01x07 - Like a Fairy Tale

[bunniefuu]

A grimoire by Flamme the Legendary Mage?

They say books attributed to Flamme are never real.

Only forgeries have been found until now.

This is probably the best imitation I've seen so far, though.

Not bad as a reward for defeating monsters.

I really don't understand the appeal.

That said, when all you see are fakes,

you start to doubt whether the genuine article ever existed at all.

Flamme, the founder of humanity's magic, is like a fairy tale herself.

A fairy tale, huh?

I suppose. It's been long enough since then.

I'm probably the only one who remembers her face.

It's morning.

Ms. Frieren woke up early!

Is that so impressive?

Of course it is.

We must be sure to praise her.

What are we doing?

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

Episode : Like a Fairy Tale

years after the death of Himmel the Hero, on Eng Road, located in the northern lands

Thank you.

With the road blocked, I didn't know what I was going to do.

Hey, is this really necessary?

You're not happy about it? The reward isn't bad.

No, I mean, couldn't you just use magic to carry the cart to the other side?

That wouldn't help the people who come after us.

That's what Fern said, anyway.

You're rather selfish, Stark.

That's rich, coming from you.

Thank you.

Hey, thanks.

By the way, why was there a landslide in just this area?

The northern lands have been fighting demons here and there, too.

This landslide was probably caused by one such skirmish.

The scars of battle, huh?

Mr. Stark, could you take a break from that to help me over here?

Mr. Stark?

Hey, could you stop calling me Mr. Stark?

It weirds me out. We're not that different in age.

I see. Very well.

Stark, quit wasting time and help me already. Hurry up.

So rude!

I meant more like, can't you speak to me in a more casual or familiar way?

I see.

And can't you be friendlier, too? I'm sensitive, okay?

What a pain in the rear.

What'd you call me?!

Are you making progress over there?

Let's hurry, Mr. Stark.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

If you'd like, I can show you the way to the town.

An elf, huh?

I've lived many years, but this is my first time seeing one.

I suppose we're something of a rarity.

Come to think of it, I've never seen an elf besides you.

There aren't very many of us.

I've only seen my own kind a handful of times.

Elves may live a long time,

but across the board, we lack romantic feelings and reproductive instincts.

We're quietly going extinct.

The last time I met a fellow elf was more than years ago.

Perhaps we're closer to the end than I thought.

We can see the town now.

There's a line of wagons.

Those look like merchants.

The Liberation Festival is tonight.

Today's the day Himmel and his party of heroes

once defeated the demons who ruled this land.

Is that right?

That's what the Liberation Festival commemorates.

The statues of Mr. Himmel and his companions in the central plaza are decorated,

and the entire town throws a grand celebration.

Humans love to make a fuss.

They hold festivals for everything.

It's been more than eighty years since the demons were defeated.

That's more than enough time for something to pass from human memory.

But on this day, everyone remembers the party of heroes.

Nice work.

Five retakes, huh?

We finished sooner than usual this time.

You're always getting statues made, Himmel.

Because I want everyone to remember us.

Unlike you, we don't live that long.

I need future generations to remember how handsome I was.

I'm heading back to the inn.

But I guess the biggest reason

is so you won't be alone in the future.

What does that mean?

We're not fairy tales.

We really existed.

Every year, we celebrate the great deeds accomplished by the party of heroes.

Come to think of it, you look a lot

like the statue of Ms. Frieren from that very party.

Will they still be doing this a hundred years from now?

Yes, as long as this town still stands.

How about a thousand?

Well, I don't know.

Shall we go?

We're heading far to the north.

Come to think of it, you haven't told me your destination yet.

Where are we going?

Heaven.

Now that sounds fun.

years after the death of Himmel the Hero, in Graf Granat's domain, located in the northern lands

There are a lot of guards here.

Do you suppose something happened?

Let's decide who's going shopping.

Ms. Frieren, we're in a town.

I sense demons.

What?

Hey, you! What are you doing?!

Graf Granat, did you put her up to this?

Lord Lügner, while it's true I despise you and wish you dead,

I'm not foolish enough to openly att*ck peace envoys in the middle of town.

Peace envoys?

They're probably adventurers who don't know what's going on.

If you say so.

There's bloodlust in those calm, cold eyes.

Even the townsfolk who hate us look upon me as a person,

even as they tremble in fear.

But you look at me as though I'm a wild beast.

Aren't you?

You demons are wild beasts who imitate human speech

but can't be communicated with.

Throw her in the dungeon beneath the mansion.

Yes, milord.

Huh?

Hey!

I'm bored.

Ms. Frieren.

They said to reflect on your actions for two or three years.

That's shorter than I expected.

Could you bring me some grimoires later?

You really do love to waste time.

I'm not here because I want to be.

So, what did he mean when he referred to those demons as peace envoys?

I looked into it while shopping.

You know of Aura the Guillotine, don't you?

She's one of the Seven Sages of Destruction who served the Demon King.

She lost most of her followers fighting against us.

Last I heard, her whereabouts were unknown.

Did something happen recently?

Aura regained her power years ago.

Her forces have been embroiled in battle with this town for a long time,

but they've become exhausted by the fruitless fighting,

so they're suing for peace.

So that's why they were allowed in as envoys.

That was a bad move.

Trying to talk to demons is pointless.

It can't be pointless.

They're capable of speech.

Surely the best option would be to resolve things by talking them out?

They can't resolve things that way. That's why it's pointless.

Demons are man-eating monsters.

Have you ever wondered why they speak the same language as humans?

Hero, you must slay the fiend!

It's only a child.

So what? That thing ate our daughter!

It hurts...

It hurts, Mom...

Enough. I'll do it.

Then we'd be no different from the demons.

It's not as though they have to eat humans to survive, right?

Why don't we give her the opportunity to atone?

Chief...

You can't be serious!

Give us back our daughter!

I'll tend your wounds at my home.

I've been looking for someone to help on the farm.

Himmel, you'll regret not k*lling it now. It's a—

Frieren, we're capable of speech with each other.

We'll be staying in this village anyway.

Why don't we see how it goes?

Fine.

Why did you k*ll the village chief?

We should've k*lled it back then.

There it is again.

Every day I felt your desire to k*ll me.

I just want to live in peace.

So I brought you a replacement for the daughter I ate.

That's the village chief's daughter.

But the village chief is gone now.

It seems I've made a mistake somehow.

Then I have no choice. I'm taking this child hostage.

You won't stop me again, will you?

No.

Mom...

"Mom" again?

Like monsters, demons don't raise their young.

They spend most of their time after birth living in solitude.

You're solitary creatures by nature. You have no concept of family.

So why do you use the word "mom"?

Because it stops you from k*lling us.

A wonderful, magical word...

For them, words are a means of deceiving humans.

Flamme the Legendary Mage defined monsters capable of speech as demons.

They're descended from monsters who cried "help"

from the shadows to lure humans to them.

Don't forget to bring me grimoires.

Graf Granat is late.

A human diplomatic tactic.

In any case, I'm curious about that mage.

I know her face from somewhere.

Wild beasts who can't be communicated with, huh?

That's an accurate description.

She's the only one in this town who understands the true nature of us demons.

There's only one reason that predators

who prey on humans would speak the human language.

They speak not to understand us but to deceive us.

This town won't be around much longer.

I should take advantage of the confusion to escape.

What is this?

My son's room.

He was a good boy.

He'd often boast about how he'd take over the family soon so I could take it easy.

His Majesty gave him this sword when he fought in his presence.

Where is your son now?

He d*ed in battle against Aura ten years ago.

All that came home to me was his sword.

Lügner!

I only invited you here to avenge my son.

I'm going to k*ll all of you envoys here and now.

Your peace means nothing to me!

This room is quite clean.

I'm sure you've been keeping it just as it was ten years ago.

So what if I have?

I've kept my father's room the same since you k*lled him, too.

Why don't we put an end to this, Graf Granat?

Or shall we continue to shed each other's blood and cause even more grief?

We're capable of speech with each other.

Please grant us the opportunity to settle this with discussion.

Show them to the guestroom.

I'll consider it.

Lord Lügner,

what is a "father"?

Who knows?

Graf Granat resents us, but he seems to be an empathetic man.

If we win him over, we may be able to convince him

to lower this town's defensive barrier in the name of peace.

Then Lady Aura's forces will raze this town.

By the way, Linie, I don't see Draht.

He said he was off to eliminate an obstacle.

He's acting rashly.

What am I to do with that hot-blooded youngster?

Lord Draht, you should not be here.

Please return to the guest—

Who are you? Visiting hours are over.

I am Draht, one of Aura the Guillotine's executioners.

I am here to k*ll you.

I see. Done pretending to negotiate?

We're just getting started.

Uh-huh.

According to Lord Lügner, this girl is the only obstacle in our way.

If I k*ll her, and we win over Graf Granat, this town will fall easily.

Just so you know, I'm strong.

Stronger than me?

Stronger than Aura the Guillotine.

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

Who is that mage?

Speaking so casually to me is a serious crime in this town...

We don't stand a chance against them.

You're a guard-k*ller who should be ex*cuted.

I hate fighting powerful opponents, too.

This fight is already over.

She slew more demons than anyone else in history.

Episode Frieren the Slayer