Content Warning: A single corpse
In case the name didn’t give it away, this manga is based on a series of “Light Novels” (read: novellas). I know this was also made into an anime but I just happened across this manga at a local bookstore which is just reopening, so I thought I would share. And, yes, I will be covering the books in the future (but probably not the anime).
Our story opens with Dale, an adventurer in a typical J-Fantasy world, sitting around a fire, frying some fish and drying off his clothes after an encounter with some stinky frogs. He sees something in the woods and discovers that it’s a child of the Demon Race that looks in pretty poor shape. Since Dale knows some magic, he’s able to communicate with her in very basic terms. He gives her one of the fish and then finds the body of her father. After doing the right thing and burying him, he offers to take the girl, Latina, with him. He takes her to the Mackerel Tabby, the Adventurer’s inn he’s been staying in. The Tabby is run by Rita and her husband, Kenneth. There, Dale bathes Latina and they go to bed.
In the morning, Rita has prepared a list of things that a girl needs, as well as giving her a ribbon to wear in her hair to cover her horn (the other one is broken, a sign of a criminal in Demon Race culture). They go out and buy a whole lot of things, including picture books so Latina can learn the human language. We also see that she’s one smart cookie, figuring out greetings by context. After this, Dale has to go and collect his reward for the stinky frogs he killed, leaving Latina with Kenneth and Rita. While she’s there, business picks up, and she starts to help out. Kenneth finds out what’s going on when one of the grizzled adventurers, Jilvester, pointed out the young “waitress.” Kenneth is impressed and later makes a special desert for Latina. When Dale learns about this, he’s the proud parent. There’s this whole thing of him being overprotective towards her and impressed by her. I suppose this the “Moe” (mo-eh) thing I remember hearing about…
Next, we see that Latina has learned how to read and write in the local language and Dale takes her out to buy more notebooks. Along the way, they run into Jilvester, why slyly asks what she’s going to be making when she helps in the kitchen. File this away for a minute. The pair gets back to the Tabby and Dale has to hold himself back while Latina peels the potatoes. Before long, the Tabby is full and Jilvester orders a round of mashed potatoes for him and two others. That’s because, as soon as the rest of the adventurers discover that Latina made the mashed potatoes, there’s a rush for them. You see, Latina has stolen the hearts of all of the grizzled men that visit the Tabby. She’s pretty much their mascot. And it’s so wholesome, I love it. Having played a lot of D&D, I can tell you that there’s nothing quite like having a little girl around to motivate a group of dirty muderhobos to do the right thing.
Which is what happens next. While walking with Kenneth for sundries, Latina wandered away, and got lost. When Dale finds out, he runs out to search for her. Rita, being the brains of the show, posts a quest for the return of Latina, offering a free tab if they look for her and an extra reward if they find her. One by one, the customers make excuses to leave and go on the hunt for her. While this is happening, Latina is confused and scared, trying to figure out where to go so she can get home. She runs across a trio of boys, Rudy, Marcel, and Anthony. They ask her who she is, where she’s from, and why they haven’t seen her before. Of course, Latina is scared and has trouble answering, especially with Rudy being a bit rude. This is when Chloe arrives and flying kicks Rudy and fights with him and Marcel. Chloe is the best kid, behind Latina, just saying. After the scuffle, we find out that Latina can use healing magic. The kids, now working together, figure out where Latina needs to go, and bravely set off. Because the south side of the city caters to the adventurer type of people, it’s rough and tumble, and their parents have told them to stay out. But, helping someone overrides that and they make their way there. Along the way, they come across the various shop owners who know Latina. When they return, Latina apologizes to Kenneth and Rita, and Rita gives the kids some candy, completing their very first quest. Soon, the customers have returned and Latina is thanking them for looking for her. When Dale comes back, she bursts into tears, afraid that he’s going to be mad at her. Of course he’s not mad and she ends up falling asleep from the stress.
After this, we see that Latina is now officially friends with the group, spending time with them. However, Dale has to explain the concept of friends to Latina. It turns out that the Demon Race has a very low birth rate, so there weren’t any kids for her to play with before coming to the city. Now she understands and there’s a very touching moment. However, Latina hasn’t really talked about where she comes from and what her life was like, leaving a door open for further volumes.
And that’s where it ends. I really did like it, it tugged at my heart strings. I have some… Concerns going forward, as it’s become a more common trope for daughter characters (not actual daughters, unless you read hentai) falling in love with their father figures and I get the feeling that this is setting up for that. Other than that, it’s a fun little story and I want to see what happens. I might have set up to order, ahem, all of the manga that’s currently available… But I’m not going to admit that. Nope. Not saying a thing about it. And, given the title of the series, I know that Latina is going to turn out to have a big role in the Demon Race’s politics or mythology or something. But, she’s just so damn cute, I’m along for the ride.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Suggestion: If you want
some sweet and wholesome fantasy stuff, give it a try. You might just
like it.
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