is a Japanese light novel series written by Tsukikage and illustrated by Chyko. It began serialization as a web novel published on the user-generated novel publishing website ShÃ
Âsetsuka ni NarÃ
 in January 2018. It was later acquired by Micro Magazine who began publishing it under their GC Novels light novel imprint in August 2018. A manga adaptation illustrated by Rai Hebino began serialization on Kadokawa's ComicWalker manga website in April 2019. An anime television series adaptation produced by Zero-G aired in split-cours, with the first part aired from October to December 2024, and the second part aired from October to December 2025.
Characters
He is the male protagonist, age 20, and a Level 8 treasure hunter with a second moniker of "Thousand Tricks". His profession is still 'unknown'. He is the leader of the Grieving Souls party and the Clan Master (CM) and founder of the First Steps clan. He is famously known with 'absolute defense' that is immune to all attacks, and he has a Godlike foresight. Plus, he is notoriously known as a man who can finish a difficult mission with 100% completion rate.
According to series creator Tsukikage, Krai is weak for real. He is recorded with 3âÂÂ7 points in all the stats by Evolved Greed, and his rank is listed as '4' points in the Code scan.
Despite this, he is a treasure hunter who has an immunity against fear of death (because he got used to it) after the young Grievers survived their first encounter in the Lost Inn. He is immune in mana sickness, unlike his party members, because of his low aptitude. Plus, he is a maniac who loves to collect Relics whether they are defective or not. Some of his defective Relics are quite useful in high risk situations. Moreover, he is the treasure hunter who is famously known to resolve the issue in the "Cursed Incident", clear two Level 10 Treasure Vaults (Lost Inn & Source Temple) by defeating the Phantom Gods (Mother Fox and Keller), beat the Fox God for the second time to save the Emperor Radrick and his people, resolve the forestation of the Toizant, ignites a civil war in the Fox organization after the Supreme Martial Arts Tournament, explores the Yggdra (World Tree) and resolves the issue of the impending destruction of the world, and in the Level 9 Certification Exam, he single-handedly destroys his third difficult and high leveled treasure vault: an invincible flying-class fortress and monarch nation called "Code Fortress". The Code is considered the arch-enemy of the Explorers Association after they suffered two consecutive defeats a hundred years ago. Afterward, the Zebrudia Empire and the Explorers Association put him on discretionary suspension until the aftermath is resolved completely: they halt his hunting activities until further notice. This news makes him rejoice because this is what he is wishing to happen: retiring from the treasure hunting and do nothing. He also attempts to avoid several romantic advances from the girls in the cast - particularly Liz, Tino and Sitri - as he doesn't want to be in a relationship with anyone.
Furthermore, his role as the protagonist will be replaced by Lucia Rogier in Volume 13.
A Level 4 treasure hunter who has a crush on Krai; age 16. Her profession is 'Thief'. She is Liz's apprentice, but is beyond terrified of her. She prays three times a day in front of the clan house, and calling Krai Andrey as 'Master is God'.
Her second moniker is 'Stifled Shadow'; age 20. Level 6 Treasure Hunter. One of Krai's childhood friends and a member of the Grieving Souls, of which she is the 'Thief'. Though she is friendly and compassionate to her friends, and appears to be in love with Krai (much to his constant annoyance, as he does not reciprocate whatsoever), she is actually a beast and looks down on the others who doesn't exert their best in their treasure hunting. She loves to train Tino both emotionally and psychologically, leaving the girl permanently traumatized.
She is infamously known as a troublemaker in the group, along with Luke Sykol.
Liz's younger sister. Her second moniker is 'Deep Black', age 19. Her profession is 'Alchemist'. Level 2 Treasure Hunter. She is famously considered to be the strong weakling and the strongest command tower of the Grieving Souls, second to Krai Andrey. Like Liz and Tino, she appears to be in love with Krai, and she prepares a lot of secret hideouts to elope to with him, constantly annoying him beyond belief.
His second moniker is 'Thousand Swords', age 20. Level 6 Treasure Hunter. The 'Swordsman' of the Grieving Souls. He uses a wooden sword as his primary weapon, and is known as a troublemaker in the group, along with Liz Smart.
His second moniker is 'The Immutable'; age 21. Level 7 Treasure Hunter. His role is 'Paladin' of the Grieving Souls. He is the elder brother of Liz and Sitri Smart, and is the strongest healer of the Imperial Capital. Plus, he is considered as the conscience of the party due to his good reputation. Without him, the Grieving Souls would be considered as a 'red party' (criminals).
Her second moniker is 'Avatar of Creation'; age 19. Level 6 Treasure Hunter. The 'Magus' of the Grieving Souls. She is the famous Magus of the Imperial Capital and her school. She is the reason why Starlight party joins the First Steps. She is the 'step' sister of Krai Andrey, the non-blood-related younger sister who created a lot of unique magic based on Krai's childhood book that he had written for fun.
According to Tsukikage, she will replace her stepbrother, Krai Andrey, as the series' protagonist in Volume 13.
She is the Vice Clan Master (VCM) of the First Steps. She is famously known as the 'right hand' of Krai Andrey.
Level 3 Thief. She got promoted to level 4 after the White Wolf Den rescue mission.
Level 4 treasure hunter. He retires after the Auction incident, and he is currently working as a 'Rookie merchant'.
Level 4 treasure hunter. Former member of the Slapped party led by Tino Shade. He is currently working as the 'Swordman' of the Scorching Whirlwind party.
He is a level 7 Treasure Hunter, age 22. His moniker is 'Argent Thunderclap'. He is the leader of the Arc Brave. He is a descendant of the Hero Rodin. He considers Krai Andrey as friend despite he commented before that his existence is an enigma to him.
The Branch Manager of Imperial Capital Explorers Association. He is a former level 7 Treasure Hunter with a moniker, 'War Demon'. Uncle of Chloe Welter.
The Vice Branch Manager of Imperial Capital Explorers Association. She is the female character who registered the Grieving Souls in the Explorers Association.
She is the famous and cutesy receptionist of the Explorers Association Imperial Capital Branch, as well as the niece of Gark Welter. After her defeat in the combat test by Luke Sykol, she resigns as a treasure hunter. She idolizes Krai Andrey, so she decides to become a receptionist.
Intel
First Steps
It is considered as the newest and strongest clan of the continent. Due to the countless 'thousand trials' it has faced so far, the number of the official members declined and left the clan, leaving behind the elites who succeeded to survive the draconian program bestowed by Krai Andrey. It is founded by Krai Andrey (Grieving Souls), Ark Rodin (Arc Brave), Sven Anger (Obsidian Cross), Lapis Fulgor (Starlight), and Touka (Knight of the Torch).
The clan is composed of the elite parties and rivals of the Grieving Souls.
Grieving Souls (a.k.a "Strange Grief")
Founded by Krai Andrey and his five childhood friends. Registered by Kaina Noss in Explorers Association. It is also known as 'Grievers'. They are considered as the topnotch, elite class and the strongest party with all members with titular monikers in their profiles.
Arc Brave
Led by Ark Rodin. They are considered as the second strongest party in the First Steps.
Obsidian Cross
Led by Sven Anger. They are considered as the third strongest in the First Steps.
Starlight
Led by Lapis Fulgor. They are composed of Noble Spirits who resided in the human continent to live with them. Kriz Argent is famously known as a Noble Spirit member. They are recruited by Krai Andrey despite the negative opinions of Ark Rodin and Sven Anger because they are considered as the troublemakers. Krai Andrey wants to use them as a cover to cover up the atrocities of his two childhood friends Liz Smart and Luke Sykol, stating that 'hiding a tree inside the forest'.
Knight of the Torch
The number of members are 20, led by Touka. They are considered a mercenary party.
Explorers Associations (Association, in short)
It is the overseer of the treasure hunting world, ranking hunters by levels that are widely regarded as an indication of hunter's prowess. As a result, the hunters commonly included their level in introduction.
Terms
Clan
It is composed of several parties - groups of hunters who (usually) stuck together. It is also known as an overseer of organized group of different parties that joined under one banner. The structural design of the organization is always depended on the personal choice of what type of organization will envision by the clan master and its people.
Treasure Hunters
The most profitable career in the entire world of the series. Holds the most coveted of professions. They travel to ruins all over the world; treasure vaults that depicts lost civilization, to obtain the Relics.The job is perilous, but with enough talent, hunters could score power, fame, and wealth - the kinds of splendor only nobility or renowned merchants could hope to obtain.
Treasure Vaults
It is present in every corner of the world - and they contain relics loaded with amazing powers. These relics bring wealth, fame, and above all, power. The era belongs to treasure hunters, brave souls who plumb the depths of these vaults, risking danger for a shot at the glory found within.
Relics
The priceless item that hunters seek within the vaults. Just like the phantom beasts and the vaults themselves, these relics are remnants of past civilization drawn back into reality by the mana material. Among them are many extremely precious, powerful, and useful objects that modern civilization has long since forgotten how to replicate.
Red Party
The treasure hunters and bandit groups who are blacklisted as criminals.
Mana Materials
This is the power that is created by the world, it is a substance that is invisible to the eyes but exists everywhere. Treasure Hunters gain transcendal power by absorbing high concentration of Mana Material that fill the air in Treasure Vaults.
Race
Humans
They are the predominant race in the series. They have a short lifespan and average level of mana capacity unlike the Noble Spirits. The only exception to the rule is Lucia Rogier who receives a harsh training to increase her mana capacity higher than the Noble Spirits.
Noble Spirits
They are composed of beautiful human-like features with a sharp ear. They have a long lifespan and large mana capacity unlike human race.
Half-Spirits
They are born half-human and half-spirit. They are extremely rare and they are considered as a taboo by the Noble spirits.
Phantoms
They are powerful inhabitants that are born after the accumulated Mana Material within the vault. They are also called 'Illusions' because when they are exterminated, they disappear without a corpse. However, the exterminated phantoms sometimes drop an items like relics.
Monsters
They are natural creatures that could be found in the world. They are dangerous, ruthless, and barbaric inhabitants that are roaming freely in the world.
Media
Light novel
Written by Tsukikage, Let This Grieving Soul Retire began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website ShÃ
Âsetsuka ni NarÃ
 on January 27, 2018. It was later acquired by Micro Magazine who began releasing it with illustrations by Chyko under their GC Novels light novel imprint on August 30, 2018. Thirteen volumes have been released as of September 2025.
On November 6, 2020, Sol Press announced that they licensed light novels and released the first volume digitally on December 28 that same year. After Sol Press went defunct, J-Novel Club announced during their Anime Expo 2022 panel that they licensed the light novels.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Rai Hebino began serialization on Kadokawa's ComicWalker manga website on April 27, 2019. The manga adaptation's chapters have been collected by ASCII Media Works into twelve volumes as of November 2025.
On May 21, 2021, Yen Press announced that they licensed the manga adaptation.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 20, 2024. It is produced by Zero-G and directed by Masahiro Takata, with series composition by Hideki Shirane, YÃ
«suke Isouchi and Shingo Fujisaki designing the characters, and RyÃ
Âhei Sataka composing the music. The series aired in split-cours, with the first part aired from October 1 to December 24, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks. The opening theme song is , performed by Lezel, while the ending theme song is , performed by Pmaru-sama. Crunchyroll streamed the series. Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.
Following the airing of the final episode of the first part, a second part was announced, which aired from October 6 to December 15, 2025. The opening theme song is , performed by Kiyono Yasuno, while the ending theme song is , performed by Iris.
Episodes
Reception
The series was ranked tenth in 2024 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook in the category.
The series had over 1 million copies in circulation by June 2023.
Notes
References
External links