The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter

by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakutsu

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 176
Series: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga) #5
Rating:

Synopsis:

Tasked with investigating the church, this intrepid bean counter must somehow survive not just the potential political intrigue going on behind the scenes, but also the very air around him! Since magic itself is toxic to Kondou, stepping into a place so inundated could be considered a death sentence...! What's worse, his dashing knight captain, Aresh, gets called away to deal with a dangerous magical beast...

The fifth volume of Kazuki Irodori’s manga adaptation of The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter (originally a light novel by Yatsuki Wakutsu) is quite fun. Aresh is actually absent for most of the story, though we do see some glimpses of him and what he’s up to (slightly more than in the original light novel, though it doesn’t add new information as such), but we get a very extremely adorable scene where Seiichirou reads his letters… and hugs one tight.

It doesn’t quite get up to the end of volume two of the light novels, so the story has some ways to go, but for those only following via the manga, it does take a step forward, with Seiichirou beginning to accept his feelings for Aresh and understand his position properly.

Aresh’s controlling behaviour is also less of an issue in this volume than some of the others, since they’re apart. Still, that is a potential issue with this series, even if I found it seemed a bit less obtrusive in the light novels. It’s a pretty intrinsic part of the story.

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga)

by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakutsu

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 178
Series: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga) #3
Rating:

Synopsis:

Just the other day, an office worker was dragged through a portal to a fantasy world in a different dimension. He requests only one thing — a job. So began Kondou’s career as an accountant for the Romany Kingdom. However, when Aresh finds said bean counter in dire straits, the dashing knight captain takes it upon himself to care for Kondou. Soon after, Kondou catches the attention of the prime minister, resulting in his promotion to a middle management position. With his new title, Kondou finds his workload increasing along with the dangers associated with him. As a consequence, Aresh faces an entirely new obstacle — how to protect his bean counter from not only himself but the outside world as well…

NB: this review is actually from before I read the light novels, since I try to space out my reviews and provide some diversity! So now I know how the plot all turns out… but I didn’t bother editing this review, and it remains my first impressions.

The third volume of The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter certainly goes places! I found it a bit less light-hearted than the other volumes, since Seiichirou is violently beaten and left for dead, and then dragged into very certain danger for political reasons.

Aresh’s devotion to him continues to be somewhat sweet, though still rather controlling. And yeah, it’s to save his life — and yeah, Seiichirou is annoyingly careless and in fact actively endangering himself to no real purpose — but there has to be a place where it stops, and I’m not certain I believe Aresh knows that (and sometimes he crosses the line). It’s really clear that they need to have a conversation about Aresh’s feelings, though Seiichirou is pretty unreadable on that front, only seeming to think about what he owes Aresh.

I find it disappointing that the Holy Maiden is kind of oblivious. I wonder if she’ll become more of an ally to Seiichirou now, or whether there’s something deliberate and malicious under the girlishness. Her interest in Aresh is pretty annoying, but I find it uncomfortable that I’m annoyed about it — it seems like she’s set up to be hated for being interested in one of the (gay) male leads, a pattern I always hated in fic as a teen and actively avoid now.

Overall, curious where the plot is going, and where Aresh and Seiichirou’s relationship will end up, but I definitely need them to communicate and examine their own feelings (preferably in the reverse of that order).

Rating: 3/5 (“liked it”)

The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga)

by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakutsu

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 178
Series: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga) #2
Rating:

Synopsis:

Not long ago, in a fantasy world in a different dimension, a business guy was dragged through a portal. Stranded in a new land, Kondou has only one request—to spend his days peacefully working himself into the ground. But when he collapses from downing potion after potion day after day, it’s the handsome knight captain Aresh who rescues the bean counter in distress... However, ‘twas just the beginning of the tale for these star-crossed lovers. After all, not even a near-death experience and his first time can stop Kondou from working the very next day! And so, jilted by the man he saved after a night of many firsts, Aresh starts a personal crusade to teach Kondou how to work to live instead of living to work. Meanwhile, Kondou for the life of him just can’t figure out why he’s not allowed to take any overtime...

The second volume of Kazuki Irodori’s adaptation of The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter into manga form is fun! It mostly focuses on Aresh’s attempts to get Seiichirou to take care of himself better, with Aresh quickly becoming fascinated by as much as exasperated by him, along with some world building.

I do wish Aresh would talk to Seiichirou about how he feels a bit more, and tell him that he likes him and wants to spend the time with him — and that he’d maybe be a bit less controlling, even if Seiichirou has no sense of self-preservation. The scene where Seiichirou says he’s not interested in younger people is really pretty funny in a sad sort of way — poor Aresh!

I’m not sure entirely where it’s going to go, as far as weighting between plot, pining and actual relationship stands. We’ll see, I guess; I’m interested enough that I’m thinking about reading the light novels.

Since this review was posted quite a while after being written, I have of course now read all three light novels. The review of the first is up!

Rating: 4/5 (“really liked it”)

The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga)

by Kazuki Irodori, Yatsuki Wakutsu

Genres: Fantasy, Manga, Romance
Pages: 180
Series: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter (manga) #1
Rating:

Synopsis:

Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, a holy maiden was summoned. Not just any holy maiden-one hailing from modern Japan. But this story is not her story. This is the tale of the humble accountant, Kondou, who accompanied her and his trials and woes as he accounts in a new world... But no tale is complete without a love interest. And who better to play that role than the handsome knight captain Aresh? Will he begin a personal quest to save said bean counter-who toils around the clock-or is Kondou doomed to be married to his work evermore...?!

The first volume of Kazuki Irodori’s manga adaptation of Yatsuki Wakatsu’s light novel The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter is pretty fun. I like the character designs, I find it interesting that I trust almost no one other than Seiichirou and Aresh, and I’m curious where both the relationship and the story of the Holy Maiden are going.

I will say that there’s basically dubious consent sex to save someone’s life here, which is worth knowing about: Aresh cures Seiichirou from an accidental overdose using magic, which he can’t tolerate either, and then has to “familiarise Seiichirou with his magic” (with close contact) in order to save his life from that. He does try to obtain consent, but it’s not clear that Seiichirou understands. I wonder how this bit comes across in the light novel; it’s fairly skated over in the manga, beyond a few scenes. It doesn’t seem like Seiichirou hates it or anything, and he still has some room to protest, but still, if you don’t like that kind of scenario or find it triggering, it’s useful to know.

It’s hard to evaluate exactly what I think of this series yet, but I’m looking forward to reading more and wondering about the light novel (which may contain some more detail and context), so it’s a good start for me!

Rating: 3/5