Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (Volume 1) - I Want to Get Stronger

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon Volume 1 Cover

After being saved by the stunning Aiz Wallenstein, Bell Cranel can only think about getting stronger. He wants her to see him as an equal and not as the scared blood-soaked adventurer she rescued!

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (Volume 1) – I Want to Get Stronger

What happened?

Bell Cranel grew up on stories of adventurers fighting monsters and saving damsels in distress. So, it’s only natural that he wants to experience that too. Unfortunately, he was on the fifth floor of the dungeon when a stray minotaur found him. It had climbed from the nineteenth floor, pursued by the Loki Familia. It cornered Bell who was helpless to fight back given the strength differences. That was when he first saw Aiz Wallenstein. She saved him, but all he could do was run away screaming. He had to get stronger!

Bell lives with his goddess, Hestia. Together they support one another. As far as Familia’s go, Hestia’s is one of the lowest. It’s just her and Bell, but that means he gets her full attention and the benefits of her blessings. As of late, Bell’s stats have been increasing at an alarming rate. It’s due to a skill that has appeared, allowing him to increase relative to his emotions. It’s a rare skill, which has forced Hestia to keep it a secret even from Bell.

Regardless, Bell returns to the dungeon daily to collect magic stones and increase his experience. If he’s to stand as an equal to Aiz, he’s going to need to raise his stats faster than anyone has ever done so before. Meanwhile, Hestia has gone to see Hephaistos in the hopes that she will forge a weapon suitable for Bell. It needs to be one that will grow with him and hamper his advancements. It’s also going to cost Hestia dearly.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon Volume 1 Bell Cranel

What did you think?

I’ve been meaning to revisit this series for a long time and since I’m going through a lot of manga, I figured I would start here. Firstly, I love this series. So, it should come as no surprise that enjoyed this book. Surprisingly, it’s not the dungeon battles that caught my attention. I think the world is the true star of this series. It’s crafted in such an interesting and unique way. I love the idea of the gods living among the humans and creating Familia around them. The blessing system is really interesting too. There’s a lot to love.

Then, there’s Bell. He’s a stand-up guy who is always trying to do his best. I love his honesty too. He knows what he wants and how to get it, so he does that. Sure, maybe a dungeon isn’t the best place to pick up girls, but he’s going to try anyhow. Of course, it’s not just about Bell. There is a fantastically varied cast full of wonderful characters. The gods are amazing and their squabbles are hilarious.

There is one thing that I will be paying particularly close attention to this time. I learned something about Syr that I don’t want to repeat for fear of spoiling it for others, but it has changed my view on the series. I think it’s a game-changer and will make this reading that much more exciting. It’s fun figuring these things out, but it’s also fun watching it happen when you already know. I also want to see if I missed the obvious clues or whether it’s only apparent once you know.