Kami wa Game ni Ueteiru - Pearl is so much fun! Who is Leoleshea?

Kami wa Game ni Ueteiru (神は遊戯に飢えている) is a light novel series written by Kei Sazane and illustrated by Toiro Tomose. It began serialization in 2021 and is still ongoing, with nine volumes released to date. I have read the first seven volumes so far and plan on catching up soon.

The story is set in a world where gods are not just mythological figures from old books; they are actually present in the daily lives of people due to a system called the "Gods' Games." In this system, the gods accept challenges for specific battles of wits against humans. Apparently, they do this simply because they are bored.

The idea is that the gods want entertainment, and they are willing to grant a "gift" to anyone brave enough to challenge them. The games vary depending on which god is hosting them, but they must all be winnable. There are no impossible challenges. While a struggle is required, it must be feasible for humans to triumph. I say "humans" because players are encouraged to collaborate to level the playing field against the deities.

To keep the challengers from becoming stagnant, the gods established a system that disqualifies any human who has lost more than three times from participating in future challenges. It is said that whoever achieves ten victories will "clear" the game and receive immense rewards, but no one has been able to reach this up until now.

Fay, an undefeated human, is forced by the government to participate in games alongside Leshea, who is apparently the incarnation of a goddess, even though she has no memories of her past identity. The contrast between the calm, calculating Fay and the exuberant, energetic Leshea is great to see.

Fay has his own motives for participating in the games, as he is searching for the woman who originally taught him how to play and win. There are strong hints connecting Leshea to her, but there is still no clear confirmation yet since Leshea cannot remember her past.

Of course, there are various secrets surrounding this system that are not revealed right away, and many questions remain even after seven volumes. The books are usually divided into two phases. The first is the "game" part, where Fay and the other characters challenge a god. The second part, which is usually shorter, moves the main plot forward slightly toward a resolution.

The game portions play out like a typical television game show, with the gods explaining the rules, though often only partially. The players then start to get a feel for the challenge, most are defeated, and finally Fay comes up with the idea that allows the group to defeat the god.

While some games are convoluted, the story does a good job of explaining the details. It makes you think, "Oh, was that it? I didn't think of that", once Fay discovers the gimmick needed to win. I am not usually a huge fan of stories containing puzzles, but this light novel does a great job of keeping me interested.

As you can see from the screenshots I attached to the post, the series includes a sizeable amount of fanservice involving the girls. It usually remains a sideline and never becomes truly annoying. Pearl is often the source of this due to her stunning figure.

I suggest giving this series a chance, as it is quite solid. I am going to continue reading the next volumes in the coming weeks and will be sure to make a new post about them. Let's see if we manage to uncover the truth!