Kodansha’s K Manga service announced on Monday, August 12, 2025, that it has officially added Makoto Morishita’s popular manga series, The Fledgling Demon Lord’s Starter Shop (also known as Sudachi no Maōjō), to its English-language catalog. This addition brings the fantasy-comedy series, which has been serialized in Japan since 2021, to a broader international audience.
About The Fledgling Demon Lord’s Starter Shop
The Fledgling Demon Lord’s Starter Shop is a unique shonen fantasy series that takes a fresh spin on the post-hero era. The story follows a young villager named Villager, who owns an item shop called “The Nest.” After a hero successfully defeats the demon lord, an era of peace descends upon the world, inadvertently putting Villager’s business in jeopardy as the demand for potions and battle items plummets. His struggling shop faces closure until a mysterious girl suddenly appears, turning his life and business upside down.
The manga, which falls under the genres of action, adventure, comedy, drama, and fantasy, was first launched by Makoto Morishita in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine in October 2021. As of August 12, the series has accumulated 11 compiled book volumes in Japan. Makoto Morishita is also known for their previous work, IM: The Great Priest Imhotep.
K Manga’s Growing Library and Accessibility
K Manga is Kodansha’s official digital manga platform, specifically designed to bring a wide array of its popular titles to English-speaking readers. Launched initially in the United States on May 10, 2023, the service has since expanded its reach to include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Mexico, and Brazil by early 2025.
The platform distinguishes itself by offering officially translated manga directly from Kodansha’s editorial team, ensuring high-quality reads and supporting manga artists. K Manga provides a “freemium” model, allowing users to read an initial set of chapters for free across its extensive catalog. Further chapters can be accessed using in-app tickets or coins, with many ongoing series featuring simulpub releases, meaning new chapters are available on K Manga at the same time they are published in Japan. The service is available as a dedicated app for iOS and Android devices, with a web browser version also made available shortly after the app’s initial launch.
The addition of The Fledgling Demon Lord’s Starter Shop further diversifies K Manga’s offerings, which already include hit series such as Attack on Titan, Tokyo Revengers, Fairy Tail, and simulpub titles like EDENS ZERO and Blue Lock. This commitment to continually expanding its library solidifies K Manga’s position as a key platform for manga enthusiasts seeking official and timely access to their favorite series.
