To those who say its story is straight, it isn't this is because it is still at the point where he's still gathering his comrades(repeatedly). There are a lot of scenes in the novel that made me cry or laugh. It is a good story, kinda Suikoden or One Piece kind of story.
This is also that kind of story, it may be boring cuz he's gathering an army of friends, but there are scenes in which they'll tell you the backstory.
I love the kids averaging 9y/o + a slacker scenes, so cute and fluffy~!