#the field of conflict

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: 'Reincarnated Aristocrat' #2

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World #2 by MiraijinA, Jimmy, Tristan K Hill

castle politics

fantasy

isekai

political science

social commentary

war

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Off to war!

Sort of.

Ars Louvent, leader of a tiny barony and otherwise small fry in a metastasizing civil war in the Duchy of Missian, makes purposeful strides toward maturing in his role as a civil leader of the people. Readers may query why a 12-year-old boy and his group of retainers, awkward and outcast though they may be, feel destined to contribute to several war councils. Regardless, REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT v2 makes good on the author's promise to complicate the politics of Missian as much as possible, if only to expose Ars to new, fun, and strange scenarios that push his plucky little appraisal skill to its limits.

Conflict is on the horizon, and Lord Couran Salemakhia is calling upon his allies to position him for steady progress toward eventual victory. Ars somewhat comically complains that he is of little use for much of the novel. But in truth, the young man fills in many of Lord Couran's numerous and often unobvious gaps in strategy and organization.

Need an ambitious advisor or two for the war council? Ars attends the meeting with Rrietz, Rosell, and Mireille Grunzeon in tow. Mirelle is his newest retainer: an exiled, warmongering alcoholic with ties to Salemakhia's brother. She's a petty woman, but her eye for detail is second to none. Quite a find.

Need a stealthy way to overtake nearby land and county while marching toward the final battlefield? Ars hires the delightfully surreptitious Pham, the cross-dressing spy master, to pull off a handful of clever clandestine scenarios.

REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT v2 reads like a bridge between daily life as Ars knew it (as seen in the first volume) and the eventual and strident chaos that awaits the duchy as civil war festers in earnest (likely occurring in the next volume). The current book leans more heavily into equitably merging statecraft and battle strategy — an interesting and far more attractive narrative turn than either in isolation. For example, a good portion of the novel is dedicated to conducting cross-border negotiations with the Duchy of Paradille (to acquire supplemental infantry forces). Can Ars overcome Duke Mahkfa Sarcassia's blind allegiance to the empire? Or sidestep the uncanny brilliance of the duke's smarmy retainer, a "genuine, hardcore edgelord"?

The war council debates are fun, albeit brief, and the story's assorted ambassadorial negotiations provide crucial insight into the necessity of rounding out Ars's skill set (along with Licia and Rossell's). One thing this book does extremely well lies in its portrayal of how Ars becomes increasingly integral to Missian's future through his accidentally brave political intrepidness.

And when Ars is presented with the truth of a bloody battlefield? What happens then? Interestingly, he becomes frightfully aware that using his appraisal skill to spare the life of an enemy soldier, mage, or strategist invariably means condemning all others to death:

"I believed that averting my eyes from the consequences of my actions was unconscionable for a person of my status [..] They were dying because I hadn't picked them out as being talented, so I felt I had an obligation to see this through to the end [..] Taking part in the battle meant putting your life on the line, and I knew they'd accepted the possibility of their deaths, but I still couldn't help but grieve for the futures that had been denied to them" (pages 223, 234-235).

To wit, the novel retains much of the minutiae of intrastate governance. The previous volume was full of it. And readers will still need a notepad to keep track of all of the names of people, places, castles, vassals, retainers, and more. At this point, one is resigned to the fact that these unnecessary details are but a woeful affectation on the part of the author. Further, when Lord Couran orders the County of Canarre to march into battle, Ars and his crew tread through several smaller counties and take to the field of conflict on multiple occasions. The good news is that Mireille, the new strategist, while being snarky and lazy at all hours of the day, becomes a bear once the swords are raised. The bad news is that readers still don't have a map of any kind, and the book's growing breadth of terminology only complicates the theater of the mind.

But the book is another surprisingly entertaining read. AS A REINCARNATED ARISTOCRAT, I'LL USE MY APPRAISAL SKILL TO RISE IN THE WORLD v2 illuminates the relationship between duchies, clarifies the dynamics and alliances of the civil war, and introduces new characters and retainers whose detriments compete more earnestly with their skills.

The light novel's diversity of personality is probably it's most significant contribution thus far. Licia's obsessiveness. Rietz's anxiety. Charlotte's ego. Mireille is a fun character, and one hopes her role will increase as the war effort comes into greater focus. Another new character, Shin Seimallo, is an annoying engineer with an eye for airship design. Shin is likely a plant for a future adventure.

And the protagonist, Ars, is cleverly designed such that he never knows as much about himself as he knows about others. When the young man engages Lord Couran about such things, he merely shrugs his shoulders:

"I'd more or less surmised that my Valor and Intelligence were less than exceptional, but I had yet to pin down my Leadership or Politics scores, even in a broad sense [..] I didn't believe I was talented, in any case, but I didn't see anything wrong with indulging in the fantasy every once in a while" (pages 112-113).

❯ ❯ Light-Novel Reviews || ahb writes on Good Reads

[theprissythumbelina]

I can't tell if my dragon worldbuilding has gone too far when I start reading scientific papers on bat wig morphology and comparing them to bird morphology.

[addicted-to-the-knife]

he's so important to me

[ghostlypawn]

honestly think saying wicked is a ‘story about friendship’ does a disservice to the show when at its crux its a story about discrimination and corrupt governments

[sisaloofafump]

(The sizes are based on common international dimensions, but some vary a lot between locations)

After you vote, the answer is below:

An exy court is the exact same dimensions as a field hockey court (it even uses the same dividing lines)!

100 yds x 60 yds (91m x 55x), and is 10 yds (9m) tall.

[knockknockitsnickels]

I'm hoping the next Fields of Mistria update gives the other characters a chance to shine more. I feel like March is in almost every event - Hayden's 2 heart event felt like it was more about him then it was about Hayden.

[makorragal-312]

Gotta admit, after last night's episode, I was completely lost as to what the conflict was gonna be between Buck and Tommy that was gonna lead to them eventually breaking up.

But now that I think about it, I think Tommy is going to finally make his feelings known (most likely without meaning to) that he's envious of the family dynamic within the current 118 and that he wants to experience it.

This will lead to Buck questioning how he never experienced it or made any strong connections with anyone if he was in the 118 through both Gerrard AND Bobby. And that's gonna lead to Buck finding out about Tommy's past behavior under Gerrard and how he treated Chim and Hen and then it's gonna make Buck confront Tommy about longing for that connection when he could've had it had he not been a bigot.

The two are gonna fight and then BOOM, breakup.

[meadowsofmay]

i genuinely enjoy the amount of respect and love and care the circle has for cosmo. i can't possibly know if it will ever backfire given the circumstances they are in but that's not even what's so important right now. what will happen is what will happen but the beginning, the starting point that is actually a starting point only for us. for them? it's one of many that dotted the path of their relationship, their connection to cosmo.

i suppose it is so nice to see because there is an image of an old, obnoxious, know-it-all figures in media that are presented from the perspective — having knowledge is a grant of respect. but cosmo, at least from what we hear others speak of him, is not that. he is an old man that his grandson relative? father? wants to protect because that's how it should be and not the other way around. he is an old friend to madam glask, and he is the closest and hence the dearest, which means she will step over her fear and lost trust of elsie and follow their mission through. he is an associate, a roommate that elsie trusts to keep her safe and keep others safe from her. he is a professor that has earned his respect from rajan.

and he sees them as his children, he cares for them as he would care for his own and yet, not in a belittling way. they are like children to him but they are not children. they are grown and established in life adults that achieved their status in society and that cosmo respects, while caring for them like he would for his children. and it's almost as if they care and love him the same way in response. his human being does not consists only of work and his studies and they can love him like children would love their elderly parent. and they do.

and surely, we don't know what had happened in cosmo's past 'till it'd be revealed or what will happen in the future 'till it will happen next episode. but i just enjoy how likable cosmo is while being a knowledgeable and important part of the candela and the circle. i like how it's easy for the circle to like him and stick with him even when the circle bends.

and you know, that is the epitome of an actual respect, to have such an influence on people.

[petz5]

they're in a highlight on instagram but throwing these here too just so i don't lose em

[presdestigatto]

the 455 v others division is painfully funny to watch

[icewindandboringhorror]

a quite simple outfit, trying to use the little blue and white apron thing (which is actually a dress I think, that I just leave un-buttoned in the back and added an apron-like tie to lol)

[blackjack-15]

Hi I just got through reading all of your liveblogging posts about The Bear! It was a delight to read all of your real-time predictions that ended up coming true, you really had this show’s number from the jump lol. Do you have any predictions for next season? Most fans think Carm and Syd are headed for an explosive confrontation, but are any other storylines, scenes, character beats, etc. that you think we might see?

This is super nice of you, anon! thank you so much for following my chaotic ramblings XD and hey it's a lot easier to know what might happen in the show when they've got such competent writers/directors! tho they surprised me a fair number of times (i don't think i'll be over the interplay/intercuts of claire, carmy, and syd at the end of 2X07/start of 2X08 any time soon), which keeps things fun

as far as predictions for next season...i think it's hard to say without having the first five minutes of S3 in front of me (they do such a good job setting up the tone and conflicts of the season in the first little bit of S1 and S2!), but i've got

a couple things i'm pretty sure about:

-more REM songs (only thing i'm 100% positive on)

-more kitchen/cooking time for our mains, especially carmy. last season's renovations + cliche john hughes nonsense kept him mostly out of the kitchen from ep 3 on, and i'm 99% sure he'll be back with a knife in hand come S3

-nat giving birth to a girl (i'd love it but am not solid on predicting she'd be named some derivative of 'mary' (or a name meaning 'victory', such as nicole), given the berzatto family prayer).

i know the temptation for her to have a boy named after michael is strong b/c it's TV, but this series (rightly, in my mind) tends away from Lionizing the Dead simply b/c they're dead, and after spending S2 breaking down mikey (and showing mikey and nat's relationship, which like ever berzatto relationship wasn't super healthy), i'm hopeful and trusting the writers to avoid this. it wouldn't make me hate the show or anything, but it would honestly disappoint me unless done in a way (i honestly can't think of what way) that would make it okay. plus pete kinda screams girldad to me, and seeing carmy and richie with a little niece would be incredibly precious

-sydcarmy dustup of some kind, but i doubt it'll be as explosive as we've seen in the past, mostly b/c syd was stressed but exhilarated by success at friends & family and b/c i think carmy's (lack of) mental health will be brought up in relation to it

-solidifying of a secondary staff at the bear to let our regulars breathe a bit and have the bear feel like a real, functioning kitchen, not a mom and pop greasy spoon -- this started at the end of s2 but it needs to continue

-cicero setting the tone of the first few months of The Bear (and probably his commentary on carmy's relationships) -- we're not out of the realm of Complete and Utter Failure yet, lads, and the money is gonna come due -- whether by the guise of Friendly Uncle Jimmy visiting with Nat, or the mask of Cicero the Loan Shark coming out in full force

-art storyline with carmy figuring out what will replace the awful painting (i'm going to guess it'll be something of his design, but it'll at least be something he feels represents him, given the comments last season)

-major theme of carmy figuring out what he wants vs what others want for him. him analyzing his relationship with claire by himself -- or, my preference, talking it out with Tina, who he seems to be able to open up to pretty well -- is part of this

things that have to happen but i have no idea how/to what resolution:

-carmy and richie addressing the "donna" fight/comment. it's gonna be multi-ep (neither one is great at complimenting the other to their face and tend to do it behind the other's back, but richie is especially bad at it), and it's gonna hurt.

-pete spilling the beans to Someone (not nat but not sure who) about donna being at f&f

-resident claire's poor little hurt feelings from trespassing into the kitchen and eavesdropping on then leaving carmy in the middle of a really, really bad attack (yes i'm phrasing it that way because it's true <3)

-something about tiff's upcoming wedding (marcus getting contracted/recommended to make dessert for it would be painful but oh so crunchy)

-carmy meets syd's dad. he's proud of her and her success and you know he's gonna want to meet her business partner

nebulous predictions:

-ebra's storyline with him carving out a niche at the sandwich window getting screentime

-tina coming more into her own and maybe getting a designated storyline (about what? no idea)

-more gary nonsense. man lives the wildest life and we see almost none of it

-carmy working through what cooking means to him and what it means in relation to the bear/the berzattos/sydney

-nat's water breaks/she goes into labor at the bear. not sure the baby will actually be born there (i'd guess probably not on the whole), but the process will Begin there

-syd distraction/love interest storyline. not even her dating particularly, just her attention being Split and having the shoe be on the other foot for carmy as they navigate what being business partners means outside the kitchen

-fak time. he's a little uncertain, a little wandering in the restaurant, and he was a major...antagonistic force, let's say? in S2. his place in the world of the bear needs clarification and harmony, and his identity needs solidity and sureness

things that aren't impossible/improbable but would be a Little Treat for Me specifically:

-chef jess being invited to the bear by richie (let the man have people outside the bear and his kid/ex! garrett may come too i'll allow it)

-the return of louie my beloved (helping out at the sandwich window? he makes a good foil to Young Carmy, so i would like to see him more -- carmy in Full Mentorship would be a thing to see, and it would be a being-better-than-mikey-was-to-him thing as well. it's narratively crunchy and provides lots of room for growth, but can be done in ways that don't involve louie, so that's why it's here)

-syd's best meal + comment about being a regular at The Beef coming back. do i think they eventually will? yes. am i aware that my desire for them is prolly stronger than it narratively should be be predicted? also yes. could this easily be combined with carmy meeting syd's dad? yes and i will break the sound barrier

-carmy drawing a dish syd comes up with. a hand-drawn menu for the bear would be Incredible, and syd's face looking at a sistine-chapel-style drawing of a dish she came up with? tremendous, chef

thing that i want to be brought up more than Anything but don't predict it'll be touched (at least directly):

-carmy yelling for syd during his attack in the walk-in (i'm sorry you can't have the man yelling "MARCUS GET ME SYD. GET ME SYD" and expect me not to want it on a billboard

that got long, sorry anon, but there we go -- 4am rambling off-the-cuff about S3...only months to go, hopefully....

[thetruearchmagos]

Fun fact: thanks to such things as 'the linear passage of time' and 'human aging', making a character exist at all in one WIP means putting an upper limit on how far back in time you can reasonably drag them and still have them actually be old enough to do anything interesting

[alichiraku]

When did Iruka become a teacher?

I was making an Iruka timeline and realized we don’t have a clear answer, but rather multiple conflicting ones. So I tried to compile the informations somewhere! Here are some different indications as to when Iruka may have become a teacher at the Academy.

The first basic fact we have is this: Iruka would very probably not have become a teacher before he became a Chūnin, which happened when he was 16 years old (birthday May 26th).

IN THE ANIME/MOVIES :

The Childhood episodes show Iruka teaching Naruto’s generation while they are at a very young age, possibly 5 to 7 (see the “Naruto” and “Shikamaru” episodes). This would make Iruka 15 to 17.

In the movie The Last, Iruka is already a teacher in the Academy flashback. The children in this scene are all 7, making Iruka 17.

In the Rookie Instructor Iruka filler arc, a flashback shows Iruka asking to become an instructor. Kakashi is present in this scene and is already back in the field and in jōnin uniform, meaning this is after he left ANBU, which happened when he was 22-23 years old. Kakashi and Iruka have a 4 years age difference, making Iruka at least 18-19. This is already conflicting with the previous anime appearances.

IN THE MANGA :

There are even less indications in the manga than there are in the anime. At the very least, Iruka was not Sasuke’s first teacher (Sasuke entered the Academy at age 6), although nothing indicates whether he was already a teacher or not.

To me, the only reliable clue is in the flashback of Naruto and Sasuke’s fight at the Academy, supervised by Iruka (which spans over multiple chapters, beginning with Chapter 538 and ending with Chapter 697). The flashback is set post-Uchiha massacre, making the Naruto’s generation at least 7 and Iruka at least 17. I’d say that Naruto’s generation looks around 9-10? (compared to their Naruto Part I selves)

(There is also the fact that in Chapter 1, Iruka seems to have been around for Naruto’s two previous attempts at passing the Genin test, which would suggest he’s been teaching Naruto for at least 2 years. But since that’s already an entire problem in itself -Naruto would be 2 years older than his comrades, unless the exam happens multiple times a year like the Chūnin exam-, I’m not gonna use it.)

IN THE DATABOOKS :

Now okay, this is where I’m gonna sound a little crazy, but I’ve tried to calculate a likely age for Iruka to have become a teacher based on his number of Databook missions. Having become a Chūnin at 16, Iruka couldn’t have done A-rank and B-rank missions before this moment (or only on accident, I guess). Given that he doesn’t take missions during his teacher years (at least up to the Konoha Crush), Iruka’s 74 B-rank and 12 A-rank missions must have mostly been completed in the timeframe between his becoming a Chūnin and his taking up a teaching job. Shikamaru, who we see becoming a Chūnin, completes 9 B-rank and 19 A-rank missions in around 2 and a half years. If we assume A-rank missions take longer to complete (which isn’t at all a given but I’m desperate for clues), this gives Iruka around 3 to 3 and a half years to complete his own total, making him 19-20 when he becomes a teacher. 

CONCLUSIONS :

My personal preference would be for Iruka to have been 19 when he became a teacher at the Academy. The first two anime indications can be easily discarded: the Childhood episodes are simply cute filler episodes to end the anime, and the Last movie has more than one inconsistency. Iruka being 19 allows for the Rookie Instructor arc to be partly canon, as well as the manga indications: the Naruto vs Sasuke flashback would happen only 2 years or less after the Uchiha massacre, and Iruka would have been Naruto’s teacher for a total of 3/3 and half years (enough to have an initially strained relationship, then a more understanding one, and for Naruto’s memories from the Academy to be mainly associated with Iruka). This gives Iruka around 3 years on active duty as a Chūnin before retiring, and thus enough time for his ‘empathy’ for the enemy to become a worrying trend, if we take the Rookie Instructor arc as canon. 

(Also given that Naruto is 18-19 in The Last when he teaches at the Academy, this seems to be not too weird of an age for someone to start teaching.)

So there you have it! Obviously there is still some weird stuff anime-wise ; Iruka progressively becomes more of a Teacher Archetype throughout Naruto’s story, which explains why he’s often put in anime episodes despite being a literal teenager (yeah Konoha is fucked up about age anyway but even them probably don’t want a 15yo with anger issues to teach their knife-yielding middle schoolers).

[richmond-rex]

The focus on who fought or failed to fight for Richard, and in particular on the contribution of the Stanleys, obscures a simple truth about Bosworth, and perhaps about Richard III. It was one that the Tudor historian Polydore Vergil recognized. ‘The report is that Richard could have saved himself by flight’. He could have left the battlefield as others had done before (including the father he venerated), to fight another day. He would have lost Bosworth, and survived. Edward IV had been more bereft of support than Richard ever was, both after Edgecote and at the Readeption, yet had managed to return.

David Horspool, Richard III: A Ruler and His Reputation

[slav-every-day]