Grimoire of Zero

Grimoire of Zero (Japanese: ゼロから始める魔法の書, Zero kara Hajimeru Mahō no Sho) is a Japanese light novel series written by Kakeru Kobashiri and illustrated by Yoshinori Shizuma. The series won the Grand Prize at the 20th Dengeki Novel Awards in 2013. Set in a world where humans and witches are at war, the story features 'beastfallen', cursed humans with animal features and strength. A half-human, half-beast mercenary encounters a witch named Zero, who hires him as a bodyguard in her search for a powerful spell book called the 'Grimoire of Zero.' This grimoire holds knowledge that could bring chaos to the world if it falls into the wrong hands. Together with a young magician named Albus, they embark on a journey to find the grimoire. The story explores themes of prejudice, discrimination, friendship, and understanding between different races. The series has been adapted into manga and anime, with the anime airing in 2017 for 12 episodes.