Hey guys, Reigokai here.
Been a while since I have done one of this. It is because I have pretty important announcements to make.
First of all, let’s begin with the bad news…
I am not feeling QualiA… Yeah, I actually said it. I am the type of guy that has pretty flexible tastes. The story of World Reformation, I enjoyed it a lot even when I knew not many shared the same opinion. I even translated it all and it was a heck lot of fun.
Sadly, I don’t feel that same ‘umph’ from QualiA anymore. More so when the chapters are failing to portray Makoto as the veteran he is supposed to be. Yes, he does say some smart stuff, but his actions simply don’t match his experience.
I would have liked if this had been a battle where the MC actually made preparations but the overwhelming power of a God trumped all preparations he made in ways humanly impossible to prepare for, showcasing how hopelessly difficult it would be to reach God levels and defeat them. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. It felt really strange how the author seems to be trying to avoid Makoto from actually acting at all. And I am not talking about story wise, but the way the story is told is somehow telling me that the author simply doesn’t know how to shape Makoto in the world, as if he himself is wary of using Makoto. I feel like it wasn’t the God that was restraining Makoto, but the author itself.
In short, this may not be my style, but I have to say with vexation…that I have to drop QualiA. I simply don’t feel the author will surpass my expectations. The author tried to hype up the battle, yet barely even showed anything new about Makoto. Instead, he showed how flawed he is in basic preparation. It wasn’t Godly intervention, I think a regular intelligent person could have trumped Makoto, that’s how lacking it was.
As an author, I would have at least first showed how powerful a character can be (since that’s how he was introduced), then show that all those measures mean nothing to Gods. Of course, the author did try, but he ultimately failed and I feel it won’t be going above it. It is truly a vexing feeling.
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Now for the good news. I actually had a story I wanted to translate beforehand, and maybe some remember I mentioned it before. But because a translator had taken it, I decided on pulling my hand from it. I have now decided that I will be taking in under my wing!
I am talking about Maou-sama, Retry!
Oono Akira, a working adult that can be found anywhere was transported to a different world while logged into a character known as the “Demon Lord” in a game he manages. There he meets a child with a disabled leg and they begin to travel together, but there’s no way that others will leave a “demon lord” with such overwhelming strength alone.
While being targeted by countries and saints that are trying to subdue the demon lord, they cause turmoil wherever they go.
Demon lord on the outside, normal person on the inside, a misunderstanding type fantasy!
I know there’s already a translation for it, but the latest chapter was 4 months ago. I will be translating from chapter 1 without using the other translation as referrence. Not because I want to treat it as it doesn’t exist, I actually invite you to go read it, but I want to enter into the names and keywords in the story and actually get familiar with the writing.
I read a bit of it, and I could tell immediately that it was more difficult to translate than the ones I have done before, so it does take a bit of getting used.
Here is the website for the other translator: https://www.blobtranslations.com/demon-lord-retry/
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I know this was incredibly sudden, but this is something I have felt since a few chapters back. And I honestly waited for the big climax of the arc to see if it would change my vision, and the latest chapter was the clincher that cemented it.
Dropping a series was a difficult decision. I actually treat the stories I take under my wing like my children, and the ones that know me for a long time would know this. I get really into the story and enjoy them a lot. But when I begin to force myself to find something to enjoy from it, I know there’s something wrong.
I am considering on finishing the first arc first before moving onto Maou-sama Retry.
Again, I am truly sorry for this sudden decision, and I hope that you guys will still continue to follow along in my future translation.
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Im glad about this. This makoto is a frigging newb.
see i know it. there is something wrong with the latest chaoter of QualiA. after i read it.. there was some bitter after taste. but i didn't know wat it was. in my mind that time, MC character suddenly became idiotic like other MC in japan LN.
To be honest, I'm glad you're dropping the series. The original premise seemed interesting and the prologue kinda caught my interest. But that was it. 5 chapters in and I lost interest. Despite the MC claiming to have been through 7 summonings and being a ridiculously powerful character, he seems to lack a sense of impending crisis. Not towards himself, but to his surroundings that in turn could affect him. Another fault I found is that for some reason MC still retains his humanity. After 7 summons and (according to him) living for over a thousand years, witnessing death and destruction, and partaking in it, he still seems to care, rather than being completely indifferent about life and death.
"I would have liked if this had been a battle where the MC actually made preparations but the overwhelming power of a God trumped all preparations he made in ways humanly impossible to prepare for, showcasing how hopelessly difficult it would be to reach God levels and defeat them."
Such a build-up would have been good, and Arifureta did something similar to this and the execution was excellent. It wasn't sheer, overwhelming power that made them kill a god, but rather through cunning plans and life-gambling risks. This, however, is not Arifureta. He claims to have already fought God several times only to get wiped and I don't think the final climax of the story would have made it there. this enforces the thought that, by this novel's standards, Gods are untouchable beings and the closest thing you could do is to deviate the outcome of the fate they desire, as they cannot directly interfere with the physical world.
All in all, the series was kinda dull, repetitive, and slow.
One of the leading factors that contribute to me still being here is your writing/translation style. I bet that if another translator had picked this up, I wouldn't have even made it past the prologue.
So yeah, this is my honest opinion, and once again, I'm glad you dropped this. May the next WN be better than this
Bueno... entiendo tu punto Reigokai. A Qualia la seguía leyendo más que todo por terminar la historia más que por emoción. Y aunque con esta noticia me genera la incomodidad de dejar iniciada una historia, la verdad no siento el vacío en el estómago que deja el saber que ya no sabremos que sigue. Tal vez si el autor hubiera mostrado más de los héroes, o no hubiera hecho todo tan fácil para makoto solucionar... pero bueno...
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Well ... I understand your point, Reigokai. Qualia kept reading more to finish the story rather than emotion. And although with this news I feel the discomfort of leaving a story started, I really do not feel the emptiness in the stomach that leaves the knowledge that we will not know what follows afterwards. Maybe if the author had shown more of the heroes and their personalities, or it would not have made everything so easy for Makoto to solve ...
I'm sad but hopefully you come back to this novel one day I can only hope you get over your sadness.
Thanks for the translation
Tensei Shitara Ken Deshita please
Hey, big lurker here!
I have to agree with you on that one, QualiA's characters felt poorly written compared to the other novels you translated. I kept on reading though, because I like your high quality translations. I'm happy to see that you decided to drop it for your own good, on your own, and that you're picking up Maou Sama Retry.
I'm currently reading the manga, so I'm kinda excited for this new translation as I was wishing I could read the novel.
Good luck Reigokai, and as always, thank you for translating!
"Does it spark Joy?"
I've been reading your stuff for a while and I'm currently re-reading Tsuki ga Michibiku because of how fun it is. I liked World Reformation too. I never got into the QualiA thing because it didn't look super interesting so I was going to wait for chapter 100 before trying it out.
Anyways, if you have the leeway to consider any other possible stories, I'd like to see Instant Death translated especially. It's been stalled, but man something about an indifferent hero who kills instantly with his mind is hilarious with all the Tsukkomis and bewilderment the goes along with it.
Hoping your new project is as fun and exciting as your previous ones. :)