Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
The cover of the first light novel volume.
デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 (Desu Māchi Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyōsōkyoku)
Genre	Fantasy, harem, isekai
Novel series
Written by	Hiro Ainana
Published by	Shōsetsuka ni Narō
Original run	March 3, 2013 – present
Light novel
Written by	Hiro Ainana
Illustrated by	shri
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Imprint	Fujimi Shobo Novels
Demographic	Male
Original run	March 17, 2014 – present
Volumes	29
Manga
Written by	Ayamegumu
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Magazine	Age Premium (2014 – 2015) Monthly Dragon Age (2015 – present)
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	November 9, 2014 – present
Volumes	17
Anime television series
Directed by	Shin Oonuma
Produced by	Tomoyuki Oowada Youhei Kikuchi Masaru Seto Yoshiyuki Shioya Shouta Watase Takashi Murakami Yousuke Shimizu Yukiko Arakawa Tsuyoshi Ochiai
Written by	Kento Shimoyama
Music by	Kuniyuki Takahashi (Monaca)
Studio	Silver Link Connect
Licensed by	Crunchyroll Funimation SA/SEA: Muse Communication
Original network	AT-X, Tokyo MX, BS11, Sun TV
English network	SEA: Animax Asia
Original run	January 11, 2018 – March 29, 2018
Episodes	12
Manga
Arisa Ōjo no Isekai Funtōki
Written by	Akira Segami
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Magazine	Monthly Dragon Age
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	February 9, 2018 – July 9, 2018
Volumes	1
Manga
Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kōfukukyoku
Written by	Tsurumi
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Magazine	Monthly Dragon Age
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	January 8, 2022 – present
Volumes	2

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲, Hepburn: Desu Māchi Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyōsōkyoku) is a Japanese light novel series written by Hiro Ainana. It began serialization online in 2013 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō until it was acquired by Fujimi Shobo. The first volume of the Light Novel was published in March 2014. A manga adaptation by Ayamegumu ran in Age Premium until the magazine ceased publication, and was then transferred to Monthly Dragon Age. Both the light novels and the manga adaptation have been licensed for publication in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation by Silver Link and Connect aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018.

Plot

Ichiro Suzuki is a 29-year old game programmer who was tasked with fixing several bugs in two MMORPGs his company is preparing for publication. However, he becomes extremely worn out as he is working during the weekend. After taking a nap, he mysteriously wakes up in a parallel world that resembles some of the fantasy RPG worlds he had worked on, as a 15-year old named Satou, later Satou Pendragon, a nickname he uses while running beta tests, and with what looks like the menu screen of the game he was working on appearing before his inner eye.

However, before he can grasp his current situation, an army of lizardmen ambushes him and launches an all-out attack on him. In desperation, he uses all three of his special 'Meteor Rain' attack options (a quick fix he added to the game for new players which kills all enemies in the vicinity) at once and wipes them all out - accidentally killing a god as well. As a result, his level jumps from 1 to 310, maximizing his stats immensely and making him one of the most powerful people in the world. With no way to return to his world, and as a high-leveled adventurer armed with a myriad of different physical, cognitive and magical abilities and weapons, he sets out to uncover the secrets of this new world, earning the trust and affection of many people in the process while keeping his overpowered stats concealed.

Characters

Ichirou Suzuki (鈴木一郎, Suzuki Ichirō) / Satou Pendragon (サトゥー・ペンドラゴン, Satū Pendoragon)

Voiced by: Shun Horie (Japanese); Justin Briner (English)

Ichirou is a 29-year old game programmer who is transferred to another world, where he finds himself in a 15-year old body. His new name is based on "Satoo", a character he created to test games. Using all three of the special Meteor Shower items in his possession, Satou wipes out a massive hostile force composed of high-level lizardmen, which increases his level from 1 to 310 instantly and grants him an immense pool of skill points. He also gains a huge amount of money and a vast number of valuable items. Upon arriving in Seiryuu, Satou pretends to be a young merchant and acquires new documents in which he hides his true level. Rather than be tied down to any one place, Satou wants to explore the world and try to understand how he arrived in the other world. He typically arms himself with magic pistols and short swords, but uses high level weapons while in disguise.

Zena Marienteil (ゼナ・マリエンテール, Zena Marientēru)

Voiced by: Rie Takahashi (Japanese); Julie Shields (English)

A 17-year-old mage soldier who becomes Satou's first friend in the other world. She joined the military to avoid being married to a noble by her parents, but seems to be comfortable around Satou. She is friends with Iona, Lilio, and Ruu. She is determined to join Satou after her term of military service ends.

Pochi (ポチ)

Voiced by: Hiyori Kono (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)

Originally called Dog, she is a 10-year-old dog demi-human turned slave until Satou rescues her from a dungeon, and who has travelled with him since then. She wields a short sword and buckler.

Pochi is a typical dog name.

Tama (タマ)

Voiced by: Kaya Okuno (Japanese); Margaret McDonald (English)

Originally called Cat, Tama is a 10-year-old child cat demi-human slave whom Satou rescued along with Pochi and Liza. An energetic person, she fights using dual knives. She was age 10 at the debut of the show and is currently 12.

Tama means "jewel".

Liza (リザ, Riza)

Voiced by: Minami Tsuda (Japanese); Brittany Lauda (English)

Liza is an 18-year-old orange scale lizardkin demi-human slave, who looked after Pochi and Tama. Her name is a shortened form of her original name, which is too difficult for humans to pronounce; it is not derived from lizard, although her former owner referred to her as Lizard. She was rescued by Satou and joins his party. Liza's favourite weapon is the spear that Satou made for her from a monster's claw.

Arisa (アリサ)

Voiced by: Aoi Yūki (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)

Arisa is an 11-year-old fallen princess who was enslaved after her country was invaded and her parents executed. Satou bought her when he discovered that she understands Japanese. She actually is a Japanese woman formerly named Arisa Tachibana, who died on Earth and was reincarnated in the other world, and is therefore much more mature than the other girls in Satou's party despite her young age. Along with Lulu, she is under a geas that prevents her slave status being revoked. She initially specializes in psychic magic. The menu system she uses differs from Satou's in that it is more limited; her inventory has limited space and does not keep items in stasis. Despite her age, she sees Satou as her ideal man.

Lulu (ルル, Ruru)

Voiced by: Marika Hayase (Japanese); Jill Harris (English)

A 14-year-old slave whose great-grandfather was Japanese. Despite Satou considering her beautiful by Japanese standards, her black hair and Asian features are considered unattractive by humans of the current world. Satou purchased her along with Arisa. Satou asks her to teach him to drive a wagon after he learns that she was taught to drive carriages during her slavery. Like her sister, Lulu falls in love with Satou; because she feels safe and appreciated.

Misanaria Bolenan (ミサナリーア・ボルエナン, Misanarīa Boruenan)

Voiced by: Airi Eino (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)

Also known as Mia, she is a 130 year old juvenile Elf with magical abilities whom Satou rescued when she was kidnapped as part of Undead King Zen's plot. She develops a crush on Satou. Mia speaks in short sentences and does not eat meat.

Nana (ナナ)

Voiced by: Kiyono Yasuno (Japanese); Megan Shipman (English)

A homunculus in the form of a comely human female, who was created by the undead sorcerer, Zen, and whom Satou rescued from the collapse of Zen's dungeon, along with her 7 identical sisters/clones. While her sisters leave on a separate mission, Nana (Japanese for her original name, "Number Seven") chooses to stay by Satou's side and to serve him. Nana often needs magic infusions to her core; which Satou does by touching her back. She is armed with a sword and shield and acts as the party's tank.

Iona (イオナ)

Voiced by: Rika Kinugawa (Japanese); Carli Mosier (English)

Iona is a soldier in Seiryuu City's territorial army, and friends with Zena, Lilio, and Ruu. She wears plate armor and wields a bastard sword.

Lilio (リリオ, Ririo)

Voiced by: Yuki Nagano (Japanese); Morgan Berry (English)

Lilio is a soldier in Seiryuu City's territorial army, and friends with Zena, Iona, and Ruu. Her main weapon is a crossbow.

Ruu (ルウ)

Voiced by: Wakana Kowaka (Japanese); Natalie Hoover (English)

Ruu is a soldier belonging to Seiryuu City's territorial army, and friends with Zena, Lilio, and Iona.

Martha (マーサ, Māsa)

Voiced by: Nanami Atsugi (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)

She is the daughter of Mosa and a waitress at the Gate Inn in Seiryuu City. Despite being only 13 years old, she looks like a mid-teenager and is very well endowed.

Mosa (モーサ, Mōsa)

Voiced by: Yūko Gotō (Japanese); Cynthia Cranz (English)

Mosa is the innkeeper at the Gate Inn and Martha's mother.

Yuni (ユニ)

Voiced by: Ryōna Kuchioka (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English)

A young orphaned girl who works around the Gate Inn. She became friends with Pochi and Tama and learned to read with them using Satou's picture cards.

Ohna (オーナ, Ōna)

Voiced by: Rie Suegara (Japanese); Jamie Marchi (English)

Ohna is a Priestess at the Parion Temple in Seiryuu City who serves the goddess Parion.

Boido (ボイド)

Voiced by: Kōji Seki (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English)

He is the Head Priest at the Zaicuon Temple in Seiryuu City. He is a sly man who attempted to trick the populace into believing that demi-humans are demons. He was killed by the demon that created the dungeon in Seiryuu City from which Satou rescued Liza, Tama, and Pochi.

Nidoren (ニドーレン)

Voiced by: Shintaro Tanaka (Japanese); Josh Bangle (English)

He is a slave trader who was caught up in the formation of the dungeon in Seiryuu City. Satou rescued him and later bought Arisa and Lulu from him.

Nadi (ナディ)

Voiced by: Satomi Satō (Japanese); Alexis Tipton (English)

A human woman who works at the Odd Job shop.

Yusaratoya Bolenan (ユサラトーヤ・ボルエナン, Yusaratōya Boruenan)

Voiced by: Yoshitaka Yamaya (Japanese); Stephen Fu (English)

Most commonly known as "Yuuya", he is manager at the Odd Job shop. Yuuya is a green-haired Elf who is a member of a subspecies of Elves with shorter ears, a difference he is very touchy about. He speaks with short sentences and is related to Mia.

Mize (ミゼ)

Voiced by: Shinya Takahashi (Japanese); Barry Yandell (English)

He is a were rat knight and the leader of the were rat riders who is known around the kingdom as "Red Helmet." He helped Mia after she escaped from the Cradle. However, he and his group were attacked by Zen and he was severely injured, losing his ear in the process.

Dryad (ドライアド)

Voiced by: Chitose Morinaga (Japanese); Dani Chambers (English)

A monster Satou encounters in the Cradle that only requires mana and water to survive; she can take mana from kisses. She is able to move people between locations within the Cradle. After the Cradle is destroyed, she tells Satou that she can be found wherever there is a forest.

Zen (ゼン)

Voiced by: Masuo Amada (Japanese); David Wald (English)

A powerful sorcerer turned king of the undead. Zen is a reincarnated person who was reborn into a loving noble family in the fantasy world. He was betrayed by a jealous noble, who desired his wife, which led to his death, his family's execution, and his wife's rape and death. Zen's intense desire for revenge caused him to rise as a powerful undead that avenged the deaths of his family by killing not only the noble responsible, but his entire extended family as well. While Zen challenges Satou to a contest of strength and will for custody of Misanaria, his actual desire is to die at the hands of a true hero. After Satou passes the tests, he slays Zen, ending his immortal undead existence. Before he disappears, Zen warns Satou to watch over Arisa and not allow her to make the same mistakes that he did.

Zen's story became a play, but nobles demanded the ending changed, so they can preserve their image of "good guys"; though the commoners don't buy it.

Media

Light novel

Hiro Ainana first published Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody as a web novel on the user-generated content site Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2013, before republishing it as a light novel with illustrations by shri. The first volume was released by Fujimi Shobo in March 2014. Twenty-nine volumes have been released to date. North American publisher Yen Press announced its license to the novels on May 20, 2016.

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	March 17, 2014	978-4-04-070084-7	January 24, 2017	978-0-31-650463-8
2	July 16, 2014	978-4-04-070307-7	May 23, 2017	978-0-31-650797-4
3	November 20, 2014	978-4-04-070308-4	September 19, 2017	978-0-31-655608-8
4	April 18, 2015	978-4-04-070596-5	January 30, 2018	978-0-31-655609-5
5	August 20, 2015	978-4-04-070707-5	May 22, 2018	978-0-31-655610-1
6	December 10, 2015	978-4-04-070708-2	September 18, 2018	978-0-31-655612-5
7	April 9, 2016	978-4-04-070872-0	January 22, 2019	978-1-97-530155-2
8	August 10, 2016	978-4-04-072018-0	May 21, 2019	978-1-97-530157-6
9	December 10, 2016	978-4-04-072126-2	September 24, 2019	978-1-97-530159-0
10	April 10, 2017	978-4-04-072257-3	January 21, 2020	978-1-97-530161-3
11	August 10, 2017	978-4-04-072405-8	May 26, 2020	978-1-97-530163-7
12	December 10, 2017	978-4-04-072409-6	October 20, 2020	978-1-97-530165-1
Ex	January 10, 2018	978-4-04-072576-5	—	—
13	March 10, 2018	978-4-04-072575-8	March 2, 2021	978-1-97-531839-0
14	July 10, 2018	978-4-04-072800-1	June 22, 2021	978-1-97-532080-5
15	November 10, 2018	978-4-04-072793-6	November 16, 2021	978-1-97-532082-9
16	March 3, 2019	978-4-04-072802-5	April 5, 2022	978-1-97-532084-3
17	August 9, 2019	978-4-04-073243-5	July 26, 2022	978-1-97-532086-7
18	November 9, 2019	978-4-04-073244-2	February 21, 2023	978-1-97-534395-8
19	March 10, 2020	978-4-04-073245-9 ISBN 978-4-04-073445-3 (SP)	September 19, 2023	978-1-97-534397-2
20	July 10, 2020	978-4-04-073246-6	December 12, 2023	978-1-97-534399-6
21	November 10, 2020	978-4-04-073865-9	May 21, 2024	978-1-97-534401-6
22	April 9, 2021	978-4-04-073866-6	October 15, 2024	978-1-97-534403-0
23	July 9, 2021	978-4-04-074156-7	—	—
Ex2	August 10, 2021	978-4-04-074190-1	—	—
24	February 10, 2022	978-4-04-074302-8 ISBN 978-4-04-074305-9 (SP)	—	—
25	May 9, 2022	978-4-04-074550-3	—	—
26	September 9, 2022	978-4-04-074663-0	—	—
27	January 10, 2023	978-4-04-074817-7	—	—
28	June 9, 2023	978-4-04-075006-4	—	—
29	February 9, 2024	978-4-04-075155-9	—	—

Manga

Ayamegumu began serializing a manga adaptation in Fujimi Shobo's Age Premium magazine in December 2014. Age Premium ceased publication with its 49th issue on July 9, 2016, and the manga was one of five titles that were transferred to Monthly Dragon Age. The manga has been licensed by Yen Press.

Akira Segami launched a prequel manga, titled Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody Ex: Princess Arisa's Otherworldly Struggle (デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲 Ex アリサ王女の異世界奮闘記, Death March Kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyōsōkyoku EX: Arisa Ōjo no Isekai Funtōki), adapted from the short story by the same name in Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody: Ex, in Fujimi Shobo's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age on February 9, 2018. The manga ended on July 9, 2018.

A gourmet spin-off manga by Tsurumi, titled Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kōfukukyoku, began serialization in Monthly Dragon Age in the February 2022 issue released on January 8, 2022. It centers around the character, Phantom Chef Lulu.

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	April 18, 2015	978-4-04-070576-7	November 22, 2016	978-0-31-655276-9
2	December 5, 2015	978-4-04-070784-6	March 21, 2017	978-0-31-646923-4
3	August 9, 2016	978-4-04-070991-8	July 18, 2017	978-0-31-643962-6
4	December 10, 2016	978-4-04-072114-9	December 19, 2017	978-0-31-641402-9
5	August 10, 2017	978-4-04-072387-7	October 30, 2018	978-1-97-530203-0
6	December 9, 2017	978-4-04-072527-7	January 22, 2019	978-1-97-530205-4
7	August 9, 2018	978-4-04-072837-7	April 30, 2019	978-1-97-530412-6
8	March 9, 2019	978-4-04-073091-2	November 12, 2019	978-1-97-535952-2
9	October 9, 2019	978-4-04-073354-8	May 26, 2020	978-1-97-531112-4
10	May 9, 2020	978-4-04-073650-1	February 3, 2021	978-1-97-532010-2
11	December 9, 2020	978-4-04-073899-4	October 5, 2021	978-1-97-533649-3
12	July 9, 2021	978-4-04-074169-7	August 23, 2022	978-1-97-534487-0
13	February 9, 2022	978-4-04-074426-1	February 21, 2023	978-1-97-535998-0
Anthology	February 9, 2022	978-4-04-074436-0	—	—
14	August 9, 2022	978-4-04-074634-0	June 20, 2023	978-1-97-536901-9
15	March 9, 2023	978-4-04-074900-6	March 19, 2024	978-1-97-538793-8
16	October 6, 2023	978-4-04-075166-5	—	—
17	May 9, 2024	978-4-04-075433-8	—	—

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced via a wraparound band on the fourth volume of the manga on December 10, 2016. The television series is directed by Shin Oonuma at Silver Link and Connect with scripts written by Kento Shimoyama, while Shoko Takimoto designed the characters. MONACA composed the music at DIVE II Entertainment. The series aired from January 11 to March 29, 2018, on AT-X, with further broadcasts on Tokyo MX and BS11. It ran for 12 episodes and covers the first 3 volumes of the light novel. The opening theme is "suraidoraido" (スライドライド, Slide Ride) by Run Girls, Run! while the ending theme is "Suki no sukiru" (スキノスキル) by Wake Up, Girls!. Crunchyroll streamed the series, while Funimation streamed an English dub.

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"The Catastrophe That Started with a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru tenpenchii" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる天変地異)	January 11, 2018 (2018-01-11)
2	"Exploring a City That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru shinai sansaku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる市内散策)	January 18, 2018 (2018-01-18)
3	"Love That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru ren'ai jijō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる恋愛事情)	January 25, 2018 (2018-01-25)
4	"Labyrinth Exploration That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru meikyū tansaku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる迷宮探索)	February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01)
5	"The Crazy Princess That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru ranshin ōjo" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる乱心王女)	February 8, 2018 (2018-02-08)
6	"City Defense That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru toshi bōei" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる都市防衛)	February 15, 2018 (2018-02-15)
7	"Camping Lessons That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru yaei kunren" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる野営訓練)	February 22, 2018 (2018-02-22)
8	"Immortality That Began With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru furōfushi" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる不老不死)	March 1, 2018 (2018-03-01)
9	"Deeply Held Attachment That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru jōshotenmen" (Japanese: デスマチからはじまる情緒纏綿)	March 8, 2018 (2018-03-08)
10	"Hunting Song That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru shuryō gakkyoku" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる狩猟楽曲)	March 15, 2018 (2018-03-15)
11	"The Fantasy Conspiracy That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru gensō inbō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる幻想陰謀)	March 22, 2018 (2018-03-22)
12	"A Trip to the Underworld That Started With a Death March" Transliteration: "Desumāchi kara hajimaru i (se)-kai ryojō" (Japanese: デスマーチからはじまる異(世)界旅情)	March 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)

Reception

The series was the 10th best-selling light novel series in Japan during the first half of 2018, selling 211,393 copies.

External links

• Official website at Fujimi Shobo (in Japanese)
• Official web novel website at Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese)
• Official anime website (in Japanese)
• Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia