- Source: I Shall Survive Using Potions!
I Shall Survive Using Potions! (Japanese: ポーション頼みで生き延びます！, Hepburn: Pōshon-danomi de Ikinobimasu!) is a Japanese light novel series written by FUNA. The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website, before being published in print with illustrations by Sukima by Kodansha beginning in June 2017. As of December 2023, ten volumes have been released. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Hibiki Kokonoe, was serialized on the Niconico-based Suiyōbi no Sirius platform in June 2017 to November 2021, with its individual chapters collected into nine volumes. A sequel manga, illustrated by Futsū Onshin, began serialization on the same platform in August 2022. As of November 2023, the manga's individual chapters have been collected into two volumes. An anime television series produced by Jumondou, aired from October to December 2023.
Premise
Kaoru Nagase dies due to a dimensional energy rift between worlds, though the God of her world saves her soul and mind; giving her a new life in Reverie, a world under goddess Celestine's jurisdiction. Kaoru asks for the power to create potions and other skills; though she most notably asks for Celestine's friendship, to avoid loneliness.
Characters
Kaoru Nagase (長瀬 香, Nagase Kaoru) / Kaoru (カオル)
Voiced by: Rin Kusumi (Japanese); Katie Wetch (English)
Kaoru died young and was offered the chance to be reborn with a special power; having chosen to create potions along with an item box that can hold an infinite amount of objects. She asks to befriend the Goddess of her new world, Celestine, unintentionally becoming an ageless immortal; due to asking to be friends "for life". Her greatest desire is to fall in love with an average man and spread out her descendants in the world. She is a skilled tactician and deceiver, using skilled planning to outsmart her opponents. Due to her friendship with Celestine, many believe she is a goddess or an angel who works with her.
Kaoru ends up causing major uproar in the world by voicing her opinion on nobility and the rich, and how their lives are a shame; it is mostly because she doesn't want to be used for personal gain or greedy desires.
Francette (フランセット, Furansetto)
Voiced by: Tomoyo Takayanagi (Japanese); Marianne Bray (English)
Also known by her nickname Fran. A knight in originally her 30s; she was de-aged to her teen years thanks to a potion Kaoru gave her, having felt sorry Fran gave up her youth for knighthood. After being saved by death by Kaoru, she starts displaying a blood knight viciousness in battle. Since then, she has been obsessed with protecting Kaoru at all costs.
Emil (エミール, Emīru)
Voiced by: Moeka Koizumi
Emil is the first orphan Kaoru met. She helped his group out and now Emil travels with her as one of Kaoru's bodyguards.
Belle (ベル, Beru)
Voiced by: Haruki Iwata
Belle is one of Kaoru's bodyguards. She is also dating Emil.
Reyette (レイエット, Reietto)
Voiced by: Natsuki Kitagawa
An orphan Kaoru helped save from kidnappers. Having no family due to her parents willingly selling her off, she became Kaoru's foster sister.
Celestine (セレスティーヌ, Seresutīnu)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama (Japanese); Monét Lerner (English)
Celestine is the Goddess of Kaoru's current world, and admirer of Earth's God. She also goes by her nickname: Celes. Celestine has some troubles of her own. A "holy" nation founded itself under the delusion she blessed them; when the founders actually just bothered her, while she was fixing reality. She usually drops wooden buckets on Kaoru when she accidentally insults her.
Roland (ロランド, Rorando)
Voiced by: Taito Ban
The prince of Balmore Kingdom. He is Francette's fiancée and Serge's brother. Originally, he was meant for the throne but his arm was rendered ineligible thanks to it being rendered lame. It was healed thanks to Kaoru, but he decided against taking the throne as he saw what a headache it is.
Serge
The king of the royal capital and Roland's brother.
Fernand (フェルナン, Ferunan)
Voiced by: Ryuichi Kijima
The prince of Brancott Kingdom. He originally met Kaoru when she gave advice out at the restaurant she waitresses at. Fernand fell in love with Kaoru for her brilliance, wishing to marry her; not even taking into consideration her opinion. Kaoru bluntly tells him that she detests the idea of being a high ranking noble, let alone royalty, and ran away. Unable to take the hint, Fernand remains obsessed with finding and marrying her, wasting his life. However, he is also tricked into thinking that Kaoru had a twin sister.
Allan (アラン, Aran)
Voiced by: Takeo Ōtsuka
Fernand's childhood friend. He and Fabio are exasperated with the prince for taking them on a wild goose chase.
Fabio (ファビオ)
Voiced by: Masaya Wada
Fernand's childhood friend. He and Allan were able to understand Kaoru's wishes; however, they can't stop Fernand due to his status.
Administrator of Earth (地球の管理者, Chikyū no Kanrisha)
Voiced by: Takuya Satō (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (English)
Also known as the God of Earth. He is well known among the administrators for being good at his job. Celeste is known to desire his praise for a job well done. It was he who accidentally killed Kaoru and as an apology, he allowed her to be revived in Celes' world.
Renie
A greedy baron who tried to use Kaoru's potions for his own gain, but she escaped and stole some of his possessions. He sent men after her, but they double-cross him and allow her to escape as they are good friends with Kaoru.
Gilda
The owner of a hunter's guild.
Hannah
A maid who works for Renie. Kaoru stole her clothes and impersonated her to escape Renie's clutches. It is later revealed that she had a bright future afterwards thanks to Kaoru.
Hector and Eunice
Count Adan's children. They met Kaoru along with Fran and she helped them by giving them a healing potion for their sick grandmother.
Count Adan
Hector and Eunice's father.
Charles
A young boy who gave Kaoru a ride to the royal capital. He is Bowman's son.
Bowman
Charles's father, who gave Kaoru a ride to the royal capital.
Eme and Agathe
Two young waitresses whom Kaoru befriends.
Alemen
A viscount who was sent by Fernand to deliver an invitation and a package to Kaoru to make her come to a party at the castle, but she gets him in trouble when she tricks Fernand into thinking Alemen made a mistake with the delivery.
Johan Abilly
A company owner and Amelie's father.
Amelie
Johan's daughter. She underwent a terrible illness, but Kaoru helped to cure her.
Lolotte
An orphan girl and one of Emil and Belle's friends. She currently works at the Meyer Workshop. Asil has feelings for her.
Lucy
An orphan girl and one of Emil and Belle's friends. She now runs the house that the other orphan kids are living in.
Asil
Leotar's son. He requested Kaoru to help pretend to be his fiancée as he did not want to be married just yet. He has feelings for Lolotte.
Cedric
Asil's older brother and Leotar's eldest son.
Leotar
A viscount and Asil and Cedric's father.
Calvin
Cedric's servant. He originally had a disabled leg, but Kaoru helped healed him.
Ed
A horse who served as Kaoru's means of transportation after she healed his leg. Kaoru can understand him and she usually calls him "Silver".
Literisa and Salle
Two girls who were captured by kidnappers along with Reyette and Kaoru. After Kaoru defeats the kidnappers, they were reunited with their mothers.
Gum
An orphan boy who works for Kaoru after she opens a drugstore.
Mal and Mol
Two of Gum's friends. They also work for Kaoru after she opened a drugstore.
Olam
A greedy count who tried to take Kaoru's drugstore for his own, but she outfoxes him and he is forced to leave her alone.
Sevos von Larsrick
A lord who asked Kaoru to help find treasure hidden in his mansion.
Vonsas
A colonial who once aided Kaoru with stopping a epidemic.
Kyoko and Reiko
Two of Kaoru's friends in her old life. Upon learning of Kaoru's accidental death, they spoke to her spirit and accepted her new life in Verny.
Media
= Light novel
=Written by FUNA, the series began serialization on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on November 3, 2015. The series was later acquired by Kodansha, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by Sukima on June 1, 2017. As of December 2023, ten volumes have been released.
In December 2018, J-Novel Club announced that they licensed the novels for English publication.
Volumes
= Manga
=A manga adaptation, illustrated by Hibiki Kokonoe, was serialized on the Niconico-based Suiyōbi no Sirius platform from June 7, 2017 to November 15, 2021. Kodansha published the individual chapters in nine tankōbon volumes. A sequel to the manga adaptation illustrated by Futsū Onshin, titled I Shall Survive Using Potions! Continuation, began serialization on the same platform on August 1, 2022. As of November 2023, the series' individual chapters have been collected into two tankōbon volumes.
In December 2018, J-Novel Club announced that they also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.
A spin-off manga also illustrated by Sukima, titled I Shall Survive Using Potions! Hanano and Lotte's Journey, also began serialization on Suiyōbi no Sirius on January 30, 2023. As of October 2023, the series' individual chapters have been collected into a single tankōbon volume.
Volumes
= First series =
= Second series =
Hanano and Lotte's Journey
= Anime
=An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 24, 2023. It is produced by Jumondou and directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi, with scripts written by Takayo Ikami, character designs handled by Chisato Kikunaga, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi. The series aired from October 8 to December 24, 2023, on the Animazing!!! programming block on all ANN affiliates, including ABC and TV Asahi, as well as other networks. The opening theme song is "Tailwind" by Katagiri, while the ending theme song is "Love Is a Potion" by Harmoe. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia.
Episodes
Reception
Volumes of the manga adaptation have ranked on various bestseller charts, such as those published by BookLive! and Oricon.
= Amazon removal
=In July 2020, the series' light novel and manga adaptation were among several series temporarily removed from Amazon; Amazon stated that the affected series "did not fall within their global content guidelines."
See also
Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?!, another light novel series by FUNA
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement, another light novel series by FUNA
Notes
References
External links
Official web novel website at Shōsetsuka ni Narō (in Japanese)
Official anime website (in Japanese)
I Shall Survive Using Potions! (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia