A new prequel manga based on Yasukiyo Kotobuki’s popular light novel series, The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World (Arafō Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki), has been announced. The spinoff manga will be titled The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree… and is set to explore events prior to the main story.
The announcement came from the official X (formerly Twitter) account for Frontier Works Alter on a Friday, detailing that the new manga will be based on the prequel light novel series, Arafō Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki Zero: Sword and Sorcery World.
Delving into the Sage’s Past
The original The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World light novel series, penned by Yasukiyo Kotobuki and illustrated by Johndee, began its serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in February 2016. Media Factory later acquired the series, publishing it under their MF Books imprint starting in September 2016. The saga follows the adventures of a middle-aged protagonist who finds himself reincarnated into a fantasy world, striving for a peaceful existence.
The main series has already inspired two manga adaptations. The first, illustrated by 888, launched on Kadokawa’s ComicWalker website in April 2018. A second manga adaptation, titled The Diary of a Middle-Aged Teacher’s Carefree Life in Another World and illustrated by Maneki, began serialization on Square Enix’s Manga Up! website and app in October 2018. This second adaptation centers on Satoshi Osako, a 40-year-old former VRRPG top player who, after a fatal accident, is reborn in a world of swords and magic, retaining his gaming abilities and becoming a tutor.
The “Zero” Storyline
The prequel light novel series, Arafō Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki Zero: Sword and Sorcery World, which the new manga will adapt, began its publication under Media Factory’s MF Books imprint on August 25, 2023. This “Zero” series is designed to explore the backstory and earlier events, providing readers with deeper insights into the world and potentially the origins of the characters and magical systems before the main narrative unfolds. The specific details regarding the illustrator and exact launch date for the prequel manga were not fully available at the time of this report, but its connection to the “Zero Sword and Sorceress World” light novel indicates a narrative exploring the foundational aspects of the series’ universe.
Fans of the existing light novels and manga adaptations can anticipate a fresh perspective on the beloved isekai series, offering a look into the protagonist’s journey or the broader history of the fantasy world before his “carefree life” began.
