The
WEBTOON platform announced
last Monday, May 6 , that it has added to its catalog the
manga adaptation of the light novel From Old Country Bumpkin to Master
Swordsman ( Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei ni Naru ),
written by Shigeru Sagazaki and illustrated by Kazuki
Satō . This version is presented in vertical format and in
full color , a distinctive feature of the platform.
A story
of overcoming and swords
The manga
follows the life of Beryl Gardenant , a middle-aged swordsman
who has spent his life teaching basic combat techniques in a modest country
dojo. However, his quiet day-to-day life takes an unexpected turn when his
former student Allucia —now a powerful military
commander—forces him to become a special instructor for the kingdom's
strongest knightly order .
Although
Beryl never thought she had exceptional talent, she will face the challenge of
unleashing her true potential, even at a later stage of life.
A
success that continues to expand
The
original story was first published in Shōsetsuka ni Narō in November
2020 . Square Enix subsequently published the first physical
volume of the light novel in April 2021 , with illustrations
by Tetsuhiro Nabeshima . To date, the publisher has
released nine volumes , the most recent being on March
27 .
The manga
adaptation began serialization in Akita Shoten 's Dokodemo
Young Champion magazine in August 2021 , and has an
English version licensed by Yen Press .
Spin-off
and anime currently airing
The
franchise also has a spin-off manga titled Katainaka no Ossan, Kensei
ni Naru Gaiden: Ryūsōken no Kiseki , which focuses on the
adventurer Surena Lysandra and her journey to become a Black-ranked
Combatant. The manga began serialization in Square Enix's Young
Gangan magazine on February 7 , with art
by Sasami Hazama and composition by Zenji Yotsuya .
Additionally,
the light novel series currently has an anime adaptation ,
which premiered on April 5, 2025, within TV Asahi 's IMAnimation block and
its 24 affiliated channel network. It can also be seen on BS Asahi and
is available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide .
With this
new addition to WEBTOON, fans of vertical manga and comeback stories can enjoy
a work that combines action, nostalgia, and personal development.
