Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲, Hepburn: Desu Māchi Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyōsōkyoku) is a Japanese light novel series written by Hiro Ainana. It began serialization online in 2013 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō until it was acquired by Fujimi Shobo. The first volume of the Light Novel was published in March 2014. A manga adaptation by Ayamegumu ran in Age Premium until the magazine ceased publication, and was then transferred to Monthly Dragon Age. Both the light novels and the manga adaptation have been licensed for publication in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link and Connect aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018.
Plot
Ichiro Suzuki is a 29-year old game programmer who was tasked with fixing several bugs in two MMORPGs his company is preparing for publication. However, he becomes extremely worn out as he is working during the weekend. After taking a nap, he mysteriously wakes up in a parallel world that resembles some of the fantasy RPG worlds he had worked on, as a 15-year old named Satou, later Satou Pendragon, a nickname he uses while running beta tests, and with what looks like the menu screen of the game he was working on appearing before his inner eye.
However, before he can grasp his current situation, an army of lizardmen ambushes him and launches an all-out attack on him. In desperation, he uses all three of his special 'Meteor Rain' attack options (a quick fix he added to the game for new players which kills all enemies in the vicinity) at once and wipes them all out - accidentally killing a god as well. As a result, his level jumps from 1 to 310, maximizing his stats immensely and making him one of the most powerful people in the world. With no way to return to his world, and as a high-leveled adventurer armed with a myriad of different physical, cognitive and magical abilities and weapons, he sets out to uncover the secrets of this new world, earning the trust and affection of many people in the process while keeping his overpowered stats concealed.
Ichirou is a 29-year old game programmer who is transferred to another world, where he finds himself in a 15-year old body. His new name is based the handle he uses to test games. Using all three of the special Meteor Shower items in his possession, Satuu wipes out a massive hostile force composed of high-level lizardmen, which increases his level from 1 to 310 instantly and grants him an immense pool of skill points. He also gains a huge amount of money and a vast number of valuable items. Upon arriving in Seiryuu, Satuu pretends to be a young merchant and acquires new documents in which he hides his true level. Rather than be tied down to any one place, Satuu wants to explore the world and try to understand how he arrived in the other world. He typically arms himself with magic pistols and short swords, but uses high level weapons while in disguise.
A 17-year-old mage soldier who becomes Satuu's first friend in the other world. She joined the military to avoid being married to a noble by her parents, but seems to be comfortable around Satou. She is friends with Iona, Lilio, and Ruu. She is determined to join Satuu after her term of military service ends.
Originally called Dog, she is a 10-year-old dog demi-human turned slave until Satou rescues her from a dungeon, and who has travelled with him since then. She wields a short sword and buckler.
Originally called Cat, Tama is a 10-year-old child cat demi-human slave whom Satou rescued along with Pochi and Liza. An energetic person, she fights using dual knives. She was age 10 at the debut of the show and is currently 12.
Liza is an 18-year-old orange scale lizardkin demi-human slave, who looked after Pochi and Tama. Her name is a shortened form of her original name, which is too difficult for humans to pronounce; it is not derived from lizard, although her former owner referred to her as Lizard. She was rescued by Satou and joins his party. Liza's favourite weapon is the spear that Satuu made for her from a monster's claw.
Arisa is an 11-year-old fallen princess who was enslaved after her country was invaded and her parents executed. Satou bought her when he discovered that she understands Japanese. She actually is a Japanese woman formerly named Arisa Tachibana, who died on Earth and was reincarnated in the other world, and is therefore much more mature than the other girls in Satuu's party despite her young age. Along with Lulu, she is under a geas that prevents her slave status being revoked. She initially specializes in psychic magic. The menu system she uses differs from Satuu's in that it is more limited; her inventory has limited space and does not keep items in stasis. Despite her age, she sees Satou as her ideal man.
A 14-year-old slave whose great-grandfather was Japanese. Despite Satou considering her beautiful by Japanese standards, her black hair and Asian features are considered unattractive by humans of the current world. Satou purchased her along with Arisa, her half-sister. Satou asks her to teach him to drive a wagon after he learns that she was taught to drive carriages during her slavery. Like her sister, Lulu falls in love with Satou; because she feels safe and appreciated.
Also known as Mia, she is a 130 year old juvenile Elf with magical abilities whom Satuu rescued when she was kidnapped as part of Undead King Zen's plot. She develops a crush on Satou. Mia speaks in short sentences and does not eat meat.
A homunculus in the form of a comely human female, who was created by the undead sorcerer, Zen, and whom Satou rescued from the collapse of Zen's dungeon, along with her 7 identical sisters/clones. While her sisters leave on a separate mission, Nana (Japanese for her original name, "Number Seven") chooses to stay by Satou's side and to serve him. Nana often needs magic infusions to her core; which Satou does by touching her back. She is armed with a sword and shield and acts as the party's tank.
She is the daughter of Mosa and a waitress at the Gate Inn in Seiryuu City. Despite being only 13 years old, she looks like a mid-teenager and is very well endowed.
He is the Head Priest at the Zaicuon Temple in Seiryuu City. He is a sly man who attempted to trick the populace into believing that demi-humans are demons. He was killed by the demon that created the dungeon in Seiryuu City from which Satou rescued Liza, Tama, and Pochi.
Most commonly known as "Yuuya", he is manager at the Odd Job shop. Yuuya is a green-haired Elf who is a member of a subspecies of Elves with shorter ears, a difference he is very touchy about. He speaks with short sentences and is related to Mia.
He is a were rat knight and the leader of the were rat riders who is known around the kingdom as "Red Helmet." He helped Mia after she escaped from the Cradle. However, he and his group were attacked by Zen and he was severely injured, losing his ear in the process.
A monster Satou encounters in the Cradle that only requires mana and water to survive; she can take mana from kisses. She is able to move people between locations within the Cradle. After the Cradle is destroyed, she tells Satuu that she can be found wherever there is a forest.
A powerful sorcerer turned king of the undead. Zen is a reincarnated person who was reborn into a loving noble family in the fantasy world. He was betrayed by a jealous noble, who desired his wife, which led to his death, his family's execution, and his wife's rape and death. Zen's intense desire for revenge caused him to rise as a powerful undead that avenged the deaths of his family by killing not only the noble responsible, but his entire extended family as well. While Zen challenges Satou to a contest of strength and will for custody of Misanaria, his actual desire is to die at the hands of a true hero. After Satuu passes the tests, he slays Zen, ending his immortal undead existence. Before he disappears, Zen warns Satou to watch over Arisa and not allow her to make the same mistakes that he did.
Zen's story became a play, but nobles demanded the ending changed, so they can preserve their image of "good guys"; though the commoners don't buy it.
Media
Light novel
Hiro Ainana first published Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody as a web novel on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2013,[11] before republishing it as a light novel with illustrations by shri.[12] The first volume was released by Fujimi Shobo in March 2014.[1][12] Thirty volumes have been released to date. North American publisher Yen Press announced its license to the novels on May 20, 2016.[12]
Ayamegumu began serializing a manga adaptation in Fujimi Shobo's Age Premium magazine in December 2014.[12][1][72]Age Premium ceased publication with its 49th issue on July 9, 2016, and the manga was one of five titles that were transferred to Monthly Dragon Age.[73] The manga has been licensed by Yen Press.[12]
Akira Segami launched a prequel manga, titled Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex: Princess Arisa's Otherworldly Struggle (デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 Ex アリサ王女の異世界奮闘記, Death March Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyōsōkyoku EX: Arisa Ōjo no Isekai Funtōki), adapted from the short story by the same name in Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody: Ex,[37] in Fujimi Shobo's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age on February 9, 2018.[74][75] The manga ended on July 9, 2018.[76]
A gourmet spin-off manga by Tsurumi, titled Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kōfukukyoku, began serialization in Monthly Dragon Age in the February 2022 issue released on January 8, 2022. It centers around the character, Phantom Chef Lulu.[77]
An anime adaptation was announced via a wraparound band on the fourth volume of the manga on December 10, 2016.[113] The television series is directed by Shin Oonuma at Silver Link and Connect with scripts written by Kento Shimoyama, while Shoko Takimoto designed the characters. MONACA composed the music at DIVE II Entertainment. The series aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018, on AT-X, with further broadcasts on Tokyo MX and BS11.[2][10] It ran for 12 episodes[114] and covers the first 3 volumes of the light novel. The opening theme is "suraidoraido" (スライドライド, Slide Ride) by Run Girls, Run! while the ending theme is "Suki no sukiru" (スキノスキル) by Wake Up, Girls!.[115]Crunchyroll streamed the series,[116] while Funimation streamed an English dub.[117]
"The Catastrophe That Started with a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru tenpenchii" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる天変地異)
January 11, 2018 (2018-01-11)
Suzuki Ichirou is a programmer who is working a death march (along a few other good coworkers) to keep up with a nightmare combination of unreasonable deadlines and unreliable coworkers as well as understaffing. After crawling under his desk for a nap he wakes up in a combination world of the two games he was working on before his nap with no clue how he got there and what is going on. He discovers that he is younger and that his name his now Satou (which was his beta tester handle). He is set upon by a hord of monsters while he is getting his bearing and that is when he realizes it is not like a regular dream he can feel pain but his inside knowledge and powerful ability saves him and he sets out to the nearest city to set a base of operation and figure things out.
2
"Exploring a City That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru shinai sansaku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる市内散策)
January 18, 2018 (2018-01-18)
He arrives at the city after saving Zena a knight from a wyvern. He registers as a merchant and goes to an inn. There he meets the daughter of the innkeeper who brings him shopping for supplies. He also eats plenty and wakes up the next day to find Zena waiting to show him around the city as a thank you for saving her.
3
"Love That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru ren'ai jijō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる恋愛事情)
January 25, 2018 (2018-01-25)
Satou and Zena make their way around the city and it is history. Sharing cute moments and food.They stumble upon a scene of three demi-human slaves about to be stoned to death by the citizens. All of this was incited by a demon possessing a slave trader. As the demon emerges sonething happens and it ends on a cliffhanger.
4
"Labyrinth Exploration That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru meikyū tansaku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる迷宮探索)
February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01)
Satou is with the three demi-human slaves in a dungeon conjured up by the demon He discover that more people are somewhere in the dungeon as well. Satouhelps the slaves by giving them clothes, food, healing balm and weapons so they can help him take on the monsters and they make their way to the others as the girls level up. Satou makes sure he gets separated from the group when the demon appears again so he can put on a disguise (keep his identity and powers hidden from every one) and kill the demon. Before the demon dies it summons a demon lord and Satou has to fight it too. He cannot wield the holy sword yet because he does not have the title hero so he kills it with a divine sword since he has god slayer. They return to town and he decides to keep the three slaves.
5
"The Crazy Princess That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru ranshin ōjo" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる乱心王女)
February 8, 2018 (2018-02-08)
Satou meets another Japanese person. This one (Arisa) has been reincarnated and through a series of events ended up as a slave. He buys her and another slave Lulu who is a descendant of a Japanese person as she has black her and asian characteristics link to Japanese. He buys them food and while they eat he goes out to buy them clothes and more food which hegives some of the food to other demi-human slaves he saw on the way back to them. He brings the group to the inn but unfortunately they do not have more rooms available but they do have a bigger room so they upgrade him to a room with two beds and the other three sleep in the stables after Arisa calms down the crowd who are hostile towards the three demi-humans (Pochi, Tama and Liza). He has to deal with Zema the next day after a misunderstanding.
6
"City Defense That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru toshi bōei" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる都市防衛)
February 15, 2018 (2018-02-15)
With 5 girls now in his care, Satou needs to find more permanent lodging. While he hunts for a new place with Zena the girls go shopping and they meet up later as he goes to the market while waiting for more options for places to stay. They go see a play and were about to get food when the coty was attack by flying ants and the girls and Satou spring into action to protect it. Later that evening Satou goes to find medecine for Lulu as she is not feeling good and stumbles upon monsters and a wounded stranger that mentioned the manager's name of the real estate place he went to earlier. So he brings the stranger there.
7
"Camping Lessons That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru yaei kunren" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる野営訓練)
February 22, 2018 (2018-02-22)
Satou finds out that the wererat knight Mize was carrying an elf princess Mia and that the manager has a connection to her. Satou goes camping with the girls after he decides to buy a cart and two horses. He also goes to practice with Lulu controlling the cart after getting it since Lulu knew how to. He comes back to find that Mize is finally awake and finds out that Mia had been kidnapped by a dark sorcerer and held in a place cald the cradle until she escaped and with the help of Mize tried to find the manager for help. The sorcerer sent the army of flying ants after the duo and this was why the city was attacked. It finishes with the blackbird that had been following Satou transforming into an creepy looking undead sorcerer.
8
"Immortality That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru furōfushi" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる不老不死)
March 1, 2018 (2018-03-01)
Satou stands between Mia and the undead sorcerer whom he discover his none other than Zen the figure in the play he had watched earlier that week. Zen fights them a bit but managed to kidnap Mia again and Satou follows. Zen is surprised he was able to follow and sends to the first floor of what looks like a proper game dungeon. Satou makes his way up encountering a dryad that helps him he gives her mp through a kiss. He eventually makes it back to the boss floor and faces off against the remaining homonculi that have been powered up as Zen watches.
9
"Deeply Held Attachment That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru jōshotenmen" (Japanese: デスマチからはじまる情緒纏綿)
March 8, 2018 (2018-03-08)
Satou defeats the last hurdle pretty easily after Zen disappeared with Mia. One of the Homonculi asked him to grant their masters wish before he left to find Zen. He finds out that his wish was to die and be reunited with his wife as he was tired of being the gods' pawn as a justice seeking undead king. His intentions were never to harm Mia since he had an escape plan ready for her when the cradle collapsed after his death. So Satou kills him and rush off to save the 7th homonculi left on the lower floor then reunites with everyone outside. The 7th homonculi joins his group as the others go to bury the wedding ring of Zen with his wifes body. Satou then makes preparations to leave the city to bring Mia to her village and says goodbye to Zena.
10
"Hunting Song That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru shuryō gakkyoku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる狩猟楽曲)
March 15, 2018 (2018-03-15)
The journey to return to Mia's home begins, giving Satou the experiment with the item box (his and Arisa). He also experiments with spell crafting and other functionality of this fantasy world. They stumble on the ruins of a gate and meet with the other wererat as well as Mize.
11
"The Fantasy Conspiracy That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru gensō inbō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる幻想陰謀)
March 22, 2018 (2018-03-22)
The journey to take Mia home continues. When they arrive in a town, Satou runs straight into a plot by the local nobles. They are trying to disrupt their deal with the witch of the forest of illusions but Satou is on to them as he learns alchemy and other skills that could prove useful on their journey.
12
"A Trip to the Underworld That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru i (se)-kai ryojō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる異(世)界旅情)
March 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)
Satou has to deliver on the deal made with the nobles (technically the count but he is away so the nobles are taking advantage to take the forest as their territory). He makes the bottles needed to store the potions in a kiln but they are raided by the henchmen of the nobles. Fortunately Satou had time to make the switch with stuff from his inventory/ item box. He has to find a way to cool them down safely however and the kiln has been destroyed by the henchmen so they cannot do that there. He uses Arisa's item box and spells to finish cooling them off on time. He also contacted the witch through her familiar who contacted the count because he knew that when he made the delivery they would try something again. The count arrives just in time and also takes those that were taking advantage of their position and titles in custody. The group are finally able to move on after saying goodbye to the witch and her apprentice.
Reception
The series was the 10th best-selling light novel series in Japan during the first half of 2018, selling 211,393 copies.[118]
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲12" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 12]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
^ ab"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 Ex" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 1, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲13" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 13]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 14" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 14]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 15" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 15]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 16" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 16]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 17" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 17]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 18" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 18]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 19" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 19]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 19 ドラマCD付き特装版" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 19 Drama CD]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 20" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 20]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 21" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 21]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 22" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 22]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 Ex2" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex2]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 24" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 24]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 24 ドラマCD付き特装版" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 24 Drama CD]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 25" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 25]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 26" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 26]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 27" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 27]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 28" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 28]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 29" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 29]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 30" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 30]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 31" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 31]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
^"デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 Ex3" [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex3]. カドカワBOOKS. Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
^デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲3 [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 3]. Fujimi Shobo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 22, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
^デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲4 [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 4]. Fujimi Shobo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
^デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲8 [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 8]. Fujimi Shobo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
^デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 コミックアンソロジー [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Comic anthology]. Kadokawa Corporation (in Japanese). Retrieved March 3, 2022.
^デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲14 [Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody 14]. Kadokawa Corporation (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2022.