Fans of Yasukiyo Kotobuki’s popular light novel series, The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World (Arafō Kenja no Isekai Seikatsu Nikki), have cause for excitement as a prequel manga adaptation has been officially announced. The new series, titled The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World Zero: Sword and Sorcery World, will delve into events preceding the main story, offering readers a deeper look into the beloved fantasy universe.
Exploring the Prequel: Zero: Sword and Sorcery World
The prequel manga, Zero: Sword and Sorcery World, is based on the spin-off light novel series of the same name, which began publication on August 25, 2023. This expansion of the franchise will explore the narrative before the protagonist, Satoshi Osako, a 40-year-old farmer and avid VRRPG player, is reincarnated into a new world as the powerful Great Sage Zelos Merlin. The original story sees Zelos attempting to live a quiet life in his new surroundings, often finding himself entangled in various adventures despite his desires for tranquility. The prequel is expected to shed light on the origins and earlier events that shaped this world and its characters before Zelos’s arrival.
The Popularity of The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World
The original light novel series, penned by Yasukiyo Kotobuki with illustrations by Johndee, first began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in February 2016. Media Factory later acquired the series, publishing it under their MF Books light novel imprint starting in September 2016, and has released twenty volumes as of February 2025. J-Novel Club licenses the light novels in English.
Existing Manga Adaptations
The franchise has already seen multiple manga adaptations that have contributed to its widespread appeal:
- An initial manga adaptation, illustrated by 888, began serialization on Kadokawa’s ComicWalker manga website in April 2018. This adaptation has been collected into eight tankōbon volumes as of February 2025.
- A second manga adaptation, titled The Diary of a Middle-Aged Teacher’s Carefree Life in Another World and illustrated by Maneki, started on Square Enix’s Manga Up! website and app in October 2018. This version has sixteen tankōbon volumes as of August 2025.
The main story revolves around Satoshi Osako, a 40-year-old who, after defeating the final boss in a VRRPG, dies and is reincarnated with his powerful in-game character, Zelos Merlin, into a fantasy world. Despite his immense power, Zelos’s primary goal is to live a peaceful, carefree life, often finding himself in comedic and adventurous situations.
Publication Details for the New Prequel
Details regarding the serialization of The Diary of a Middle-Aged Sage’s Carefree Life in Another World Zero: Sword and Sorcery World manga will be eagerly awaited by fans. The announcement was made by Frontier Works Alter, further cementing the ongoing expansion of this popular Isekai series. This prequel offers a fresh perspective on the lore and history of the world before the main character’s arrival, promising to enrich the overall narrative for dedicated readers and newcomers alike.
