The Villainess Advances Through Space ~I Decided Take the Backseat in My Second Life, but I Was Commanding a Grand Fleet Before I Knew It~

The year was 4163 in Earth History. The extensive history of humanity, under the banner of the Earth Empire, was coming to an end. Leading the Earth Empire’s 109th Patrol Fleet was 79-year-old Rear Admiral Liliane Luzoule. Though having attained her current position through seniority, she once held high promises as the only daughter of the former chief of staff. However, due to a single fatal mistake sixty years ago, she had lost her first love, her friends, her family, and any trust people had for her. Now, a declining patrol fleet is all she leads. Under the looming shadow of the Horsehead Nebula, a major offensive fleet from an enemy that has been at war with the Earth Empire for over sixty years, was fast approaching. Against an overwhelming threat, Liliane’s fleet was sent as a sacrificial pawn and was unceremoniously annihilated. Under the glow of heavy particle beams, Liliane departed from this world… is how it was supposed to go. However, when she regain consciousness, she had been sent back to her 18-year-old self, who was about to graduate. Reflecting over how her over-assertiveness had caused everything in her first life, the mentally 79-year-old Liliane decided to take a backseat and let the talented people around her take the wheel. There was a girl she used to mistreat but had tremendous talent as a strategist, so she worked hard so that the girl could demonstrate that talent, regardless of her standing. Before she knew it, the girl attained a high position and was in command of a battleship…! Furthermore, she had caught the attention of the commander of the moon base! Not to mention, despite being nothing but a figurehead in Liliane’s past life, the commander was a very capable person! To top it all off, that genius strategist had began to adore her, and the admirals that she butted heads against in her past life, began putting their faith in her! “I stepped off the spotlight, so why is this happening! More importantly, isn’t a war about to break out!?”

Original Publisher

kakuyomu

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on The Villainess Advances Through Space ~I Decided Take the Backseat in My Second Life, but I Was Commanding a Grand Fleet Before I Knew It~ ### First Impressions The title alone grabbed my attention – a villainess, space, and accidental fleet command? Count me in! The premise is certainly intriguing, playing on the popular trope of a reincarnated character trying to live a quieter life, only to find themselves thrust into the spotlight. I went in expecting a fun, lighthearted romp through the galaxy. ### What Works Well The core concept is undeniably appealing. Who doesn't love a story about someone unexpectedly rising to power? The blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements, with a strong female lead navigating interstellar politics and fleet battles, has a lot of potential. I found myself initially hooked by the possibilities of where the story could go. The action genre is well represented and the idea of aliens, artificial intelligence, and empire-building is a recipe for success in my book. ### Areas of Concern Unfortunately, there are some significant stumbling blocks. The translation quality is a major issue. It can be incredibly frustrating when the writing obscures the story's potential. The repetitive descriptions also detracted from my enjoyment. When a character is constantly defined by who they are "second to," it diminishes their individuality and makes it hard to connect with them. I found myself losing focus and struggling to keep track of what was actually happening. Hopefully, the translation quality improves, because the underlying story has promise. ### Final Verdict "The Villainess Advances Through Space" has an engaging premise and the potential to be a fun, action-packed read. However, the current translation quality and repetitive writing style hold it back. If you're willing to overlook these flaws, you might find something to enjoy. Otherwise, I'd recommend waiting to see if the translation improves before diving in. For now, I'm cautiously optimistic but hesitant to fully recommend it.