Banished from the Hero's Party

Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside (真の仲間じゃないと勇者のパーティーを追い出されたので、辺境でスローライフすることにしました) is a Japanese light novel series written by Zappon and illustrated by Yasumo. It began serialization online in October 2017 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who have published the series since June 2018 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint.

A manga adaptation with art by Masahiro Ikeno has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Ace since May 2018. Both the light novel and manga are licensed in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series adaptation produced by Wolfsbane and Studio Flad aired from October to December 2021. A second season by Studio Flad aired from January to March 2024.

Synopsis
In a world whose inhabitants find their destinies dictated by the Divine Blessings they receive upon birth, Gideon Ragnason was a member of the Hero's Party, a powerful group led by his sister Ruti destined to save the world from evil. His Blessing gave him the common ability to survive any terrain, and he proves that additional skills can go beyond the limit. That is, until one day, Ares, the Party's second-in-command, considers him a dead weight to the party members and banishes him from the group. Gideon heeds Ares' words and leaves without telling Ruti.

Hoping to live an easy life on the frontier, Gideon moves to a borderland town and opens an apothecary, changing his name to Red. However, keeping his former status a secret may not be as simple as he thinks, especially when Rit, a beautiful young adventurer and his previous crush, shows up and asks to move in with him!

Characters

 * Red (レッド) / Gideon Ragnason (ギディーオン・ラグナソン)
 * Red is an apothecary residing in the town of Zoltan. His real name is Gideon Ragnason, formerly known as a knight and member of The Hero's Party, who was banished from the group for "being a liability". His Divine Blessing is "Guide", which gives him the ability to survive in any terrain and is important for his knowledge of herbs. To be more useful to his party members, he has learned a number of additional skills beyond the limits of his Blessing; in times of need, he proves to be a skilled combatant, tactician, and leader. Reserved and humble, but with a noble heart, he was much beloved by most of his party, and his leaving has caused much resentment against Ares, who facilitated his resignation. He runs his apothecary shop in Zoltan with his beautiful wife, Rit, who is a former adventurer and princess of Loggervia, whom he fell in love with at first sight, and only grew closer to her. During Season 2, he is now living with most of his old friends including his sister Ruti.
 * Red is an apothecary residing in the town of Zoltan. His real name is Gideon Ragnason, formerly known as a knight and member of The Hero's Party, who was banished from the group for "being a liability". His Divine Blessing is "Guide", which gives him the ability to survive in any terrain and is important for his knowledge of herbs. To be more useful to his party members, he has learned a number of additional skills beyond the limits of his Blessing; in times of need, he proves to be a skilled combatant, tactician, and leader. Reserved and humble, but with a noble heart, he was much beloved by most of his party, and his leaving has caused much resentment against Ares, who facilitated his resignation. He runs his apothecary shop in Zoltan with his beautiful wife, Rit, who is a former adventurer and princess of Loggervia, whom he fell in love with at first sight, and only grew closer to her. During Season 2, he is now living with most of his old friends including his sister Ruti.


 * Rit (リット) / Rizlet of Loggervia (リーズリット・オブ・ロガーヴィア)
 * Rit is a beautiful young B-ranked adventurer and Red's wife, who resides with Red in his home beside the apothecary shop he runs. She is the princess of the Duchy of Loggervia, a military power. She actually came to live with Red both to escape a power struggle within her family, and because she has developed a crush on him while they worked together for a time before his retirement. Her Divine Blessing is "Spirit Scout". Her weapons of choice are two miniature shotels, one on each hip in custom scabbards.
 * Rit is a beautiful young B-ranked adventurer and Red's wife, who resides with Red in his home beside the apothecary shop he runs. She is the princess of the Duchy of Loggervia, a military power. She actually came to live with Red both to escape a power struggle within her family, and because she has developed a crush on him while they worked together for a time before his retirement. Her Divine Blessing is "Spirit Scout". Her weapons of choice are two miniature shotels, one on each hip in custom scabbards.


 * Ruti Ragnason (ルーティ・ラグナソン)
 * Ruti is a powerful but emotionless girl and Red's younger sister, who happens to be the Hero. The Party she leads is the major thorn in the side of The Demon Lord's Army. Her Hero's Blessing bestows her with incredible resistance to physical discomforts; however, it also makes her indifferent to emotional extremes. Due to this, her love for her brother is Ruti's most important anchor, and she misses him terribly after Ares' scheming drove him away. As a result, she begins fighting her Blessing in order to be reunited with Gideon. She eventually develops a new Blessing called "New Truth", which has the ability to control and dominate other Blessings; eliminating her Hero Blessing's negative effects and giving Ruti her self back. While Ruti becomes close friends with Rit, and genuinely likes and accepts her as her sister-in-law, she has an extreme brother complex for Red. After deciding to abandon her role as "The Hero", Ruti and Tisse have started an herb farm in Zoltan, that will eventually supply Red and Rit's apothecary, as well as sell to others in the area.  Despite wanting to lead a quiet life in Zoltan, and hide her former Hero status, Ruti often demonstrates her OP abilities while performing simple tasks, much to Tisse's chagrin.
 * Ruti is a powerful but emotionless girl and Red's younger sister, who happens to be the Hero. The Party she leads is the major thorn in the side of The Demon Lord's Army. Her Hero's Blessing bestows her with incredible resistance to physical discomforts; however, it also makes her indifferent to emotional extremes. Due to this, her love for her brother is Ruti's most important anchor, and she misses him terribly after Ares' scheming drove him away. As a result, she begins fighting her Blessing in order to be reunited with Gideon. She eventually develops a new Blessing called "New Truth", which has the ability to control and dominate other Blessings; eliminating her Hero Blessing's negative effects and giving Ruti her self back. While Ruti becomes close friends with Rit, and genuinely likes and accepts her as her sister-in-law, she has an extreme brother complex for Red. After deciding to abandon her role as "The Hero", Ruti and Tisse have started an herb farm in Zoltan, that will eventually supply Red and Rit's apothecary, as well as sell to others in the area.  Despite wanting to lead a quiet life in Zoltan, and hide her former Hero status, Ruti often demonstrates her OP abilities while performing simple tasks, much to Tisse's chagrin.


 * Yarandrala (ヤランドララ)
 * Yarandrala is a former comrade of Red's who is still on good terms with him. She is a beautiful high elf with the Divine Blessing of "Forest Speaker", which allows her to talk to and control plants. She was the first to leave the Hero's Party in outrage over Ares' scheme driving Red away. Initially, a jealous Rit mistakes Yarandrala for Red's lover when she sees them hugging each other during their reunion. However, as the girls become more friendly, Yarandrala tells Rit that she only ever saw Red as a close friend, not as a lover, and encourages Rit to accept her true feelings for Red and confess to him. During Season 2, she has moved to Zoltan after reuniting with Rit and Red.
 * Yarandrala is a former comrade of Red's who is still on good terms with him. She is a beautiful high elf with the Divine Blessing of "Forest Speaker", which allows her to talk to and control plants. She was the first to leave the Hero's Party in outrage over Ares' scheme driving Red away. Initially, a jealous Rit mistakes Yarandrala for Red's lover when she sees them hugging each other during their reunion. However, as the girls become more friendly, Yarandrala tells Rit that she only ever saw Red as a close friend, not as a lover, and encourages Rit to accept her true feelings for Red and confess to him. During Season 2, she has moved to Zoltan after reuniting with Rit and Red.


 * Ares Srowa (アレス・スロワ)
 * Ares is a psychotic mage with the Divine Blessing of "Wise Man". His duty is being the second-in-command of The Hero's Party, but develops a dangerous obsession with Ruti early on. He is responsible for banishing Gideon/Red from the party because he is obsessively jealous of Gideon's personal closeness to Ruti. The entire reason Ares was even in the party was the delusional plan to marry Ruti once she won, in order to gain noble status. When Ruti leaves to find Red, he does all he can to stop her while slowly losing his sanity and refusing to acknowledge his own flaws. In the end, he betrays the Heroes’ Party and aligns with a demon to kill Red, but their fight ends with his name tarnished and his death at Red's hands.
 * Ares is a psychotic mage with the Divine Blessing of "Wise Man". His duty is being the second-in-command of The Hero's Party, but develops a dangerous obsession with Ruti early on. He is responsible for banishing Gideon/Red from the party because he is obsessively jealous of Gideon's personal closeness to Ruti. The entire reason Ares was even in the party was the delusional plan to marry Ruti once she won, in order to gain noble status. When Ruti leaves to find Red, he does all he can to stop her while slowly losing his sanity and refusing to acknowledge his own flaws. In the end, he betrays the Heroes’ Party and aligns with a demon to kill Red, but their fight ends with his name tarnished and his death at Red's hands.


 * Albert Leland (アルベール・リーランド)
 * Albert is a former comrade of Red's with an attitude who now lives in Zoltan. He has the Divine Blessing of "The Champion", which pushes him into an obsession to succeed. His greatest ambition is to become a member of The Hero's Party.
 * Albert is a former comrade of Red's with an attitude who now lives in Zoltan. He has the Divine Blessing of "The Champion", which pushes him into an obsession to succeed. His greatest ambition is to become a member of The Hero's Party.


 * Gonz (ゴンズ)
 * Gonzu is a half-elf and a close friend of Red's. He is also a carpenter by trade. He lives with his sister and her family very close to Red's house/shop.
 * Gonzu is a half-elf and a close friend of Red's. He is also a carpenter by trade. He lives with his sister and her family very close to Red's house/shop.


 * Nao Stow (ナオ・ストー)
 * Nao is a half-elf and Gonz's sister. She is married to Mido and is Tanta's mother.
 * Nao is a half-elf and Gonz's sister. She is married to Mido and is Tanta's mother.


 * Mido (ミド)
 * Mido is a human and is married to Nao. He helps his brother-in-law Gonz with his carpentry business.
 * Mido is a human and is married to Nao. He helps his brother-in-law Gonz with his carpentry business.


 * Tanta Stow (ターンター・ストー)
 * Nao and Mido's son, Gonz's nephew and is a friend of Red's.
 * Nao and Mido's son, Gonz's nephew and is a friend of Red's.


 * Megria (メグリア)
 * The clerk at Zoltan's Adventurers Guild.
 * The clerk at Zoltan's Adventurers Guild.


 * Dir (ディル)
 * An adventurer from Loggervia that can use fire magic.
 * An adventurer from Loggervia that can use fire magic.


 * Newman Winters (ニューマン・ウィンターズ)
 * One of the local doctors that do business with Red.
 * One of the local doctors that do business with Red.


 * Stormthunder (ストームサンダー)
 * Zoltan's resident furniture shopkeeper and a goblin with the Divine Blessing of a "Craftsman". He has a bit of a beef with Red for haggling with him over the cheapest bed in the shop.
 * Zoltan's resident furniture shopkeeper and a goblin with the Divine Blessing of a "Craftsman". He has a bit of a beef with Red for haggling with him over the cheapest bed in the shop.


 * Danan LeBeau (ダナン・レボー)
 * Danan is a member of The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Martial Arts". He knows the reason why Ares banished Gideon from the party.
 * Danan is a member of The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Martial Arts". He knows the reason why Ares banished Gideon from the party.


 * Theodora Dephilo (テオドラ・デフィロー)
 * Theodora is a member of The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Crusader".
 * Theodora is a member of The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Crusader".


 * Tisse Garland (ティセ・ガーランド)
 * Tisse is the newest member and Gideon's replacement in The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Assassin". She is accompanied by her pet spider Mister Crawly Wawly. Contrary to her skill, she is shy and has trouble making friends; leading to her and Ruti being besties.
 * Tisse is the newest member and Gideon's replacement in The Hero's Party, gifted with the Divine Blessings of the "Assassin". She is accompanied by her pet spider Mister Crawly Wawly. Contrary to her skill, she is shy and has trouble making friends; leading to her and Ruti being besties.


 * Van (ヴァン)
 * Van is the new bearer of the Hero's Blessing after Ruti rejected her role. He is incredibly egotistical and sees the world in black and white, believing anyone who does not conform to his standards must die.
 * Van is the new bearer of the Hero's Blessing after Ruti rejected her role. He is incredibly egotistical and sees the world in black and white, believing anyone who does not conform to his standards must die.


 * Lavender (ラベンダ)


 * Cardinal Lub (リュブ枢機卿)


 * Esther (エスタ)


 * Godwin (ゴドウィン)
 * Godwin was an alchemist operating in and around Zoltan. An associate of Bighawk and the Thieves Guild, he was the one who created and perfected the Devil's Blessing. Originally a minor antagonist, his role slowly expands into that of a supporting character over time.
 * Godwin was an alchemist operating in and around Zoltan. An associate of Bighawk and the Thieves Guild, he was the one who created and perfected the Devil's Blessing. Originally a minor antagonist, his role slowly expands into that of a supporting character over time.


 * Mystorm (ミストーム)
 * Mystorm is former mayor of Zoltan, who is respected by the guild executives. She is a top-class magician, and even after retiring from active duty, it is rumored that she can claim to be Zoltan's strongest. Placing the peace of the town above all else, they also carry out support activities for children who have no relatives.
 * Mystorm is former mayor of Zoltan, who is respected by the guild executives. She is a top-class magician, and even after retiring from active duty, it is rumored that she can claim to be Zoltan's strongest. Placing the peace of the town above all else, they also carry out support activities for children who have no relatives.


 * Mogrim (モグリム)


 * Ademi (アデミ)

Light novels
Series is written by Zappon and illustrated by Yasumo. It began serialization online in October 2017 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Kadokawa Shoten, who have published fourteen volumes since June 2018 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. The series is set to end with the release of its fifteenth volume. The light novel series is licensed in North America by Yen Press.

Manga
A manga adaptation with art by Masahiro Ikeno has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Ace since May 2018. It has been collected in twelve tankōbon volumes as of December 2023. The manga series is also licensed in North America by Yen Press.

A spin-off manga illustrated by Mutsuki Higashioji and centering around Rit, titled Rejected by the Hero's Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside (真の仲間になれなかったお姫様は、辺境でスローライフすることにしました), began serialization on Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace Plus website on October 20, 2021. The spin-off is also licensed in North America by Yen Press.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 17, 2020. The series is animated by Wolfsbane and Studio Flad and directed by Makoto Hoshino, with Megumi Shimizu handling the series' scripts, Ruriko Watanabe designing the characters, and Yukari Hashimoto composing the music. The series marked the first time Ryōta Suzuki had been cast in a leading voice role. It was originally scheduled to premiere in July 2021, but was delayed to October 2021 due to "various circumstances", and eventually aired from October 6 to December 29, 2021, on AT-X and other networks. The opening theme song is "Iki o Sū Koko de Sū Ikiteku" (息を吸う ここで吸う 生きてく, "Beautiful Day") by Yui Nishio, while the ending theme song is "Minna Onaji" (みんなおなじ, "All the Same") by JYOCHO. Funimation licensed the series outside of Asia. On October 19, 2021, Funimation announced that the series would receive an English dub, which premiered the following day.

A second season was announced on October 31, 2022. It will be directed by Satoshi Takafuji, with Makoto Hoshino serving as chief director, and Studio Flad returning as the production studio. The second season aired from January 7 to March 24, 2024. The opening theme song is "routine life", again performed by Yui Nishio, while the ending theme song is "Michibiki, Sasagete" (導き、捧げて, "Guide and Devote"), again performed by JYOCHO.

Reception
The light novel series has over 1,000,000 copies in print as of November 2020, when the anime adaptation was announced.