The following contains spoilers for Episode 16 of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon? Season 4, "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" now streaming on HIDIVE.
While the latest season of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon? Started off with a haze of despair and dismay, it seems that the curse of darkness has finally weakened its grip on the Hestia Familia, especially with a new wave of hope taking over the party in the show’s latest episode. The dungeon’s attempts at deterring the party won’t be ceasing anytime soon, yet the same could be said for the Familia’s unabating resolve.
Between Welf’s risky plan and Bell’s plight within the Deep Floors, things have stirred up quite a bit within Babel. While the episode saw no major fights, a few heavy themes surely followed some of the characters, setting the stage for an introspective debacle. A few tough decisions also had to be made, ones that had glaringly dark undertones associated with them. Revelations in connection to the Astrea Familia are also to be expected as Ryu’s flashbacks become more apparent.
Ryu’s Past With the Astrea Familia
The episode starts with a scene from 5 years ago, when Ryu used to be a part of the Astrea Familia. Their captain, Alise, initiates a discussion on the topic of justice, with the members offering their differing views on the matter. Ryu’s vehement opinions on the matter were quite apparent, while the other members put forward their own ideals of justice. Since the Astrea Familia was a part of Orario’s police force, it makes sense that a topic such as justice would be of such importance to the guild.
The flashback ends with Alise herself concluding that the concept of justice is incomprehensible even for the Gods, with the Familia’s only goal for now to weed out the false narrative of justice. Although the flashback only lasts for a little while, the slow buildup towards the guild’s past is indicative of many things, primarily the fate of the Familia and the sorrowful conclusion of its members.
Welf’s Burning Flame
With Welf’s plan in place, the party desperately tries to protect him and keep the encroaching monsters at bay. Ouka and Bors blocked the entrance with their shields while the rest struck any monsters that climbed past the blockade. However, as soon as Welf starts to smith the Adamantine, the Deep Floor’s ore, a realization dawns upon him that this is no ordinary ore, with each forceful strike on the burning metal being in vain.
As the metal refuses to budge, Welf starts to doubt himself and his entire plan, with thoughts of failure and endangering his friends clouding his mind. An image of Goddess Hephaestus appears in his mind, reminding him of the inner flame necessary to be a blacksmith, yet even such a staunch reminder was not enough to give Welf the strength he needed to turn the Adamantine into a malleable metal.
He looks further inwards, as mental images of himself ask him why he’s swinging his hammer. Forced to introspect, Welf finally realizes the answer – his friends, Bell, and the Hestia Familia. Fueled by the power of friendship, Welf strikes with utmost vigor, finally bending the metal and forging a shatterproof magical sword, one like no other. Just as the blockade breaks and monsters invade, Welf uses the newly-forged magic sword, utterly decimating all those in its wake. Becoming the first ever adventurer to forge a sword within the dungeon, Welf not only saved his friends but also his inner flame.
Desecrating the Dead
Bell and Ryu’s descent within the Deep Floors isn’t coming to an end anytime soon as the two decide to venture further into the dungeon, in search for a safe zone within Floor 39, one of Babel’s Lower Floors. Although the Lower Floors are much more dangerous, the duo’s only hope for survival lies in finding a safe zone to rejuvenate and rest. However, getting to the Lower Floors is no simple feat either, as the risk of death looms in every corner.
Out of equipment and items, the two are forced to take the deceased adventurer’s equipment, and while it meant desecrating their bodies, Bell and Ryu were left with no other choice but to suppress their disdain for such an act. While searching through their items, it became apparent that two of them died by being poisoned by monsters, while the lone survivor couldn’t handle the Deep Floor’s darkness and ended up killing himself. For Ryu, such a sight was quite triggering, as the sight of the skeletal remains reminded her of her own fallen comrades.
One of their possessions was a map outlining the route through floor 37, making it much easier for the two to navigate through the floor. With equipment and items restocked, the two headout further into the dungeon, in hopes of finally making it out of the despair-stricken Babel. The concluding note of the episode hinted towards better things to come for the Familia, as things have finally started to look up.