01x01 - The Journey's End

[bunniefuu]

Like a fairy tale

It's a sign the story has reached its end

Like a single passage taken from

A journey that was too long

Of the evil that once cast a shadow

Across this land

And the memories of the short journey

With the hero who defeated it

Beyond Journey's End

The story ends

And the hero goes to sleep

Leaving this land with

Days of peace and quiet

The passage of time heartlessly

Makes people forget

Even the tracks left behind by his life

Begin to rust

Just the same

Your words and wishes and courage

Are still inside of me

And they live on

We chose the same path

That's all it was supposed to be

Why is it that at some point

I wanted to understand the reason for

The tears that fall down my cheeks

Even now

If I retrace the journey we walked together

Even though you're not there

I know I'll be able to find it

At the northernmost end of the continent, I arrived at the place that the people of this world call heaven: Aureole, the land where souls rest.

Many souls gather there, and I spoke with friends who once fought alongside me. —Flamme the Legendary Mage

Frieren.

The royal capital's in sight.

The adventurers are making their triumphant return.

They must be celebrating in the city.

We'll have to look for work once we're back.

You're already thinking about that?

It's important, after all.

We've defeated the Demon King, but it's not over.

We have the whole rest of our lives ahead of us.

Work, huh?

I'd like something where I can drink on the job.

Aren't you a priest?

I suppose you're right.

Frieren, the life ahead of you will surely be much longer than we can imagine.

Perhaps.

Beyond Journey's End

Himmel the Hero,

Eisen the Warrior, Heiter the Priest,

and Frieren the Mage.

Thank you for defeating the Demon King.

Now our world will enter an age of peace.

The king's going to erect statues of us in the plaza.

I'm not sure they'll be able to faithfully recreate my handsome looks, though.

How self-serving of him.

He only gave us ten copper coins when we left on our adventure.

Now, now, Frieren. Tonight, we drink for free.

I'd say we're even, wouldn't you?

You corrupt priest.

It's over.

Yeah.

This is the end of our adventure.

It's been ten years, huh?

We've been through a lot.

The day we departed...

Himmel and Eisen were nearly ex*cuted for speaking rudely to the king.

k*ll them.

We'll give them a talking to.

Shall we lick your boots?

One misstep, and our adventure would've ended there.

Sometimes, Heiter was too hungover to do anything.

You're as pallid as an undead. Are you all right?

No.

No, huh?

It was a weekly occurrence.

I, on the other hand, was exceptional.

We thought about leaving you behind when that mimic tried to eat you.

Seriously? We told her it was a trap.

It's dark and scary in here!

Why don't we leave the elf behind?

We have nothing but terrible memories.

But I had fun.

I'm glad I got to adventure with all of you.

Likewise.

It was a mere ten-year adventure.

"A mere ten-year adventure"?

But that's an entire decade we spent adventuring together.

Look at Heiter. He's turned into an old man.

That's rude.

He always looked like that.

That's rude.

It's nearly time.

The Era Meteor Shower, was it?

It happens once every fifty years.

Perfect for marking the start of an era of peace.

They're beautiful.

The view's not so good from inside the city, though.

I'm having a moment over here. Don't spoil the mood.

Next time, then.

I know a place where you can see them more clearly.

I'll take you there in fifty years.

What?

It's nothing.

You're right. Let's go see them together.

Well, I should go.

What are you going to do now?

I'm going to continue collecting spells.

I plan to travel around the central lands for the next hundred years or so.

I'll stop by once in a while.

I can't understand what being an elf must be like.

Seriously, how long has she been around?

To her, fifty or even a hundred years might be a trifling thing.

Shadow dragon horns?

We don't have those here.

Haven't seen a shadow dragon in twenty or thirty years.

I see. That's no good. I need one for summoning.

Come to think of it, I think Himmel still has the horn we got at the Demon King's castle.

It's exuding some kind of evil aura.

It's not harmful to people, is it?

I don't know.

You don't know, huh?

It's nearly time for the Era Meteor Shower again.

I'll pick the horn up when I visit him.

The city's changed quite a bit since I was last here.

It should be around here.

Frieren?

Himmel...

You're so old.

Do you have to put it so bluntly?

I'm still pretty handsome at this age, though, aren't I?

It's been fifty years. You look the same as you ever did.

I thought I'd never see you again.

The Era Meteor Shower, huh?

That brings back memories.

About that thing we looted from the Demon King's castle...

You mean the shadow dragon horn?

I've never forgotten about it.

My cabinet's been exuding an evil aura all this time.

Sorry, I think.

You could've stashed it in a shed or something.

I couldn't do that.

You may not have thought much of leaving it with me,

but to me, it was a treasure entrusted to me by a dear friend.

I had to return it to you someday.

It's not that big a deal.

Himmel, are you ready yet?

You're bald, anyway. There's no point in fussing over your appearance.

There are things we bald men are particular about.

Now, shall we go see the Era Meteor Shower?

You've become rather dignified, Heiter.

I'm a bishop of the holy city, after all.

You haven't changed at all.

Don't pat my head.

Eisen, you haven't changed much.

Is that how I seem to you?

I would expect as much from a dwarf.

So, where's this place where we can see the meteor shower clearly?

We're going there now?

It's a bit early to see the Era Meteor Shower, isn't it?

Yeah. It's about a week's walk from here.

It's that far away?

Unbelievable.

You should be kinder to the elderly.

This brings back memories.

Traveling together like this makes me feel like we've returned to those days.

We journeyed to all sorts of places.

Everything seemed so brilliant and new.

And you were always there in those beautiful memories.

I'd been looking forward to the day when we'd all be together again.

Thank you, Frieren.

Because of you, I had this delightful adventure at the very end.

They're beautiful.

I think Himmel was happy.

You think so?

She was one of Mr. Himmel's companions?

I haven't seen her look sad once today.

How heartless.

Now, now! We're not wearing sad expressions, either.

Show some respect, Bishop!

You're heartless!

You wound me.

It's not like I knew anything about him.

We only traveled together for a mere ten years.

I knew human lives were short, but...

Why didn't I try to get to know him better?

Don't pat my head.

I should return to the holy city.

Let me get a good look at your faces.

This will probably be the last time I see you.

Are you unwell?

My years of drinking have caught up to me.

It's divine punishment.

If you're ever in the holy city, offer a drink at my grave.

Heiter, you're not afraid of dying?

We're the party of adventurers that saved the world.

We'll surely be living the good life in Heaven after death.

That's the whole reason I fought alongside you.

You corrupt priest.

If you'll excuse me.

I should get going, too.

You're off to collect more spells?

There's that, too,

but I want to learn more about humans.

I see.

So I wanted to ask you something.

Seeing as how I'm a mage, having a powerful warrior to defend me would be a huge help.

Give me a break.

I'm too old to swing an axe now.

Don't make that face, Frieren.

Surprisingly, life slows down once you've lost your vigor.

I see.

I'll see you later, Eisen.

Yeah. See you later.

Episode : The Journey's End

That's the tree I saw earlier.

I always get lost in these woods.

Where am I?

years after the death of Himmel the Hero, on the outskirts of the holy city of Strahl in the central lands

Are you looking for something?

Is something the matter?

I'm looking for the home of a man named Heiter.

Then you're a visitor.

You're still alive, you corrupt priest?

Turns out it's harder than I thought to make a stylish exit.

I brought some liquor to offer at your grave.

Would you like a drink?

I gave up drinking.

I see.

I doubt the Goddess will forgive you even if you clean up your act now.

Thank you.

Who is she?

Her name is Fern.

She's a w*r orphan from the southern lands.

It's not like you to volunteer to help people.

You're not Himmel, after all.

Frieren, why did you come to visit me?

I was in the holy city picking up some things.

I've been trying to get to know the people I meet on my travels as much as possible.

And I owe you a lot, so I came to repay my debts before you d*ed.

In that case, I have a request.

Will you take on an apprentice?

Fern has potential as a mage.

Will you take her with you on your travels?

I'm sorry, Heiter. That's the one thing I can't do.

She'd only get in my way.

You know how often apprentice mages die in battle.

I'm not sending a child my friend asked me to look after to her death.

I see. Then I have another request.

This was unearthed from the tomb of Ewig the Sage.

This grimoire is said to contain lost spells of resurrection and immortality.

I find it hard to believe such magic really exists.

That's part of why I'd like you to decipher it.

Can you do that?

It's written in code using pictures.

The people of this era really liked this kind of thing.

I could do it, given five or six years.

I see.

But why do you want this deciphered?

I thought you weren't afraid of dying.

I have two reasons.

The first is that I when I said that, I was just putting on a brave face for you.

The second is that I'm now more afraid of dying than I was before.

Even if I can't achieve immortality, I'd like a bit more time.

Besides, the holy texts tell us to live healthy lives.

A long life is the ultimate expression of that, Frieren.

You corrupt priest.

Also, in your spare time, will you teach Fern magic?

As a priest, I don't have that knowledge.

I could do that.

There you are.

I've been looking everywhere for you.

Do you always train in the woods?

Was finding me difficult even for you?

Mr. Heiter often tells me I'm practically invisible.

It's a very good thing, isn't it?

It is.

It's true. I can barely detect her mana.

Her control over her mana is exceptional.

How much has she studied at such a young age?

Mr. Heiter said when I can blast a hole in that rock, I'll be a proper mage.

Oh? Heiter knows what he's talking about. That's—

As you just saw, my magic dissipates and doesn't reach it.

I see.

What should I do to train?

Can I ask you something first?

Do you like magic?

Somewhat.

Just like me, then.

And you alright

Can you hear me

Trailing along deserted train tracks

Crying excessively

Wanting you to smile

I hold on to memories I'd like to keep fresh

There's something I'd like to tell you

With words more precious than a goodbye

Unremarkable yet special

See, things that couldn't have been

Seen if it weren't for these eyes

Why? They begin to overflow

So, if I were to be born again

I would surely choose this place once more

So, if we were to meet again

I'd never let you go, I'd choose the present

Even if no promises were made

Even if I'm lost in days of loneliness

Those tears will be alright, dawn will surely break

I’m whispering our lullaby

for you to come back home

Is Fern's training coming along smoothly?

Are you trying to put on a brave face again, Heiter?

It saddens me to see him treated like this.

But they're worth looking for.

Magic sure is amazing, isn't it?

You keep collecting the strangest spells.

It'd be a waste for you to die.

Someday, I'd like to show them to you.

Episode It Didn't Have to Be Magic...

It didn't have to be magic...