Magical Girl Tyrant Sylph Chapter 120 Discussion

I'm not a native English speaker, so a bit of singular-plural and tenses usage may be wrong.

I really like this novel, but I will try to be as objective as possible. Here is the review. Scroll down if you want tl;dr!

Here are the stuffs that I enjoy about this story (and you might find enjoyable) :

1. The story is character driven

The story focuses more on the MC's growth as a character, how he adapts with the brand new situation and how it changed him.

The synopsis mention the fact that the MC has "extraordinary talents" (OP), but the OP aspect actually support the MC's growth as a character instead of stagnating it.

Spoiler

The entire point of Chapter 1, MC struggle about his relationship with other magical girls. This struggle prevents cooperation and force him to be a solo magical girl, which he can handle because he's OP.

But one time he's shockingly defeated by a monster and saved by another magical girl (Elephant), leaving the girl in a bad state. MC who feel he's responsible for the girl state, comply with the girl to go on a hangout, which become the main catalyst of his future characterization and the two's relationship.

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It's pretty refreshing to see stories where the OP MC actually grow.

2. It's a fresh but realistic spin on age regression and genderbend plot

What I mean is that the way the MC respond with the gimmick is rare to see. The MC seems to be bothered more with the age regression than the genderbend. Often it's the opposite, the genderbend is the bigger issue. Seeing how the story takes place in the modern world, it seems pretty realistic. Identity and gender can be faked, but physical age cannot.

Spoiler

It also become the struggle that is mentioned in the first point. The MC at first view himself as "too old" to be friend with the young magical girls and should stay away from being apart of the team, which is a pretty fair realization. A friendship between a 30 y/o with a middle schooler is often seen as dangerous and likely predatory.

This viewpoint also make the relationship with the girl that saved him more special, as she is the only one that he opens up with about the truth (up until the latest chapter at least) and accept him as he is.

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3. Contain aspects of politics

Just a short one, but the story delve into the behind the scenes of the magical girl world. The organization that manage magic and some groups conflict that arise inside the magical girls itself. I personally find it interesting, but some may not, so I just make this one short.

4. It's pretty long.

The raw has ended and has around 210 chapters, but the English version still has around a 100 chapter to go. This is a long read.

As for the thing that I don't personally like, there is 1 thing:

1. A Chapter doesn't meet my expectation

Spoiler

Chapter 2. Just not too many interesting development here, too much fighting for my liking. And the hyped up fight are rather anticlimatic. But there are absolutely redeemable point that make this Chapter not bad;

I don't care too much about Blade and Dryad's conflict, but it does set up later development between the MC and the girl that saved him. That, with the exploration of the witches and the fairy's introduction are the redeeming point for this chapter.

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Finally, but very important! There is the possible "ick" that could drive away some people:

1. Read the tags

Romance, Yuri, Yandere, Age Regression. Proceed with caution!

Spoiler

The girl that saved the MC will fall in love with the him in later Chapter (Chapter 3). Knowing the MC, this might not sit right for people. The romance between the MC and the girl could be seen as problematic by some reader, especially remembering that the MC's actual age are mentioned a lot. Even if we just see through the lens of appearance, the MC is physically 10 y/o (4th grader), do you think it's fine for a 14 y/o (8th grader) to romance him? Depends probably.

I could enjoy this story as much as I am because I'm not too bothered by morality when reading fiction.

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So that is my personal review of "Magical Girl Tyrant Sylph".

tl;dr: It's a fresh and enjoyable. It's a character focused story with some serious undertone like politic while still keeping aspects of lightheartedness. But it is imperfect, as some part of the story are not as enjoyable as other. The story can also conflict with some people personal view in life regarding romantic relationship in age regression story.

I make this pretty long essay because I see that there are only like 4 review for this story and I just really love this story. I hope this story become more popular in the future.