This week for Translation Necessary Thursday I’m covering one of my absolute favorite Light Novel series! It’s Rakudai Kishi no Chivalry Volume 01 by Riku Misora!

Plot Synopsis: In a time and place where one’s soul can be morphed into a weapon, there are modern-day magicians called mage-knights. Although Ikki Kurogane is a student at an institution that trains mage-knights, he has no particular talent in magic and is labeled the “Failed Knight” or “Worst One.” Getting way less than average marks in the scorings, he was forced to repeat a year. But with the arrival of a new head of the institution, a new rule was created: knights whose abilities are compatible, as decided by the board, must share rooms and attend practice and training together throughout their school years to bring up their abilities to the max. It was a rule to implement the absolute verdict of ability.

Plot: The plot of this series isn’t like other “Magical Academy series”. It may start off similarly, but by the end of the first volume it turns everything on it’s head. There is a particular reason why I love this series for it’s romance and that’s because it has absolutely no bullshit like nearly all Romantic Comedies seem to do these days. There is very little comedy in this volume and in this series. It makes everything very fresh feeling, at least for me.

Characters: I love the entire main cast of characters, but Ikki and Stella are easily my favorite. I love them as leads and I wish more romance series took a note from this series rather than going the romantic comedy route. Alice is also fairly amusing, and Shizuku isn’t bad, although I didn’t enjoy her at first.

Art: The art for this series is amazing, and I love all the illustrations!

Overall: If you want a real romance series, you need to read this first volume.

For those who like: Romance with no bullshit, Action and lots of it, Excellent and Serious Plot, Fantastic Cast of Characters, Amazing Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.