Early Northern Travels Arc

The Early Northern Travels Arc is the third story arc in Sousou no Frieren.

Prologue
Twenty-eight years after the Hero Himmel's passing, Frieren's Party is in the Decke Region. Stark has collapsed and there is a heavy snowstorm so they seek shelter in an old cabin. As they enter, they see an elf doing squats, and quickly exit. Fern protests staying there and suggests finding another place, as there is a pervert inside. Before they could leave, the elf opens the door and asks Frieren if she is an elf. They head inside and the elf, who is a monk named Kraft, converses with Frieren about how long it has been since he encountered another elf and how he arrived in the cabin. As Stark rests in the cabin after being warmed up by Kraft, Frieren and Fern help Kraft carry food from his cart. It is revealed that Kraft and Frieren do not know each other at all. Half a year passes as they stay in the cabin due to the dangerous weather. Kraft and Frieren have a discussion on the Goddess of Creation, showing how Kraft believes in her and Heaven as well. Kraft asks Frieren to tell him about herself, so that he can honor her. This causes Frieren to remember how Heiter asked the same of her in the past. Frieren's Party and Kraft part ways as they continue their separate adventures.

Elven Wish
Twenty-eight years after Hero Himmel's death, Frieren's Party is in the Northern Lands, specifically the Decke Region. While traveling through a heavy snowstorm in the Decke Region, Stark has collapsed. He is unable to be carried by any magic that Frieren or Fern possess, so they resort to carrying him, which Fern is tasked with doing. Fern bears with a half-asleep mumbling Stark for quite a while until they reach a cabin that Frieren remembers was at the foot of the mountains 80 years ago. They reach the cabin and Frieren opens the door to see an elf doing squats. Fern immediately drags Frieren out and tells her that they need to go somewhere else, as there is a pervert inside. Before they could get away though, the elf opens the door and asks if Frieren is an elf.

Everyone heads inside the cabin and Frieren and converses with the elf. He tells her that this is the first time in 300 years that he has encountered another elf. He even wondered if they had already gone extinct. He thanks Fern for the fire, explaining that he lost his charcoal in the blizzard so he was unable to do it himself, having to resort to doing squats to heat himself. He then introduces himself as Monk Kraft, and Frieren introduces herself afterward, then Fern introduces herself and Stark. Kraft then talks about Frieren's Party traveling to Aureole, saying that their devotion is admirable, but Frieren responds that she is only half devoted. The conversation is cut short because Fern informs them that Stark's temperature is dropping.

After a while, Stark wakes up to see that he is sleeping next to Kraft, who is keeping him warm, which alarms Stark and he calls him an old man, hurting Kraft's feelings. Stark then compliments his body, saying that it is nice. Fern gets the wrong idea and Stark clears up the confusion, saying he was referring to his well-trained body, assuming he is very strong. He then asks for Kraft's name and comments that he has not heard of him, but believes that he is a famous monk. Kraft then tells Stark to rest and asks Frieren and Fern to help him carry some food from his cart which is located nearby.

They reach Kraft's stranded cart which has frozen food, and he tells them to take as much as they wish because there is plenty. Frieren looks at the Schwer Mountains and decides to stay a bit longer since hiking in the blizzard would be suicidal. While returning to the cabin, Kraft asks Frieren if she knows who he is, to which she responds in the negative. He figures so since he also knows nothing about Frieren. Fern tells him that she was a mage in the Hero Party andKraft asks what she was before. Frieren asks what he is implying, and he answers that they are elves.

Half a year passes, with Frieren's Party and Kraft spending their days in the cabin while waiting for the weather to improve. Frieren and Kraft are in a forest having a conversation. Kraft thanks Frieren's Party for the helping him survive the harsh winter of the Northern Lands and asks Frieren to give a necklace to Fern, complimenting her for her strong devotion to the Goddess. Frieren asks Kraft why he believes in the Goddess, claiming that, apart from mythical times, she has never shown herself throughout the long history of the world. Kraft then states that Frieren must be young, since he was doubtful like her in the past, but now he truly believes in the Goddess. He says that he would be troubled if the goddess did not exist, since everyone who knew about his great accomplishments has long passed, so he wants the Goddess to honor him. He says that it is cruel that nobody will remember the tracks they left in their lives. Frieren then says that that is just a wish that the elves have, and Kraft rhetorically asks that isn't Heaven as well. Kraft then changes the subject, asking Frieren to tell him about her, as if she does not believe in the goddess, he will honor her himself. This causes Frieren to recall a memory of when she was travelling with the Hero Party.

Himmel and Eisen are surrounded by happy children, with Frieren at the back talking to Heiter, saying she never imagined he would pay for the reconstruction of an orphanage, which surprised her. Heiter tells Frieren that he was also an orphan. He believes that the Goddess will honour him for living purely and righteously, which Frieren disagrees with, asking what the corrupt priest is saying while getting drunk. Heiter suddenly asks her if she has any one to honor her, and she asks why. Heiter explains that it seems that she does not believe in the Goddess and that if she tells him about herself, he will honor her in the Goddess' place.. Frieren says that she has been living leisurely until now, so she hasn't done anything worthy of being honored. Heiter states that despite that, she has dedicated her life to constantly limiting her mana. Frieren is suprised that Heiter had noticed, saying that it isnt an interesting story. Heiter says that he does not mind, saying that it would be good reference, since his child might become a mage. Frieren questions what Heiter has said, since priests are supposed to be single for life, which makes Heiter laugh.

Frieren says that she will pass on Kraft's offer, since she already has somebody to honor her. Kraft understands this and tells Frieren to treasure them. This makes Frieren pause for a moment, before saying that he is already in Heaven. Kraft then says the he may eventually come across him, to which Frieren agrees.

Later, Frieren's Party and Kraft part ways and continue their separate adventures.

Village of Swords
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.

Present for a Warrior
29 years after hero Himmel's passing, it is revealed that it is Stark's 18th Birthday. Fern and Frieren are seen talking about a potion that Frieren bought. Then it pans over to Stark looking at the clouds, whilst commenting on how they look, which Fern notes, to be rather childish. Fern then proceeds to then spark up a conversation, about Stark's backstory.