What We See so Far - "Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf wo Yome ni Shitanda ga, Dou Medereba Ii?"

Synopsis

To many, Zagan is feared as an evil mage who takes down any burglars or criminals that dare step in his territory. In truth, he is a sharp-tongued but awkward mage who simply deals with intruders and other criminals in his territory as he sees fit. One day after putting down a burglar for the day, he is invited to a dark auction at night. It is there that he meets the white elf slave Nephie and falls in love at first sight with her. Using his entire fortune he purchases her. However, with his poor social skills, the two’s communication is anything but smooth. Thus, the clumsy cohabitation of the mage who can’t convey his love and the slave who pines for her master but doesn’t understand how to bring it up begins.

The Good

While the trope of a seemingly rough and tough character being lovestruck by a cute and delicate character isn’t new, there are still works that give a cute look to it like this one. It’s fun to see how Zagan inwardly flusters around this delicate elf while coming off as an intimidating figure. What’s more, it’s nice to see the development between them given the short amount the series has so far. The way their dynamic shifts with each chapter is rather cute and shows a solid flow to the series.

Other than the cuteness of the characters and their well-done development, the magic aspect of the series holds a rather interesting note. The way it was explained and how its viewed in the setting gives a unique tone to the series and presents some great visual work in terms of action.

The Bad
Given that the basic foundation of the story holds a well-known trope, it’s no surprise that the plot holds other tropes known in the fantasy genre. While the magic aspect holds an interesting note, it’s not surprising that there is a faction that considers mages as evil and is looking to take out strong figures like Zagan out. It’s still cliche that the series made a religious faction be the vehement opposers of magic users.

Conclusion

It’s a cute series that has a whole lot of potential in terms of the character relationships and its magic aspects. There’s a handful of tropes throughout the series but it works for the story and doesn’t really take away from the development of the characters. There’s a unique quality in the world and character building so if you’re looking for a fantasy series with a soft romance aspect and interesting plot points, this is it.

Rating: 7.5/10