I Was Sold Dirt Cheap But My Power Level Is Off The Charts

On a normal day riding the bus on a school trip, the entire vehicle is whisked away to another world called Falva, where humans are prized for their high Ludea Rate and ability to synch to ancient mecha that fulfil many purposes, from construction to combat. In preparation for auction, our hero Yuta watches his classmates get tested - anything above 20,000 is considered exceptional, so the entire process almost grinds to a halt when it reveals his Ludea Rate. Of just 2.

The following sale sees the class split apart as they're sold to various kingdoms for insane amounts of gold, while Yuta is sold for some fruit. Separated from his best friend Nagisa and his love interest Yui Shirayuki, he's powerless as he's thrown into horse-drawn cage and his friends are treated like royalty for their inherent gifts. Housed like an animal with other downtrodden humans, the reader is returned to the castle to overhear a conversation between a couple of guards - could it be that the needle measuring the Ludea Rate actually did a full rotation? Is Yuta's true score... 102,000?

Yuta becomes close with a young girl called Nanami and manages to escape the confines of his new owner's shed (it won't open for anyone with a Ludea Rate under 300, of course Yuta manages to open it with ease...) and from here the book follows his journey to discover a whole new world with his newfound companion, as well as the fates of his more fortunate classmates.

The book has a gorgeous look to it, full of deep tones and shadows that give it a great feeling of depth and weight, which suits the clean and detailed art style perfectly. It's easily one of the most visually interesting books I've read of late, with lots of environmental detail in the panels to give each page a sense of setting. The characters are appealing too - Yuta remains optimistic despite his misfortune, Nanami makes for a sympathetic local who latches on to Yuta as an older-brother figure (for now) and it speaks well of his childhood friend that Nagisa is worried over Yuta, having seen him hauled off to an uncertain future. 

The book also does a very concise job in building its world; the need for humans is clear, the separation of the lands into Kingdoms draws definitive lines of potential conflict and even the acquisition of the magical suit that Yuta will pilot is naturally woven into the narrative by chapter 3, and even here it's through an act of kindness. It's actually rather refreshing to have so many central characters to root for, even if the idea of beast-girl Falma being considered a "monster" is a little hard to swallow given how cute she is with her button nose and furry ears. Here too, the central cast shine with their interactions and wide-eyed optimism.

Nanami (left) and Yuta (right) meet the cursed and bestial Falma and show no fear

The mecha designs have a pleasing "Knight" feel to them, and once the action ramps up the fighting panels are very impressive - occasionally it'll be hard to follow exactly which suit is piloted by each character (I'm thinking of the brief detour to catch up with the class teacher, Ruriko) but generally this is due to unfamiliarity with the mecha rather than unclear art.

There are shades of Hero Without Class, another series from One Peace Books that has an undervalued hero showing his true worth in combat, but where that book has a focus on training and determination, this shifts the focus to acts of kindness and keeping an open mind. It feels like a grander adventure too, more in line tonally with Mysterious Cities of Gold, but with the look of Escaflowne replete with Knightly mecha, duelling kingdoms and even a beast girl to keep the aesthetic appealing. When you're provoking favourable comparisons with some of the all time greats, you're probably doing something right.

So it's an isekai with a likeable cast, love triangles, strange new worlds and awesome mecha, delivering popular elements well and with feeling. It isn't breaking the mould, but it's a great read with much to commend it. Fans of the genre should find much to love here and newcomers should find its breezy pace and ready charms a welcome introduction to the popular narrative form.