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Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (2019) movie poster

Plot Summary

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (2019) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 82 mins · Japanese
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Directed by
Katsushi Sakurabi
Starring
Soma Saito, Inori Minase, Mutsumi Tamura, Saori Hayami, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ai Kayano

Beneath a towering dungeon lies the city of Orario, where adventurers partner with gods to battle monsters. A new threat emerges far from the city, prompting the goddess Artemis to seek a champion. Surprisingly, she chooses Bell Cranel, a novice adventurer allied with a minor goddess, instead of renowned figures like Ais Wallenstein or Ottar. He must rise to the challenge and confront the looming danger.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Bell Cranel embarks on an eventful day in Orario, where he explores the Dungeon accompanied by Liliruca Arde and Welf Crozzo. The trio soon participates in the Holy Moon Festival, alongside Bell's goddess, Hestia. During the festivities, they witness Hermes presenting a challenge that involves extracting a spear from a crystal. The reward for the triumphant challenger is a blessing from the goddess of purity, entitling them to a journey outside the city. Encouraged by Hestia, Bell accepts the challenge. Upon his touch, he hears a voice affirming his selection, leading to the crystal shattering. Hermes praises Bell and introduces the event’s sponsor, Artemis, an old friend of Hestia's, who is taken aback to see her embracing Bell, referring to him affectionately as her "Orion."

Hermes enlightens Hestia's group about Artemis’ motive for sponsoring the event: she requires assistance to confront a menacing monster outside Orario that has been troubling her Familia. Although Bell doubts his capabilities compared to seasoned adventurers, Artemis insists that the spear's choice signifies his pure heart. Hestia supports taking on the quest, with Lili and Welf willingly agreeing to join in on the adventure.

After a week's journey riding dragons, the team reaches their destination and promptly saves a mother and her child from a horde of monsters. Bell demonstrates his skill by effortlessly defeating them using the spear. However, Hermes advises against using its power repeatedly. As the group sets up camp for the night, they discuss the recent outbreaks of monsters revealed by the mother. Hermes speculates that their current mission might be linked to these events. He recounts legends of a sealed monster named "Antares" from the Elsus Ruin, which has recently begun to regain its strength. He mentions that he and Artemis allied to defeat it, emphasizing the spear’s pivotal role in this endeavor. Hestia and Artemis find themselves deep in conversation about their feelings for Bell, with Artemis cryptically referencing past events with her Familia, while Hestia notes the significant changes she has undergone.

The next morning brings danger as the team nears their goal only to be ambushed by a barrage of light spears that force them to crash land into a desolate forest. Surrounded by a swarm of monsters, they are saved by Ryuu Lyon, who is part of Hermes' Familia, waiting for his return. Asfi explains the dire situation: monsters have ravaged the vicinity, blocking their path to Antares.

That night, as a comic relief, Hermes and the boys attempt to eavesdrop on the women during their bath, failing miserably. Amidst the chaos, Bell finds himself alone with Artemis, leading to an intimate conversation about their relationships and what Bell aspires to achieve. Their interaction culminates in a tender dance, where Artemis reminisces about the promise of romantic experiences the gods expected when they descended to Earth many thousands of years ago.

With a plan forming for their impending battle, the group strategizes, assigning Hermes' Familia as decoys while Artemis, Hermes, Bell, and the others launch their offensive into the ruins. They successfully navigate through the gate, courtesy of Artemis, but quickly find themselves overwhelmed by monsters that exhibit self-regenerative capabilities. Meanwhile, back in Orario, chaos ensues as dungeon creatures begin to act out violently, prompting the Guild to summon first-class adventurers to restore order.

Finally, Artemis’ group confronts Antares only to discover that its core contains the crystallized body of Artemis herself. Hermes uncovers that the Artemis traveling with them was merely a fragment of her original self. Having absorbed the fragment, Antares gains her divine power and unleashes catastrophic attacks, igniting what appears to be a second moon – a manifestation of an Arcanum spell known as "Artemis' Arrow." The Loki Familia and the Freya Familia galvanize efforts to fend off the irate monsters threatening to break free from the confines of the Dungeon.

Hermes further reveals the spear to be an arrow named "Orion," crafted by Artemis and capable of slaying gods. Asfi realizes the gravity of Bell's task: he is required to defeat Artemis. Bell rises to the challenge against Antares using only his Hestia Knife and Firebolt, but the formidable beast’s regenerative abilities prove daunting. Just then, the fragment of Artemis intervenes, thwarting an attack in an act of sacrifice before disappearing. Stricken with despair, Bell finds his resolve after hearing Hestia's anguished cries to save Artemis. Harnessing the power of Orion combined with his Argonaut skill, Bell slays Antares and utilizes his Hestia Knife to break the crystal encasing Artemis, ultimately piercing her heart.

An apparition of Artemis manifests before Bell, revealing that even gods have the capacity to reincarnate, though the timing remains uncertain. She expresses her hope that their next encounter will yield the long-awaited romance foretold by the gods. In the physical realm, as Antares disintegrates, the Arcanum spell dissipates, restoring peace to the monsters wreaking havoc in Orario. Outside the ruins, a somber yet relieved Bell finds consolation in Hestia's words, acknowledging that his courageous act not only saved Artemis but also rejuvenated the surrounding forest. Together with Hestia, they regroup with their companions and prepare to return home, richer in experience and friendship.

Last updated: September 18, 2026 at 08:59

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Plot questions answered

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Artemis choose Bell Cranel for the quest instead of stronger adventurers?

Artemis chose Bell because the spear embedded in the crystal, named Orion, selected him when he touched it. The selection signified a pure heart rather than combat experience, which surprised everyone since renowned adventurers like Ais Wallenstein were available. Artemis needed someone whose intentions were untainted by ambition, as the true nature of her mission required moral clarity over raw strength.

Foreshadowing: Hermes notes early that Artemis was looking for someone 'unusual,' hinting that conventional power was not what she needed.

  • artemis
  • bell cranel
  • orion spear
  • pure heart
  • quest
Q2

What is the Orion spear and what makes it special?

The Orion spear is actually an arrow crafted by Artemis herself, and according to Hermes, it is capable of slaying gods. Its power extends far beyond that of a normal weapon, which is why Bell is repeatedly warned not to use it recklessly. It becomes the only tool capable of destroying Antares once the monster absorbs Artemis's divine essence.

  • orion spear
  • divine weapon
  • artemis
  • slaying gods
Q3

Why was the Artemis traveling with Bell only a fragment of her true self?

Hermes reveals during the final confrontation that Artemis had been absorbed by Antares long before the events of the film, with her original body crystallized inside the monster. The Artemis who accompanied Bell was a fragment of her former self, carrying memories and a portion of her power but not her full divine essence. This explains why Antares gains such overwhelming strength once the fragment reunites with its core.

Foreshadowing: Artemis's unusually calm demeanor and cryptic references to past events hint that she is incomplete.

  • artemis fragment
  • antares
  • crystallized body
  • divine essence
Q4

What did the group find inside Antares when they finally confronted it?

When Artemis's group breached Antares in the Elsus Ruin, they discovered that the monster's core contained the crystallized body of Artemis herself. This revelation transformed the mission from a simple monster hunt into a rescue operation, and the crystallized Artemis is what Antares uses as a power source to fuel its devastating Arcanum attack.

Foreshadowing: The legends of Antares describe it as something that absorbs divine power, hinting that it had already taken a god.

  • antares core
  • crystallized artemis
  • elsus ruin
  • divine power
Q5

Why does Bell have to kill Artemis to save Orario?

Bell's task is not to kill Artemis out of malice but to destroy Antares, which now uses her crystallized body as its heart. Asfi realizes the implication only after the battle begins: the only way to end the Arcanum spell and the monster rampage is to shatter the crystal housing Artemis, which means piercing her heart. It is a sacrifice built into the mechanism of the curse.

  • bell kills artemis
  • crystallized body
  • sacrifice
  • arcanum spell
Q6

What caused the second moon to appear in the sky during the final battle?

The second moon is a manifestation of an Arcanum spell called 'Artemis' Arrow,' unleashed by Antares after it absorbs the fragment of Artemis. Because the monster now wields divine-grade power, it can fire an attack so massive that it mirrors a celestial body in the sky. Loki Familia and Freya Familia respond to this threat by defending Orario from the monsters escaping the Dungeon in response to the spell.

Foreshadowing: Hermes warns that an Arcanum is the most dangerous class of spell, foreshadowing the catastrophic scale to come.

  • second moon
  • arcanum spell
  • artemis arrow
  • antares attack
Q7

How does Bell finally manage to defeat Antares?

Bell initially struggles because Antares regenerates from any damage Bell inflicts with Firebolt or the Hestia Knife. After the Artemis fragment sacrifices herself to block a fatal attack, Bell hears Hestia's anguished voice pleading with him to save Artemis. Channeling that resolve through his Argonaut skill combined with the full power of the Orion spear, Bell delivers a single decisive strike that kills Antares and shatters the crystal encasing Artemis.

Foreshadowing: Bell's Argonaut skill is described earlier as a power tied to his will and heroic resolve.

  • bell defeats antares
  • argonaut
  • orion spear
  • hestia knife
Q8

Why did the Artemis fragment sacrifice herself during the fight against Antares?

The fragment of Artemis intervenes at the moment Antares is about to deliver a killing blow to Bell, absorbing the attack and disintegrating in the process. Having already lost her original body to the monster, the fragment uses the last of her existence to protect the one person capable of finishing the fight. Her sacrifice is what gives Bell the opening he needs to strike Antares down.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Artemis tells Bell she has things she must protect, foreshadowing her willingness to give everything for the mission.

  • artemis sacrifice
  • fragment
  • antares battle
  • protect bell
Q9

Do gods reincarnate in the world of DanMachi after they die?

Artemis's apparition at the end of the film reveals that even gods have the capacity to reincarnate, though the timing remains unknown. This is why the film treats her 'death' as bittersweet rather than final, since both she and Bell hold onto the hope of meeting again in another life. The reincarnation mechanic reflects the franchise's broader themes of enduring connection beyond a single lifetime.

  • gods reincarnate
  • artemis death
  • danmachi lore
  • reincarnation
Q10

Why were the monsters in Orario's Dungeon going berserk at the same time as the Antares battle?

The violence erupting in Orario is a direct reaction to Antares unleashing the Arcanum spell 'Artemis' Arrow.' Because Antares is one of the Dungeon creatures, its catastrophic release of divine power resonates through the entire ecosystem beneath the city, causing lower-level monsters to surge upward. Loki Familia and Freya Familia are mobilized specifically to contain this overflow while Bell's group fights in the ruins.

Foreshadowing: Hermes earlier connects the spreading monster outbreaks to Antares regaining strength.

  • orario monsters
  • dungeon chaos
  • arcanum spell
  • antares
Q11

What is Antares and why was it sealed in the Elsus Ruin?

Antares is a legendary monster sealed deep within the Elsus Ruin because of its unique ability to absorb and weaponize divine power. According to Hermes, the monster had begun regaining its strength recently, which explains the surge in monster activity across the region. Artemis and Hermes originally allied knowing that the Orion spear was the only weapon capable of ending Antares permanently.

  • antares
  • elsus ruin
  • sealed monster
  • divine power
Q12

Why does Bell pierce Artemis's heart with the Hestia Knife at the end?

Antares cannot be killed without also destroying the crystallized body of Artemis, because the crystal serves as the monster's core. After the Orion spear destroys Antares itself, Bell uses the Hestia Knife specifically because its divine connection allows him to break the crystal without shattering Artemis's soul beyond recovery. The act is meant to free her essence, not to destroy her.

Foreshadowing: The Hestia Knife is introduced earlier as a tool with unique divine properties tied to Bell's goddess.

  • hestia knife
  • crystallized artemis
  • bell pierce heart
  • free artemis
Q13

Why does Artemis call Bell her 'Orion'?

Artemis refers to Bell as 'Orion' because the spear he pulled from the crystal shares the name of the mythological hunter who was her companion in ancient legend. The nickname signifies that Bell is her chosen champion and spiritual counterpart on this quest, mirroring the bond between the goddess and the hunter in divine myth. It also explains why the weapon itself is named Orion rather than being a generic divine spear.

  • artemis nickname
  • orion
  • mythological hunter
  • chosen champion
Q14

What happens to Artemis after Bell breaks the crystal encasing her?

Once Bell pierces the crystal and destroys Antares, Artemis's physical form dissolves along with the monster, leaving only a spiritual apparition behind. The apparition delivers her farewell to Bell, expresses hope that they will meet again through reincarnation, and then vanishes. In the living world, the Arcanum spell collapses, the forest around the ruins rejuvenates, and Bell returns to Orario carrying the weight of her sacrifice.

  • artemis farewell
  • crystal shattered
  • reincarnation
  • forest rejuvenates

Movie threads

More Movies Like Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bittersweet heroic endings like in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion

Heroes triumph, but victory carries a heavy, unforgettable price. Discover movies like Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion where heroes earn their victories through painful sacrifice. These similar fantasy adventures deliver triumphant finales tempered by meaningful loss, hopeful closure mixed with quiet grief, and stories where saving the world means losing something irreplaceable.

  • bittersweet
  • heroic
  • sacrifice
  • triumphant loss
  • mournful hope
  • farewell
  • Tone: bittersweet, heroic, mournful
  • Pacing: variable, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A clear heroic quest builds toward a decisive battle against overwhelming odds. The hero, often guided or emotionally bonded with a powerful ally, pushes past their limits and wins. But the climactic victory coincides with the death, fading, or transformation of a beloved figure. The final act reframes the loss as hopeful through reincarnation, divine legacy, or spiritual continuation, so the ending feels triumphant and mournful in equal measure rather than purely triumphant or purely tragic.

Why they belong together: They share a specific emotional math: the bigger the win, the heavier the goodbye. Pacing escalates into high-stakes combat, intensity peaks during the sacrifice scene, and the finale deliberately softens the blow without erasing it. These are films for viewers who want catharsis with tears, where victory is real but never clean.

Mythic fantasy adventures with novice heroes like in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion

Ordinary adventurers chosen by gods for impossible quests in vivid fantasy realms. Explore movies like Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion featuring young adventurers chosen by gods for impossible quests. These similar fantasy films blend divine bonds, monster hunting, ancient weapons, and coming-of-age journeys in vivid mythic worlds where ordinary heroes rise to extraordinary challenges.

  • mythic
  • chosen one
  • divine bond
  • monster hunting
  • coming of age
  • adventurous
  • Tone: whimsical, heroic, mythic
  • Pacing: variable, adventure-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: A seemingly ordinary or underdog adventurer is unexpectedly chosen by a powerful divine figure for a quest that seasoned veterans were expected to handle. The hero travels with companions, faces escalating monster threats, and uncovers ancient lore about divine weapons, forgotten relics, or cosmic enemies. Along the way, relationships with gods, fellow adventurers, and romantic interests deepen. The story culminates in a confrontation tied to mythic stakes, often involving a fragment, relic, or reincarnated foe that demands everything the hero has become.

Why they belong together: They share a distinctive world architecture: bustling fantasy cities, dungeon-like battlegrounds, gods who personally invest in mortal heroes, and quest structures built around divine favor rather than political intrigue. The tone mixes whimsical party dynamics and light romance with mythic gravitas, and the protagonist's growth is measured as much by the bonds they form as by the monsters they slay.

Every angle

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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