The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic – 13 (Fin) – Great Expectations

The best part of Wrong Way was its lovable, adorkable characters and their chemistry with one another, and finale leans into those strengths. Ken and Suzune meet with the fox girl Amako, who showed Ken a vision so he’d change that vision’s future. Because he and his friends survived, now he can help her mother. Doing so means traveling to Beastkin territory, which is quite far away. Ken wants to help if he can; he just needs to ask Rose and the King.

Meanwhile, Black Knight, whom we finally learned is named Felm, is having the same initial difficulties as Ken in adjusting to her new life with the Rescue Team and Rose as her captain. We know from her time with the demon army that Felm was a bit of a lazy brat who skated by on her magical talent, but that shit won’t fly. Ken gives her a diary like the one he used to help him process the hardship he went through. It’s here where I declare that I love Felm with all my heart and can’t get enough of her!

Amako is pretty cute herself—Suzune agrees, and would really like to scratch those fluffy ears sometime—but she’s not as fleshed out yet as Felm. That said, the king voices his gratitude to her for giving Ken a vision that ultimately motivated him to do what was needed to save the kingdom from demon invasion. In exchange, the final leg of Ken’s four-leg missive delivery journey will be her home in Beastkin Territory so he can heal her mother.

Just as she witnesses how powerful Ken and Rose are when they’re doing dodging training, Felm uses her sneaking affinity to learn that Ken will be leaving for parts unknown, and she’s clearly worried about that. When she tries to make a break for it (though not back to the demons), Rose catches her easily and immediately senses that Felm is worried about Ken.

Felm can tsundere all she likes; the fact of the matter is, when Ken says her name it makes her immeasurably happy. I for one wish she’d be joining his missive delivering mission, but there’s still much she has to learn that only Rose can teach her. She’ll be in good, if rough, hands.

Rose assures Felm that Ken will be just fine, and won’t be easily hurt by anyone. After all, he was trained by perhaps the most terrifyingly powerful human in the world, so anyone else—including the former Black Knight—is a cakewalk by comparison. Rose makes Ken more happy than he expected by telling him she expects great things from him.

So as she continues training Felm, he heads off with Suzune, Kazuki, the mage Welcie, the knights Aruku and Thomas, and of course, Amako. Hopefully we’ll get a second season that chronicles their travels, and above all gives us more Felm. There’s no such thing as too much Felm!

Shin no Nakama – S2 12 (Fin) – We Can Be Heroes

In a battle of pure swordsmanship, Red has Van’s number, as demonstrated by the ease with which he’s able to parry and counter Van’s thrusts, but also kind of embarrass the kid by bopping him on the back and head with his bronze sword. Van is operating on emotion and adrenaline; never a good thing when you’re up against Red, a zen master by comparison!

When Lav sees her boy is getting schooled, she tries to intervene, but gets a slash to the cheek from Rit, who won’t let her interfere. Lav in turn shatters her tiny faerie avatar and shows her true form as a massive magenta lightning-wreathed calamity, and she is pissed off, but when Rit is outclassed, Ruti steps in and puts the Calamity down, showing she’s still got the Hero goods and then some.

Van decides to turn what was supposed to be a fight with bronze swords into a free-for-all by casting lightning on Red, which shatters his sword, and has him at the edge of being KO’d. But Red is playing dead, allowing Van to come in and use his Healing Hands: Reflect, at which point Van unleashes Ruti’s power through the charm she lent him, which takes Van down.

Van accuses Red of cheating, but it was he who used magic first, everything after that was fair game. As Van stews in his blood, sweat, and tears, Red tells him that the emotion that made him waver was disappointment, something he’d never experienced. He passes out and comes to in one of Undine’s huts. Both he and Lav are bound, but he’s calm. The instincts of his Hero’s Blessing have returned to him.

Red asks Rit to take Lav outside so he and Van can talk mano-a-mano. Red explains to Van that his emotional turmoil caused his Blessing to go berserk. But he also makes clear to Van that a hero isn’t made by a Blessing, but by someone who wants to be a hero, and strives to act like one every day.

Red believes Van has what it takes to be a true hero, but he won’t become one until he learns more about the ways of the world while accepting his emotions are part of him and trusting in his friends. After beating the villain out of him, Red has given Van a way forward: the right way.

When Van emerges from the hut free of the root bonds, Lavender is worried Red did something awful to him, but he’s fine. Not only that, Van does something totally unbidden that Lavender has never experienced: He thanks her for always being by his side. She blushes, smiles softly, and tells him the pleasure has been all hers.

Van proceeds to apologize properly to Esta, Albert, and Cardinal Ljubo (who was healed from his wound and is mostly pissed the nurses won’t let him drink or smoke). No one has to tell him to do this, he wants to, because he sees the error of his past ways. As Red said, these aren’t just members of his party, but his friends, and with their help, and Lavender’s he’ll become a stronger, better hero.

Lavender is a little worried about what Red might’ve said to Van to change him so much in so short a time, but all it takes is Rit asking if she doesn’t like this new Van anymore for Lav to insist that on the contrary, she’s never loved him more.

And while she also insists she hates Red, she also procures a pure blue sapphire for him to make a ring for Rit, as thanks for him looking after Van. Hey guys, I like Van and Lavender now. They’re a couple of real sweeties! Just … ya know, don’t get Lav mad.

Once the ring is made by his Dwarf friends in town, Red spares no detail in crafting the perfect romantic evening. When his preparations are complete he calls Rit, and the foley work exquisitely places us in that room with him as we hear her footsteps above him, then going down the stairs. The moment Rit knows what’s up, tears start to fill her eyes as Red gets on one knee and asks her to marry him.

The answer, of course, is yes, and she even thinks she should be the one asking him. He didn’t need to do this whole song and dance, and a simple bronze ring would have been sufficient. But Red wanted to show her how much he loved her, and also treat her like the princess she is. It’s the most romantic moment of Spring 2024, and it was a Goddamn Tearjerker!

At the reception to follow, everyone extends their best wishes to the happy couple, with Ruti also adding that “she’ll be next”—presumably, she wants to marry Red too, but if you ask me, she should be marrying Tisse. Mr. Crawly Wawly can officiate.

Van and Lavender are also there to join in the celebration, as Van seems to be starting his education in the ways of the world by actually opening his eyes to the joys of the slow life. He’d love it if Red could join his party, but Red is where he belongs: by Rit’s side, in the sleepy town of Zoltan. No doubt they’ll be there until they’re old and wrinkly.

CERTIFIED GODDAMN TEARJERKER

 

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic – 12 – Upright Demon Brigade

Back from his great victory, Ken is suddenly the toast of the town, as everyone in the market crowds around him. Needless to say he’s not used to this kind of adulation, but you can’t say his heroic deeds didn’t justify it! The way he managed to cancel out Black Knight’s magic also means she asks for him specifically as a condition of providing useful demon intel.

Suzune accompanies Ken, both to protect him—or at least be his meat shield, a line delivered perfectly—but Black Knight, back in her armor, is still in rough shape, since she bore the full brunt of his punches in battle. Ken goes into her cell to heal her, which means first melting away parts of her suit so he can make physical contact. Turns out she’s never felt anyone’s warm touch before, so Ken has a profound effect on her.

Speaking of punches, Rose doesn’t waste any time advancing Ken’s training to the next level: learning how to dodge her E. Honda-like supersonic punches. The ones he can’t dodge, he has to absorb, and her first one, in which she’s going easy on him, sends him flying and knocks him out to the point he comes to thinking he had a nightmare … only it’s reality.

Ken vents about his three days of fresh hell to the Black Knight (or BK), who is both clearly happy he’s there spending time with her and somewhat confused the man who defeated her so completely in battle is now just hanging out with her. I love this dynamic, and BK herself (again, voiced by Aoi Yuuki and sounding a lot like Maomao) is a total cutie.

It’s just like our kind best boy Ken to reach out to those he thinks are having trouble, even his ostensible enemy. Because she’s a demon, it felt a little foreboding when the king summoned Rose and we didn’t hear what about, and Ken even thought about the possibility of BK being executed. Turns out, Rose wants to reform BK into an “upright demon” and a member of the Rescue Team. That’s awesome, especially since BK totally has a crush on Ken!

Ken is informed by Rose that he, Suzune, and Kazuki (who is basically married to Celia now) are going to be dispatched to neighboring nations in order to deliver missives as key parts of a campaign to build alliances against the demons.

While in town buying some supplies, smiling at some smitten young lady fans of his, and bumping into Suzune, he spots the fox girl who showed him a bad future he was able to prevent. She doesn’t seem that miffed about being run up on and lifted into the air. In fact, she’d been meaning to speak to him about paying her back by saving her mother.

Shin no Nakama – S2 11 – The Wavering Hero

The truce with Van doesn’t last long, as he refuses to leave Zoltan. He’s also going through what he believes to be a necessary trial: he’s no longer getting impulses from his Hero’s Blessing. When Albert heads into the woods to save a little girl, she’s with Kukururu, a tiny fay dragon that means no harm. So of course when Van shows up he wants to kill it.

Albert won’t let him, and even though he knows he’s no match for the Hero, he still does everything he can to delay him from taking an innocent life. Before Albert becomes that person, Esta interrupts the battle, positively teeming with rage against Van for hurting the man she’s fallen for. She knocks off his armor and beats the shit out of him.

Lavender prepares to intervene, but she’s interrupted by Undine. But Lavender even looks down on a water archfay, considering her no match for her. Yet before she can unleash an attack with her full power behind it, she’s very nearly sliced in two … by Ruti, from several hundred yards away in the woods. With his most loyal followed wounded and his armor wrecked, Van retreats, but is now excited to have his primary target in sight.

He returns to town and stabs Cardinal Ljubo, declaring he’ll kill anyone and destroy everything if that’s what it takes to defeat Ruti. Back in the Undine’s domain, Albert will make a full recovery, but Esta is still surprised that her love for him made her anger take over for the first time in her life. Red assures her that her emotions have nothing to do with her Blessing, but come from her heart, and he’s glad when she says she won’t cast her feelings for Albert aside.

Rit, Tisse, Yarandrala and Danan join Red, Ruti, and Esta in preparation to take on Van as a team. Undine warns them that Lavender is no slouch either, but a calamity, the last of the mythical archfay Ketu, an avatar of terrible power and destruction. But Red isn’t worried. In fact he believe they have a weaker target in a wavering, lost Van than the earlier one who was so certain in his faith.

Van takes the bait and lets himself and Lavender get trapped on an island surrounded by a multi-layer barrier set up by Undine, Yarandrala, and Esta. Van tosses a bronze sword Van’s way and challenges him to a one-on-one duel in which they’ll fight until one of them falls. No doubt Van will be talking a lot during the fight to come, further confusing Van and throwing him off balance.

Meanwhile, Rit won’t let anyone get in the way of her love, and neither will Lavender. Van’s “belief” that Lord Demis has tasked him with killing the previous Hero in order to become a true one is nothing but a shot in the dark from a boy who, bereft of any other guidance or moral compass, has chosen to focus all of his effort on Ruti.

But even if Van was more powerful than her (I’d estimate they’re about equal), he’s in much worse shape mentally, and she’s got a lot more friends—her real Hero’s Party. She has a Big Brother who isn’t about to lose to a petulant whelp who’d rather burn the world to the ground than face his doubts. It should be a fun battle!

Shin no Nakama – S2 10 – A Quest with the Guide

Lavender thinks Esta has betrayed the Hero, but that’s just her interpretation of events. Esta herself has an explanation for why she visited with Rit and Red that’s reasonable to Van, while Ljubo doesn’t even understand why he was woken up so early. As satisfying as it might be to beat the everloving shit out of Van, it’s pointless. They have to try to defeat him with words.

To that end, Rit introduces Red to Van and his party, and she is so sincere in her deep and undying love for him, even someone as prickly as Lavender can’t help but be moved. Red also uses his status as the former Guide of the previous Hero, and the fact he’s still living his life after his role was completed, serves to keep the rhetorically unskilled Van at bay.

Red ultimately gets a chance to interact with Van in his natural habitat of the battlefield, only they’re on the same side this time, fighting a horde of horrific but fairly weak sea bogies. Van is actually open to at least hearing if not following the advice of one who is the Guide in the eyes of the Almighty Demis. Red expertly shows Van in small but compelling ways how he’s coming up short of being the best Hero he can be, or a “finished product.”

When the battle turns into a search for a child the bogies abducted in a cavern, Van’s shortcomings are again exposed, as he’s terrible at tracking and way too loud with his clanging armor to be stealthy. Fortunately, that doesn’t end up mattering against the relatively weak bogies. Van is the one to locate the little girl who was taken, and Lavender is such a possessive little twerp she gets mad at the traumatized child for clinging to Van!

Van insists to the parents that “no thanks is necessary” as he was only doing his duty as Hero to defeat evil. Even the tearful smiling face of the little girl doesn’t seem to move him, though at least he doesn’t repeat that thanks aren’t necessary like a robot, nor does he dig into why this happy family isn’t out on the battlefield fighting. So I guess that’s progress? If nothing else, Red has given Van a lot to think about.

Back at Red’s place, Esta is depressed for having failed so completely to get Van or Lavender to ever listen to advice, only for Red and Rit to get through to them in just one quest. That’s when Albert cheers her up with maximum-power words of encouragement that can’t help but make her blush.

Their cute back-and-forth is an echo of Red and Rit’s usual schtick, and I love how they of all people say “that’s enough sweetness for one day.” And while I still don’t expect Van or Lavender to stop sucking anytime soon, but I appreciate Red and Rit’s non-violent efforts to at least mitigate their suckiness.

Shin no Nakama – S2 09 – What Love’s Got to Do With It

The gang has a meeting to discuss Chaos Reignsborough’s Blue Boy, specifically how they’re going to go about protecting Ruti and Zoltan from his hyper-zealous, destructive whims. Tisse provides well-drawn portraits of Van, Lavender, and Ljubo. Ruti declares that Van’s world is tiny, allowing him to trust his beliefs without conditions.

Van will disguise himself and reach out to Ljubo, but Lavender is the problem. Mystorm warned to Yarandrala that despite her tiny cute fairy appearance, she’s actually an extremely powerful monster they should a avoid a direct fight with. Rit decides she’ll try talking to Lavender, since both of them are madly in love.

Red sees Tisse out on the deck looking troubled. Her issue is not just that he’s powerful, but also a “terrifying human being.” She just can’t fathom how different he is from Ruti, despite them both being bona fide heroes. Red lays it out: Ruti is an indomitable hero, while Van seeks to be an invincible one.

Van is also little more than his blessing, which he levels up with everything he’s got. Ruti is more than her blessing, thanks in no small part to her brother’s careful guidance, and love. Tisse is glad Ruti had someone like Red, and now understands better what a disadvantage Van has.

After a tense introduction in a dark alley, Rit manages to get to Lavender’s tender side by basically baring her heart to her. She doesn’t want to talk about anything with her but love, and once Lavender can tell she’s sincere, learning that Rit gave up everything to be with her love, she’s happy to drink mead with her.

While they’re able to find common ground through the love they have for their partners, Lavender disagrees with Rit fundamentally on one thing: the ability for love to grow or change. Ever since she met Van, Lavender has been all-in on her love. It’s a feeling she’d destroy the world to preserve, and never wants it to change.

It’s hearing this that makes Rit realize Lavender’s love is not only one-sided, but entirely selfish on Lavender’s part. She doesn’t really care about Van’s feelings, which, if we’re honest, he doesn’t really have, since his world and his almighty are his entire world. Lavender is, at best, a tool to help him carry out the will of Demis, like everyone else. She’s only “special” insofar as she’s completely loyal to him.

Rit is wise not to bring up the contradictions or limits in Lavender’s love, but does warn her that at some point she’ll have to choose between Van changing and Van dying. If that time comes, Lavender promises she’ll simply die with Van. When Rit asks Lavender to ask Van to leave Zoltan, she refuses, and Rit doesn’t push the matter. Instead, they toast one more mug of mead to hopefully having more peaceful talks like this.

While Rit must by design wear her heart on her sleeve and exhibit extreme honesty with an entity like Lavender who could quickly sniff out her lies, Red takes a different approach with Ljubo, one that exploits Ljubo’s vices, specifically money (which he wasn’t born into) and gambling.

Red, slumped over, hooded, and with a purple face tattoo, goads Ljubo into betting on a fat dragon that ends up winning and earning him a bunch of cash. There’s no better way for him to ingratiate himself to the cardinal than by lining his pockets.

With Ljubo’s lust for gold sated for the day, Red shows him where he can spend some of his winnings on some quality wine and seafood. Yarandrala in an anachronistic bartender’s uniform assists Red with this, and Ljubo is impressed that a backwater like Zoltan has such good fare.

With his pockets and belly full and a nice buzz from the wine, Ljubo is sufficiently prepared to hear Red out. Here, Red weaves the story of ancient elven ruins around Zoltan being full of advanced biological weapons. Some are monster form like the dead Ogre King he shows Ljubo. And some have human form – like the girl Van fought.

Red tells Ljubo that the girl is the ultimate elven weapon to be used against the demon army. If Van fights her, and either or both of them die in the ensuing mayhem, it will be a huge blow to mankind. Ljubo agrees, and vows to recommend to Van that he give up on fighting the girl. That said, Van’s obedience cannot be guaranteed.

The bottom line is that Red, Rit, Ruti & Co. don’t want to kill Van if they don’t have to. They want a peaceful solution, and that may require them to deceive Van. That’s a risky prospect, especially with Lavender discovering that Esta and her new Squire seem to be friendly with the apothecary who fought Van.

Shin no Nakama – S2 08 – One Punch Van

Other than the grotesque mad scientist Gedouiin in Ao no Exorcist, Van the “Hero” might be the most hateable villain of the winter. We check in on him as he’s slaughtering the Hill Giants … for failing to attack and kill humans, which is what he believes Demis created them for. That’s right: the conflicts and suffering that tear this world apart aren’t a bug, they’re a feature. They’re all part of Demis’ plan … a plan that frankly sucks shit!

I honestly don’t know how Esta/Theodora can keep supporting this guy. Perhaps she’s staying out of some misguided notion that she can keep him in line if she just delivers the proper nag at the proper time, but most of her guidance is canceled out by Lavender believing Van can do no wrong. Both she and Tisse are in grave danger, but I see the value of keeping someone like Van close by. I also loved the quiet moment by the campfire when Tisse basically gets Theodora to admit she loves Albert!

Zoltan prepares a grand party to commemorate handing the airship to the Hero, but he doesn’t take it well. When they apologize for not considering his duties and offer their prayers, Van rejects the entire town as lazy heretics. Zoltan as a place has no value to him, and be believes the only proper use for its people, and their only salvation, is to follow him into battle: men, women, and children of all ages.

This is madness, but Van is nothing if not consistent. Any evil he perpetrates or allows to occur is justified, because he is following the will of Demis in firm lockstep. Having recently acquired Chekhov’s Fairy King Shield of Mind Control, Van prepares to use it on the townfolk to brainwash them. When Esta and Mystorm try to oppose him, a very pissed Lavender traps them in a magical barrier.

Van’s shield attack is interrupted by Yarandrala, and when she’s disarmed and nearly killed, Danan enters the fray and actually lands a hit on the “Hero” that makes him bleed. Van simply uses his Reflection ability to transfer his wounds and pain to Danan. It’s clear neither of them are a match for him, but they are buying valuable time.

Buying time allows Red to arrive, with Ruti and Rit no doubt right behind him. He crosses blades with Van and learns that while the guy has been leveling up his Blessing like there’s no tomorrow, his swordsmanship leaves much to be desired, as does his basic magic. When a horde of Salt Dragons threaten to level the town in their search for the shield, he yanks it away from Van and gives it back to the dragons, who then take their leave without further damage.

Van now realizes Red is simply buying time, but by then, Ruti’s fist is already firmly lodged in his cheek, and the much deserved and much anticipated punch to his eminently punchable face finally lands. It sends him flying head-over-heels into a boulder, and as he lies dying, he wonders who hit him. “No one important”, the former hero Ruti declares, blowing on her knuckles.

While I’m glad she made it in time to punch the ever-loving shit out of this asshole, I fear she’s only made him more unhinged. Ljubo and Lavender cast resurrection on him, and he heals himself, then resolves to kill the girl who hit her. He never believed it was his divine role to win, only to fight evil.

Being revived will allow him to continue fighting Ruti, who he deems to be the ultimate evil, even though he really should be looking in a mirror. Here’s hoping Ruti can finish what she started and wipe this villainous piss stain off the map for good.

Shin no Nakama – S2 07 – Children Are the Future

Red, Rit, and Ruti overhear the voices of a bunch of cute kids practicing their spearwork for their Blessings, and decide to help out. The three of the prove to be personable and engaging instructors. If he didn’t own an apothecary, he could probably open a dojo and teach the next generation. When the town watch reports Ogre Kings in the area, the three insist on helping, with Ruti proving they’re pretty strong by smacking her greatsword on the base of a tree and halving every leaf that falls.

Hero Van also ends up meeting with some children, and his willingness to talk with them and his patience  surprises Esta. Alas, he’s only nice to them because their blessings haven’t awakened yet. Once they do, he essentially warns them that they will have no free will to pursue the lives they want, only lives dictated by the blessings bestowed upon them by Demis. Lavender is the quintessential toadie and enabler, believing Van to always be right and everyone else is a nuisance.

The less said about the “animation” of Red and Rit’s battle, the better; it’s essentially a slide show with some shaky stills and pans mixed in. The battle lacks urgency and danger, despite both Red and Rit determining that these are very strange Ogre Kings, using stealth, weapons, and even magic. In the end, Red and Rit take out over two dozen, but the scale of that feat isn’t really captured by the visuals.

It was only a matter of time when Tisse had to reveal herself to Van, what with him nosing around Zoltan and Lavender having spotted her snooping. Tisse has a calm answer for all Lav’s questions, but she’s still suspicious, because Lav is an inherently intolerant, impatient, and paranoid pixie.

Van remains big, big problem, and despite her strength and cunning, Tisse is in very real danger, especially if he learns she’s concealing her identity and assassin’s blessing. That’s why when Mr. Crawly Wawly stops by for a report, Ruti decides they’ll head back to Zoltan.

She doesn’t care what church or hero stands in her way, she’s going to protect her best friend with everything she has. Hopefully that will be enough against Van. Mind you, I’d prefer if they avoid fighting him altogether but that seems unrealistic at this point.

Shin no Nakama – S2 06 – Laying Low in St. Durant

As the gang meets to determine how to deal with an impending visit from the new Hero Van, Yarandrala suggests Ruti simply get out of town for the duration of Van’s visit, accompanied by Red and Rit. Tisse suggests they head to the tourist destination of St Durant, whose Hero was a burly lumberjack who built 100 homes in one night.

While his muscular statue is silly, it’s not silly that this world now has to deal with a Hero like Van, who can’t spare a moment’s feeling for his fellow man, nor lift a finger to help them. He’s got his Blessing from Demis, and they have theirs, and he won’t deviate. Ruti is an example of how a previously brainwashed Hero can still contribute to the greater good while maintaining her humanity and allowing room for love of others.

Even though the trio is on vacation, they’re not going to walk past a young woman in pain. When he hears Kate’s symptoms, Red determines she’s suffering from poison acquired via a cut.  He has Rit keep Kate comfortable with healing magic and Ruti rushes out into the rain to collect an herb he’ll need to make a medicine for her.

Once she’s gotten the herb to her brother, a soaked and muddy Ruti rushes right back out to get someone to see Kate home once she’s recovered. She returns with half the damn town; such is their gratitude for the trio’s efforts. Ruti also shows she’s able to get along with normal people and bring them together, even though she’s no longer the Hero.

Among the gifts the townsfolk bring is St. Durant’s secret recipe for Curry, which Red, Rit, and Ruti enjoy with bread and wine. Rit changes into a swimsuit while Ruti wears one of Red’s oversized shirts in order to get more into a vacation mood. Talk turns to Van and whether he’s left Zoltan yet, but Ruti knows they shouldn’t spend too much time on that subject but cherish every peaceful night they have together.

I’m hoping that line doesn’t portend some kind of conflict. For what it’s worth, Van doesn’t think much of Zoltan as it’s just a stepping stone on the way to the Airship (what a MacGuffin that’s become). When he snaps at a maid for bringing him more food (which he doesn’t really need), Theodora takes him outside for a time-out.

Theodora is the true hero for having to deal with an insufferable shit of a Hero, who doesn’t care about respecting or acknowledging the admiration or gratitude of the masses because he believes their only job, according to the teachings of Demis, is to die. It’s not just Van who’s trouble. Lavender is always on his shoulder telling him everything he says and does is right.

Ljubo, meanwhile seems to be using Van as a tool on their next quest to defeat a salt dragon and claim its treasure. Only Theodora seems to harbor any concern about how Van is developing as a person. He’s simply not the right kind of hero for a world of peace and happiness she fought for in Ruti’s party. He’s a hammer, meant only to drive a nail.

Shin no Nakama – S2 05 – Laid-Back Training Camp

One night Ruti and Tisse visit Red and Rit to tell them that Cardinal Ljubo is looking for the demon lord’s airship (talk about a MacGuffin!). Red is fine with the Church taking the ship for good, but if that’s not the case, they’ll deal with it. The morning news also comes with a story about the “Masked Knight Escarlata” defeating one of the demon lord’s generals, Astra of the Water.

Red’s first priority is to make sure no one finds Ruti or learns that she’s forsaken her Hero’s Blessing. Part of that is making sure Ruti and Tisse have all the tools at their disposal to have a prosperous life growing and selling herbs. To that end, he agrees to be their first customer and will help Ruti learn the ropes of business.

While visiting Danan at the hospital, Red learns that the big lug wants to spar with him before he leaves. Red tells Rit he needs to train hard so he doesn’t embarrass himself, even though he’s certain Danan will win in the end: fighting is his Blessing, after all.

After Red declines to spar with Rit, a training camp is organized, with Red, Rit, Yarandrala (who is a lot more militarily accomplished than Rit thought), Ruti, Tisse, and … Danan. That’s right, the big guy can’t resist a training camp, and this one will have great food.

The training progresses well, during which time Danan assures Red that the “Escarlata” in the papers must be Theodora in disguise, and Ruti stands naked under a waterfall. Yarandrala and Danan reminisce, while Red and Rit get some couple time bathing in a spring.

Red tells Rit that fighting Danan isn’t about winning or losing, but simply getting Danan to understand—through his language of martial combat—the value of the life Red has chosen, and his resolve to continue living it. Rit hopes he’s able to make him understand.

Because this is Shin no Nakama, the actual sparring session is pretty underwhelming due to the dearth of animation. I’ll be charitable and say it gets the job done with very little in the way of style, elegance, or creativity. But I don’t watch this show for its fights, and never have. It’s the intent and the feelings behind the fight that matter, and those do come through in the end.

Red loses, as he knew he would. But he still succeeds, because while Danan still doesn’t understand the Slow Life and probably never will, he’s able to accept and respect Red thanks to the strength he demonstrated. He’s on a different path with a different kind of strength, and he wishes him well. Then Ruti challenges Danan to a sparring session and demolishes him in the blink of an eye—not doubt to avenge her dear “onii-sama-senpai.”

The group returns home to find Albert waiting for them, and he brings not-so-great news: a new Hero has appeared: Van of Flamberge. Theodora is with him, and they may well be headed to Zoltan. We then cut to Van witnessing a man kill another in a bar to satisfy his “Wrongdoer” Blessing.

Van doesn’t believe he needs to question, arrest, or try this man, but simply beheads them right there. Theodora, AKA Escalarta, tells him that human beings’ lives involve more than their Blessings’ urges, but she might as well be talking to a brick wall.

By killing the man, Van believes he helped fulfill the man’s role: a stepping stone for the Hero’s growth. The scariest part about Van is he has no ego; he’s simply a killing machine devoid of nuance or quarter … the last person you want in Zoltan, or anywhere near Ruti.

Shin no Nakama – S2 04 – Slow Life Assassin

This week chronicles a typical day in Ruti’s new life as a former hero. After a very intense morning stretching session, she has a bath and then tends to her herb garden, which she considers her main job now, adventuring being a side gig. When her seedlings show signs of cold mold, Rit helps her treat it.

Throughout the day, Tisse is watching Ruti, but seems preoccupied with something related to the airship and a fellow assassin. We cover her day next, as she sleeps in and wakes to find Ruti directly in her face, asking what she’s up to. After breakfast and a shared bath Ruti takes Tisse into town, where she tames a runaway drake with one word.

Upon passing a farm, Ruti senses a monster beneath the earth, draws it out, and cuts it in half with her bare hand. She and Tisse then attend a popular theater, and Ruti ends up joining in when she senses one of the actor’s swords is cursed. It’s a day of Tisse watching Ruti doing unforgettable hero-type things that draw attention to her, but Ruti insists she’s a “normal” adventurer.

That evening Ruti treats Tisse to a dinner of Oparara’s oden, and admits that she sensed something was troubling Tisse, and wanted to give her a fun day to take her mind off whatever it was that was troubling her. Tisse, who doesn’t want to cause Ruti any undue bother, insists she’ll be fine, and what’s bothering her will be over by morning.

That’s because in the middle of the night Tisse pays a visit to the airship where a another student of her master, a deserter of the Assassin’s Guild, had already betrayed his comrades. She demonstrates that she’s grown more since they parted ways, and fulfills her assassin’s blessing, while also learning the deserter was under the employ of Cardinal Ljubo, who wants the airship.

The next day, Tisse tells Ruti more about the Assassin’s Guild, and how it’s a way for those with the assassin’s blessing to support one another, and is less scary than their marketing strategy suggests. Tisse feels bad about Ruti helping her with one of her assassination missions, and wonders if someone like her who must adhere to her blessing should really be by Ruti’s side.

Ruti tells her she needn’t worry; Tisse is her friend, and she’ll always help her if she needs it. She can live an Assassin’s Slow Life beside a Former Hero’s Slow Life. That sounds a lot better than poor Theodora, who is in a party with Van, a literal psychopath!

Shin no Nakama – S2 03 – Time for Her Happiness

As I suspected, “Esta” is actually Theodora. I appreciate that she’s staying close to the new Hero Van, and when she hears that he might be headed to Zoltan, she  sends Albert there first to inform Red of the situation. I seriously don’t want Van anywhere near Ruti!

Zoltan, meanwhile, is ablaze in festive spirit as the day of the Drake Rider and Saint Licinius’s Solstace Festival is in full swing. Red and Rit close up shop and head out hand-in-hand in their festival best. Celebrating the repelling of the Winter Demon, it’s a day of eating, drinking, dancing, and partying for the whole village, none of whom will be going in to work tomorrow.

The only blemish on the day is a confrontation between two elves accusing each other of cutting in line, but the younger of the two is going through the awakening of his blessing, and a grown (and huge!) Ademi defuses the situation. Yarandrala is living her best festival life, and joins Red, Rit, Ruti and Tisse for a luxuriant udon dinner by her fellow elf Oparara.

After the reenactment of the repelling of the Winter Demon (played by a visiting Danan), there’s a bonfire dance. After Red and Rit have a dance, Rit gives way to Ruti, who gets to dance with her dear brother for the first time since before he was a knight. When she asks if she’s truly allowed to be this happy, Red says he’s fine with it. So am I: Ruti has suffered enough; it’s time for her happiness, without qualifications!

That night, Rit looks forward to spending next year’s festival with Red, and the one after that, and the one after that. And while he was unable to secure a blue sapphire for a ring, he presents her with an engagement necklace for the time being. Declaring him not fair, Rit tells Red they’ll be sleeping in tomorrow, for some sweet, sweet lovin’ is about to ensue.

The evening is less fun for Tisse, and not just because my Tisse x Ruti ship remains in drydock: she overheard some bandit-looking types talking about the Demon Lord’s airship, and later that night she confronts them. While Mr. Crawly-Wawly manages to trap them in a web, their accomplice cuts them free, throws a dagger Tisse’s head, and books it. Whatever these guys are up to, I don’t like it, or anything else that upsets Zoltan’s laid-back vibe!

Shin no Nakama – S2 02 – Uncut Gem Beast

Yarandrala is happy to be reunited with Gideon, and also glad he and Rit are a happy couple, but she also fells like injustice was done to both of them, and that they could be betrayed again. To that end, she invites them to live in Kiramin, the land of the high elves where it’s always spring. They decline, assuring her they’re perfectly happy in Zoltan. In fact, they invite her to move there for a time so she can see for herself why it’s not a bad place.

With the extreme cold of the mountains getting to everyone, Tisse leads them to an invigorating hot spring with a killer view of the sea. When Yara learns Red is all alone at a smaller spring, she runs off (naked, of course) to join him, followed closely by Rit.

When Tisse, whom I have no doubt likes Ruti (again, they’re practically wives in the OP) asks if she’s okay with Rit, Ruti exposes her brocon side by saying Rit can be his wife, but she’ll be his “number one lover.” I love how the touching music suddenly stops at this point, and Ruti leaves her all alone. Poor Tisse!

When the group encounters the Gem Giants and finds them in a bad way; they have no gems to trade, and are indeed starving to death. Red, Rit, and Ruit offer the rare Zoltanian glass they were going to use as barter, an act of charity that makes the Gem Giants lifelong allies. But the source of the gem shortage must be dealt with if the Giants are to survive.

The source is a Gem Beast, a gargantuan monster that eats gems and turns them into poisonous lead (which is why the Zoog forest is also hurting; the poison is in the water). The Beast is no slouch either, as Red has read of High Elves trying and failing to defeat it. It shatters Ruti’s sword and rots away Yara’s vines, then reflects their magic spells back upon them.

Red determines that the beast must be relying on multiple blessings to support its weight and launch such powerful attacks. But he happens to have a bottle of potion crafted by the Wild Elves that reduces the level of the blessing. Red, Ruti, Yara, and the others all keep the beast at bay while Rit leaps up and tosses the bottle in its mouth. With its blessings reduced it collapses under its own weight, and Ruti provides a devastating hero punch to defeat it.

The group returns to Zoltan, with Morgrim acquiring the earth crystal he needed (though it doesn’t seem Red found a blue sapphire for Rit’s ring … oh well). Yarandrala decides she’ll come live in Zoltan with them after all, since she wants to learn about a place where Gideon found so much joy and contentment.

Unbeknownst to them, their quiet life looks to be threatened by the approach of the Demon King’s airship, which we learn is heading to Zoltan in the closing scene with Van, Esta, Ljubo and Lavender. While the hero and his party won’t be headed there (for now), Ljubo is dispatching someone named Kiggith to investigate. We’ll see if this Kiggith causes any problems for our laid back friends.