The future is never set … unless you wish it to be so.
Creative Staff:
Original Story: Fujino Omori
Illustrations By: Suzuhito Yasuda
Translation: Winifred Bird
What They Say:
Seeing the future always comes at a cost!
Someone has been murdered. The prime suspect in the latest crime to rock Rivira is the elf Gale Wind, now a blacklisted fugitive with a bounty on her head. After hearing this shocking accusation, Bell and his friends prepare to pursue her in order to clear her name.
On the eve of their journey, Cassandra recalls a terrible dream that portended seventeen prophecies – and if they come true, the people she cares for most will die. Her solitary battle against ruin begins as Bell chases a Lyu consumed by a thirst for revenge!!
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Hestia Familia and her allies have just returned from their first partially successful expedition to the new frontier, but as they recover in Rivira their rest is disturbed by a ruckus outside, on a small island on the outskirts of the rogue town. The commotion grows louder as Bell and the rest of his team decide to investigate, but the site they arrive to is something which can only be described as nothing less than a slaughter, with the ground now dyed a sickening reddish brown. As they push their way through the gawking crowd, the scene they witness is sickening – a lone man who can be described as looking like a pincushion, his body has been pierced several times by what appears to be a blade leaving him to slowly bleed out. While the rest look on in awe and disgust, Mikoto is quick to hide Haruhime from the unsettling moment, but the people now gathered keep pushing forward to see what they can, even as Bors tries to take control of the situation.
It is only then does a young werewolf shout out in distress wondering how anyone can do this to his friend, stating he clearly saw an elf dressed in a full-length green robe with sky blue eyes stab the man multiple times and then ran off into the Dungeon. There can be no doubt, the murderer must be the adventurer Gale Wind which the Guild blacklisted for killing the group who lead Astrea Familia into a trap five years ago. Why she would do this to someone now is still a mystery, but Cranel cannot believe his ears, to think Lyu would commit such a heinous crime is out of character for the woman who has selflessly helped him numerous times. As he confronts the witness and questions the validity of his statement, the amazon Aisha lays a hand on his shoulder to stop his protest, with a knowing look the only action which makes him pause to put up a verbal defense for his friend. Even the rest of his companions agree to this interference, knowing they cannot become involved in this confrontation no matter how much they wish to step in, knowing any word on their part will only make Hestia Familia look guilty to the rest of Rivira by reason of conspiracy.
It is then when the de facto leader of the village Bors steps in and asks if Bell is willing to defend a criminal, to which after the acknowledgment from his friends he knows he cannot, and so silently steps down from his well-meaning intentions. With everyone now in seeming agreement, the large man takes charge of the situation and asks the people assembled if they are willing to let someone get away with the murder of one of their own, which of course no will accept, and it only further reinforced by a reminder of the rather large bounty still effective set aside by some of the merchant associations … eighty million valis. It is clear these people do not care about justice and are more concerned with getting a piece of this massive reward, but there are still some who wish to seek the truth, namely Bell and his companions.
As they step aside to discuss this disturbing development, it is Lilly, Daphne and Mikoto who bring up new evidence having briefly examined the corpse as their leader and Aisha distracted the crowd with their short tirade. While they may have only seen the body at a distance, it was clear someone was attempting to get information from the victim since the blade wounds were clearly placed so as not to cause death. Bell suspected the lycanthrope was lying, but with this new revelation, the clues still point to Lyu being the only suspect. Therefore to clear their friend’s name their sole option now is to gather more information by finding a way to insert themselves into the hunting party so they can find Leon first, all in an attempt to clear her name and find out the truth behind this facade. Luckily since Gale Wind is rumored to be a level four adventurer and even amongst these ramble within Rivira this status is rare, Bors has little choice than to ask Bell and Aisha to join them in the chase, leaving their problem with a ready-made solution. With little choice as to their next step, everyone prepares for a return to the Dungeon and since they have no idea which floor the elusive elf may have gone, the group acquire new supplies and stand ready to begin the pursuit.
Cassandra has always taken a nap before she ventured into the Dungeon and this time is no exception, however as with all prior slumbers her sleep was constantly plagued by disturbing dreams, and yet this time was especially frightening. Even when Ilion was with Apollo Familia she had a reputation of pestering others with these premonitions, but as always no one wished to listen or ever took her seriously, even best friend Daphne. The reaction was normal and caused the healer unwelcomed stress due to always worrying as to what her revelations would reveal or how to avoid or interpret them for the best outcome. But as of yet no one ever believed Cassandra as to the validity of these visions, no one until she met Bell and he listened to this seer’s ramblings, all to find her precious pillow after they were forced to leave their home after losing the War Games. If he paid attention to her then, why wouldn’t Cranel do so now after the most horrifying nightmare yet, one which pointed to seventeen prophecies that concerned their current circumstances … and which ended in supposed doom for all involved?
In Summary:
Just when you think Bell and his companions are able to have a much-needed rest after tangling with the irregular moss huge from the last volume, Omori-sensei crafts a magnificently enthralling story which makes us worry and wonder if this will be the last adventure for Hestia Familia. How can you not cheer for Rabbit Foot every time and especially now when he will stop at nothing to clear the reputation of one of his most trusted allies – Lyu Leon, the silent elf also known as the blacklisted adventure Gale Wind. No matter what proof there may be against her of committing terrible crimes, Bell never doubted his friend and under all circumstances, he always believed in her innocence, even under the direst of situations this rubellite eyed hero looked for the best and surged forward to prove anyone wrong. This is why we as readers and all of the characters within the franchise cannot but adore this boy – he always stands by his friends and defends them, even if it may hurt him physically and people may question his motives, loyalty is Bell’s core personality.
And yet it is due to the unassuming healer named Cassandra to which our latest dilemma arises, a minor character who was introduced during the War Games saga now comes to the forefront thanks to her unusual ability – named after a Greek prophetess who could foresee the future in her dreams, but after rejecting Apollo was cursed to have no one ever believe her. Who would have guessed Omori-sensei could fashion such a haunting story to center around this unassuming girl, one in which the audience themselves begin to wonder if the Dungeon was conspiring against this group all to make the visions come true? The method by which he shaped her personality from the beginning, molding Cassandra after her namesake but projecting someone who always appeared to be in the midst of a continuous panic attack is inspiring, unsure of her own powers but too frightened and insecure to speak out strongly enough for anyone to believe her. You can almost picture her as you read the scenes, the hesitation and wispy voice trying to blend into the background – a shy wallflower. But if not for her seventeen prophecies this volume would not have such a forcefully powerful impact, to imagine her cowering and whispering to herself is wondrous, and it also makes one question why no one ever asked what was wrong, or was everyone accustomed to these events, even her best friend Daphne? It is sad to underscore her delusions as normal, but in this case, it appears ignoring her was the right choice – devastating for themselves but so gloriously delightful to witness the aftermath by doing so.
But even within this shattering tale, it was gratifying to finally learn what happened to Astrea Familia, one of the groups in which Lyu felt appreciated and secure and how she ended up in that alleyway within Orario, only to be found clinging to life by Syr and then welcomed into the Benevolent Mistress. Who would have ever guessed the secret ran this deep, to think Omori-sensei could have had the foresight to create a foundation for Lyu to have such a tragic past, and to have it all lead back to the Dungeon. We have always known she was blacklisted due to seeking revenge after her family was wiped out by a faction of the Evils, but to tie everything together and interlace it with Knossos was chilling, but to link it with an even darker secret of madness was electrifying and made us want even more. I could not stop reading once Bell finally confronts Gale Wind, her temperament was scary but as always the white rabbit would not leave things as is, and we are rewarded with a tale which makes us want more, even as we are left on a panic-inducing cliffhanger questioning if we can wait for the next book without recalling this timeless tale?
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? has always been a series which made me wonder if Omori-sensei had a bigger plan for his characters, and now one side of that query has been answered with deeper revelations but even more questions. This is the type of story which makes you embrace the actors as if they are true friends, not as hollow people described on a two-dimensional page but as real personalities who you care for and worry as to what will happen next. Bell has always been a hero who you would constant cheer for but now as he and Lyu enter depths of the Dungeon unexplored by his familia, you have to wonder if he will make it out alive or at least … forever changed?
Content Grade: A++
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: 13 & Up
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: March 19, 2019
MSRP: $14.00
