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The First Half of a New Arc: A Slow Start That Ultimately Delivers
Entertainment: The previous volume was my favorite to date, and I must admit this installment initially struggles by comparison. At the beginning, the narrative takes its time, resuming a very "slow life" and almost contemplative pace. However, by the end, a lot happens in this volume, likely because it's one of the longest so far, notably lacking the side stories at the end that have been a staple since the fourth volume. The story starts off gently with Seireceiving gifts in gratitude for her panacea provided to Ten'yuu at the end of the last volume and discussions about what is expected of the saint moving forward. A significantly longer than usual "Behind the Scenes" chapter fills in missing elements from the last chapters from Ten'yuu's perspective, detailing his experiences and his return home. A large portion of the volume is dedicated to Sei's attendance at her first tea party, where she meets new characters and makes many culinary discoveries, leading her to organize her event centered around regional cuisines. The most interesting part, and indeed the finale, involves Sei's journey to the Hawke Domain where she meets Albert's parents and embarks on a mission to purify not one but two black miasma swamps, experiences several adventures, and finally confesses her feelings for Albert!
Language Learning: As usual, there's not much new to say about language learning at this point. If you've read the previous volumes, you'll encounter very little new vocabulary, making for a pleasant and straightforward reading experience.
Overall: I began this volume thinking it might be my least favorite, as the transition from the climactic events of the last volume to the subdued start of this one felt somewhat abrupt. Initially, not much happens, serving more as a transition. And after a lengthy "Behind the Scenes" chapter that, while interesting, doesn't advance the plot, a significant focus on cuisine and tea parties introduces new characters and scenarios but feels somewhat detached from the main narrative. The chapters about the Food Festival could have been a substantial bonus chapter or side story in themselves. It's only towards the end that the pace quickens and the story becomes intensely engaging, covering in just two chapters what took two volumes (3 and 4) to explore with a similar adventure in the Klausner domain. Rating this volume was challenging: it started as a 3/5 but ended with a 5/5, so I settled on a 4/5 overall! The next volume promises exciting developments in Sei and Albert's relationship!