The Fastest Way to Follow the Disillusioned Adventurers Manga Reading Order
Here’s the short version: this series has two main formats available in English — the light novel (the original story, written by Shinta Fuji) and a manga adaptation (illustrated by Masaki Kawakami, based on Fuji’s novels). Both are published in English by Yen Press, a publisher that specializes in translating Japanese manga and light novels for English-speaking readers.
| Format | Role | Where to Start |
|---|---|---|
| Light Novel | Original story | Volume 1 |
| Manga | Illustrated retelling based on the light novel | Volume 1 |
You can pick either format and enjoy the story perfectly well. If you want the fullest version of the story with the most character detail and background on the fictional world, the light novel is where it all began. If you prefer a visual experience and don’t mind that the manga covers less of the overall story than the light novel, the manga is a great entry point too.
The manga trails behind the light novel in terms of story progress — the light novel is further ahead in the narrative. This is typical for light-novel-to-manga adaptations (where a story is retold in a different format), so if you start with the manga and catch up, the light novel gives you more story to continue with.
There’s no wrong choice here. Pick the format you enjoy reading most and start at Volume 1.
What Each Part Covers and Why It Goes in That Spot
The Light Novel — Where the Story Begins
The light novel is the original version of the story. It follows Nick, an adventurer who’s been betrayed and cast out by his former party — a team of adventurers who work together to take on quests. Broke, bitter, and disillusioned, he stumbles into a group of fellow outcasts — each one burned by someone they trusted. A swindled sorcerer, a jilted priestess, a disgraced warrior — they’re all nursing wounds from betrayal.
What starts as a reluctant team-up between people who’ve lost faith in others gradually becomes something deeper. They take on quests together, rebuild their confidence, and discover that the betrayals they suffered may be connected to a larger, world-threatening conspiracy. The emotional core of the series is watching these broken people learn to trust again, even when everything in their past screams not to.
The light novel gives you the richest version of this story. You get the characters’ internal thoughts, detailed backstories for each member of the group, and background on the adventuring guild system (the organized structure through which adventurers find work and earn a living) and the political forces pulling strings behind the scenes — it’s all here in the most complete form.
The Manga — The Visual Retelling
The manga retells the light novel’s story in illustrated panel-by-panel form. It covers the same core story — Nick’s fall from grace, the formation of the new group, their growing bond, and the unfolding conspiracy — but as a visual medium, it naturally condenses some of the characters’ inner thoughts and background detail.
That said, the manga does a wonderful job translating the emotional moments into visual storytelling. The character expressions during the betrayal flashbacks and the quiet moments of camaraderie hit hard in panel form. If you’re someone who gravitates toward manga over written prose (regular paragraph text), you’ll have a great time here.
If you only want to read the manga, here’s your complete path:
- Manga Volume 1
- Manga Volume 2
- Manga Volume 3
- Manga Volume 4
- Manga Volume 5
- Manga Volume 6 (final volume)
The manga is complete at six volumes. It doesn’t cover the full light novel story, so once you’ve finished the manga, you can continue by switching to the light novel — picking up where the manga’s coverage ends to get the rest of the narrative.
The Anime — A Supplementary Entry Point
An anime (Japanese animated TV series) adaptation of Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World also exists and can serve as a nice introduction to the characters and premise. The anime aired in 2023 and is available on Crunchyroll. However, anime adaptations typically cover only a portion of the written story, so it’s not a replacement for reading the light novel or manga. Think of it as a taste — if you like what you see, the books have much more to offer.
If you watched the anime first, you can still start at Volume 1 of either the light novel or the manga. The early volumes will cover familiar ground, but you’ll pick up details and character depth that the anime condensed or cut to fit its episode count.
Where to Buy Each Volume in English
Yen Press publishes both the light novel and the manga in English, making them widely available through major retailers in both print and digital formats.
Getting Started with Volume 1
The simplest way to begin is to grab Volume 1 of your chosen format. For the light novel, the first volume sets up Nick’s backstory, introduces the core group members, and establishes the tone of the series — that blend of bitterness, dark humor, and slowly returning warmth. The link below is for Vol. 1 of the light novel:
Apparently, Disillusioned Adventurers Will Save the World, Vol. 1 (light novel)
Digital editions are available through platforms like BookWalker (a digital storefront specializing in manga and light novels), Kindle, Apple Books, and other major ebook retailers. Digital releases sometimes arrive slightly ahead of print editions. If you’re eager to start reading right away, digital might get books in your hands faster.
Print vs. Digital
Both options have their perks:
- Print gives you that physical shelf presence, and Yen Press’s light novel volumes are consistently well-produced. Nice to collect if you end up loving the series.
- Digital is convenient, often available sooner, and doesn’t require shelf space — a real consideration if you’re collecting multiple series.
There’s no reading-order difference between print and digital. The content is the same, so go with whatever you prefer.
A Note on Volume Numbering
The light novel and manga have separate volume numbering. Light Novel Volume 3 and Manga Volume 3 do not cover the same story content. Keep this in mind when buying — always check whether you’re looking at the light novel or the manga edition before adding to your cart.
Common Mistakes New Readers Make with This Series
Starting with the Manga and Missing Character Depth
The manga is genuinely good, but the light novel includes significantly more of what’s happening inside each character’s head — their private thoughts, doubts, and emotional reactions. Each group member’s betrayal backstory gets more room to breathe in written form, and those backstories are the emotional foundation of the whole series. If you only read the manga, you’ll enjoy the story, but you may miss some of the nuance that makes the characters’ growth so satisfying.
This isn’t a knock on the manga — it’s just the nature of retelling a written story in a visual format. If you start with the manga, consider going back to the light novel later to fill in those gaps.
Confusing Light Novel and Manga Volume Numbers
This trips up more people than you’d expect. Because both formats are numbered starting from Volume 1 and both have similar cover art (the image on the front of each book), it’s easy to accidentally buy Manga Volume 2 when you meant to get Light Novel Volume 2 (or vice versa). Always double-check the format label before purchasing. Yen Press labels them clearly, but it pays to look carefully, especially when browsing online where listings can blend together.
Skipping Early Volumes
The first couple of volumes might feel like setup — because they are. But that setup is doing critical work. Each character’s betrayal story isn’t just backstory for backstory’s sake; it establishes the emotional stakes for everything that follows. When these characters later choose to trust each other despite everything, that moment earns its weight because you watched them at their lowest.
Skipping to “where it gets good” means missing the foundation that makes the good parts land.
Assuming the Anime Covers Enough
If you watched the anime and enjoyed it, that’s a great sign — but the anime covers only a portion of the available story. Jumping into the light novel or manga at a later volume because you think the anime “already covered” the early material means you’ll miss details and character moments that the anime condensed or cut. Starting at Volume 1 is always the safest bet, and the re-covered ground goes quickly when you already know the broad strokes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the light novel before the manga?
Nope. You can start with either one. The light novel is the original story and has more depth, but the manga is a perfectly valid starting point. If you prefer manga, start there. If you prefer written novels, go with the light novel. You can always cross over to the other format later.
Is the manga a faithful retelling of the light novel?
The manga follows the light novel’s story closely. As with most adaptations, some internal thoughts and background detail gets trimmed to fit the visual format, but the core plot, the way each character grows and changes, and the major turning points are all represented. You won’t encounter a situation where the manga tells a completely different story.
How far ahead is the Japanese release compared to the English release?
Both series were originally published in Japanese before being translated into English by Yen Press. As of now, all volumes of both the light novel and the manga are available in English, so there is no gap between the Japanese and English editions to worry about. You can read the complete story in English right now.
Is the series complete or still ongoing?
Both the light novel and the manga are complete. The manga concluded in January 2023 with Volume 6, and all six volumes are available in English from Yen Press. The light novel also concluded in Japan in November 2023, with the final English volume (Volume 6) published in 2024. If you prefer to read completed series, this one is fully available — you can read the entire story from start to finish right now.
What order should I follow if I want to experience everything?
If you came here specifically for the manga, you can absolutely read only the manga from Volume 1 onward and have a complete, satisfying experience. But if you want to experience every version of this story:
- Manga Volume 1 onward — enjoy the visual version and the manga reading order you came here for
- Light Novel Volume 1 onward — read for the additional depth, character thoughts, and story content beyond what the manga covers
- Anime — watch as a fun supplement to revisit favorite scenes in animated form
There’s no requirement to consume all three. Pick your preferred format and enjoy.