In Volume 1 we meet Laila, a commoner who parents sold her into slavery so they could debauch, and Evangeline “Eva” Mayer, the daughter of a Duke, and Laila’s childhood friend who, through accident, runs in to Laila and is able to take her as a bodyguard to the Royal Academy. In Volume 2, Laila deal with some prejudice and bullying, but her magical abilities are so significant, her fighting skills so good and her personality strong enough that she gains the respect of some of the students. 

In Volume 3 of Kitao Taki’s Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikite Imasu (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています) the 4 major houses are set against each other in a battle of wits, magic and combat by the King, who mostly wants some entertainment. He’d also like to get a feel for how strong this commoner is and to show off his beloved grandchild Eva’s power. 

The Mayer family starts down a member, but a masked (but not disguised, really) person joins them…with intel. The competitions get more and more complicated in the first round. There is no clear winner going in to the second round which is a dungeon that the King needs clearing. But once in the dungeon the students find that there’s some very serious magic in the dungeon, and the magic is going to mimic the person they want to fight the least. Eva and Laila watch in trepidation as another Laila walks out of the mist….

I know I say this every volume, but I really do enjoy Kotao Taki’s manga. And this story is building on itself, well away from simple romantic comedy to a full-blown epic adventure, with tons of fighting, magic and intrigue.Will Laila and Eva end up together? Probably, but that is not the story. I’m still holding out for Laila, Lisette and Eva kicking Catherine’s butt and all out ass whoop. ^_^ It’s also nice to read a fantasy that isn’t an isekai for a moment. 

For loads of action, adventure and a pleasant bit of Yuri seasoning, I’m really enjoying this series. 

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service –  1? Very little, as everyone is busy fighting
Yuri – 4, as everyone is busy fighting

Overall – 9

From Volume 3 on, this book is only available in digital format on Amazon JP, Bookwalker and other online platforms. Thank heavens for Bookwalker.

In Volume 1, we met Laila, a commoner set adrift when her useless parents sell her off to slavers. She reconnects with a childhood friend, a noble who sponsors Laila to the Royal academy. Laila has the ability to adapt to any magic simply by mimicking what she sees and she quickly gains notoriety, both good and bad at school on account of being a commoner.

In Volume 2 of Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikite Imasu, Volume 2 (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています), nobles continue to harass Laila, trying to drive her from the school. When religious extremists attack an innocent student, Martha, Laila and Touka, Laila becomes more friendly with Eva, a powerful noble and magician at school. Eva extends the protection of the ducal house of Mayer to Laila, angering her father and brother. 

The King, concerned about religious fanaticism, declares a competition between the 4 ducal houses, meant to showcase the magical strength and ability at his side. Representatives of all 4 houses will compete, using their physical, mental and magic skills.On the day of the competition, House Mayer starts down 3 competitors and, facing sabotage at every turn must defend Laila’s right to compete, and Eva’s status as the most powerful magician at school.

I absolutely love this story. I’ve followed Kitao-sensei’s work for decades and generally adore her hapless butch characters, but Laila being confident and smart (and powerful doesn’t hurt) is fantastic. Laila’s honorable nature means that people who don’t like her can be persuaded to at least be her ally, like Touka, and her fighting skills means she doesn’t need protection, just friends.

It is important to note that only Volume 1 is available as a print manga. The remaining 4 volumes are digital only. I am comfortable with this, and indeed bought a new tablet for the specific function of reading digital manga this past year. I’m not in the habit of shilling for new tech, but it is absolutely outstanding being able to read a whole page at a time on this tablet. I really don’t use it for much else, but it has completely changed the way I consume digital media. (And, as I am reading more for ANN, I need to be able to quickly pull up a lot of PDFs.) So, if you, like me, are interested in Laila’s continued adventures, you’ll be reading it in digital format..

And, I am interested. I want Eva and the Mayer team to stick it to the other houses. I want Laila to find the allies and power she needs for some stability in her life. And if Laila and Eva can find happiness together, that would be very nice too. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – Not much this time around, as genteel hostility was ramping up
Yuri – 4, who has time when everyone wants to fight you?

Overall – 9

In all my many years reading and reviewing manga, my favorite thing is when someone I have been following for ages breaks out into mainstream publishing. It has been my sincere pleasure here on Okazu to watch artists take their doujinshi career to new heights with major publishers. Today is one of those days.

I have been following Kitao Taki since the early 2000s, when she was part of Sakuraike, a doujinshi team whose work I really enjoyed. We were fortunate enough to be able to include some of their work in ALC’s Yuri Monogatari anthology. In 2010, Sakuraike’s work was collected into a 2-volume series Kimochi no Katachi. Of course I reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2 here on Okazu. When Kitao-sensei struck out on her own as circle BQ, I continued to follow her work, because I liked her formula of self-conscious butch and outgoing femme. ^_^ Well today, it is my very sincere pleasure to say that her work has continued to mature and grow and in 2024, her series published on the U-NEXT site, has been collected into a print volume by Kadokawa.

Heimin No Watashi Desu Ga Koushaku Reijou-sama o Taburakashite Ikiteimasu, Volume 1 (平民の私ですが公爵令嬢様をたぶらかして生きています) is an absolutely delightful fantasy series about Laila, a commoner, whose life is upended when her useless parents sell her off probably for drinking money. Laila is not the kind of girl to wait around and see what becomes of her, so while in the forest, she escapes. Lost and alone, Laila is found by the unlikeliest person imaginable – her old childhood friend Eva, the duke’s daughter.

Eva immediately scoops Laila up and brings her home, where the Duchess summarily tells her to get out, despite Eva and the tutor’s testimony. But when Laila protects Eva from an assassination attempt, she is given the position of Eva’s bodyguard and allowed to stay by her side.

It turn out that Laila is not only smart, and resilient, but she has a knack for mimicking what she sees. When Eva’s clingiest friend tries to drive Leila away with magic and cunning, Laila mimics her magic and ends up saving the friend, Lisette. She’s fast and strong, so her role as bodyguard suits her. Of course the leader of the school, a powerful duelist, Touka Remberk, challenges her, Laila is able to make a decent show before she loses. Touka immediately offers her friendship, as well. But all is not perfect in their school of magic. Eva’s cousin Catharine is an old-school Evil Psychotic Lesbian with girls draped all over her as she holds court and she wants Eva…gone. She’s not above deceit and abuse, even going so far as to have her thugs jump Laila. On the positive side, no one likes Catherine, except her henchicks. ^_^

One of my favorite things about Kitao-sensei’s art has always been the expressions on her hapless and helpless butch characters’ faces as they are swept up by the objects of their desire. Here we definitely get some  of those faces, but Laila is neither helpless nor hapless. She is concerned for Eva’s (and Lisette’s and a classmate who is blackmailed by Catherine, Martha’s,) well-being. She’s a tough commoner, and has confidence in herself, even if a magic school for nobles is out of her depth. Eva is very on Laila’s side and not at all stupid. Lisette, who initially seemed like she’d be an annoying tsundere, is not the enemy she initially seems. In fact, I bookmarked an amusing panel when Lisette is asked if she’s met up with Catherine and her response is to say “bleah” and stick out her tongue. It was very endearing and keeps the character likable.

In a conversation from earlier today, I commented that the thing I was enjoying most about Sorairo Utility was how Minami was being taught how to do things, rather than being shamed for not knowing how to do things.  Here too, bullying is not the plot driver. When the Duchess is ready to boot the commoner for surely she will not have the proper table manners, Laila simply mimics what she sees Eva doing and thus passes well enough. At school, Laila has never fought with a sword when she is challenged to a duel – how would she have ever had a chance to hold a sword, much less wield it in a duel? But she watches and learns and does her damnedest to use the skills she does have, earning her Touka’s respect. Catherine is the only real problem, but she will at least give Laila a chance to shine.

There is quite a bit of Yuri sprinkled about, as one might expect from an artist who has been working on Yuri doujinshi for 2 decades. Eva and Laila are almost immediately a ‘ship and undoubtedly set to be a couple. Lisette’s feelings for Eva are very deep admiration/desire. Touka might have a bit of a crush on Laila, and the two are given a really nice balcony scene. Catherine and her henchicks are definitely a throuple – and we know the henchicks are an item on their own. Nothing is explicit, but I expect we’ll see more as the story develops.

Kitao-sensei’s art is the best it has ever been. Action scenes are clear and fun to read. Characters expressions have always been a strength and she really gets to use a range, from Cath’s evil sneer to Laila’s seductive face.  Despite the potential for a lot of gut-wrenching, this series is a whole lot of fun. Congratulations to Kitao-sensei!

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 8
Characters – 9
Service – Laila kneeling over Eva in bed was pretty servicey, yeah.
Yuri – 6, I expect that to go up.

Overall – 9

This is a super fun fantasy story by a long-time Yuri artist. Sample chapters in Japanese are available on Comic Walker, go take a look!  I’m very much hoping we’ll see a collected Volume 2 soon.