The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest

'The Sage' - a man who has devoted most of his life to strengthening his magic - has finally reached his limit to what he could achieve with magic too weak to face the universe, but he hasn't given up yet. In order to break his limits, he reincarnates: awakening in a changed world but gaining the means of being able to face not only the world but maybe even the universe. Now reincarnated into Matthias Hildesheim with his memories intact and even the Fourth Mark, which is the most potent Marks when it comes to magic, but something is wrong. Everyone, even his family, states he has the Mark of Failure. Despite this setback, he still pursues to strengthen himself. His past magic knowledge and skills gives him an advantage in this new age that has earned him the title of The Sage in his past life. Matthias trains himself as he aims to enroll in the Second Royal Academy, where he begins to not only get stronger but also changes the world itself.

Marked for Failure, the World's Strongest Sage Reincarnates for a Do-Over! is a light novel by Shinkoshoto which started publication in 2016. A manga adaptation began in 2017. The artists of the manga are Hyoukou and Kanshou of Friendly Land.


 * The Archmage: Matthias in his previous life was known as 'The Sage' and reincarnated with all of his knowledge. Even with the lower amount of magic power, he is more formidable due to being born with the Fourth Mark and his wide range of magic expertise.
 * Adventure Guild: One exists in the kingdom where people can sell materials and even magic stones.
 * Affectionate Nickname: Ruri and Alma refer to Matthias as Matty after they form and party along with training them to their potential.
 * A God I Am Not:
 * Anti-Magic: Nullification magic can negate specific magic one at a time.It can do multiple if there has been enough time to specify what magics to nullify.
 * Apocalypse How/Class 2:
 * Applied Phlebotinum: Magic stones are crystals found within Magic Beasts that can act as conduits for magic power. It mainly used as the center for a magic tool such as an augmented sword.
 * The Blacksmith: Matthias uses magic on raw materials in order to construct weapons. Due to Ruri having the First Mark, she would excel at this more so than Matthias could.
 * Catch Phrase: Matthias always says "Subjugation Complete." whenever he finishes a fight.
 * Distinguishing Mark: In the past, Fourth Marks were seen as having the strongest in magic while the First being the weakest. The present has the reverse perspective, even though it's contrary to the truth: the First is called the Mark of Honor while the fourth is called an Inferior Mark.
 * Deflector Shields: Barrier magic can cast a force field and is a specialization of the Fourth Mark due to their close-range casting. A permanent magic barrier can be made by using rare materials like orichalcum, adamantine, mithril, and a large magic stone.
 * Energy Absorption: Magicians can absorb magic power from Magic Beast and Demon Beasts, when they are killed, can have their magic power near them.
 * The Force Is Strong with This One: Passive Sense can detect magic within items and living organisms. Detection can be used to find a living being specifically.
 * Functional Magic: In this universe, magic is a combination of Inherent Gift and manipulation of magic power in one's body to perform supernatural acts. Chants for magic can help activate it more easily, but the magic loses effectiveness and power. It can just be activated for a greater effect yet casting is more difficult. There are different types of magic such as fire, spatial, physical enhancement, magical enchantment, and so on. Each person is born with a Mark that shows their type of magical aptitude:
 * The First Mark specializes in production such as magic augmentation. This mark is ill-suited for combat compared to others.
 * The Second Mark specializes in power but doesn't have many common features. With enough practice and time, a bearer can eventually use high-level fire magic.
 * The Third Mark specializes in the fast casting of magic that is weak in effect. Strength can be gained through practice over time. It is best for cleaning up the battlefield thanks to the rapid casting.
 * The Fourth Mark specializes in close combat and is short range. It can also utilize both fire magic and rapid-casting magic of the second and third types. It also specializes in body enhancement magic.
 * Hammerspace: How storage magic works. It is based on the amount of magic power that a person has.
 * Healing Hands: Healing magic is another specialization of the First Mark but comes with proper training to fully heal a person or other living creatures.
 * Homing Projectile: Wire-Guided Enchant has the user shoot an arrow where they can connect a thread of mana that allows the projectile to curve in any direction. The enchant can be used to attack multiple targets with a single arrow. Homing Enchant homes in on a target rather than the user controlling it.
 * Ley Line: Dragon veins are flows of magic power within the ground. It can be used for large scale spells and needs a magic tool to manipulate it.
 * Magitek: A common form of technology in the past, but magitek items are legendary artifacts in the present.
 * Magic Knight: The way Matthias fights is by using physical enhancement while also other forms of magic that give him the edge in battle.
 * Mana: Magic Power is something people, Magic Beasts, and Demon Beasts are born with. A magician can absorb the Magic Power of these creatures once they are killed.
 * Mook Maker: A Monster House is an area that can summon Magic Beasts and absorbs the magical aura around it. If the spot becomes repressed by killing all the Magic Beasts around it; then it becomes a safe area from any beast.
 * Our Demons Are Different: Demons are a race of magically gifted humanoids. They are a minority compared to humans due to their low birth rate. Their skin is durable enough to stand regular weapons but not weakly augmented ones. They can also access a technique called 'demonization', which increases their power at the cost of their life.
 * Our Dragons Are Different: Dragons resembles wyverns and also have the power to breathe magic. They also have the magic they can use to transform into a human form.
 * Playing with Fire: A common use of offense for most people is fire magic
 * Power Tattoo: A Mark is an emblem a person is born with that determines their affinity for magic. The mark cannot be changed, no matter what.
 * Reincarnation: Matthias uses this to be born with a new mark to gain greater strength.
 * Weapon of Choice: Matthias uses a sword as his main weapon and even enhances it through magic augmentation. Ruri also uses a sword that has been strengthened by Matthias as well.
 * Alma, who has the Second Mark, uses a bow and arrow along with empowering arrows with magic power.
 * Wizarding School: Magic Academy in the past would require a person to have a Mark other than a First to attend. In the present, in order to attend a school, one must succeed in practical and written exams. There are also deductions and awards are given to the scores based on their Marks which the Fourth is given the most in losing points.