Having read as far as the current latest translation (Ch. 59) I've discovered something remarkable about this story that's been lacking from so many newer stories: an author who can write a plot without resorting to gimmicks that break the lore.
The main plot, while not apparent for a while, even revolves around why the world is so much weaker than the MC (main character) remembers in a way that makes sense.
The fight scenes are a visual treat, though they are almost always a page or two too short. But honestly, the fight progression is solid, with fights getting harder and harder for the MC in believable ways and the MC getting stronger in believable ways.
The 3 girls that travel with the MC all have their own personality, goals and reason to be with the MC outside of romance, which is nice.
Not that romance isn't there, however... or the possibility of it. The one girl likes the MC (and he likes her back), and the dragon girl seems to not be the biggest fan of the occasional romantic atmosphere, breaking it up... but only once as the third girl seems to distract her in later chapters whenever there is a moment.
The plot is a solid Shonen Jump style plot, akin to something between One Piece and Dragon Ball, where there's an overarching plot, but it's expressed in a small adventure/investigation that ends with a demon of the day fight. Though it all wraps up quickly, with these mini-arcs lasting around 5 chapters instead of taking it's time... which is probably a good thing because medieval fantasy worlds don't have the visual variety of One Piece and this story takes its "power levels" a little more seriously and tries to be consistent and add variety in the form of weaker powered enemies being more difficult on occasion because of their skill, numbers, or other advantages.
The author ties up loose ends, too, which is nice.
Now I want to talk about one other thing this manga gets very right, and that's Iris the dragon who becomes a girl through magic (and can change to either form at will). She doesn't act like a human with human concerns, and that's constantly and consistently used to great effect instead of as a cheap gimmick.
She's constantly doing something in the background (usually involving, but not exclusively, eating massive amounts of food because dragons are large creatures) which makes for great comedy, world building and immersion.
For example (not really a spoiler), there's a point where you'll see her scold a baker in their home city, which is hilarious if you've been paying attention because before the last mini-arc where they went to another city, there's a small bachground panel showing Iris in shock for being banned from the bakery (for constantly buying them out, which makes sense when you realize the moment she leaves town he has no customers who expect there to be food).
But Iris has important things she does, and she and the other girls are important to the fights the MC gets into. He's also actively training them at the same time, and amazingly, they don't remain the same as their increasing strength begins to skew their own views on what's possible, which leads to others beginning to treat them they way they used to treat the MC in terms of reacting to the impossible things they do.
My biggest complaint is that the MC, after the most recent romantic moment, should have realized his feelings were reciprocated and began dating the girl. But otherwise, I don't think there's much to dislike if you haven't been burned out by the other significantly worse stories with a similar flavor.
(-96)
