History Literature / The8thSonAreYouKiddingMe

''The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?'' is a LightNovel series about Wendelin von Benno Baumeister (or "Well" for short), formerly known as {{Salaryman}} Shingo Ichinomiya, who falls asleep and wakes up as the eighth and youngest son of a poor noble family. At first worried about repeating an uneventful life in this new world, Well eventually learns that he was born with [[TheGift an unusual talent for magic]] and is privately trained by a very powerful magician. Once he's old enough, he leaves home and goes in search of his own fame and fortune, and quickly finds it in no small part due to his immense talent.

The original web novel series ran from June 2013 to March 2017, and has been adapted into a light novel and manga series which are still ongoing, as well as an anime adaptation that ran in the Spring 2020 anime block.

** The details of Wells' engagement to Iina and Louise. In the manga, Louise and Iina tries to seduce Wells in his bedroom as part of their plan to become his mistresses, only for Wells to reveal he was already in love with them and wants them to be his wives instead. In the anime, it's Elsie who tells Wells he should get engaged with Louise and Iina, which he reluctantly agrees to after being pressured by all three girls.
* ArchnemesisDad: Roderick knows that his father, Baron Ruckner, is a shady, underhanded schemer and was disowned by him because his mother was a commoner. He thus helps Well uncover and foil his plot as sense of personal obligation.

* BadassNormal: Erwin has ''zero'' magical ability whatsoever. All of his fighting skill comes from good old fashioned hard work.

* BeachEpisode: Following Well being officially married to his wives, they take a trip to the beach. It is here that Well gets his harem to wear the swimsuits he had designed for them (ie swimsuits of modern day Earth).

* EvilCounterpart: Baron Ruckner can be considered as Wendelin's counterpart, when it comes to being the younger son of a family of nobles, Ruckner is driven to envy of his older brother, while Wendelin does not feel that sort of mindset to his brothers.

* TheMistress: Well's father has a mistress who's also the mother of his two older sisters and two other older brothers. It is custom among male noblemen to have a "sex educator" who teaches them the most enjoyable and proper ways to have sexual intercourse before marrying. In Well's case, his is [[spoiler:former sister-in-law Amalie, who eventually falls in love with him and becomes his mistress. Even bearing him a child later.]] He also gets several other mistresses as well.

* StockLightNovelHero: Ticks every box. A normal {{Salaryman}} falls asleep and [[ReincarnateInAnotherWorld wakes up]] as a nobleman with extremely high magical power. He then gains a harem of female consorts, and amasses both wealth and authority that make him one of the key players within his new fantasy world.
* SuccessfulSiblingSyndrome: Kurt, Well's eldest brother, and heir to the Baumeister Barony, becomes defensive of his position and title once Well quickly gains prestige in the kingdom, fearing that Well will seek to usurp him. Well never intended to give Kurt trouble, and had always planned to leave the Barony upon realizing he could use magic. [[spoiler:Of course, while Well was willing to let Kurt be, the kingdom was looking to replace Kurt with Well, as Well's wealth could be put to used into finally developing the Baumeister Barony.]]

* {{Wutai}}: The Mizuho Earldom is one of territories under the domain of the Holy Empire Urquhart, and is basically Feudal Japan to the reincarnated Well. When his friends note that the Mizuho cuisine resembles the Japanese food that Well managed to recreate, [[SureLetsGoWithThat Well "admits" it was Mizuho cuisine he was reproducing.]]

* EyeTwitching: Lord Commissioner Ruckner does this when reading off the list of one of Well's [[DisproportionateReward rewards]] for his and his party's discovering the ancient artifacts in the ruins they were exploring (which would have to be spread out over 20 YEARS just to pay it all and not put the kingdom in debt). Keep in mind [[spoiler: He's a member of the BenevolentConspiracy]]

* BenevolentConspiracy: [[spoiler: Several key members of the kingdom's nobles are plotting to make Well the heir of his family's Knightdom, such as ensuring he gets promoted at a fast rate to justify his appointment via his rank or making sure the majority of the rewards go to him in order to have him be able to fund the development of the frontier in his family's lands.]]

* EvilCounterpart: Baron Ruckner can be considerd as Wendelin's counterpart, when it comes to being the younger son of a family of nobles, Ruckner is driven to envy of his older brother, while Wendelin does not feel that sort of mindset to his brothers.

* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Baron Ruckner and his co-conspirators are [[spoiler:killed by the vengeful spirit of Kurt, whom they manipulated against Well.]]

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Every episode except for the last one is some variation of "____? Are You Kidding Me?", the blank usually being related to the episode's events in some way.

* BabiesEverAfter: Well has children with ''all'' of the women he marries, as well as from a few mistresses as well.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hachinantte_sore_wa_inai_desh_light_novel_volume_1_cover.jpg]]

** Well in the anime has low confidence and a lack of communication skills while Wells in the manga and novels doesn't and was even friends with Erwin during the academy.
** How Wells got engaged to Iina and Louise is different. In the manga, Louise and Iina tries to seduce Wells in his bedroom as part of their plan to become his mistresses only for Wells to reveal he was already in love with them and wants them to be his wives instead. In the anime, it was Elsie's who tells Wells he should get engaged with Louise and Iina which he reluctantly agress after being pressured by all three girls.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Well is often exasperate by the differing social mores between his new home and his native Japan. Most notably, he is taken aback by ArrangedMarriage -- when he's told that almost everyone marries someone they've never met before, he is surprised by how different it is than what he's used to.

* TheMistress: Well's father has a mistress whose also the mother of his two older sisters and two other older brothers. It is custom amongst male noblemen to have a "sex educator" that teaches them the most enjoyable and proper ways to have sexual intercourse before marrying. In Well's case, his is [[spoiler:former sister-in-law Amalie, who eventually falls in love with him and becomes his mistress. Even bearing him a child later.]] He also gets several other mistresses as well.

* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: When Well accidentally becomes engaged to Elise, he is at first taken aback and wonders if it's a good idea given that they barely know one another. But, after going on a few dates, it becomes clear that Elise is quite smitten with him and they are a perfect match.

* SecretTestOfCharacter: Subverted and played for laughs. When Well first enrolls in the school for adventurers, everyone assumes that because he is a high level magician that he is secretly judging them and testing whether or not they are worthy to become his companions. As such, no one actually tries to befriend or talk to him, because they're all on edge trying to put their best foot forward to impress him. In truth, Well was just hoping to make friends and wasn't even aware that people would treat him like such a big deal anyway.
* SelfProclaimedLoveInterest: One of the King's cousins claims to be Elsie's "fiance" and demands to Well to hand her back despite the fact Elsie doesn't like him and her grandfather the Cardinal has repeatedly told the guy he doesn't like him as well and refuses any marriage proposal between them. It doesn't help the cousin is an arrogant FatBastard and already has three dozen wives!

** One of the King's cousin is an arrogant FatBastard who challenged Well to a duel for Elsie's hand in marriage despite both Elsie and her grandfather disapprove of him and refuses any engagement with him. He then tried to cheat by using a monster to kill Well only to be become blubbering mess when Well's defeats the monster and the King arrests his cousin for cheating.

* {{Wutai}}: The Mizuho Earldom is one of territories under the domain of the Holy Empire Urquhart, and is basically feudal Japan to the reincarnated Well. When his friends note that the Mizuho cuisine resembles the Japanese food that Well managed to recreate, [[SureLetsGoWithThat Well "admits" it was Mizuho cuisine he was reproducing.]]

* BeachEpisode: Following Will being officially married to his wives, they take a trip to the beach. It is here that Will gets his harem to wear the swimsuits he had designed for them (ie swimsuits of modern day Earth).

* CivilWar: The Holy Empire Urquhart ends up in one while Will and his party were visiting the nation with a group of diplomats. Will and his friends end up fighting for one side(technically they were considered mercenaries and not agents of their kingdom) against the usurper.
* CoolOldGuy: Brantark Ringstat becomes the TokenAdult of Will's party and accompanies them to give advice and watch out for Will's well-being.

* ICannotSelfTerminate: Will's mentor, Alfred Reinford, has been undead for several years, only barely hanging on to sanity so that he can pass on his magical knowledge to a worthy successor. When he has finally taught Will all he can, he asks Will to purify him so that he can rest in the afterlife and not turn into a berserk undead and harm others.
* LikeASonToMe: Brantark cares for Will like a son, personally looking after him and offering advice because he reminds Brantark of his own pupil, Alfred.
* LostTechnology: The {{precursor}} civilization whose ruin's Will end up exploring had advanced {{magitek}}, including stuff that wouldn't look out of place in modern day Earth.

* NowOrNeverKiss: When Will's party becomes trapped in an ancient ruin, Elise uses a magical spell to empower Will and help him fight a foe while his magic is running low. To impart the spell, she kisses him on the lips. Later, Iina and Louise discuss the fact that a kiss is not necessary in order to imbue the spell and Elise likely kissed him because it was possible that the two of them could die.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: When Will accidentally becomes engaged to Elise, he is at first taken aback and wonders if it's a good idea given that they barely know one-another. But, after going on a few dates, it becomes clear that Elise is quite smitten with him and they are a perfect match.

* SuccessfulSiblingSyndrome: Kurt, Will's eldest brother, and heir to the Baumeister Barony, becomes defensive of his position and title once Will quickly gains prestige in the kingdom, fearing that Will will seek to usurp him. Will never intended to give Kurt trouble, and had always planned to leave the Barony upon realizing he could use magic. [[spoiler:Of course, while Will was willing to let Kurt be, the kingdom was looking to replace Kurt with Will, as Will's wealth could be put to used into finally developing the Baumeister Barony.]]

* {{Wutai}}: The Mizuho Earldom is one of territories under the domain of the Holy Empire Urquhart, and is basically feudal Japan to the reincarnated Will. When his friends note that the Mizuho cuisine resembles the Japanese food that Will managed to recreate, [[SureLetsGoWithThat Will "admits" it was Mizuho cuisine he was reproducing.]]

* TheMistress: It is custom amongst male noblemen to have a "sex educator" that teaches them the most enjoyable and proper ways to have sexual intercourse before marrying. In Well's case, his is [[spoiler:former sister-in-law Amalie, who eventually falls in love with him and becomes his mistress. Even bearing him a child later.]] He also gets several other mistresses as well.

* CainAndAbel: Kurt grows to be the Cain with his brothers as the Abels, specifically Wendelin.

** Kurt himself has the ego and incompetence to fit a lot better and is unfit to lead his land in contrast to Wel and tries to kill Wel with a dagger, despite Wel being more powerful in magic.

* SmugSnake: Baron Ruckner and his co-conspirators are all smug, underhanded schemers that try to manipulate Well and his family to their own ends.

* MarryThemAll: Well is quickly betrothed to the pope's granddaughter Elise, but Louise and Iina also ask that he marry them as concubines, which Elise raises no objections to. Later on, he also marries [[spoiler:Willma, Katharina, Katia and Lisa, and also takes Philine as a fiancée and Amalia as a mistress.]]