Strongest Swordman’s Re:START

A swordsman hailed as the strongest has reached his end, and was reborn as an elven girl. This is the story of the swordsman only knowing how to kill in his past life aiming to be the best healer as a girl. In the final battle against a monstrous entity with his teammates, the strongest swordsman, the Hero’s mentor and the only one in their party incapable of magic yet the most skilled with the sword, sacrificed his life to end the battle once and for all. Reincarnated as an elf girl, the strongest swordsman decided to live a different life from his blood-stained past and pursue the magic that he has never used before. As a girl, she apprenticed under the old potion maker and healer of the village to be like someone she had admired in her previous life while keeping her condition sharp with sword training as she had done in her past life. After learning the ways of a healer and convincing the elf village that she is capable enough of leaving for the outside world, she hitched a ride with a party of adventurers passing by the village and went out to see how the world has changed.

Original Publisher

overlap

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on Strongest Swordman’s Re:START I dove into "Strongest Swordman’s Re:START" with a healthy dose of curiosity, given its blend of action, fantasy, and gender bender elements. The premise of a powerful swordsman reincarnating as an elf immediately grabbed my attention, and I was eager to see how the author would handle the complexities of such a transformation. ### First Impressions Initially, the story had me hooked. The early chapters focus on the protagonist's new life and training, laying a solid foundation for what promised to be an exciting journey. The world-building seemed promising, and I appreciated the hints of the protagonist's past life slowly being revealed. ### What Works Well What I found particularly refreshing was the way the author subverts some common fantasy tropes. For example, the Adventurer's Guild isn't just a walk-in-and-join affair. The story introduces a more structured system with recommendations and exams, adding a layer of realism to the world. This attention to detail made the world feel more believable and immersive. I also liked the hints of romance with the priestess of the party of his previous life. ### Areas of Concern However, I do have some reservations. The pacing can feel slow at times, especially in the early arcs focusing on childhood and school life. While this provides character development, it can leave you wanting more action and plot progression. I found myself wishing the story would delve deeper into the main plot sooner. Also, I'm not entirely sold on the gender bender aspect. While it's a core element of the story, it sometimes feels like the pre- and post-transformation characters could almost be separate entities. I feel like the author could have fleshed out the characters more. ### Final Verdict Overall, "Strongest Swordman’s Re:START" is a decent read with a unique premise and interesting world-building. While the pacing can be a bit slow and the gender bender aspect might not fully resonate with everyone, the story's strengths lie in its subversion of fantasy tropes and its potential for exciting plot developments. I'm cautiously optimistic about where the story will go, and I'll be keeping an eye on future updates.