Long-Lived Friends ｢
Synopsis
Frieren pays a visit to Old Man Voll, a long-lived friend of hers, with traveling companions in tow.[1]
Plot
Twenty-nine years after Himmel's passing, Sein sits by a campfire smoking while the others appear to be asleep already. He recalls a childhood memory when he was fishing. The activity's tranquility was stopped when his energetic childhood friend came up and dragged him back to the village to get a photo taken by a visiting mage that was taking photos with magic. In the present, Sein looks at a locket with the photo of him and his friend and reminisces about the past.
Later, Frieren's Party arrives at the Klar Region of the Northern Lands. While walking along the road, Stark asks Frieren if the person they are visiting is powerful. Frieren tells Stark that this person, who is a dwarf, has been protecting the village and has reached an age of close to four hundred years. Fern wants to know about the life expectancy of dwarves, which Sein answers is typically three hundred years. Frieren says that the dwarf's name is Old Man Voll, a Long-Lived Friend of hers. She wishes to visit him before he dies so she can talk with him. Stark thinks that her idea is a bit morbid, and Fern says that there are not many individuals which her master can talk with about the past. Frieren jokes that maybe she will stay for ten years, but Fern shoots the idea down and warns Frieren that they will be staying there for one week at most.
They arrive at the village to see a dwarf sitting on a rock next to the entrance with a broadsword propped up beside him. Frieren calls out to the dwarf, naming him Old Man Voll. She then turns to Stark and asks him if Voll looks cool for a seasoned elder warrior. Stark, however, is unconvinced, as Voll appears to be going senile. Voll asks Frieren who she is, and Frieren responds with her name and then asks when is he going to drop the act of pretending to be senile. Voll proceeds to knock Stark to the ground with his sheathed blade, and he warns the young man that imprudence is one of the most common causes of deaths on the battlefield, which both demons and people alike fall for. He tells Stark to get up, and he tells him that even master warriors can suffer a fatal injury if they lower their defense. Frieren, smiling, calls Voll out for his underhanded tactics and the dwarf welcomes her to the village, telling her and her party to enjoy themselves. Stark complains that he cannot get up, to which Frieren replies that the warrior should get Voll to train him and the young man acquiesces. All but Stark head through the entrance to check into the village's inn.
After checking in, Frieren attempts to solicit a job from the innkeeper as she wishes to stay at least ten years, but Fern harshly reprimands her and reminds her that they will be staying for a maximum of one week. Afterwards, while Frieren talks with Voll and Stark trains, the other two party members help a villager with the harvest. Fern and Sein accompany the villager and chat while they bring in the crops with the villager's wagon. The villager thanks them, as there are not many helping hands around. As he notices Frieren and Stark hanging around Voll, he mentions that this is the first time he has seen him so talkative, and he had thought Voll didn't have any friends. The villager continues on, saying that Voll is a senile grandpa with whom you normally cannot hold a conversation with. Because Voll has been protecting the village since long ago, the people regard him akin to a protective deity, but nobody knows why he does so. Fern realizes that Voll might have always been alone.
Throughout the week's stay in the village, Frieren reminisces during her talks with Voll. All the while, Voll trains Stark using various methods, such as making him carry around a large boulder as Voll sits on top. Stark relaxes by fishing, and at night, Frieren's party joins the dwarf in gathering mushrooms that glow in the dark within a nearby forest. Voll, despite his age, has formidable combat prowess, and he demonstrates his strength to Stark by slaying a large, bear-like beast.
On the last day of their visit, Frieren and Voll walk through the forest together. She asks him how Stark's training is progressing, and Voll replies that humans develop quickly and Stark has reasonably improved. Frieren says that it has been fun being with Voll and that she is thankful because he gave her the chance to get to know Himmel and the others all those years ago. Frieren then recalls the memory of the Hero Party's last visit to the village.
In a flashback, Voll sits at the entrance of the village with the Hero Party standing next to him. Himmel asks the dwarf why he protects the village, and Voll says that his reason does not matter anymore. Himmel is unsatisfied with this answer and tells Voll that people do not risk their lives for something that does not matter. Voll then answers Himmel's question seriously: he is just protecting the village that his wife, who was human, loved. He is simply fulfilling a promise to her, but he does not intend on sharing the details, because he can no longer remember anything about her anymore—not his wife's face, gaze, nor her voice. Voll says that it must be foolish, constantly keeping a promise to someone long gone. Himmel replies that perhaps that is the case, but he is sure that Voll's wife is happy that he honors the promise. In response, Voll tells Himmel that he is a good hero and that he will surely defeat the Demon King. He then says that his wife also wished for a peaceful era and that he will carry the memory of Himmel with him into the future. Himmel appreciates his kindness, but since Frieren and Eisen are in his party, there isn't a need. This causes Eisen to respond that he won't live as long as an elf, so Himmel then says that it will be Frieren's duty to carry their memories. Frieren says that she does not mind taking on this role. Voll acknowledges this and tells Himmel that he is blessed with his comrades. Himmel then self-importantly tells Frieren that he will need to show her a compilation of handsome poses after this, making Frieren retort that maybe she should stop remembering him after all.
In the present, Frieren tells Voll that the handsome poses that Himmel made her remember were a waste. Voll then asks if she remembers Himmel's face, to which Frieren immediately replies that she does. He then asks if she remembers his voice. Frieren pauses for a moment, then tells him not to insult her and that she remembers everything because Himmel was her reason for getting to know humans. She says that it is equally as important a reason as to why Voll wants to protect the village. In response, Voll tells Frieren that he cannot even recall his wife's face, voice, or gaze. However, he is protecting this village nonetheless because it is something important to him.
He then asks where Frieren's party is going on their journey. Frieren tells him that they are going to Aureole, the lands where souls rest. He asks where that is, and she says Ende, which is also where the Demon King's Castle is. Voll replies that this means someone is finally going to defeat the Demon King and he hopes a peaceful era arrives. Frieren is surprised by the fact that Voll has not realized the Demon King is already gone, but she stops mid-sentence and decides not to correct him. She laughs and tells him that she will bring his memory into the future with her as well. Voll sits in contemplation for a moment, then tells Frieren that it sounds like a nice thought and that he is glad to have met her again in the last moments of his life. Frieren tells Voll that he already said that to her eighty years ago.
The next morning, Frieren's party say their farewells to Voll. Frieren tells Voll that she will see him again and to stay strong. As Frieren's party departs from the village, Voll calls out to Frieren and tells her that he had a dream of his wife, probably because he reminisced with Frieren about the past.
Later, Frieren's Party is on the Rohr Road, which connects to major places in the Northern Lands. While traveling along the road, Sein stops to ask a farmer some questions, and he is questioned in turn by the party about why he is on the journey. He tells them that his goal is to reunite with his best friend, who went on a journey a decade ago. He shows them a picture of him and his best friend, which was taken by a mage that visited their village a long time ago. Frieren asks him if he has any leads, and Sein tells her that he has met many eyewitnesses already and they should be fine if they keep traveling north. Stark finds it odd that there are so many people who remember seeing him, but Sein tells him it is because of his friend's distinct name. His friend's name is "Warrior Gorilla", which Stark doubts, so he asks for his real name. Sein expresses that he does not know. He tells Stark that he was always called "Warrior Gorilla" by the villagers, most likely because he asked them to call him that. Sein then tells them that his nickname is "Goatee Priest," prompting Frieren to ask if he was called that even before he grew a goatee. Sein, ignoring this, says that the party just needs to know his friend's name is Warrior Gorilla since that is the name he goes by. Stark calls this Warrior Gorilla strange, and Sein agrees.
The party then arrives at a bridge that stands atop a great gorge. Frieren tells them that if they continue walking for a week after crossing the bridge, they will arrive at Äußerst, the city of magic. Fern complains about how long the journey has been, and Sein suggests that they stop by the village next to the bridge since the road branches off. As soon as they get into the village, Sein begins asking for clues about his friend. One villager tells him that Warrior Gorilla left an incredible impact on the people in the village because he exterminated a monster that appeared near it. Sein asks if the villager knows where Warrior Gorilla went, and he directs the priest to a stubborn old woman who was close with Warrior Gorilla.
They meet the old woman atop the hill that her house stands on, and she introduces herself literally as a stubborn, old woman, which puzzles Stark. The old lady ignores his remark and tells them that she will not give them the information easily, as she intends for them to fulfill a few requests first. For their first task, Frieren's party has to deliver a note to a blacksmith, Nagel, in a neighboring town. The party sets out to complete the request, with Stark complaining to Frieren that they are just running errands. Frieren tells Stark that when she was adventuring with Himmel, this was an everyday occurrence. She adds that those errands would devolve into annoying item searches or monster exterminations. While saying this, she remembers an occasion at which the Hero Party was in full retreat from a fearsome dragon. Frieren says that they should try and open up the old woman's heart. After completing the first task, Sein and Stark pick fruits in an orchard while Fern and Frieren fly to a hill, where they are tasked to pick a yellow flower that grows on its ledge. Later, the two men retrieve a chest from a dungeon, and the two mages collect eggs while escaping from a giant, rooster-like bird that chases after them. Stark defeats a large chimera monster.
After having done many requests for the stubborn old woman, she still acts coldly towards them. Frieren apologizes and tells them that if it was Himmel or Heiter, she would have opened up in half a day. Fern tells them it is because their group is filled with awkward people. The old woman asks them for one final request and hands out cleaning tools. She escorts them to a gorge, during which she tells them about a stone statue of heroes who saved the world a long time ago, but these heroes have since become forgotten heroes whose names are a mystery. She then points out offhandedly that Sein has to be the "Goatee Priest," and the priest asks her how she knew that. They arrive at the statue, which Fern says has a resemblance to Sein and Warrior Gorilla. Frieren interjects that the warrior that is beside the Sein lookalike is likely Kraft. The party then gets started on cleaning the statues, but Sein stands distracted in front of the statue of the forgotten heroes. He muses that the hero's name was Kraft all along, and he then asks about the name of the other hero. Frieren tells Sein that she knows of nobody that resembles the man.
Sein then recalls a scene from his childhood days. He and Gorilla are standing next to a statue of the same forgotten heroes with Heiter. Heiter asks who those depicted by the statue are, but Gorilla just tells the priest that they look like him and Sein. The boy then says that according to the mayor, the statue depicts former heroes, but no one even remembers their names anymore. Gorilla then declares that he and Sein are not going to end up nameless and that he is going to become a hero as unforgettable as Himmel. Heiter tells them that any hero will eventually be forgotten and that Himmel will not be an exception. Sein agrees with Heiter. However, Gorilla is undeterred and says that if he trains, maybe he will become as strong as the forgotten heroes. He also decides to be called by the name "Warrior Gorilla" from now on. Sein asks why, and Warrior Gorilla tells him that if someone wants to be an unforgettable hero, it is important to have an impactful name. Heiter is amused by this and then tells Sein that in that case, Sein will be the "Goatee Priest." He tells Sein that he will definitely match the goatee of the other forgotten hero in the future.
In the present, Frieren's party finishes polishing the statue. Sein says that it was a pain, and Frieren says that if it was bronze, she could have used magic instead. The old woman tells them that she asked Warrior Gorilla to do the same task, but he could not do it as well as they did. Sein comments that all Warrior Gorilla is good for is fighting. Though she does not disagree, the old woman smiles and says that his name was nevertheless impactful. She recalls having a conversation with Warrior Gorilla while he was cleaning the statue, and she tells Sein that Warrior Gorilla often spoke of him and told her that the two of them would engrave their names in history forever.
After talking with Sein, the old woman sees them off on Rohr Road. Frieren asks Sein if he found out the whereabouts of Gorilla, and he tells him that Gorilla went to Tür, a commercial town in the middle of the Northern Lands. Frieren notes that it is in the opposite direction of Äußerst, where the rest of the party is planning on heading, leaving Sein unsure of what to do now.
Characters in Order of Appearance
Locations in Order of Appearance
- Alt Woods (in flashback)
- Klar Region
- Rohr Road
Episode Notes
- The anime's scene of Sein on the campfire reflecting on the past with his childhood friend Gorilla and the magic photography at the start of the episode is mainly original and created out of a single panel in the manga's Chapter 34 when he shows the pendant with the photo to the party. The full conversation around that panel is part of the second half of the episode. Chapter 33 starts with Frieren's Party walking towards old man Voll's village. The moments of bonding shown before the appearance of the dwarf are also anime original.
- The central willow-like tree of the village which is later also part of Voll's flashbacks to his wife's face, voice or gaze he doesn't remember moments is an addition by the anime and in the manga, Voll's wife is only depicted with her back to the reader standing beside the dwarf on the stone facing forward.
References
- ↑ Crunchyroll: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 16.
| Anime Navigation | ||
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| Season 1 | ||
| Episodes | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 | |
| Blu-ray&DVD | Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3 • Volume 4 • Volume 5 • Volume 6 • Volume 7 | |
| Music | The Brave • Sunny • Anytime Anywhere • bliss • Original Soundtrack | |
| Spin-offs | Mini Anime | |