Is Syr and Freya the same?
The short answer is yes, the waitress Syr and the goddess Freya are the same character in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon (DanMachi). This article will analyze their complex relationship dynamic, Freya‘s schemes, and why she pretends to be Syr.
Freya‘s Origins and Role as Love Goddess
First, some backstory on the Norse goddess Freya. She oversees matters of love, lust, and fertility – but also war, death, magic, and wealth. Freya is a Vanir goddess, meaning she was part of an old tribe that merged with the popular Aesir deities like Odin and Thor.
The beautiful Freya has a notorious sexual appetite. Legends state she took multiple lovers, including dwarves and elves. Her husband Odr often traveled abroad, with a distressed Freya constantly seeking him. Freya‘s complex personality and lonely story as a love goddess set the stage for her obsessive interest in Bell Cranel later on.
Key Stats on Freya
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Goddess Of | Fertility, Love, Lust, War, Death, Magic |
| Children | Hnoss & Gersimi |
| Siblings | Frey (Brother) |
| Lovers | Od (Husband), Dwarves, Elves |
| Status | Single |
The Mysterious Syr – Who is She Really?
Syr Flover is allegedly a young elf girl who works as a waitress at the Hostess of Fertility pub. With her clumsy, innocent demeanor, she seems to live a simple life serving food and chatter. But as DanMachi fans know, appearances can be deceiving in the mythical world of Orario.
So how does Syr connect to the complex goddess Freya?
The Deal with Horn
Syr was originally an elf girl named Horn. At some point, she made an unknown deal with Freya. The goddess obtained her name, identity, and powers of transformation. This allowed the regal Freya to disguise herself as the modest waitress Syr Flover.
For years, the goddess happily played her role as Syr. Why go to such lengths for a mere mortal identity? At first, it seemed Freya enjoyed the entertainment value. But that changed upon meeting a kindhearted new adventurer named Bell Cranel…
Freya‘s Scheme to Manipulate Bell Cranel
Bell Cranel is the well-meaning yet naive protagonist of DanMachi. With his righteous courage,Bell attracts the affections of women like the sword princess Aiz Wallenstein.
But as Bell defeated monsters and leveled up, he also captured the wandering gaze of Freya. The love goddess becomes utterly infatuated with his pure soul, determination, and hidden potential.
Of course, Bell remained completely oblivious to her divine crush. So Freya hatched schemes to insert herself into the boy‘s life. This where Syr came back into the picture in a big way.
Key Events of Freya Pretending to be Syr
| Scheme | Description | Light Novel Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Gifting Bell | Syr gives Bell a grimoire to help him grow | Volume 3 |
| Date Invitation | Syr asks Bell out on a romantic date | Volume 6 |
| Jealousy Plot | Syr pretends to date others to make Bell jealous | Volume 7 |
| Confession Scheme | Syr plans to confess her "love" for Bell | Volume 8 |
As you can see, Syr takes every chance to meddle in Bell‘s affairs. This helps Freya subtly encourage the boy while also satisfying her own warped romantic interest in him. Pretty devious and manipulative for sure!
Some fans initially speculated that Syr had actual affection for Bell separate from Freya. But in truth, she is just another facade enabling the goddess‘ questionable antics.
Why Freya Became Obsessed with Bell
Naturally you may wonder – why did the influential goddess Freya ever care about a lowly Level 1 adventurer like Bell Cranel? What does she truly want from their fake relationship?
Bell‘s Transparent Soul
According to Freya herself, she loves Bell for his utterly pure spirit. The boy has a transparent soul, one easily moved to tears of joy and righteous anger. His realness, compassion, dedication are like a drug for the fickle goddess.
After eons of godly politics and tangled love trysts, Bell‘s innocence was a breath of fresh air. Freya became determined to possess and protect such a rare gem at all costs.
Unlocking Bell‘s Potential
Additionally, Freya sensed enormous unlocked potential within the fledgling adventurer. She knew with the right opportunities and trials, Bell could rapidly gain strength and renown.
Like the cunning goddess she is, Freya began orchestrating events to that end. By unleashing the devastating black dragon on Orario, she triggered Bell‘s heroic growth in the War Game. By using Syr, she gets personally close to motivate and reward her beloved human project.
Pretty ruthless behavior, but hey – being a goddess allows eccentric hobbies like grooming pet adventurers! At least Bell benefits from her "generosity" too.
Takeaways on Syr‘s True Identity
After breaking down their history, relationships, and schemes, the truth about Syr‘s identity becomes clear:
- Syr was originally an elf named Horn until Freya made a deal for her name/form
- Freya disguised herself as Syr for entertainment at first
- Upon meeting Bell, Freya used her Syr alter ego to manipulate him repeatedly
- Whenever Syr appears, it is actually the love goddess Freya in disguise
- She maintains the act to encourage Bell‘s development and fulfill her obsession
So in short – Syr and Freya are absolutely the same character. The goddess has warped motivations, but ultimately seeks to aid the innocent Bell…in her own questionable way.
That wraps up this deeper dive on a tricky dynamic in DanMachi lore! Let me know in comments if you want to see more theories and analysis on characters like Freya in the future.
