"The Man Picked Up by the Gods," written by Roy, is a reincarnation-themed light novel series first serialized on the novel submission website "Let's Become a Novelist" in 2014. It's a so-called Narou-style work. The manga is published by Square Enix, and an anime adaptation is scheduled to air in October 2020. Ryoma Takebayashi, a middle-aged man, works at a black company and spends his days overwhelmed with work. He barely has time off and doesn't even eat a proper meal. "What is my purpose in life...?" Ryoma, questioning this, wakes up to find three gods before him. Ryoma suddenly dies, but surprisingly, he accepts this reality and is reincarnated into another world. With a mission to live in another world, Ryoma is bestowed with magical powers and sets off on a journey. Magic is highly developed in the other world where Ryoma is reincarnated, and the gods bestow upon him magical powers. This time, I'd like to explain that magic.
Ryuma Can Use All Attributes of Magic
Magic has attributes, and there are 19 attributes in total: Subordinate Magic, Barrier Magic, Healing Magic, Alchemy, Fire Magic, Water Magic, Wind Magic, Earth Magic, Neutral Magic, Lightning Magic, Ice Magic, Poison Magic, Wood Magic, Light Magic, Dark Magic, Space Magic, Magic Perception, Magic Manipulation, and Increased Magic Regeneration Speed. Before being reincarnated into another world, Ryoma was granted all attributes by God, allowing him to use all magic. Ryoma, an otaku by nature, fascinated by other worlds and magic, so being able to use all attributes was convenient for him, who wanted to enjoy magic.
Being able to use all attributes isn't necessarily a good thing
While being able to use all attributes may seem like the most powerful ability at first glance, it's not actually the case. Each attribute has a level, and low-level magic has low power and effectiveness, so naturally, you need to level up to become stronger. However, mastering one attribute requires considerable training, and mastering all attributes takes a considerable amount of time. Therefore, narrowing down your attributes allows you to level up more efficiently and become stronger faster. Of course, narrowing down your attributes may limit the situations and opponents you can use them in, so ultimately, being able to use all attributes will be stronger. However, in reality, few people can level up that much, and many who use all attributes end up being jack-of-all-trades and master-of-nothing.
Ryuma's Specialty Magic
While we mentioned above that using all attributes generally tends to result in a jack-of-all-trades and master-of-nothing, Ryoma's high magical power and control allow him to learn and improve magic at a high level, making him versatile. Earth magic and spatial manipulation are magic that are difficult to level up, but he used them almost every day for hunting during the three years he lived in the forest, so he had improved quite a bit without even realizing it. Because he mainly used magic necessary for daily life, his offensive magic is not that high level, and Sebas encourages him to practice offensive magic as well. Ryoma is a familiar who can command slimes, but I was surprised that his familiar magic level is low. This is probably because he only commands low-level slimes.
Why I Improved So Quickly at Magic
After hearing Ryoma's story, Eliaria wondered if using magic in everyday life would help her improve as well. Ryoma advised her that even if it wasn't part of her daily life, if she just played around with magic in her free time, she'd eventually get the hang of it. This was the exact reason why Ryoma improved so quickly at magic. Anyone would be put off by the idea of training or intensive study. Ryoma tried out various spells as if it were a game, and gradually got the hang of it. This applies not only to magic, but also to our personal lives.
Ryuma Creates Original Magic
Ryuma also has a keen sense for magic, and has created many original spells by combining and adapting the magic he knows. "Create Block" is an original compound spell that simultaneously transforms rocks and earth into smaller stones. It combines "Break Rock," which breaks down large boulders, with "Rock," which solidifies earth. He taught this compound spell to the workers, and the civil engineering project was completed significantly ahead of schedule.
Original Magic Spell "Mist Wash"
"Mist Wash" is an original spell that sprays mist of water. I created it by chance while trying to adjust the water pressure of a water spell. I used it to wash away the deodorizing liquid when I was asked to clean Miya's house.
Original Magic Spell "Playing Clay"
"Playing Clay" is an original magic spell that uses magical powers to temporarily transform earth and stone into clay. Ryoma wanted to make bottles and vases out of clay, but his "rock" was still immature, so he was unable to achieve the desired shape. He thought it would be quicker to create the spell out of clay instead. Furthermore, when the magic power of this spell runs out, the clay reverts to its original earth or stone form. Ryoma often uses this magic to repair walls, taking advantage of this property.
Original Magic: "Sound Bomb"
"Sound Bomb" is a compound magic that combines the magic "Big Voice," which amplifies sound, with the magic "Whisper," which projects sound as close as the eye can see. Its effect was so powerful that it ruptured a black bear's eardrums and knocked it unconscious. Using this compound magic, he was able to take down a large number of cave bats in a single blow.
Alchemy that Created 100% Pure Iron
Seeing the reddish soil, Ryoma wonders if there's still iron in the soil, and suggests that iron can be extracted using alchemy. Because alchemy is shrouded in mystery and often used as a fraudulent technique, Reinhard asks to see it for himself. Ryoma uses alchemy to separate the remaining components of the soil, turning them into iron oxide. By further separating the oxygen from this, he creates 100% pure iron. Reinhard, who had been skeptical of alchemy, came to believe in Ryoma's work after appraising the iron he produced.
Explaining the Magic Featured in the Series! Summary
What did you think? Ryoma's physical stats were originally highly focused, and all of his magic started at level 1. Despite this, he has balanced his magic across all attributes and created many original spells. Perhaps the knowledge and magical sense he gained in his previous life have helped him improve his magic.
