Loner Life in Another World (Japanese: ひとりぼっちの異世界攻略, Hepburn: Hitoribotchi no Isekai Kōryaku) is a Japanese light novel series written by Shoji Goji. The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in October 2016, before being published in print with illustrations by Booota and Saku Enokimaru by Overlap beginning in January 2018. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Bibi, began serialization on the Comic Gardo website in January 2019. An anime television series adaptation produced by Hayabusa Film and Passione aired from October to December 2024.
Plot
An entire class of high school students is summoned to another world by its god, who selected them to become heroes. The god allowed each of the students to pick a special skill of their choice, but one of the students, Haruka, a loner student, tried to escape the selection ritual but got dragged along anyway, and the god allowed him to keep all the remaining skills the other students did not pick. Despite not having a single powerful skill, Haruka makes use of his multiple abilities to live a comfortable life by himself in the other world, until his classmates start having trouble trying to deal with their new environment and conflicts between them, forcing him to take action, leave his loner existence and help them.
The main protagonist. Self-isolated in his class, he manages to thrive as a "loner" in his new world using the skills thrust upon him. After being transported to the other world, he refers to his former classmates via the cliques they had formed in their original world, e.g. "Mean Girls", "Nerds", "Delinquents", etc., being either ignorant or uncaring of their actual names (which tends to constantly exasperate the girls, especially the Class Rep). One of his Skills is "Master of None", which means although he can pick up other Skills with almost incredible ease, he levels up very slowly compared to the other students; however, despite the apparent uselessness of his acquired Skills, he is able to use and combine them in such a way as to overcome almost any situation. Because of his low levels (and preferring his "Loner" status), he refuses to join any of the student parties, believing that his low levels would only hold them back.
The class representative, she is responsible and reliable, always trying to keep the other students in line and is constantly worried about Haruka, who is her childhood friend and for whom she has feelings for despite his "antics". Even though she (and all of the other girls) are exasperated by Haruka's poor communication skills, she and the other class members come to rely on and trust him for his strength and resourcefulness (plus the fact that he is far safer to be around than the Delinquents who had tried to dominate them). She also has the Skill "Hijack" (which can only be used by killing another Skill-owner), but will never use it; only Haruka and the Nerds know about her possessing this Skill. Another possible source of exasperation for her is that although she and the other girls (because of their higher/stronger Levels) believe that it's their duty to protect Haruka because of his low Level, he ends up protecting them instead.
A female knight who was afflicted with a curse and became the final boss of a dungeon. After Haruka defeats her, he manages to turn her back and she becomes one of his closest friends. She also has feelings for Haruka.
The leader of the Gals (Haruka keeps referring to them as "the mean girls"). She was foremost in driving the Nerds away, but now (along with her subordinates) wants to find them and sincerely apologize. In the light novels, Haruka keeps calling her "the Queen Bee". In Volume One of the light novels, it is revealed that she had been a magazine model.
Avid fans of anime and games, they are amongst the strongest students due to their knowledge of isekai, which allowed them to choose magic skills. While they were originally helping the rest of the class, a series of mistaken events causes their classmates to drive them away. While the Nerds seem to be the group Haruka is closest to, he declines to join them.
Jocks (脳筋莫迦, Nōkin Baka)
Voiced by: Hiromu Mineta (Jock A), Kento Hama (Jock B), Haruki Ishiya (Jock C), Keisuke Iwamura (Jock E), [4][8] (Japanese); Jack Stansbury (Jock A), Blake Weir (Jock B), Jovan Jackson (Jock C), John Gremillion (Jock E)[3] (English)
Sports enthusiasts who are the physically strongest amongst the students. While Haruka refers to them as "meatheads", they are basically decent and honorable.
Delinquents (不良, Furyō)
Voiced by: Tomohiro Yamaguchi (Delinquent A), Fumiya Imai (Delinquent B), Yōhei Matsuoka (Delinquent E), Kōdai Sakai (Delinquent F)[4][8] (Japanese); Ben McLaughlin (Delinquent A), Andrew Love (Delinquent B), James Marler (Delinquent E), Shane Fenimore (Delinquent F)[3] (English)
Troublemaking students who intend to use their powers against their classmates in order to rule over them (especially to create a harem out of their female classmates).
A mathematical genius, but another loner like Haruka; he attaches himself to the Delinquents and teaches them how to use their powers while secretly having an agenda of his own.
The head of the town of Omui's Adventurers' Guild.
Media
Light novels
Written by Shoji Goji, the series began publication on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on October 12, 2016.[9] The series was later acquired by Overlap, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by Booota and Saku Enokimaru on January 25, 2018.[10] As of October 2024, fifteen volumes have been released.[11]
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Bibi, began serialization on the Comic Gardo manga website on January 25, 2019.[38] As of November 2024, the manga's individual chapters have been collected into twenty-two tankōbon volumes.[39]
In March 2020, Kaiten Books announced that they had licensed the manga for English publication.[40]
An anime television series adaptation was announced during the second livestream for the "10th Anniversary Memorial Overlap Bunko All-Star Assemble Special" event on January 21, 2024.[2] It is produced by Hayabusa Film and Passione (in cooperation with Frontier Engine) and directed by Akio Kazumi, with scripts written by Kenta Ihara, characters designed by Keiya Nakano, and music composed by Shūji Katayama.[74] The series aired from October 4 to December 20, 2024, on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji.[4][8][a] The opening theme song is "ODD NUMBER", performed by Yoshino, while the ending theme song is "Hello to Goodbye" (ハローとグッバイ, Hello and Goodbye), performed by Kujiraki.[7]Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America, Australia and British Isles for streaming on Hidive.[75]Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.[76][77]
"Loner with the Worst Skills" Transliteration: "Bocchi to Baddo Sukiru" (Japanese: ぼっちとバッドスキル)
Yuta Kida
Kenta Ihara
Akio Kazumi
October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04)
At a school, a magic circle begins transporting everyone to an alternate world and class loner Haruka (the only one who tried to escape) ends up being the last person transported. A God reveals that his classmates have already selected the best skills and equipment, so Haruka's only choices are useless skills nobody else wanted. Tired by his complaining, God gives him all the useless skills and equipment left. Arriving in a forest, Haruka applies all his available skill points to Luck and begins experimenting with what he has. He discovers a Loner skill that enables him to survive alone. He also relies on Contact Lenses that give him appraisal abilities. Discovering a cave, he sets up camp and discovers Loner keeps monsters away. Discovering goblins, he defeats them with the only weapon he can use, a Wooden Staff. Realizing he could live comfortably by upgrading his skills properly, he sets about training and levelling up. On Day Five, he detects his classmates wandering around in their various groups, including the Class Rep (on whom he has a crush), but avoids them.
Haruka continues his levelling up, which has stalled at level 3 due to the useless skill Master of None. He eventually encounters the school Nerds, who have already reached level 16 as magicians and warriors due to their familiarity with Isekai media, but are now leaving everyone behind. After he takes them in and feeds them, they explain that the Delinquents (a student class clique) attempted to use the skills Charm and Puppeteer to hypnotize the Gals (another clique) into a harem; the Nerds used Magic Seal to prevent the Delinquents from using those skills, causing them to destroy the camp. Everyone blamed the Nerds for provoking the Delinquents. The Nerds leave to reach the nearest town and start lives as Adventurers. Haruka visits the destroyed camp and finds the Gals regretting their actions. Haruka advises them to learn to survive and then find the Nerds to apologize. Haruka agrees to help them, but accidentally activates his skill Subjugate, turning the Gals into mindless slaves. Haruka panics at what the Class Rep will do to him if she finds out, only for her to appear. Elsewhere, the Delinquents plan to take the girls by force.
3
"Life With The Girls" Transliteration: "Joshi-tachi to no Seikatsu" (Japanese: 女子たちとの生活)
Yū Yabuuchi
Kenta Ihara
Akio Kazumi
October 18, 2024 (2024-10-18)
The effect of Haruka's Subjugation soon wears off. Haruka admits his renovated cave is large enough to house everybody, and agrees to the Class Rep's request that they temporarily stay with him. At his "house", Haruka has built bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom. Haruka is horrified when everyone except the Class Rep strips naked and takes over the bath. That night, the Class Rep admits to having failed as a leader, though Haruka assures her nobody (except the Nerds) could prepare for such an extreme situation. The next morning, the girls cook fish, which so far Haruka has been unable to catch. His Packing skill, which can capture objects within a 3D space, can capture the girls' Lightning magic and unlock it permanently as one of his own skills. The girls plan to leave to find a town, but Haruka decides to help them train first. The girls eventually learn how to fight monsters. The Class Rep then tells Haruka that he is coming with them to the town, much to his annoyance as he wants to remain in the forest. Elsewhere, one of the class boys is murdered by a hooded student.
4
"Headed to Town" Transliteration: "Machi o Mezashite" (Japanese: 街を目指して)
Ryo Yasumura
Kenta Ihara
Akio Kazumi
October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25)
Fighting orcs along the way, Haruka and company encounter the Jocks, who warn him about the dangerous skill Hijack; as the Delinquents do not possess Hijack, it is possible that one of the girls does. The Jocks then leave. The Class Rep admits to Haruka that she possesses Hijack, which allows the stealing of another person’s skills via murder. Haruka reveals that he already knew about it and is not afraid of the Class Rep. Haruka combines skills attempting to fly and invents Air Walk, which allows him to walk on steps of air. After they leave the forest, Haruka spots people being attacked by wolves and decides to rescue them. Defeating the wolves, he meets Ofter and his adventuring party. Everyone travels together to the nearby town of Omui. Elsewhere, the Delinquents, being manipulated by Tanaka, decide to hunt down the Nerds to get back their Charm and Puppeteer skills before going after the girls. Spying on them, the Jocks are worried.
5
"Life in Town" Transliteration: "Machi no Kurashi" (Japanese: 街の暮らし)
Yusuke Onoda
Kenta Ihara
Ichizo Kobayashi
November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01)
The Class Rep takes everyone to register at the Adventurer's Guild. As they are all above level 30, the girls register without issue, but because new adventurers must be level 10 and in a party, level 9 Haruka with his Loner skill cannot register. Haruka attempts to sell monster crystals but has so many the guild runs out of money, so the Guild Boss offers a down payment of 8 million. While shopping, Haruka finds a Combine-Seven necklace that allows him to combine the effects of seven items onto 1 normal item. However, he is startled by the Class Rep and falls onto the display, combining items at random. The furious merchant demands payment for everything he combined. Penniless again and missing the forest, Haruka slips away; however, he witnesses bandits attacking a carriage, whom he defeats. The carriage belongs to Merielle, and while escorting her home Haruka complains about Omui, realising too late that she is the daughter of the Lord of Omui. Insulted, she refuses to let him escape until she has proven Omui's value. Elsewhere, the Jocks and Delinquents prepare to fight, when the hooded student appears and stabs a Delinquent in the back.
The hooded student kills all four Delinquents. Merielle drags Haruka to her father's mansion to reward him with money and an Omui citizenship ID. However, he keeps ignoring her, so she eventually lets him leave. The Class Rep confines him to the inn, unaware that his ID allows him to leave Omui. The next day, reaching his cave, he discovers the Jocks all badly wounded. They say that the hooded student stole their weapons and is going after the Class Rep to acquire Hijack. Haruka uses his healing mushroom potions to restore the Jocks, sends them to Omui, then experiments with randomly combining skills, hoping to invent something useful. After defeating a Goblin Emperor, he reaches level 11 and names his new skill Made Up: a lightning-fast attack with instant activation. He confronts the hooded student: Tanaka, a mathematical genius who, like Haruka, didn't fit into any of the groups. Tanaka had been manipulating the Delinquents and had caused the class to split up, planning his murders so that the only classmates left are girls, Jocks and Nerds. Haruka challenges him to fight.
7
"Haruka & the Hooded Man" Transliteration: "Haruka to Fūdo no Otoko" (Japanese: 遥とフードの男)
Yuta Kida
Satoshi Ozaki
Toshikatsu Tokoro
November 15, 2024 (2024-11-15)
Tanaka uses Meddle on Haruka, which slows down his movements. While Tanaka tries to burn him, Haruka absorbs his magic with a combined magic staff. Tanaka has weapon skills from the Delinquents and has Copycat, which lets him copy skills; however, Copycat only lets him use a skill three times. Tanaka unleashes Death, but Haruka recovers (his Well-Being skill making him resistant to health-based attacks; plus maxing out his Luck gave him a chance to avoid dying). Tanaka demands to know how Haruka can resist Meddle, and Haruka reveals that the whole time he had been using Dummy to move his own body like a puppet. After Tanaka runs out of moves, Haruka tells him that Tanaka can never win because he only stole other people's skills and never really Levelled himself up. Using Made Up, Haruka then kills Tanaka. Severely injured, Haruka is recovered by the Nerds, to whom The Gals apologize. Haruka again tries to sneak away, only for the Class Rep to stop him with a hug. She then gives him to the rest of the girls, who subject him to a group scolding that lasts until sunrise.
The Nerds secretly plan to look for an artifact that will make them irresistible to women, inspiring Haruka to go after it himself (primarily to keep the girls from constantly scolding him). En route to the dungeon, he encounters and annihilates a horde of Orcs, then spends the rest of the day searching the dungeon's upper floor without success. Returning to town, he finds everyone on high alert because of an warning about an attacking horde; when he reveals that he killed them all, everyone scolds him for being reckless. The next day, he questions the shop keeper about the artifact; the shop keeper mentions a Charisma-boosting Ring on the dungeon's lowest level. Some classmates overhear Haruka's plan to find it, and the next day when Haruka heads to the dungeon he finds himself tailed by all of his classmates, who are determined to stop him. Fleeing into the dungeon, he accidentally falls through a wall and all the way down to its 101st level. Uninjured, he enters the Final Boss Room, only to face the Dungeon Emperor, an armed skeleton.
9
"The Loner & the Dungeon Emperor" Transliteration: "Bocchi to Meikyū-kō" (Japanese: ぼっちと迷宮皇)
Hiroto Kato
Kenta Ihara
Hiroto Kato
November 29, 2024 (2024-11-29)
Merielle's father puts the guild on high alert as storm clouds surround the dungeon. While the Emperor has superior skills, Haruka notices that it possesses no bloodlust and realizes that the Emperor is being controlled by the dark miasma surrounding it. Realizing that the Emperor wants to die, Haruka banishes the miasma with holy magic, then tries to mercy-kill the Emperor, only to accidentally use Subjugate on it. This resets the grateful Emperor to Level 1 and reveals her name: Angelica. Trying to leave, Haruka and Angelica move up to Floor 100. Now, Haruka must beat the Floor 100 Dungeon King, then every floor boss from Floor 99 back up to the surface. Haruka beats the King by accident with his maxed-out Luck, and Angelica loots its armor, gaining a more feminine body. The Class Rep and the others reach Floor 50. The guild realize that Haruka and the others are missing. Haruka continues beating the floor bosses; in Floor 95, they encounter a Living Sword Boss, which Angelica defeats. Working together, the class defeats the Floor 50 boss. Haruka and Angelica reach Floor 85, but the dungeon begins shaking as a monster army begins moving nearby.
"Loner & Loner" Transliteration: "Botchi to Botchi" (Japanese: ぼっちとぼっち)
Takahide Ejiri
Kenta Ihara
Akio Kazumi
December 20, 2024 (2024-12-20)
Reception
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network praised the humor and illustrations, though she had mixed feelings on the character Haruka.[81] Demelza from Anime UK News praised the story, especially its action and comedy elements.[1]
The series has 1.9 million copies in circulation between its digital and print releases.[36]
See also
Higehiro: Light novel series illustrated by the illustrator of volume 1 and volume 2 of Loner Life in Another World's light novels.
Notes
^ abTokyo MX lists the series premiere on October 3, 2024, at 24:00, which is effectively October 4 at midnight JST.
^Episodes are released on ABEMA, HIDIVE and simulcast platforms by Muse a week before their televised airings.[80]
