Red Ranger Isekai Episode 3 Recap and Thoughts
It’s time to catch up on Episode 3! Last time, we witnessed the unexpected alliance of Kizuna Red and Yhidra, who teamed up with the adventurers from Episode 1 to complete a quest and defeat a treasure monster! The monster, an old man with a bump on his head, had the ability to transform into the monster again. He was ultimately slain by a knight as he and a princess sought to recruit more people for their quest.
Recap
Since last time, Red has become broke by failing quests, thanks to how he burns materials whenever he defates enemies. Thus, Red moved in Yhidra’s mansion. Yhidra liked the idea since it allowed her to learn more about Red. Yhidra’s butler, Poseidon, objects to the idea because he is too young and Yhidra’s a woman, which is reasonable. He also sexualized her which is weird, to be honest. That scene would work as well if the writer doesn’t go that route just for comedy’s sake.
To quell his worries, he opted to castrate Togo. Yhidra intervened when she heard what was happening. During the chaos, someone knocked at the door, but no one noticed due to the ongoing situation. Upon opening it, the visitor was taken aback by the compromising position of Yhidra and Red. The visitors turned out to be the characters shown at the previous episode’s conclusion. The knight cautioned the lady about making inappropriate remarks.
We are introduced to Princess Teltina Liz Wargray Avallost, the third princess of the Avallost empire, and her Hero, Lowji Mist. Lowji displays extreme protectiveness by threatening execution over the compromising scene. Teltina scolds Lowji and points out that they’re at fault for entering uninvited, while Togo and Yhidra remain frightened. Yhidra calms their concerns, explaining that they weren’t engaging in what they assumed. Teltina then pointed out the duties that come with being a Hero, but Lowji replied that all he truly needed was her love.
Once the confusion was cleared up, Teltina requested Yhidra to examine the magic tool and collect more magic tools, which was extracted from the old man in the last episode. She also asked her to assist them in collecting magic tools. Yhidra explained to the Princess about where the tool came from and what happened to the old man. Teltina reassured them that the man was doing fine. She was shocked that Yhidra was able to defeat the monster, to which she credited Togo, who explained how they beat the monster using the Kizuna Buster. Teltina was interested on what Kizuna Buster is, thinking it was a spell. She complimented Yhidra for creating the magic and thought she would be able to learn the mystery behind the mana seeds.
Teltina explains how mana seeds can increase the mana of the people using it while giving them the ability to pursue their desires. It reminds me of Yummies’ ability to pursue their host’s desires. The abilities the mana seeds give are known as Privilege Spells. For instance, a person desiring wealth could gain a spell that transmutes anything into coins. Another might acquire a protective barrier spell to safeguard their most prized possessions. These powers, known as Privilege Spells, are not without their risks. Like a parasitE, these spells gradually merge with the host’s body, transforming them into a mana beast.
Rumors suggest a connection between the current Royal Scepter, Shau’ha, and the mana seeds, given their exorbitant cost that only the wealthy can afford. Teltina, aware of the royal family’s protection of Shau’ha, proceeds with caution. To help in their cause, she enlists the help of Yhidra, the daughter of the former Royal Scepter. Yhidra, seeing an opportunity to dismantle Shau’ha’s power and get closer to Teltina, eagerly agrees to assist.
Togo was eager to join their cause, driven by a desire to protect the world. However, Lowji objected, citing Togo’s lack of manners. But the truth was, Lowji was motivated by a fear of losing Teltina. Thus, Togo challenged Lowji to prove his strength.
The ways some of the scenes were displayed were interesting, such as how Lowji professed his love to Teltina or how Yhidra accepted the offer. Honestly, the latter scene made me confused about Yhidra’s sexuality.
Teltina revealed that Lowji earned the title of “The Solitary Sword Fiend” as an adventurer due to his skill in completing high-value bounties of his own. He uses his legendary divine treasure which was used by the Hero who sealed away the Demon Queen.
Togo declares that if he emerges victorious, he will have the opportunity to assist Teltina. However, Lowji stipulates that if Togo wins, he must avoid showing himself to Lowji.
Lowji is not impressed when Togo transforms into Kizuna Red, noting that he looks like a jester. Togo used the Cooperation Calibur right off the bat, which excites Teltina as she thinks Togo uses magic. The fight was intense, as their swords clashed with one another. Red thought Lowji’s strength was on par with that of an enemy general or even stronger. Lowji, impressed by Red’s skills, turned serious as he turned his sword into the Second Holy Sword, Dragwrath. The sword’s ability looked so cool since it allowed the sword to be very flexible in battle.
Togo returned the favor by summoning the Kizuna Beasts to form Maximum Kizuna Kaiser, leaving Lowji in awe of the mech’s immense size. Red later confided in Yhidra that he got a bit carried away during the summoning. Meanwhile, Teltina found herself transported inside the mech, a result of their earlier bond formed by sharing a common goal and his agreement to support her. Yhidra remarked that the requirements for such a bond seem to be rather flexible. Well, it is to be expected from someone who is very friendly.
Lowji was determined to save Teltina, believing that Red had taken her hostage after hearing that she had enjoyed being inside the Maximum Kizuna Kaizer. While Red denied the accusation, Lowji was determined to save her as he flew with his sword. The impact of the sword caused the mech to lose balance. Red was having trouble fighting back due to Lowji’s small size relative to the mech. However, with the help of the Great Bond Sword, he managed to get Lowji blown away as he delivered a strong gust of wind.
Despite his loss, Lowji still objects to Togo joining them as he feared his strength. Teltina reminded him of his promise and told him that Togo could be a bigger threat than the mana seeds if he didn’t join them. Lowji reluctantly agrees, however Togo was warned that he doesn’t have any intention of befriending. He laughed, saying that he has heard this line multiple times but in the end, they end up forging a bond.
After Yhidra and Togo bid their goodbyes to Poseidon, they left for Akalina, the town that never sleeps. There was a rumor that the lord owned a mana seed. On the way, though, Lowji and Red continued to butt their heads, with Red teasing Lowji by calling him “Low” as the latter got envious of Teltina calling him “Red.” Seeing this, Yhidra has her doubts about them being able to work together.
When the team arrived, they noticed that the city had been quiet, which Teltina noted would be the cause of the mana seed. Before they could discuss this further, a hooded figure warned them to steer clear of the lord. The shady woman told them that speaking to outsiders about the lord was forbidden. They were advised to leave as soon as possible, and then she left.
Yhidra then noticed a mana field, suspecting it enabled the lord to monitor everyone nearby. Teltina chimed in, suggesting this could be a form of a Privilege Spell. Together, they concluded that the lord was likely up to no good. After she says it, a familiar arrives to punish them since they spoke ill of the lord. Togo manages to save her, as she notes that the creation of familiars is also an effect of the Privilege Spell.
The lord arrived, taking note of their familiarity with Privilege Spells. He introduced himself as Loulugart and expressed his commitment to maintaining the town’s order and peace. In response, Teltina introduced herself and addressed his oppressive use of mana seeds, insisting that he surrender them. The lord maintained that he was bringing peace to the chaotic town, believing that his actions were steering the people correctly by placing thorns on the wrong paths. Togo argued that his method was flawed, suggesting that a more effective approach would be to guide them by taking their hands and leading them the right way. The lord asserted that the people should adhere to his rules and live modestly, referring to this as a utopia.
As he transforms into Kizuna Red, Togo claims that he doesn’t want order but control. Loulugart, however, thinks that his inexperience makes him blind to what makes his town beautiful, so he orders his familiars to attack him. Red had trouble keeping up with the familiars as they moved quickly, hitting Red’s blind spots. Meanwhile, Lowji enjoyed this moment, asking Yhidra to let him savor it as she pleaded with him to help Red. Red got overwhelmed by the attacks, and a decisive blow broke his transformation.
Final Thoughts
This was a jam-packed episode as it not only introduced the last two of the main cast but also allowed us to visit Akalina, which I thought would be saved for the next episode. Still, the pacing is quite nice.
Togo’s showdown with Lowji was so incredible as it showcased Togo’s skill as a fighter against an equally competent opponent. I loved how Lowji was unfazed when he saw Togo’s transformation. And he looked so cute while simping for Teltina. However, I didn’t like his overprotectiveness, especially when he threatened Togo and Yhidra because they broke Teltina’s innocence. It’s also interesting how Teltina can force Lowji to tell her what he’s really feeling. Speaking of, Teltina is a nice character. I like that despite her royal status; she tries her best to be a good princess as she embarks on a journey with Lowji to investigate the mana seeds. I like how courageous she is when facing Lord Loulugart while keeping quirky bits of her personality, such as her fascination with Togo and his equipment.
Finally, despite Red having so much experience with fighting as he managed to fare well with Lowji, he still had trouble dealing with familiars. It’s a relief that the writers didn’t over-nerf him; instead, they explored a dynamic where his past experiences fell short, especially since most monsters in his world don’t exploit his blind spots. Additionally, it will be interesting to see how Togo and Lowji navigate their differences and team up, considering they butt heads together. Overall, it was a solid episode.