Life is never simple … especially when Halkara is involved.
Creative Staff:
Original Story: Kisetsu Morita
Illustrations By: Benio
Translation: Taylor Engel
What They Say:
After I died from overwork in my previous life, I decided keeping a good work-life balance in this one would be my top priority. I’ve been a lot busier ever since word got out that I’m level 99, but my world has also been getting bigger. Beelzebub is the most reliable demon I’ve ever met, Falfa and Shalsha are as adorable as can be, Laika is the best apprentice anyone could ask for, and Halkara is … well, Halkara is doing her best. Whether it’s a hosting a café, fighting ghosts in a factory, or even meeting a demon king, there’s nothing we can’t handle together!
Still, what I’d rather be doing the most is enjoying my downtime. And I’m not about to forget about the importance of taking life one step at a time!
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
It was early evening by the time they returned to their home in the highlands, and none could forget the fun they had at the red dragon wedding. Although the ceremony was supposed to be a peaceful one at Mount Rokko for Laika’s older sister, it was soon disrupted by chaos from the blue dragons and their leader Flatorte. While Azusa could have taken care of these hooligans by herself, thankfully due to a certain demon’s help, she was able to protect her family and end the conflict without bloodshed. And thanks to a happy result of the aftermath, the Great Witch and Beelzebub were able to forge a peace treaty between the two dragon races, which closed the events quite well considering there was no troubles in the following celebrations. Now that they have things have been settled, this exhausted family can finally return to a normal life, if but for a short time.
However since they did not expect to be gone for such an extended period, Laika could not shop for supplies to prepare tonight’s meal, and so they decide to splurge and have dinner in town. On their way to Flatta of course this group was confronted by the nuisances of the forest – slimes, and as they ventured forward, the twin slime spirit sisters tried to point out the nuanced differences between good and bad ones to their Elvish friend, but she could not tell the difference, nor could anyone else. With a hefty bag of magic stones to recoup their losses for this culinary extravaganza, they finally arrive only to find an unusual exhibition happening within the normally quiet hamlet. The villagers have begun to decorate the main street and adjoining walls with colorful swathes of fabric, making the scenery appear as if it were from a school festival or the like. It is only when one of the shopkeepers hanging up a piece of cloth notices her, do they remind Azusa this is all in preparation for the annual Dance Festival.
The present celebration was originally based on an arcane harvest ritual, one in which they would give offerings to a forgotten goddess, but as Azusa remembers it was only recently where they dropped that pretense and started to have the gala as it currently stands. However in the past she had always declined any offer to participate by not wanting to become the center of attention, but this time circumstances had changed – an expanded family opened new chances to enjoy the party and her daughters seemed very interested in joining in the fun. Ever the businesswoman, Halkara recalled memories from her hometown and how she would sell herbal elixirs to cure hangovers when the festivities got out of hand. And in a sideways glance, even the normally reserved Laika seemed interested in the pretty decorations, but she still said nothing. Not wanting to make a quick decision, they tabled the discussion and went to her favorite restaurant the Savvy Eagle to enjoy a filling meal, but the talks only expanded from there, leading to the choice to create their own recreation for the party. Still not wanting to distract from the main celebration, the Azusa chose to open their stand the day before and use the expansion to the cottage … calling their little shop the Witch’s House Café.
The following days were controlled chaos: visiting the tailor to have the cutest maid uniforms made, Laika deciding on an extensive menu, Halkara creating a number of nonalcoholic drinks, the girls drawing up charming signs and clearing the front rooms to accommodate guests, the long awaited day arrived. As Azusa woke up early that morning and placed the placard at front to announce the store’s hours, a curious and frightening sight welcomed her still dreary eyes – an astonishingly long line of people waiting to enter their establishment. Even though it was a full two hours before their posted opening, there were customers standing in the early misty predawn wanting to come in, all due to the Great Witch’s reputation. With a bit of panic and after questioning her fans, Azusa went back inside and explained the situation to her family staff, who were just as perplexed to this situation. After a bit of hurried juggling of tasks and placing extra tables and chairs along the terrace, the blonde hostess finally announced Witch’s House Café was now opened.
Although they are only open for one day, or perhaps due to this fact, the continuous throng of customers quickly inundates the ill prepared wait staff; the sisters overwhelming cuteness enchanted everyone with matching costumes, Halkara drew her own type of admirers due an unintended risqué attire, but as it became too much, Laika came from the kitchen to help – and her mixture of insecurity and embarrassment in being seen in such a becoming uniform made the people cheer even more. While the clientele enjoyed the delicious food, drinks and themselves, this exhausting attention and endless number of orders slowly took its toll, with Shalsha being to the first to collapse in the back. While she still wanted to work, Azusa insisted she not push herself and instead allowed her daughter to man the register as mother took her place on the floor. As she escorted the next customer in, the Great Witch was stunned by a familiar face with horns sprouting from the top of her head, it was Beelzebub who had waited patiently in line to see what all the fuss surrounding her acquaintance was about and to taste some succulent dishes.
Pleased to see a welcoming face, Azusa immediately greets her companion as the demon praised their success but also noticed this same popularity was also causing grief. The Great Witch acknowledged the assessment but then hit upon an idea – since she is always volunteering to assist whenever asked, why not broach the subject and see if this moment could be one of those times? When her associate asked the question, although she did complain, there was no turning down a friend in need and so the devilish woman returned the favor with a sigh and asked where she could change. After a few minutes, the normally terse high ranking demon came out in a matching maid uniform, looking as gallant as she does in normal clothes. However with her normally gruff attitude, Azusa was worried how she would handle customers, since she has never seen Beelzebub ever lower herself to someone else’s level, being rather haughty herself. All those problems were quickly brushed aside as she saw a new side to this official – one of a gallant knight, cheerfully welcoming and politely escorting people to an open seat, courteously taking orders and offering serving suggestions as to which drink would go with a chosen dish. With all of her bragging that she could do the work of ten servers, this newfound persona proved to be worth her patronizing attitude … their savior had arrived.
And as the hectic day finally came to a close, they all breathed a communal sigh of relief, knowing they never could have survived the day without demonic help. Once the last customer was escorted out and thanked for their patronage, the one day spectacle known as Witch’s House Café came to a close, allowing Azusa and her family to thank their friend for her hard work. However as Beelzebub praised herself for this accomplishment, the Great Witch could not think she was over emphasizing her own worth, however she knew this day was only successful due to her efforts, and so let the attitude pass for this day. Wanting to thank her friend in some way, they let her fulfill her want for this visit, which was one of the reasons she came to the restaurant; however when she ordered almost everything on the menu, she was admonished a bit, but all that energy used had to be replenished somehow, and so a full belly seemed little in way of payment. After this doting devil passed out gifts to Falfa and Shalsha, she finally admitted the other motive for coming to the house in the highlands – to deliver a letter to her friend. Not able to read the demonic language, Beelzebub summarized its contents: the Great Witch of the Highlands Azusa was being summoned to the Demon Lands to receive the Demon Medal of Peace for her part in negotiating a treaty between the red and blue dragons, the date and time would be received in a later message.
While the Great Witch was confused as to why a human would receive a demonic medal, Beelzebub quickly explained she nominated Azusa for the award, and reminded her the feud between two great powers could never have come to a peaceful end without her help. Seeing this as a chance to visit the Demon Lands, she graciously accepted, however noticed one member of her family was not so please – it was Laika. The red dragon apprentice promptly recalled on many of their adventures outside of home, they always ended in problems and near catastrophe, so how could this one end differently? While she could not fault this logic, Azusa did admit they should not miss this opportunity … after all, what are the chances such disaster would happen again?
In Summary:
While waiting for the next volume of I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, I have to admit I lost track of how many times I re-read the first volume and am pleased to acknowledge it was worth the wait. Although familiarity of this family’s antics were pleasingly fulfilling, there are only so many times you can entertain yourself with the same situations, yet the hilarity, charm, sardonic wit and warm family feelings only remind us Morita-sensei will expand and engender them more to the reader with the following book, and he does not disappoint with this excursion into the world of the Great Witch of the Highlands. And yet with this volume, there is a unique change to the group dynamics and one which is readily satisfying on many levels.
In the first volume we were introduced to a menagerie of strange characters, with Azusa getting used to her immortality in this strange land and periodical comparison to the past she had in Japan. While we still have references to the modern world and what she misses from her previous life, it is with fond memories by which she wishes to incorporate those conveniences and ideas to make this one better by various reasons; however at the same time, it is via this harkening by which Morita-sensei allows the reader to draw equivalencies and an understanding by which he ties together our interaction with this fascinating character. But even with this relatively shallow relationship, there is still an even deeper sensation which allows us to interact with Azusa and open up her world on a different dimension – and that is the closeness of family and friends.
This is all made possible with the unique and open telling via a first person perspective, almost as if Azusa is dictating her life to Morita-sensei, allowing the reader to personally visualize all of the humorous antics and exhausting situations with her family and friends. It is this unusual group that the Great Witch has surrounded herself which makes her new life enjoyable, and while she does keep reminding us this time is supposed to be one of relaxation and not working too hard, you know at once Azusa is always having fun. The ones who were once enemies have become closer: slime spirits who once wanted to kill her are now beloved daughters, a red dragon which wished to prove her strength is now an apprentice and shy little sister, the curvaceous elven apothecary who sought protection became a secondary student and clumsy middle sister and finally the high ranking demon who was pursuing the former is now a trusted friend and apprehensive elder sister. All of these relationships first started as hostile or wanting this level 99 Witch’s help and as they evolved they became deeper and richer, allowing Azusa to see all of her laziness and relaxation is worthless unless you have people with whom you can share those memories … in other words, a family.
It from this fundamental premise which this story grants the reader an insightful glimpse into her life, allowing us to participate in this hectic pace which surrounds her and as Laika so delicately states, the trouble which strangely follows. However it is via this non-stop rush which makes reading her escapades so wondrous, the moments which she was never given in her previous existence due to overwork, and at the center of it all is the heartfelt relationship with her daughters. While she never gave birth to them, or perhaps due to this undeniable fact, their lives are still growing surrounding a parent who is unsure of how to appropriately show her love without smothering or embarrassing these unusual children. But at the same time, you can see her other housemates are at times uncomfortable with these shows of affection, making them easily self conscious, which makes them all the more adorable when Azusa must make up for her lapses in judgment with a well meaning hug. You cannot but smile, chuckle or out right laugh during these moments, wondering how they can become jealous by these displays of parental love, but at the same time it is this displeasure on their part which makes them all the more adorable, living up to their roles as sisters in this unconventional family.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level is constantly surprising the reader with its wild antics of Azusa and her family, all while incorporating the joy and pleasure of a mildly dysfunctional group of warm individuals. You cannot but smile as you watch them approach seemingly normal problems but then as expected, something usually goes wrong and they must find a way out of it without harming anyone. Although this title may be focused on the Great Witch, it is hilarious to watch and imagine why Halkara always seems to be unavoidably attracted to trouble, allowing our heroines to swoop in and save the day. It is these predicaments which make the stories worth reading and intensely satisfying to see how they end and begin again, almost as if you are enveloped within a warm hug from Falfa, Shalsha or most welcomed, Azusa herself.
Content Grade: A+
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A+
Text/Translation Grade: A+
Age Rating: 13 & Up
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: August 21, 2018
MSRP: $14.00
