The best Isekai Manhwa with a reluctant hero

Key recommendations

• Isekai manhwa often feature reluctant heroes who rebel against typical standards in a fantasy world.
• Stories like FFF-Class Trash Hero and Magic Academy's Genius Blinker feature rebellious protagonists.
• Unique narratives in manhwa like My Civil Servant Life Reborn offer different approaches to heroism.

Fantasy manhwa, especially the isekai series, are full of stories about heroes summoned to another world to fulfill a specific purpose. These goals range from preventing an unknown threat that has been prophesied to happen in the future to stopping the evil works of the Demon King/Lord from spreading his dark influence. But not every hero summoned to a fantasy-like world is willing to cooperate, and many decide to either live by their own rules or rebel against the “system” that summoned them.

Here is a list of isekai manhwa series that feature a reluctant hero who chooses to go against the norm, break the mold, or even directly oppose those who have taken them out of their normal lives.

1 Garbage hero from FFF class

He didn't want to be called a hero – now they will pay the price

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Isekai
• Author: Painter
• Artist: Painter

Garbage hero from FFF class is the perfect example of the Reluctant Hero trope in isekai manhwa, with a main character who never gives up, great character development, and a story full of conspiracies, dark beings, capricious gods, and reversals of fate. With good art design and decent world building.

It's worth a read if fans prefer a much darker take on the typical revenge story, with some sprinkles of humor to cut the sourness of the plot. The more the story goes on, the more it becomes apparent that this Hero is far from ideal, and in order not to spoil the fun for the readers, let's just say that those who summoned him by force will pay a heavy price for their crime.

2 Genius Blinker of the Academy of Magic

A decent story with a protagonist who wants to avoid the worst outcome

• Gender: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen
• Author: Eunmilhi
• Artists: Seoyu

Not the flashiest, not the most powerful, but definitely the best suited for hand-to-hand combat. The protagonist is a trash character that no one wants, a reincarnated player accidentally turned into a Hero who is forced to prevent the worst ending in the game by living in the flesh of a weak and difficult to control mage.

This story could have the right combination of action, adventure and the Reluctant Hero trope with a heavy dose of drama. It is similar to stories like Viewing omniscient readers, with similar pacing and good character development. Even though some of the decisions they make might seem stupid, they all make sense as the story progresses and shows its cards, and the main character discovers that not everything is as it seems. A good read for those who like complicated plots.

3 My life as a civil servant was reborn in the strange world

He doesn't want to be the hero of the story, just a civil servant

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: JD
• Artist: Il.K

A Korean bureaucrat who has known nothing but his job as a civil servant is reincarnated in a world like fantasy, in a noble house that privileges power and might over all else. Endowed with unique and powerful abilities, he instead decides to avoid becoming a hero and live as a civil servant.

A unique story with a different take on the usual “reincarnated as a predestined hero” where the MC dodges the bullet of becoming a chosen one and instead leaves for a comfortable life as a military officer. But, surprise-surprise, he will have to earn his job: painfully and by accomplishing a lot of things. And here the plot gets really interesting, full of conspiracies, coup attempts and many other twists and turns. One of the best stories of this genre.

4 Professional from his past life sucks the sweet honey

Isekai has reincarnated and reincarnated dozens of times, he doesn't want to be the hero anymore

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Shounen, Isekai
• Author: Song Sooha
• Artist: Ebipo

A cool and collected reincarnation is sent to another world after dozens of successful past lives as an isekai “envoy of the gods”. This time he decides to live a lazy and relaxed life, rejecting the role of hero and becoming something of a charming merchant prince. But the world has other plans for him and many conspirators will try to get in the middle of his plans for a happy life.

A decent story with a funny take on the typical “reincarnation as an OP hero”. Lots of memorable characters, lots of wholesome moments and a story that wraps up and doesn't end with the typical eternal pause like so many others. This is among the best reads fans can come across in this genre.

5 The count's family pecan

He just wants to be lazy but ends up being a hero

• Gender: Isekai, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
• Author: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)
• Artist: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)

A great story about an accidental atypical hero who doesn't want to be the protagonist of the world he was isekai'd into. The peasant of the count's family it has a lot of strong points, but mainly the pace which is slow but constantly moving forward. With excellent character development, heartwarming moments, and strong bonds with magical creatures, MC proves that being a Hero isn't always a godsend, but rather being in the worst place at the right time.

The art of this series is fantastic, neat, polished, and the world building is amazingly good. It has bad moments and some of the development might disappoint readers, but the quality doesn't drop at any point and that makes it one of the best reluctant hero stories.

6 Dark Fantasy Paladin

Thrown into a soul-like world, he just wants out

• Genres: Grimdark, Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Drama, Martial Arts, Isekai
• authors: Jung Jongru, Neimdeu
• Artist: Sumum

A combination of grimdark, dark fantasy, gore and isekai makes this story one of the best reluctant hero stories in manhwa format. With a bleak and heartless view of how a player survives in a soul-like world where there is no respawning and no secret cheat skills. Armed with knowledge of the game world, this faithless Paladin will prove to the world that gods do not exist, but in doing so, he will set off a series of events that no one can predict.

A strong statement that breaks the typical Chosen Hero trope and is more like a Dark Hero/Reluctant Avenger who is willing to force others to swallow justice if it can prevent a world-scale crisis. This story blends great storytelling with world building and detailed lore that is deep yet easy to follow.

One of the best Isekai Manhwa right now

• Gender: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen
• Author: Corita
• Artists: Girin Geurin

If fans are looking for a great manhwa that combines the best of the isekai genre, fantastic art, and great character and story development, then The Extra Academy Survival Guide it is required reading for them. With a constantly evolving plot, characters that are both wholesome and deep, and a main character who has no choice but to become a hero even though he is supposed to be the villain of the story.

Ed Rothaylor reluctantly assumes the mantle of the main character, or more like the shadow puller. Any possible bad ending must be avoided, and the story becomes more and more complex with the butterfly effect of the changes the MC makes to the “routes”. It's a really good story that will grip readers for hours and leave them asking for more with each finished chapter.