The Legendary Hero Is Dead!

The Legendary Hero Is Dead! (勇者が死んだ! 村人の俺が掘った落とし穴に勇者が落ちた結果.) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Subaruichi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app from December 2014 to December 2020, with its chapters collected into twenty tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by Liden Films aired from April to June 2023.

Premise
Sion Bladen sealed away the Demon King and his army at Hell's Gate. Now, with the Demon King ready to rise again, Sion jumps back into battle to face his sworn enemy. Unfortunately, he ends up getting killed in a pit trap dug by farmer Touka Scott who was trying to defend himself from the demons. With no other option, necromancer Anri Haysworth puts Touka's perverted soul in the deceased body of Sion to pose as him. Along with Touka's childhood friend Yuna Eunice, the three mismatched heroes must rise to the challenge, and seal the Gates of Hell.

Characters

 * Touka Scott (トウカ・スコット)
 * An ordinary farmer who was forced to pose as the Hero Sion after his pig trap accidentally killed the Hero. His soul was extracted and put in Sion's corpse as a result, until he actually became the next hero.
 * An ordinary farmer who was forced to pose as the Hero Sion after his pig trap accidentally killed the Hero. His soul was extracted and put in Sion's corpse as a result, until he actually became the next hero.


 * Sion Bladan (シオン・ブレイダン)
 * The hero whose accidental death forces the necromancer Anri to extract Touka's soul and put it in his body. It was eventually revealed that his death was suicide due to massive trauma throughout his journey, and committed the worst crime by incompletely sealing the Gates of Hell to save Anri.
 * The hero whose accidental death forces the necromancer Anri to extract Touka's soul and put it in his body. It was eventually revealed that his death was suicide due to massive trauma throughout his journey, and committed the worst crime by incompletely sealing the Gates of Hell to save Anri.


 * Anri Haysworth (アンリ・ヘイズワース)
 * The snot-nosed necromancer partner of Sion Bladan, hailing from a necromancer clan whose ancestors were humans trapped into the Demon world. She used her power to extract Touka Scott's soul and put it in Sion's corpse.
 * The snot-nosed necromancer partner of Sion Bladan, hailing from a necromancer clan whose ancestors were humans trapped into the Demon world. She used her power to extract Touka Scott's soul and put it in Sion's corpse.


 * Yuna Eunice (ユナ・ユニス)
 * Touka's childhood friend, who dreamed of being a mage, but her superhuman strength and absence of magical abilities frustrated her. Initially she had feelings for Sion, as she constantly criticized Touka, later, she is now in love with the latter, but due to the results of her past mistreatment, Touka never acknowledged it, which she immediately regrets.
 * Touka's childhood friend, who dreamed of being a mage, but her superhuman strength and absence of magical abilities frustrated her. Initially she had feelings for Sion, as she constantly criticized Touka, later, she is now in love with the latter, but due to the results of her past mistreatment, Touka never acknowledged it, which she immediately regrets.


 * Marguerit Farom (マルグリット・ファロム)
 * A princess who develops feelings for Touka, serving as Yuna's love rival.
 * A princess who develops feelings for Touka, serving as Yuna's love rival.


 * Kyle Osment (カイル・オズメント)
 * Sion's former partner, who tries to get Sion's body for himself.
 * Sion's former partner, who tries to get Sion's body for himself.


 * Millie Eunice (ミリィ・ユニス)
 * Yuna's younger sister.
 * Yuna's younger sister.


 * Ethel Borgnine (エセル・ボーグナイン)
 * A warrior who helps Touka on his journey.
 * A warrior who helps Touka on his journey.


 * Belarco (ベラーコ)
 * A spearman who also aids Touka on his journey.
 * A spearman who also aids Touka on his journey.


 * Isaac Gardner (アイザック・ガードナー)
 * Marguerit's tutor.
 * Marguerit's tutor.


 * Leland Tallman (リーランド・トールマン)
 * A mad scientist who possesses X-ray vision. He plotted to create an army of undead skeletons made from people.
 * A mad scientist who possesses X-ray vision. He plotted to create an army of undead skeletons made from people.


 * Friedrich Norstein (フリードリヒ・ノルシュテイン)
 * A necromancer who despises humans.
 * A necromancer who despises humans.


 * Diego Valentine (ディエゴ・ヴァレンタイン)
 * A necromancer who despises humans.
 * A necromancer who despises humans.

Manga
Written and illustrated by Subaruichi, The Legendary Hero Is Dead! was serialized in Shogakukan's Ura Sunday website and MangaONE app from December 16, 2014, to December 14, 2020. Twenty tankōbon volumes have been published from May 2015 to March 2021. In Southeast Asia, the series is licensed by Shogakukan Asia.

A sequel titled Yūsha ga Shinda! Kami no Kuni-hen (勇者が死んだ！ 神の国編) began serialization in the MangaONE app on May 9, 2022. The first volume was published in March 2023.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on April 28, 2022. It is produced by Liden Films and directed by Rion Kujo, with scripts supervised by Yū Satō, character designs by Yosuke Yabumoto, monster and prop designs by Akito Fujiwara, and music composed by Kana Utatane, Yūki Nara, Yamazo, and MOKA☆, a group composed of Kayo Konishi and Yukio Kondо̄. The series aired from April 7 to June 23, 2023, on Tokyo MX and BS11. The opening theme song is "Shinda!" (死んだ！) by Masayoshi Ōishi, while the ending theme song is "Kawaikutte Ijiwaru Shichau" (可愛くって意地悪しちゃう) by Yurika Kubo. The series has been licensed by Crunchyroll outside Asia, and by Muse Communication in South- and Southeast Asia.