author Sakaki Mochimaru The premise of the series is touched on in the author’s words – what if the protagonist was the only one who could see strategy guides, reviews, and the entire internet? What if the character is inherently innocent and knows little about the world around him? This is exactly what we get when we enter this world The World’s Strongest Witch: A Guide to Starting a Free Life in a World Only I Can See. Lorna was clearly not a favored child, even before her father’s incoherent interpretation of her powers.
So Lorna takes away her ridiculous powers and just…lives. She saves the world and its people again and again, completing the first volume, unknown but omnipotent.
The second volume did do one thing that I appreciated. If you’ve ever played any game with timed monster attacks, you’ll know how terrifying Wednesday can be for the residents of the port town of Aquis. Every Wednesday, monsters appear, which may be a good thing for adventurers who want to level up quickly, but it’s a nightmare for residents. Thankfully, Lorna is able to save the town from the game by putting aside the pornographic game ads on “the Internet” long enough to beat the game on her own terms.
When it was finished, one couldn’t imagine what else Lorna had to do. Invincible, invulnerable, able to teleport and absorb MP, Lorna is a laughing stock with nowhere to go. At the end of the second volume, she travels to the royal capital, presumably to explain to those in power that they have misunderstood the world’s power rankings. Or maybe she’ll take over and be everywhere. Who knows?
The art here is adequate, but adds nothing to the story. Apparently, fifteen-year-old Lorna looks like a fetus in a frilly dress (or school uniform or bathing suit, since a lack of imagination seems to be part of the joke here), which means that instead of a smart-but-not-bright teenager, we’re looking at a child with a round, flat face, an open mouth, and no features whatsoever. This fits in with the haha ”humor” of the underage sexual references that should add color to the game and some of its less likable characters. In fact, few of the supporting characters have more personality than their lines.
This is a story that would definitely be more interesting in a comic strip or animated series. I imagine the character’s voice will rise to dog-whistle territory, as Aquas’ all-female cast is combined with Lorna’s baby-like appearance, and a replica of the snooty dragon princess is added to the mix.
The purpose of this story is to read as a series of jokes stacked on top of one another. Lorna’s innocence means that she sees everything on the “net” as the word of God and, as such, can complete an entire mission quickly or, more often, simply jump to the end of the mission in one turn. As a result, she was overwhelmed and had little control over her skills, which put even more force on her already crushed shoulders. There’s no real element of discovery or craftsmanship here – Lorna didn’t create anything new, nor did she understand more than half of what she read on “the Internet.” She simply stumbles into complicated situations, misunderstands the motivations of those around her, and forces her way to the best solution.
On the one hand, it is very relaxing to read because there is no need for any emotional investment on the part of the reader. Lorna, on the other hand, is gaining strength and getting messages, but doesn’t understand them. This makes this long light novel start to feel boring as the second volume progresses.
To be fair, this story has a clear audience. Audiences are not interested in a character who is self-made, or who addresses society’s ills in a way that uplifts the downtrodden. This is a story for people who are tired of the game world, monsters, and artifact drops, who watch the game and study the guides with an eye toward… completing the quest. For those viewers, I think The World’s Strongest Witch: A Guide to Starting a Free Life in a World Only I Can See It can feel cathartic and even fun.
If you’re interested in seeing if this anime is for you, the light novel won’t add much to your experience. For those of you who prefer print, read the LN slowly so you can enjoy some clever moments without filling you up with a long list of fish dinners that overwhelm you with details that lead nowhere
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