Take Care ｢じゃあ
Synopsis
Now that Sein finally has a lead on the whereabouts of his long-lost friend, is it time for him and Frieren's Party to part ways?[1]
Plot
After Sein learns where Warrior Gorilla went from the stubborn old woman, he remembers how he showed the locket of him and Gorilla to Frieren, Fern, and Stark, where he reminded them that the goal of his journey was to find the whereabouts of his childhood friend. In the present, Sein regroups with Frieren and Fern, and Frieren asks if he found a lead. Sein confirms he did, and Gorilla had gone to the trading city Tür, east of their current location and the opposite direction of Äußerst, the city the party seeks to reach. Sein reiterates that he came along on Frieren's journey to go after Gorilla, and she acknowledges this. Fern remarks that the sun is about to go down and they should defer their decision to the next day. Stark joins the rest of the party after requesting for a cabin within the village, which they plan on staying in overnight.
After sunset, Fern returns from getting supplies and enters with Sein, who carries in some firewood. Inside the cabin, Frieren reads a grimoire and Stark mends his cloths. Fern comments on how cold her hands are, and Frieren says that the weather has gotten quite cold. She holds Fern's hands and notes that they are indeed very chilly. This prompts Stark to also hold Fern's hands to check, but Fern places her hand on his face in return, making him yelp about the cold. Sein watches the banter while stoking the fire, and he thinks about how the situation he just witnessed was ridiculous. After dinner, Fern and Frieren stand near the window, and they realize it is snowing outside. Fern asks Frieren if they will have to pass the winter in a cabin again, but Frieren tells her that as long as there isn't a blizzard, they can move on.
The next day, a serious blizzard hits the village. The village elder, who is renting the cabin to them, informs the adventurers that the cold wave that is currently causing the blizzard will last for about a month. Frieren asks Sein if they should depart, and Sein asks if that is a rhetorical question. They decide to stay until the cold wave passes.
Frieren comments that staying is not that bad since there are amenities here, unlike the time they got stuck in the mountain cabin. She also adds that there is a magic shop in the village, which is run by a shady old man. In her experience, she is likely to find legendary-level magic in such a place, so she is happy to have time to carefully look through the shop. Stark asks what legendary magic she has found up until now, and Frieren cites magic such as a spell to get rid of mold and a spell that remove tough oil stains. Hearing this, Fern recalls her master showing off the oil stain-removal spell on a pot, which sparkled like new in Fern's hand, and the apprentice labeled the spell as incredible. As these spells are convenient, Fern asserts that they changed her world, but Stark is dismissive of that.
Frieren then repeats that they will have to wait out the cold wave, as they cannot underestimate the winters of the Northern Lands. While they all start to return inside, Sein stays outside and mentions that he knows the winters are harsh, given he was born in the north. He looks into the distance and pleasantly comments to himself that he will be staying with the party for a bit longer.
Frieren's party then spends a month in the village, and they occasionally share meals together in the cabin. Fern spends time reading books, Stark trains his body, Frieren takes her time to go through the contents of the old man's magic shop, and Sein frequents the local inn. Near the end of the cold wave, Sein has a drink with the village elder in the tavern. The townsfolk tell him that the cold wave is almost over, so their party can depart soon. This leads Sein to ruminate on the fact that the party was not together for much time at all. Suddenly, Frieren comes through the door, asking him to spare a moment. Sein says it is unusual for Frieren to be seen at the tavern. Frieren explains that Stark and Fern are acting up again, so she is asking him to mediate between them. Sein asks why, and Frieren tells him it is because mediation is the job of a priest.
They go back to the cabin to see Stark sobbing and Fern pouting as she sits with her back to him. Sein comments on the poor situation and asks what happened. Fern tells him that it is all Stark's fault, with which the young man agrees. Sein then drags them into a room one-by-one, starting with Stark. Sein asks Stark what exactly led to the situation. Stark recalls how he stood behind Fern and rested one hand on her shoulder to touch Fern's cheek with his other cold hand like she did to him when they first arrived at the cabin. Sein tells him that no girl would like her face to be touched like that, and he asks him if he wants things to stay as is. Stark responds that he does not and wishes to reconcile with Fern. Sein tells Stark that he is good at heart, and to properly make up with someone, he must express his true feelings. As Frieren takes a peek through the opened door, the priest goes on to say that, especially in the future, Frieren will not mediate such arguments. Stark decides to apologize to Fern.
Next, Fern shares her side of the events. Sein explains to the young girl that Stark felt bad about what happened, and, as a kid, he did not mean any harm. She tells the priest that it was her fault to begin with and that she, too, would like to apologize instead of being stubborn. She tells him that being touched was not the concern, but the grip Stark had on her shoulder was too strong and she found it a little frightening. Sein asks Fern if she does not like Stark. Fern asks why he would ask that, and she asks if it seemed like she hated Stark. Instead of a direct reply, he advises her to tell Stark that she was just scared and she would like to reconcile. Stark and Fern then make up with each other, with Fern asking him to be gentler and Stark responding that he is sorry.
Afterward, Frieren and Sein have drinks at the tavern. While drinking, Sein angrily slams his tankard on the table, shouting exuberantly that he wishes Fern and Stark would just get together already. Frieren tells him that she does not understand what he is talking about, but she can see that he has been working very hard. Sein smiles and says that Frieren is the only one who would praise him like a kid. Frieren asserts that to her, he is practically one. Sein says that isn't too bad and then asks Frieren why she was always so concerned with him, going as far as to give him an invitation on this journey. Frieren repeats the words she said to Fern and Stark, where she feels a dislike towards those who are like her, which includes Sein.
Frieren shortly recalls a memory where she was gathering herbs during her time in seclusion. Sein's strong refusal at first reminded Frieren of her older self during this time, before she went to subjugate the Demon King. Sein refused to go adventuring just like she did, and that angered her. Sein counters that this does not directly relate to what he asked, and Frieren tells him that she felt that she wanted to give him a reason to go adventuring, just like what Himmel the Hero would have done. Once more, she recalls in a flashback the day Himmel first showed up with Heiter and Eisen. Himmel reached out to her to go on the adventure with him and the others, as he wanted to be her reason to do so. In the present, Frieren looks through a window outside as she ruminates that Himmel's words were what made her courageous enough to travel, and the Hero Party taught her how fun it was to spend time with friends. Frieren then asks the party member if it was fun for him to be an adevnturer, and Sein replies that it was.
After the talk, Sein steps outside of the tavern to have a smoke in the cold evening. He thinks back to the steps leading up to his journey, which includes the memory of Gorilla announcing that he would become an unforgettable hero like Himmel, Frieren recruiting him and telling him to think in the present, Heiter explaining that he trusts Frieren's words, the stubborn granny saying that Gorilla talked about how he and Sein would become heroic adventurers whose names would be remembered forever, Gorilla offering him his hand to go adventure together, him getting slapped by his older brother, Frieren patting his head, him telling Stark what the mirrored lotus flower meant, him advising Fern, and, lastly, him getting dragged around as a young boy with his friend. He fondly thinks about the memories of his past as he watches the snow fall.
After the storm passes, Frieren's party arrives at the bridge over the gorge that splits the paths to Tür and Äußerst. Sein tells the party members that he has decided to pursue Gorilla after all, saying that he does not want to bear any more regrets. Frieren acknowledges his decision and they bid each other short farewell saying: Take Care. Stark notes that they are saying goodbye much more easily than expected. Frieren tells him that since Sein is an adult, he will be fine. Sein walks on alone and has a reminisces his journey with Frieren's party over the past few months. He smiles and utters to himself how quiet it is when he travels alone. Now separated with Sein, Frieren, Stark, and Fern continue on their journey.
Twenty-nine years after Himmel's passing, Frieren's party arrive at the Offen Mountain Range. Stark returns from gathering food through the snow-covered landscape to the party's camp under a ledge of a cave. He sees that both Frieren and Fern are still asleep, which is unusual. He comments that they have been walking non-stop, so they could still be tired. He then prepares their breakfast with a fish he caught and other ingredients he gathered. He attempts to wake the other members, but they are unresponsive.
As Stark continues attempting to wake Fern up, he notices that she appears unwell, so he lets her sleep. He tries to wake up Frieren, but she mumbles to let her sleep longer. He successfully manages to rouse her by placing his cold hands and her cheek, and Frieren begrudgingly awakes. She checks on Fern and deduces that she has a fever. Frieren combs through her suitcase and takes out notes that Sein left on medicinal herbs. She tells Stark that if she diagnoses Fern with magic, she can use these notes to figure out what herbs can counteract the illness. Stark voices his uncertainty, as that kind of magic is done with the Goddess's magic, which requires a Holy Scripture that only the owner can cast with. Frieren tells Stark that she has a scripture, and she points to a book she was using as a pot stand, which Stark finds outrageous.
Frieren successfully casts a spell that identifies illnesses, noting that even though she isn't a priest, she is able to apply simple spells. She figures out that Fern's ailment is just a cold. Frieren checks the herbs they need and recalls a place in the Offen Mountain Range where she and the Hero Party once collected herbs. After this, Stark recommends they find shelter away from the cold.
Frieren and Stark discover a homestead in the mountains, and they carry Fern to it. The owner of the cabin notices their presence and offers her cabin for Fern to rest in. Stark thanks the woman, while also noting that it was surprising to find someone living deep in the mountains. Frieren comments that the last time she came here, there was a village here, and the woman tells her that it has been several decades since. Frieren then asks if there was an Icicle Cherry Blossom tree in the area. The cabin owner replies that there is one north of the current location, although it is difficult to get to. Frieren tells her that it is fine since she has been here before. The woman excuses herself to turn back to her usual work and moves outside.
Frieren tells Fern to wait a bit while holding her hand and that they will get the medicinal ingredients needed to cure her. Stark questions why Frieren has been constantly holding Fern's hand since they arrived, and Frieren tells Stark that she does that because Fern looks like she is in pain, and holding her hand while she has a cold has always calmed her down when she was child. This notion prompts Fern to remove her hand from Frieren's and voice her embarrassment. Frieren asks why, and Fern tells her to stop treating her like a child, which Frieren accepts.
While the duo walks north to find the tree, Frieren comments that in just two years, Fern will become an adult. She says that it still feels like yesterday when Fern was just a small girl. She emphasizes it by pointing out Fern's height back then, and she explains that she used to be far taller than Fern. In what Frieren perceives to be a blink of an eye, the girl has grown to be an adult, but she still feels like a child to her, and this will likely be the case for a long while. On their way to the tree, Frieren and Stark collect some of the ingredients needed for the medicine. As they continue on, they encounter a tortoise-like creature covered with snow, pass by a frozen waterfall, and take shelter from a snowstorm.
Frieren tells Stark that they will soon reach the tree, and Stark assumes that the Icicle Cherry Blossom is the final ingredient in the medicine, but Frieren corrects him and says that the mushrooms that grow at the roots of the tree are the final ingredient. Once they arrive, Frieren comments on how majestic the tree looks, and she expresses that she wishes to show the tree to Fern as well. She adds that the Icicle Cherry Blossom tree is her favorite flowering tree that blooms in the winter. While they are looking at the tree, Stark asks Frieren why she held Fern's hand in the cabin, adding that she has never treated her as a child to that extent before. Frieren tells Stark that she had no intention of treating Fern like a child and that she simply did it because she was in pain and it was the only way she knew to ease it. She asks Stark what she should have done. Stark thinks about it, and he answers that he believes they should follow what the heart says to do, or at least that is what his master always told him. He then says that people require emotional support, and there isn't anyone who would feel bad about receiving it.
Frieren has a flashback to a time she was sick, with Himmel sitting at her bedside and holding her hand. When she asked him why, Himmel told her it was because she seemed to be having a nightmare in her sleep and that people feel helpless when they are sick. He revealed that although he lost his mother at a young age, as a kid, his mother would often hold his hand to calm him down. Frieren objected to him doing the same for her, as his mother comforted him when he was a child. Himmel responded by saying that children are not the only ones who require emotional support, and Frieren agreed that the comfort didn't feel bad. Himmel joked around and told her that his handsomeness comes through when he is worried about others, which prompted Frieren to tell him to be quiet. A moment later, Heiter and Eisen entered the room with medicine for her.
Back in the present, Stark adds that Fern was probably embarrassed because he was around, saying that she would not want anyone to see her being spoiled. Frieren thanks Stark for what he said, and she tells him that she will do as her heart says. As a token of her gratitude, she suggests holding his hand when he is sick. Stark refuses the offer, saying that it would be embarrassing. Frieren goes ahead and picks a huge mushroom, which is much more massive than Stark imagined.
Afterward, Frieren mixes the ingredients in a giant cauldron, which, according to Stark, makes her look like a witch. Later, back in a room of the cabin, Frieren spoon-feeds Fern the medicine. While this occurs, Stark helps out the cabin owner around the homestead. Back inside, Frieren holds Fern's hand, and Frieren says she will get better soon. Fern is reluctant about holding hands and tells Frieren that she is no longer a child. Frieren says that she knows this, but she still continues to hold her hand, which prompts Fern to relax, and her facial expression softens to a smile.
After Fern's condition improves, the trio bids farewell to the cabin owner, and Fern thanks the lady for the accommodation. She then also directs her thanks to Frieren and Stark and includes Sein because of the notes he left behind. They depart for their journey with Frieren leading the way, with their next stop being the city of magic: Äußerst.
Characters in Order of Appearance
Locations in Order of Appearance
- Rohr Road
- Royal Capital (in flashback)
- Alt Woods (in flashback)
- Raad Region (in flashback)
- Bande Woods (in flashback)
- Offen Mountain Range
Episode Notes
- The beginning of the anime starts with flashbacks from the previous Episode 16 that are not part of the starting conversation of the adapted Chapter 35 of the manga with Sein showing the pendant to the party, him walking down the path with the stubborn old woman in the background and the statue of the forgotten heroes.
- This episode shows the second cour anime opening for the first time in the second cour of the first season.
- The spell to remove tough oil stains is extended upon in the non-canonical spin-off: Mini Anime Episode 6: Magic that Removes Stubborn Oil Stains.
- The time montage in the cabin showing all party members praying before eating is an anime callback to Episode 11 where Frieren and Stark picked up this habit during the stay with Kraft in the Schwer Mountains, but is not depicted as such in the manga.
- When Sein stands outside of the village's inn and has the flashback montage of his moments with the party, to his childhood friend Gorilla, Heiter, the statue of the forgotten heroes with the stubborn old woman or to his brother it extends beyond the one panel depicting his flashback walking together with the group in the manga.
- Before Frieren, Fern and Stark say goodbye to Sein a panel is not adapted showing them having a last meal together in the cabin.
- The anime changes the camp where Stark returns to Fern and Frieren sleeping from a place in a forest to a cave entrance.
- The owner of the cabin where Fern stays while Frieren and Stark search for the medicinal ingredients has in the anime a bigger property with the addition of animal husbandry which isn't shown in the manga.
- The scene where Stark helps out in milking the cows and the dialogue between him and the cabin owner are anime original and are depicted in the manga as Stark chopping wood in the presence of the woman.
- The cabin's interior is compared to the manga with no background art embellished by the anime's concept artist, Seiko Yoshioka, who coordinated with the authors of the manga, Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, to incorporate important elements such as the belief in the Goddess and its integration into everyday life with the small statue on a board on the wall.
Notes
- ↑ Delayed by one week due to the New Year holiday.
References
- ↑ Crunchyroll: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 17.
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