Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (灰と幻想のグリムガル)

What the heck are you doing, Haruhiro?

Get 'em and stab! Stick 'em!

It's not that easy! It's not like you're—

S-Sorry!

We'll hit allies with arrows if this turns into a melee!

Use swords!

S-Sorry!

Ma-Marque, Em—

Parc.

Are you okay?

Can you stand?

I-I'm sorry...

I'll heal you, just in case.

O light, return to Lumiaris' divine protection. Cure!

S-Sorry!

This is a battle of life or death!

Everybody!

Both us and the goblins are fighting a real battle for our lives!

It doesn't get more serious than this!

No living thing wants to die!

We're all out of breath, even though we haven't exerted ourselves much.

What's going on?!

Aren't goblins the weakest monsters in Grimgar?

Yeah, they're supposed to be...

I don't want to admit it...

...but the goblins...

...might be stronger than us?

Awaken.

Awaken.

Awaken.

How long are you gonna sleep, Haruhiro?

The sun's high.

It's the morning.

Aren't you forgetting something?

The morning.

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

What's with the sleepy eyes?

I was born with eyes like this.

It doesn't mean I'm sleepy, I've told you before!

Liar, no doubt you're still sleepy.

Hey, you awake?

Once you both get dressed, will you come to the courtyard?

It's time for breakfast.

Oh no...

I was on breakfast duty...

Don't worry, I switched with you.

You seemed pretty tired from yesterday's fight.

Sorry about that, Manato.

You don't seem that sorry, Haruhiro.

Aren't you on duty, too?

You should go.

Well...

When I woke up Moguzo had traded with me.

What?

I can't believe you can still harp on me.

It's obvious.

If you don't get up, I won't get my morning grub.

It's starting to smell mighty good.

I enjoy cooking.

I rather enjoy taste-testing, too!

Yume, Moguzo.

I gathered these on our way back yesterday.

Will these work as additional ingredients?

I-I can...

Then, Shihoru, I'll leave it to you.

Is it a little under-salted?

I think it's yummy.

Salt's also pretty pricey...

Let's try to be frugal until we're able to earn money.

I mean, we haven't even defeated one monster.

Oh, yeah...

Haruhiro and Ranta, are you both okay?

My Light Magic can heal wounds, but it won't replenish lost blood.

No problems here. I'm fit as a fiddle.

I get a little dizzy, but I'm okay.

Great.

Why don't we try the forest today again?

We were against two goblins yesterday.

That might be too hard for us right now.

Let's try going for a loner.

That'll take too long.

If we keep running, it'll take forever to accumulate my first Vices.

Renji and his group are moving ahead without hiccups, too.

It's better than overdoing it and getting hurt like yesterday.

This isn't a game.

A game?

Manato, what's a "game?"

I... don't know.

But I just used that word, huh.

It felt like the right thing at the time, but...

"Game..."

Things like this happen to us sometimes.

We impulsively use words that seem familiar, but we don't know the meaning of them.

It makes us uneasy, like when something gets a little stuck in your throat and you can't get it out.

When I first came to the world of Grimgar...

Well, I don't actually know where I came from either.

Anyway, I'll tell you about my oldest memory.

It was actually only from a couple of days ago.

Awaken.

I can't remember anything from before this.

I didn't know why I was here...

...how long I'd be here for...

...or how long I'd been here already.

Is anybody there?

Y-Yeah.

I'm here.

Yeah.

Likewise...

How many of us?

Let's count?

Where are we, anyway?

Man, no one here knows?

What's up with this?

What the heck is this?

That over there... you think it's a town?

Rather than a town...

...it looks almost like a castle.

I don't see any familiar faces.

Did you just say something?

No... nothing.

Rather than familiar...

This is odd...

I can't remember anybody.

Not my friends, family, anybody...

Where... is this place?

Excuse me, does anybody know?!

Where...

....we are...?

I know!

We can ask them.

Look, we can ask those guys wearing all that armor stuff.

Welcome to Grimgar.

This is the town of Ortana.

I'd like to give you a warm welcome, my kittens.

The name's Brittany.

I'm chief and host of the Red Moon office of the Volunteer Soldier Squad for Ortana's Borderland Brigade.

Calling me Chief if fine and all, but Bri-chan is okay too.

However in that case you better say it veeery affectionately.

Got it?

Answer my question.

What the heck are the Borderland Brigade and the Volunteer Soldier Squad?

Why am I here?

Demanding are you?

I don't mind ones like you.

It's Renji.

And I don't like pervy guys like you—

Renji, let me tell you something.

No one has called me "perverted" and lived long.

Wanna try?

Well, try and get me if you can, Pervy Chief.

When time comes.

I'll get you good, I'll get you very good.

You won't be able to forget me after that.

Ten silver coins.

There are ten silvers in here per person.

I'll give a bag to those who join the Volunteer Soldier Squad.

It should be enough for the time being.

Oh yeah, money...

No phone either...

Phone?

Huh, what's a "cell phone?"

Look here.

This is proof that you're a trainee, priced at twenty silver coins.

For twenty more, you can buy an official badge that comes with its own benefits.

We have to buy them?

Either way, if you're not strong enough, you'll die.

Die? I didn't realize this conversation was so serious.

What, exactly, do we need to do?

My dear Renji, you disappoint me.

You'll defeat enemies by gathering information with your own wits and discernment.

That's the way of a Volunteer Soldier.

So basically, we need to find out things and think for ourselves for everything?

Exactly.

I love such fast learners.

After you defeat a monster, take all the spoils and sell them.

These are basics.

Don't think that there are other types of menial labor to do.

It's a different story if you want to become a little pet of mine.

Living has its own challenges.

I'll give you just one piece of advice.

Don't give up.

Yes, when you die, you die, but if you give up, you're definitely going to die.

That, I am sure of.

Congratulations.

Starting today, you are all Volunteer Soldier trainees.

In the borderlands of this world called Grimgar...

...there are many other races and monsters that are hostile towards humans.