Chapter 25

Village of Swords (の) is the twenty-fifth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren’s Party is in the Schwer Mountains. The party presses towards the north and reaches the Village of Swords, which protects the Hero's Blade. The blade was pulled out by Himmel 80 years ago. The party members meet with the village chief, who tells Frieren that she didn't fulfill her vow of coming to a half-century later to fulfill her duty of exterminating the demons that regularly appear around the village. The next day, the party kills the numerous demons that appear near the cave which surprisingly still holds the Hero's Blade. It is revealed that Himmel was never able to pull the sword out, but the story was spread that he did so that the hero could be arbitrarily glorified by future generations. The village chief thanks Frieren's Party and they continue their voyage.

Plot Details
The chapter starts with a flashback of the Hero Party. They have just started their journey to defeat the Demon King, and are currently traveling on the road out of the capital. While walking, Frieren complains that the King is a cheapskate, as he only gave the party ten copper coins for their journey. Heiter says that it isn't entirely uncalled for, since many have tried to defeat the Demon King only to have been unsuccessful in their attempts. Himmel says that it isn't so bad, comparing it to an adventure and Heiter agrees. They change the subject when Frieren asks if Himmel's blade is the fabled "Hero's Blade". Himmel says that it's just a replica he was gifted when he saved a peddler visiting his village from a demon. Himmel mentioned that the peddler said, "For the hero of the future" while giving it to him. Frieren asks if this was the motivation for him to become a hero and Himmel replies in the negative. Himmel recounts a time when he was young, a kid named Heiter said that "since he only has a fake sword, you can only become a fake hero". That's when Himmel thought, why not just become a real one then; and that he would take the real "Hero's Blade" and take down the Demon King. He then jokingly says that time is merciless, the kid that said that is now a fake priest who spends his days drinking; Heiter corrects Himmel, saying that he is an actual priest. Frieren wakes up from her dream, and the flashback ends.

Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren’s Party are in the Northern Lands, specifically, the Schwer Mountains. Frieren's Party is currently traveling through a blizzard. Frieren had underestimated the weather in the mountains. She tells Fern, who is currently carrying her, to press on north since that's where their destination village is. Fern asks if Frieren can walk and she says no. Stark offers to carry her as Fern must be tired, but Fern calls him a pervert.

They reach their destination, and by then the blizzard has subsided. Near the entrance of the village, they see a broken-down building. They are welcomed to the Village of Swords by its village chief, who is a child. While walking with the chief, Frieren asks what the destroyed the building was; the chief tells Frieren that it was the hunter's cabin in the past, and that it got destroyed by the "Ruler of the Mountains". Frieren tries to recall if there was ever a "Ruler of the Mountains". Stark comments on being in the Village of Swords, Frieren asks if Stark was aware of it; Stark says it's the village that protected the "Hero's Blade", a sword that was allegedly bestowed by the goddess was enshrined at a holy ground nearby. Historically, no hero could ever pull it out, until 80 years ago. Stark says that there was a legend about it and the chief tells him that the legends say that only the hero that could pull it out was the hero that drove out the great calamities. Fern adds in that it was Himmel that allegedly pulled out the sword, and Stark conrfirms. Stark is confused on how Fern doesn't know the story, since it's very famous, and she replies that Heiter had never mentioned it.

They go into a building, where Frieren and the Chief converse. The Chief is angry at Frieren, since she was late on her promise to return a half-century later. Frieren says that she told them that it would be safe for the next 80 years, but the village chief says that she still has to fulfill her duty. Fern asks what the chief means by duty, and Frieren tells her it is demon extermination. The chief says that the "Ruler of the Mountains" has been quite violent lately. Frieren then decides that they will start the next day.

The next day, Frieren's Party defeats many demons. Fern asks why they haven't issued a subjugation request, despite the situation being so bad. The chief replies that they wanted to, but Himmel was the hero, after all, which leaves Fern confused. Stark sees more demons gathering at the entrance of a cave and proceeds to exterminate them. He was about to say something to Frieren, but gets knocked down by the "Ruler of the Mountains". Frieren asks Stark if he can still move. Stark cuts the Ruler's arm off and calls her a cruel boss, moving out of the way. Frieren and Fern then proceed to exterminate the "Ruler of the Mountains".

Stark confronts Frieren about what is inside the cave, which is the "Hero's Blade". She tells him that it was the reason that the demons were gathering at the entrance of the cave. They can not resist the urge to destroy the blade even though it's protected by a powerful barrier. Stark says that is not what he meant, Frieren understands and tells him that Himmel could not pull the sword out, recalling the time the Hero's Party went to the Village of Swords.

Himmel has just unsuccessfully tried to pull out the sword. Heiter tries to console him, but before he could, Himmel says that it's fine to be a fake hero. Himmel is still determined to defeat the Demon King, as long as he does it doesn't matter if he is a real or fake hero.

Frieren says that even without the sword, Himmel proved that he could save the world and that he is a true hero. Fern asks why this was kept a secret, and Frieren replies that it was probably the doing of those who wanted Himmel to be the hero. She says that unsavory anecdotes like that would be detrimental for the hero, and says that the hero will always be glorified by future generations, and eventually their original story would become obscured.

The village chief thanks Frieren's Party, and asks Frieren not to be late next time. Frieren's Party continues their voyage.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Himmel
 * Heiter
 * Eisen
 * Frieren
 * Fern
 * Stark

Locations

 * Schwer Mountains

Battles

 * Frieren's Party vs. Demons and Ruler of the Mountains

Spells

 * Unnamed magic that shoots a high concentration of mana (possibly Zoltraak)
 * Protection spell