Sometimes it’s best to take a break … even after you die.
Creative Staff:
Original Story: Kisetsu Morita
Illustrations By: Benio
Translation: Taylor Engel
What They Say:
My life on Earth was miserable – nothing but commuting to work, and sleep until my body gave out due to the stress. So when I got a second chance in another world, I swore I’d never do that to myself again. I’d just kill a few slimes to make a living, maybe experiment with a little potion-brewing, help a few people along the way …
… But it turns out, 300 years of killing slimes can make you one of the most powerful beings in the world! And when the truth gets out, I’m sure adventure won’t be far behind …
What’s gonna happen to my peaceful life now?!
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Azusa was twenty-seven years old, single and dedicated her life to the corporate job, never going out – it was always work, go home, sleep, rinse and repeat. But then it finally happened, one day she was plodding away at her desk, then blacked out … and never woke again. She had died and when next she opened her eyes, a young girl was before her, supposedly wearing angel wings, consoling this person on her early death. As she questioned what had happened, all the celestial being could do was apologize for allowing Azusa to die so young, and in a type of recompense, asked if there anything she could to make her next life happier. Almost nothing was out of line, all she had to do was ask and it would be granted.
She wished to be immortal, that was all Azusa wanted, a life free of stress and allowed to lounge around with all of the necessities for a self-sufficient life, alone in the mountains. The angel approved and suggested she probably didn’t want to live as an old lady, so would give her the body of a seventeen-year-old and a home in the highlands, with a small village nearby if anything else was ever needed. When next she opened her eyes, everything was as they discussed, with a small cabin nearby surrounded by woods and a note stating the home was free to anyone who wanted it. Now, wanting to see if everything was just as stated, Azusa went inside and looked for a mirror, pleased to see she was now a very cute girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes. Oddly she was not wearing the traditional white robes of the dead, but a black dress and a very witch-like matching hat, almost as if she was in a fantasy world.
Once she searched her pockets, Azusa also found fifteen gold coins and a small knife attached to her waist. Now comfortable with this new life, she went outside and saw a small hamlet at the bottom of the hill, thus deciding to ask the people about the land surrounding her new home. Confidently striding through the woods, everything seemed fine until a small jiggly creature blocked her path, and would not allow her to leave. A slime, and it was clear this monster meant to do harm, but what else could she do but attack in defense? Slight poke with the blade seemed to do nothing, with another the jelly returned this gesture but supposedly causing no damage to the girl, however finally after a few more jabs and it condensed into a small jewel. Picking up the gem Azusa continued on her way, meeting a few more of the pests until she finally reached the town of Flatta.
It seemed like a quiet little place with not many people on the main street, but it did not take long before Azusa found someone to ask questions, although was then told to go to the Guild Hall if she required any assistance. Once they arrived, a young lady named Natalie stood behind the counter, and greeted the stranger with a cheerful tone, but then began what was obviously a rehearsed speech for adventurers telling of the village’s features. When she was finally done, this confused girl asked what she could do with the dropped gems, but told they could only be exchanged for coins if she registered with the Guild. Seeing no problems with this solution, Azusa placed her hand on a strange slate and saw her status displayed, claiming her to be a level one Witch. After seeing the details, Natalie was surprised to see she was also immortal, a side effect of the class, but as the excitement wore off, the woman gave six copper coins as reward and allowed the new explorer to leave and continue back home, plucking a few more slimes along the way.
So it began, Azusa’s new life in this strange world, one of leisure and no stress at all, allowing her to take her time and enjoy what this unique land had to offer. If she wanted to sleep in, no problem, she could tend her crops at her own pace, and if she needed exercise, all she had to do was go and kill twenty slimes or so to also gain some pocket money. However whenever the villagers needed help, this witch not hesitate to brew up concoctions to cure diseases, if a child turned up ill, she would examine then and create a remedy. Thanks to her help the town had a reputation of being one of the healthiest places in the region. All due to her assistance, the villagers out of respect began to call her “the great Witch of the Highlands” and almost treated her like a guardian deity, such was their adoration for this savior. Every so often they would bring gifts of food or dairy products, but for the most part they left her alone, which was what she wanted. And thus progressed her new life … three hundred years passed in but an instant.
It all passed by in a flash, whenever she went to the village, the pesky slimes would attack but as time passed, it no longer became any concern as to how they were dispatched. When she first started, Azusa was worried she would not be able to defeat these slimy creatures, but slowly her confidence grew, no longer needing her blade, a simple flick of a finger and they were done. Collecting the fallen gems, this laid-back adventurer returned to the Guild as she had done so many times in the past, all to exchange these baubles for more coin. While she herself never grew old, the people of Flatta passed before her eyes, and the new Natalie who now stood behind the counter was a few generations removed from the one she met so long ago. As this cheerful girl greeted “the great Witch of the Highlands”, a title she has become used to as a common greeting from the people, a new expression passed her face. It has been a long time since her ancestor had used the slate to sign up this explorer, and she wanted to update the records. Seeing no harm in doing so, Azusa placed her hand upon the placard, only to be addressed with an audible expression of surprise.
Stunned awe was the only way to describe what was upon Natalie’s face, one of amazement and unparalleled admiration. Azusa gazed upon the status screen and saw what has made her friend speechless, but it had to be a mistake. According to these numbers, “the great Witch of the Highlands” had to be the strongest person in the world at level ninety-nine. But after they went through some quick calculations: killing an average of twenty-five slimes a day, for three hundred sixty-five days through three hundred years … there was nothing wrong, everything was right. Now more annoyed than anything else, Azusa quickly saw her life of leisure pass before her eyes if this information got out, no one would ever leave her alone. It would be endless contests from random people asking to prove themselves, there would be no end, she would never be able to relax ever again. Begging Natalie to keep this information to herself, much to her surprise of wanting to brag such a great person live in her small village, the Guild attendant finally accepted and promised not to tell anyone.
So it seemed this would be the end of the situation, but the next morning there was a knock at the door, something which hardly happened at her isolated home. Curious to see if someone needed help, Azusa open the portal and saw what she was afraid of – adventurers had come to test their strength against the strongest of all. While she did her best to dissuade any foolish challenges, the look of disappointment upon their faces made her think otherwise and finally acquiesced to the party. As they prepared themselves, the only thing the witch could think of was a way to end this quickly, but without harming them too much. A spell would be the best way, but since she never used magic before the status update, there was no way to know how to control such powerful elemental forces. However as these youngsters recklessly charged forward, the most harmless charm which seemed the best was Whirlwind, but even that proved too powerful, effortlessly blowing the entire group back to the outskirts of Flatta, much to everyone’s amazement.
This feat seemed to curb the visits for a while, but as “the great Witch of the Highlands” became used to this new routine, an unfamiliar noise pounded her door one morning. Hesitant to answer, the ruckus echoed again, only this time all the more severe in temperament and ferocity. Sighing to herself, Azusa opened the entrance and was surprised to not find a person, but a massive wall of scaled muscle blocking the way out. Looking up she saw this obstruction was attached to something even more impressive, a reptilian form which could only be described as a dragon – a dragon was at her front door. Cautiously Azusa asked what this beast wanted and the one named Laika clearly stated that even the feats of the strongest person in the world had reached her distant land of Nanterre, and since she herself was the strongest among her kind, there was only one thing left to do – test to see who truly was the one worthy of the title. A creature of this size wanted to challenge this human to a contest, but who would prove to be the best? There was only one way to find out, but would survive … an immortal or a monster of legend?
In Summary:
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is quickly becoming one of my favorite light novels from the role-playing genre and with plenty of delightful reasons. The primary factor would be an empathetic character in Azusa – a person who most can see some of themselves, especially with the current trend of not having enough time to do what we want to within one day. While a majority of us would not become karoshi, or literally working themselves to death, we can see the obsessive dedication of some to throw themselves into their work, not allowing for the pleasure of enjoying what other things life has to offer. The need to become better for ourselves or to show others we can overcome obstacles to reach the top is a sad inclination in the workplace, but in the end, it is also what is expected to advance in our society. It is this departure from this shift which writer Kisetsu Morita uses to propel the story into something surprising … and as such equally comical in how we watch the protagonist become something she, or ourselves, were never expecting.
You cannot but help to smile, giggle or outright laugh with every page as the story progresses, and it is primarily due to the first person writing style which Morita-sensei has adapted to full advantage, allowing Azusa to tell her own story. While most may be used to a subjective telling in other tales, this viewpoint allows for the most reflective angle by which the reader is appealed to, almost as if the whole book is a conversation between themselves and “the great Witch of the Highlands”. We are allowed to see and feel through her sardonic wit, every affinity by which we can visualize how she adapts to this new life, and as the story progresses, in turn, she transforms from a hikikomori or self-imposed social recluse, into someone which we can recognize and cherish as a meaningful person. And if the story itself were not moving enough, we have the additional influence of Benio’s illustrations to inject ever more emotional nuances into something which will undoubtedly become a classic for this type of fulfilling storytelling.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is a lighthearted tale by which we watch a woman driven to death by work unravel into someone who seems to be the complete opposite of who she might never have been if she didn’t … die. From the beginning, we understand why Azusa would wish to live this isolated existence, but as the narrative progresses, it is through Morita-sensei’s eloquent piece of literature by which we now admire “the great Witch of the Highlands”, seeing her now as the person she has become. It was a pleasure to read her escapades, and I could not put the book down, wanting to see how she evolves more, along with the mischievous adventures of herself and the boisterous group she calls a loving family.
Content Grade: A+
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A+
Text/Translation Grade: A+
Age Rating: 13 & Up
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: April 24, 2018
MSRP: $14.00
