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In episode 9 of _Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?_ (
_DanMachi_ ) Bell learns how to use an Argonaut skill which Hestia refers to
as a skill for a hero.

What is the literal meaning of Argonaut when used in this context?


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danmachi
What is the meaning of "Argonaut"?


Argonaut has a number of meanings, but in this case is simply another word for
Adventurer, Hero, Quester etc.

[thefreedictionary.com](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Argonaut) gives the
definition for 'argonaut' as:

> A person who is engaged in a dangerous but rewarding quest; an adventurer.

Further down that same webpage, the thesaurus provides a description of an
argonaut as:

> Someone engaged in a dangerous but potentially rewarding adventure

Thirdly, [Dictionary.com](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/argonaut)
gives the appropriate definition as:

> A person in quest of something dangerous but rewarding; adventurer.

It seems that an Argonaut skill is simply a skill for an adventurer to learn,
and Hestia's comment appears to confirm that.

* * *

As mentioned in my above comment, (and as I originally thought before
research) Argonaut also refers to any man who, in [Greek
Mythology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argonauts) accompanied Jason on his
quest for the Golden Fleece aboard his ship, _Argo_. This may well be where
the word originated from due to it's Greek/Latin origins, but that's a
different question for another day!


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As Goddess Hestia has said in the end of episode eight, **Argonaut** is the
name of the skill Bell has achieved. She said that it is a skill of **wanting
to be a hero**. And it proved that it is so, when it activates every time he
wants to save somebody. So I think Argonaut could be defined in this anime as
**"the hero in you"** , much like the literal meaning of it and in which the
Argonaut skill actually gives you the power to fulfill your desire to be a
real hero whenever your desire (for wanting to be a hero) wakes up.


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In DanMachi's universe, **Argonaut is the name of the story of a boy who wants
to be a hero** , according to the conversation between the Loki familiar
members from 17:16 in episode 8:

> **Bell:** _This is my adventure. I want to be... I want to be a hero!_
>
> **Tiona (Tione?):** Like the Argonaut...
>
> **Finn:** It's the story of a boy who wants to be a hero, yeah.
>
> **Tiona/Tione:** I liked that story, too.

However, that is not its first mention in the story. _Argonaut_ appeared as
early as episode 5 as part of the visual, when Bell was answering the question
posed by the grimoire, as to what he sought from magic (the image corresponds
to the bold line):

> **Bell:** _What do I seek from magic?_
>
> **Bell:** The woman who's faster than anyone, like a lightning bolt... I
> want to catch up to her.
>
> **Bell** : _Is that all?_
>
> **Bell** : If it were possible... I'd like to be a hero. **Like in the fairy
> tales I read when I was a kid.** A hero they'd be satisfied with.
>
> **Bell** : _You're such a child._
>
> **Bell** : I'm sorry. But that's who I am!
>
> **Bell** : _That's who I am!_

![Episode 5 at 12:10](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Psu0K.jpg)

While the alphabets are distorted, it still bears a lot of similarities to
English alphabet, especially A, R, U, T.

I don't know whether the light novel reveals the name of the fairy tale in
this scene, though.

The fact that Bell attained the skill _Argonaut_ , which is named after the
story of a boy who wants to be hero, signifies his strong _**desire to become
a hero**_ , which is the meaning of the kanji in the title of episode 8
[英雄願望]{Argonaut}.


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Argonaut story in Danmachi universe, as recalled by Bell in the volume 4 of
the light novel:

> <Argonaut>.
>
> That is a myth where a boy with no special skills headed to rescue a
> princess kidnapped by a Bull Monster.
>
> The protagonist was often deceived, he did not even know that he was
> deceived. The story advanced in a slightly ridiculous manner, then, the
> protagonist finally reached where the monster was located. In the end, it
> seems like he was saved by the princess-sama who was waiting to be rescued?
>
> [...]
>
> [...]. It was simply uncool…… **< By dreaming of being a hero, it is
> considered to be a hero?>** —— I used to say this.
>
> My grandfather who claims that he likes this story says “This guy becomes
> more amazing later on” and laughs. Compared to that, **I would pout and say
> “This story is already finished”.** —— This memory, even now, I still
> remember.

Hence, it is a **desire** to become a hero, because in the story the boy never
actually became one.


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