Anime

In today's Episode: Makoto's opinion of Hyumans continues to nosedive. In other news water is wet and air necessary for breathing.

Jokes aside I really feel for Makoto, he is not used to this cut throat lifestyle and has frankly only come so far because Rembrandt is sympathetic towards him and thus refused to get into Makoto's way. Really Makoto should have foreseen outside forces analyzing his monetary flow and prepared a suitable alibi, instead he got caught unprepared and is now suffering the consequences of living too honestly.

Two halves to this episode. First we get to see the individual tournament arc. We get a couple nice moments where Makoto's students get to flex a bit and really mess with the Hopeleys heir. Something I liked about this was Princess Lily. I mentioned last week that I felt kind of bad for her as she seems to mostly be doing her best with the hand she has been dealt (human trash hero Tomoki). She shows her flexible thinking and practicality again this episode in how she is able to recognize the improved but non-traditional methods of Makoto's students.

The second half of this episode is an uncharacteristic humbling moment for Makoto. The merchant guild representative completely outwits and corners Makoto. It is a sign of Makoto's inexperience that he hadn't thought that other, established trading companies wouldn't put up any kind of barrier they can to prevent Kuzunoha's ascendancy. We see it in the modern world as well, large established companies using tools like regulatory capture to block out startups or slow their growth.

Fortunately for Makoto, there is a whole untapped market where the Merchant's Guild has no power: the demons. It's free real estate!

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Wasn't sure if this entire episode was going to be the full tournament or not, but the change half way helped break things up between action and story. Always good to see MCs lose in creative ways. Certainly seems to set up some interesting implications on the future if sides are being picked.

I kept forgetting to mention in the last couple episodes that vol 1 of the LN is available in the West now

First, Lily says that it would be a loss to have Makoto going to another country. Dangerous, too.

Then, some arsehole guild master happens to kick Makoto off. And he happens to decide to conduct businesses with the demons fighting hyumans. And Lily happens to be spearheading that fight.

Oopsie.

Some heads will roll.