The Incompetent Prince Who Has Been Banished Wants To Hide His Abilities~ The Strongest Sage Who Reincarnated Twice, He Wanted To Enjoy This Life, so Took It Easy and Was Banished From the Royal Family. It’s Too Late To Be Told Come Back Now Cause the People of the Territory Have Noticed His Abilities, and Won’t Let Him Return to His Family Home

The main character, Noah, is a reincarnated person. He was active as a sword saint in a previous life, and as a sage in another. But he’s been forced to work hard all his life, and he’s sick of being a hero! One day, Noah dies and wakes up to find that he has been reborn as a prince. He had a high level of magical talent and the swordsmanship of a sword saint, but he didn’t want to get busy again, so Noah pretended to be incompetent with all his might. Then, on his 15th birthday. A skill appraisal revealed that he was incompetent (actually, he was just hiding it with his concealment skill). Noah was scorned and banished. With what seemed like a gesture of warmth, his father gave him a remote territory. “Now I’ll enjoy my second life!” Noah was enthusiastic, but he didn’t know. Actually, the territory was in the devil’s forest, which is said to be uninhabitable. But his past life was more advanced compared to this one, and the level of human beings in this world was lower. Noah’s ability is revealed when he helps a girl who was attacked by a monster in the forest. “Amazing!!! Noah-sama defeated a dragon with a single blow!” “How did this happen? Ahhhhh!” On the other hand, the royal family also noticed Noah’s ability and came to take him back, but it was too late. At that time, Noah was already being praised by the people as the lord of the Demon Forest.

Original Publisher

syosetu

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on The Incompetent Prince Who Has Been Banished Wants To Hide His Abilities~ The Strongest Sage Who Reincarnated Twice, He Wanted To Enjoy This Life, so Took It Easy and Was Banished From the Royal Family. It’s Too Late To Be Told Come Back Now Cause the People of the Territory Have Noticed His Abilities, and Won’t Let Him Return to His Family Home Okay, that title is a mouthful, but I dove into this web novel hoping for a fun, lighthearted read. The premise – a super-powered MC trying to play dumb – had potential. The reality, however, was a mixed bag. ### First Impressions Initially, the story had a certain comedic charm. Seeing the MC's attempts at incompetence backfire spectacularly was amusing for a while. The translation quality is commendable, making it easy to get through the chapters. I was ready for a fun, silly ride. ### What Works Well The humor is definitely a strong point, at least in the beginning. There's a certain satisfaction in seeing him try to fail and accidentally succeed, especially when the misunderstandings pile up. Some readers found the early chapters genuinely hilarious, particularly those focusing on the MC's interactions with his new territory. Also, the author is good at writing a story that is easy to read and follow. ### Areas of Concern However, as I read more, I started to notice some recurring issues. The MC's character development seems to stall pretty quickly. His attempts to be "incompetent" often feel contrived and, at times, even harmful to those around him. It's one thing to be clumsy, but intentionally putting others in danger for the sake of maintaining a facade? That's where I started to lose sympathy for him. The family dynamics also felt a bit… lacking. The arrogant older brother and the oblivious king felt like cardboard cutouts, existing solely to make the MC look better. It's a common trope, but here it felt particularly uninspired. I also couldn't help but question the logic of the world-building. Magic seems to have regressed, but the explanation is vague, leaving me wondering why and how. ### Final Verdict "The Incompetent Prince..." had the potential to be a fun, escapist read. The premise is intriguing, and the initial humor is enjoyable. However, the lack of character development, questionable motivations of the MC, and predictable plot ultimately drag it down. If you're looking for a brainless comedy to kill some time, this might scratch that itch. But if you're hoping for a more nuanced and engaging story, you might want to look elsewhere. Overall, I'd say it's a below-average read, not the worst, but definitely not a standout.