I’m watching An Archdemon’s Dilemma How to Love Your Elf Bride, on Crunchyroll. I’ve been wanting to read the light novel, so when I heard the anime was airing this season I had to check it out!

First and foremost, like a lot of us, the main character has some things he’s working through. After hearing his inner monologue, I’d encourage him to speak nicer to himself.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Zagan is a sorcerer, who is anti-social. I don’t blame him for wanting his peace and quiet, and living alone in the woods seems like the ideal place to do so. Flashbacks from his childhood reveal that he’s had a rough upbringing, and had to overcome a lot of challenges to become a strong sorcerer. Society assumes all sorcerers are evil. Zagan does not come across as evil, but he seems indifferent to the plight of others. If he was inconvenienced, like someone loudly attacking an innocent person, and this attack just happened to wake him from his nap, then he’d take care of the troublemaker and go back to sleep, and go about his day. Zagan would stop evildoers if he came across them, but didn’t actively seek them out. One day, after he unintentionally saves a maiden from a bad guy, his sorcerer friend pops up suddenly and tells him an archdemon has passed, and now there is an estate sale. His friend invites him to the estate sale (his friend has an ulterior motive, he wants to put Zagan’s money to use, since no one else will lend him money).

While at this estate sale, Zagan falls in love at first sight with an elf. I have concerns about this relationship starting off on the wrong foot. He tries to get the elf’s collar removed, but finds out it is enchanted and it may be a challenge to get it off without harming her. It seems he wants her to be free. Flashback scenes reveal she may not have a home to return to.

Zagan takes the elf back to his castle-like home, and she thinks he’s going to kill her, or do something possibly worse. The torture devices in his home are not persuading her otherwise (apparently they belonged to the previous owner of the residence, and he was too lazy to remove it from the premises or clean…I get not wanting to clean, but these devices are not good conversation pieces).

Actually I am concerned about Zagan’s state of affairs and how he is living his life. It’s giving “surviving but not thriving.” I am also concerned for the elf.

Realization hits the next day, when the elf named Nephy, seems sympathetic Zagan’s eating the same food she is…which is a slice of beef jerky and milk. That’s his breakfast on a regular day, and he would’ve eaten that even if she wasn’t there.

It sounds like Nephy can cook, and she doesn’t seem excited about this jerky and milk meal. So they’re going to get groceries. However Zagan remembers he spent his life savings on acquiring Nephy, so luxuries like an Uber ride or a taxi, aren’t happening. Actually how was he even planning on paying for groceries? His face card?

I guess he’s not hanging out the passenger side of his best friend’s ride.

They’re getting their 10,000 steps in today.

Nephy! LOL

Suddenly bad guys are attacking the wagon, and Zagan senses that Nephy is frightened. He assuages her fear, by showing her his strength, and that people like them should not be a concern. He will keep her safe. But saving people, intentionally or not, has consequences which he soon discovers.

Having a change of heart, the bad guys choose life and make a run for it.

Now Nephy has nothing to fear!

That’s a good one Nephy! You’re so funny.

The people Zagan rescued expressed their gratitude and appreciation for his (unintended) heroic deeds!

No one is more shocked than Zagan.

He’s used to people being scared of him.

Yaaaaaaaas!!!! Manifest!!!

Now they think Nephy works for him! And she must be one of his elite employees!

Zagan’s heart is starting to show! I love it. I hope he will embrace his strength to help others, and that it’ll lead him to find inner strength to love himself. He has a kind heart, even if he doesn’t realize it. He’s unintentionally saved other people too! He found out when trying to remove Nephy’s collar, that he saved the shop owner and his daughter. The positive response he received from others is due to his own good deeds, but he thinks it is because of Nephy. He’s shocked by how friendly people are to him. While their kindness is directly related to him, he is more approachable when he is with her, so they can finally express their gratitude.

I’m optimistic about this anime, and I’m looking forward to more episodes!