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「この冬を越せない俺達に愛の手を！」 (Kono Fuyu o Kosenai Oretachi ni Ainote o!)
“A Loving Hand for Our Party When We Can’t Make It Through Winter!”
It’s hard being a lich when Aqua’s around. It’s hard being everyone when Aqua’s around.
The King Lich
This episode we met Wiz (Horie Yui), a lich known as the “No-Life King” who’s also one of the eight leaders of the maou’s army. And as with everybody else in KonoSuba, she isn’t how we expect a lich to be; less Kel’Thuzad, more teasable Horie Yui moe character. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not Horie Yui’s biggest fan—that would be Divine—because she only has the one voice, but damn if she doesn’t do teasably moe well. If you want a character to seem kind and likable, get Horie Yui to voice her. So it’s been for nearly twenty years now, so it is here.
I, for one, approve of our new moe lich overlord. Seeing Aqua tackle her, threaten her, and attempt to purify her just brought out all the best in Wiz. I want to tease her! I want to torment her! *sadist side rising* Someone get Darkness in here, quick! She’ll probably be disappointed that Wiz was tormented instead of her, which I’m sure Darkness will love. Neglect play get-o.
We’ve All Been There, Kazuma & Megumin
After it became clear that the episode would feature an extended gag based on peeing, I immediately thought of the first episode of Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga. Fortunately, whereas that show was a trainwreck I dropped after the first episode, KonoSuba continues to delight. So what did it do different?
The biggest difference is that, whereas Saikin‘s … I was going to call it a gag, but let’s just call it a scene—whereas Saikin’s peeing scene focused (and even fetishized) urination, because that’s definitely a smart thing to lead with (probably among a certain audience, it’s just not one that includes me), KonoSuba instead focuses on a minor drama that is damn near universal, at least in the developed world. That’s right, who here among us hasn’t had to pee at some point when the option was not readily available? Sure, for me it mostly happens after drinking a lot and forgetting to use the restroom before I grab an Uber ride back from the bar, but I’m sure we’ve all had the experience, with ghost dolls or otherwise. (Mostly otherwise.) It keeps the focus off the peeing itself, and puts it onto the little goofy social conventions that arise around it. That’s much more relatable, funnier, and less gross ground to till than the weird shit Saikin got up to.
Good. I got to use Saikin as a contrasting example for something a better show did. I guess the 23 minutes I spent watching Saikin’s first episode wasn’t a complete waste. Mostly a waste, but not a complete one.
When In Doubt, Blame Aqua
Wiz and Megumin were definitely the stars of this episode for me; Wiz, for reasons I’ve already mentioned, and Megumin because scared Megumin is epic-level adorable. I mean, when she started casting Dragon Slave inside … hah!
But I did get a kick out of Aqua. I felt for her when her expensive liquor got stolen—lemme tell ya, if someone drinks my super expensive after-bath alcohol, Stilts is gonna fuck a spirit up. But the revelation at the end that the whole thing was all Aqua’s fault was just a cherry on the top. Truly, Aqua is the cause of, and solution to, most of Kazuma’s problems.
Oh, and good job turning down the extra reward, Kazuma. That shows that, no matter how brutal he can be to his idiot teammates—especially Aqua—Kazuma is basically a good guy. Also, Aqua deserves it.
tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Wiz is a moe lich & scared Megumin is adorable, but Aqua got most of the laughs this week, easily #konosuba 08
Random thoughts:
- It was a bit wonky how Wiz was introduced with a flashback to something we’d never seen before, but how they met her didn’t seem super interesting, and having them have met before off-screen prevented Kazuma’s team from conveniently meeting Wiz right before everything in this episode happens, so I’m largely okay with it. Probably that’s just the slack KonoSuba has earned by being funny paying dividends again.
- I once again regret that Verdia didn’t survive. Woulda been funny to see him meet Wiz again.
- If Kazuma’s Adventurer class is the only one that can learn all skills (even if it is at enhanced cost), it has the potential to be totally overpowered. All he needs to do is find all the most hax abilities, and he’ll be unstoppable eventually.
- That random Nature’s Beauty was perfect.
- Desu~
- Thank you for the see-through nightie, Darkness. Swiftly approvd.
- Author’s note: I’ll be out of town next week, so Takaii will be blogging episode nine. Thank you, Takkun!
My first novel, Wage Slave Rebellion, is available now. (More info—now in paperback!) Sign up for my email list for a FREE sequel novella. Over at stephenwgee.com, the last four posts: Deadpool: Tonal Balance Through Non-Linear Storytelling, Through their own flaws, Look to the one before, and The problem with character development episodes.
Preview
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https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2010.jpg
And people wonder why I always play a dullahan in table top rpgs ^.^
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2020.jpg
My cousin actually did this to me after we watched the Annabelle Movie. First time I ever peed my pants out of sheer fright (fyi: i get scared easily)
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
Allies… sometimes you wonder if they are worth all the crap you deal with
“My cousin actually did this to me after we watched the Annabelle Movie. First time I ever peed my pants out of sheer fright (fyi: i get scared easily)”
If I had to guess, your cousin must have recorded the incident and later roflmao very hard.
We now have the cutest lich ever in Wiz. Fair competition for Megumin.
I guess Madoka Magica set up a trend.
Hopefully Aqua doesn’t kill our cute undead.
On the side note, nooooo, just when the two were at Wiz’s door there was a nice view on Aqua’s lovely bottom. Oh well, I can’t blame Stilts since there is an “allowance” of how many screenshots he can have.
We all just knew they were eventually going to have to make a Dragon Slave reference. Explosion is just too perfect a fit for that for them not to. Still, I didn’t expect her to do it right then!
I was also highly amused to discover that apparently all of Aqua’s worshippers have the reputation for being complete lunatics that no one wants to go near, with the appropriate carry-over onto Aqua’s own reputation.
Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout, Willis? They did that in the first episode Megumin appeared in. This is actually a rehash of the Dragon Slave incantation gag, I just still find it funny.
Amen on Aqua’s followers. That feels about right, haha
Fingers crossed for a second or third season. We get to meet them eventually, and it’s amazing.
The possibility of a second season might be high considering its rank 5th as the anime people want to watch every week
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-02-05/erased-durarara-dagashikashi-top-ranked-for-winter-2016/.98381
forgot the proof for the ranking I said
With the way Wiz describes Aqua’s followers, what comes to mind are Bodin and his army, from Arslan Senki.
oh, no. They are worse. Imagine a religious sect that devoted their life to Aqua’s teachings
I’m at a loss for words because I already imagined Bodin as the worst kind of religious fanatic, so Aqua’s Axis Sect being actually worse than Bodin is a scary thought. One Aqua is bad enough, so an entire Sect that acts like her? Scary.
I regret that the anime won’t get far enough to adapt the arc that involves Aqua’s followers (maybe not even in a second season), but let me just say that all the fear shown here at how bad they might be doesn’t do them justice. In a funny way.
Basically imagine a bunch of guys so annoying that can even make the annoying Aqua cries.
The first meeting with Wiz was a whole chapter in the LN, but as you thought it wasn’t super important to the story as a whole so I wasn’t bothered they didn’t animate it, but just referred to it in a flashback in this episode.
Megumin is definitely adorable this episode, Aqua continues being her self, just too bad there wasn’t much Darkness this time around. Although judging by the previews, next week’s episode should greatly rectify that. Too bad you won’t be around to write the next week’s review though.
If the recent past is any indication, it ensures that next episode will be amazing. It seems like takkun always ends up covering for me on the most fanservice-a-rific episodes.
What a terrible curse to live under 🙁
In my defense, I’m going to be several states away getting righteously drunk with friends at some awesome breweries, so it’s not all bad.
Plus, I’m ensuring that the next episode will be good, for all of you. I’m sacrificing myself (and my liver) for you! Aren’t you happy that I’m willing to fall on that grenade for you? You’re welcome.
At least we got Darkness in her see-through nightgown, like Stilts said. Don’t know why she was blushing, though.
Does that help? ^_^
You mean adorable in every episode. She even won the recent popularity contest.
http://sneakerbunko.jp/special/konosuba-charavote/index.php
See this Reddit thread for a translation on the 15 contestants have to say.
https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/48i8nt/kono_subarashii_sekai_ni_shukufuku_wo_official/
Btw, seems like recently, Megumin’s seiyuu cosplayed as her character.
Kazuma’s VA crossplayed as Megumin too.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CceBQv1UkAAU3Gl.jpg:large
Yay Megumin! Also, that cosplay is good. I like anime characters that are similar enough to how people actually look that they can be cosplayed well. The crazy ones are fun too, but when the seiyuu can look damn close to the character? Bonus.
I lamented that we didn’t get the chapter. Sure it could be expanded for entertaiment, and more Wiz?
But overall, good episode.
The meeting with Wiz might be with the OVA together with another character that is in the same clan as Megumin….. PS: she’s in the OP
Also this is nice ^_^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJzEscb4Pcw
Not sure how to feel about that video…
Lol I agree how it was a bit wonky how they introduced Wiz by using a flashback sequence that never actually happened but we assumed happened. I almost thought I missed an episode or something, but I can forgive Konosuba for it. Megumin was very adorable this episode, thanks for all the blushing screencaps of her~ Can I just say how nice it is to finally see girls that don’t violently attack the male main character for peeping or doing something stupid. (Well Aqua is violent but since she’s portrayed as a dysfunctional, aggressive goddess it’s fine).
Have to admit, got a great kick out of the Rozen Maiden reference. It gets even funnier when you consider the original RM’s SoL focus and this episode featuring the same dolls chasing around the MC(s). Although likely not intended, I took it as a hilarious, tongue in cheek spin on harem chasing antics 😛
Also the Konosuba screaming was completely on point. Those moments never get old.
I really enjoy those KonoSuba scream too. The endless variations of “KonoSuba!” are fascinating.
The “I need to pee but too scared to go to the bathroom alone/are you still there?” seemed like a direct reference to the Haganai OVA to me.
This was definitely Aqua’s episode. As great as Megumin is, Aqua got so many great gags. When he opened the window and Aqua was still reciting the ghost girl’s backstory… And they even managed to fit in the ‘I’m fading! I’m fading! Aqua-sama, please-‘ *Kazuma bonk* joke from the first Wiz meeting, and the whole cemetery punchline at the end.
Beldia being a serial sexual harasser really puts his moments with Darkness into perspective, doesn’t it? Not so much fun when the shoe is on the other foot, is it bud? I believe that’s an anime-exclusive joke, and they pulled it off beautifully.
Wait, so they threw in an anime-only joke, and made it work so well it felt like it belonged there?
O.O
Wow. I wish that weren’t so rare, but it is. Understandably so—it’s hard to duplicate someone else’s sense of humor, or to write good comedy period. Well done.
Haha. Their party’s pretty broken, in more ways than one.
i don’t know why, but the part where kazuma using flat tone and giving one liner it’s so funny, you can really feel how piss off kazuma is. Thumbs up for the VA
Just for the record this scene https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2025.jpg was pretty damned creepy. The whole creepy dolls thing worked quite well.
I forgot that Jonathan Coulton wrote the character song for this episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgfklKnOg4w
Man, each episode keeps on being a blast. Had a field day watching this episode that’s brimming with Megumin and Kazuma. Lost it when she prevented Kazuma from emptying his bladder with that smile and we saw so many different variation of Megumin today, hatless Megumin and that no-pan, scared Megumin at the end was just too good.
Also, need more Wiz, and please, stop the Wiz bullying, I can’t handle it! 🙁 Bad Stilts!
PS: Wiz is just too nice. Seems like Verdia’s hand “slipped” multiple times and from the looks of it, she didn’t even hit him once.
<3 Hocchan.
Dammit, why’d you have to remind me of Saikin Imouto? I believe my official review for that show was ‘fuck this shit!’
What makes Konosuba succeed where that other show was gross, was less of a focus on bodily fluids and more of a focus on desperate antics to take a leak while a whole horde of Rozen Maiden are chasing you. The entirety of the ghost house segment was one funny joke after another in general (from everyone ignoring Aqua’s exposition dump to it all turning out to be her freaking fault anyways) and it gave us plenty of good Megumin moments (still best girl). The first half in comparison felt a bit more rushed (because it relied on a character that was introduced in skipped chapters) but, again, good Aqua jokes. God she’s such a jerkass (and a mad dog goddess, as Kazuma aptly described her).
Liked the Mario references in the eyecatches too.
And man, I do love the voicework in this show, especially the screams and sarcastic remarks. Some of them are relatively new to the industry as well (like Megumin’s VA) so I hope I see more of them in the future.
The voice acting really is top notch. I completely lost it when a desperate Kazuma broke down the door to the toilet.
I remind you of Saikin so you’ll enjoy this even more. As with evil and good, there can be no appreciation for good shows without bad ones. We could be getting Saikin season two instead.
*shudder*
I have a feeling we’re going to see more of Takahashi Rie. Sore ga Seiyuu was a good opening act, but her Megumin role is proving that she’s got range.
“Someone get Darkness in her, quick!”
Dat sexy typo enough to start the doujinshi artists scribbling furiously…
I’m tempted to leave it, but I guess I’ll fix it.
I think the lich’s introduction is part of the Kunosuba OVA. I can’t read Japanese but she does appear in it. Heres a link to the promo:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4FOQ5NzodA&ab_channel=KADOKAWAanime
And here we go. This is the price for skipping episodes. Yes, the episode of the lich quest was axed before, and not only that. And don’t tell me it was a manga-original episode.
Well, I guess there’s a slight price to be paid, but not much. A little wonk for the first few minutes, and then it was all good. And the alternative may have been a padded out episode or less focus in the main series run. I’m fine with this decision.
– All this time I didn’t notice Megumin was sporting a dress with exposed shoulders. Can’t remember if she took off her cape previously. Either way, she looks mighty fine.
– Really just when I was about to pity Aqua freezing in the cold, they show something next to make you think otherwise, and I mean bullying Wiz. No wonder undead naturally want to get rid of her first.
– I wonder what Darkness was planning on doing since exorcism doesn’t look like one of her specialties. Either she gets a kick out of getting terrified or is hoping she’ll get possessed somehow. Here’s hoping for more Wiz.
– Based on Wiz’s account of Verdia peeking up her skirt, it’s as if all the tortures Darkness thinks Verdia will do to her are all true.
Nah, Verdia was the type who likes inocents.
When Aqua was complaining so much about being cold, mostly her fault, I could see Kazuma meanly saying I’ll warm you up (not really intending to but with her no pan butt fully exposed doing the fire that was my first thought. Then I thought Aqua as a sex partner might drive one mad, if she not doing so already.
Aqua is like…Asseylum on crack
https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/48i8nt/kono_subarashii_sekai_ni_shukufuku_wo_official/
Popularity Poll results are out. MEGUMIN!!!
beware for spoilers in the form of future characters though
I’m amused how Megumin’s and Chris’ panties were both choices you could vote for.
the series operates so much on the comedic karma rule:
1.Kazuma suggests to Megumin use a bottle, then he himself has vase offered…
2.The whole ghost troubles being Aqua’s fault in the first place…
Stilt you made a grammar mistake here.
tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Wiz is a moe lich & scared Megumin is adorable, but Aqua got most of the laughs this “weak”, easily #konosuba 08
It should be week not weak 🙁
Danke, fixed.
oh god, dragon slave xD, i thougth i was the only one who got saw this xD
Wiz’ introduction being skipped (or apparently relegated to OVA?) was bit of a bummer, but the was non-stop fun all around! (For those who want to know how they met and can’t wait for the possible OVA, it’s in manga adaptation chapter 3, starting from around page 10 or so)
Also, points to Konosuba for doing something I thought to be impossible. They made me laugh at toilet humor.
kazuma’s adventurer class reminds me of all those video game characters that are shit in the beginning but if you take the time to grind them and level them up they become total bosses towards the end
never, ever understimate the Wizard in the party
His random skill learning does seem to be beneficial, especially when he fought against that headless knight guy using the water skill. And when he fought against the arrogant “Hero” guy when he used the steal skill on him and took his sword, and rather cruelly sold.
The name of Kazuma’s game is convenience. He’s going to get more mileage out of Drain Touch than any skill any of the others have except for Explosion. It’s never going to be crucial to a battle, but he gets to use it all the time.
Ah, thankyou for telling me. If I’m not mistaken the drain skill doesn’t take a set amount of HP/MP from a target, it varies right? I can see why he could benefit from that as he’s weakening an enemy and strengthening himself or a party member in the process.
That explosion skill seems to rely on having a party, without one, if you don’t defeat the enemy you’re pretty much dead lol. She really should learn something else too.
Kazuma only has a few moves. steal, basic elemental magic combination moves, and drain touch are basically all he does for like half the light novel
For kazuma case..rather than skillset, I think his luck stat already a cheat item. He one hit-ko kyouya at level 30-ish I think.. while kazuma at most level 10
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2006.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2012.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2035.jpg
I demand more Wiz!
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2017.jpg
I don’t think I’ll ever not be able to laugh at this expression. XD
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2021.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2026.jpg
Megumiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!
Wiz is cute..
VA is really top notch here, Kazuma and Megumin shouting had been on point.
NAIIIWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
The worst thing about skipping Wiz’s introduction and going with a flashback is they skipped over some of Kazuma’s character development when he learned elementary magic and proved himself to be really useful using a fire spell to keep the campfire going, water spells to make drinks for everyone and combining earth and wind to throw dirt in Aqua’s eyes.
Character development is when a character grows, changes, or shows additional depth than their usual actions imply. The anime showed Kazuma filling up people’s drinks with his water magic before, so while I’m sure this could have been funny and/or neat to see, it doesn’t sound vital, nor does it especially sound like character development. It just sounds like details. And stories are often enhanced by cutting out unnecessary details in exchange for more story.
It was a cute moment, with everybody going, ‘Wait, the beginner magic is handy? Arg I skipped right to Ice Blast (or whatever)’. But yeah, it didn’t add much.
Sorry but no. They’re skipping all of the episodes where we actually see Kazuma being useful or a true leader. Up now Kazuma is only the lazy jerk who’s constantly harassing the Goddess.
Er, other than the whole Verdia thing? And the cabbages.
Sorry, but I’m an anime only viewer, and I’m getting the idea that he’s clever, savvy, and a good leader (when he deigns to be so). Considering all the anime that completely flanderize characters by forgetting to add in truly important elements, maybe not emphasizing them quite so much isn’t such a sin. As long as they’re getting that point across, it’s fine.
Takkun…. RC staff is so cute. <3
Just out of curiousity, I wonder what Stilts’ nickname would be.
Omni-sama and Divine-sama obviously, but Stilts-san? Tilt-chan? 😛
I get Stilts-tan sometimes, as well as Stilts-sama, Stilts-sempai, and boss. Oh, and occasionally onii-chan, mostly when the other writers want something from me, haha. I’m easy to please :3
Still only rarely get Stilts-sensei, though. I’m an author now dammit, I earned it! T_T
Then there’s Zephy/Zephster, Zani/Zanzan, Cherr, Enzocchi/Enzonon, Samucchi, and Bystander-kun. Oh, and Div/Divster, takkun (of course), Jiggles/kouhai-kun (that one moves as appropriate), and Xumxum/The Cagemaster (whenever we want Xumbra to go all tsuntsun and smack us, lol). Those are all my nicknames for everyone else.
THE ecchi blogger.
I loved the haunted house stuff, I hope they do something like this in Log Horizon in the future. Game worlds seem so suited to this type of comedy. And I agreed with Kazuma in not accepting one of the rewards for clearing the quest, it wouldn’t be right to accept something significant for a problem a party member caused. But given that he was freezing to death in that barn, accepting the house seems okay to me.
It’s a shame they cut out the scene with Kazuma forcing Aqua to apologize to the landlord guy, and him being all ‘Yeah whatever, it’s cool, feel free to live in my mansion anyway.’ I’m not sure if I admire how chill their landlord is or his complete lack of business acumen more.
But they did have a lot of scenes to get through and it wasn’t one of the crucial scenes.
Ah, they really should have had that scene. She did cause that problem for him after all. That house seemed really expensive and they basically have it for free, for now right?
Yeah, no. This is why I really disliked their choice of completely omitting the landlord´s reason for lending them the mansion.
Basically, it is hinted in the novel that he was a butler of or at least knew Anna´s (the bastard ghost girl) family and deeply cared for her. The landlord agreed to lend the place (supposedly until the haunted mansion lost such dreadful reputation) to Kazuma and the party on the condition that they frequently cleaned Anna´s grave and narrated out loud whatever adventure story they experience when dining in the living room, so as to let Anna hear those adventure tales she liked so much. In a nutshell, he gave them the mansion because that was the best for her.
True, and it’s a shame to miss that, but that’s the only time the landlord shows up that I can recall in the LN. And they had Aqua narrate her story and Wiz say something like ‘now that child won’t be lonely’, and stuff. The implication about the ghost child is still there, and conservation of characters isn’t really a bad thing (as long as they still keep Dust’s mini arcs, those are good).
Ah poor ghost girl. She’s just lonely right? I wonder if they will keep that in the anime? If they do they probably would have to explain what you guys have mentioned. I hope they do anyway. Kazuma seems like the kind of person who would take that request from the landlord.
uh-huh..uh-huh -kazuma
wow i’m legit scared in this episode
https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%20-%2008%20-%20Large%2024.jpg
This pic can be taken out of context if you know what I mean. 😉
Hey so I just came back to this site after a really long time.
What happened to stilts out loud?
If you mean me, I’m still here. If you mean my column, I renamed it My Way or the Anime. If you mean my website, it still technically exists, but I use stephenwgee.com now. That’s where I host all my fiction publishing business, so I do my random storytelling blogging there too.
Actually, in the novel, the first meeting with Wiz occurred shortly after the whole team came together. It was the first quest after vanquishing the cabbages and getting Kazuma some actual adventurer gear, and before he picked up beginner magic.
There was also another quest that was cut, from right after the snow fairy quest, that introduced a couple of minor characters who should make an appearance next week, so hopefully we don’t get another wonky flashback of sorts. Both quests are funny–particularly the one not involving Wiz–but neither one is long enough to fit into a full episode (each is about the length of the lake quest, minus Mitsurugi), and stuff has to happen in between them, so maybe they just couldn’t figure out a place to jam them in and still end where they want in 10 episodes.
There was also a third quest cut, that happened between them, which actually has some pretty important repercussions down the road, but it’s a bit more stand-alone than either of the others at this point, so they could squeeze it in just about anywhere from here on, if they ever decide to do a second season, and it could be padded out to a full episode if needed.