December 20, 2000Genso Suikoden II: 1 (幻想水滸伝II ①, Gensō Suikoden II: 1) is a book published by Kadokawa Shoten in 2000.
It is the first part of a four-part light novelization of the events of Suikoden II. It covers the events of the game from the beginning to the player and Jowy receiving their runes at Toto Village.
This was the first work to refer to the hero of Suikoden II as Riou, a name that would be used in many subsequent publications and the fandom at large for the character.
Summary
Riou, a young boy, lives a peaceful life in the Highland Kingdom’s town of Kyaro alongside his best friend Jowy and Nanami, his adoptive sister. But rising tensions with the neighboring City-States of Jowston shatter that peace, and Riou and Jowy are conscripted into the Unicorn Brigade, a unit tasked with guarding the border.
Two years later, just as a ceasefire is declared and they prepare to return home, their unit is ambushed. The garrison is set ablaze, and in the chaos, they come face-to-face with Highland’s ruthless prince, Luca Blight. In that moment, the fragile truce is broken, and a new war ignites between Highland and Jowston.
Drawn into the conflict, Riou and his friends are swept up in a struggle far greater than they ever imagined, as destiny sets its course.
The novel adaptation of the beloved classic Suikoden II begins!
Content list
| Page # | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | ||
| 15 | 0 - A Pair Adrift on the Wind 風の中の二人, Kaze no Naka no Futari | |
| Two years ago, Jowy and Riou train together. Riou reveals that he plans to join the Unicorn Brigade and Jowy decides to enlist alongside him. In the present, the two prepare to return home. | ||
| 32 | 1 - Betrayal at Tenzan Pass 裏切りの天山, Uragiri no Tenzan | |
| After turning in for the night, the Unicorn Brigade camp is caught in a surprise attack. The youths are slaughtered and Riou and Jowy uncover that the raid was actually orchestrated by Prince Luca Blight. To escape their collaborating commander, Rowd, the two jump from a cliff into the waters below. | ||
| 62 | 2 - Mercenary Fortress 傭兵砦, Yōhei Toride | |
| Found by Viktor and Flik, Riou is brought to the Mercenary Fortress as a prisoner. Over time, he grows to like his captors, despite the situation. Jowy attempts to rescue him and is captured but the two then manage to escape together. | ||
| 97 | 3 - The Journey Home 故郷へ, Furusato e | |
| Trying to find a way back to Kyaro Town, Riou and Jowy stop at Ryube Village. There, they meet Rina, Eilie, and Bolgan. Traveling together, the group manage to cross the North Sparrow Pass to Highland without incident. | ||
| 117 | 4 - Secrets Beneath the Midnight Raid 夜襲の真実, Yashū no Shinjitsu | |
| Returning to Kyaro, the hero and Jowy discover they've been framed for the night raid. Riou and his sister, Nanami, attempt to fight off Rowd but fail. Captured along with Jowy, the two boys are sentenced to death but are rescued by Viktor and Flik before the sentence is carried out. | ||
| 155 | 5 - Invasion 侵攻, Shinkō | |
| Returning to the Mercenary Fortress, Riou and Jowy help with recruitment. In Toto Village, Jowy is reunited with Pilika, the daughter of the family who rescued him after the leap from Tenzan Pass. The group go to Muse City to purchase a charm on Pilika's behalf for her father's birthday but on the way back see that Toto is in flames. | ||
| 178 | 6 - Surprise Attack 奇襲, Kishū | |
| The group find a heartbroken Pilika in the ruins of Toto, which was razed by the Highland Army. A strategist, Apple, arrives and asks to be brought to the Mercenary Fortress. There, she begins planning for the inevitable Highland attack with Viktor and Flik. Riou and Jowy agree to recruit Tsai to repair the force's Fire Spears. Returning, they witness Ryube Village being put to the sword by Luca Blight. | ||
| 207 | 7 - Determination 決意, Ketsui | |
| Seeing what Luca is capable of, Riou and Jowy decide to fight with the mercenaries even if it means turning against Highland. In the ensuing battle, Apple's tactics, the repaired Fire Spears, and the tenacity of the mercenaries allows them to repel the initial Highland attack led by Solon Jhee. However, they are soon attacked again, this time by Luca Blight himself. | ||
| 230 | 8 - In Search of Power 力を求めて, Chikara o Motomete | |
| The beleaguered mercenaries begin to falter in the face of the Highland onslaught. Viktor orders the abandonment of the fort and for everyone to regroup in Muse. Luca Blight kills Pohl and is about to kill Pilika when the fort begins to burn, allowing an opportunity of the group to escape. Pilika is rendered mute from trauma. As they pass through Toto Village, Jowy and Riou encounter Leknaat within the village shrine and agreed to accept the Rune of Beginning in order to protect their loved ones. | ||
Differences from the game
- Riou's errands at the Mercenary Fortress and his field trip to Ryube Village with Tuta and Gengen are mentioned but not depicted.
- There is no boss battle on North Sparrow Pass. The journey is uneventful.
- Riou has to leave his tonfa behind when escaping the Mercenary Fortress and fights with makeshift weapons until he returns there.
- Jowy's return home in Kyaro Town is shown in full. In the game, only his being taken away by Highland soldiers is depicted.