Ousama Ranking (Ranking of Kings)

Jabra

Hm, so they just covered more chapters each episode. I thought the pacing was weird, but I figured it was intentional. As if the story is being retold by a child, fitting the overall look and vibe of the anime.
Anyway, I'm also one of those who binged it due to Robby's sig.

! It was really entertaining, but I don't dare to call it great yet. For one because it's still ongoing (:getlost:), but also because it reminds me of Attack on Titan in a way. Back then I also thought it was amazing, thanks to the overall novelty and the anime making up for the poor art of the manga. Now this is almost a decade ago, but I clearly remember an interview with someone who appeared to be a Japanese senior editor / renowned manga critic, and he completely destroyed Attack on Titan. He noted that the series has nothing to offer except for excess nudity and some cheap shock factor from people being eaten alive, and once you take it away you're left with nothing. I don't remember my exact reaction to the interview, but it was more or less "okay boomer".
! Except he was completely right. Once I got used to the characters dying brutal deaths and the reveal of the Titan origin, I lost all interest in the story. It's not that I disliked a certain turn of events, it just exposed how lacking the story was once I became numb to the innitial hook.
! And I kinda fear Ranking of Kings is a similiar deal. What will be left once you remove [[URL="https://c.tenor.com/X7cdzpjfypwAAAAC/ousama-ranking-anime-tears.gif"]ridiculously adorable crying boy being ridiculously adorable]? When you get used to likeable characters getting maimed left and right, only to be healed shortly after? I'm not going to lie, it worked super well for me. This is a textbook tearjerker anime, and I really don't tear up easily. But at one point these tricks won't work anymore, not if it isn't underlaid with real emotional attachment. I'm not attached to any of those characters. The disabled boy making adorable noises holds my emotions hostage, that's not attachment.
! I would still recommend it to friends (with the clear warning that this is still ongoing!), but I'm not expecting much past this first season.

Blissed

The first half of this was so good, shame about the rest of it… I still like the characters, but yea, the whole business with Miranjo and Bosse really tanked my interest quite a bit.

Robby

@Jabra:

I would still recommend it to friends (with the clear warning that this is still ongoing!), but I'm not expecting much past this first season.

Given that it is super close to catching up with the manga and adapted most of the 5 year run already, its unlikely there will be a second season anytime soon. They could have easily padded out this material to run for two years and didn't.

That made for an extremely tight pacing which is good but also… it does feel a little rushed.

Probably better that we're not getting a FMA situation though.

! When you get used to likeable characters getting maimed left and right, only to be healed shortly after?

! I was fine with it mostly because the saves kept feeling earned moments of desperation, but yeah, like Oda, he played that card one time too many and at some point it does start to kill the drama a bit.
! Hilling heals everyone she can, but is out of juice now. Okay, now its serious.
Wait, Kage had a stock of potions on him! That makes sense, he stored all sorts of stuff. Close call! But now she's really out and now its serious.
Wait, Duranjo had a change of heart and she's healing everyone. Uhm… well now she's gone so.. serious?
Wait, King Boss with his raw power, in Daida's body heals everyone! Of course, that makes perfect sense, of COURSE Daida can heal everyone, he got that from his mother! Its not set up but it makes sense and its a badass reveal moment! And the field of flowers really makes it work!
! The fact that all four of these heals happened in the same fight within like 6 episodes is what pushed it a bit much. Three of those felt really legit, but the Duranjo heal, however much the story needed her to do something redeeming, was a real cheat and unfair and just... really killed the stakes. Since everyone was going to be healed like an episode later by Bosse anyway, couldn't that have been skipped?
! I was mostly fine with the miracle saves, it IS a shonen after all, but they did pull it out one time too many too close together. Makes it all the more awkward that some characters lost eyes and limbs....
! And that was on top of the constant string of saves. First it was the giant snake, then Boji, then one of the kings, then the knights, then Boji again, then Bosse...
! Basically all those moments were cool but they shouldn't have all been on the same fight. Or not all in the same place.
! Part 2 is going to need to deliver on some consequences at some point.

Pepperoni

Just finished it…Season 2 is too far away...

black-leg jex

Not even any manga scans to read the few chapters not covered. Truly a long wait.

Robby

Was episode 23 the last episode? It sure SEEMS like a last episode. I swear I read before that it was going to be 24 episodes but everything I'm finding now says 23?

Well,if that was it, that was a nice ending. Not super intensive and not a lot happened, kind of whatever on its own, but worked as part of the whole. Basically the sort of ending you want for this sort of series.

I'm good for now until the next part comes around.

That's probably a good stopping point since… a lot happens immediately after in the manga, but its not Bojji focused at all... but might be important for truly wrapping up this season's story? So I dunno. That's a good stopping point but one more ep would cover some stuff that they'd already set up in the previous episodes.. but also set up a lot of future things?
.

@black-leg:

Not even any manga scans to read the few chapters not covered. Truly a long wait.

The only scans I've found are up to chapter 62, which is about halfway. SO yeah, a ways to go. But considering they didn't even start until the show hit, they're moving pretty quick. I wonder if they might start prioritizing the part 2 content now that the show is done?

https://ou-samaranking.com/

There's also the raw…. in Korean. There's really not a whole lot of dialogue and the visuals do the job pretty well in telling the story.

https://manatoki125.net/comic/7630310?stx=%EC%9E%84%EA%B8%88%EB%8B%98+%EB%9E%AD%ED%82%B9

! Boji vs. Bosse in Daida's body starts in chapter 131… the anime did some serious heavy lifting on making that fight awesome. The final episode starts in chapter 141 and goes through 145. The next four or five chapters are immediate follow up to things and seem like they're super important and would make sense for the anime to fit in one more episode... and then it starts up Bojji's next adventure and introducing new characters. I haven't looked much further than that yet thoguh.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Pepperoni:

Yeah I think Bebin and Despa are my favourite designs so far. Bebin, especially, is giving me major 60's/70's vibes with his hairstyle and facial hair. Like a Frank Zappa or a Charles Bronson (the actor, not the prisoner).

@Pepperoni:

! Also speaking of character designs, Despa reminded me a lot of yesteryear actor Errol Flynn

! And Desha kind of reminds me of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

! Just feltlike these were worth reposting given that they were before the forum went down and not everyone is going to read the thread from the first page. I dunno about Bebbin bt the other two are spot on and almost certainly the inspiration. You don't get that kind of mustache and chin by accident.

puffing.cinema

Just finished the show and

! I don't really know how to feel about Miranjo-Bosse relationship at all. I mean, she lost her father to him, but that didn't seem to cause a lasting impact; she forgives him together with her mom. There's the betrayal of the neighbour kingdom and the torture which are vindicated by Bosse. Then it seems that she sees him as a protector, a bit of a father figure. It eventually evolves into a romantic relationship. Probably it's not strange to creatures of longer life span to groom a kid into a something else, but iiiiirking feelings over here. Anyhow, he feels like he owns her because the plot SHE ARRANGED for him to be the strongest also gives him a family and a kingdom. lol. and she wants to ~~go back and be only the 2 of them adventuring together, so she stages a COUP that kills the reigning queen, brings Hilling into the scene to give Bosse a new body (it seems that age really doesn't matter here) and proceeds to rob the kingdom of his descendents. I MEAN. In the process a part of her is casted into the Shadow Realm together with Daida, who bounds over trauma and somehow seems to be confusing pity with love. woah. I…it just seems that she get off with all this senseless destruction with so little punishment that it makes it all sounds a bit forced. the bitch couldn't even keep her word to the demon, betrayed him twice. If Daida had not interfered, she would have a punishment that was really terrible and wouldn't make up for her mistakes, so some kind of rendemption was due but c'mon...she goes from that to royalty??? Like that???? what???? It just tastes bitter in my mouth.

The last episode was really moving, I won't lie that I cried a bit when the kingdom's elite recognized Bojji and when he makes peace with Kage. cool shit.

zeltrax225

! The last episode really make me feel like this series would have worked as a kingdom in one piece and Bocchi reminds me of the kinder kings in OP verse. Well, before a crocodile or doflamingo comes and wreck things up because really, when everyone is redeemable, you are basically welcoming the cunning with open arms. A very shounen series that's really good for kids but a bit too cheesy for me near the end. Still great though. Love the second opening. I do think that this is where the series might have peaked but eh, maybe I'll check back in a decade and see myself wrong.

Jabra

@Robby:

That's probably a good stopping point since… a lot happens immediately after in the manga, but its not Bojji focused at all...

Would you mind giving me a mini-spoiler? I just want to know…

! … if they show us what awaits Desha in the N.1 King treasure vault. Don't tell me what it is, just if they address it in the next couple chapters or if it remains the mega secret of the series (similiar to the One Piece). I might tap into the manga if it's resolved soonish.

Also Desha is the best side character, if only for completely superficial reasons.

!

El-Matematico

The ending impliying more world exploration and adventures is a really good hook for a second season in the long future when there's enough content. About the other stuff that happened

! When the spirit of the first queen appears giving a thumbs up, I could literally hear "Miranjo is the coolest girl" with Naruto's voice in my head.
Overall I enjoyed the first part a lot but the Miranjo plot really dragged the second part, including that random origin story that could interpreted as colonialist.

From the setup of the last chapter plus some very minor spoilers I've been exposed to, I'm optimistic for the next arc.

Squaztina

It started out great, then it became a bit weird. My favourite characters are Bojji, Kage, Despa, Desha and Hiling.
The first opening wasn't great, but I loved the second one.

! That Miranjo-Bosse and Miranjo-Daida was too much for me. Not just the relationships, I can see the Miranjo Bosse connection, but the other one… Um... why? She is ruthless and selfish. The bizarre things when she found wives for Bosse, and wanting to kill both of them and their kids too, then she is engaged to the kid whose body used to be controlled by her love... I can't wrap my head around those. And she suddenly "changes" and her crimes are forgiven and forgotten. No-no-no. I don't mind characters having reasons to be bad or "evil", but how can their doings be washed away that quickly?

I'm curious about the continuation though. I liked the last episode.

Robby

@Jabra:

Would you mind giving me a mini-spoiler? I just want to know…

! … if they show us what awaits Desha in the N.1 King treasure vault. Don't tell me what it is, just if they address it in the next couple chapters or if it remains the mega secret of the series (similiar to the One Piece). I might tap into the manga if it's resolved soonish.

They do show that yes, almost immediately. Also get followup on Ouken as well.

It really really surprises me that they didn't show these things since they're very immediate resolution… but since I'm just looking at raw images maybe there's a ton of story setup and that would be bad to end on..

@Squaztina:

! That Miranjo-Bosse and Miranjo-Daida was too much for me. Not just the relationships, I can see the Miranjo Bosse connection, but the other one… Um... why? She is ruthless and selfish. The bizarre things when she found wives for Bosse, and wanting to kill both of them and their kids too, then she is engaged to the kid whose body used to be controlled by her love... I can't wrap my head around those. And she suddenly "changes" and her crimes are forgiven and forgotten. No-no-no. I don't mind characters having reasons to be bad or "evil", but how can their doings be washed away that quickly?

! The reason is because Bosse needed more strength and to live longer. And he got that by stealing from his kids. But giants apparently only get one child, so he wasn't going to get another with her so… arranged for her death so he could get another wife and another kid to steal lifeforce from.
! And she tried to kill Hilling later because she was going to get in the way of using Daida's body.
! And Daida fell for her because he saw her horrific past where she was tortured and abused and had he hands cut off and eyes gouged out and saw that she DID have a lot of compassion and caring in her... but she lost sight of things along the way in the name of her greater goal of keeping Bosse alive longer.... which wasn't actually what he wanted in the end.
! She did so much crap I wouldn't be able to forgive her even so, but Daida's apparently a better person than me. Maybe he sees some of his own aarogance and misguided goal seeking in her. He was fascinated with her even when she was just a mirror after all.

but how can their doings be washed away that quickly?

Everyone is a bit too forgiving. But no reason punishing them for whats already past if they're already repentant and can make up for it and help people now?

Pepperoni

@black-leg:

Not even any manga scans to read the few chapters not covered. Truly a long wait.

@Robby:

The only scans I've found are up to chapter 62, which is about halfway. SO yeah, a ways to go. But considering they didn't even start until the show hit, they're moving pretty quick. I wonder if they might start prioritizing the part 2 content now that the show is done?

https://ou-samaranking.com/

There's also the raw…. in Korean. There's really not a whole lot of dialogue and the visuals do the job pretty well in telling the story.

https://manatoki125.net/comic/7630310?stx=%EC%9E%84%EA%B8%88%EB%8B%98+%EB%9E%AD%ED%82%B9.

@Jabra:

Would you mind giving me a mini-spoiler? I just want to know…

@Squaztina:

I'm curious about the continuation though. I liked the last episode.

Home Hero Scans is continuing the scanlation of the manga with Part 2, picking up right where the anime ended. They've only done a few chapters so far, but I expect the pace will start picking up again soon.

https://homeheroscans.com/series/or2

Robby

Awesome!

The site that was translating the first chunk is up to chapter 68.5 now.
https://ou-samaranking.com/

I know there's a link for 69 but its not up yet, I think they're managing a chapter or two a week, but not consistently uploading them.

Pepperoni

@Robby:

Awesome!

The site that was translating the first chunk is up to chapter 68.5 now.
https://ou-samaranking.com/

I know there's a link for 69 but its not up yet, I think they're managing a chapter or two a week, but not consistently uploading them.

Nice :happy: It feels very much like I'm going to be following the manga from here on out. I don't think I have the patience to stay away until (if?) Wit Studio does a second season.

Robby

Yeah… unless the manga has a very short arc and they do like a 9 or 10 episode mini season, or they make up some filler, it'll be 4 or 5 years before there's enough material to make another full season out of.

Following the manga seems the better bet even though the chapters are VERY short. They're a full page count, but they fill a lot of space with nonverbal communication so it takes a lot of space to do a little.

Ivotas

Ok, chapter 68.5 is why I still prefer reading the manga over watching the anime. A lovely short self contained one off would never make into the speedrunning anime. However looking at the final page…

! …does this actually mean Bojji has been asskicking a baby across the underworld? :blink:

Pepperoni

@Ivotas:

Ok, chapter 68.5 is why I still prefer reading the manga over watching the anime. A lovely short self contained one off would never make into the speedrunning anime.

This is very true. If you ever wondered what happened to the little girl, Poise, from Kage's flashback you should read Chapter 167.5 (Bonus Chapter).

Ivotas

@Pepperoni:

This is very true. If you ever wondered what happened to the little girl, Poise, from Kage's flashback you should read Chapter 167.5 (Bonus Chapter).

You mean the girl that saved Kage? Cool. I was hoping we'd see her again.

Robby

Chapters 160, and… 167.5? are out.

https://homeheroscans.com/series/or2

Meanwhile the first translation is now up to chapter 69, pretty much starting the bandit invasion showcasing who all the baddies are going to be..

https://ou-samaranking.com/

Pepperoni

Yeah it's weird having to read both part 1 and part 2 simultaneously and waiting for the scanlations to catch up in the middle, but it's a whole lot better than where we were a year ago when there were only around 15 chapters translated.

Ivotas

Yeah, great that it's been picked up for translation. I wish other series I followed would also have someone pick them up again after they got dropped by the previous team. =/

Robby

161 is out.

https://homeheroscans.com/read/or2?ch=161

The manga was at chapter 180 when I looked at raw back in March, so it should be catching up pretty quick.

I'm starting to see why the anime stopped where it did. Yes, doing one more episode would have more fully resolved a lot of things, but those same things lead immediately into new ongoing stuff and would have needed recapping if they ever do another season..

Pepperoni

So I can see that there are two different scanlation groups working on it. Any idea why there is such a huge difference in the background art?

!
!

Jabra

! Desha no :cwy:
! Ah well. Curious that they revealed the contents of the treasure vault this early. I thought it would be the mega-hook of the series, so what's left now? Did Bojii even state that he wants to become number 1 King anyway? I can't remember.
! Also funny how the "SBS" practically told the audience to not be this obnoxious with the Bosse / Miranjo ship.

How do we handle this work in regards to spoilers btw? Anime? Latest scan?

Candide

So chapter 156 is where Part 2 starts, right?
Sorry for asking, but I am a little bit afraid of spoiling myself…

black-leg jex

@Candide:

So chapter 156 is where Part 2 starts, right?
Sorry for asking, but I am a little bit afraid of spoiling myself…

Yep, that is correct

Candide

@black-leg:

Yep, that is correct

Thank you big time

Robby

@Pepperoni:

So I can see that there are two different scanlation groups working on it. Any idea why there is such a huge difference in the background art?

! [qimg]https://i.imgur.com/HJsCLFw.png[/qimg]
! [qimg]https://i.imgur.com/FYDtRBQ.png[/qimg]

Huh, weird!

Well, the chapters are digital release, so I would guess the author is just tweaking some stuff as he goes. In that particular case changing the composition so the focus is on the characters and not the big fluffy tree. He might have gotten a background assistant now and maybe there's some hurdles to figure out?

@Jabra:

! How do we handle this work in regards to spoilers btw? Anime? Latest scan?
! That's tricky since its all over the place and updates are sporadic and not caught up to the actual release.
! So I guess for now assume everyone is caught of up on the anime, and just be careful with anything past chapter 156 and use your best judgement. A little down the road we can settle more into "whatever the most recent chapter posted in here is" but its still a transition period.
! I updated the first post of the thread with a an update on the scan situation and spoilers. I hope Pepperoni doesn't mind.

Seafarer33

@Jabra:

I thought it would be the mega-hook of the series, so what's left now?

Wouldn't that be why is there a vault in the first place ? Plus what happened to the gods and why is someone hell-bent on ranking kings. From what we see in the first part and recent chapters, those gods aren't the benevolent sort and the kings who received their treasures must not have gone down in history as enlightened pacifists. Not to mention Masked Ranking Guy is shady at best. Lots of mysteries to unravel and lots of messes to clean up for sure. The treasure vault would be the perfect hook for a One Piece type of series, though.

Pepperoni

@Robby:

Huh, weird!

Well, the chapters are digital release, so I would guess the author is just tweaking some stuff as he goes. In that particular case changing the composition so the focus is on the characters and not the big fluffy tree. He might have gotten a background assistant now and maybe there's some hurdles to figure out?

Yeah I guess that makes sense

@Robby:

I updated the first post of the thread with a an update on the scan situation and spoilers. I hope Pepperoni doesn't mind.

No worries

@Seafarer33:

Wouldn't that be why is there a vault in the first place ?

I thought this was sort of hinted at in episode 19

!

Seafarer33

@Pepperoni:

I thought this was sort of hinted at in episode 19

It definitely was, but, unless I'm misremembering, that hint is all we ever got. If the series wants to expand on that aspect, there is ample room I would say.

Jabra

@Seafarer33:

Wouldn't that be why is there a vault in the first place ?

! I guess that can work, but I never questioned why there is a legendary treasure vault. Just like I didn't question why Hilling can heal people, or what those drinks are that keep her energy up, or why magic in general exists, or a clan made of shadow blob creatures, Giants and Orcs, three-headed snakes, a speaking mirror or monkey paw wish-granting devils…
! The author created a world that is extremely basic, with designs & tropes so common that they don't require an explanation. It's a standard fantasy world with elements that have been used hundreds of times already. On the upside this allows the writer to use this familiarity against me, my expectations are constantly subverted in various ways and that's kinda fun (and imo the main appeal of the setting). But I also have no reason to ask myself questions such as "why is there a legendary vault?".
! Mind that this is no criticism, I just find it curious that the author doesn't milk the "what's in the box?" trope a bit longer. Like, show us the reformed Ouken and the now retarded (?) Desha, but not every content of the vault and what caused the former winners to die/disappear/become weird.

Daz

I've started on the webcomic, and at 20 chapters in this is very, very good so far. My only real problems have been not fully understanding what, if anything, Boji wants to journey to (does he just want to leave in general?), and finding it weird that theres no real reaction from anyone to the dissapearance of Snake Charmer Guy after his duel with Lance Guy.
Still, its highly engaging. The deesigns are great and expressive, and much like OPM this guy just knows how to structure his panels and his storytelling.

Also, I was aware the pacing was fast in the anime, but judging by the previews in the threads first page they cover more than 20 chapters in 4 episodes????? Thats not just fast, thats warp speed!

Seafarer33

@Jabra:

But I also have no reason to ask myself questions such as "why is there a legendary vault?"

! In any other series - or a different vault of this series - I would agree, but since this one revolves around ranking kings (eventhough the anime did manage to almost entirely dodge the topic :ninja:) and how that is probably another plot of the gods, I'm willing to hear a little more about this specific legendary vault.
Not unlike what you describe, maybe the author doesn't care much about what's inside the vault (basic fantasy treasures indeed) and prefer to focus instead on how it will affect Boji & co. This series is very much character-driven, so even the vault is merely scenery to another story. They're likely aware the world is very basic and so they don't bother with big reveals or epic full-spread landscapes.
! But yes, absoluty agree on this, it's a very basic world but pleasingly so. I'm constantly reminded of Castle Crashers when reading, likely because of the minimalist worldbuilding and artstyle. That it cleverly subverts the reader's expectations is what made me like the series in the first place. If Hilling had been only the spiteful stepmom, or Daida the easily-manipulated brat, they are first painted as, I would probably have dropped it.

Robby

@Daz:

Also, I was aware the pacing was fast in the anime, but judging by the previews in the threads first page they cover more than 20 chapters in 4 episodes????? Thats not just fast, thats warp speed!

Its generally about 4 chapters per episode yes, more in fight heavy episodes. They get to chapter 155 by episode 23!

But the comic is VERY heavy on spending panels to show facial reactions and characters nodding and such, and generally very low on dialogue. (Bojji not talking lends to that.) Action sequences even more so.

The anime loses a handful of small things (mostly some bonus side chapters) but otherwise it gets very nearly everything and generally doesn't feel rushed at all and in fact just feels super tightly paced as a result and episodes just fly by..

Kirbycide

I just picked this up, too. About 25 chapters in, and I absolutely love it.

My favorite sequences are the panels where characters are reminiscing and showing their reactions to their own memories. Very cool.

Bojji is awesome.

Robby

@Kirbycide:

Bojji is awesome.

Yes. Yes he is.

This was my reaction to basically every episode of the anime after I caught up.

@Robby:

Bojji is just the best. So is Kage.

@Robby:

Bojji is just the freaking best.

@Robby:

…Bojji is just the freaking best.

@Robby:

Bojji is just the best.

@Robby:

Also, Bojji is still the freaking best.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Oh hey, it looks like the soundtrack was released last month.

https://www.theouterhaven.net/2022/03/ranking-of-kings-original-anime-soundtrack-out-today/

It IS on Spotify.

TLC

Just started this and yeah this is pretty great.

Jabra

I'm not saying one should watch the anime over the manga, but just for those who are unsure: The anime has triple A production quality, on a level comparable to One Punch Man or Attack on Titan (early seasons). Even if you end up disliking the series, time is never wasted on something looking this good.

Robby

The anime does a LOT of heavy lifting making the manga look better. Especially the early material, and the action sequences.

The amng art improves later but it is ROUGH at the start.

Pepperoni

The voice acting has been on point as well. I can't believe Domas and Loid Forger from Spy x Family share the same VA.

Robby

Both Japanese AND English are really strong.

Daz

I'm up to the part where Domas

! rescues other knight guy from execution. Things are still interesting, but I'm a bit worn out by all the mysteries surrounding
! Bosse and the magic mirror; It seems they have multiple mysterious plans going on all at once and characters are flip-flopping allegiances constantly, I'm having real trouble finding some sort of stable status quo or character motivation to latch onto. Everything the main villain(?) does is inscrutable, to the point where I'm not totally sure he's a villain? Mostly I'm just confused. Like a few two many cards are being witheld from me to be fully engaged.

Robby

I'm not sure at what exact point you're at that you're confused, (it all blurs together for me now since I watched a large chunk of it in a binge) but that shouldn't last long, the series doesn't really hold any mysteries for any major length of time.

Though I watched the anime first and it DID restructure and move some stuff around a little bit for pacing reasons, so it might be a little more iffy in the manga.

Kirbycide

Gah! Chapters 70-114 are missing on MangaDex.

Ivotas

@Kirbycide:

Gah! Chapters 70-114 are missing on MangaDex.

That's because they haven't beem translated yet. Usually they translated a chunk of chapters at once while the anime was going. It was as if they wanted to catch up with the anime. But ever since the anime has ended the scans have started to get out less frequently.

Kirbycide

Gotcha. I suppose that I can wait, then.

Thanks!

Robby

@Kirbycide:

Gah! Chapters 70-114 are missing on MangaDex.

From the first post which I updated last week!

The manga wasn't being translated prior to the anime so there is currently no complete translation.

There are currently two scan groups working on the series, one translating the chapters the anime covered, (currently up to chapter 70) and one picking up in "Part 2", directly from where the anime left off, starting in chapter 156.

Note that while the anime covered the manga very solidly and with zero filler, there are still some bonus chapters and mild character bits that are skimmed over, so if you have the time its probably still worth at least skimming part one. Particularly the "bonus" chapters, which tend to be labeled with a .5 at the end, indicating they're an inbetween bonus, such as such as 13.5, 27.5, 41.5, etc.

Part 1
https://ou-samaranking.com/

Part 2 (starting from chapter 156)
https://homeheroscans.com/series/or2

Robby

While the forum has been down, translations of the first half of the series haven't really moved forward any. (And in fact seems to have lost chapters?)

However the post-anime Part 2 section is now up to chapter 166, one chapter away from finishing up volume 13 which is the current latest volume. I'm not sure what the actual current chapter is, but as that volume came out in April I don't think its much further than that.

https://homeheroscans.com/series/or2

Also announced a special episode, titled Ōsama Ranking: Yūki no Takarabako, is set to premiere in 2023. The cast and staff from the anime series will return for the episode, which will feature a story that was not in the original series.