The Faraway Paladin Manga Volumes — How Many Are There?
As of the latest releases, The Faraway Paladin (最果てのパラディン) manga currently has 15 volumes in Japanese and 13 volumes’ worth of content available in English. The series is ongoing, so those numbers will keep climbing.
For readers new to manga terminology: the manga is an example of isekai — a Japanese genre where a character is transported or reborn into another world. The story was first published as chapters in a Japanese manga magazine (a process called serialization), then collected into book-sized editions called tankoubon — the standard single-volume format most manga readers buy.
The manga is drawn by Okubashi Mutsumi (奥橋睦), adapting the light novel — a short, illustrated Japanese novel format — written by Yanagino Kanata (柳野かなた). It’s been serialized in Japan through Comic Gardo (later renamed Comic Gardo+), which is the manga magazine where chapters first appear. The collected volumes are published by Overlap under their Gardo Comics label, which is the book-publishing arm of the same company. The first Japanese volume came out in March 2018, with volume 14 released in May 2025 and volume 15 following thereafter.
The English editions are collected into omnibus volumes — books that bundle multiple Japanese volumes into a single, larger release. For example, Omnibus 6 covers the content of Japanese Volumes 11 through 13. This means you’ll have fewer physical books on your shelf, but you’re getting the same story content. Because the English side packages multiple volumes per book, there are fewer English books to buy than the “13 volumes’ worth of content” number might suggest.
Since the series is still going, expect more volumes on both the Japanese and English sides. The English release is a few volumes behind Japan, which is standard for translated manga — but the gap has been closing steadily with each omnibus release.
Story Arcs and What Each Volume Covers
One thing that sets The Faraway Paladin apart from many other manga in the isekai genre is how clearly its story is divided into distinct arcs — self-contained story sections, each with a different setting, new characters, and fresh stakes. Here’s how the story breaks down.
The premise: a boy named Will is reincarnated into a ruined city populated only by the dead. In this world, “reincarnated” means a person from our modern world has died and been reborn as a baby in a fantasy setting — a common setup in isekai stories. Will is raised by three undead guardians — a skeleton warrior, a mummy priestess, and a ghost sorcerer — who teach him everything they know about combat, faith, and magic. From that unusual childhood, Will sets off into the wider world to live as a paladin, guided by his oath to the goddess Gracefeel.
A note on volume-to-arc mapping: The article below describes arcs by name rather than exact volume numbers because the boundaries don’t always fall cleanly on single-volume breaks. If you’re looking for a specific pickup point (especially after watching the anime), see the FAQ at the bottom for guidance.
Arc 1 — The Boy in the City of the Dead
The opening arc covers Will’s upbringing in the City of the Dead. You’ll meet his three guardians — Blood, Mary, and Gus — and learn why they’re bound to this ruined place. This arc is intensely personal and surprisingly emotional. It builds to a climax that defines Will’s character and sets the entire story in motion. If you read nothing else, this arc alone is worth your time. It’s self-contained enough that you can treat Volume 1 as a test drive for whether the series clicks with you.
Arc 2 — The Archer of Beast Woods
After leaving the City of the Dead, Will takes his first steps into the living world. The Beast Woods arc introduces the broader setting — other people, new threats, and the reality that being a paladin means more than swinging a sword. Will meets key allies here, and the tone shifts from introspective origin story to something more like a classic adventure.
Arc 3 — The Lord of the Rust Mountains
This is where the story’s scope expands dramatically. Will faces a dragon, encounters a fallen dwarven kingdom, and confronts threats that test everything he learned from his guardians. The Rust Mountains arc is the portion that was adapted in the anime’s second season, so if you watched that and want to continue in manga form, this is familiar territory — though the manga handles several scenes with more detail.
Arc 4 — The Torch Port Ensemble
The later volumes shift setting again, this time to a port city tangled in political intrigue. The Faraway Paladin has always been a series willing to change genres between arcs — from intimate character study to wilderness adventure to political drama — and Torch Port leans into the political and maritime side of things. It’s a refreshing change of pace that keeps the story from feeling repetitive.
Arc 5 — Current Arc
The most recent Japanese volumes are moving into a new arc that shifts the story’s setting and scale once again. Since the series is ongoing, this portion is still unfolding. English readers have a bit of catching up to do before they get here, but the omnibus releases have been working through the backlog at a reasonable pace.
Key Volumes to Start With
If you’re testing the waters, start with Volume 1. The City of the Dead arc works as a remarkably complete introduction. You’ll know within that first volume whether Will’s story resonates with you. The writing takes its isekai premise more seriously than you might expect — the “raised by undead” setup sounds gimmicky, but the execution is genuinely moving.
What keeps readers coming back is how each arc transition reinvents the series. Where many isekai manga settle into a pattern and repeat it, The Faraway Paladin keeps pushing its protagonist into unfamiliar situations that demand growth. That’s rare, and it’s a big part of why the series has maintained a loyal readership over the years.
Where the Light Novel and Anime Stand
The Faraway Paladin started life as a light novel by Yanagino Kanata, and the manga adapts that source material. If you’re wondering how these different versions relate — especially if you’re deciding which format to read — here’s what matters for manga buyers.
The anime aired across two seasons, covering roughly the first two major arcs. If you’ve already watched the anime and want to keep going, the manga continues well beyond what the anime adapted, so there’s plenty of new story waiting.
The manga vs. the light novel: Okubashi Mutsumi’s manga adaptation follows the light novel’s story closely, but it’s condensed. Some of the character’s private thoughts and world-building details from the novels are trimmed to keep the visual storytelling flowing. The trade-off is Okubashi’s detailed, atmospheric artwork — the City of the Dead in particular looks fantastic on the page, and the action sequences benefit from the visual medium in ways that prose can’t replicate. If you prefer a tighter, more visual experience, the manga is an excellent way to follow Will’s journey. If you want every last detail, the light novels are the most complete version.
Japanese vs. English Editions — Which Should You Buy?
This depends on your reading language and how you like your manga formatted. Here’s a quick breakdown.
| Feature | Japanese Tankoubon (single volumes) | English Omnibus (bundled volumes) |
|---|---|---|
| Content available | 15 volumes | 13 volumes’ worth of content (in fewer, thicker books) |
| Format | Individual volumes | Omnibus — multiple volumes per book |
| Publisher | Overlap (Gardo Comics) | J-Novel Club |
| Digital available | Yes | Yes |
| How current | Latest confirmed: Vol. 14, May 2025 (Vol. 15 also released) | A few volumes behind Japan |
Japanese Tankoubon Editions
If you read Japanese, you have access to all 15 volumes from Overlap’s Gardo Comics label. These are standard single-volume releases. The advantage is straightforward — you’re fully caught up with the latest chapters.
English Omnibus Editions
The English release collects multiple Japanese volumes into each omnibus. Omnibus 6, for instance, bundles Volumes 11 through 13. This format offers good value — you’re getting more story per book. The English edition is a few volumes behind the Japanese release, which is normal for licensed manga. The gap has been narrowing with each omnibus, and the release schedule suggests continued catch-up.
The English omnibus editions are available through major retailers and are a solid way to get into the series if you’re starting fresh. You’ll get a thick chunk of story in each book, and the omnibus format means fewer individual purchases to track.
The Faraway Paladin, Vol. 13
Digital vs. Physical
Both languages are available digitally. If shelf space is a concern or you want instant access, digital editions are a convenient option. Physical omnibus editions are hefty and look great on a bookshelf — the larger page count per book means you get more story without filling up an entire shelf row.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many volumes of The Faraway Paladin manga are there?
There are 15 volumes in Japanese and 13 volumes’ worth of content available in English, collected into omnibus editions (each omnibus bundles multiple Japanese volumes into one book, so you’ll buy fewer physical books than 13). The series is ongoing, so more volumes are expected.
Is The Faraway Paladin manga finished?
No — the series is ongoing. New volumes continue to release in both Japanese and English.
Who publishes The Faraway Paladin in English?
The English manga is published by J-Novel Club in omnibus format. The Japanese publisher is Overlap under their Gardo Comics label.
Is the manga different from the light novel?
The manga follows Yanagino Kanata’s light novel closely, but it’s condensed — a shorter retelling of the same story in visual form. Some of the character’s private thoughts and detailed world-building from the novels are trimmed to suit the comic format. The core story and character arcs remain intact, so you won’t miss major plot points by reading the manga instead.
Does the anime cover the whole manga?
No. The anime’s two seasons cover roughly the first two major arcs — the City of the Dead arc and the Beast Woods arc (season one) and the Rust Mountains arc (season two). The manga has progressed significantly beyond what the anime adapted, so there’s plenty of story waiting after the anime ends.
Where should I start reading if I watched the anime?
If you finished both anime seasons, you can pick up the manga from the volumes covering the Torch Port arc onward — that’s the arc that begins after the Rust Mountains material the anime covered. Exact volume-to-arc mappings can shift slightly depending on edition, so check the table of contents of the omnibus nearest to where the anime left off. That said, many readers recommend starting from Volume 1 anyway — the manga includes details and character moments that the anime condensed or skipped, and the City of the Dead arc in particular hits harder on the page.
Is The Faraway Paladin good for isekai beginners?
It’s an excellent choice. Isekai — the genre where a character is reborn or transported into another world — often features protagonists who are immediately powerful and face few real challenges. The Faraway Paladin takes a different approach: Will earns his strength through years of training, and the story focuses on themes of faith, purpose, and what it means to live a meaningful life. If you’re looking for a more grounded, character-driven take on the genre, this is a strong starting point.