by Episode 4 of The Magic Power I Lent Is Forcibly Collected on Installment Payments, titled “Powerful Foe,” brings Rent face-to-face with a dangerous enemy in the Great Labyrinth. After improving his combat skills and clearing a goblin colony, Rent encounters Rinka, a wounded swordswoman who has been abandoned by her own party. The episode sets the stage for a new encounter that could change the direction of his adventure.
The official synopsis and preview images for Episode 4 of the Fall 2026 fantasy anime have been released. The episode, which is also listed as “Powerful Foe” on Crunchyroll, continues Rent’s journey as he learns to fight independently and discovers the true potential of his unusual magical ability.
The series is based on the fantasy manga The Magic Power I Lent Is Forcibly Collected on Installment Payments, written by Masakichi and illustrated by Shingo Iijima. The manga is serialized on Flex Comics’ COMIC Meteor webcomic platform and has surpassed two million copies in circulation, according to the supplied source material.
The story combines fantasy adventure, dungeon exploration, revenge, and a distinctive magic system inspired by installment payments. Instead of simply defeating monsters to become stronger, the protagonist uses a rare ability that allows him to lend magical power to other people—and later reclaim the power they owe him.
The television anime is produced by SynergySP and began airing in October 2026. Its unusual premise gives a familiar fantasy setup a different twist: the support character who was once considered unnecessary discovers that his seemingly modest ability can become a powerful weapon.
Episode 4: “Powerful Foe”
After making full use of his abilities, Rent successfully conquers a goblin colony on the second floor of the Great Labyrinth. His efforts help him improve as an adventurer, and his rank is promoted as he gains more experience.
Rent is no longer relying entirely on other people to fight for him. With support from Empy, his fairy companion, he has begun learning practical combat skills and putting his magical power to better use. Their partnership also continues to develop as they explore the labyrinth together.
With his confidence growing, Rent advances to the third floor, known as the “Cave of the Dead.” However, his progress soon takes a dangerous turn. While exploring the area, he senses the presence of an unusually powerful enemy—an irregular threat that should not be there.
The unexpected presence suggests that the third floor may be far more dangerous than Rent anticipated. Rather than continuing his exploration without interruption, he must respond to a situation that could put another adventurer’s life at risk.
Following the signs of danger, Rent encounters Rinka, a swordswoman who has been severely injured while fighting. The situation becomes even more troubling when he discovers that her own companions have been using her as a decoy.
Abandoned by the people who should have been fighting alongside her, Rinka is left in a desperate position. Rent now faces a difficult choice: continue focusing on his own growth or intervene to help someone who has been betrayed by her party.
The encounter brings the episode’s two central elements together: the danger of the Great Labyrinth and the harsh treatment that adventurers can experience when their companions value their own survival over teamwork.
Who Is Rinka?
Rinka is an adventurer who possesses the unique Gift known as “Ashura Path.” In the world of the series, a Gift is a special ability that can strongly influence a person’s role and opportunities.
Although Rinka is kind-hearted, the nature of her Gift has shaped her path as an adventurer. Her encounter with Rent begins under desperate circumstances, as she is left behind by her own party and forced to fight while seriously injured.
According to the official character introduction, Rent rescues Rinka from this situation, and she eventually forms a party with him. Their meeting therefore represents more than a brief encounter in a dangerous dungeon: it marks the beginning of a new connection that could influence Rent’s journey going forward.
Rinka’s predicament also reflects one of the series’ recurring themes. In a world where magical abilities can determine a person’s value, adventurers who are seen as inconvenient or difficult to use risk being treated as disposable. Her situation echoes Rent’s own experience of being expelled by former companions who no longer considered him useful.
Rent and Empy Continue to Grow Stronger
Rent’s journey began when his former party decided that he was no longer worth keeping. Although he had supported his companions by lending them magical power, they treated him as a burden because he had not become a powerful fighter himself.
His rare Gift, known as Magic Storage, allows him to lend his magical power to others. After being expelled, however, his ability evolves, awakening the power to forcibly reclaim the magic he previously lent.
With Empy’s assistance, Rent begins turning that recovered power into an advantage. Instead of remaining dependent on his former companions, he starts investing in his own abilities, unlocking new skills and gaining the experience needed to fight independently.
The second-floor goblin colony was an important step in that process. By defeating the monsters using his developing skills, Rent demonstrates that he is becoming more than a support character. His progress also explains why the challenge on the third floor matters: he must now test his abilities in a more unpredictable situation.
Empy remains an important part of this development. Although she has a cute appearance, her personality can be surprisingly ruthless when dealing with people who owe magical power. She helps Rent understand how to manage his ability and make the most of the resources he recovers.
Their relationship provides a balance between the series’ darker themes of betrayal and revenge and its more playful fantasy elements.
What Makes Episode 4 Important?
“Powerful Foe” appears to mark an important stage in Rent’s development as an adventurer. His victory against the goblin colony shows that his training is producing results, but the irregular enemy on the third floor introduces a new level of uncertainty.
The encounter with Rinka also allows the story to explore the consequences of party betrayal from another perspective. Rent was previously the person who was cast aside. Now, he meets someone who is suffering from a similar kind of mistreatment.
This parallel could help strengthen the connection between the two characters. Both have experienced what happens when a party places personal advantage above loyalty, and both must find a way forward after being let down by their companions.
At the same time, the episode raises questions about the danger lurking in the Great Labyrinth. The presence of an enemy that should not be there suggests that Rent may be facing something beyond an ordinary dungeon challenge. The exact nature of the threat and how Rent responds are central to the episode’s suspense.
For viewers who enjoy fantasy stories about underdogs becoming stronger, the episode combines character development with a new dungeon encounter while continuing the series’ focus on magical abilities and the consequences of betrayal.
Broadcast and Streaming Information
The anime premiered in Japan on October 3, 2026. Episode 4 is listed as released on October 24, 2026, on Crunchyroll. Japanese television broadcasts follow the schedule below.
- TV Asahi network: Saturdays at 1:30 a.m. JST, beginning October 3
- BS Asahi: Sundays at 1:00 a.m. JST, beginning October 4
- AT-X: Mondays at 8:30 p.m. JST, beginning October 5
- AT-X repeat broadcasts: Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and Fridays at 2:30 p.m. JST
- CS TV Asahi Channel 1: Sundays at 10:00 p.m. JST, beginning October 4
The official website notes that broadcast times may change because of programming adjustments. Viewers should check their local listings for the latest schedule.
Streaming availability
The series is available through ABEMA and d Anime Store in Japan, with the official website also listing TVer for sequential streaming. Crunchyroll lists Episode 4, “Powerful Foe,” with English subtitles. Availability may vary by region and service.
Additional Anime Updates
The series’ official website announced on October 22 that a free marathon streaming event would be held on ABEMA. The announcement provides another opportunity for viewers to catch up with the story as Rent’s adventure progresses. Interested viewers should consult the official website or ABEMA for the event’s specific availability and conditions.
The anime’s music has also been announced. The opening theme, “Risk Rate,” is performed by BUDDiiS, while Kotani performs the ending theme, “Iremono.” These songs accompany a story that contrasts Rent’s anger over his betrayal with his growing independence and the new relationships he forms along the way.
Episode 4 of The Magic Power I Lent Is Forcibly Collected on Installment Payments pushes Rent further into the dangerous world of the Great Labyrinth. After defeating the goblin colony and improving his adventuring abilities, he faces a new challenge on the third floor, where an unexpected enemy threatens to disrupt his progress.
His encounter with Rinka adds an emotional dimension to the adventure. Having experienced betrayal himself, Rent now meets another adventurer who has been abandoned by her own party. His decision to help her could become an important turning point as he continues building a new life beyond his former companions.
With dungeon exploration, a mysterious enemy, and the beginning of a new partnership, “Powerful Foe” continues to develop the series’ themes of growth, loyalty, and revenge. The episode offers another step in Rent’s journey from an underestimated support adventurer to someone determined to become strong on his own terms.
