Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 4

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Light Novel #4

by Fujino Omori, Suzuhito Yasuda (Illustrator), ヤスダスズヒト (Illustrations)

MORE LEVELS, MORE PROBLEMS!

Following his defeat of the Minotaur, Bell has reached Level Two--and is the new record holder for the fastest to do so. Suddenly everyone in Orario wants to form a party with him and go adventuring! But with sudden popularity comes many a complication. How will Bell and Hestia know whom to trust? The Familia myth--written by the goddess and lived by the boy--continues!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Manga, Adventure, Action, Harem, Comedy

248 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2013

About the author

OOMORI Fujino
Name (in native language): 大森藤ノ
Associated Names:
OHMORI Fujino
OMORI Fujino
ŌMORI Fujino

Reviews

[Sushi (寿司) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finito il mio 23° libro del 2019. Ho ripreso l'andamento dei 5☆ che non dureranno visto che ho già due libri in corso noiosi. Ma per il momento godiamoceli.

*ATTENZIONE SPOILERS INSIDE*

E così:
○ Bell ha raggiunto il Lv 2, ha una nuova arma (forgiata dal corno del minotauro da Welf) e armatura (comprata o meglio regalata da Welf). E in aggiunta uno Spadone trovato nel laboratorio di Welf.
● Non so perchè ma a me Lily pare sempre subdola anche se ha chiesto scusa l'altra volta. (Non ho letto il manga e non ho visto l'anime)
○ Welf Crozzo fa parte del party di Bell. Ora sono un trio. È pure il suo fabbro personale. Bell è l'unico che apprezza la roba di Welf.
● Bell ha guadagnato il suo soprannome ora che è un Lv 2.
○ Bell usa per la prima volta Argonauta, la sua abilità speciale, per uccidere un draghetto.
● Il party riceve il diritto da Eina di poter esplorare i piani 13 e 14. I primi piani centrali.



Non vedo l'ora di leggere il #5 ma prima SAO #4(inglese).

[MC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main story was a nice literary version of a "breather episode" in the series. There are also two nice short stories that take place during Book 3 and before Book 1. We know from the anime adaptation of the fifth book that it'll be INTENSE, so this was a nice break from the action beforehand.

Rating: 4.5 Stars.

[Fabrice Gaudreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th installment in the series,
Fujino introduce a character in this series that I feel will become really close to the protagonist and he does it brilliantly again, his new companion add something to the group that was in my opinion needed, a positive and sincere vibe. I like how Fujino introduce important key characters so far, you see it coming a mile away, so obvious, but while in the full knowledge that this character will become part of the story, he's able to surprise you with details and make you feel as it was not obvious but more an encounter ruled by fate.

This book was more of an interlude than a full one, Fujino says the same in the author's note at the end. Nothing like the climax of volume 3 or big achievement of volume 2 happen in this book, but after the 3rd one, I understand why he did that and im glad he did.
Since the main story of this one was a bit short, the author added two side story, here is what I thought:
1st side story, "Quest X Quest"
this story take place in volume 3, between chapter 2 and 3, I understand completely why it was not included in the 3rd volume, it would have been bad for the main story but also out of place for that beautiful side story.
3 key characters are introduced in this small part and I can't wait to read about them in the story going forward. A story to remind you how cruel and dangerous can it be while lurking into the amazing dungeon.
2st side story, "A Campanella to the Goddess"
This one is the shortest of the two, but it was an interesting POV, it take place right before volume 1 and introduce a bit the "how" of the meeting between Hestia and Bell, something important since the relationship between them is strong and have a strong bond, it help you understand that bond and it was really comfy.

Story itself deserved a 4.5
"Quest X Quest" a 5
"A Campanella to the Goddess" a 4

[Tarl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of interesting things going on, and it all ended up adding extremely well to the story that Fujino is telling. I have to say I am excited to see where this series goes from this point in. You can really tell that Fujino loves the concept of blacksmiths, something he mentions in the reader address at the end of the novel. It shows in everything he did and I am curious as to what they would have done if they had started Bell off as a blacksmith rather than introing this character in the 4th book.

It was also nice to see Bell's evolution as an adventurer, though at times his innocence, though cute, was a bit annoying. It is a nice counterbalance to how fast his power level is going up, and keeps him grounded in realism. Getting new equipment and an actual party is a nice expansion after dealing with him being the same in the last three novels.

There are also two added stories in this novel. Both take place earlier in the series, and help to explain Bell's relationship with the people around him. They are nice little stories, and I really enjoyed them. But that said, they also felt like padding to what was a short novel. That's one reason this got four stars. This is a short book, and that's disappointing as there is space to have done a bit more and fleshed out the novel a bit more, rather than padding it with the other two stories that would have been better in an anthology.

In the end, I enjoyed this book, and really enjoyed the new character. I am excited to read the next book and to see where everything is going. At this point, you're probably only reading this as you've either stated the series and want to know if this one is good or not. I really enjoy this series and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in anime fantasy that isn't isekai in nature. So pick up this series!

[Wilker Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

O melhor até agora sem dúvida nenhuma... Maravilhoso ♥️

[K Vimal Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

good reading, great number of characters and good world building, wanted to read more on the series.

[Gary Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed!

At last, blacksmith Welf Crozzo joins the cast! And a welcome addition he is to our merry band of dungeon-crawling adventurers. Welf's introduction makes up the bulk of this book, the creamy Mega-Stuf'd center of this Orario cookie comprised of four distinct stories: (1) The Denatus, (2) Welf's welcome aboard, origin story, and first adventure, (3) "Quest X Quest," a side story featuring Miach Familia set during Bell's training with Aiz back in vol. 3, and (4) "A Campanella to the Goddess," a 22-page warm n' fuzzy vignette set before vol. 1 that loosely adapts O'Henry's celebrated short story "The Gift of the Magi."

The Quest and Campanella chapters were originally GA Bunko Magazine stories dating to 2013 that Omori adapted for inclusion in his expanding continuity. They are both enjoyable side stories that underscore this volume's themes of struggling familias pulling together and of Hestia and Bell's complicated relationship.

Denatus is the book's opening salvo, which story ramps up in the prologue with Bell visiting the Guild to report his leveling up. Yeah, it does read like an "in case you missed volume 3" recap, but Omori makes it enjoyable with Eina and her slacker co-worker Misha Frot's interactions. Credit Omori for working his world building and exposition into the stories relatively seamlessly. We learn Bell has been adventuring only six weeks, which struck me as maybe too short a span to contain all of what's been recounted in volumes 1-3.

The Denatus is the annual assembly of the gods on the uppermost thirtieth floor of Babel to share news and exchange information, conducted like a divine board meeting. "Once the Guild became involved, the Denatus became a meeting that had far-reaching effects all over Orario" (p. 27).

One startling revelation we learn from chairwoman Loki is that "Poor little Soma got a warning from the Guild. He will have to give up his one and only hobby" (p. 29). Eina's investigation bore fruit, unlike Soma's vineyard going forward. We'll have to watch and see how this game-changing development plays out.

We also learn that "the kingdom of Rakia is preparing to invade Orario" (p. 30). Nobody appears especially worried (which is a cause for worry in itself). We get tantalizing details about its leader, Ares, a man whose handsomeness rivals Freya's beauty, and whose subjects worship him as a god. This reads like foreshadowing and testifies to Omori's playing the long game, knowing exactly where he's taking his epic story.

The crowning event of the Denatus is the Naming Ceremony where lofty titles are bestowed upon the "children" who have leveled up. Bell was an eleventh-hour entry and was almost dubbed "The Good Rabbit Pyonkichi" until an unnamed divinity remembered "that name is already used. A smith named Wel-something used it for a piece of armor already" (p. 42).

Hmm. In context it appears Omori meant that line as a throwaway gag, but he was cannily foreshadowing the next story and, arguably, illustrating Welf's negligible status in Hephaistos Familia. I believe it was Hephaistos herself who spoke that line. Who else would half-remember a smith's name but his own goddess? But it's telling that while she forgot his name, she remembered the armor and its name, implying his work transcends the worker and is work worth remembering.

I won't spoil the story's punch line by revealing Bell's title except to say Eina's fear it would be "The Crimson Adventurer, Bloody Guy" was unfounded... for better or for worse.

I enjoyed seeing how the Denatus results were so eagerly awaited by the Guild staff. The release of the new names was a stop-the-press event like presidential election results or the verdict in a high-profile trial. And it was fun to read of the gods and goddesses interacting. This was Hestia's first time attending and we experienced it alongside her. Except, unlike Hestia, we know Freya's motivations for protecting Bell were anything but altruistic.

Meet Welf Crozzo! The "Changing Environment. New Relationships" chapter introduces us to Welf. But first there's some fun stuff like Bell being doxxed by a gaggle of goddesses who laid in lustful wait for the white-haired Lil' Bunny to emerge from his hole. Then the beginnings of a barroom brawl when a couple drunken louts crash Bell's level-up celebration at the Benevolent Maiden. Lyu is the breakout character here, one who grows more intriguing with each appearance.

But Welf is by far this book's breakout character. I watched the first season anime before reading the light novels and saw this grinning guy with a broad-bladed sword appearing in the opening credits and again in chibi form in the closing titles. Who is this guy? I asked for eight long episodes until he was finally introduced in the ninth (aptly titled, "Blacksmith, Welf Crozzo").

As always, the novels give greater depth to the character than the cartoon ever could with its time constraints. Bringing what I learned of Welf here will heighten my next rewatch of the anime, including his family history tarnished by misused magic swords, his principles making him a pariah among potential customers, and his low status in the Hephaistos Familia in spite of possessing tremendous talent.

Omori's appreciation for a blacksmith's work shines through in his detailed description of Welf's forge and of his crafting a special weapon for Bell. The Young Bull, Ushiwakamaru, takes its place of honor alongside the Hestia Knife, doubling Bell's battleground blood-spilling abilities.

By the close of the epilogue, Bell, Welf and Lilly are themselves forged into a formidable weapon, ready to meet and overcome any obstacle or adversary encountered in the Middle Levels. "Getting excited about the unknown, fighting side-by-side and sharing the spoils with people you can call friends... it was all very exciting" (p. 160).

Quest X Quest is a story of two quests that not only introduces us to the monster's pantries hidden away in hard-to-find corners of the floors but demonstrates how Lilly's street smarts serve to disabuse Bell of his wide-eyed naivete. This is a standalone story with a strong plot and character development, as we learn a lot about Bell, Hestia, Lily, Lord Miach, and his sole remaining familia member Nahza, a dog-person with an intriguing and tragic backstory. As this side story is set during volume 3, Welf does not appear, and his absence stings like a suddenly stripped-off band-aid since we just accompanied him on his first adventure.

The second quest is notable for giving us our first adventure outside the walls of Orario. It also reveals Orario is akin to Cold War East Berlin: "Once we finish some rather monotonous paperwork, we receive clearance to exit Orario's East Gate" (p. 194). I hope Omori explores further this Guild-governed city, which appears to be a (benevolent?) dictatorship, one that even deigns to meddle in the Denatus of the gods.

This story also introduces us to the Dian Cecht Familia, maker of medicines and prosthetics among other medical marvels. But alas, such amazing things come at a steep price (not to mention shakedowns).

A Campanella to the Goddess is a charming take on O Henry's short story "The Gift of the Magi" that gives us a peek into the earliest days of Hestia and Bell's relationship. Lord Miach plays a role, providing world-building exposition on how the Guild requires familias to register. Gee, I wonder why? "Familias were subject to the taxes of the city; the higher their rank, the more they paid" (p. 224). Ugh, it's discouraging when the fantasy worlds we escape to look so much like our real-life world! Add this detail to my growing suspicions about this Guild-governed city.

Have you ever wondered what exactly is a "potato snack"? "Hestia was working at a street stand that was situated on North Main Street. They sold a snack called Crispy Potato Puffs: mashed potatoes mixed with seasoning, rolled in batter, and deep-fried to make small potato snacks" (p. 211). Sounds like a knish ripe for noshing. I always think of them as akin to Arby's potato cakes or McDonald's hash browns. Yum!

We also learn Hestia is a part-timer (like the devil in that other series, not to imply anything!) and earns an underwhelming 30 vals an hour. It would be more, but her pay is docked to reimburse her boss Gram for the oven Hestia famously blew up. Oh, well, at least Gram generously gives our goddess a free potato puff, which she chubby-bunnies in one bite. That's our Hestia!

At Last, the Conclusion. Yes, this book is a world- and character-building bridge between arcs. And yeah, there are a couple revised reprints from GA Bunko to push the page count over 200. I would still rate this book as integral to the epic and not one to be skipped as One Piece fans will impatiently do with "filler arcs." If you love these characters and this unfolding story, no volume is dispensable filler but an opportunity to glean valuable information on Omori's world. This volume is a staging ground for what follows, from the introductions of one major and several minor characters to the ominous foreshadowing of things to come. An excellent and enjoyable primer that tees up volume 5. See ya there!

PS: I didn't know where to include my rapidly dimming view of Loki Familia's expedition, which was dutifully granted a momentum-busting "Meanwhile, on Floor 44..." subchapter spanning pages 117-22. This parallel story featuring Aiz, Bete, Finn, Tiona and Tione et al. bores me into a stupor. We do learn the Aiz of the novels is just as beautiful but not as nice as the Aiz of the anime, that she has hidden motives and feels threatened by Bell's exponential growth. She feels this rabbit nipping at her heels (even though she's Level 6 and he's Level 2 but trying harder). Yawwwn. The malaise that settles over me when the scene shifts to this ragtag fleet of trash-talkers is telling me I should skip the Sword Oratoria spinoff series and just stay steady on the course with the main series, which at 19 volumes as of this writing is a tall and teetering TBR to be sure!.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

DanMachi est ma série chouchou, je n’ai de cesse de le répéter. J’affectionne l’univers de Fujino Omori depuis le premier tome, et chaque nouvel opus est une plongée dans un univers que j’affectionne de page en page. En commençant ce tome 4, je n’avais pas le moindre doute : j’allais me régaler.

Dans le tome 3, nous avions laissé Bel épuisé mais heureux. Il avait enfin réussi à terrasser le terrible Minotaure. Cet exploit lui a donc valu une montée de niveau, à la stupéfaction générale. En l’espace de quelques semaines, Bell est devenu un aventurier de niveau 2 et les rumeurs à son sujet vont bon train ! Désormais, il peut explorer le Donjon plus en profondeur et ne s’en prive pas, toujours accompagné de Lili, sa fidèle porteuse. Seulement, leur duo atteint très vite ses limites, car les monstres se font de plus en plus nombreux et de plus en plus forts. Ils sont contraints d’intégrer une équipe ou d’en former une. En attendant, Bell aura la chance de croiser la route d’un nouveau personnage. Un personnage tout feu tout flamme, qui lui propose un contrat plus qu’intéressant. À côté de ça, la déesse Hestia se rend au Denatus afin qu’un surnom soit attribué à Bell par les autres divinités. Que de péripéties à venir !

Après une bataille longue et éprouvante, il est temps pour Bell de se reposer un peu. Et pour nous aussi ! Le tome 3 m’avait totalement bluffée, et je me doutais que la suite serait un peu plus calme. S’il n’y a pas de grandes batailles épiques à proprement parler, cette suite mise davantage sur les révélations en pagaille et l’introduction de nouveaux éléments, qui donnent un second souffle à l’intrigue. Plus on avance dans cet univers et plus les rouages qui le composent se précisent.

Dans la première partie du roman, l’intrigue est ciblée sur la découverte des stats de Bell ainsi que sur la cérémonie du Denatus. Il est temps pour le garçon de se voir attribuer un titre. J’ai ressenti son excitation comme si c’était la mienne, je piétinais d’impatience à l’idée d’en savoir plus. Son changement de niveau entraîne un tas d’événements divers, ce qui m’a émerveillée. La cérémonie du Denatus, elle, a été l’occasion de beaucoup rire. Ce passage est totalement absurde, et dans un même temps, l’auteur joue avec nos nerfs puisqu’il titille notre curiosité jusqu’au bout. J’ai adoré ce jeu du chat et de la souris.

Dans la deuxième partie, Bell fait la connaissance de Welf Crozzo, un personnage dont il avait indirectement croisé la route précédemment. Crozzo apporte un vent de fraîcheur et d’humour. Son vécu ouvre de nouvelles perspectives et nous permet d’en apprendre plus sur l’Histoire d’Orario. La mythologie est vraiment au cœur de l’intrigue et je m’en suis délectée.

Les personnages n’ont de cesse de nous surprendre. À commencer par Bell qui, s’il est toujours délicieusement naïf, reste égal à lui-même, avec les principes et les valeurs d’un héros. Je le trouve toujours aussi attachant. Puis retrouver Hestia, Lili, Aiz et tous les autres, c’est comme de retrouver de vieux amis qu’on a un peu perdus de vue, mais que l’on n’a jamais oubliés.

En résumé, ce quatrième tome de DanMachi est une fois de plus une réussite ! L’histoire s’étoffe, les héros grandissent et les révélations en rafale nous régalent. Même si ce tome est moins centré sur les aventures à proprement parler, il apporte énormément d’informations. Le rythme est toujours aussi débridé et j’espère que ça se poursuivra ainsi dans les tomes suivants. Vite, vite la suite !

Ma chronique : http://april-the-seven.weebly.com/fan...

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt it was a bit slow, but still really liked it. I enjoyed the addition of Welf to the group and expect to see the trio do some fun things in the dungeon and around town. I also appreciate that Bell and his crew are from 3 different familias thus far. With a history of familias not working together much -- engendering an innate mistrust of each other, I hope to see Bell and his friends breaking these barriers. The main story in this one is a mere 160 pages or so. The rest is filled with 2 short stories that take place in different spots in the timeline. If you like Danmachi they were pretty interesting to see different characters and learn more about them.

Verdict: Honestly not my favorite volume of the 4 so far, but a solid entry that certainly offers the setup of great things to come.

[Rinke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was way to short!! Eventhough it is clearly a bridge between the completed story arc and the next one. The story told both the main one (introduction of some new abilities and a character) and the two side stories (placed in different times) are interesting and truly capture your attention. And before you know it you flip the last page.

So yes compared to the previous volume there is no action but that doesn't mean this one is boring the world that we are exploring is being widened even more. And towards the end it is clear that this was just the calm before the storm. Cant wait to get my hands on the next volume.

[Lire-une-passion · Rating 4 out of 5]

"​En résumé, un tome 4 qui m'a beaucoup plu et qui m'a réconciliée avec Bell et Lili, qui m'avaient vraiment agacée dans le tome 3. Ici, l'auteur nous offre un tome plus de transition, plus calme, et ça fait du bien, parfois, de se poser. Nous faisons aussi la rencontre d'un personnage attachant, qui, je pense, aura un rôle important dans la suite. Pour ma part, je suis pressée de découvrir la suite !"

Chronique complète: http://lire-une-passion.weebly.com/fa...

[Maxina Storibrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story - Needs Editing

I love the storyline, though the entire thing needs to be edited thoroughly. I saw countless grammatical mistakes, tense switches, and even spelling errors.

However, if these don’t bother a reader - or even if they do - I will still recommend this series! It’s a wonderful storyline, and I will continue to read it because I want to know what happens to Bell in the next book!

[Lawrence Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a little different. Instead of continuing on the main story, it was sort of a side progression of when Bell meets Welf. I rather enjoyed it, and it's covered in the anime in like 1 episode unfortunately. Also, this volume actually only has 3 chapters, a prologue and an epilogue, and then two short stories which were both pretty entertaining.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main story followed the anime pretty good. The best part is there are two more stories in this book. I really liked them. The first extra story I got to know more about Hestia's friend Miach and his child Naaza. The second is an early story of Bell and Hestia. I enjoyed both stories. They added more to the story than what I saw in the anime. I read Vol. 5 right after this book.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces a new character, Welfare Crozzo. We get history of the world as well as more back story.

It comes with two short stories. One focuses on the Micah familia, which we get more back history, an introduction of a new god, and get to see the outside of the city for the first time.

The other has the early days of Hestia familia when she first takes in Bell.

[Ryan Hockley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story continuation but...

Great character intro but lost a little value with only having few chapters and some OVA style work here. I like this story but this one didn't feel like value.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friendship Forged

This volume is very short but does include two short stories to round out the page count. They are kinda filler-esque but flesh the world out a bit. I really like the character of Welf and can't wait to find out what happens next!

[Mallou14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Bref, ce quatri��me tome de DanMachi La légende des Familias, de Fujino Omori est un tome qui m’a bien plu. À part l’arrivée de Welf Crozzo dans l’équipe, il ne s’y passe pas grand chose mais j’ai trouvé le rythme mieux réparti que dans le tome précédent. Bell évolue de plus en plus rapidement et on a également appris plus de choses sur les Dieux avec le Denatus. Une série que j’aime beaucoup, j’ai hâte de découvrir la suite !"

Avis complet : https://thenotebook14.wordpress.com/2...

[Gabriel d'Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito bom. Nesse volume as coisas foram mais devagar e teve pouco ação acredito que foi feita para dar uma respirada depois daquela luta incrível do final do volume 3.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again Bell is adorable, I love him<3

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a filler episode sort of volume. It's not bad but not a lot happens beyond the addition of a new character.

[Sam Succoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last 100 pages aren't really needed

[Kron Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es interesante, pero la cantidad de "ecchi", agota un poco, a decir verdad me plantea si debería continuar la obra...

[Ixie Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

(The author is right, smiths are awesome, and the forging scenes were the best in the whole book.)
Unsurprisingly, a book that doesn't focus on how much the protagonist is unfair is a much easier read. We get some more worldbuilding and a nice, set-up for further adventures coupled with lots of character moments. I can even forgive that most of this book is in first person, which I hate. Got to mention the side stories included as well. Very good. Worth it. Self-contained, world-building and character building.

Also, finally nailed down another thing I dislike about the protagonist. There's only so much naiveté I can take. His lack of self-awareness is outright insulting to us readers and every other character in the story. I'm not talking relationship-wise, such things are hard for some people and understandable. I'm talking about his modesty. It crosses the line into insulting, because it never comes off as lack of self-confidence. He's confident about himself, but somehow… he can't see how much he's improving? It's plain as day, almost written down for him? The other characters around him don't help matters by refusing to just speak up and correct him. In short, it's full of people who will not say it as it is and such things are personally distasteful.

That said, I do like the new character! He's honest! He's got his hang-ups but at least he's got his head screwed on straight. Oh, and he's not another nonsensical love-interest.

[David Anthony Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Level 2 and beyond

This was another great addition. Bell has reach level 2. What does this mean for our hero? Before he can find out he meets someone new. This mystery new arrival joins Bell's group. Now they are ready to see how far they can really go. I also enjoy the bonus chapters at the end of the book. The first one gave us a view of the outside world and the second one gave us a new perspective through the eyes of the goddess hestia. Cannot wait for the next one.

[Deckard Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the JRPG continues! This part of the story is where the main character gets new companions and equipment. The new character adds more"noise" to the party. Looking forward to more character growth.

Special stories separate from the main timeline also included.

[Gene Metschulat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following bells fight with the Minotaur and his level up he finds new friends, and new power. The book read well and fast which kept it entertaining. And the side stories at the end were nice to get more about his relationship with Micah family and his goddess

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this series, got to wait for the next book now :S

This one had the main story line and two short story's but was a good read.