The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest

Shikkaku Mon no Saikyō Kenja
Company type	Light novel series, manga, anime
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	December 2016
Founder	Shinkoshoto (author)
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Light novels, manga, anime television series, mobile game
Parent	SB Creative (light novel publisher), Square Enix (manga publisher)

, alternatively referred to as or simply , is a Japanese light novel series authored by Shinkoshoto with illustrations by Huuka Kazabana. The story was first published online from December 2016 through April 2020 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. Subsequently, SB Creative acquired the rights and has released twenty volumes since May 2017 under their GA Novel label.

The series also received a manga adaptation, illustrated by LIVER JAM&POPO, which has been serialized digitally since June 2017 via Square Enix's Manga Up! platform. This manga has been compiled into twenty-nine tankōbon volumes. Square Enix holds the licensing rights for the manga in North America. An anime television adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from January to March 2022.

A spin-off light novel series titled is published by SB Creative under the GA Bunko imprint, beginning in September 2020, with three volumes available as of mid-2024. Its manga version, created by Yue Ling and Ponjea, started concurrently on Manga UP! and has been collected into eight volumes.

Synopsis

Within a world governed by magic, an individual's magical potential and destiny are predetermined at birth by four emblems known as "Crests," which define their magical capabilities. Discontented with possessing only an augmentation-type crest, a remarkably talented sage chooses to reincarnate after several millennia.

Reborn as Mathias Hildesheimr, the third son of a duke at age six, he acquires the close combat crest he had long desired. However, over time, knowledge of magic and swordsmanship has drastically deteriorated; even basic spells have fallen into obscurity and magical equipment quality has diminished. While once considered immensely powerful, his crest is now regarded as the least effective.

By age twelve, Mathias’s exceptional sword skills earn him admission to the Second Royal Academy, where he soon confronts entrenched prejudices. Upon uncovering sinister forces threatening humanity’s survival, Mathias must utilize his talents to thwart these dangers.

Characters

Matthias Hildesheimer (マティアス＝ヒルデスハイマー): Formerly known as "Gaius" more than 5000 years ago, he reincarnated through Reincarnation magic to obtain the superior "Fourth Crest." His mission is to gain sufficient strength to battle powerful Outer Space entities.
Lurie Abendroth (ルリイ＝アーベントロート): A member of the Abendroth family who harbors romantic feelings for Matthias and possesses the "First Crest," which corresponds to Matthias’s previous incarnation.
Alma Lepucius (アルマ＝レプシウス): The third daughter of the Lepucius family and close companion to Lurie. Although her magical power is inferior to that of Matthias and Lurie, she excels in archery and holds the "Second Crest."
Iris (イリス): Known as "Black Dragon Iris," she is among the oldest and strongest dragons. She alone knows Matthias’s true identity but keeps it confidential at his request. In human guise, she appears as a young girl attending the academy.

Light novels

The series was initially serialized by Shinkoshoto on the user-driven novel platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō beginning in December 2016. In May 2017, SB Creative acquired publication rights and began issuing physical volumes featuring illustrations by Huuka Kazabana under the GA Novel imprint.

Manga

The light novel was adapted into a manga illustrated by LIVER JAM&POPO and began serialization in Square Enix's Manga Up! magazine on June 27, 2017. Square Enix Manga & Books secured licensing for North American distribution of the manga.

Anime

During the "GA Fes 2021" live broadcast, it was revealed that the series would be adapted into an anime television show, produced by NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan and animated by J.C.Staff. The project was directed by Noriaki Akitaya, with Hiroki Uchida supervising the scriptwriting. The anime aired from January 8 through March 26, 2022, on networks including Tokyo MX, BS11, SUN, and AT-X. The opening song is "Leap of faith" performed by fripSide, while the ending theme "Day of Bright Sunshine" is sung by Yuki Nakashima. Crunchyroll provided streaming access in selected regions, whereas Medialink secured licensing rights for South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, excluding Australia and New Zealand.

On January 13, 2022, Crunchyroll announced an English-language dub, which premiered on February 19.

Mobile game

In December 2021, it was announced that a mobile game titled Shikkaku Mon no Saikyō Kenja: The Ultimate Reincarnation would be launched for both iOS and Android platforms in 2022.

Reception

Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network assigned a C+ grade to the first volume of the manga, commending its artwork, use of foreshadowing, and portrayal of character aging. However, she criticized its formulaic aspects and inconsistent pacing. The second volume saw an improvement to a B− rating; Silverman highlighted enhanced story progression and pacing along with steady art quality but noted persistent generic traits, limited character depth, and some translation shortcomings.

External links

at Shōsetsuka ni Narō