This world is not real, and I am not the protagonist.
Review from the RAW site:
The story begins during World War II, when a portal to a medieval fantasy world opens on Earth, altering the course of history. The protagonist lives as a janitor in Incheon, Korea, and one day, after mumbling about status windows and leveling up, his employer murders his family and colleagues, setting the story in motion.
At first glance, it may seem like the typical introduction from an NPC’s point of view in a game, but this universe contemplates what if a medieval fantasy world had connected to Earth during World War II? It unfolds in such an intriguing way. For instance, the defeated Nazis flee to the fantasy world, where Hitler becomes a Demon King, and the deities of the fantasy world, regarded as “spiritual life forms” by Stalin, are demeaned, resulting in the massacre of vampires and dwarves by the Soviet Union. Communism is spread in the Middle Ages, inciting serfs to revolt, and elves, seeking the elixir of life, face nuclear bombings on the World Tree by Americans, leading to the elves turning into communist guerrillas. It’s a world that makes you go, “What is this?” Personally, I found the universe to be immensely charming. The story includes the effects of the Great Depression on the United States, the crumbling economy of a collapsed empire, magic towers shaking from the air conditioning revolution, and the tale of a hero who has left descendants among all races.
Popular Reviews
Pairing them up for a story/art collaboration is essentially setting the stage for a manga filled with huuuuge, muscular, manly men beating each other to death. And it was. Every male character in this manga is big, well-built, and sometimes even a little ugly, just like real men.
Since it was so short, you can't expect much complexity in the story, and you won't get much either. But there are a few plot twists near the end that are fairly intriguing, especially if you're into history.
Story - 6/10
Given its brevity, it's unrealistic to expect an elaborate storyline. The narrative follows Iba, Japan's top kendo master (the Japanese form of fencing), as he journeys back to the 13th century. There, he must rely on his swordsmanship to survive within the Mongol Empire. This manga effectively blends history with fiction, and the action scenes are impressive, as one would anticipate from two masters of action manga. Additionally, there are a few minor twists that prevent the story from becoming monotonous.
Art - 8/10
With Kentaro Miura as the illustrator, the art style naturally mirrors that of the early "Berserk" chapters. The level of detail is commendable, particularly during the action sequences.
Character - 6/10
Due to the manga's concise nature, significant character development isn't feasible. The characters are fairly typical, but the limited development they do undergo is competently managed by the authors.
Enjoyment - 7/10
In summary, this was an entertaining manga. Despite its short length, it was enjoyable, albeit inferior to some of the more celebrated works by these two creators. I recommend not setting your expectations too high.
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