WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 3, Episode 9, "Stigma | Downfall," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Despite Wiene’s miraculous revival and the Xenos’ escape -- thanks to the efforts of the Hermes Familia -- things aren't looking very good for DanMachi’s heroes. With only a handful of episodes left, time is running out for the misunderstood creatures as the Loki Familia closes in on them.
Episode 9 of Season 3 opens up on Ikelos being banished from Orario, as the public is made aware of his familia’s poaching efforts following the incident on Daedalus Street. Back in town, Bell is ostracized by other adventurers as his actions to protect Wiene were seen as arrogance and selfishness by the rest of Orario. Troubled by his newfound status as a pariah and how it will affect his familia, Bell confides in Syr who reassures and encourages him to be open with his feelings -- but there's trouble brewing.
The Loki Familia begin their search for the Xenos with the intention of taking them out. Hermes talks to Ouranos about the current situation following the events of Daedalus Street and reveals that he convinced Ikelos to give him Knossos’ blueprints before his exile. The two then discuss their plan moving forward while acknowledging the role both the Loki and Hestia Familias will play.
Similarly, Hephaistos, Miach and Takemikazuchi are made aware of the situation regarding the Xenos and debate what their role should be in it. The three are unable to come to a concrete decision, however, and remain undecided on the matter.
Fels, meanwhile, contacts the Hestia Familia using his familiar, sending them an encrypted letter which Lili then deciphers. In the letter, Fels asks Hestia and the rest of her familia to help the Xenos escape the surface and make their way back into the dungeon.
Still thinking about what Syr told him, Bell states that he’s willing to once again risk everything to save the Xenos, but doesn’t wish to burden his friends in doing so. Much to his surprise, Hestia and the rest of the familia rally around Bell, revealing that they’d already made their decision before he said anything.
The group gets in contact with the Xenos, and Fels reveals that most of them are still stuck hiding around Daedalus Street. With the Loki Familia closing in on them, their only means of escape is to make a run for Knossos and get one of the hidden entrances open. Hestia and the rest of the familia members are set to help the Xenos navigate around the Loki Familia members while Bell is tasked with serving as a distraction.
Though unaware of the situation in its entirety, Finn realizes that Bell will somehow be connected to the upcoming battle against the Xenos, and that he will likely serve as a distraction for the Loki Familia’s adventurers. With Finn’s counterattack already in motion, Bell and the rest of the Hestia Familia unknowingly carry on with their plan.
With Ikelos out of the way DanMachi’s attention shifts to the Loki Familia as Season 3’s primary antagonists. Though not villains, the group already seems to be one of the series most interesting antagonists so far, if only for the role they’re unknowingly playing in the Xenos situation. Ais’ inevitable confrontation with Bell will be worth keeping an eye on, as the two have developed a decent rapport so far. With Finn already aware of Bell’s role as a distraction, it might be up to Lili, Welf and the rest of the Hestia Familia to save the day.
