- #1
Although the story might appeal to some people, IMO the MC is too pathetic for me to keep reading. He's not even a traditional beta male - he's in an abusive relationship with his childhood friends, where the friends tell him that they'll give up on their dreams and potential if he stops traveling with them. The MC hates fighting and can only feel comfortable fighting even low level monsters if he has dozens of protective amulets on him, but his Stockholm syndrome is so fleshed out that he sacrifices his own wellbeing so his friends continue on their current path. If the MC was doing so voluntarily, that would be one thing, but his friends throw temper tantrums (to the point to killing bystanders, it seems) and guilt trip him into believing that staying is his only choice. The fact that this is played for laughs doesn't really sit right with me, so I'll be dropping it here. I imagine some might enjoy the novel if they can get past the abusive relationship part, though?