Chapter 12

The Northern Checkpoint (の) is the twelfth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
Twenty-eight years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren, Fern, and Stark are in Waal. Entry to the Northern Lands has been prohibited because monster activity is brimming, so Frieren decides they can relax in Waal for the time being. Fern discovers that they might have to stay in the city for two years, so she and Stark try to find another passage to the north, but to no avail. Stark does not want to stay too long as he wants to experience a deplorable yet fun journey and share his tales with Eisen. Fortunately, the Castellan of Waal finds out Frieren is present, and as thanks for her prior service to the city and in consideration of the plight of the Northern Lands, allows her party to pass through the barrier. With great fanfare, the trio continue their voyage into the north.

Plot Details
Twenty-eight years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren, Fern, and Stark are in the Central Lands, specifically the fortress city of Waal near the Bakur Canyons. They try to enter the north, but the Captain of the Guard tells them that passage through the barrier to the Northern Lands has been prohibited because it is brimming with monster activity, and it is unknown when it will open again. Frieren nonchalantly decides that their party should relax in Waal for the time being, and she remarks how she can finally leisurely research magic after so long. The party splits up, with Frieren going to check in at an inn, and Stark going to get some food. Fern overhears shop vendors talking about how it might take at least two years before the barrier reopens.

Stark orders a Jumbo Berry Special at a bar, making him feel nostalgic about how he used to split it with his master when he couldn’t finish it as a kid. He comments on how small it looks now. Fern also appears in the same bar and asks Stark if he would like the idea of staying in the town for at least two years, which he denies, relieving Fern.

They leave the bar and Stark agrees to help Fern look for a way to get over the barrier. He suggests flying over it, but that wouldn’t work because the national border with the Northern Lands has a powerful magical barrier stretching up to the skies, otherwise aerial monsters would get in. Stark and Fern go inquire at the Merchant’s Guild and discover that trade has been completely blocked. As Fern is about to give up, Stark suggests inquiring with the people at the black market and the thieves’ guild. They ask around the shadier places of Waal but to no avail. Stark then suggests they should try the guard station next, which makes Fern ask why he seems so desperate to get out of the city, even moreso than herself. He tells her that he does not have that much time left and that his master once brought him to Waal. They saw the clear landscape of the north and Stark asked him about his adventure with the Hero Party, of which Eisen happily told him stories about. Stark says that his master is no longer at an age capable of going on a journey, so he wishes to thoroughly indulge in his deplorable yet fun journey with Frieren and Fern to bring back plenty of travel tales to share with him, as this is what he can do to repay Eisen.

As Stark and Fern walk in town, they see Frieren trying to hide from something. Suddenly, the Captain of the Guard and the Castellan of Waal appear and ask for Frieren’s forgiveness. Frieren tries to speak, but the castellan talks about how it appears she is planning to embark towards the north again to stop the conflicts being caused by the remnants of the Demon King and gives Frieren’s Party passage through the barrier.

With great fanfare, the trio walks towards the barrier. Fern asks if they could not have declared Frieren’s name to begin with, and Frieren answered that she thought that it wouldn’t work even if they did. Stark is happy to witness this kind of scene, as his master embarked for the north like they currently are as well. Frieren recalls the celebration when the Hero Party ventured northwards, and agrees. The trio pass through the barrier and continues their voyage into the north.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Frieren
 * Fern
 * Stark
 * Eisen

Locations

 * Waal

Events

 * Frieren's Party enters the Northern Lands

Chapter Notes

 * It appears the Jumbo Berry Special really did decrease in size, but the barkeeper waves off Stark's doubts by saying the passage of time is cruel
 * Fern orders a glass of milk at the bar
 * Stark initially thinks Fern wants some of his Jumbo Berry Special
 * Stark claims that he is a pro at bluffing, and Fern comments that it must be because of his villainous face
 * The chapter title was localized from "Northern Barrier" to "The Northern Checkpoint" by Viz Media
 * The localized location of Waal is within the Riegel Canyon, but this is presumed to be erroneous