Chapter 52

Strategy Meeting is the fifty-second chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Summary
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Dünste arrives at the hall entrance willing to cooperate, and shares valuable information previously observed by the now-disqualified Edel. The group remains uncertain about the strength of the clone, as Sense refuses to assist as a proctor. Soon after, Kanne and Lawine also join, with Lawine providing insight about the monster in the depths of the dungeon and urging the group to act quickly as the clones are closing in. With the assumption that the clones will imitate the exact actions of the hosts, Fern reveals Frieren's weakness: her momentary mana detection interruption when casting spells. The group initiates a strategy meeting, to Frieren’s enjoyment.

Plot Details
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Dünste has just arrived at the entrance of hall where Frieren's clone resides. One of the mages sitting at the entrance of the hall, Methode, asks where his party mate Edel is. He tells her that a clone of Sense attacked them, so she decided to give up. Methode then asks where Blei is. He tells her that Blei bought him time to flee, and that he hopes that he managed to escape to safety. Dünste, now siting with the rest of the mages, asks for cooperation as he has information. Denken tells him that was his intention in the first place, and then proceeds to ask the group if there is anyone that can heal Dünste. Methode has a scripture with her, so she can cast simple healing magic, which she proceeds to do. Dünste then reveals that the clones are mindless, and adds that according to Edel, they simply imitate the workings of the original mind, but don't have their own. Frieren tells the group that they've lost the option to defeat it easily, and so they have to form a strategy with that in mind. Denken tells Frieren that there are still too many unknown factors. Denken believes that the biggest issue is the true identity of the clones and their summoner, and that they cannot take action until they understand its nature. Richter adds that they especially need to figure out whether the clone has any unique weakness, and adds that a clone that is as strong as Frieren will likely lead to casualties. Denken looks at Sense, hoping to get an answer, but as the proctor she refuses to provide any information.

Suddenly, Lawine and Kanne arrive at the entrance of the hall. Lawine tells them that the clones do not have any weaknesses. She reveals to them that the identity of the controller of the clones is a demon named Spiegel, a demon which has been around since the mythic age. Denken asks her how she knows to which Lawine replies that her brother was a member of the advance party the Continental Magic Association sent to raid the Ruins of the King's Tomb. Richter comments on this, telling her that it now makes sense how she managed to get this far. He also adds that he can not see any logic in her behavior, and that she should have shared her information and cooperated with them from the start. She tells him that it did not seem like they could have worked together, and Kanne adds that Frieren and Fern were gone by the time they realized that working together would be ideal. She also tells him that a middle-aged man like him would not hesitate to abandon his allies, adding to their unwillingness to cooperate. Richter concedes that he is indeed middle-aged, but her statement still hurts when said to his face. Kanne tells Lawine that she maybe she should apologize.

Drawing upon the observations of the advance party, Lawine reveals that the Spiegel is a harmless and frail monster that is lying in the treasury behind the door that Frieren’s clone is guarding, which Denken’s mana detection confirms. Denken and Frieren reveal another problem in the form of the seal that is placed on the door, the Sacrificial Treasury Door Lock Magic, which is considered to be a binding magic of the highest order that requires the caster’s death to be unsealed. Frieren also deduces that the walls around the door are also similarly protected, leaving the group with no way through other than fighting the elf’s clone. Lawine urges the group to act swiftly, as Spiegel's clones habitually gather at the deepest point. This is where the previous advance party, except her brother's unit, met their demise, and is where the examinees are currently residing. Fern confirms with Dünste that the clones imitate the exact actions of their hosts and that their behavioral weaknesses would remain the same. With this knowledge, Fern reveals that the group may have a way to deal with Frieren’s clone. Fern asks Frieren to stand next to a wall and proceeds to fire an offensive spell at her with the elf responding in kind with defense magic. Kanne and Lawine are unable to notice anything, but Denken and Methode are astonished to find a fatal vulnerability in that Frieren's mana detection is interrupted for a fraction of a second the instant a spell is cast. Laufen says that this is a common error for apprentice mages and Frieren admits that it has been a weak point of hers for ages and she did not mention it as it was embarrassing, to Fern’s annoyance. Richter believes that almost no mage in existence would be able to exploit this vulnerability due to Frieren’s extraordinary abilities. The group begins a strategy meeting with Kanne and Lawine bickering in the middle at some point. As Frieren contributes to the meeting, Fern notices that she is particularly enjoying the moment.

A flashback begins to a time when the Hero Party strategized as they hid behind a broken down wall in the presence of a giant monster. The party reached a verdict as Himmel instructed Eisen to grab the monster’s attention while the rest of the party flanked the monster with Frieren providing covering fire. Frieren asked about Heiter’s role and Himmel revealed that it was currently his hangover day, which made him as good as useless. The flashback cuts as the party began to carry out their plan against the monster. With a smile on her face, Frieren reveals that she was just reminiscing about the Hero Party and how the discussions would go similarly to the strategy meeting the mages are currently having. With the strategy meeting concluded, Denken asks Frieren if they can win and she claims that dungeons that cannot be conquered do not exist, backing up her statement by stating that it is spoken by the mage of the party that has conquered the most dungeons in history.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Dünste
 * Laufen
 * Fern
 * Frieren
 * Methode
 * Denken
 * Edel (flashback)
 * Blei (flashback)
 * Sense’s clone (flashback)
 * Sense
 * Richter
 * Lawine
 * Kanne
 * Heiter (flashback)
 * Eisen (flashback)
 * Himmel (flashback)

Locations

 * Ruins of the King's Tomb

Battles

 * The Hero Party engages a monster after a strategy meeting in a flashback

Events

 * Dünste, Lawine, and Kanne arrive at the entrance of the hall, with the former two contributing information about Spiegel and its clones.
 * Frieren’s vulnerability is revealed by Fern.
 * The group begins a strategy meeting.
 * Frieren reminisces about how the Hero Party would similarly strategize before a big fight.
 * The group of mages begin their plan to conquer the dungeon.