Unlike last week’s episode title, I can relate to this episode’s title. Maybe it is because I struggle to talk to people and make and keep friends. Eh, whatever; there’s still an episode that I need to review at the end of the day, so let’s just get this over with.
As I described last week, Takumi visited the provincial lord, the brother of one of the knights from where Takumi came (which I DIDN’T state the previous week!). They sat down, with Alan and Elena noticing two kids outside (we’ll talk more about them later). Takumi and the provincial lord got to talking about what Takumi has done to help improve the world and what happens when new labyrinths are discovered. Takumi also receives a map of other known labyrinths, and when he touches it, there’s a sound seemingly notifying him of an update to the map…leading him to believe that Syl is watching.
However, a lunch break is soon called, and we get to meet the provincial lord’s wife and their two sons, who were the same kids that Alan and Elena noticed earlier. After the introductions, they have lunch, the food usually served here, down to the seasoning. When lunch is concluded, Alan and Elena ask to have jelly, which the provincial lord and his family are confused about. So, Takumi makes enough for everyone.
The provincial lord likes it…and likes it enough to want to start a business to make and sell the jelly. And when finding out his brother hasn’t tried it yet, the provincial lord decides to send a letter to gloat about it. Takumi is also convinced to stay the night at the provincial lord’s place, and he even gets his inn canceled for this.
The next day, the letter was already responded to, and an explanation was provided as to why that made sense to me. We also get to see a scene of presumably what occurred when the provincial lord’s brother read the letter. That same day, the provincial lord (in disguise), his sons, Takumi, Alan, and Elena, all head out to the morning market as the provincial lord wants to try a new treat…and it just so happens to be the same treat that Takumi helped to create, with Takumi even getting the ability to skip the line.
After enjoying that, the group heads to a shop specializing in items found in the labyrinths. The provincial lord takes himself and his kids to talk with the owner while Takumi and his kids look around the store. They see red beans, and while looking at them, the provincial lord returns carrying a bag. Takumi recognizes the logo from the ship he inventory ex machina’d in an earlier episode.
And…that’s it. That’s the episode. It feels like this suffers from the same issue that I felt that Episode 7 had, though not to the same extent: slowing the story down to build up more of the world when there could’ve been other ways to do that same building without slowing down the story. Yet again, I don’t know if this is a source material issue or an adaptation issue, so I don’t feel like I can adequately judge this episode based on that because this anime is my first exposure to the story. However, it feels like the story moved forward more than Episode 7, so I won’t consider this too much of an issue.
Based on the episode title stated in the preview and my personal predictions, I suspect the next episode will focus on what that symbol is connected to. Vector will do something good, hence the episode title. Maybe Vivi from Episode 9 returning as well? Dunno, but that’s just my prediction. If you have read the source material, please don’t spoil me for what occurs, as I want to try and get through this series with as few spoilers as possible.
Additional posts about A Journey Through Another World: Raising Kids While Adventuring:
Sara Talks Anime 
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