English Dub Review: An Adventurer’s Daily Grind at Age 29 “A Single Man and a Little Girl Meet”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

After a poor childhood, Hajime grew up and made a living as an adventurer.  But then he meets another orphan…

Our Take:

There’s no harm in having a companion by your side when you’re out adventuring, let alone someone who shares a common path.  This is evident in the first episode of the newest adventurer anime, where Hajime Shinonome, a 29-year-old adventurer, encounters a young girl named Rirui in the dungeon.  Rirui was abandoned by her parents for some stupid, unknown reason, so she had to find ways to support herself, including hunting a wolf.  Given her outsider status, Hajime took her in because of their shared past of growing up alone.  However, that’s easier said than done when Hajime discovers that the young, timid rascal isn’t who he thought she was.

At first glance, this seemed like another harmless adventurer anime that’s more focused on fantasy slice-of-life rather than a high-stakes quest lasting for one season.  In this case, An Adventurer’s Daily Grind offers a reflection on survival, where Hajime resides in a world where it’s kill or be killed.  After confronting Rirui, he’s forced to take on the responsibility as her guardian to ensure she doesn’t suffer the same fate as he did.  So, we’re basically dealing with a father-daughter relationship where Hajime initially grows reluctant and petty towards Rirui, but gradually warms to her as the season progresses.  However, the only element that could pose an issue, narrative-wise, is Rirui becoming a young woman overnight, which suggests she may be a Succubus.  Despite the similar formula it offers, the first episode is a fine start to what could be another relaxing, if not basic, piece of background noise in the adventurer catalog.  However, Rirui’s condition and expression towards Hajime at the end could risk careening it into icky territory if handled improperly.