I Shall Survive Using Potions! (ポーション頼みで生き延びます！) is a Japanese light novel series written by FUNA.The series originated on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website, before being published in print with illustrations by Sukima by Kodansha beginning in June 2017. As of December 2023, ten volumes have been released. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Hibiki Kokonoe, was serialized on the Niconico-based Suiyōbi no Sirius platform in June 2017 to November 2021, with its individual chapters collected into nine volumes. A sequel manga, illustrated by Futsū Onshin, began serialization on the same platform in August 2022. As of November 2023, the manga's individual chapters have been collected into two volumes. An anime television series produced by Jumondou, aired from October to December 2023.
Premise
Kaoru Nagase dies due to a dimensional energy rift between worlds, though the God of her world saves her soul and mind; giving her a new life in Reverie, a world under goddess Celestine's jurisdiction. Kaoru asks for the power to create potions and other skills; though she most notably asks for Celestine's friendship, to avoid loneliness.
Characters
Kaoru Nagase (長瀬 香) / Kaoru (カオル)
Kaoru died young and was offered the chance to be reborn with a special power; having chosen to create potions along with an item box that can hold an infinite number of objects. She asks to befriend the goddess of her new world, Celestine, unintentionally becoming an ageless immortal, due to asking to be friends "for life". Her greatest desire is to fall in love with an average man and spread out her descendants in the world. She is a skilled tactician and deceiver, using clever planning to outsmart her opponents. Due to her friendship with Celestine, many believe she is a goddess or an angel who works with her.
Kaoru ends up causing major uproar in the world by voicing her opinion on nobility and the rich, and how their lives are a shame; it is mostly because she doesn't want to be used for personal gain or greedy desires.
Francette (フランセット)
Also known by her nickname Fran. A knight in originally her 30s; she was de-aged to her teen years thanks to a potion Kaoru gave her, having felt sorry Fran gave up her youth for knighthood. After being saved by death by Kaoru, she starts displaying a blood knight viciousness in battle. Since then, she has been obsessed with protecting Kaoru at all costs.
Emil (エミール)
Emil is the first orphan Kaoru met. She helped his group out and now Emil travels with her as one of Kaoru's bodyguards.
Belle (ベル)
Belle is one of Kaoru's bodyguards. She is also dating Emil.
Reyette (レイエット)
An orphan Kaoru helped save from kidnappers. Having no family due to her parents willingly giving her away, she became Kaoru's foster sister.
When Kaoru got trapped in her item box for 60 years, Reyette had a family of her own. Though she was happy to see again Kaoru again, once Celes let her out.
Celestine (セレスティーヌ)
Celestine is the Goddess of Kaoru's current world, and admirer of Earth's God. She also goes by her nickname Celes. Celestine has some troubles of her own. A "holy" nation founded itself under the delusion she blessed them; when the founders actually just bothered her, while she was fixing reality. She usually drops wooden buckets on Kaoru when she accidentally insults her.
She has a bad habit of not restraining her anger when someone in Verne upsets Celestine. When a past nation did so, several nearby nations suffered collateral damage.
The prince of Balmore Kingdom. He is Francette's fiancé and Serge's brother. Originally, he was meant for the throne but he was made ineligible thanks to his arm being rendered crippled. It was healed thanks to Kaoru, but he decided against taking the throne as he saw what a headache it is.
Serge
The king of the royal capital and Roland's brother. Unlike the royalty of the Brancott kingdom, Serge is wise and cautious about dealing with Kaoru. Not only is Kaoru clever, but she invoked the Goddess's name to avoid being summoned to the castle ever.
Fernand (フェルナン)
The prince of Brancott Kingdom. He originally met Kaoru when she gave advice out at the restaurant she waitresses at. Fernand fell in love with Kaoru for her brilliance, wishing to marry her, not even taking into consideration her opinion. Kaoru bluntly tells him that she detests the idea of being a high ranking noble, let alone royalty, and ran away. Unable to take the hint, Fernand remains obsessed with finding and marrying her, wasting his life. However, he is also tricked into thinking that Kaoru had a twin sister.
Fernand's childhood friend. He and Allan were able to understand Kaoru's wishes; however, they can't stop Fernand due to his status.
Administrator of Earth (地球の管理者)
Also known as the God of Earth. He is well known among the administrators for being good at his job. Celeste is known to desire his praise for a job well done. It was he who accidentally killed Kaoru and as an apology, he allowed her to be revived in Celes' world.
Renie
A greedy baron who tried to use Kaoru's potions for his own gain, but she escaped and stole some of his possessions. He sent men after her, but they double-cross him and allow her to escape as they are good friends with Kaoru.
Gilda
The owner of a hunter's guild.
Hannah
A maid who works for Renie. Kaoru stole her clothes and impersonated her to escape Renie's clutches. As an apology, Kaoru sent a potion back with her maid uniform; said potion made Hannah incredibly beautiful. As a result, a merchant fell in love with Hannah and they got married.
Hector and Eunice
Count Adan's children. They met Kaoru along with Fran and she helped them by giving them a healing potion for their sick grandmother.
Count Adan
Hector and Eunice's father.
Charles
A young boy who gave Kaoru a ride to the royal capital. He is Bowman's son.
Bowman
Charles's father, who gave Kaoru a ride to the royal capital.
Eme and Agathe
Two young waitresses whom Kaoru befriends.
Alemen
A viscount who was sent by Fernand to deliver an invitation and a package to Kaoru to make her come to a party at the castle, but she gets him in trouble when she tricks Fernand into thinking Alemen made a mistake with the delivery.
Johan Abilly
A company owner and Amelie's father.
Amelie
Johan's daughter. She had a terrible illness, but Kaoru helped to cure her.
Lolotte
An orphan girl and one of Emil and Belle's friends. She currently works at the Meyer Workshop. Asil has feelings for her.
Lucy
An orphan girl and one of Emil and Belle's friends. She now runs the house that the other orphan kids are living in.
Asil
Leotar's son. He requested Kaoru to help pretend to be his fiancée as he did not want to be married just yet. He has feelings for Lolotte.
Cedric
Asil's older brother and Leotar's eldest son.
Leotar
A viscount and Asil and Cedric's father.
Calvin
Cedric's servant. He originally had a disabled leg, but Kaoru helped healed him.
Ed
A horse who served as Kaoru's means of transportation after she healed his leg. Kaoru can understand him and she usually calls him "Silver".
Literisa and Salle
Two girls who were captured by kidnappers along with Reyette and Kaoru. After Kaoru defeats the kidnappers, they were reunited with their mothers.
Gum
An orphan boy who works for Kaoru after she opens a drugstore.
Mal and Mol
Two of Gum's friends. They also work for Kaoru after she opened a drugstore.
Olam
A greedy count who tried to take Kaoru's drugstore for his own, but she outfoxes him and he is forced to leave her alone.
Sevos von Larsrick
A lord who asked Kaoru to help find treasure hidden in his mansion.
Vonsas
A colonial who once aided Kaoru with stopping an epidemic.
Kyoko and Reiko
Two of Kaoru's friends from her old life. Upon learning of Kaoru's accidental death, they spoke to her spirit and accepted her new life in Verny.
Media
Light novel
Written by FUNA, the series began serialization on the novel posting website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on November 3, 2015.[13] The series was later acquired by Kodansha, who began publishing the series in print with illustrations by Sukima on June 1, 2017. As of April 2025, eleven volumes have been released.
In December 2018, J-Novel Club announced that they licensed the novels for English publication.[14]
Volumes
Volumes
Manga
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Hibiki Kokonoe, was serialized on the Niconico-based Suiyōbi no Sirius platform from June 7, 2017, to November 15, 2021.[28]Kodansha published the individual chapters in nine tankōbon volumes. A sequel to the manga adaptation illustrated by Futsū Onshin, titled ''I Shall Survive Using Potions! Continuation, began serialization on the same platform on August 1, 2022.[29] As of July 2025, the series' individual chapters have been collected into four tankōbon'' volumes.
In December 2018, J-Novel Club announced that they also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.[30]
A spin-off manga also illustrated by Sukima, titled ''I Shall Survive Using Potions! Hanano and Lotte's Journey, also began serialization on Suiyōbi no Sirius on January 30, 2023.[31] As of February 2025, the series' individual chapters have been collected into two tankōbon'' volumes.
Volumes
First series
Second series
First series
Second series
Hanano and Lotte's Journey
Volumes
First series
Second series
First series
Second series
Hanano and Lotte's Journey
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on February 24, 2023.[48] It is produced by Jumondou and directed by Nobuaki Nakanishi, with scripts written by Takayo Ikami, character designs handled by Chisato Kikunaga, and music composed by Hiroaki Tsutsumi.[49] The series aired from October 8 to December 24, 2023, on the Animazing!!! programming block on all ANN affiliates, including ABC and TV Asahi, as well as other networks.[50] The opening theme song is "Tailwind" by Katagiri,[51] while the ending theme song is "Love Is a Potion" by Harmoe.[52]
Episodes
Reception
Volumes of the manga adaptation have ranked on various bestseller charts, such as those published by BookLive! and Oricon.[56][57]
Amazon removal
In July 2020, the series' light novel and manga adaptation were among several series temporarily removed from Amazon; Amazon stated that the affected series "did not fall within their global content guidelines."[58]
2.Muse, Erica. Thrilled to be joining the wonderful cast of #IShallSurviveUsingPotions as Emile on @Crunchyroll 🥰THANK YOU SO MUCH @ReadyKafka 💖🥹 @WetchKatie is precious and wonderful to play off of! Go check it out 😊 November 6, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
3.Matthews, Leo. So excited to announce I voice Belle in I Shall Survive by Making Potions! Green haired characters are always a weakness of mine and it's such a joy that I get to finally play one! 🥰 Thank you @ReadyKafka for having me on board! (And @WetchKatie for the potion!) November 11, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
4.Gann, Shawn. @morglea plays our young friend! December 9, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
6.Loera, Branden. 👑 Role Announcement 👑 Another show, another soon-to-be king! I play Fernand Brancott in #IshallSurviveUsingPotions! Ep2 dub is out now on @Crunchyroll. I typically play a noble or a villain - Fern *might* be both?? MANY thanks to @ReadyKafka for trusting + believing in me!! October 29, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
7.Feeney, Dusty. 💚ROLE ANNOUNCEMENT💚 You can hear me as Charles in "I Shall Survive Using Potions!"! I am so excited to be apart of [sic] this cute show. Thank you so much to @ReadyKafka for bringing me in and getting to play. Watch now on @Crunchyroll!! October 29, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
8.Breedlove, Drew. Happy to say you can hear me pop in towards the end of Episode 2 of "I Shall Survive Using Potions" (English Dub) as the pompous "Viscount Aleman". As well as some other voices scattered throughout the episode!🧪 Not going to lie, playing this type of character is always fun🧐 Thanks to @ReadyKafka for allowing me to be a part of this cute, yet hilarious show!✨ Check it out, now on @Crunchyroll 🔥🔥 October 28, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
9.Jaymes, Dakota. FIRST NAMED ROLE ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 🧪 I am so incredibly honored to be playing the crafty tinkerer Asil in I Shall Survive Using Potions Ep 3! As a foodie, this meal by @katie_wetch was the highlight of my character's life! Huge thanks to @readykafka for the fantastic direction! November 4, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
10.McDonald, Landon. Positively chuffed to join the cast of I SHALL SURVIVE USING POTIONS as the valiant Viscount Sevos von Larsrick! Much love to @ReadyKafka for throwing me into the mix! January 13, 2024, retrieved April 6, 2025^
11.Flatley, Monica. Stoked to announce I had the opportunity to voice one of Kaoru's besties, Kyoko, and also the head maid, in the dub of I Shall Survive Using Potions ep 1, which is available to watch on @Crunchyroll! It was so much fun getting to play besties with people I call friends irl☺️🥰 October 23, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
12.Blythe, Abigail. Excited to announce I joined the cast of I Shall Survive Using Potions in episode 1 as Reiko, one of Kaoru's best friends! This is such an awesome cast, happy to be a part of it:) the art style is so cute, check it out on Crunchyroll! October 23, 2023, retrieved April 6, 2025^
