TOKYO, Japan – Manga Up! Global, Square Enix’s international manga service, has expanded its diverse catalog with the addition of Sōta Takahata’s manga adaptation of Ezogingitune’s popular light novel series, Cast-off Magic Tool Researcher is Actually an S-rank Mage (also known as Hisentōshoku no Madōgu Kenkyūin, Jitsuwa Kikakugai no S-Rank Madōshi). The series became available on the platform on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
A New Fantasy Isekai for Global Readers
The addition of Cast-off Magic Tool Researcher is Actually an S-rank Mage further enriches Manga Up! Global’s already extensive collection of fantasy and isekai titles. The manga, which is an adaptation of an original light novel by Ezogingitune, creator of I Became a Legend After My 10 Year-Long Last Stand and The Strongest Wizard Becomes a Countryside Guard After Taking an Arrow to the Knee!, promises an engaging narrative for fans of the genre.
The Premise: From Dismissed Researcher to Overpowered Mage
The story centers on Werner, a dedicated and brilliant magic tool researcher at the Empire’s prestigious Sage’s Academy. Despite his contributions, Werner is unjustly expelled by a jealous chancellor looking to exploit his inventions. However, without Werner’s advanced theories, the Academy quickly falters in its magic tool development. Meanwhile, Werner, now free from the confines of the academy, attracts attention from powerful figures, including a maiden dragon and a princess. Armed with formidable spells and magic tools, he embarks on a new, more relaxed life of research, often surrounded by eager apprentices. The manga began its serialization in 2023.
Manga Up! Global: A Growing Platform
Manga Up! is a digital manga service operated by Square Enix, which originally launched in Japan in January 2017. The global version of the app was officially released on July 25, 2022, bringing a vast library of Square Enix titles and other manga to an international audience. The platform aims to provide prompt English translations, often releasing chapters simultaneously with their Japanese counterparts. As of December 2024, Manga Up! Global offers over 200 series across various genres, with new additions made monthly. The service is accessible via iOS and Android mobile devices, and a web version was launched in December 2024 to provide greater reading flexibility.
Accessibility and Monetization
Initially, Manga Up! Global utilized a digital currency system for purchasing individual chapters. However, a significant change was introduced in April 2024 with the launch of the “Vault Pass” subscription, offering unlimited reading of over 10,000 chapters from more than 200 series for a monthly fee of under $5. This subscription model allows for a more cost-effective way for readers to access the platform’s extensive content, although certain functions like account creation and purchases remain exclusive to the mobile app. The service has also addressed past criticisms regarding censorship by replacing intrusive black bars with less disruptive methods as of September 2022.
