Everyone needs help from time to time … even Arihito.
Creative Staff:
Original Story: Tôwa
Illustration: Huuka Kazabana
Translation: Jordan Taylor
What They Say:
Arihito’s rearguard skills have safely bumped him and his party to District Seven faster than any other Seekers in history. Just when their upward trajectory seems unstoppable, new obstacles stand in their way: the district’s top-ranked alliance. Beyond Liberty and its monopoly over the labyrinth’s prime territory! The best shot Arihito’s group has at progressing any further involves teaming up with an all-female party – but are two parties better than one? And with the best hunting grounds out of reach, can they earn enough points to make it to the next district?
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
She always found it interesting to watch new people who had been reincarnated, but even with her experience, she had no idea who had the most potential to become effective Seekers, and that was why she still surveyed the gate to look for promising individuals based on their previous life experiences, allowing her to finally find Arihito Atobe. She always found it fascinating to observe people like him, someone who rose in the ranks of District Eight so quickly, it almost seemed impossible. But at the same time the people who composed his group also aided in their rapid rise, with the added benefit of finding an ancient artifact which hid the secrets of the Labyrinth Country, and yet now that are advancing to District Seven, will these chosen individuals be able to keep up this quickened pace?
It had been less than a week since Arihito and his group found themselves within this new world, and now after all of their hard effort in the labyrinth of District Eight, they found themselves being escorted by the same person who greeted them upon their arrival into a new frontier. As this cute but petite purple-haired girl lead them through the dark corridor between areas, she could not but feel as if Atobe wanted to ask her something, however, when she confronted him about it, his hesitation revealed a new side of this person – one with biting remarks and a caustic personality. While she complimented Atobe about his kind temperament and getting along well with everyone in his group, at the same time her contradictory attitude warned him not to let this gentleness lead him astray from the brutality which they will now face in their new home. And with that she concluded her tour as they neared their destination, but as she prepared to depart, the leader could not but ask one last question – what to call her. After a moment of joking of how his charm would not work on her, this perplexing girl finally revealed to them Yukari, but then warned them it was only a fake name she was using at the moment. Even in the end, they could not get a straight answer as they watched this mysterious girl turn around and bid them goodbye, permitting a nervous Louisa lead to them the rest of the way to District Seven.
Only then does their exclusive case worker explain to the group the difficulty in advancing within this new district: the area has a particularly high number of occupants when compared to others, with an active Seeker population numbering ten thousand. However, these are only the ones who regularly go into the labyrinth to earn contribution points, if you include the ones who have become discouraged, then there are an additional forty-two thousand adventurers living in the area, thus making it that much more difficult to rise in the ranks and advance to District Six. This is essentially due to the increase in difficulty of the monsters as compared to the lower areas, and as such, many people cannot cope with this drastic change and are forced to migrate back to District Eight to farm for experience. But since they cannot gain the same quality as within this region’s labyrinths, there is little chance for them to progress any further. However as Arihito considered all of these drawbacks and the harshness of how many were left behind, it was Elitia who encouraged her friend since she had previously been to District Five, and with their determination, it was possible for all of them to make the jump to her level and not be left behind.
As their guide lead the group through the congested streets to the Upper Guild, it was only then did everyone notice the varied selection of entertainment facilities for the inhabitants, with people day drinking and alleyways crowded by those who had given up on furthering their adventures. As they stared at the varied sites, Louisa outlined the layout of the maze structure, telling her clients there were a total of thirteen labyrinths within District Seven, but as Kyouka questioned how so many people could be crowded into limited areas, Farmel then informed them the Lower Guild issued lottery tickets for a fixed number of people, and of those, they were only allowed access to six of the areas with a limit of a thousand people per section. It was with this information did Atobe realize how people could become discouraged, with a limited number of slots to select areas the Seekers had to be proactive in order to gain contribution points so as they may advance to the next district, and if they didn’t and their ambitions fell stagnant, what they saw around them with people more interested in drowning their sorrows, could also happen to them. But even as their leader contemplated these deep thoughts, it was Kyouka and the rest of the girls who saw his state and inspired him they would not give up, no matter what odds set against them.
After wandering through the lower streets for a while, they finally saw their destination: an impressive three-story building with a green roof which would be their new place of business – aptly named the Green Hall. But as they entered the imposing location and anticipation of future adventures began to get the better of them, it was then did carefree Misaki interrupt their fantasies and remind everyone she would be taking a break from exploring, all due to the limit of eight members in a party. With the inclusion of Madoka, Melissa and Cion to the group from District Eight, Arihito was forced to consider the situation of having to back two groups with his abilities, even if it meant a higher cost in magic. But when he asked Louisa for information, their Guild Advisor did confirm some Seekers did entered the Labyrinth with multiple teams in order to lessen the chance for failure, and in this case they were called alliances. However, if they considered this possibility, there was a chance higher level adventurers would also ask for requisite compensation, so for the time being it would be best to only partner with people who were as close to their experience as possible, to avoid such unequal division of compensation points and treasure.
Once they entered the Green Hall, Louisa excused herself to arrange for a room to discuss their plans, giving Atobe and the girls a chance to look over the frenzy of people occupying this open area, with several large groups assembled together in distinct parties. However it was one rather loud cluster near the bulletin board which drew his attention, a Japanese girl named Kaede was having a particularly forceful conversation with a gray haired man who would not accept no as an answer, with his reasoning it would be easier for her team to gain contribution points if they joined his alliance. And yet even as he kept insisting, the girl with a long sword strapped to her back would not accept his proposal, with her argument that no one could gain experience due to this recruiter’s team monopolizing the area, thus forcing everyone else out. But even as he pointed out it would be more efficient for everyone to gang up on the tougher monsters in this manner, another of Kaede’s party pointed out they would have no way to compensate for this opportunity, to which he made the underhanded offer they could always make it up to him by having a drink afterwards. With these offhanded words the negotiations promptly broke apart, with the disgusting man implying they would have to try harder next time in order to persuade him to open up such a favorable offer again.
With this twisted man finishing his dialogue with such a perverted statement, Igarashi had to hold back Arihito to keep him from interfering within what should have been a private matter, even as he witnessed her own fist shaking in anger. But as the haughty person marched off laughing at their rejection, the group of girls began fuming in frustration, knowing everything which they said was true, and yet they could not do anything as long as the situation remained the same. It was only then did they notice Atobe and his all female group, with the swordswoman voicing that a single man should be harmless, prompting them to cautiously walk over and introduce themselves as Kaede, the martial artist named Ibuki, a tanned woman called Ryouko who wore what appeared to be bikini armor hidden under her boa coat and a girl who appeared to have a club strapped to her back named Anna. While they admired the beauty of Kyouka’s Ladies’ Armor, the conversation finally turned to their struggles in advancing within District Seven, having been here for six months without any luck due to what they overheard a minutes prior with the man named Gray. With Arihito’s group having just arrived within the area, it was thought best they should start in a labyrinth that they had previously explored, and so Anna suggested they go to Silvanus’ Bedchamber, since it held a sheep which had material she needed to improve her current weapon. After the decision finalized, the new friends showed their licenses so that they could form an alliance, with Arihito now discovering the experienced group who had joined them were called the Four Seasons.
In Summary:
With Atobe and his friends finally advancing to District Seven, the diverting nature which burdened prior volumes has fortunately been reduced in frequency, even if Tôwa-sensei still finds it necessary to insert a few more playful teases at Arihito’s expense with the introduction of a new set of girls. And while exploration within the Labyrinth becomes more serious thanks to the monopolization by Beyond Liberty, it is the mournful side within the creation of demi-humans which gives a much-needed dignity to their deaths, all thanks to the interaction with Shiori and Takuma, permitting readers to be shocked and emotionally stirred into realizing what happens after they are created. It was never mentioned before how traumatic such sacrifice and rebirth within the maze effected others who they left behind, and now that we can finally see how their voiceless sorrow is much more powerful than we ever thought, it gives both the characters and audience something to earnestly think over as we depart with the next adventure.
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13 & Up
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: June 23, 2020
MSRP: $15.00
