- #1
I really like what this novel was going for! The novel is mostly about the MC, as she overcomes her traumas, makes friends, and finds confidence in herself again. The MC doesn't show her badass side very often, but when she does it's awesome. Characters are written with impressive depth, with backstories and development. If an antagonistic character messes with the MC, they often have opportunities to learn from their mistakes and make amends, and many characters gain new value in the story and new personality depth through overcoming the trials of youth.That said, I found the romance being pushed a little too forcefully for my tastes, and the author often made the MC or other characters do out-of-character things just to push the MC together with an ML. The MC has enemies trapped and helpless, only to cancel her magic from a little provocation (despite almost never doing so when an ML isn't involved) and get knocked unconscious so an ML can save her. Or her superiors might, despite knowing she's on a secret escort mission, put her in a bunch of tasks that force her to interact closely with the MLs in her secret identity (despite having numerous other people they could have picked for the job). Or an ML will swap between treating her Silent Witch identity as a distinguished personage (as they should, given their positions) and some common village girl who'd get wooed by close contact and a nice word. Also, just way, WAY, WAY too much male characters who like to bully the MC or hit her physically. Overall, while the individual developments aren't too egregious compared to what other shoujo novels do, IMO it soured the plot a bit. I doubt I'll continue going on to the MTL now that I've completed the translation up till where it is now.
