Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (葬送のフリーレン)

Don't retreat!

Protect the villagers!

Beyond Journey's End

Episode 34: A Demon-Slaying Request

30 years after the death of Himmel the Hero, in the Rufen region, located on the Northern Plateau

Please.

I have a son. He's still a child.

Silence.

I've heard those words more times than I can count.

So, where is this son of yours?

At least try telling half-truths.

I received a demon-slaying request directly from Ms. Serie.

I didn't know what I'd find,

but it seems to be my hometown in ruins after a demon attack.

I bear no attachment to this place, but it's still sad seeing it like this.

Is that you, Genau?

Yes.

Genau. Demons destroyed the village...

I know. I've already taken care of them.

I killed them all.

What about the others?

They're safe. All of them.

You'll be okay, too.

A newly qualified first-class mage came with me.

She's a mage, but she can use the Goddess's magic.

Unusual, right?

She'll heal your wounds right away.

You'll be able to reopen your shop soon.

Have you finally learned to bake decent bread?

I've only been able to eat cold, hard bread recently.

I'd love to have something freshly baked.

In truth, it doesn't even have to be fresh.

I'd gladly take unsold leftovers or loaves like your old failures.

I'm not picky.

Mr. Genau.

Bring the injured over here.

"Injured"? You don't need to spare my feelings, Methode.

He's already dead.

He was beyond saving when I found him.

The stench is dreadful, isn't it?

His stomach wound was already starting to rot.

Someone like that can't be saved.

But he still clung to me.

He was a baker's son.

We often played together as children.

He took over the shop after his father passed,

but his bread wasn't very good.

I won't get to eat it anymore.

Everyone's together now, so he won't be lonely.

Why does it have to be them instead of us?

Unlike us, the people of this village didn't choose to fight.

If anyone has to die,

it should be the first-class mages like us who chose this path.

Mr. Genau.

By the time the request from the Chivalric Order of Norm

stationed here reached the northern branch,

this village had already been destroyed.

You're not responsible for what happened.

I'm going to look around the village again.

Perhaps you should rest a bit.

Why?

Why? Because...

Quiet.

One of my eyes was just put out.

One warrior and one hidden mage— no, two mages?

Two.

They're quite skilled. Do you think they're enemies?

No, they're probably...

Oh, it's you, Frieren.

Which means the other one I detected was Fern the first-class mage.

Who do we have here?

Methode, and one of the proctors from the first-class mage exam...

Genau, right?

Honestly, there was so much bloodlust in that spell, I thought you were a demon.

Was there? My apologies for the confusion.

She's right. I was worried to death.

Fern, it's okay. They're on our side.

Let Stark know.

Okay.

I see.

So Ms. Fern also received a demon-slaying request.

We were on the Northern Plateau anyway.

So, what's the situation?

Are you praying?

Is that a problem?

No, I don't think so.

My village was destroyed by demons, too.

I see.

Hey.

Demons eat humans, right?

So why are the bodies still here?

It was the same at my village.

Who knows? Not me, at least.

They kill humans even when they're full.

I wonder why.

I see. The two of you defeated the demons in the village.

We were a bit too late.

We even hurried here.

There's still one loose end that Mr. Genau wishes to tie up.

These are what remains of the Chivalric Order of Norm that was stationed here.

The Chivalric Order of Norm?

We saw them in Norm Company territory, remember?

They're the trading company's military force.

There are so few of them.

This is the standard amount to station in a village this size.

Even then, they were far better soldiers than the village deserved.

This was their captain.

He was a great man who defended the village for years.

I'm surprised. He was far stronger than Stark.

That's not a high bar to clear.

What was the cause of death?

An autopsy spell revealed that they were killed by blades.

They all died instantly.

The demons in the village were weaklings who'd have stood no chance against them.

The one who attacked the village is probably still alive.

Good news. You didn't come here in vain.

I see. Looks like there's still something we can do to help.

Let's show it how terrifying humanity can be.

Like this, this, this...

and then this, perhaps?

Those are pretty unrealistic movements.

But based on the knights' wounds...

Maybe...

it fought with two swords.

In that case...

Typically, demons only conceal their mana for short periods of time,