woods with the White Witch’s premier instalment made a good first impression. Lured in with the promise of a series filled with cosy cuteness, the volume delivered with a substantive story filled with themes that gave meaning to the character’s actions and development.

I Give A Cozy Life in the Woods Volume 1: 8.5/10