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As the chapters go on, the story just flounders in a cycle of introducing new generations of people the protagonist grows to cherish, only for him to leave them behind and embark on yet another long journey, while time eventually erases the people he once cared about. But the journeys in which he abandons his loved ones feel completely unnecessary.

High Elf with a Long Life has a similar vibe to Frieren, where we experience life through the eyes of a being who barely ages. Both series share a fundamental message, where elves live much longer than humans, and a century can feel like a moment ... to them. Yet, they try not to forget the people they've met, even though those people die before they know it. Given how painful it is to watch everyone you care about age and die, it would be reasonable to stop forming bonds altogether. But both manga go the opposite route: they emphasize the importance of cherishing those fleeting connections.

However, there's a critical difference. Frieren sticks with a main cast of characters and develops them over time. High Elf with a Long Life, on the other hand, does the exact opposite. The characters you meet in the first few chapters are gone before you even realize it. As the MC travels, the people he meets are left behind, and their fates are largely unknown. What we’re left with are their descendants. The MC stays with them for a few years before setting off again to reunite with yet another old companion. You can see where this leads—a repeating cycle where every time he finds someone from his past, it's only their descendants who remain.

Chapter 42 really drives this home when the MC says, "After time goes on, the meaning of being the first disciple will fade away." It’s a hard truth to swallow, but a realistic one. Watching the characters we cared about in the beginning die off is painful. The manga’s message is strong, tackling the emotional toll of an elf’s lifespan—but ironically, that same message makes the manga harder to enjoy over time.

The memories the MC cherishes start to feel less significant as his life stretches on endlessly. The issue lies in the pacing and structure: decades pass as the MC drifts from one place to another, often on errands or personal goals, only to return and find the people he knew long dead. You start to feel like these things could have been accomplished faster, but because the story is framed through an elf’s perception of time, that disconnect is intentional. Elves lose track of time—what feels like a moment to them is a lifetime to humans. But that creates a repetitive pattern: meet people, form bonds, leave, return, and find them gone.

I have to bring up Frieren here, since it serves as a perfect contrast and shows how to do this kind of story well.

Frieren also follows an elf who lives far longer than her companions. At the beginning, we see her mourn those she's lost and regret not spending more time with them. This sets the emotional tone and seamlessly transitions into a new journey with a new, consistent main cast. Throughout the story, Frieren stays with her companions, choosing not to make the same mistake again. We watch their lives unfold while she remains ageless, but emotionally present. It’s a brilliant way to explore the theme of time and memory.

In contrast, High Elf with a Long Life never lets the MC settle. He’s always moving on, never sticking with the people he claims to love. It feels counterintuitive. He values knowledge and exploration, and while that’s a solid foundation for a story, the manga also wants us to care about the people he meets along the way. That combination makes for a depressing cycle: every character you like eventually vanishes from the story, off-screen. The MC mourns their passing—but if he truly cared about them, why does he keep leaving them behind?

That contradiction is the heart of the issue. The author wants to show the pain of an immortal watching mortals fade, but also wants the MC to keep making the same choice that causes that pain. It just doesn’t make sense. If the message is to cherish the moments you have with others, then why doesn’t the MC stay with those he loves? And if that isn’t the message, why is he so consistently sad when they die? The author always tries to depict this lost relationships, so the message is unclear.

The longer I read, the sadder it becomes—not just because of the character deaths, but because of how the MC chooses to live. The story had potential, but it gradually loses focus. The message becomes more vague with each arc. The emotional impact dulls. What could’ve been a profound meditation on time and connection turns into a repetitive and contradictory tale of someone who doesn’t seem to learn from his losses.

If you're someone who has seen it all and is looking for something else to read without expecting something big like me, then I'd say you should stop by and try reading this if you want to waste some of your time.

It’s a classic zombie apocalypse where humans are on the brink of extinction, but the MC is unique and is capable of saving the world. Although it does sound cliche and it IS, this manhwa makes it entertaining with its characters.

POSITIVE POINTS:

- We have a mc who is’t an idiot.
- It doesn't have many characters who are just too annoying to read, ... although there are some.
- No unnecessary romance.
- Good and unique art style although not the best 7/10.
- Good action 7/10.
- Good villain, although there are some problems with the last ark. 6/10
- Nice ending 8/10.

NEGATIVE POINTS:

- Some characters in some scenarios lose there logic and become so dumb that you'll probably lose some brain cells.
- The plot for the second ark isn’t the best.

Summary:

Story: 6,7 / 10
Character: 7,8 / 10
Art: 7,4 / 10

Overall score: 7,3

It’s an overall good read, you won’t regret it but you will lose some brain cells along the way, although it shouldn’t bother that much.

Why aren’t there stories that are simple and straightforward like this? Every time I get to find myself a simple story they make the plot more complex. I'm not saying it’s not a bad thing but just a simple storyline would be nice. This manga is just what I was looking for (my criteria of simple, it might be different for you guys) and exceeded my expectations.

This is truly an unappreciated manga, so this is why I make this review. Although it’ll be short because it’s only 13 ch in.

This story revolves around a couple Subaru and Asahina ,who are a normal couple until for ... some unknown reason Subaru turns to an elementary schooler and now lives with his girlfriend, who the people around them think are only siblings. Now Subaru needs to hide his identity and try to act like an elementary schooler while finding a way to return to adulthood.

Although it’s a cliche story, the way they made the situations realistic was well written. Usually in strange situations where reactions, dialogues or development come out bizarre, out place and unrealistic making the story really dislikable. In this case it does not happen but actually fits in with the story, where the main protagonist does things of who he is (an adult). The pacing of the story is great, it doesn't have any time skips and it doesn’t unskip details of the story. Although it’s a slice of life type of show. It is quite sad how hard the Subaru tries to return back to normal, so it can hit you with the feels.

The characters are really well written, it has realistic feelings to it, so that’s a 10/10 for me. The side characters are pretty fun and not annoying even though some are trying to be annoying to the protagonist, they are pretty fun and wholesome to watch.

The art of the manga is really unique, mostly the character designs where you can tell if the hair is straight, wavy or curly, it’s really noticable and well drawn. The lighting and shading are well made, you can tell if it’s day or not when they're in a room. I have to say Takahashi Natsuko has a gorgeous artstyle.

Although it’s only 13 ch in at the moment I’m really liking the characters and story. It’s a hidden gem and I can’t believe it’s so unpopular. I would love to hear more praise of this manga and the author. Although it’s a light slice of life story, it has some sad, heavy moments. Read it, you won’t regret it.