Hai to Gensou no Grimgar 7

Hai to Gensou no Grimgar level.7 Kanata no Niji (灰と幻想のグリムガル level.7 彼方の虹)

Author: Jyumonji Ao

Illustration: Shirai Eiri

Label: Overlap Bunko

Release Date: 25/12/2015

Volumes: 07~

Abbreviation: Grimgar

This is my second favorite volume because just like in volume 4 Jyumonji managed to develop pretty much everything he could. The difference between these volumes is that volume 4 has a better last fight and less plot while volume 7 focus more on the overall plot and has a “weaker” last fight. Well, there is also another reason. Volume 7 left me strong mixed feelings when I finished reading while I felt really well and happy in volume 4. It still does makes sense because those last events were necessary for Haruhiro’s development but still…

As soon as they reached the new world Lala and Nono left Haruhiro’s party by themselves. It happens that this new world is kinda the opposite of Dusk Realm. If in Dusk realm the night doesn’t come, in this world the sun doesn’t appear. So Haruhiro’s party was there without any information about this world, in a complete dark place, close to a river, being in a narrow cliff. The first few pages already started wih Yume almost dying being attacked by an unknown enemy. Luckily she was saved because priest’s magic worked here. Only 1/3 of the actual power but it was still enough to save Yume. The same applies to Dread Knights.

Anyway, after they passed through the initial danger they reached a village and their new life began. First of all they couldn’t communicate properly with anyone because the villagers weren’t human like them. Another problem was money. Again by pure luck they found dark coins on their way to the village and discovered that if they wanted to survive, i.e. eat everyday they had to find more of these coins. This development really reminded me of the first volume. Suffering to survive every single day in a new world, new customs, new enemies. Heck, they were really happy when they managed to eat something for the first time in this world where the sun doesn’t rise.

Life was harsh but little by little they were understanding how things worked there. The values of different size of coins, learning how they count, etc. It was not enough to be at ease though. Until one day they found another human called Unjo. He came to this world years ago and gave a hint about a city where Haruhiro’s party could be members of the Reserve Forces once more. Undead-like monsters “lived” there and everyone carried coins. So, their new routine consisted on killing these undead monsters, just like they did with goblins in the first volume. After some time they finally could live properly and had time to do some little things (Ranta loved to drink for example, girls taking bath whenever they could, etc).

Even so, their future was still uncertain. They could live there without problems but what about Grimgar? They were in that world for a good time already and couldn’t even tell exactly how many days because there is no sun in this world. Admist all of this Haruhiro was reaching his limits. I was really scared that he could have a mental breakdown at any moment. If not for Unjo appearing things could have turned a lot worse. Now for some developments for the characters. Haruhiro and Kuzaku were taking bath together and one of the best scenes started. Kuzaku asked if he was being Mogzo’s replacement. Something that he probably wanted to ask ever since he joined this party (fucking 3 volumes ago). Haruhiro said no, he could never replace Mogzo but he was the only one who could be the tank of their party now. Simple scene but with a huge emotional impact. After this Kuzaku cried a little after all, he could finally “relax” for being accepted in this party. Some moments later Haruhiro asked about Mary and we finally discover that there was nothing going on. That scene in volume 6 was the scene where Kuzaku actually confessed and got dumped. Haruhiro also got relieved a little and Kuzaku said that he was already getting over it. It’s pretty easy to understand Kuzaku’s feelings. New party, older people, Mary helping and talking with him a lot of times, etc. It would be actually strange if he didn’t get interested in her but the result wasn’t the best for him… Anyway, romance subplot progressed… Or you could say that it didn’t even start yet lol

Now for Shihoru. Shihoru started using a different type of magic where she relied directly on the Elementals, i.e. something like using magic from the origin and not from the surface. Now she uses a “fairy” of the dark element (element she used the most until now). She tries to communicate with this Elemental and little by little the range of things she could with this “fairy” increased. Guess it’s also a good time to explain about why priests and dread knights’ magic work here. The Dark God Skulheill and the God of Light Lumious used to live in this world. They were enemies a long time ago but they ended up leaving this world (and moving to Grimgar I guess). The power of their magic is weaker because of the Gods aren’t there anymore. However because they used to be there they still can use something. Applying this same logic this means that Dusk Realm is a place where these Gods never went…? Until now I never thought seriously about these Gods but now things look a lot different. Jyumonji showing how to progress everything together. The setting expanded a lot here and there are some things that I’ll be writing later.

Coming back to Shihoru. One day… Actually, night? she was talking with Haruhiro while the others were sleeping (resembling volume 4). She told about this Elemental stuff and Haruhiro praised her for trying to come up with something by herself. This moment ends with Shihoru saying that she’ll try to say everything she wants when it is possible (Manato in volume 1)… Only to ask Haruhiro if he liked Mary. He denied that and Shihoru accepted his answer. Hmm… I find really hard to Haruhiro start being active romantically so his answer here may bring more confusion later on. Mary’s feelings are also uncertain. Dunno if she actually likes him or not. Shihoru is also suspicious after this… Well, I do like Shihoru more but who knows what Jyumonji is going to do from now on. I was almost sure things would move slowly for Mary/Haruhiro but now anything can happen… Again lol. Hopefully this is not a death flag for Shihoru. Hopefully…

Now for the latter half. They meet Unjo once more and discover two interesting things. One is a sacred room in the village. This room has a lot of things that they know from before coming to Grimgar but can’t remember the details. Just like the ramen in volume 3. Or Haruhiro with Choko in the same volume. The truth is that these things are appearing in this world for some kind of reason. So, there should some kind of way from their original world to this world where the sun doesn’t rise. They also remembered their first moments in Grimgar. Red moon. And a tower. Exactly the same for Unjo more than 15 years before. Guess a real hint about how to come back finally appeared.

Later they went with Unjo to a proper city and found he is married. This is one of the reasons he gave up on going back to Grimgar. The other one is that the way he came through is in the middle of a huge Orc city. Yeah, the same orcs of Grimgar. Their origin may be this world actually. Well, after looking at this city and how it was pretty much impossible Haruhiro was going to give up too if not for the transmitter he received when he entered the Day Breakers. They received a message from Souma where he asked if they were fine and that they would be waiting for them in Grimgar. Everyone’s answer after this was clear. They would be trying to go back.

After this a lot of time passed. They would explore the surroundings (mainly Haruhiro because of his skills) to see if there was some way to pass through the city. In the last of these trips they ended up meeting with Lala and Nono again. They were also looking for a way to go back and their best chance was at the festival which was being held now. A festival to sacrifice someone? to the red dragon that lived in the mountain (where is the passage to Grimgar). So the long journey started. Nono and Haruhiro were in charge of going ahead and finding safe ways to pass through the city.

Well, at one moment Haruhiro was found by an orc. An orc that was all alone in the middle of a big festival. The best thing would be to kill him but he just couldn’t. Some time later the worst happened and the orcs were looking for them. The reason was obvious. Luckily they were close to the mountain and the orcs didn’t dare to go there. It was all going well but the red dragon appeared when Haruhiro was mentally unstable for feeling guilty about not killing that orc. It does happen that he got his feet hurt along the way and first Lala and Nono went ahead (again). Later Haruhiro’s part also started to “run away” from the dragon. Haruhiro ended up getting behind for being hurt. He actually thought in just giving up and dying there. He was to blame and his body hurt all over the place. But he didn’t stop. Midway he found an orc. A strong orc that he managed to defeat by himself evne though he was weaker than him. And he just went ahead and ahead. In the end he listened to familiar voices approaching him. He lost counciousness after reaching Grimgar, the world he sought for more than 200 days.

Well, that’s it for Grimgar 7. Next volume will probably focus on them going back to Altana. They should be in the middle of Orc’s territory so things aren’t calming down so soon. Even so this was one hell of a volume for all the character development (Kuzaku, Shihoru and Haruhiro) and setting being expanded (Gods, passages to other worlds, elementals, based dragon). This volume left me with mixed feelings because Haruhiro failed hard at the end. Well, he almost died because of that but it doesn’t change that he made a fatal mistake. At the same time he literally surpassed his limits and didn’t lose his will to live. The final scenes were basically that. Nothing cool or awesome, just a normal guy trying to do everything to live. Pretty much the essence of Grimgar. I wouldn’t be all surprised if Haruhiro actually died here. It’s just how much Grimgar is a harsh LN for all of its characters. Nevertheless things are progressing at a nice pace now. Haruhiro may be a bit different after these last events. There is also the consequences of his idea in volume 6. No matter what, I want some peaceful events in the next volume even though the plot may speed up with the “hints” left by Unjo. Now, let’s see if the anime will be a good marketing or not.