By the Grace of the Gods
A reincarnated man uses slimes and magic to build a new life.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
By the Grace of the Gods (Japanese: 神達に拾われた男, Hepburn: Kami-tachi ni Hirowareta Otoko; 'The Man Picked Up by the Gods') is a Japanese light novel series written by Roy and illustrated by Ririnra. It follows Ryoma Takebayashi, a man chosen by three gods to be reincarnated into a fantasy world after a sad life, using his past knowledge and new powers to help others. The series began serialization online in January 2014 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with a revised version starting in September 2015, and was later acquired by Hobby Japan, which has published nineteen volumes since September 2017 under its HJ Novels imprint.
- volumes
- 19 (as of source date)
Lore & Background
The series centers on Ryoma Takebayashi, whose life on Earth was marked by horrible luck and abuse. After dying from hitting his head from sneezing in his sleep, three gods from the world of Seilfall take pity on him and reincarnate him as an eight-year-old boy, granting him jack-of-all-trades magic. He lives alone in a forest for three years, taming hundreds of slimes and honing skills in combat, hunting, cleaning, and crafting, until meeting the Jamil family, who welcome him. Ryoma later opens a laundry shop called Bamboo Forest in Gimul, employing various characters including former assassins and slime researchers.
Key characters include Eliaria Jamil, heir to the Jamil dukedom and Ryoma's closest friend; Reinhart and Elise Jamil, who treat Ryoma like family; and the three gods Lulutia (goddess of healing and love), Kufo (god of life), and Gain (god of creation). Other deities include Tekun (god of wine and craftsmanship), Fernobelia (god of magic and academics), and Serelipta (god of fishing and ports). The series also reveals that Ryoma's harsh Earth life was caused by a curse from a different entity, not the God of Earth.
Reader's Guide
By the Grace of the Gods is significant as a popular isekai light novel series that began as a web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, a common origin for many Japanese fantasy series. Its acquisition by Hobby Japan and subsequent manga adaptation by Ranran (serialized on Square Enix's Manga UP! since November 2017, collected in sixteen tankōbon volumes) and two anime seasons (October–December 2020 and January–March 2023, produced by Maho Film) demonstrate its commercial success. The series is licensed in North America by J-Novel Club for the light novel and by Square Enix for the manga.
The story's focus on a kind protagonist who overcomes a tragic past through reincarnation and uses slimes for practical purposes—cleaning, crafting, combat—offers a unique twist on the isekai genre. Its legacy includes expanding the market for light novels about reincarnation and monster taming, and it has contributed to the broader trend of web novel adaptations in anime and manga.
Did You Know?
- The series began serialization on the user-generated novel website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in January 2014.
- Ryoma Takebayashi died from hitting his head after sneezing in his sleep.
- Ryoma's harsh Earth life was due to a curse from a different entity, not the God of Earth.
- The manga adaptation by Ranran has been collected in seventeen tankōbon volumes as of the source article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is By the Grace of the Gods about?
The series follows Ryoma Takebayashi, a man whose bleak real life ends with three gods choosing to reincarnate him into a fantasy world. There, he applies his accumulated knowledge and newly granted magic to build a comfortable life and help the people around him.
What powers does Ryoma have in By the Grace of the Gods?
Ryoma's magic is built around slimes, which he shapes and manipulates for a wide range of practical tasks. Rather than using them as weapons, he relies on them for construction, daily chores, and solving everyday problems in his new world.
How many volumes of By the Grace of the Gods are published?
Hobby Japan has released nineteen light-novel volumes as of the latest source information. The series first appeared online in January 2014 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, with a revised edition beginning in September 2015 before the print run launched in September 2017.
Who are the author and illustrator of By the Grace of the Gods?
The light novels are written by Roy and illustrated by Ririnra. The work was originally self-published on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō platform before Hobby Japan acquired it for a full print release.
What sets By the Grace of the Gods apart from typical isekai stories?
Instead of centering on battles, conquest, or harem dynamics, the narrative focuses on Ryoma using his slime-based magic to tackle mundane challenges like building, farming, and community development. This slice-of-life, problem-solving approach makes it a quieter, more grounded entry in the reincarnation genre.
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