How a Grand Prize winner became a multi-media fantasy franchise
In short: In 2021, Tōru Shirogane’s light novel took home the 28th Dengeki Novel Prize. Since then, this story of a deceptively powerful adventurer has expanded from a single book into a manga series and a forthcoming anime production.
The series, titled 'The Kept Man of the Princess Knight' (Himekishi-sama no Himo), follows the journey of Princess Knight Arwin. Seeking to restore her kingdom, she leads raids into dungeons filled with monsters and treasure. Joining her is Matthew, a former adventurer whose true abilities far exceed the princess's expectations, despite his reputation as a coward and a drunkard. The protagonist's party includes Matthew, an individual who is often misperceived by others as a mere drunkard. His actual skills are far more impressive than anyone could have imagined.
The franchise's growth began with its publication under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint on February 10, 2022. The popularity of the original light novel, which saw seven volumes released by July 2026, paved the way for various adaptations. Yen Press has secured the rights for English publication of both the light novel and the manga adaptation. The original work achieved significant success by winning the Grand Prize at the 28th Dengeki Novel Prize. This accolade helped establish the series' strong foundation within the industry.
The manga adaptation, illustrated by Keyyang, ran on Kadokawa's ComicWalker website from September 9, 2022, to December 2024. Looking toward the future, an anime television series produced by Blade is scheduled to premiere in January 2027, featuring music by Taku Iwasaki. The manga's chapters were eventually compiled into three tankōbon volumes by ASCII Media Works. Additionally, the upcoming anime production will feature character designs by Hisao Ishii.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Kept Man of the Princess Knight
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