The World's Strongest Rearguard

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker
First light novel volume cover
世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～
(Sekai Saikyō no Kōei: Meikyūkoku no Shinjin Tansakusha)
GenreFantasy, isekai
Novel series
Written byToowa
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runApril 27, 2017 – present
Light novel
Written byToowa
Illustrated byHuuka Kazabana
Published byFujimi Shobo
English publisher
ImprintKadokawa Books
Original runNovember 10, 2017 – present
Volumes9
Manga
Written byToowa
Illustrated byRikizo
Published byMedia Factory
English publisher
  • NA: Yen Press
ImprintMF Comics
MagazineComicWalker[a]
Original runMarch 30, 2018 – present
Volumes10
Anime television series
Directed byYūji Yanase
Written byDeko Akao
Music by
  • Hinako Tsubakiyama
  • Fuwari
StudioMaho Film
Licensed by
Original networkTokyo MX, BS11, Sun TV
Original run July 2026 – scheduled

The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker (Japanese: 世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～, Hepburn: Sekai Saikyō no Kōei: Meikyūkoku no Shinjin Tansakusha) is a Japanese light novel series written by Toowa and illustrated by Huuka Kazabana. It was originally posted as a web novel on the online publication platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō in April 2017, before Fujimi Shobo began publishing it as a light novel under their Kadokawa Books imprint in November of the same year; nine volumes have been released as of September 2025. A manga adaptation illustrated by Rikizo began serialization Kadokawa Corporation's ComicWalker service in March 2018. Ten volumes have been released as of January 2026. An anime television series adaptation produced by Maho Film is set to premiere in July 2026.

Plot

The series follows Arihito Atobe, a salaryman who is killed in a bus accident. After being reincarnated into another world, he is asked to pick a job class. He picks being a rearguard, which turns out to be a powerful class that no one before him had been before. Aimed with his new powers, he help his party members explore labyrinth, as their bonds grow over time.

Characters

Arihito (アリヒト)
Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka[1]
Theresia (テレジア, Terejia)
Voiced by: Aoi Koga[1]
Kyōka (キョウカ)
Voiced by: Sakura Nakamura[1]
Elitia (エリーティア, Erītia)
Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa[1]
Suzuna (スズナ)
Voiced by: Saori Hayami[1]

Media

Light novel

Toowa originally posted the series as a web novel on the online platform Shōsetsuka ni Narō on April 27, 2017.[2] It was later picked up for publication by Fujimi Shobo, which started releasing it as a light novel under their Kadokawa Books imprint. The first volume was released on November 10, 2017;[3] nine volumes have been released as of September 2025.[4] The series is licensed in English by Yen Press.[5]

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1November 10, 2017[3]978-4-04-072503-1October 29, 2019[6]978-1-9753-3154-2
2April 10, 2018[7]978-4-04-072505-5February 25, 2020[8]978-1-9753-3156-6
3August 10, 2018[9]978-4-04-072850-6June 23, 2020[10]978-1-9753-3158-0
4February 9, 2019[11]978-4-04-072849-0November 17, 2020[12]978-1-9753-1571-9
5July 10, 2019[13]978-4-04-073240-4March 23, 2021[14]978-1-9753-1573-3
6January 10, 2020[15]978-4-04-073241-1March 22, 2022[16]978-1-9753-3333-1
7March 10, 2021[17]978-4-04-073676-1August 16, 2022[18]978-1-9753-4393-4
8November 10, 2021[19]978-4-04-074221-2June 20, 2023[20]978-1-9753-5055-0
9September 10, 2025[4]978-4-04-075919-7——

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Rikizo began serialization on Kadokawa Corporation's ComicWalker service on March 30, 2018.[21] The first tankōbon volume was released on September 22, 2018;[22] ten volumes have been released as of January 2026.[23] The manga adaptation is also licensed in English by Yen Press.[5]

No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1September 22, 2018[22]978-4-04-069984-4January 28, 2020[24]978-1-9753-0581-9
2July 22, 2019[25]978-4-04-065807-0August 25, 2020[26]978-1-9753-1562-7
3March 21, 2020[27]978-4-04-064503-2January 19, 2021[28]978-1-9753-2012-6
4November 21, 2020[29]978-4-04-064897-2January 25, 2022[30]978-1-9753-3743-8
5December 23, 2021[31]978-4-04-680255-2February 21, 2023[32]978-1-9753-5178-6
6August 20, 2022[33]978-4-04-681605-4June 20, 2023[34]978-1-9753-6855-5
7September 21, 2023[35]978-4-04-683017-3December 10, 2024[36]979-8-8554-0184-4
8March 22, 2024[37]978-4-04-683499-7July 22, 2025[38]979-8-8554-1290-1
9February 21, 2025[39]978-4-04-683996-1May 26, 2026[40]979-8-8554-2828-5
10January 23, 2026[23]978-4-04-685020-1——

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on September 8, 2025.[41][42] The series will be produced by Maho Film and directed by Yūji Yanase, with Deko Akao handling series composition and Eiko Yanagimoto designing the characters, and Hinako Tsubakiyama and Fuwari composing the music. It is set to premiere in July 2026 on Tokyo MX and other channels.[1] Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.[43][44]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ ComicWalker changed its name to KadoComi (カドコミ) in December 2023.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cayanan, Joanna (February 3, 2026). "The World's Strongest Rearguard - Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, July Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  2. ^ "世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～" (in Japanese). Shōsetsuka ni Narō. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  3. ^ a b 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  4. ^ a b 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　９ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Sherman, Jennifer (March 29, 2019). "Yen Press Adds The Witch's Printing Office, Overlord: Undead King Oh!, Kemono Friends a la Carte Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 1 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  7. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　２ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  8. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 2 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  9. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　3 (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 3 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  11. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　4 (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 4 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  13. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　５ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  14. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 5 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  15. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　6 (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 6 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  17. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　７ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  18. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 7 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  19. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　８ (in Japanese). Fujimi Shobo. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  20. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 8 (light novel)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  21. ^ 『世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～』のコミカライズ連載が本日より開始 謎の職業「後衛」に就いた元社畜の冒険譚. LN-News.com (in Japanese). March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  22. ^ a b 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　1 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  23. ^ a b 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　10 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
  24. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 1 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  25. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　2 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  26. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 2 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  27. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　3 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  28. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 3 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  29. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　4 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  30. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 4 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  31. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　5 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  32. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 5 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  33. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　6 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  34. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 6 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  35. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　7 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  36. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 7 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  37. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　8 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  38. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 8 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  39. ^ 世界最強の後衛　～迷宮国の新人探索者～　9 (in Japanese). Media Factory. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  40. ^ "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, Vol. 9 (manga)". Yen Press. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  41. ^ とーわの小説「世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～」TVアニメ化が決定. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 8, 2025. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  42. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (September 8, 2025). "Tōwa's The World's Strongest Rearguard - Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker Light Novels Get TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  43. ^ "Teaser visual has been released for the TV Anime "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker"
    This anime is set to air in July 2026.
    Stay tuned to Muse's social media channels for more updates! 🔥"    . Muse Asia. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via YouTube.
  44. ^ "Teaser visual has been released for the TV Anime "The World's Strongest Rearguard: Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker"
    This anime is set to air in July 2026.
    Stay tuned to Muse's social media channels for more updates! 🔥"    . Muse India. February 3, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026 – via YouTube.
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