The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

A tale revolves around an immortal teenager who has secluded himself from human society for millennia, unaware of the monumental events unfolding during that time. One day, accompanied by his chatty canine pal, they embark on an adventure. Their journey combines their innate abilities, ancient wisdom, fortuitous circumstances, and a knack for getting involved, leading them to be chosen by various forces to play pivotal roles in a new wave of world-altering events. Alongside the main duo, the narrative focuses on several other well-developed characters with their own individual journeys.

The story predominantly unfolds from the protagonist's perspective, occasionally shifting to third person. The straightforward language suits the story's tone, though it can feel abrupt when abruptly changing conversational topics. Humor, while present, can be misplaced in serious scenes but generally provides comic relief. The meat of the plot begins around chapter 130, with earlier chapters setting up key characters, world-building, and the buildup to the central conflict.

The English translation by Divine Dao Library is commendable, effectively handling honorific removal without compromising character interactions or consistency in terminology. Dialogue clarity is maintained, and emotions in critical scenes are conveyed, although cringe-worthy moments remain cringe-inducing. On the other hand, Estelion's Secret Imouto's older translation is subpar – their understanding of the text is questionable, and their English is poor, possibly relying on machine translation. Their adaptation attempts, by placing dialogue in manga panels, disrupt the reading experience and consume unnecessary bandwidth.

The novel also boasts a manga adaptation with stunning visuals, capturing virtually every detail. Though it progresses slowly, given its position within the second major arc, it's worth checking out alongside the text.

The primary issue with this novel lies in its sluggish pacing. The story tends to drag due to an excessive amount of unnecessary dialogue exchanged between the protagonist and his dog. It feels like a significant portion of the book could be condensed if we removed much of the trivial banter. Despite this, the overall narrative and battle sequences are commendable, with the MC showcasing impressive skills and unique magic. To fully appreciate it, it might be best to accumulate several chapters and read them in one sitting.

Please remember that I've already read the entire series in its original Japanese version. While the series as a whole is exceptional, individual books might seem less impactful due to its gradual pace. Initially, it appears directionless, but skillfully weaves plot threads early on, addressing them incrementally. Virtually every named character holds significance, with their own stakes and motivations contributing to the overarching narrative. The core storyline gains momentum around volume 5 (Chapter 130), but prior to that, numerous enjoyable subplots and humorous moments keep it engaging.

In terms of translation quality, the older translation by Estelion's Secret Imouto is abysmal. It's essentially poorly edited machine translation, turning into a half-hearted adaptation of the manga a few chapters in.

On the positive side, the newer translation by Divine Dao Library stands out. It's excellently crafted, maintaining consistent names and terminology, and the localization is smooth without losing the original nuances. It's worth noting that they redid the initial chapters done by Estelion's Secret Imouto, so start from the penultimate chapter listing.

Update (June 7, 2020): The Divine Dao Library translation, currently up to Chapter 82, has experienced a slight dip in quality since Chapter 40. Occasional editor and proofreader comments, although infrequent, can be distracting.

Update (October 10, 2021): The Divine Dao Library translation has progressed to Chapter 225, and the overall quality has improved over the past 100 chapters. The jokes are now localized more heavily, enhancing the humor in the translation.

Update (September 15, 2024): The Divine Dao Library translation has now completed the main web novel content and is currently engaged in the additional side stories released alongside print book editions. The translation remains consistently strong throughout.

The story hits its climax in volumes 6, 7, and 8, but unfortunately, it loses its momentum after that point, feeling stagnant and lacking the same depth and intensity. Many events and subplots become disconnected from the紧迫 situation and the stakes for the main character's relationships. The romantic elements, set in a world where everyone is virgins regardless of age, often feel forced and serve little to enhance character development. Despite the intriguing exploration of the MC's character, their mental growth and actions are underdeveloped, with little variation among supporting characters.

The comedy aspect, primarily derived from interactions between Asley and Pochi, becomes repetitive and occasionally feels forced to provide jokes, though it remains amusing at times. The world-building could be clearer, especially in terms of governance, military structures, and regional politics. Given the genre, it's understandable that not every detail needs to be fleshed out, and having three to four major areas suffice.

There are plot holes and instances of plot armor that may bother some readers, but if you're looking for a light read, these can be overlooked. Overall, the series offers a decent experience, with its length, lightheartedness, and ease of consumption making it an enjoyable time sink.

This novel undeniably receives more praise than it deserves. The storyline is unremarkable, and a 3-star rating is the highest I can justify. The character growth is disappointingly superficial, as the protagonist fails to evolve over the course of 5,000 years, resulting in a dull plot with minimal depth. While there are occasional humorous moments, the overall tone is rather平淡.

What irks me is the repetitive use of "Rise, A-rise, A-rise!" for every spell, which comes across as an immature pattern, akin to an eighth-grader's behavior. It's perplexing how the main character persists in acting foolishly without learning from his errors. The author could have delved deeper into emotions and explored the MC's lack of human-like qualities.

Moreover, the relationships between characters are underdeveloped, and frequent time jumps occasionally make the narrative confusing. In summary, if you can tolerate a主角带有八年级心态的描述 and don't mind shallow character progression, you might find some amusement in the humor. But for those seeking substance, this might not be the right choice.

I must say, it's not bad. Despite the title suggesting the protagonist is foolish, he displays intelligence, strategic thinking, and careful planning. His constant banter with his trusty Siberian Husky, Pochi, adds a lighthearted touch even during perilous situations. The character's learning pace may be sluggish, but his persistence over 5000 years is commendable.

The score of 8 out of 10 reflects the主角在改变和领悟上的迟缓，但正是这种慢节奏为他重新找回失落的人性—诸如价值观、善良、体贴和公正等，在与世隔绝的漫长岁月中得以展现。这是一个值得阅读的故事。

This is an outstanding comedy with a well-paced narrative, featuring a balanced blend of dialogue and monologue from the main character. The diverse array of characters and their unique personalities truly enhance the reading experience. In summary, it's an essential read.

The initial concept of this novel sounds intriguing: a young man with limited magical aptitude stumbles upon immortality, devotes 5,000 years to mastering magic and research, and then returns to a world that's stagnated rather than progressed. It could have been the foundation for an engaging story featuring a clueless, yet powerful protagonist, much like an OP sage. However, the execution falls flat. The litRPG elements become a crutch, burdening him with debilitating titles that hinder his abilities, and his character development remains one-dimensional, bordering on cartoonish. The inclusion of superficial litRPG tropes adds no substance, and the poor translation quality, along with the unnecessary manga illustrations, detract from the reading experience. I had higher hopes for this story.