Chapter 82

Di Agölze: Universal Golden Transmutation Magic (をにえる (ディーアゴルゼ)) is the eighty-second chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
Denken invited Frieren's Party into the hut prepared for the barrier wardens, explaining that barely anyone used it. Frieren remarked it was because El Dorado and Macht naturally makes mages nervous. Fern was also anxious and explained that even though El Dorado was such a huge region magically turned into gold, she could not feel any mana coming from it. She said that El Dorado is detected as a mass of pure, solid gold instead of magic. Frieren talked about Macht's specialized magic, Di Agölze (Universal Golden Transmutation Magic) - an irreversible curse which is imperceptible as magic. It was because of this unique power that Macht was considered the most powerful Sage of Destruction. She concluded that it was impossible to counter his magic and said that Serie's presence is required. Denken began to tell them about the information he gathered, but Frieren asked him to start from the conclusion. Denken then said if they started from the conclusion, it was impossible to defeat Macht.

Meanwhile, First-class mage Lernen and Second-class mage Edel were on a wagon. Edel, seeming exhausted, asked Lernen why he went to great lengths to assist Denken. Lernen revealed that they were old friends and fellow Imperial Mages. When Lernen was expelled from his position, Denken was the only person who defended him until the end, which made Lernen feel indebted. Yet, through many years, like Denken delaying his return to his hometown, Lernen delayed repaying Denken. Therefore, when Denken finally decided to return, Lernen also decided to help him. Edel commented that it was too late, to which Lernen agreed, saying "One day is not a time that exists in our lives" and that they should have realized sooner.

Plot Details
Denken showed Frieren and her Party into the house prepared for Barrier wardens. He informed them that even though the facility was prepared, almost none of the previous wardens had used it. Frieren was in agreement, commenting that even with the Barrier in place, the place was still too close to El Dorado and Macht, making most mages nervous as a result. Fern made an uncomfortable expression as she was sitting on a chair inside. Stark noticed her discomfort and asked her what was wrong, as she had been pale ever since they arrived near El Dorado. Denken apologized for not foreseeing the problem that most mages would find El Dorado extremely uncanny. Stark, who was unaffected, asked Frieren what was going on. The latter commented that having a warrior like Stark was reassuring in this situation. Stark then guessed that it had something to do with mana, since it is something only mages would understand. He wondered if Macht was emitting an enormous amount of mana, but Fern denied it, saying it was actually the opposite. She could not sense a hint of mana coming from El Dorado. No matter how powerful the barrier might be, Macht's mana should have been detectable even at that distance if he were truly able to transmute such a large area into gold through magic. However, mana detection did not register El Dorado as something transformed by magic, but an enormous mass of solid gold in its purest form.

Frieren confirmed Fern's perception to be correct, calling the phenomenon ominous: even though it is the result of magic, it cannot be perceived as is. She explained Macht's magic, Di Agölze (Universal Golden Transmutation Magic), a curse that can transform everything in the material world into gold. Stark recalled curses being magic of an obscure, indecipherable nature which demons and monsters use. Denken elaborated on the details, that only magic which sedates, petrifies or transforms the state of living or non-living matter is considered to be a "curse". Stark deduced that in order to dispel the curse, they would need to have a priest who can use the Goddess magic. Denken then corrected him, saying it only applied to ordinary curses. Frieren told him that during the era of endless war with the Demon King Army, Macht had transmuted countless heroes in just the Northern Countries alone, but until now none of them has been saved. Di Agölze could not be undone even by the Goddess magic, hence it is considered to be the strongest curse. The reason why Macht was considered the most powerful Sage of Destruction was because, in addition to being irreversible, his magic could not be obstructed with defensive magic or evaded, as it is not detectable. She concluded that there was no single prospect of victory, insisting that they needed to call Serie if they were to challenge him.

Denken chose this moment to interrupt her and requested to be able to relay the information he had acquired. He informed them that the previous Barrier warden, First-class mage Lernen, had launched an investigation inside El Dorado and passed what he managed to gather through the memories of his partner, Second-class mage Edel. As he attempted to go on, Frieren stopped him and demanded he started from the conclusion.

At the same time, Lernen and Edel were on a carriage heading back towards Äußerst after passing the information to Denken near El Dorado. An exhausted Edel leaning over the carriage's side complained about the investigation in El Dorado, Lernen reassured her that they would be near Äußerst soon and that it was worth it to deliver intel that may help Denken. Edel noticed that Lernen was being quite supportive of Denken and asked why. The elder mage told her it was a long story, to which Edel prompted him to go on, saying they had nothing but time until they reached Äußerst.

Lernen began recounting his history with Denken. When they were young, both Denken and Lernen served as mages in the Imperial military. Although they had different personalities, they got along with each other very well and had fun working together. However, Lernen was soon expelled from his position despite his talents because he was not good at socializing with others. Yet, Denken had stood by him until the end, which made Lernen feel indebted and promised himself to one day return the favor.

The First-class mage went on to praise Denken as someone who was zealous, passionate, and extremely devoted to his wife. He recalled that he used to listen to Denken speak fondly of his wife with a strained smile on his face. Even after his wife had passed away, Denken still mentioned her and his plans to return to his hometown. Lernen remarked how nostalgic it felt, since as time passed, Denken no longer talked about returning to his hometown again, and he had not done so for half a century. He only finally decided to do so after Lernen informed him that his hometown had been engulfed by El Dorado.

Lernen concluded it was the reason why he had gone so far to help Denken to return to his real hometown, not the transmuted El Dorado of the present. After a moment of mutual silence, Lernen asked Edel if she thought they were too late. Edel agreed, saying that too much time had already passed. Lernen concurred, but could not blame Denken for delaying, either. He lamented the fact that both he and Denken failed to reply a simply truth when they were young, that because they were humans, their lifespans are limited. "One day" is not a time that exists in their lives. He admitted that although he could have lent his aid to Denken at any time during the last 50 years, but he himself also delayed returning the favor. This is the reason why he decided to do all he could to help his friend now, seeing it as the only opportunity left as both their lives neared the end. He called it his final struggle as a feeble old man, and believed that Denken would show him a magnificent, heroic battle that he was not capable of attaining.

Back in the cabin for the barrier warden of El Dorado, Denken acceded to Frieren's request to start from the conclusion and declared that it was impossible to defeat Macht. Frieren declared that the case is closed, but Stark implored her to hear the rest of the story.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Denken
 * Lernen
 * Frieren
 * Fern
 * Stark
 * Macht (mentioned)
 * Edel

Locations
Fortified city of Weise, Northern Plateau

Events
Macht versus Frieren (mentioned)

Spells
Di Agölze (Universal Golden Transmutation Magic): Macht's signature spell. A "curse" which transforms all material in the world into gold. It is the ultimate "curse", unable to be reversed by any means and is not perceptible as magic. As a result, it cannot be obstructed with defensive magic, nor can it be evaded. This spell made Macht considered to be the most powerful Sage of Destruction.