DYD: Volume 1 - The Napping Kingdom's Ambition

The Napping Kingdom's Ambition(昼寝王国の野望, Hirune ōkoku no yabō) is the first novel in the Densetsu no Yusha no Densetsu series. It consists of 2 prologues and 5 chapters(1-5). It covers approximately episodes 2, 3, and 4, of the LofLH anime.

Characters[]

Major[]

Minor[]

Prologue I: We Come From Where the Reaper Dwells[]

A young girl clings to a young boy while she cries, asking him to marry her if they don't die and grow up to be adults. The boy believes that there was no point in making a promise for the future when they would die either way and, instead, dismisses her dream as an unattainable illusion. However, as she gets led away by a man in a suit, the boy calls out to tell her that the are both strong enough to survive and they make a promise not to die.

Chapter 1: The Half-Asleep Man and the Women who Looks After Him[]

The kingdom of Roland is surrounded by three other countries with varying levels of diplomatic relations: the Nelpha Imperia is neutral towards Roland, the peace treaty between Roland and the Runa Empire is virtually ignored by both parties, and the Kingdom of Estabul and Roland were locked in a blood war until a peace treaty was signed 7 years ago. The chapter begins on the training grounds of the Roland Empire’s Royal Special Military Academy where Kiefer engages Ryner in a mock fight in hopes that the teachers will not mark him as lagging behind. Ryner, however, is uninterested in fighting back and is mocked by their classmates who lament Kiefer’s wasted energy on Ryner. These classmates are confronted and challenged to a fight by Sion Astal, the most accomplished member of their class as well a nobleman. While the classmates are scared to fight Sion, they agree to avoid being seen as weak by the onlooking teachers; Sion is able to easily defeat them and turns to invite Kiefer and Ryner to his team for the upcoming mock battles. Kiefer is honored to join while Ryner tries to turn down the offer. When he confronts Sion about asking him only to guarantee Kiefer’s acceptance, Sion grins and makes a suspicious allusion to Ryner’s eyes and “hidden abilities.” Later, Sion’s team, consisting of himself, Ryner, Kiefer, Fahle, and Tony, are climbing a mountain trail and on a mission to apprehend the opposing team within 4 hours. Crafted from prior research on their opponents, Sion’s plan to win is enacted, with some hesitation from Kiefer, and the opposing team is defeated in only 2 hours and 52 minutes. The team goes to celebrate their victory in a tavern where Ryner escapes to the balcony while the others are toasting to Sion’s leadership. After Sion joins Ryner on the balcony, he asks Ryner about why he joined the academy and reveals that he already knew some of the other boy’s backstory. Ryner originally grew up in Roland’s Special Facility #307, an orphanage that forcibly molded talented, young children into weapons for the fight against Estabul. With a peace treaty signed and the war ending, the children were given the choice to either stay in the military or be killed, which led to Ryner joining the academy. Ryner attempts to lighten the mood by cracking a joke but, when Sion asks if he has ever wished for revenge on Roland, somberly warns Sion against his treasonous words. Sion doesn’t hear a rejection in Ryner’s words and extends an offer for Ryner to join him once he changes the country as its king. Ultimately turning down the offer, Ryner banters with Sion for a few more minutes before they are attacked by men in black shooting at them with magic circles. Sion apologizes for dragging Ryner into this fight, because he believes the men are targeting him, but Ryner laughs him off. The two agree to split up and Ryner leaves Sion with parting words about how a king couldn’t die here.

Chapter 2: The Hero and the Beauty's Chance Meeting[]

Sion is faced with 6 unknown assailants, believing them to be sent by his brother. He turns to face them with a cool facade and cites Ryner’s words to them. Though Sion fights valiantly, he almost succumbs to a knife to the face when a blonde woman appears and pierces the attacker with dango skewers. She then incapacitates all the assailants with her sword (while eating another stick of dango) and Sion is saved.

The next morning, Ryner wakes from his in-class nap to a homemade lunch from Kiefer. During their lunch break, Sion enters the room and approaches Ryner and Kiefer. Sion informs Kiefer of his absence at their meeting later that day and gently asks her not to chide Ryner as he was “assisting Sion with an unsophisticated task last night.” Later in the day, Sion goes to buy the Recommended Set 4 at the Wynnit Dango shop as a favor for the “goddess” who saved him last night. Though Sion does not reveal her identity as Ferris Eris , the employee saw the order and knew to direct him towards the Eris House, a clan of swordsmen who have been protecting Roland’s kings for generations. Sion is revealed to be one of the king’s sons, born out of wedlock to a low-born woman; Sion’s brothers, including the one who sent assassins after him, are the king’s true heirs and have been targeting Sion since even before his mother’s death.

Sion is led into the Eris House and directed to the dojo by a butler who explains that all guests who visit the Eris family for the first time are required to first meet the family head, currently Ferris’ older brother Lucile. While Lucile displays a friendly face, he is extremely adept at releasing and concealing the wall of bloodthirst behind his smile. As he begins to reveal his knowledge of Sion’s background and ambitions to overtake his father, he unleashes his overwhelming power onto Sion, who determinedly tries to resist. Before Lucile comes to conclusion on whether to kill Sion now or later, they are interrupted by Ferris demanding her dango. Lucile agrees to let Sion meet with Ferris and orders Ferris to help out Sion under the guise of furthering her training.

Ferris and Sion head out to the garden where Sion meets Iris, Ferris’ little sister. Iris originally dislikes Sion (which is encouraged by Ferris) until he agrees to buy dango for both of them in exchange for Iris helping Ferris with her mission to protect Sion. Sion is originally hesitant to accept a child’s help, but after Ferris proves Iris’ capabilities, Sion explains his background and situation to them, leaving out the fact that his “noble father” is actually the king.

Chapter 3: The Calm Signaling the End[]

Kiefer mentions Sion’s noticeably worsening complexion to Ryne while the two are in a club room with the other members of Sion’s team, Fahle, Tony, and Tyle. Sion is also present and tries to calm the group’s concerns, hiding the fact that his sleep is being interrupted by Ferris and Iris. Though Sion leaves to freshen up quickly, he is greeted by a sweet, domestic scene between his friends, causing to question whether his revenge plot is really necessary. This line of thought is quickly cut off when Roll runs into the room to announce that Estabul has invaded Roland, reigniting the war between the nations. The declaration strengthens Sion’s resolve to become king and protect the citizens of Roland from a future of meaningless war.

It is revealed that the people of Estabul are starving after floods destroyed their crops. Roland believed it was the perfect time to annihilate the weakened nation while Estabul saw an opportunity to storm and capture Roland. Kiefer approaches Ryner in his room before the students are about to be sent out and lays bare her fears about the war to Ryner’s perpetually sleepy disposition. After she admits that her greatest fear is Ryner dying on the battlefield, Kiefer asks him to run away with her. As Ryner gently rejects her offer, their friends appear and reassure her that under Sion, they won’t be sent to the frontlines to die.

Sion travels to the Eris estate to explain the new developments to Ferris while she plays a game of fetch with Iris. Afterwards, he, his team, and about 120 more students head out towards the Rozanne Plains, the southernmost end of the Roland-Estabul border. Their commanding officer is largely ignored by the students, but they are eager to listen to Sion, owing their lighter placement to him. Concurrently, Iris and Ferris infiltrate the Zammel family to kidnap Broffus Zammel, the family’s acting head and the ringleader behind the attacks on Sion, and bring him back to the Eris estate. While they are torturing him, Zammel reveals that there are 50 magical knights from Estabul waiting in the Rozanne Plains for Sion and his squadron and that there is a spy mixed in with the students. Suddenly, Lucile appears in the shadows and rips Zammel’s head from his body; Ferris is just barely able to knock Iris unconscious so she is spared the antics of their monstrous and dangerous brother. As the head disintegrates in Lucile’s palm, Ferris makes the connection between Zammel’s mutterings about the prince and Sion’s “noble father.” However, Lucile neither confirms nor denies her realization, simply saying that the Eris family only serves the king.

Chapter 4: What Wakes With a Start[]

The group stops to make camp and Kiefer’s friends notice that she is being much more distant than usual, though they chalked it up to her crush on Ryner. After handing out duties to set up for the night in place of their commanding officer, Sion allows Kiefer and Ryner to rest in the tents because he is worried for their constitutions. When Ryner tries to lighten the mood, Kiefer abruptly blurts out that she is in love with Ryner and asks him to run away with her. She begins to cry and confess that she wasn’t supposed to make any friends here except she fell in love with Ryner’s carefree attitude. Ryner tries to laugh the confession off, but Kiefer simply closes her eyes and apologies for failing to protect him. She then reaches out, uses foreign magic to release a bright flare into the sky, and runs away from Ryner.

After Sion appears because of the shining light, he and Ryner see a group of Estabul’s Magical Knights carrying red scythes speeding towards the campsite with the rest of their allies. After ordering the troops to retreat into the forest, Sion heads there with Ryner and tries to devise a plan to rescue his remaining classmates. Their hiding place is discovered by a magical knight, but Ryner ignores Sion’s order to flee even though they don't stand a chance. Sion attempts to fight them off with lightning magic, but the knights throw him back with their own foreign magic that resembles Kiefer’s flare. However, Ryner is somehow able to use the same magic as the knights against them. Though the knights accuse him of being the Estabul spy, they quiet once they see the Alpha Stigma, a red pentagram on top of his black eyes that allows him to view the properties of any magic. One of the knights begins to cast another spell, but Ryner is able to copy and cast the spell first, taking down all three of the magic knights cornering him and Sion.

Right when they are about to find the rest of their classmates, they are confronted by the knight’s commanding officer, a beast-like man with strong killing intent. He and his subordinates are able to subdue Sion and threaten to gauge out Ryner’s Alpha Stigma. While twisting Ryner’s head back, the commanding officer reveals that the only remaining students besides Ryner are Sion and Kiefer, who are being held by other knights. Ryner’s inner dialogue of fear slowly begins to give way to apathy at the thought of his death, but is ignited into rage when the knights begin to beat Sion and attempt to rape Kiefer. As Ryner’s mind devolves into the desire to make everything disappear, pentagrams shaped like the Alpha Stigma begin to cover the field and Ryner starts laughing uncontrollably. The overwhelming force of the Alpha Stigma is able to effortlessly disintegrate all of the magic knights, but Ryner’s voice speaks of a merciless power that will erase everything. With the enemies eliminated, Ryner turns and grabs Sion and Kiefer by the throat while fighting to close his eyes. Sion is able to help him fully close them and release him from the control of the Alpha Stigma. Just as Ryner thanks Sion and Sion laments his lack of power, the Roland army finally arrives on scene.

Chapter 5: The Sorrowful Days Gone By[]

Estabul surrenders quickly after 50 of their best knights were defeated by a single person and Roland eagerly celebrates. Rumor surrounding the incident claims that Sion took out the entire platoon and, because of his royal blood, is being hailed as the successor to the throne. Ryner, stil wallowing in death and loneliness, is abruptly told by Sion that he needs to escape now that the army has learned of his Alpha Stigma. Before addressing the matter, Ryner asks Sion what has happened to Kiefer and learns that Kiefer was originally sent to Roland with an older and younger sister to act as spies for Estabul. The Roland military discovered their mission and killed the older sister; they held the younger sister hostage to force Keifer to bait the Estabul magical knights and later killed the sister. Ryner digests the information and passively accepts the imprisonment, claiming he’ll be fed regularly and it will be easier to take naps.

The scene cuts to Sion in the Eris family dojo when Lucile reveals himself and asks Sion a number of questions, saying that he will decide if Sion lives to become king by his answers. Meanwhile, Ryner has been strung up in a cell and surrounded by nobility who oppose Sion’s rise. Ryner’s uninterested attitude infuriates the men but, once they beat him up, they declare that the king will grant Ryner one wish in ‘“exchange” for his imprisonment. Afterwards, he is led to a prison which has surprisingly decent accommodations despite being for heinous criminals. He jokes around with the supervisor, a kind older man, who offers to bring some things to Ryner’s cell. When Ryner enters the cell, he finds Kiefer on the bed and tells her that her younger sister has already been killed by the Roland military, but she lashes out at Ryner for tormenting her and being a pawn of Roland. Before Ryner can properly explain, the supervisor returns, explaining that Ryner’s wish was for Kiefer to be released, and Ryner locks himself in the cell. Kiefer doesn’t understand why Ryner would release her after she betrayed everyone, but he simply explains that their deaths were because of monsters like war, greed, and himself. As Ryner says that Kiefer is a human who should live her life, she reaches out to grab Ryner and kiss him through the bars. Before she is led out by the supervisor, she tells Ryner that she fell in love with his kindness and strength and, because of that, he isn’t allowed to call himself a monster.

Ryner is imprisoned for two years during which the king declares his intent to go to war with Imperial Nelphia. This triggers a revolution within the empire to replace the current king and take down the nobility. Ryner, stuck in his underground prison doing research, is caught off guard one day when the usually cheerful supervisor comes down with a somber look on his face. Ryner understands that he has been given the death penalty but is given one day of luxury before being sent for execution before the king. The next day, he is handed over to the king’s subordinate, a beautiful blonde woman, and attempts to escape though he is quickly defeated.

Prologue II: Even So, We Want a Reason to Live[]

The scene opens with Sion lamenting the opulence of the royal castle, but excited over a shabby report entitled: “What Do We Need to Do to Create the Napping Kingdom?” He splits the report among some scholars for analysis and explains its contents. In the past, devil kings perfected a system of magic, gaining magic at an unimaginable speed. The demon kings ran rampant until the appearance of legendary heroes, Knights of Light with powerful relics that helped them defeat the demon kings. The hero relics have been lost to the world throughout history, but their existence can be proven through the power of the Alpha Stigma. Overall, the report seemed delusional to those who hadn’t witnessed the Alpha Stigma’s power, but Sion found great potential in the paper.

Sion lifted his eyes off of the report to see Ferris, asking her about “him.” She claims he had a stupid face and was unmotivated but admitted that he was incredibly strong. Ryner then steps into the room only to be greeted at the sight of Sion on the royal throne, now the current king of Roland. Sion smiles, revealing that Kiefer has taken up traveling among the different kingdoms and that he has read the report Ryner wrote while in prison. Furthermore, he happily orders Ryner to go on a mission to find the legendary relics or actually face the death penalty. Similarly, he orders Ferris to accompany him, saying that Lucile has agreed to kill Iris if she doesn’t listen and will destroy the Wynnit Dango shop as well. The two reluctantly set out on their quest and Sion is left debating his personal choices against the peaceful future Ryner has been hoping for all this time.

Trivia[]

Anime and Light Novel Differences:

The novel includes the scene from the prologue while the anime does not.
The fight scene (where Ferris saves Sion from the assassins) is extended.
After Sion is saved by Ferris in the novel, he meets Lucile soon after; Sion doesn't meet him until later in the anime.
Sion works closely with the Eris sisters to track down the assassins after him in the novel. In the anime, it is mostly Ferris and Iris who track down the mastermind.
In the novel, Lucile holds a much longer conversation with Ferris after killing Buroff Samuels.
Sion heads to the Rozanne Plains with many more students in the novel than in the anime.
The prisoners in the novel all eventually go crazy except for Ryner.
Ryner doesn't get new clothes before being sent to see Sion in the anime.
The conversation between Sion and Ryner before Ryner sets off for his quest is extended in the novel.

Ryner's report summary:

“Ever since long ago, there were many people who had enough power to change the world, and were called demon lords or devils, evil people. These demon lords had complete magic circuits and had power that far exceeded human imagination. Even battalions made of powerful mages or soldiers couldn’t fight these real monsters called demon lords. Thus, this world would face a crisis of being destroyed by these so-called demon lords. However, this time, legends of how human warriors, like legends and knights of the light that had greater battle prowess than these demon lords caused them to be destroyed. Now, the problem was, who were these legends? While we set aside all these debates about whether these so-called demon lords or legends really existed…where do all these ‘humans’ with monstrous power come from? If the records of history books were all real, these legends could easily eliminate these powerful monsters of magic who in turn had killed hundreds of powerful mages easily. These legends, who were they? The world is scattered with legends of such legends. Even though these legends are hardly viewed as important today, however…people have found the weapons these legends used, and their locations were recorded. Regrettably, the secret documents that recorded these demon lords’ mysterious power never saw the light of day…even so, even if we can’t find these monsters, if we can find the remains of these powerful legends, can’t we use them as powerful weapons? At the same time, as for whether these demon lords or legends really existed…the ‘Alpha Stigma’ has provided an explanation. Nobody knows whether that’s an evil thing or something of the legend’s ability. However…the power that far exceeded expectations did exist. In that case, should there be other unique powers around? There’s immeasurable value in searching for such powers. A strong power can be used in a certain way and end wars before they start. This report illustrates the locations of these heroes, a detailed explanation of each legend and also a map which shows where the hero relics may be resting.”

Quotes: The following quotes are grouped and in chronological order

Ryner: “You know of my past, and yet you still want me?”
Sion: “If I don't want you, I guess nobody else would, right? So, what do you plan to do? Will you work under me? Or...”
Ryner: “Ugh...haa, okay, okay. I got it. I'll work with you. Really...do you recruit your allies with such threatening means? You :really are a demon, right?”
Sion: “I want to take action, Ryner. I want to change everything. I have been working hard, searching throughout this academy to recruit allies who haven’t relied on the nobles. However…this plan’s about to end soon. I have more than enough forces. I want to become the king to this country. I want to change everything. So Ryner, join me. I will help you to make a world you can look forward to.”
Ryner: “I see. So you want the throne, Sion? But it sounds bothersome…sorry, I’ll pass. Ah, but when you become king someday, Sion, can you write a law such that sleepy and lazy people can get more promotions easily?”
Sion’s struggles were thoroughly annihilated by this person who didn’t have any will at all. For just that moment, he showed a thoroughly shocked look.
Sion: “Guu…a, ahaha!! That, that’s too funny! Ahaha. I see. So maybe that’s the reason why I wanted you. Maybe it has nothing to do with the ‘Alpha Stigma’…you’re the first person who didn’t react to me at all.”
Ferris (to Sion): “They say that when dogs receive a favor, they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.”
Ferris: “Brother. I have this feeling recently that you have been using your own interests under the namesake of tasks and dumping them onto me…”
Lucile: “My sister, what are you saying? Isn’t this the training passed down for generations in the Eris’ clan? Don’t you believe me?”
Ferris: “…What will you do if I say that I don’t?”
Lucile: “You’ll die.”
Ferris: “You’re saying this seriously, right?”
Lucile: “I’m always serious.”
Ferris: “I won’t dare to disobey you.”
Sion (to himself): “From today on, I won't run. I want to rise up here. Anyone who gets in my way, no matter who it is...I will eliminate them without mercy...”
(The voice inside Ryner’s head): People will die. But everything doesn’t matter. Let’s end everything. Everything—
According to my wish. Release it. Open. Kill. Kill everything. Kill everything in front of me…
Ryner (taken over by the alpha stigma talking to the Mage Knights): ‘Don’t defy me. Your molecules shall scatter like sand.’
‘God. Demon. Devil. Hero. Monster. What do you scum call me? WHAT DO YOU CALL ME? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!'
‘The (α) beginning is destruction. I don’t create anything. I don’t bless. I don’t redeem. I just erase, completely.’
‘I won’t let you run away. I’m going to make all of you disappear. All of you, all…'
Jailer (to Ryner before he takes him away): “I, feel that it’s an honorable thing, to be friends with you.”
Ryner: “Eh? Ah…re, really? Ah, ahaha!”
On hearing this, Ryner was really moved as he couldn’t help but give a dry laugh.
Both of them were talking so easily, and this would be the last time.
Ferris (to Sion about Ryner): “You’re really very irritating…you knew, didn’t you? He’s strong. I don’t think I will lose to him…but he’s the first one to threaten me other than my brother, and he held back before he attacked.”
Sion: “Lucile, is this where I’m going to?”
Lucile: “I don’t know. But that’s one of the paths to the future. This isn’t your final destination, which is why I haven’t killed you. A king’s an item, a gear in the country. The gear won’t spoil when it’s new. Fufu, you’re still considered new.”