TV-Series
Description
Kazuhiro Kitase, often mistakenly called Kazuhiho by his companions, is the main protagonist of the story. He is a 25-year-old salaryman living a routine life in modern-day Tokyo. However, his existence is defined by a unique ability: since childhood, whenever he falls asleep, he travels to a vibrant fantasy world. In this dream realm, he takes on the appearance of a younger, 15-year-old version of himself and goes by the mis-spelled name Kazuhiho, a running gag that originated from a mistake he made as a child when registering his identity in that world.
Personality-wise, Kazuhiro is characterized by his perpetually sleepy, half-lidded eyes and a generally low level of motivation when it comes to his mundane office job in Japan. He is something of an ineffectual loner, finding socializing difficult and maintaining only a very small circle of friends in reality. In the fantasy world, he prefers to live as a vagrant or drifter, avoiding large settlements because he is not interested in working there and simply wishes to explore. Despite his laid-back exterior, he is deeply curious, resourceful, and surprisingly competent due to years of adventuring in what he originally thought were just dreams. A key aspect of his personality is his high level of culinary skill, which he uses frequently to befriend others and enjoy comfortable meals in both worlds.
Kazuhiro's primary motivations shift as the story progresses. Initially, he views his nightly adventures purely as a form of escapism from his stressful work life and a broken family background, treating the other world as a game where he could fight in wars for fun without real consequences. His motivation transforms dramatically when he accidentally brings his elf companion, Marie, back to Japan with him. This event shatters his perception of the fantasy world as just a dream, revealing it to be real. He becomes driven to understand the connection between the two worlds and to protect his friends, all while sharing the wonders of Japanese culture with them.
In the story, Kazuhiro serves as the bridge between modern Japan and a traditional fantasy realm. His role is that of a guide, introducing his otherworldly companions to the comforts and delights of Japanese life, from cuisine to modern amenities. Conversely, he leads expeditions and quests in the fantasy world, using his unique powers to explore ruins and battle monsters. His most significant relationships are with Marie, the elf who he has known for roughly ten years in the dream world and who becomes his romantic partner; the ancient Arkdragon Wridra, who he pacifies and befriends using Japanese food; and Sharsha, Marie's mother, who is a powerful figure that initially tried to kill him but eventually treated him like family.
Kazuhiro undergoes notable development, evolving from a man who merely endured his real-world life to one who actively appreciates it. His desire to show Marie the beauty of Japan rekindles his own interest in his home country, leading him to form new friendships in his apartment building and local library that he had previously avoided. He also faces a moral awakening, regretting his past violent actions in the fantasy world now that he knows the consequences are real, and he becomes more reluctant to involve himself in wars or lethal conflicts.
Kazuhiro possesses a suite of remarkable abilities derived from his unique status as a Dream Swordsman. His foundational power allows him to physically travel between the two worlds by sleeping, and if he dies in the fantasy world, he simply wakes up in Japan unharmed. He can also bring anyone he is touching along with him, which is how characters like Marie and Wridra first arrive in Japan. His combat style focuses on evasion and trickery, including teleportation that requires his feet on the ground and line of sight, and the ability to create illusory copies of himself. He also has a unique skill to record and replay movements, allowing him to copy an enemy's technique or automate repetitive actions. He took a Language Proficiency skill, enabling him to learn the languages of different races like lizardmen and dragons much faster than normal, which allows him to act as a translator and befriend monster races. Finally, he can use a skill granted by the God of Travel to instantly travel vast distances in the fantasy world once per day, though it has a weight limit and cannot be used by beings as powerful as the dragon Wridra.
Personality-wise, Kazuhiro is characterized by his perpetually sleepy, half-lidded eyes and a generally low level of motivation when it comes to his mundane office job in Japan. He is something of an ineffectual loner, finding socializing difficult and maintaining only a very small circle of friends in reality. In the fantasy world, he prefers to live as a vagrant or drifter, avoiding large settlements because he is not interested in working there and simply wishes to explore. Despite his laid-back exterior, he is deeply curious, resourceful, and surprisingly competent due to years of adventuring in what he originally thought were just dreams. A key aspect of his personality is his high level of culinary skill, which he uses frequently to befriend others and enjoy comfortable meals in both worlds.
Kazuhiro's primary motivations shift as the story progresses. Initially, he views his nightly adventures purely as a form of escapism from his stressful work life and a broken family background, treating the other world as a game where he could fight in wars for fun without real consequences. His motivation transforms dramatically when he accidentally brings his elf companion, Marie, back to Japan with him. This event shatters his perception of the fantasy world as just a dream, revealing it to be real. He becomes driven to understand the connection between the two worlds and to protect his friends, all while sharing the wonders of Japanese culture with them.
In the story, Kazuhiro serves as the bridge between modern Japan and a traditional fantasy realm. His role is that of a guide, introducing his otherworldly companions to the comforts and delights of Japanese life, from cuisine to modern amenities. Conversely, he leads expeditions and quests in the fantasy world, using his unique powers to explore ruins and battle monsters. His most significant relationships are with Marie, the elf who he has known for roughly ten years in the dream world and who becomes his romantic partner; the ancient Arkdragon Wridra, who he pacifies and befriends using Japanese food; and Sharsha, Marie's mother, who is a powerful figure that initially tried to kill him but eventually treated him like family.
Kazuhiro undergoes notable development, evolving from a man who merely endured his real-world life to one who actively appreciates it. His desire to show Marie the beauty of Japan rekindles his own interest in his home country, leading him to form new friendships in his apartment building and local library that he had previously avoided. He also faces a moral awakening, regretting his past violent actions in the fantasy world now that he knows the consequences are real, and he becomes more reluctant to involve himself in wars or lethal conflicts.
Kazuhiro possesses a suite of remarkable abilities derived from his unique status as a Dream Swordsman. His foundational power allows him to physically travel between the two worlds by sleeping, and if he dies in the fantasy world, he simply wakes up in Japan unharmed. He can also bring anyone he is touching along with him, which is how characters like Marie and Wridra first arrive in Japan. His combat style focuses on evasion and trickery, including teleportation that requires his feet on the ground and line of sight, and the ability to create illusory copies of himself. He also has a unique skill to record and replay movements, allowing him to copy an enemy's technique or automate repetitive actions. He took a Language Proficiency skill, enabling him to learn the languages of different races like lizardmen and dragons much faster than normal, which allows him to act as a translator and befriend monster races. Finally, he can use a skill granted by the God of Travel to instantly travel vast distances in the fantasy world once per day, though it has a weight limit and cannot be used by beings as powerful as the dragon Wridra.