Scum of the Brave
Scum of the Brave is a Japanese light novel series written by Rocket Shokai and illustrated by Yūya Kusaka. It was initially serialized as a web novel published on Kadokawa Corporation's Kakuyomu website between February and March 2016. A single volume was published under Fujimi Shobo's Kadokawa Books imprint in December 2016. A manga adaptation illustrated by Nakashima723 initially began serialization as an independent comic in June 2018, before beginning serialization on Leed Publishing's Comic Border manga website in February 2022. A new edition of the light novel series illustrated by toi8 began publication by Shueisha under their Dash X Bunko imprint in January 2026. An anime television series adaptation produced by OLM premiered in January 2026.
Plot
Set in mid-21st-century Tokyo, the criminal underworld is dominated by Demon Lords, gang leaders who have gained overwhelming powers through ether enhancement and Demon King Transformation Surgery. To counter them, the government sanctions "Heroes", bounty hunters who amplify their own ether abilities using the drug E3 and are legally permitted to kill.The story follows Yashiro, a lone wolf Hero known as the Reaper, who lives a dissolute life and prefers to work alone. His routine is disrupted when Jōgamine, a determined high school girl who declares herself his apprentice inserts herself into his work. Soon after, Yashiro is approached by additional aspiring high school heroes and agrees to train them for money. As Yashiro becomes entangled with his would-be students, he is drawn into escalating confrontations with Demon Lords, rival Heroes, and criminal organizations, placing him at the center of increasingly dangerous and chaotic conflicts within Tokyo's underworld.
Characters
;"Shinigami" Yashiro;Aki Jōgamine
;Yukine Indō
;Sara Kashiwagi Pendragon
;"Salt" Joe
;"Ongakuya" Ishinō
;"Moguri" no Maruta
;Lord "Amber Thorn"
;Kiyoto Takamiya
;Lord "Wedge of Both Hands"
;Arthur Pendragon
Media
Light novel
Written by Rocket Shokai, Scum of the Brave was initially serialized on Kadokawa Corporation's Kakuyomu website from February 12 to March 22, 2016. A single volume with illustrations by Yūya Kusaka was released under Fujimi Shobo's Kadokawa Books light novel imprint on December 24, 2016.A new edition illustrated by toi8 began publication under Shueisha's Dash X Bunko light novel imprint on January 23, 2026.