Best Isekai Manhwa Featuring A Reluctant Hero

Key Takeaways

• Isekai manhwa often feature reluctant heroes rebelling against the typical standards in a fantasy world.
• Stories like FFF-Class Trash Hero and Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker showcase rebellious protagonists.
• Unique narratives in manhwa like My Civil Servant Life Reborn offer different approaches to heroism.

Fantasy manhwa, especially isekai series, are filled with tales of heroes summoned to another world to accomplish a certain goal. These goals range from preventing an unknown threat that has been prophetized to happen in the future to stopping the evil works of the Demon King/Lord from spreading its dark influence. But not every hero summoned to a fantasy-like world is willing to cooperate, and many decide either to live by their own rules or to rebel against the “system” that summoned them.

Here’s a list of isekai manhwa series featuring a reluctant hero who chooses to go against the standards, break the mold, or even directly oppose those who plucked them out of their normal lives.

1 FFF-Class Trash Hero

He Didn’t Want To Be Summoned As A Hero – Now They’re Going To Pay The Price

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Isekai
• Author: Farnar
• Artist: Farnar

FFF-Class Trash Hero is the perfect example of the Reluctant Hero trope in isekai manhwa, with a main character that never surrenders, great character development, and a story filled with conspiracies, dark beings, capricious Gods and reversals of fate. With a good art design and a decent worldbuilding to boot.

It is worth a read if fans prefer a much darker approach to the typical revenge story, with some sprinkles of humor that cut down the sourness of the plot. The more the story goes on, the more obvious it is that this Hero is by no means ideal, and to avoid spoiling the fun for readers, let’s just say that those who summoned him by force will pay a hefty price for their crime.

2 Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

A Decent Story With A Protagonist Who Wants To Avoid The Worst Outcome

• Genre: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen
• Author: Eunmilhi
• Artists: Seoyu

Not the brightest, nor the strongest, but definitely the best suited for melee combat. The protagonist is a trash character nobody wants, a reincarnated gamer turned into a Hero by chance who is forced to prevent the worst ending in the game living in the flesh of a weak and difficult-to-control mage.

This story might have just the right combination of action, adventure, and the reluctant Hero trope, with a high dose of drama. It’s similar to stories like Omniscient Readers View, with similar pacing and good character development. Even though some of the decisions they take might seem dumb, they all make sense as the story progresses and they show their cards, and the main character discovers that not everything is as it seems. A good read for those who enjoy intricate plots.

3 My Civil Servant Life Reborn In The Strange World

He Doesn’t Want To Be The Hero Of The Story, Just A Civil Servant

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: JD
• Artist: Il.K

A Korean bureaucrat who has known nothing but his job as a civil servant is reincarnated in a fantasy-like world, in a noble house that privileges strength and power over all else. Gifted with unique and powerful skills, he decides instead to avoid becoming a Hero, and live as a civil servant.

A unique story, with a different approach to the usual “reincarnated as a predestined Hero,” where the MC dodges the bullet of becoming a chosen one, and instead goes for a comfortable life as a military officer. But, surprise-surprise, he will have to earn his position: painfully and by accomplishing a lot of things. And here’s where the plot becomes really interesting, filled with conspiracies, coup d’etat attempts, and many other twists. One of the best stories of this genre.

4 The Pro In His Past Life Sucks The Sweet Honey

Isekai’d And Reincarnated Dozens Of Times, He Doesn’t Want To Be The Hero Anymore

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Shounen, Isekai
• Author: Song Sooha
• Artist: Ebipo

A cool and collected reincarnator is sent to another world after dozens of successful past lives as an isekai’d “envoy of the gods.” This time, he decides to live a lazy and laid-back life, rejecting the role of the hero, and becoming something like a charming merchant prince. But the world has other plans for him, and many conspirators will try to get in the middle of his plans for a happy life.

A decent story, with a funny approach to the typical “reincarnation as an OP Hero” trope. Many memorable characters, plenty of wholesome moments, and a story that has closure and doesn’t end up with the typical eternal hiatus like so many others. This one is among the best reads fans can encounter in the genre.

5 The Lout Of The Count’s Family

He Just Wants To Be Lazy, But Ends Up Becoming A Hero

• Genre: Isekai, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
• Author: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)
• Artist: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)

A cool story about an atypical hero-by-chance, who doesn’t want to be the protagonist of the world where he was isekai’d. The Lout of the Count’s Family has a lot of strong points, but mainly the pacing which is slow but steadily moves forward. With great character development, heartwarming moments, and strong bonds with magical creatures, the MC proves that being the Hero is not always a godsend, but being in the worst place at the right time.

The art of this series is fantastic, neat, polished and the worldbuilding is tremendously good. It has its bad moments, and some of the development might disappoint readers, but it doesn’t drop in quality at any time, and that makes it one of the best reluctant hero stories.

6 Dark Fantasy Paladin

Thrown Into A Soulslike World, He Just Wants To Get Out

• Genres: Grimdark, Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Drama, Martial Arts, Isekai
• Authors: Jung Jongru, Neimdeu
• Artist: Sumsum

A combination of grimdark, dark fantasy, gore, and isekai makes this story one of the best reluctant hero tales in manhwa format. With a bleak and heartless vision of how a gamer survives in a soulslike world, where there’s no respawning and no secret cheat abilities. Armed with the knowledge of the game world, this faithless Paladin will prove to the world that Gods do not exist, but by doing so, he will unleash a series of events nobody can predict.

A powerful statement that breaks the mold of the typical Chosen Hero trope, and is more like a Reluctant Dark Hero/Avenger who is ready to force others to swallow justice if this can prevent a world-scale crisis. This story mixes great narrative with worldbuilding and detailed lore that is profound but easy to follow.

One Of The Best Isekai Manhwa Right Now

• Genre: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen
• Author: Corita
• Artists: Girin Geurin

If fans are looking for a great manhwa that combines the best of the isekai genre, fantastic art, and great character and story development, then The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide is a must-read for them. With a plot that constantly evolves, characters that are both wholesome and deep, and a main character who has no choice but to become a Hero, even though he is supposed to be the villain of the story.

Ed Rothaylor reluctantly assumes the mantle of the lead character, or more like the one who pulls the strings from the shadows. Every possible bad ending must be avoided, and the story gets more and more complex with the butterfly effect of the changes the MC does in the “routes.” It’s a really good story that will trap readers for hours and will leave them asking for more with each finished chapter.