As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World (転生貴族、鑑定スキルで成り上がる　～弱小領地を受け継いだので、優秀な人材を増やしていたら、最強領地になってた～) is a Japanese light novel series written by Miraijin A. The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website, before being published in print with illustrations by Jimmy by Kodansha beginning in July 2020. As of April 2024, six volumes have been released. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Natsumi Inoue, began serialization on the Magazine Pocket website in June 2020. As of June 2024, the manga's individual chapters have been collected into fifteen tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Mother aired from April to June 2024, with a second season set to premiere later in Q4 of the same year.

Plot
A Japanese salaryman dies and reincarnates in another world as Ars Louvent, heir of a noble family and discovers that he also possesses the skill to appraise the talents and aptitudes of other people. With his special powers, Ars identifies and convinces powerful individuals who excel in various subjects, from magic and swordsmanship to strategy and diplomacy to become his servants and allies in preparation for an imminent war for the throne's succession. When he demonstrates his prowess, he is promoted to the Lord of Canarre, and soon has to go to war with the neighboring Duchy of Seitz.

Characters

 * Ars Louvent (アルス・ローベント)
 * Heir to the House Louvent who rules the town of Lamberk, Ars is a noble who is the reincarnation of a Japanese salaryman who possesses the ability to appraise other individuals and measure their talents. Making use of his powers, Ars begins drafting notable individuals with remarkable skills as his retainers in order to bolster Lamberk's fighting force, making preparations for an imminent civil war.
 * Heir to the House Louvent who rules the town of Lamberk, Ars is a noble who is the reincarnation of a Japanese salaryman who possesses the ability to appraise other individuals and measure their talents. Making use of his powers, Ars begins drafting notable individuals with remarkable skills as his retainers in order to bolster Lamberk's fighting force, making preparations for an imminent civil war.


 * Ritsu Muses (リーツ・ミューセス)
 * Originally an orphan from the Marca race who suffers with discrimination from other races in the country, he is recruited by Ars as his first retainer. Despite suffering prejudice at first, Ritsu's loyalty to Ars and outstanding gift for combat and leadership makes him earn the trust from the rest of the Louvent family and he becomes the commander of their army.
 * Originally an orphan from the Marca race who suffers with discrimination from other races in the country, he is recruited by Ars as his first retainer. Despite suffering prejudice at first, Ritsu's loyalty to Ars and outstanding gift for combat and leadership makes him earn the trust from the rest of the Louvent family and he becomes the commander of their army.


 * Charlotte Wraith (シャーロット・レイス)
 * Another orphan rescued and taken in by Ars after he bought her from a group of slave traders. She excels in magic and becomes the leader of the Louvent family's magician platoon. She sees Ars like a little brother.
 * Another orphan rescued and taken in by Ars after he bought her from a group of slave traders. She excels in magic and becomes the leader of the Louvent family's magician platoon. She sees Ars like a little brother.


 * Rosell Kischa (ロセル・キーシャ)
 * A child living in the Louvent family's territory, he is recruited by Ars due to his natural gift as a tactician, eventually becoming his army's strategist.
 * A child living in the Louvent family's territory, he is recruited by Ars due to his natural gift as a tactician, eventually becoming his army's strategist.


 * Lysia Plaid (リシア・プレイド)
 * Ars' arranged fiancée who excels in politics and diplomacy. Ars becomes wary of her at first due to her high ambition stat, which makes her prone to deceive and betray others, but eventually she truly falls in love with Ars and decides to support him with her skills, becoming his wife and closest confidant.
 * Ars' arranged fiancée who excels in politics and diplomacy. Ars becomes wary of her at first due to her high ambition stat, which makes her prone to deceive and betray others, but eventually she truly falls in love with Ars and decides to support him with her skills, becoming his wife and closest confidant.


 * Raven Louvent (レイヴン・ローベント)
 * The head of House Louvent, he is Ars' father who is loved and respected by his family and subjects. He dies of illness when Ars is still a child, making him the new head.
 * The head of House Louvent, he is Ars' father who is loved and respected by his family and subjects. He dies of illness when Ars is still a child, making him the new head.


 * Mireille Grangeon (ミレーユ・グランジオン)
 * Former noble that traveled the world drinking and spending her savings. She was discovered by the Shadows and recruited by Ars as a strategist and tactician. She is the older sister of Thomas Grunzeon, adviser of Valmarque, one of the two sons of the Duke of Missian. She gets along well with Charlotte.
 * Former noble that traveled the world drinking and spending her savings. She was discovered by the Shadows and recruited by Ars as a strategist and tactician. She is the older sister of Thomas Grunzeon, adviser of Valmarque, one of the two sons of the Duke of Missian. She gets along well with Charlotte.


 * Fam (ファム)
 * The leader of a band of mercenaries called Shadow. Although he looks like a girl, he is really a guy. While in disguise, he usually poses as a waitress.
 * The leader of a band of mercenaries called Shadow. Although he looks like a girl, he is really a guy. While in disguise, he usually poses as a waitress.


 * Albert
 * The leader of a group of slave traders.


 * Kreiz and Wren
 * Ars's younger siblings.


 * Gatos and Marcus Kisha
 * A pair of hunters who are Rosell's brothers.

Light novel
Written by Miraijin A, the light novel began publication on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on October 31, 2019. The series was later acquired by Kodansha, who published the series with illustrations by Jimmy under their Kodansha Ranobe Books imprint beginning on July 2, 2020. As of April 2024, six volumes have been released.

In March 2022, Kodansha USA announced that they also licensed the light novel series for English publication.

Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Natsumi Inoue, began serialization in Magazine Pocket on June 26, 2020. As of June 2024, the series' individual chapters have been collected into fifteen tankōbon volumes.

In November 2021, Kodansha USA announced that they licensed the manga for English publication, with the first volume being released in September 2022.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on May 9, 2023. It will be produced by Studio Mother and directed by Takao Kato, with scripts written by Yasuhiro Nakanishi, character designs handled by Yūko Yahiro, and music composed by Kujira Yumemi. The series aired from April 7 to June 23, 2024, on the newly-launched Agaru Anime programming block on all JNN affiliates, including CBC and TBS. The opening theme song is "Blue Days" (ブルーデイズ), performed by True, while the ending theme song is "Finally", performed by Kana Hanazawa. Crunchyroll licensed the series. Medialink has licensed the series in East (excluding China and Japan) and Southeast Asia.

After the airing of the final episode of the first season, a second season was announced, which is set to premiere in the fall of the same year, on the same programming block.

Reception
By November 2021, the web novel has over 30 million views.

In the 2021 Next Manga Award, the manga won the U-Next Prize and ranked 18th in the web manga category.

Critical Reception
Richard Eisenbeis wrote in Anime News Network that the anime's first episodes are "simple and predictable pattern". He noted that the introduction of Lysia "breaks the pattern things get more interesting" adding that Ars' reaction to Lysia's ability makes his weakness clear, thus, adding stakes and drama to the story. He concludes that the anime blends comedy and heartwarming moments, highlighting the hope that one good leader can bring peace and prosperity to a failing empire.