New Manga Series from KADOKAWA: 'Why Are You Running? My Summoned Beast is Cute!' First Volume Hits Shelves
KADOKAWA, one of Japan's leading publishers, released the first volume of its highly anticipated new manga series 'Why Are You Running? My Summoned Beast is Cute!' (Japanese: 'なぜ逃げるんだい？ 僕の召喚獣は可愛いよ') to readers on May 8, 2026. This work is an adaptation of author Itsuki Yae's original light novel and brought to life with illustrations by master manga artist Rei Izumi. Character designs are by Scotty, and creature designs are by Barikios.
At the center of the series is a boy named Heresy, who in his childhood summoned a kind-hearted summoned beast named Happy. Despite Happy's gentle nature, his appearance is described as "a bit grotesque" or "extremely terrifying," causing others who encounter him to lose their sanity or be horrified. Thanks to Happy, Heresy's summoning ability is recognized, and he is accepted into the prestigious Royal Summoner Academy. However, despite being seen as an anomaly at the academy, he unknowingly finds himself in incredible events and even unintentionally saves the academy by resolving a crisis he caused. This promises a school fantasy story full of comedy elements with the most terrifying protagonist.
The creative team behind the manga is also quite remarkable. Rei Izumi, who is responsible for the illustrations, is an experienced manga artist and illustrator known for his previous works on popular series such as .hack//Legend of the Twilight and Hibiki's Magic. Itsuki Yae, the author of the original light novel, made a name for herself in the literary world by winning the 37th Fantasia Grand Prize. This manga adaptation of the award-winning work, KADOKAWA's light novel a
