The Journey's End ｢
Summary
The Hero Party makes a triumphant return to the Royal Capital after vanquishing the Demon King. The party includes Himmel the Hero, Eisen the Warrior, Heiter the Priest, and Frieren the Mage. As the party members celebrate, they reminisce about their long ten-year adventure. However, Frieren, being an Elf, felt it was short, as time passes differently for elves. Nevertheless, all of them were glad to have been able to adventure together. At the same time, the party watches the Era Meteors occur, and they all vow to meet again to watch the meteor shower again fifty years later.
The next day, the party members go their separate ways, with Frieren going on a journey to acquire more magic. In her pursuit of magic, she travels far and wide, which finally leads her back to the Royal Capital five decades later. She finds Himmel to have grown very old. Meanwhile, Frieren herself does not look a day older. Together, they meet Eisen, who hasn't changed much appearance-wise, as he is a dwarf, and Heiter, who has also aged like Himmel as a fellow human. Together, the hero's party once more goes to see the Era Meteors in a location a week's walk from the capital. They venture through many places, reminding Himmel of the memories of days past, finally reaching the place where they witness the Era Meteors once again. Shortly afterward, Himmel passes away, seemingly content. At his funeral, Frieren begins to cry, unaware of the reason why, as she simply traveled with him for a mere ten years. She questions why she never thought about getting to know him more given the short length of a human's lifespan. After the funeral, the party disbands once more, and Frieren goes on a voyage to acquire magic while also deciding to get to know humans better as well.
Plot Details
The story begins with the Hero Party's triumphant, carriage-bound return to the Royal Capital. Some members are already thinking of getting a job, as life still goes on. The hero remarks that the road ahead for Frieren is so long and that it is beyond the others' imaginations.
As the party reaches the Royal Capital and walks through the streets, the citizens come out and congratulate them, cheering for their victory. In the castle, the King praises Himmel the Hero, Eisen the Warrior, Heiter the Priest, and Frieren the Mage for defeating the Demon King, remarking that a peaceful era will now dawn upon the world.
After meeting the king, the party members converse and walk through the plaza, and Eisen and Himmel mention how the party has reached the end of its adventure. The members reminisce about the different parts of their adventure, such as Himmel and Eisen almost being executed for being impertinent to the king, Heiter always being useless after getting a hangover, and Frieren being eaten by a Mimic. Despite these ridiculous memories, everyone mentions that they are glad to have adventured with each other. Frieren states how their ten-year adventure was short, much to the shock of Heiter and Himmel. As they converse, the Era Meteors, a meteor shower that happens once every fifty years, begins. Himmel remarks that it is a perfect beginning to a peaceful era. Frieren mentions how it is hard to see in town, and she says that next time, fifty years later, she will take the others to a place where the meteor shower can be witnessed more beautifully. Himmel chuckles at this, then agrees.
The next day, the party disbands, and Frieren goes on a journey to acquire more magic with plans to explore the Central Lands for over a century. As she departs, Heiter and Himmel talk about how they, as humans, cannot perceive an elf's feelings and that even a century might feel like just another day to her.
In her pursuit of magic, Frieren travels far and wide, through different lands and climates. Five decades later, her need for a Shadow Dragon's Horn brings her to a magic store owner she visited decades before, but the ingredient is not available. This brings Frieren finally back to the Royal Capital, as she left the one she found in the Demon King's castle in Himmel's possession. She notices how the townscape has changed considerably since she was last there. As Himmel calls out to Frieren from behind her, she finds him to have grown very old. Meanwhile, Frieren herself does not look a day older. Himmel mentions that he thought he would never see her again.
At Himmel's house, he returns the Shadow Dragon's horn to Frieren, thinking of it as a treasure that his beloved comrade left to him for safekeeping. Frieren goes outside and sees the statues of the hero party, now all degraded due to the passage of time. After Himmel gets ready, he and Frieren go meet Eisen and Heiter at the Capital's gate. Frieren remarks how Heiter, who has also aged, looks more dignified, and he states that it is because he is a bishop now at the Holy City. Meanwhile, Eisen does not seem to have changed much appearance-wise, as he is a dwarf.
Together, they all undertake a one-week journey, much to Himmel's displeasure, to the place where they can witness the Era Meteors with a nice view. Throughout their journey, Himmel feels nostalgia, and as they venture to many places and encounter a huge, dog-like monster, he is reminded of all the beautiful memories he made with his comrades. As they finally reach the place where they witness the Era Meteors again, Himmel thanks Frieren, as they were able to have an enjoyable adventure in the end.
Shortly afterward, Himmel passes away, seemingly content. As the bishop, Heiter holds his funeral. In his coffin, Himmel is surrounded by flowers and dressed in his hero's attire with his sword. As the citizens mourn him during his funeral, some gossiping ladies question why Frieren does not show a hint of sorrow, despite being one of Himmel's comrades, even though Eisen and Heiter were not grieving either. Suddenly, Frieren starts shedding tears, unaware of the reason why, as she simply traveled with him for a mere ten years. She questions why she never thought about getting to know him better, despite being aware of a human's short lifespan.
After the funeral, the party disbands once more. Heiter returns to the Holy City, telling Frieren and Eisen to show their faces more, as he might not be around for much longer. He jokes that his years of chronic drinking might finally be taking their toll. Frieren continues her journey to acquire spells in her pursuit of magic, while also deciding to get to know humans better as well. She asks Eisen to become her vanguard, but he refuses, saying that he is no longer at an age capable of wielding an axe, shocking Frieren. They bid their farewells, and Frieren leaves for her voyage.
Characters in Order of Appearance
Locations
Battles and Events
Events
- Return of the Hero Party
- The Era Meteors, once during the party's return and once fifty years later
- The start of a peaceful era
- Heiter becomes a bishop in the Holy City of Strahl
- Himmel's death
Objects of Interest
Spells
New Tools
- Frieren's staff
- Himmel's sword
- Heiter's Holy Scripture
- Eisen's axe
- Shadow Dragon's Horn
Chapter Notes
- The King gave the Hero Party only ten coppers when they began their journey.
- A Mimic looks like a normal chest from the outside, but it is a trap with sharp teeth and a large tongue.
- After Frieren took the Shadow Dragon's Horn from Himmel, she gave it to an eagle-like delivery bird.
Notes
- ↑ The spell creates a light show, which, in the anime adaptation, shows iridescent animals that run into the air from a magic circle on the ground.
References