The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest
Alternate Titles
失格紋の最強賢者
Shikkaku Mon no Saikyo Kenja
Shikkakumon
Synopsis
Gaius is a sage and the world’s most powerful wizard, but he’s been feeling the limitations of the crest he was born with. In order to change his crest, he goes about reincarnating himself into a new body! Now in a world far in the future, he takes on the name of Mathias and obtains the "Crest of Close Combat," the best crest for magic combat. But for some reason, the crest has become known in this era as the "Crest of Failure"! In this world where time has passed, magic has declined and misunderstandings of magical theories have become dominant. Now, it’s up to Mathias, a boy with the weakest crest and the wisdom of a sage, to turn the modern world’s common sense on its head!
Background
The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest is a light novel series written by Shinkoshoto and illustrated by Huuka Kazabana that began serialization online on the user-generated content publishing site Shosetsuka ni Naro in December 2016. It was later acquired by SB Creative who began publishing the series under their GA Novel imprint. The 13th and most recent volume was published in March 2021.
A manga adaptation with artwork by Kansho and Hyoko began serialization on Square Enix’s Manga UP! website in July 2017 and has been published in 16 collected tankobon volumes as of September 2021. The manga is licensed for English release by Square Enix Manga & Books, the seventh volume of which will be released in January 2022.
A free-to-play smartphone game titled The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest: The Ultimate Reincarnation is also in the works and will be released on Android and iOS devices in 2022.
A TV anime adaptation was announced at the GA Fes 2021 event. It is being animated by J.C.Staff (Aria the Scarlet Ammo, A Certain Scientific Railgun, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K) and features Noriaki Akitaya (Bakuman, Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood, ORESUKI: Are You the Only One Who Loves Me?) as director, with Hiroki Uchida (Date A Live III, Merc Storia: The Apathetic Boy and the Girl in a Bottle, Requiem of the Rose King) as series composer, Mina Osawa (Given, I★CHU: Halfway Through The Idol, School Babysitters) handling character designs, and Elements Garden (BanG Dream!, Senki Zessho Symphogear, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime) composing the music. The anime’s opening theme song is “Leap of faith” by fripside, and the ending theme song is “Day of Bright Sunshine” by Yuki Nakashima. The first episode of the anime premiered at Anime NYC on Nov. 19, 2021. The anime will begin broadcasting in Japan in January 2022 and will be available to stream through Crunchyroll.
Characters
Mathias Hildesheimer (Voiced by: Nina Tamaki)
A former sage who was reincarnated to obtain the Fourth Crest, the most suitable crest for magic combat. Though he claims to be the strongest in the world, he is limited by his weak crest. After his reincarnation, he succeeds in obtaining the crest, but he is somewhat unfamiliar with the common sense of the times.
Lurie Aventrot (Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro)
A girl who comes to the Second Royal Academy to take the entrance exam. While looking for a replacement for her sword that was broken the previous day, she happens to meet Mathias. She has the First Crest, the “Crest of Glory,” which excels at enchantment magic. Though she has a reserved and polite personality, she has close skinship with Mathias.
Arma Lepsius (Voiced by: Haruka Shiraishi)
Lurie’s best friend. She has a keen intuition and isn’t afraid of anyone. Not wanting to be married off to live somewhere in the boonies, she travels from the countryside to enter the Royal Second Academy. She has the Second Crest, the “Crest of Standard,” and is more proficient with a bow than a sword.
Iris (Voiced by: Shiori Izawa)
Although she takes the form of a girl, her true identity is that of a calamity-class black dragon from legend. She knew Mathias in his previous life and is invited by him to join the Royal Second Academy. She has even less common sense than Mathias and is unable to control her power, so every time she tries something, she causes catastrophic damage.
Music
Opening Theme Song: “Leap of faith” by fripside
Ending Theme Song: “Day of Bright Sunshine” by Yuki Nakashima
Official Links
Staff
- Original Creator: Shinkoshoto
- Original Character Design: Huuka Kazabana
- Director: Noriaki Akitaya
- Series Composition: Hiroki Uchida
- Character Design: Mina Osawa
- Art Director: Hatsuki Iida
- Color Design: Keishi Okada
- Director of Photography: Yutaka Kurosawa, Yurina Yagi
- Editing: Maki Sendo (REAL-T)
- Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
- Music: Elements Garden
- Animation Production: J.C.Staff