The Great Cleric Manga — How Many Volumes and Where the Series Stands
Here’s what you need to know right away:
- Japanese volumes: 16 (ongoing)
- English volumes: 13 (ongoing)
- Latest English release: Volume 13, released April 21, 2026
- Series status: Still running — not finished
The Great Cleric (聖者無双 — the Japanese title) is a manga adaptation of the light novel by Broccoli Lion (ブロッコリーライオン), with art by 秋風緋色 and character designs by sime. A light novel, for those unfamiliar, is a short Japanese novel — typically aimed at young adults — that often serves as the original source material for manga and anime adaptations. The manga is published in Japan by Kodansha under the Sirius KC imprint (a branded label within the publisher), and the first Japanese volume came out back in June 2017. The series has been running for nearly a decade now, which gives you a sense of how much story there is to work through.
The English edition is published by Kodansha and currently sits at 13 volumes, meaning there are still a few Japanese volumes waiting to be translated. If you’re the type who likes to know there’s more content on the horizon, that’s good news.
The premise is refreshingly different from the typical isekai (a Japanese genre where a character is transported or reincarnated into another world) power fantasy. Luciel, the protagonist, is a salaryman — a Japanese office worker — who dies and gets reincarnated into a fantasy world. Instead of picking the most overpowered combat class he can find, he chooses to become a healer, a role that most people in this world look down on. What follows is a story about grinding through an undervalued profession, earning respect the hard way, and discovering that support roles — characters who buff, heal, and protect rather than deal damage — can be anything but boring.
It’s a slower burn than some other well-known isekai manga, and that’s part of its charm. If you’re looking for a series that’s more about personal growth and guild life than instant world domination, The Great Cleric delivers.
Story Arcs by Volume
One thing that helps when you’re deciding whether to commit to a 13-volume series is knowing what each stretch of the story actually covers. In manga, a “story arc” simply means a distinct phase of the plot with its own beginning, middle, and resolution. Here’s a general roadmap without major spoilers.
Early Volumes — Luciel’s Rebirth and Healer Training
The opening stretch of the manga covers Luciel’s arrival in the fantasy world and his decision to walk the healer’s path. This is where you’ll either fall in love with the series or realize it’s not your speed — and that’s okay.
Luciel joins the Healer’s Guild — an organization in the story’s world where healers train, take jobs, and build their careers — and immediately discovers why nobody wants to be a healer. The training is brutal, and the series leans into this with a mix of humor and genuine grit. A major running gag (and plot point) involves Substance X, an infamously vile recovery drink that Luciel forces himself to choke down as part of his training regimen. Think of the worst-tasting protein shake imaginable, then multiply it by a hundred. It’s played for laughs, but it also establishes something important about his character: this is a guy who will endure misery if it means getting stronger.
Eventually, Luciel branches out into the Adventurer’s Guild labyrinth — a structured underground area filled with monsters, essentially a gauntlet where characters fight their way through floors to gain experience and rewards. He’s still fundamentally a healer, which makes these early dungeon sequences interesting. He’s not mowing through enemies; he’s surviving them. The tension comes from watching someone fight from a genuine disadvantage.
These early volumes are the most everyday, low-stakes stretch of the series. The pacing is deliberate. You’re watching someone study, train, and slowly build a foundation. If you enjoy training-focused stretches in manga — the kind where the satisfaction comes from incremental progress — this is genuinely rewarding stuff.
Middle Volumes — The Church and Holy Capital
Once Luciel establishes himself as a competent healer, the story shifts gears. His growing reputation catches the attention of the Church of Saint Shurule, and his world gets a lot bigger.
This is where The Great Cleric starts layering in political intrigue. The Church isn’t a simple, benevolent organization — there’s corruption, internal power struggles, and factions that don’t appreciate an outsider climbing the ranks. Luciel finds himself navigating institutional politics alongside his healing work, and the story benefits enormously from this added complexity.
The cast expands significantly through these volumes. Luciel picks up a diverse group of companions — fighters, magic users, and other characters who complement his skill set. The party dynamics add warmth and humor to the story, and the series does a good job of making each companion feel like more than just a background figure.
New regions open up as Luciel’s responsibilities grow, and the worldbuilding starts filling in the broader picture of how this fantasy setting actually works. You get a much better sense of the political structures, the role of guilds and churches in society, and why healing magic is both rare and politically loaded.
Later Volumes — Broader World and Escalating Threats
The most recent English volumes push the story into larger territory. Luciel’s challenges are no longer just about guild politics or Church infighting — the threats get bigger, the stakes get higher, and the world opens up considerably.
New nations, new power structures, and new antagonists enter the picture. The worldbuilding deepens as the story explores how different regions handle magic, religion, and governance. Luciel’s role shifts from “talented healer trying to survive” to something with significantly more weight and responsibility.
With 16 Japanese volumes and only 13 currently in English, there’s still a meaningful chunk of the story that hasn’t been translated yet. The manga is ongoing in Japan, which means the story continues to expand beyond what’s currently available to English readers. That’s exciting if you’re invested — there’s more to look forward to.
Where the Source Material Stands
The Great Cleric manga is an adaptation of the light novel series of the same name. As mentioned above, a light novel is a short-form Japanese novel, usually with occasional illustrations. It’s the original source for the story, and it generally runs ahead of the manga in terms of plot.
Here’s a quick comparison of the formats:
| Format | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manga (JP) | Ongoing | 16 volumes |
| Manga (EN) | Ongoing | 13 volumes |
| Light Novel | Original source | Available in JP and EN |
The manga follows the light novel’s story but condenses and adapts it for a visual medium. If you read the manga and want more detail, the light novels go deeper into worldbuilding, character thoughts, and side storylines. But the manga absolutely works as a standalone reading experience — you don’t need to touch the light novels to understand and enjoy the story.
An anime adaptation has also been produced. If you watched the anime and want to continue the story in manga form, you’ll find that the manga covers significantly more ground. The anime is a decent introduction to the setting and characters, but the manga is where the full depth of the story lives.
For readers trying to decide between formats: the manga is the most accessible entry point, especially if you’re new to the series. The art brings the healing magic and dungeon sequences to life in ways that text alone can’t fully capture, and the pacing is well-suited to the visual format.
Which Edition Should You Buy
Let’s talk practical details for actually getting these books.
Digital vs. Print
The English volumes of The Great Cleric are available in both digital and print formats. Volume 13, the most recent English release as of April 2026, is confirmed available digitally. Print editions are available for earlier volumes and are generally stocked by major retailers.
Manga volumes typically carry a list price in the range you’d expect for standard-format manga — comparable to other Kodansha titles on the shelf. Thirteen volumes is a meaningful investment over time, so it’s worth thinking about how you want to approach the collection.
Digital is the most convenient option — instant access, no shelf space required, and digital volumes go on sale regularly through platforms like Amazon’s Kindle store, BookWalker (a digital manga storefront), and other e-book retailers. If you’re not sure whether the series is for you, starting with a digital copy of Volume 1 is a low-commitment way to test the waters.
Print is great if you’re a collector or just prefer physical books. The Kodansha print editions are standard manga size and look good on a shelf. For a 13-volume series (and growing), you’ll want to make sure you have the shelf space before committing.
Where to Find Them
English volumes are widely available through Amazon, BookWalker (a digital manga platform), and other major manga retailers. Availability is generally good across all volumes, though older volumes occasionally go in and out of stock in print.
Volume 13, the latest English release, is a great pickup if you’re already caught up or if you want to see where the story currently stands in English.
The Great Cleric
A Note for Budget-Conscious Readers
Thirteen volumes is a meaningful investment. Here’s a practical approach: start with the first two or three volumes before committing to the full run. The early volumes are the most training-focused, and that pacing isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy Luciel’s slow grind through the Healer’s Guild and the humor around Substance X, you’ll almost certainly enjoy the rest of the series. If those early volumes feel too slow, the later stretches do pick up the pace — but it’s better to know your tolerance early.
Digital sales are common across various platforms, so keeping an eye out for manga promotions — especially during major seasonal sale events on Kindle, BookWalker, or Kobo — can help you build your collection at a lower cost. Many readers pick up a few volumes at a time during these events rather than buying the whole run at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many volumes of The Great Cleric are there?
As of April 2026, there are 16 volumes in Japanese and 13 volumes in English. The series is ongoing in both languages, so more volumes are on the way.
Is The Great Cleric manga finished?
No. The manga is still ongoing. New volumes continue to be published in Japan, and the English translation follows behind. There’s no announced end date for the series.
Is The Great Cleric an isekai?
Yes. Isekai is a Japanese genre where a character is transported or reborn into another world. The protagonist, Luciel, is a reincarnated office worker who wakes up in a fantasy world. It fits squarely within the isekai genre, though its focus on healing and support roles gives it a distinct flavor compared to most isekai series where the hero becomes immediately overpowered.
Do I need to read the light novel first?
Nope. The manga works perfectly well as a standalone reading experience. It adapts the light novel story in a way that doesn’t require any prior knowledge. If you enjoy the manga and want more depth, the light novels are there as a supplement — but they’re not required.
What volume should I start with if I watched the anime?
The anime covers the early portion of the manga’s story. If you watched the full anime adaptation, you can pick up the manga from around Volume 4 or 5, though many readers recommend starting from Volume 1 anyway. The manga includes details and scenes that the anime condenses or skips, and the art style adds a lot to the experience. Starting from the beginning doesn’t take long — the early volumes are quick reads.
When does the next English volume come out?
Volume 13 released on April 21, 2026. Release dates for future English volumes haven’t been confirmed in our sources, but Kodansha typically maintains a fairly regular release schedule for ongoing series. Keep an eye on retailer listings for Volume 14 announcements.
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The Great Cleric is one of those series that rewards patience. It’s not going to hand you an overpowered hero demolishing everything from the first chapter. What it gives you instead is a character who earns every bit of progress, surrounded by a world that feels lived-in and a story that keeps expanding in interesting directions. Thirteen English volumes in, with more on the way, and a clear path ahead — if the premise sounds like your kind of read, now is a great time to pick up Volume 1 and see for yourself.