Chapter 81

El Dorado is the eighty-first chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
Frieren's Party received a private request from First class mage Lernen to assist the new barrier warden of El Dorado, which is a region transformed into gold at the hands of Macht, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, 50 years ago. Frieren was initially wary but accepted due to a grimoire rewards. Upon arriving at El Dorado, they found that the new warden was Denken, who finally received the post after successfully becoming a First class mage. Denken, having revisited his hometown, intended to face Macht of El Dorado and return El Dorado to normal, an idea which Frieren immediately dismissed and refused to engage in a battle with Macht. It turns out that Macht was one of the 11 people Frieren has lost to, and she could still not picture herself defeating Macht. Frieren said it was the best choice to leave him sealed inside the barrier until he dies, to which Denken said it was his initial idea. However, after he had revisited his hometown and visited his wife's grave, he decided on this undertaking. Denken told Frieren's party they did not have to accept the request and that he intended to face Macht alone, but Frieren, after recalling a memory with Himmel and the Hero Party, agreed to help Denken "seize a chance of victory".

Plot Details
The story takes place 30 years after the Hero Himmel's passing, in the Weise Region of the Northern Plateau.

Frieren dislikes First-class mage Lernen for trying to pick a fight with her, but she would still take up a request with a grimoire as reward.

50 years ago, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, Macht of El Dorado, transmuted the Fortified City of Weise and its inhabitants into gold. The Continental Magic Association then created a barrier around the area to seal Macht inside with the intent of imprisoning him until his natural death. However, since the golden transmutation continues to expand gradually, every year the First-class mage assigned to be the barrier warden must adjust the barrier's range, a task that seemed to have continued for 50 years.

Denken was originally from the Weise region, and the ruler of the Fortified City of Weise, Lord Gluck, was his stepfather. His village was engulfed in El Dorado a few years ago, cementing his resolve to become a First class mage and return to his hometown.

Frieren is adamantly against fighting Macht, citing that he was one of the 11 people who have defeated her in her lifetime.

Characters in Order of Appearance
Denken

Frieren

Fern

Stark

Lernen (mentioned)

Macht (mentioned)

Denken's wife (flashback)

Himmel (flashback)

Heiter (flashback)

Eisen (flashback)

Locations
Northern Countries, Weise Region

Events
Macht versus Frieren (mentioned)