Summary
While the first half of the episode gives viewers a moment to catch their breath, the excitement and peril turn up in the second half, setting fans up for what is sure to be an epic finale.
We recap the HiDive anime series Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 Episode 21, “Daydream: A Sweet Lie,” which contains spoilers.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 Episode 20 finally showed viewers exactly what happened to the Astrea Familia the day they perished. Despite the numerous hints through the previous few seasons, viewers still couldn’t prepare themselves for just how vicious their fight against the Juggernaut really was. It may feel like history is doomed to repeat itself not, but after struggling through the Colosseum, Bell (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and Ryuu (Saori Hayami) may have finally caught a break. Here’s hoping the water source they found can lead them to safety before the Juggernaut discovers where they are.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 Episode 21 Recap
The episode opens with Bell and Ryuu safely setting up a fire in the new room they’ve discovered. It’s been a while since they’ve seen any monsters, and they begin to assume that they cannot spawn here. They take the opportunity to warm up but find the situation growing awkward when they have to remove their clothes.
As they sit, too embarrassed to look at one another, Ryuu asks Bell to be completely honest about why he returned for her at the Colosseum. He responds that he “couldn’t let anyone else die,” and Ryuu believes he genuinely had no ulterior motives.
After hearing his answer, Ryuu asks Bell if she can tell him the story of what happened to the Astrea Family on the day they were attacked, and he agrees.
Since the fire isn’t warming them up fast enough, Ryuu tells Bell they should consider “skin-to-skin contact.” Bell attempts to make excuses not to, but after awkward promises not to try anything, and a few tension-clearing jokes, they finally go through with it.
As they pack up to leave, Ryuu calls the room they are in an “Oasis” and asks if they are sure they want to go just yet.
What is the status of Bell’s left arm?
Although Ryuu has done everything she can to heal Bell’s arm, she informs him that it will not fully recover until they reach the surface.
Bell and Ryuu leave the Oasis, heading through an area that has never been mapped before. On the ground, they come across plants they don’t recognize and rocks they’ve never seen before. After traveling upwards, they find themselves back in the actual dungeon.
The Fourth Ring
Bell and Ryuu across an open area with gray ash walls that she describes as the Fourth Ring. From there, they will encounter the Fifth Wall, and then she says they will find the tunnel that leads up to the 36th floor.
Sensing a monster nearby, Ryuu stops Bell. Suddenly a monster arm falls in front of them, and when they look up, they see the Juggernaut on the wall above them.
How did the Juggernaut get his right arm back?
Despite slicing the Juggernaut’s right arm in their last encounter, Bell sees that the monster has acquired a new arm, having regenerated one out of several monsters it ate earlier. Bell notices parts from a Skull Sheep, a Barbarian, and more as he observes that the Juggernaut’s tail has grown back too.
With its new Chimera form, the Juggernaut seems more daunting, but Bell notices that it also moves slower now. When the Juggernaut suddenly grows spikes, Bell realizes it can also use the attacks of the animals it consumes. As Bell dodges the attacks, Ryuu finds herself struggling to move.
As they suddenly dash for the exit, Bell is stabbed with a spike. He quickly cauterizes the wound with a fire bolt before passing out. Luckily Ryuu can drag him into a small cavern, and though the space is too small for the Juggernaut, things turn for the worst when they see the cavern is full of monsters.
In an attempt to kill Bel and Ryuu, the Juggernaut shoots spikes through the cavern’s walls, inadvertently killing the monsters. The two take a moment to rest, with Ryuu using her magic to heal Bell’s wound. They assume the Juggernaut has given up on trying to catch them for now and somberly celebrates the idea of going home.
What does Ryuu ask Bell to do for her one last time?
As they lie on the ground injured, Ryuu turns to Bell and asks if he can hold her one last time. Immediately he pulls her in, and Ryuu begins to cry, relishing what could be their final moments together.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 Episode 21 Ending Explained
As Ryuu falls asleep, Bell stands and fights through his pain to walk out of the cavern, promising to protect Ryuu.
While I’m usually a bit thrown off by fan service in the middle of a dangerous situation, the moment between Bell and Ryuu was quite touching. It felt nice to give them something personal, almost like closure, leading into what could potentially be the most dangerous battle of their lives.
I didn’t expect the series to shift its focus to Bell and Ryuu for this long, but I’ve enjoyed not bouncing back and forth between the two groups in the last few episodes. It’s given us time to immerse ourselves in danger without losing focus. While I have enjoyed the entire season, I feel more invested now than ever, afraid of what may happen next. I think not seeing Bell’s party for a while will also make their reappearance that much more satisfying.
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