Sentenced to Be a Hero

Sentenced to Be a Hero (勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録, Yūsha-kei ni Shosu: Chōbatsu Yūsha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku) is a Japanese light novel series written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Mephisto. It began serialization as a web novel published on Kakuyomu in October 2020. It began publication as a light novel under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint in September 2021. A manga adaptation began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus web magazine in March 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Kai has been announced.

Sentenced to Be a Hero
First light novel volume cover
勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (Yūsha-kei ni Shosu: Chōbatsu Yūsha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku)
Genre	Adventure^[1] Dark fantasy^[1]
Novel series
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Published by	Kakuyomu
Original run	October 28, 2020 – present
Light novel
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Illustrated by	Mephisto
Published by	ASCII Media Works
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Imprint	Dengeki no Shin Bungei
Demographic	Male
Original run	September 17, 2021 – present
Volumes	6 (List of volumes)
Manga
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Illustrated by	Natsumi Inoue
Published by	ASCII Media Works
English publisher	NA: Kadokawa
Imprint	Dengeki Comics NEXT
Magazine	Dengeki Comic Regulus
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	March 25, 2022 – present
Volumes	1 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Studio	Studio Kai

Characters

Xylo Forbartz (ザイロ・フォルバーツ, Zairo Forubātsu)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura (PV)^[2]

Teoritta (テオリッタ, Teoritta)

Voiced by: Tomori Kusunoki (PV)^[2]

Media

Light novel

Written by Rocket Shokai, Sentenced to Be a Hero began serialization as a web novel published on the Kakuyomu website. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Mephisto under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint. Six volumes have been released as of April 17, 2024.^[3] The light novels are licensed in English by Yen Press.^[4]

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	September 17, 2021^[5]	978-4-04-913903-7	August 22, 2023^[1]	978-1-97-536826-5
2	January 17, 2022^[6]	978-4-04-914103-0	December 12, 2023^[7]	978-1-97-536828-9
3	August 17, 2022^[8]	978-4-04-914443-7	August 20, 2024^[9]	978-1-97-539134-8
4	December 16, 2022^[10]	978-4-04-914672-1	—	—
5	August 17, 2023^[11]	978-4-04-915168-8	—	—
6	April 17, 2024^[3]	978-4-04-915606-5	—	—

Manga

A manga adaptation began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus web magazine on March 25, 2022.^[12] It has been collected in a single volume as of December 9, 2022.^[13] The manga adaptation is published digitally in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.^[14]

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	December 9, 2022^[13]	978-4-04-914726-1
2	April 26, 2024^[15]	978-4-04-915691-1

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced at the Dengeki Bunko 30th Anniversary event on July 16, 2023.^[16] It was later confirmed to be a television series produced by Studio Kai.^[17]

Reception

In the 2023 edition of the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, the series ranked third in the tankōbon category.^[18]

See also

• As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World, a light novel series, whose manga adaptation is also illustrated by Natsumi Inoue

References

1. "Sentenced to Be a Hero, Vol. 1 (light novel): The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004". Yen Press. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
2. 『勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録』スペシャルPVが公開 中村悠一さんと楠木ともりさんが出演. LN-News.com (in Japanese). September 22, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
3. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録VI (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. 5 December 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
4. Mateo, Alex; Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 17, 2023). "Yen Press Adds 12 Manga, 3 Light Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
5. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. December 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
6. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録II (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
7. "Sentenced to Be a Hero, Vol. 2 (light novel): The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004". Yen Press. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
8. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録III (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
9. "Sentenced to Be a Hero, Vol. 3 (light novel): The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004". Yen Press. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
10. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録IV (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
11. 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録V (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
12. Dengeki Comic Regulus [@dc_regulus] (March 25, 2022). 【新連載】『#勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録』第1話更新！大罪を犯し勇者刑に処されたクズ勇者たちに、人類の未来は託された……！絶望に抗うダークファンタジー、開幕！！ (Tweet). Retrieved July 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
13. 勇者刑に処す 1 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
14. Cayanan, Joanna (October 23, 2023). "BookWalker Global Exclusively Releases 'Why Does Nobody Remember Me in this World?', Sentenced to Be a Hero Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
15. 勇者刑に処す 2 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
16. Loo, Egan (July 16, 2023). "Sentenced to Be a Hero Light Novels Get Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 22, 2024). "Sentenced to Be a Hero Anime Confirms TV Format in Teaser Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
18. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 25, 2022). "Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! Reveals 2023 Series Ranking". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 16, 2023.

External links

• Web novel at Kakuyomu (in Japanese)
• Light novel official website (in Japanese)
• Manga official website at ComicWalker (in Japanese)
• Anime official website (in Japanese)
• Sentenced to Be a Hero (light novel) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia