Chivalry of a Failed Knight

Chivalry of a Failed Knight (Japanese: Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry aka Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan) is a Japanese light novel, manga and anime series. The original light novels started in 2013 and are written by Misora Riku. It is a fantasy/martial arts/romance story that follows Kurogane Ikki and Stella Vermillion, teenagers who train to become magical knights.


 * Competence Zone: Mostly averted. While the teenage main cast range from powerful to stupidly overpowered, it is also made clear that there are adults out there who are stronger yet, and on several occasions we see adults stepping in to help the kids and maintain order.
 * There is one ludicrous example of this trope played straight: Kiriko Yakushi, introduced in LN volume 5, who is "the number one doctor in Japan" as well as a top-tier blazer, at the age of about 18.
 * Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Saikyou Nene, who comes off at first as a incompetent comic relief buffoon. Later turns out to be an immensely powerful A-rank Blazer.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Saikyou Nene, who comes off at first as a petty and immature troll who does nothing but sexually harass female and male students alike. Later turns out to be willing to help out the
 * Karma Houdini: Ikki's father, Itsuki Kurogane, does everything he can to ruin Ikki's life. His punishment? He is asked to stop (in the anime at least).
 * New Powers as the Plot Demands: This is explicitly Ikki's specialty - he can pick apart his opponents' skills and copy them.
 * Plot Armor: This is almost lampshaded in LN volume 7 during Ikki's battle with
 * Talking Is a Free Action: Especially in the anime, fighters and spectators get a LOT of words in during interactions that ought to take seconds at most.
 * The Power of Friendship: The support of all his friends helps carry Ikki through his final fight in LN volume 3 (anime episode 12).
 * The Power of Love: Stella's love is what carries Ikki through his fight with Kirihara in LN volume 1 (anime episode 4).
 * Took a Level in Badass: Stella takes a huge level in badass during her off-screen Training from Hell with Nene Saikyou in LN volume 5.
 * Training from Hell: Most notably, Stella does this under Nene Saikyou during LN volume 5. Also implied in many other places.
 * Trickster Mentor: Saikyou Nene acts as this for Stella in LN volume 5. She refuses to teach Stella anything and merely beats her up in an effort to force Stella to figure things out on her own.
 * The Worf Effect: This seems to be the main raison d'etre for Renji Kaga in LN volumes 5-7. He is introduced and built up as a badass fighter only to be defeated by to show how overwhelmingly powerful the latter is.