Magus of the Library Volume 5
As we catch up with our main character, we find him and his classmates exploring various office options for their future careers. They spend half a day in each department, gaining insight into their roles and how their individual skills align with the work. Afterward, it’s back to class for a challenging test, which Theo struggles to complete within the given time.
To complicate matters, Theo has somehow become an enemy of his classmate, Aya Guunjoh. She believes he doesn’t belong in their class if he can’t keep up with the tests and requirements. Unlike Theo, Aya consistently excels in the tests, leading him to assume she must have a love for books. However, Aya denies this claim and becomes even more disgruntled with him.
What Theo doesn’t know is that Aya’s dream was to become a scholar and research the stars. However, due to the limitations placed on women as apprentice scholars, she found no viable path to pursue her passion. Becoming a Kafna, a librarian, is the closest she can get to satisfy her thirst for knowledge. This frustration fuels Aya’s resentment towards Theo, as she believes he doesn’t take things seriously and that his gender has granted him advantages that she will never have.
While Magus of the Library maintains a cheerful and uplifting tone, I appreciate that it doesn’t shy away from exploring such topics. It acknowledges that the world depicted in the story is unfair, with unequal opportunities for everyone to achieve their aspirations. Author Mitsu Izumi doesn’t sugarcoat these realities but balances them with the bright personality of our protagonist.
Given the substantial size of each volume, the series manages to avoid lingering on a single plot point for too long. Aya’s storyline fits seamlessly alongside Theo’s ongoing quest to improve in class and choose the right office for his future. We are treated to an in-depth exploration of different departments, such as restoration and cataloguing, providing glimpses into their inner workings and helping us understand which classmates may find their place there after their training.
This manga consistently excels in its attention to detail and pacing, knowing precisely when to advance the story without getting stuck on one particular plot point. While Theo may still be uncertain about his ultimate goal, the series shows no intention of spinning its wheels. By the end of this volume, the plot takes an intriguing new direction with the introduction of a late arrival to Theo’s class.
