Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 4

 Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 4 - 164 pages

Souichi (Artist); Kataoka Naotaro (Original Creator); Shizuki Hitomi (Character Design)

Summary (From Goodreads)

One day, ordinary office worker Kubo Tamotsu is suddenly reincarnated in another world as a 6-year-old slave. The household of the Basam Marquess, who raised him as a Barrier Master named Linus, gets caught up in the Royal Army's rebellion and falls. Desperately overcoming his grief, Linus begins a new life in the neighboring Hideta Empire. One day, while resolving trouble concerning the First Princess and helping a pretty demon girl, he meets a beautiful part-human, part-sheep woman in the slave market...

Review

It's certainly heartwarming to see a former slave like Linus pay forward the kindness and generosity he received from the Basam household.  It does help somewhat to offset the frankly rather gory end met by a minor antagonist in this volume.  

Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 3

 Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 3 - 152 pages

Souichi (Artist); Kataoka Naotaro (Original Creator); Shizuki Hitomi (Character Design)

Summary (From Goodreads)

One day, Linus is suddenly reincarnated in another world and raised to become a superior Barrier Master in the Basam Marquess' Household. However, they are caught up in the Royal Army's rebellion and, along with the Royal Capital, the Marquess' family collapses. Having worked desperately to overcome his sadness, Linus finally reaches the neighboring country, the Hideta Empire. What new turmoil awaits him there?!

Review

Although the character of Princess Ricolette definitely falls into the trope of intelligent, driven, progressive, daughter of royalty living in a man's world, I'm very glad to see her interactions with Linus going in a more positive direction.  Rather than taking an immediate dislike to each other, each is instead able to recognize traits in the other that are at least useful, if not commendable.  I hope they're able to forge more of an official alliance in the future.  

Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 2

Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 2 - 194 pages

Souichi (Artist); Kataoka Naotaro (Original Creator); Shizuki Hitomi (Character Design)

Summary (From Goodreads)

One day, Kubo Tamotsu, an ordinary office worker, is suddenly reincarnated in another world as a 6-year-old slave. Picked up by the Basam Marquess, he was raised as "Linus," a Barrier Master, and continued developing his abilities at a remarkable rate. Just when he was on the verge of serving as a Royal Barrier Master, the Palace comes under attack by foes unknown. Linus heads to help his Masters, but--?!

Review

Holy emotional whiplash, Batman, this one got dark fast!  Things lightened up a bit by the end, but the overall tone is a complete 180 from the first volume.  

Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 1

Reborn as a Barrier Master (Manga) Volume 1 - 148 pages

Souichi (Artist); Kataoka Naotaro (Original Creator); Shizuki Hitomi (Character Design)

Summary (From Goodreads)

At 34 years old, Kubo Tamotsu works at an exploitative company only to wake up one day in an unfamiliar world, reincarnated into the body of a six-year-old. Not aware of his innate "Barrier Master" skills, he finds himself on the slave market, and up for auction! When no one bids on him and he's queued for disposal, he is rescued in the nick of time by Marquess Basam. He will be raised as the Marquess' personal Barrier Master under a new name, "Linus," and his talent as a Barrier Master will grow day by day. His troubles never seem to end, as he struggles to survive!

Review

Something I can definitely appreciate about Linus's character is how he has succeeded thus far not so much by simply being "overpowered," but rather by his own creativity in using the magic he now possesses.  The abundance of time-skips did make this feel a bit rushed - like they were trying to get a lot of backstory and exposition out of the way before getting on with the main plot.  A bit more showing and a bit less telling could have helped in this regard.