Dances with the Dragons

Dances with the Dragons (されど罪人は竜と踊る Dances with the Dragons) is a Japanese light novel series, written by Labo Asai and illustrated by Miyagi, who was later replaced by Zain. It was originally published as Saredo Tsumibito wa Ryū to Odoru (されど罪人は竜と踊る) by Kadokawa Shoten, who released eight volumes between 2003 and 2006 under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. It switched publishers in 2008 to Shogakukan, who have published twenty-four volumes as of February 2023. A manga adaptation of the original series with art by Yaku Haibara was serialized in Kadokawa's Beans Ace magazine. It was collected in a single tankōbon volume. An anime television series adaptation animated by Seven Arcs Pictures aired from April 5 to June 21, 2018.

Synopsis
A long time ago, dragons were the only creatures capable of wielding magic, which they used to terrorize humanity, until humanity learned to channel magic through special formulas and spells called "jushiiki". Those capable of using jushiiki became known as jushikiists, and became crucial in fighting dragons throughout the years, until a peace treaty was enforced to prevent both races from wiping each other out. In the modern day, Gayus and Gigina are two jushikiists who take special jobs from a variety of clients in the city of Eridana.

Characters

 * Gayus Levina Sorel (ガユス・レヴィナ・ソレル)
 * A deductive and intellectual jushiikist who constantly worries about his financial state and his relationship with his girlfriend Jivunya. He lost his sister Aleciel when he was younger, which motivated his jushiikist training.
 * A deductive and intellectual jushiikist who constantly worries about his financial state and his relationship with his girlfriend Jivunya. He lost his sister Aleciel when he was younger, which motivated his jushiikist training.


 * Gigina Jerde Dolk Melios Ashley Boeuf (ギギナ・ジャーディ・ドルク・メレイオス・アシュレイ・ブフ)
 * Gayus' partner and a jushiikist hailing from the Drake culture, which emphasizes glory and honor in battle. Gigina enjoys fighting and spending money in frivolous things, such as excessive furniture, which frustrates Gayus to no end.
 * Gayus' partner and a jushiikist hailing from the Drake culture, which emphasizes glory and honor in battle. Gigina enjoys fighting and spending money in frivolous things, such as excessive furniture, which frustrates Gayus to no end.


 * Jivunya Lorezzo (ジヴーニャ・ロレッツォ)
 * Gayus' girlfriend. An Arlian born amongst humans, she has blonde hair, and fair skin. She constantly worries for Gayus, especially whenever he gets injured.
 * Gayus' girlfriend. An Arlian born amongst humans, she has blonde hair, and fair skin. She constantly worries for Gayus, especially whenever he gets injured.


 * Nidvolk (ニドヴォルク)
 * The mate of Eningiluud, the black dragon Gayus and Gigina kill on a mission. Seeking revenge on her mate's killers, she assumes a human form and kills several jushikiists across Eridana and eventually confronts Gayus and Gigina, who barely manage to kill her.
 * The mate of Eningiluud, the black dragon Gayus and Gigina kill on a mission. Seeking revenge on her mate's killers, she assumes a human form and kills several jushikiists across Eridana and eventually confronts Gayus and Gigina, who barely manage to kill her.


 * Mordin Orjes Gyunei (モルディーン・オージェス・ギュネイ)
 * A high-ranking politician dedicated to maintaining peace between humans and dragons, which leads him to use pragmatic and ruthless methods to uphold said peace.
 * A high-ranking politician dedicated to maintaining peace between humans and dragons, which leads him to use pragmatic and ruthless methods to uphold said peace.


 * Yorkan (ヨーカーン)
 * An androgynous jushiikist working as one of Mordin's generals.
 * An androgynous jushiikist working as one of Mordin's generals.


 * Curaso Opt Koga (キュラソー・オプト・コウガ)


 * Jesper Livy Raki (イェスパー・リヴェ・ラキ)
 * One of Mordin's generals and Berdrit's older brother.
 * One of Mordin's generals and Berdrit's older brother.


 * Berdrit Livy Raki (ベルドリト・リヴェ・ラキ)
 * One of Mordin's generals and Jesper's younger brother.
 * One of Mordin's generals and Jesper's younger brother.


 * Genon Cull Darius (ジェノン・カル・ダリウス)


 * Herodel (ヘロデル)


 * Arzel (アーゼル)
 * A journalist and acquaintance of Gayus.
 * A journalist and acquaintance of Gayus.


 * Maslow Gossum (マズローゴッサム)


 * Largonquin Bathcark (ラルゴンキン・バスカーク)


 * Javeira Gofe Zutcliff (ジャベイラ・ゴーフ・ザトクリフ)


 * Īgī Dorie (イーギー・ドリイエ)


 * Yākutō Pedimete (ヤークトー・ペジメテ)


 * Remedius (レメディウス)


 * Zuo rū (ズオ・ルー)


 * Amupura (アムプーラ)

Anime
An anime television series adaptation animated by Seven Arcs Pictures was originally scheduled to air starting on October 5, 2017 on TBS. However, due to production issues, the anime's premiere was delayed until April 5, 2018 on TBS, and later on April 14, 2018 on BS-TBS. Hiroshi Nishikori serves as chief director of the series, Hirokazu Hanai directing the series, with Takayo Ikami in charge of series composition and Masaru Kitao designed the characters. fripSide performed the opening theme song "divine criminal", and Maon Kurosaki performed the ending theme song "décadence" (-デカダンス-). The series ran for 12 episodes. Crunchyroll streamed the series.