It definitely is a lot more complicated now making it a little harder to get into, but that's why it's fun! Most stories being published these days have the same old plot being regurgitated over and over (which is fun and all but can get boring). It really depends on the mood you're in, if you're up to reading a deeper story.
I totally lost interest when they got to the college, too many new characters that I dont care about, everything all over the place, I just came to see if it was finished and how it ended but I see is not yet
Same, once the college arc started I noped out. Kore wanted to do a magical high school series and I think this was the only way she could whole continuing Maho, but it's just a no. Those first ten volumes are peak and everything after just isn't the same
On the contrary, I think what you feel is quite valid, and many of us identify with it. In many ways, the story promised to be something that later, eventually, evolved into something completely different. And that's not a bad thing. The story is still interesting; the characters, even though there are many and I'm not as interested in them as I am in the protagonists (Elias and Chise), contribute a lot to the plot and make everything flow, but increasingly in a direction that I'm not so sure is what I really expected from this manga. It's as if it slowly went from a shojo to a shonen. And what I've been feeling for a while now, Elias just summarized in this chapter with these words:
"I'll admit I may not be much of an adult. I've tried to play the part, just to stop everyone from calling me childish... But it hurts when you treat me like I'm not there, when I'm literally in front of you"
If I remember correctly, I think this is the first time in the entire story that Elias has truly expressed his feelings so clearly, and that he's explicitly showing how hurt he is by how he's treated. He, who has always been so indifferent to life and other beings. I find it a very powerful dialogue because we see how much he's changed thanks to Chise and how much he cherish her. But she doesn't seem to notice this and never leans on him, and all these new events and characters distract her and constantly pull her away from Elias, enough for him to feel this way. And that's how I've felt since the academy arc began, like I've been left out of this story. But the most frustrating thing is that this moment will surely get lost amidst the increasingly overwhelming list of things happening in the plot, when the two of them should be able to talk more. Personally, I would have loved to see their relationship continue to grow, for them to get the proper time to know each other better and mature together, and then, after solidifying their bond, for the adventure to begin and the plot to become more complex, challenging their relationship. That would have been fantastic!
Sorry for all that rambling. I love this story, I've been following it for years, and I'm so happy when new chapters are released. I won't stop reading it, but that feeling of... Bitterness is always there, and Elias took the words right out of my mouth just now haha.
I know I'mma get major hated for this but I miss how simple and cozy this story was. I still buy the books actually and I have V23 on preorder, but I just miss how it was before the college arc. I know people hate that opinion but this story just isn't the same man.