Who This Series Is For
Before you commit to reading, here’s a quick check to see if The Faraway Paladin is your kind of story:
- Fans of contemplative, slow-building fantasy — this is not a fast-paced action series
- Readers who enjoy strong mentor-student relationships — the emotional core of the early volumes
- Anyone looking for isekai that prioritizes character depth over combat power
- Readers who appreciate emotional storytelling in fantasy settings — similar in tone to series that focus on personal growth and quiet moments over flashy battles
If that sounds appealing, read on. If you prefer stories where the main character dominates every fight from the start, this one may feel too measured for your taste — and that’s fine.
The Faraway Paladin Manga Reading Order: Start With Volume 1 and Read Straight Through
Here’s the short version: start at Volume 1 and read in numbered order. That’s the entire reading order.
The Faraway Paladin manga is based on a light novel — a type of short Japanese novel, often with illustrations — written by Yanagino Kanata (柳野かなた), with art by Okubashi Mutsumi (奥橋睦) and character designs by Wa Kususaga (輪くすさが). The manga has been published chapter by chapter in Comic Gardo (later Comic Gardo+), a digital manga magazine from Overlap in Japan.
As of now, the manga is ongoing with 15 volumes released in Japan. The English edition covers 13 of those 15 volumes, published in an omnibus format — meaning multiple Japanese volumes are bundled together into each English book. That means fewer books to buy and a quicker path to catching up.
There are no companion manga, no side stories, and no anthology volumes to worry about. If you’re used to franchises where you need a flowchart to figure out the reading order, this will feel refreshingly simple.
English Editions Compared — Omnibus vs. Digital Singles
Understanding how the English releases are structured will save you some confusion at checkout, so let’s break it down.
How the Omnibus Format Works
An “omnibus” edition collects multiple standard-sized volumes into a single, larger book. The English manga for The Faraway Paladin is released this way, with each omnibus bundling several Japanese volumes together. This is great for readers who want to move through the story quickly — you get more pages per book and fewer individual purchases.
The most recent English release is Omnibus 6, which covers Japanese volumes 11 through 13. That means the English edition currently sits at 13 of the 15 Japanese volumes. The remaining two individual Japanese volumes haven’t been collected into an English omnibus yet — this kind of gap between the original Japanese publication and the translated English version is normal for ongoing manga.
Omnibus vs. Digital
If you’re buying digitally through storefronts like Amazon’s Kindle store or Bookwalker, you may see individual volumes listed separately in addition to the omnibus collections. The content is the same — the omnibus editions simply bundle what would be separate volumes into one package.
For most readers starting fresh, the omnibus format is the better choice. You’ll move through the story faster with fewer purchases. Digital single volumes make more sense if you only want to sample a specific part of the series or prefer buying one volume at a time.
| Format | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Omnibus (print or digital) | Multiple Japanese volumes per book | Recommended for most readers — fewer purchases, faster reading |
| Digital singles | One Japanese volume per purchase | Sampling the series or buying volume by volume |
Either way, you’re reading the same manga in the same order. The omnibus just packages it differently.
Complete Manga Reading Order With Story Arcs
Here’s the reading order broken down by story arcs — meaning the major storylines that make up the series, each with its own beginning, middle, and climax. The Faraway Paladin follows Will, a boy reincarnated into a fantasy world who is raised by three undead guardians in an ancient, ruined city. The story is structured around his growth from sheltered child to traveling paladin — a holy warrior devoted to a deity — and the arcs flow naturally from one to the next.
Arc 1 — The Boy in the City of the Dead (Volumes 1–3)
This is where everything begins. Will grows up in the City of the Dead, raised by three undead caretakers: Blood (a skeleton warrior), Mary (a mummified priestess), and Gus (a spectral sorcerer). These early volumes establish the emotional core of the entire series. Will learns combat, magic, and faith from his guardians — and slowly begins to uncover the tragic truth behind their existence.
This opening arc is slower and more introspective than what you might expect from the premise. The payoff is emotional rather than action-driven — and it’s genuinely moving. Give it time to breathe.
Arc 2 — Leaving the City of the Dead (Volumes 4–5)
After the events of the first arc, Will ventures out into the wider world for the first time. These volumes deal with his earliest encounters with civilization, other people, and the reality of life outside the ruins he grew up in. It’s a transitional arc, but it deepens Will’s character and sets up the conflicts to come.
Arc 3 — The Beast Woods and Beyond (Volumes 6–8)
The world expands significantly here. Will takes on responsibilities as a paladin and faces threats that test both his combat skills and his moral convictions. The Beast Woods arc introduces new characters and communities, and the stakes start to escalate. This is where the series really opens up into a broader fantasy story.
Later Arcs (Volumes 9–13+)
From here, the story continues to build as Will confronts larger threats and grapples with questions of duty, faith, and what it means to protect others. The manga is ongoing, so these arcs are still unfolding. Without spoiling specifics, the tension and scope continue to grow — Will’s journey is far from over.
Quick-Reference: The Faraway Paladin Manga Reading Order
For easy reference, here’s the straight-line reading order:
- Volume 1 → Volume 2 → Volume 3 (City of the Dead arc)
- Volume 4 → Volume 5 (Leaving the city, early adventures)
- Volume 6 → Volume 7 → Volume 8 (Beast Woods arc)
- Volume 9 → Volume 10 → Volume 11 → Volume 12 → Volume 13 (ongoing arcs)
- Volumes 14–15 (Japanese only as of now)
No detours, no optional reading. Just follow the numbers.
Where the Anime Fits In
The Faraway Paladin has an anime adaptation — an animated TV series based on the same story — with two seasons. If you’ve already watched the anime and want to know where to pick up the manga, here’s what you need to know.
What Each Season Covers
Season 1 adapts the City of the Dead arc — the early manga volumes where Will grows up with Blood, Mary, and Gus. This covers the emotional foundation of the story.
Season 2 adapts the Lord of the Rust Mountains arc, which takes place after Will has left the city and begun his journey as a paladin.
Should You Start From Volume 1 Even After the Anime?
Yes — strongly recommended. The manga includes material and detail that the anime condensed or rearranged. Character moments, the way the world is gradually revealed, and Will’s inner thoughts are more fully realized on the page. Starting from Volume 1 isn’t a chore — it’s a richer version of what you’ve already seen.
That said, if you want to skip ahead after Season 2, the Lord of the Rust Mountains arc wraps up around Volume 8. You could start at Volume 9 to pick up where the anime leaves off. Just know that you’ll miss details the manga handles with more care, and since the omnibus format lets you cover ground quickly, starting from the beginning is the more rewarding approach.
What New Readers Should Know
This Isn’t Your Typical Isekai Action Story
The Faraway Paladin has the basic isekai setup — a protagonist reborn into a fantasy world — but the execution is very different from most series in the genre. This is a slow, character-driven story with a strong emphasis on faith, duty, and personal growth. Will isn’t overpowered. He struggles, he doubts, and he earns his strength through effort and conviction.
If you prefer manga where the main character breezes through every challenge with overwhelming abilities, this might feel too quiet for you. But if you’re looking for something with emotional weight and genuine attention to its world — something closer to a traditional fantasy novel in tone — this is a fantastic pick.
The Tone Is Contemplative and Faith-Themed
Religion and spirituality play a meaningful role in the story. Will becomes a paladin devoted to Gracefeel, the Goddess of Light, who guides souls through the cycle of rebirth. The series treats faith seriously as a character motivation rather than as a game mechanic or decoration. This gives the story a distinctive feel that sets it apart from other fantasy manga.
The Omnibus Format Keeps It Accessible
Because the English edition is released in omnibus volumes, the barrier to entry is low. You don’t need to buy 13 separate books — the omnibus format gets you through the story in fewer purchases. It’s one of the most accessible ways to start a longer manga series.
Start Here — The Best Way to Read The Faraway Paladin Today
If you’re ready to start reading, here’s the simplest path:
Pick up the English omnibus editions starting from Omnibus 1 and read in order. The omnibus format collects multiple Japanese volumes per book, so you’ll move through the story efficiently. Omnibus 6 — the latest English release, covering volumes 11 through 13 — brings you close to caught up with the Japanese release.
The Faraway Paladin
Here’s your complete reading order one more time:
- Omnibus 1 → Omnibus 2 → Omnibus 3 → Omnibus 4 → Omnibus 5 → Omnibus 6 (volumes 11–13)
- Series is ongoing — more volumes are coming in both Japanese and English
That’s it. No branching paths, no required side reading, no complicated watch-then-read order. Just one linear story about a boy raised by the undead who becomes a holy warrior — told with more heart and thoughtfulness than you’d expect from the premise.
Start from the beginning. You’ll be glad you did.