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div class="st-centertable">The most talked about light novel "Goblin Slayer," which ranked first in the new release category of "This Light Novel is Amazing! 2017" and has also been serialized as a spin-off and comic, will be made into an anime in October 2018. In this article, we will introduce what kind of work this is and what makes it so appealing!
What is Goblin Slayer?
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
"Goblin Slayer" is a light novel written by Kumo Kagyu and character designer Noboru Kannazuki. It was originally a web novel published in combination with AA (ASCII art), but was made into a general novel in 2016.
Only goblins are your opponents!?
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
This work depicts the exploits of the adventurer Goblin Slayer, who hunts only goblins, the lowest-level monsters. The goblins that appear in this work are the same as those that appear in general fantasy works and games, but they are drawn in detail and realistically.
The classic way to hunt goblins, which are treated as small fry! ?
Goblins are weak enough that even a strong villager can defeat them alone, but when they gather in groups, they use brutal methods to trap adventurers and sometimes even destroy villages. Because there are so many goblins, the guild receives many requests, but because the villages that request them are poor and the goblins are weak, there is no chance of gaining fame by defeating them, so only novice adventurers are accepted, and they often become prey due to lack of experience and carelessness. In the midst of all this, Goblin Slayer is portrayed as a being who never lets his guard down and calmly hunts only goblins.
【The appeal of Goblin Slayer 1】A novel story
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
It is said that in that remote guild, there is a rare individual who has risen to the silver rank (third in the hierarchy) by only defeating goblins... A female priest who became an adventurer and put together her first party was in trouble. The man who saved her was a man called Goblin Slayer.
An Adventurer Specializing in Goblins
He will do whatever it takes, spare no effort, and exterminate only goblins. A priestess is at his mercy, a grateful receptionist, and a childhood friend, a cowherd girl, are waiting for him. Meanwhile, an elven girl, having heard rumors about him, appears with a request. "I have no business with anything but goblins." This is the story of a man who only kills goblins, and wishes to become an "adventurer."
【The charm of Goblin Slayer 2】Features an unseen entity
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
This work is based on the worldview of TRPG, but features the existence of "goblins," which are usually only depicted in the early stages. What would happen if the protagonists of a classic fantasy didn't defeat the goblins? Even if they are not a threat to the world, goblins continue to spread despair, small but sure.
You Can't Become a Hero
Even if he can't become a hero who saves the world, the man who saves those within his reach from goblins is the protagonist of this work, Goblin Slayer! Please check out this dark fantasy where he continues to defeat only goblins, who are usually not in the spotlight!
【Goblin Slayer's charm 3】No character names
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
What's interesting about this work is that the characters don't have their own names. All the characters are described by their titles, and this comes from the author's idea that "since these are TRPG characters, readers can come up with whatever names they like."
Names
All characters are referred to by their titles and occupations, such as Goblin Slayer, Priestess, Elf Archer, Dwarf Shaman, and Lizard Priest. Because the characteristics of the characters are reflected in their names, it's easy to get an idea of what kind of character they are, but sometimes it can be hard to tell if a character is appearing for the first time or has appeared before, or if they're a regular character or a mob character.
【Goblin Slayer's charm 4】No matter how much you train, you're still a human being
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
In a typical RPG, the damage you receive decreases as you level up, and even if that doesn't happen, it's a fantasy story convention that strong characters hardly take any damage from the attacks of weaklings. This game does away with such conventions, and no matter how physically strong a person is, if they are cut by a sword wielded by a child, they will be seriously injured.
Realistic
It also makes sense that if your body is injured, you will be unable to move properly. Of course, if you train, you will be able to handle heavier weapons and armor, and you will no longer be injured by half-hearted attacks.
【Goblin Slayer's charm 5】 Goblins in this work are strong
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
In many works, goblins are treated as weaklings, and the residents' perception of them is the same in this work. Goblins only have the intelligence and physical abilities of a human child, so adults can defeat them without much difficulty.
The True Terror of Goblins
But what if dozens of 12-13 year olds actually gathered together and started throwing stones or attacking you armed? It would be extremely frightening, wouldn't it? This film focuses on the horror of goblins from that perspective.
The Secret of Goblin Strength
Moreover, goblins are extremely cruel, selfish, and vengeful creatures. Their terror is incomparable to that of children. Goblins that survive an attack once will become extremely powerful individuals and start attacking people because of their resentment.
【Goblin Slayer's charm 6】The protagonist's unwavering personality
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
The protagonist. As the name suggests, he is a goblin slayer. Silver rank. 20 years old. A silent young man who always wears a dirty iron helmet, leather armor, and chain mail. Although his pure fighting ability is low, he is a silver-ranked warrior who continues to hunt only goblins, which are considered the weakest monsters. He is equipped with an awkward-length sword (because goblin caves are narrow) and a small round shield (same as above), and frequently uses throwing attacks, and in battle he disposes of his weapons and replaces them with ones he takes from defeated goblins.
Risking his life to exterminate goblins
He is well-versed in the ecology of goblins and his principle of action is "goblin extermination." He is obsessed with exterminating goblins to an extent that goes beyond common sense, and even items that normal people would use for high-level monsters, such as expensive tools and valuable ancient magical items, are used generously to exterminate goblins. However, he has little interest in monsters other than goblins, and does not even try to remember their names.
All his principles of action and beliefs are about killing goblins
He appeared in the frontier town five years ago. His principles and beliefs are all directed at killing goblins, and at first glance he doesn't seem to care about anything else, but he is portrayed as caring about others in his own way. Because of this, the priestess and his companions are often worried about him, as he hunts out of obligation, never for fame or the fun of adventure.
Equipment specialized for goblin extermination
Like other characters, "Goblin Slayer" is a title and nickname, not his real name, but almost all characters call him Goblin Slayer. However, the cowgirl calls him "you" or "he." His equipment is specialized for exterminating goblins, and he walks around town without disarming, so people who don't know him may ridicule him as a strange adventurer, or as a rookie adventurer who didn't have the right equipment.
【Goblin Slayer's charm 7】Violent battles
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
I'm sure the battle scenes are what we're looking forward to. How much of the goblins' cruelty, who are the weakest beings but who ensnare adventurers with their brutal methods, and the goblin slayer's vigilant and thorough extermination will be depicted?
Highly anticipated!
Director Takaharu Ozaki has said, "Please look forward to the depiction of realistic and violent battles never seen in fantasy before," so we can have high expectations! It looks like it will be a work with a strong content, befitting a dark fantasy.
【Goblin Slayer's charm 8】Disgusting scenes
Source: Goblin Slayer ©Kumo Kagyu・SB Creative／Goblin Slayer Production Committee
This work is a story in which Goblin Slayer plays an active role, but the enemies that appear are basically goblins. There are only male goblins, and the way to increase the number of goblins is to have females of other races give birth. Do you understand what I'm trying to say now?
It wouldn't be strange if it was rated R
Goblins capture human and elven women and use them as breeding tools. Yeah, yeah, that's the kind of plot development that starts off with, so surely the manga version in particular should be rated R? A scene suddenly appears that gives that feeling.
Summary of the appeal of Goblin Slayer
Since it's based on the very local theme of goblin extermination, it's likely to be quite intense. As it's a dark fantasy, it's likely to have a lot of realistic depictions, and it's likely to be a work that will attract attention even among recent fantasy anime!
