Blade & Bastard
Japanese light novel series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blade & Bastard (Japanese: ブレイド＆バスタード, Hepburn: Bureido & Basutādo) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kumo Kagyu and illustrated by so-bin, based on the role-playing video game series Wizardry. Drecom Media have published six volumes since December 2022 under their DRE Novels imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Makoto Fugetsu has been serialized online via Drecom Media's DRE Comics website since June 2023 and has been collected in eight tankōbon volumes. An anime adaptation has been announced.
| Blade & Bastard | |
First light novel volume cover | |
| ブレイド＆バスタード (Bureido & Basutādo) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dark fantasy[1] |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Kumo Kagyu |
| Illustrated by | so-bin |
| Published by | Drecom Media |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | DRE Novels |
| Original run | December 9, 2022 – present |
| Volumes | 6 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Kumo Kagyu |
| Illustrated by | Makoto Fugetsu |
| Published by | Drecom Media |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | DRE Comics |
| Magazine | DRE Comics |
| Original run | June 23, 2023 – present |
| Volumes | 8 |
| Anime | |
Plot
In the deep and unexplored labyrinth, a place infested with monsters and dangers, a corpse that should not exist is discovered. Iarumas, an adventurer resurrected from the Temple of Resurrection, has completely lost all memory of his previous life and spends his days exploring the dungeon to recover the bodies of fallen adventurers. His goal is to determine whether they can be brought back to life, else they will end up reduced to ashes on the divine altar. Although his skills earn him a certain respect, Iarumas is viewed with suspicion due to his cold and pragmatic attitude, and he lives in isolation, associating almost exclusively with the dead. His existence changes radically when he meets Garbage, a wild young swordswoman and the sole survivor of a massacred group. Together, the two delve deeper into the labyrinth, facing monsters, traps, and the threat of permanent death, searching for clues to Iarumas's past and the truth hidden within the dark maze.
Characters
- Iarumas (イアルマス, Iarumasu)
- Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa[2]
- Garbage (ガーベイジ, Gābeiji)
- Voiced by: Tomori Kusunoki[2]
- Raraja (ララジャ)
- Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita[2]
- Ainikki (アイニッキ)
- Voiced by: Saori Hayami[2]
- Berkanan (ベルカナン, Berukanan)
- Voiced by: Shion Wakayama[2]
Media
Light novels
Written by Kumo Kagyu and illustrated by so-bin, Blade & Bastard began publication under Drecom Media's DRE Novels imprint on December 9, 2022.[1] Six volumes have been released as of March 10, 2026.[3] The series' volumes are simultaneously published digitally in English by J-Novel Club.[4] The volumes are released in print by Yen Press.[5]
| No. | Title | Original release date | North American release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warm Ash, Dusky Dungeon Hai wa Atatakaku, Meikyū wa Honogurai (灰は暖かく、迷宮は仄暗い) | December 9, 2022[6] 978-4-434-31101-7 | December 9, 2022 (digital)[7] December 12, 2023 (print)[8] 978-1-7183-9348-6 (digital) 978-1-975-38975-8 (print) |
| 2 | Wireframe Dungeon & Dragon with Red Dead Tekkotsu no Shiren-ba, Akakishi no Ryū (鉄骨の試練場、赤き死の竜) | June 9, 2023[9] 978-4-434-31878-8 | June 9, 2023 (digital)[10] August 20, 2024 (print)[11] 978-1-7183-9350-9 (digital) 978-1-975-39288-8 (print) |
| 3 | Return of The Hrathnir Kongōseki no Kishi no Kikan (金剛石の騎士の帰還) | December 8, 2023[12] 978-4-434-33013-1 | February 16, 2024 (digital)[13] January 21, 2025 (print)[14] 978-1-7183-9352-3 (digital) 979-8-855-40573-6 (print) |
| 4 | Dungeon Chronicle Meikyū-gai Bōken Kitan (迷宮街冒険奇譚) | July 10, 2024[15] 978-4-434-34124-3 | July 10, 2024 (digital)[16] June 10, 2025 (print)[17] 978-1-7183-9354-7 (digital) 979-8-855-41613-8 (print) |
| 5 | Drag Him High Yatsu no Shikabane o Hiite Yuke (奴の屍を曳いてゆけ) | June 10, 2025[18] 978-4-434-35881-4 | October 10, 2025 (digital)[19] May 12, 2026 (print)[20] 978-1-7183-9356-1 (digital) 979-8-855-43365-4 (print) |
| 6 | Bōkensha-tachi no Gaika (冒険者達の凱歌) | March 10, 2026[3] 978-4-434-37569-9 | — |
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Makoto Fugetsu published its "0th" chapter on Drecom Media's DRE Comics website on June 7, 2023. It later began serialization on June 23, 2023.[21] The manga's chapters have been compiled into eight tankōbon volumes as of March 2026.[22] The manga is also licensed by Yen Press.[23]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | North American release date | North American ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 25, 2023[24] | 978-4-434-32634-9 | October 15, 2024[25] | 979-8-855-40017-5 |
| 2 | December 22, 2023[26] | 978-4-434-32637-0 | April 1, 2025[27] | 979-8-855-40877-5 |
| 3 | May 24, 2024[28] | 978-4-434-33869-4 | November 25, 2025[29] | 979-8-855-41948-1 |
| 4 | October 25, 2024[30] | 978-4-434-34538-8 | June 23, 2026[31] | 979-8-855-42061-6 |
| 5 | March 19, 2025[32] | 978-4-434-35419-9 | September 22, 2026[33] | 979-8-855-43704-1 |
| 6 | June 20, 2025[34] | 978-4-434-35993-4 | — | — |
| 7 | October 20, 2025[35] | 978-4-434-36668-0 | — | — |
| 8 | March 10, 2026[22] | 978-4-434-37381-7 | — | — |
Anime
See also
- Goblin Slayer, another light novel series with the same author
- Overlord, another light novel series with the same illustrator
- Wizardry, the role-playing video game series which Blade & Bastard is based on
- Yakitori: Soldiers of Misfortune, a novel series with the same illustrator