English Dub Review: If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord “The Young Girl Leaves on a Journey”

 

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Six months have passed, both Latina and Dale have grown, and Rita has a surprise. She’s having a baby. And while she doesn’t want to make a big deal about it, Kenneth, Dale, and Latina are obviously going to make a fuss. Hey, Rita, just because you’re super reserved, doesn’t mean you can hide away from an inn full of hyperactive stock characters. Hell, you married one.

Knowing the baby will come in X number of months, Dale pulls out his day-planner and does a little scheduling math. Since Latina has become such a big help around the inn, she’ll be especially needed after Rita gives birth. Therefore, he realizes he can’t wait until the end of the school year to visit his hometown—if Latina opts to accompany him. So after he asks, and she gives an emphatic yes, they plan to head out in the next few days.

While Latina and Kenneth are out knife shopping—for a modest travel knife to use primarily for “cooking”—they venture into the blacksmith shop which is owned by her friend Rudy’s father. The crotchety, ginger blacksmith is reluctant to forge a weapon for a child, but after big bad Kenneth explains the situation, he allows her to pick out a small knife. And after she offers to pay for the blade, he agrees to adjust the grip to better fit her tiny hands.

When Rudy—who clearly has a crush on Latina—returns home, he’s surprised and a little embarrassed to see her. At first he’s worried she’s leaving forever, but after learning it’s a temporary trip, he once again flips back into embarrassed mode. Kenneth is a bit perturbed that Latina didn’t think to tell her friends she was leaving. He explains that if she just up and disappears her friends might worry. The young girl rectifies that issue the next day at school, prompting all her friends to wish her well.

Dale—after asking the Duke’s permission to take a trip—runs into his friend, who’s also a girl, who’s also an elf, who he also might have a little crush on. Her name is Helmine and she’s super chill about helping him pick out tiny little clothes for a tiny little mage. Being a mage herself, Helmine recognizes how enamored Dale is with this mystery girl he’s being awkwardly secretive about.

Within a few days, Dale and Latina pack up a horse, say goodbye to Kenneth and Rita, and are on their way. First off, however, Dale takes them on a little detour so she can visit her demon father’s grave for the first time since they dug it. She talks to the spirit of Rag in private, returning to Dale afterward. With that out of the way, the pair look forward to the journey ahead.

 

Our Take

Well done on the time jump, Demon Daughter. As much as we all enjoy tiny little Latina—who is actually eight years old—we’re prepared to sacrifice cuteness for the grander story. Latina is ready to assist Dale with his adventuring which means we’re that much closer to fulfilling the show’s promised premise.

After having foolishly shipped Dale and Rita in the premiere, I now see that Helmine is the true love interest for our young adventurer. Their relationship has yet to be established, but from the outside looking in, they appear to be on the same social level. She’s a mage, which establishes her as a seasoned adventurer capable of challenging our hero. How long until she and Dale tackle a bounty together? And as they become closer, how will Latina react to a new woman in Dale’s life?

It’s weird to see Dale acting cagey about having a daughter when in the past he’s shouted it from the rooftops. Granted, it’s clear he’s a little shy around Helmine, but what better way to find your comfort level than talking about your favorite thing in the damn world? With that being said, kudos to Helmine for being confident enough not to bombard him with a zillion follow-up questions. She obviously finds his answers suspect; however, let’s hope she doesn’t think the worst of him since his appears to hold great affection for an underage girl. Hang in there, Helmine; it’s all a sitcom-esque misunderstanding.

This show continues to underuse Rita, and it looks like they’re going to continue with that trend now that she’s pregnant and the main characters are leaving town for at least a few episodes. From the beginning, it seemed she’d be the more compelling of the two innkeepers. Since the premiere, however, we’ve gotten a window into Kenneth’s personality and backstory while Rita has remained shrouded in a layer of mystery. She still feels like the dominant personality and the true brains of the outfit, but until we’re given more to work with, her potential shall remain untapped.