Chivalry of a Failed Knight Manga: Story, Chapters, and Where to Read

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The Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga is the comic adaptation of Riku Misora’s hit light novel series Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, illustrated by Megumu Soramichi and serialized by Square Enix. It follows Ikki Kurogane, a magic-knight student branded a “Worst One” failure, as he battles, trains, and falls for the fiery princess Stella Vermillion at Hagun Academy. The manga faithfully expands the novel’s action-romance with detailed fight choreography and character art.

If you discovered the series through its 2015 anime and want more, the manga is the natural next step. Below you’ll find a clear breakdown of the story, who created it, how many chapters exist, how it stacks up against the light novel and anime, and the best ways to read it in English.

Table of Contents

What Is the Chivalry of a Failed Knight Manga About?

The Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga is a magic-school action-romance about Ikki Kurogane, a low-ranked “Blazer” (a knight who can materialize a soul-weapon called a Device) dismissed as the “Worst One.” Through relentless skill and strategy, he proves raw talent isn’t everything, partnering with elite princess Stella Vermillion to climb the ranks at Hagun Academy.

The premise sits squarely in the popular magic high school genre, alongside titles like The Irregular at Magic High School. What sets it apart is its focus: rather than an overpowered protagonist who wins effortlessly, Ikki is technically the weakest student by raw output, forced to outthink and out-discipline opponents who vastly outclass his magic capacity. The central tournament structure — the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival — gives the story a steady spine of high-stakes duels.

Romance is the other engine. The relationship between Ikki and Stella develops far more directly and earnestly than the will-they-won’t-they norm of the genre, which is a big part of why fans embraced both the novels and the manga.

Who Created the Chivalry of a Failed Knight Manga?

The original story was written by Riku Misora, who launched the Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry light novels in 2013 under SB Creative’s GA Bunko imprint, with illustrations by the artist Won12 (also credited as Won). The manga adaptation is drawn by Megumu Soramichi, who translated the prose into serialized comic form.

A few quick credits that clarify who did what:

  • Original creator (light novel): Riku Misora
  • Light novel illustrator: Won12
  • Manga artist: Megumu Soramichi
  • Magazine: Monthly Shonen Gangan
  • Publisher: Square Enix

The manga ran in Monthly Shonen Gangan, Square Enix’s long-running shonen magazine that has also serialized titles like Fullmetal Alchemist and Soul Eater. Keeping the original author’s plot intact, Soramichi’s adaptation emphasizes the duels and the Ikki–Stella dynamic with clean, expressive paneling.

Is the Manga Based on a Light Novel?

Yes. The Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga is an adaptation of Riku Misora’s light novel series, not an original work. The light novel — titled Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry in Japanese — is the source material, and it ran for 18 main volumes, concluding the core story.

This matters for readers deciding where to invest time. The light novel is the most complete version of the narrative, carrying Ikki and Stella’s arc all the way to its intended ending. The manga, like most light-novel comic adaptations, covers the early-to-middle portions of that story in expanded visual detail but does not reach the full length of the novels. If you want every plot beat through the finale, the light novel is the canonical, complete route; the manga is the best choice if you prefer the action rendered as art.

Because there are three versions — light novel, manga, and anime — newcomers often ask which to start with. The honest answer depends on taste: novels for the full story, manga for the artwork and pacing, anime for the most accessible entry point.

How Does the Manga Compare to the Anime?

The 2015 anime adaptation, produced by studios Silver Link and Nexus, covered roughly the first several light-novel volumes across a single 12-episode season. It ended on a high romantic note but left the larger story unfinished, and no second season has followed — which is exactly why so many fans turn to the source material.

Here’s how the formats differ in practice:

  • Anime: Most accessible, full color and sound, but only adapts the opening arcs and stops early.
  • Manga: Goes at its own pace with detailed fight art; a strong continuation point past the anime, though it also doesn’t reach the novel’s ending.
  • Light novel: The only version that tells the complete story to its conclusion.

For someone who finished the anime and wants “what happens next,” the manga is a satisfying bridge — the duels look fantastic on the page — but readers chasing the absolute ending should plan to finish with the novels.

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If you’d rather read the chivalry of a failed knight manga in English, SnowMTL offers AI-powered manga translation at snowmtl.org, so you can follow Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry chapters without waiting on slow official localization.

Where to Read the Chivalry of a Failed Knight Manga

To read the chivalry of a failed knight manga legally, check licensed digital storefronts and library platforms that carry Square Enix titles, since availability varies by region and shifts over time. Official light-novel volumes have also been released in English, making the source material easy to find for readers who want the complete story.

A practical reading plan:

  • Start with the anime if you’re brand new — it’s the fastest way to know if the premise clicks.
  • Move to the manga for the artwork and to continue past the anime’s stopping point.
  • Finish with the light novel for the canonical ending Misora wrote.

Always favor official and licensed sources where they exist, both for translation quality and to support the creators. For chapters that haven’t been officially localized, AI-assisted reading tools can help you keep up.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Chivalry of a Failed Knight Manga

What is the Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga about? It follows Ikki Kurogane, a magic knight branded the “Worst One,” as he uses skill and strategy to overcome stronger opponents at Hagun Academy while building a romance with princess Stella Vermillion. It is an action-romance set in a magic high school world.

Who wrote the Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga? The original story is by light-novel author Riku Misora, with light-novel illustrations by Won12. The manga adaptation is illustrated by Megumu Soramichi and was serialized by Square Enix in Monthly Shonen Gangan.

Is the Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga based on a light novel? Yes. It adapts Riku Misora’s light novel series Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, which ran for 18 volumes. The light novel is the complete source story, while the manga is a visual adaptation of it.

Does the manga continue past where the anime ends? Generally yes. The 2015 anime by Silver Link and Nexus only adapted the early arcs in 12 episodes, so the manga and especially the light novel continue the story well beyond the anime’s stopping point.

Where can I read the Chivalry of a Failed Knight manga in English? Look for licensed digital storefronts and library services that carry Square Enix manga, as availability varies by region. The English light-novel releases are also a reliable way to access the full story.

Conclusion

The chivalry of a failed knight manga is a faithful, art-forward adaptation of Riku Misora’s Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, illustrated by Megumu Soramichi and built around Ikki Kurogane’s underdog rise and his romance with Stella Vermillion. If you loved the anime, the manga is the natural next step — though the light novel remains the only version that reaches the full ending. Want more in the genre? See our guide to the best magic school anime. Bookmark this page — we update it as new release and licensing news drops.

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