Record of Lodoss War: The Crown of the Covenant resumes
Kadokawa's Sneaker Bunko imprint will publish part of the next Crown of the Covenant manuscript online on October 22.
Record of Lodoss War: The Crown of the Covenant is resuming, with Kadokawa's Sneaker Bunko imprint planning to publish part of the second novel's manuscript online while the full volume takes longer to arrive.1
Sneaker Bunko said the manuscript excerpt will appear on the Kakuyomu website on October 22 at 5 p.m. JST, which is 4 a.m. EDT. The announcement gives readers a concrete return date for the series, even though volume 2 itself does not yet have a publication date.1
Ryo Mizuno's novel series began with its first volume in Japan in September 2019, illustrated by Hidari. The book was the first new Record of Lodoss War novel in 12 years, continuing a fantasy franchise that began with tabletop role-playing sessions before becoming a long-running series of novels and screen adaptations.1
The story follows a new generation of characters in Lodoss. Udon Entertainment's description of the manga adaptation introduces Lyle, the young prince of Marmo, and the high elf Deedlit as the island's long peace comes under threat. The Crown of the Covenant has also received a manga adaptation, while the wider franchise includes the 1990 video anime and the 1998 television sequel Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight.1
The return also arrives alongside the franchise's newer projects. Record of Lodoss War: Queen of Death, a webtoon spin-off from Studio White, launched globally in August 2025, expanding the setting before the original story.1
Our opinion
Publishing part of the manuscript first is a useful compromise for a series whose next full volume still needs time. It gives long-time readers a real piece of the continuation without pretending that an online excerpt is the same thing as a finished book. For now, October 22 is the date to watch: it should offer the clearest look yet at where The Crown of the Covenant goes next.