Defeating the Demon Lord's a Cinch (If You've Got a Ringer), Vol. 3

Defeating the Demon Lord's a Cinch (If You've Got a Ringer) #3

by Tsukikage

Having wrapped up their battles in Yutith's Tomb, Holy Warrior Naotsugu Toudou and crew (with Ares Crown hot on their heels) make their way to Golem Valley to level up. But there's no end in sight for Ares's troubles-his newest recruit, Stephenne Veronide, may be a talented holy caster, but she's also a world-class ditz! With her around, anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Will Ares be able to keep his cool as he maneuvers both her and the Holy Warrior out of harm's way? Or has this priest finally reached the end of his rope?

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2017

Reviews

[kurogane shiroikaze]

Defeating the Demon Lord's a Cinch (If You've Got a Ringer) is still a god damn mouthful of a name, but I'm totally sold on the series with this 3rd volume. This volume introduces the best character of the series thus far, the Genius Ditz Stephenne, who is one of the most powerful magic casters in the series but is such a klutz she can't even walk 3 steps without falling down.

The Ditz is a perennial favourite, but this vol Demon Lord Ringer takes it quite to the extreme as our protagonist, Ares, gets used to Stephenne's antics and eventually even incorporates her ditzy ways in to his plans to secretly support the idealistic yet foolish Hero.

Stephenne, Ares and Amelia's interactions are really the best parts of the volume and it's pretty damn impressive to read how Ares manages to actually 'tame' Stephenne and make her actually contribute despite her near-lethal levels of clumsiness that she naturally exudes.

While the first 2 volumes of Demon Lord Ringer felt a little dry even if the concept was quite original, this volume finally brings it to life for me and I do hope the future volumes continue to play with and subvert the usual tropes of isekai fantasies like this one does.

[Min]

Ok, to be completely fair, Ares is a major jerk with serious anger issues. He's completely wigged out with stress and worry and takes everything way too seriously. He's got the standard oblivious to the harem protagonist thing going with him (let's be real, the protagonist is not Nao), not out of any actual airheadedness but sheer indifference. (Although he might actually be that dumb with Amelia.) And he's basically horrible to everyone because he's horrible to himself. And he thinks he's normal compared to other crusaders! Gregorio's got nothing on him.

But the translation is so funny and Ares is so mean, and Amelia's starting to be equally as mean. They're a pair matched in heaven. The series has been a bit slow going - I've been hoping there'd be more explanation as to why Ares is this way, how he got to be level 93, etc., etc, but we haven't heard a lick about his past, only hints. And with only one more book out before we're caught up to Japan we might be in for a long wait.

[Tomcat]

Fun but weak story.

The story goes slowly, this book centers on a new character, although the rest of characters gets little to none development at all. There are a lot of fun parts thanks to Stey, but the combat scenes and resolution are quite weak.

[Mandy]

I hoping stey doesn’t show up again. I don’t really like her.

This book wasn’t quite as fun as the first two.

I’m still waiting for ares to find out the big secret.