Sentenced to Be a Hero

Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004 (Japanese: 勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録, Hepburn: Yūsha-kei ni Shosu: Chōbatsu Yūsha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku) is a Japanese light novel series written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Mephisto. It began serialization as a web novel published on Kakuyomu in October 2020. It began publication as a light novel under ASCII Media Works' Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint in September 2021. A manga adaptation began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus web magazine in March 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Kai is set to premiere in October 2025.

Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004
First light novel volume cover
勇者刑に処す 懲罰勇者9004隊刑務記録 (Yūsha-kei ni Shosu: Chōbatsu Yūsha 9004-tai Keimu Kiroku)
Genre	Adventure[1] Dark fantasy[1]
Novel series
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Published by	Kakuyomu
Original run	October 28, 2020 – present
Light novel
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Illustrated by	Mephisto
Published by	ASCII Media Works
English publisher	NA: Yen Press
Imprint	Dengeki no Shin Bungei
Demographic	Male
Original run	September 17, 2021 – present
Volumes	7
Manga
Written by	Rocket Shokai
Illustrated by	Natsumi Inoue
Published by	ASCII Media Works
English publisher	NA: Kadokawa
Imprint	Dengeki Comics NEXT
Magazine	Dengeki Comic Regulus
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	March 25, 2022 – present
Volumes	2
Anime television series
Directed by	Hiroyuki Takashima
Written by	Kenta Ihara
Music by	Shunsuke Takizawa
Studio	Studio Kai
Original run	October 2025 – scheduled

Characters

Xylo Forbartz (ザイロ・フォルバーツ, Zairo Forubātsu)

Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura^[2] (PV), Yōhei Azakami^[3] (anime)

Teoritta (テオリッタ, Teoritta)

Voiced by: Tomori Kusunoki^[2] (PV), Mayu Iizuka^[3] (anime)

Patausche Kivia (パトーシェ・キヴィア, Patōshe Kibia)

Voiced by: Shizuka Ishigami^[4]

Dotta Luzulas (ドッタ・ルズラス, Dotta Ruzurasu)

Voiced by: Shun Horie^[4]

Venetim Leopool (ベネティム・レオプール, Benetimu Reopūru)

Voiced by: Shun'ichi Toki^[4]

Media

Light novel

Written by Rocket Shokai, Sentenced to Be a Hero: The Prison Records of Penal Hero Unit 9004 began serialization as a web novel published on the Kakuyomu website. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Mephisto under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint. Seven volumes have been released as of January 17, 2025.^[5] The light novels are licensed in English by Yen Press.^[6]

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	September 17, 2021[7]	978-4-04-913903-7	August 22, 2023[1]	978-1-97-536826-5
2	January 17, 2022[8]	978-4-04-914103-0	December 12, 2023[9]	978-1-97-536828-9
3	August 17, 2022[10]	978-4-04-914443-7	August 20, 2024[11]	978-1-97-539134-8
4	December 16, 2022[12]	978-4-04-914672-1	May 20, 2025[13]	978-1-97-539136-2
5	August 17, 2023[14]	978-4-04-915168-8	—	—
6	April 17, 2024[15]	978-4-04-915606-5	—	—
7	January 17, 2025[5]	978-4-04-916024-6	—	—

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Natsumi Inoue began serialization in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus web magazine on March 25, 2022.^[16] It has been collected in two volumes as of April 26, 2024.^[17] The manga adaptation is published digitally in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website.^[18]

No.	Japanese release date	Japanese ISBN
1	December 9, 2022[19]	978-4-04-914726-1
2	April 26, 2024[17]	978-4-04-915691-1

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced at the Dengeki Bunko 30th Anniversary event on July 16, 2023.^[20] It was later confirmed to be a television series produced by Studio Kai and directed by Hiroyuki Takashima, with Yoshitake Nakakōji serving as assistant director, Kenta Ihara handling series composition, Takeshi Noda designing the characters, and Shunsuke Takizawa composing the music.^[21][3] It is set to premiere in October 2025.^[22]

Reception

In the 2023 edition of the Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! guidebook, the series ranked third in the tankōbon category.^[23]

See also

• As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World, a light novel series, whose manga adaptation is also illustrated by Natsumi Inoue
• Scum of the Brave, a light novel also written by Rocket Shokai