Before the Tutorial Starts: A Few Things I Can Do to Keep the Bosses Alive, Vol. 1 brings a refreshing and creative spin to the isekai genre. Instead of waking up as a mighty warrior or destined hero, the protagonist finds himself in the shoes of a low-level tutorial boss from Spirit Wars: Dungeon Magia, the very RPG he’s obsessed with. Known only for his weak abilities and comical catchphrase, his role in the game is fleeting. But armed with insider knowledge of the entire game world, he makes it his mission to rewrite the script—starting with his own fate.
When he learns that his cherished sister is destined to die within the game’s narrative, the stakes become deeply personal. With a vow to defy every tragic twist and unfair death baked into the storyline, he sets out to meet and save some of the game’s most powerful—and doomed—bosses. Rather than defeating them, he aims to protect them, using his knowledge of the game’s systems and secrets to alter their fates.
What really sets this novel apart is how it weaves humor, strategy, and emotion into a smartly constructed narrative. The protagonist’s role as a minor boss adds a self-aware tone, while his interactions with other characters highlight the deeper complexities of each so-called villain. This isn’t just a tale of power-ups and battles; it’s a thoughtful exploration of fate, empathy, and what it means to resist a story already written.
The pacing of the novel is quick and engaging, with each chapter offering new insights or unexpected turns. There’s an intellectual element in how the protagonist plans his moves—not through brute strength, but through clever thinking and heartfelt decisions. Readers who love game-inspired fantasy with strategic twists will find the world of Spirit Wars both entertaining and surprisingly touching.
I really enjoyed this book. Kotatsu Takahashi’s narrative blends clever world-building with emotional storytelling, while Kakao Lanthanum’s illustrations add flair to the experience. Before the Tutorial Starts: A Few Things I Can Do to Keep the Bosses Alive, Vol. 1 isn’t just another isekai—it’s a story about rewriting fate from the inside out. It hooked me from the first chapter, and I can’t wait to see how the protagonist’s journey unfolds in the volumes to come.
