Chapter 50

Reflective Water Demon, Spiegel is the fiftieth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Summary
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Denken's party retreat from the circular hall where Frieren's clone resides. Genau and an unknown mage are seen discussing the exam, and it is revealed the demon that resides in the dungeon is called Spiegel, a water-mirror demon that can create identical clones, and that Sense chose the examination ground since the examinees will need to work together to avoid casualties. Übel and Land fight Übel's clone. Frieren arrives at the entrance of the circular hall, and learns her clone is blocking the doorway to the innermost chamber of the dungeon.

Plot Details
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Denken's party stand before Frieren's clone in a circular hall inside the Ruins of The King's Tomb. Frieren's clone casts a unnamed offensive spell which causes the group to retreat out of the hall.

The scene changes and we see Genau and and unknown mage in a conversation. Genau reveals to his companion that the lord of the Ruins of The King’s Tomb is a water-mirror demon, a mythical monster from a bygone era. This fearsome creature can peer into the memories of anyone who enters the dungeon and create their exact copies. He says that there are other monsters like the Einsam that can do something similar, but Spiegel, the water-mirror demon, makes flawless replicas. Its clones not only look like the original person, but also have the same strength, mana, and skills. That is why no one has ever mapped the Ruins of the King’s Tomb. The other mage wonders why Sense would choose such a place for the exam. Genau says that the clones are perfect matches for their opponents, so to defeat them without losing anyone, the examinees have to calmly analyze themselves and cooperate as a team. It is a test that only a pacifist like her would devise.

The chapter shifts to Übel and Land, who are trapped in a dead end with a clone of Übel around the corner. Land is badly wounded and his golem in a bottle has been taken by the clone. Übel asks Land, who she calls four-eyes and is an expert in duplication magic, how perfect the clone is. He reminds her to call him by his name, not Four-Eyes. Land says that she talks too much even when they are in danger, as if she'll die if she stopped. She admits that he has a good point and that she might. She observes that her clone is silent, so it probably doesn’t have her memories or personality. Land disagrees and says that it might just be unable to speak. He remembers how it attacked him and stole his escape golem from his pocket. Übel says that’s exactly what she would have done too. Land then speculates that the clone has information about them as well and is cautious of Übel’s Sorganeel spell. Übel jokes that maybe it just enjoys toying with its prey, but Land doesn’t find that amusing. Übel sees that Land is bleeding a lot and tells him he won’t last long. She also asks him if he is really Land and not a clone. Land says there is only one way to know and Übel tells him to use her bottle. Land refuses and says it’s for her survival. Übel leaves the bottle next to him and tells him to wait while she gets his bottle back.

Übel sees that the clone does what she expected and comes closer. She says that the condition for using Sorganeel is to see the target’s whole body. She thinks that since they are equal in strength, this fight will depend on luck. She hates fights that depend on luck, since luck has never favored her. They clash and Übel is caught by Sorganeel. She says that she is unlucky, but the clone is even more so. Übel calls out to the real Land, who has just arrived, and says he was fast. Land uses offense magic destroys the clone. He asks why she took such a risk when his clone was dying, and Übel replies that she knew he would save her. He asks her if he seemed like such a nice guy. Übel says no, but remembers that his clone refused her bottle, so she knew he didn’t want to have someone else's blood on his hands. She says that’s why she created a situation where she would die because of him. She thanks him and says she learned something new about him. He says he’s glad and asks if she can sympathize with him better now. She says it will take her more time for that.

The chapter returns to Frieren’s Party, who have reached the entrance to the circular hall where Frieren’s clone is. She sees Denken’s group gathered there and asks them what they are doing. Denken says that according to his knowledge of the dungeon’s layout, the hall leads to the deepest level. Frieren wonders why that matters. Denken points to the clone of Frieren in the hall, which has been there for half a day. Frieren’s eyes light up and she says that this is what dungeon raids are all about.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Frieren
 * Denken
 * Richter
 * Methode
 * Laufen
 * Genau
 * Übel
 * Land
 * Sense
 * Fern

Locations
Ruins of the King's Tomb

Battles

 * Denken's Party escapes Frieren's clone
 * Übel and Land vs Übel's clone

Events

 * Genau and an unnamed mage discuss the dungeon and why Sense selected it.
 * Frieren's Party arrives at the circular hall.

Spells

 * Offense magic
 * Sorganeel