I've been trying to find novels that have an mc that is actually smart and makes intelligent decisions that make sense, for example the mc in RMJI. I just can't read any books that have mc's that are supposed to be smart but end up actually just are insanely stupid and get saved by plot armor the entire time. Any kind of book is fine, but I prefer books with cultivation. Thanks.
I knew it was coming so I wanted to be the first to say it, you know like what happens in comments, like that First! comment
Warlock of the Magus World - You want to see an MC severely injure two op rank 8s(rank 9 is the max level) with the goodwill of a few girls and a fucking tree? The most villainous betrayal that you will cackle evilly afterwards? This is the novel for you City of Sin - keep in mind that the MC's entire bloodline is filled with lunatics/psychopaths so don't expect sane decisions all the time. Also, book 1 was boring but ot gets good afterwards Dungeon Defense - do you want a batshit insane MC that is insanely smart? A psycho loli playing a piano beside a mountain of decapitated heads? Read this Isaac - minus the blatant rascist prologue, this is a great novel
Spirit Sword Mountain. MC's main "weapons" are his defense, his intelligence, and his shamelessness. Not certain how much you would consider his intelligence to be plot armour, but it doesn't read like that to me. The MC of Mother of Learning. Highly intelligent, while remaining a teenager in all practical senses at the start of the series. If you haven't read it yet, give it a try. You have to pay for this one, but the MC of the Arcane Ascension series, which starts with the book Sufficiently Advanced Magic, is intelligent. It's one of the two series that are being used to try to promote a new sub-genre on Reddit that's being called Progression Fantasy. If you don't find it here, maybe the list of Progression Fantasy on Reddit will help you find what you're looking for.
Being a psycho doesn't make you smart. The same with pointless slaughter that is why I disqualify ISSTH and Warlock of Magus World. A smart MC only kills if he can hide his tracks. Killing doesn't make you smart but manipulating others especially your enemies to work for you is smart. That is why Reverend Insanity is probably the only novel on here in terms of Chinese that qualifies. I doubt any Japanese qualifies because of this trope : Cannot say no to girls. Pretty annoying, even if it leads to disastrous consequences but since it's " great comedy" it is fine. Just like how Sakura keeps punching Naruto when he is strong enough to dodge or block her.
The Experimental Log of the Crazy Lich - saving the world by scamming The Legend of Sun Knight -- completed and quite short. Spirit Sword Mountain. - 2nd this, though I just read the manhua Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! - a despicable weakling that won through underhanded tactics; nothing is too low for him. My Death Flags Show No Sign of Ending - yes, he is a cheat character, but he moved people around like pawns. generally agree with wujigege - it's tough to find intelligent mc in japanese wn/ln - though i have different reasoning. basically there are 3 ways to present smart mc: - shows that the mc is smart --> this requires a smart author - turns the other inhabitants into idiots/vegetables, making the mc smart in comparison -- typical japanese trope: crop rotation, potato, mayo, etc. - tell, don't show --> praising mc's smartness, without elaboration. The Silly Alchemist employs this technique. it doesn't fit your criteria, but still decent for laugh. another excellent example is Hibiki - Shousetsuka ni Naru Houhou; the way other characters praise her works don't feel forced (to me). The Amber Sword - mtl'ed to the end. -- won't recommend this though. some said that WolfieTranslation made it better than the original. a decent read, but if your primary goal is smart mc, search elsewhere.
Everyone Else is a Returnee - mc that stayed on earth for 1000 years alone, he is kinda dense but very smart, written by Toika.
Age of Adepts The description is one of the most misleading on this site. I’d say it’s more similar to City of Sin than Warlock of the Magus World.