Never threaten a Goddess … unless you are ready to face Bell!
Creative Staff:
Art: Kunieda
Original Story: Fujino Omori
Character Design: Suzuhito Yasuda
Translation/Adaptation: Andrew Gaippe
What They Say:
After a close call deep in the Dungeon, Bell and his party are making good progress on recovering, thanks to a surprise run-in with Aiz and the Loki Familia expedition! As they are settling in to the safety of the eighteenth floor, Bell is even reunited with Hestia, after her party’s shocking arrival at the Under Resort!
But as soon as everyone finally relaxes, Hestia is goddess-napped, and while everyone is distracted, even more danger approaches … Are two gods in the Dungeon two too many for the labyrinth to bear?
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
After a harrowing escape from a Pass Parade and being lost in the Dungeon, Bell and his party have finally reached the eighteenth floor, a safe zone called the Under Resort. Collapsing under the weight of stress and injuries, he now awakens to find himself within the camp of Loki Familia, now fully recovered and being summoned to the tent of the titan killer leaders. Too stunned to speak properly being in the midst of such great adventurers, he and Aiz leave, only to be confronted by more admirers in the form of the Amazon twins Tiona and Tione, however there is a noticeable tension as the males of the family exude a tangible hatred toward Little Rookie. Once he manages to escape the jealousy of this mob, Bell returns to the tent to find Welf and Lilly finally rousing from sleep, confused but otherwise now fine.
Once they reorient themselves, the group are invited to join members of Loki Familia for an impromptu dinner, however the joyous festivities are abruptly interrupted with the screams of a familiar woman. As he dashes away much to the stunned surprise of his friends, Bell arrives in time to see a group surrounding the intruders – a goddess clad in white and a dandy man dressed for exploring. Hestia immediately tackles her missing child and embraces him with all due adoration, even as the white rabbit blushes the same color as his rubellite eyes. Once all of the uncomfortable greetings and apologizes are completed, Hermes addresses his family captain Asfi for their next plan of action; since none of this group can destroy the goliath guarding the above floor by themselves, they have little choice than to wait for Loki Familia to lead the way and thus must wait for them to depart the next day. With tomorrow now open, the carefree god suggests they put this free time to good use and do some welcomed sightseeing, much to Hestia and Lilly’s gratitude.
Unfamiliar with this new area, Hestia and her followers join Aiz and her friends to discover the rogue town of Rivira, the outrageously expensive frontier village populated by adventurers and the only place one can find much needed supplies. While the new faces look around the foreign landscape, it does not take long before Bell runs into a familiar, if somewhat hostile, face who verbally accosts him with little regard for manners. It is Mord, the same bully who they met in the Benevolent Mistress tavern when he first gained his new moniker Little Rookie, and the same one who was rejected to join the battle party due to an unsavory method for greeting his female friends. His anger still has not settled and is about to confront the upstart when he sees the Kenki, causing him to immediately back off after seeing his position severely overwhelmed by sheer power.
After the disappointing venture through town and a momentary return to camp, Bell is surprised when Hermes approaches with a curious proposal for a secret meeting, but the area for their conversation is questionable. It is only as the pair creep along the secluded canopy does Cranel finally understand the true meaning for this location, as he spies what the mischievous deity wanted to see look upon all along: the naked and nubile bodies of female adventurers. Although the resulting embarrassment of the Little Rookie was amusing, this is not enough to satisfy the appetites of a fickle god and thus, he and Asfi return to Rivira that night to broach a proposal to a particular miscreant and his unscrupulous crew – revenge on the rookie adventurer who shamed them and the opportunity to teach him respect for those who worked harder to reach the same level. However how far are these two willing to carry this lesson and will the white rabbit survive the teachings … or do they really care?
In Summary:
It is startling to see how much change a title can undergo from light novel, manga and finally to animated show, but it is due to this transformation which I am grateful to be able to partake in the original source material and see what has been altered in favor of excitement and unnecessary drama. It it the revelations within this volume which are enlightening, from the subtle if needed explanations of Lyu’s visits to the Under Resort to the frightening malice which Hermes hides under his considerable charm, they are all needed to flesh out the characters and their considerable motivations. Although these scenes were glossed over in the anime, to read the intentions of the mangaka allows us to reflect on the people with a sympathy which humanizes the actors instead of considering them as mere two dimensional pictures on a page, thus opening new aspects which makes you want to learn more with every passing illustration.
We always knew Omori-sensei was holding back revealing Leon’s dark background, but to finally have some explanation as to the reasons why she was blacklisted and what happened to her former family is refreshing. While these events were shown briefly in the anime, they were never fully fleshed out and the truth as to the disgust which Lyu feels for herself was deleted in favor of action. To watch as Gale Wind explains herself to Bell is gratifying, the full impact of losing her friends and the desperation for revenge and finally to see Syr comfort a beaten elf is heartwarming, bringing her trauma full circle. But the most rewarding moment of this event is to see her unravel the taboo which elves have of touching another’s skin, the disgust they have for lesser races and gratitude which Lyu had for Bell as he accepted this dirty person for what she was and who she is now. As we reach the end of her humbling speech, the joy which Kunieda-sensei puts into the characterization of her new found emotions are profound, all to be summed up by the singular image of Lyu sincerely smiling … it makes the reader want to return the happiness from this warm illumination tenfold.
However on the opposing side of the emotional spectrum, we see a new side of Hermes and how petty the gods can be in satisfying their own selfish desires. We always knew this deity had his own agenda and it was hinted within the anime, but to see his cold and calculating side in stunning black and white makes his ruthlessness all the more chilling. The scenes in which Kunieda-sensei changes the mood with a simple shadow hiding his eyes is creepy, but then made all the more mischievous by the addition of his signature toothy grin. This combination is haunting, to watch someone we usually associate as being jovial and more interested in having fun casts a whole new light for this god. With Asfi in tow and not willing to say anything to contradict her leader, the simpleness of her actions make it seem as if she is serving an oyabun instead of someone concerned for the children of the lower world. However as we watch the pair observe their handiwork, the conversation they have and the final image of Hermes looking on casts the god in a new way, teetering on a sinister temperament, enjoying the fruits of his labors and the outcome … neither caring which side Bell may fall towards.
As we approach the end of the anime adaptation, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? gives the reader a new perspective to a familiar story. Then add twists to favorite characters and we are rewarded to reflections which highlight emotional scenes which unveil new depths in many welcomed ways. While Lyu is shown as someone who warms up to those she trusts, Hermes now reveals his callously cold side all in an effort to satisfy his own selfish desires, no matter the cost to his beloved children. Although he appreciates the dedication of Bell to live the life of an adventurer, the trial and torments which he must settle to reach the end are all just another part of growing up within this cruel world.
Content Grade: A+
Art Grade: A+
Packaging Grade: A+
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: May 22, 2018
MSRP: $13.00
