Chapter 57

The Third Exam is the fifty-seventh chapter of Kanehito Yamada and Abe Tsukasa's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Summary
Some time before the events of the previous chapter, Serie and some of her first class mages discuss the format of the third exam. Serie decides she will be in charge of the third exam. Right after the events of the previous chapter, Serie decides who passes and fails based on her instincts. She fails Kanne, Dünste, Laufen, Scharf, and Ehre because they cannot visualize becoming first-class mages, and Frieren due to their ongoing ideological dispute over magic. Frieren tells Serie she was only able to meet the Hero Party due to the flower field spell Serie finds foolish; she also tells Serie she will not be able to fail Fern. Fern is able to see the instability in Serie's mana; delighted, Serie asks her to be her apprentice, but Fern rejects.

Plot Details
Prior to the events of the previous chapter, Great Mage Serie arrives at the Continental Magic Association Northern Branch. As Sense helps remove Serie’s cape, Serie asks if the first-class mage is aware of her purpose for visiting, to which Sense remains silent. Serie remarks that Sense always acts this way when the timing is not right. Serie proceeds to mention that the twelve mages who completed the second stage of the First-Class Exam constitute an exceptional number that is far too many. She praises the concept of an exam that emphasizes teamwork, believing that the current first-class mages lack a sense of cooperation, a viewpoint Falsch agrees with. Despite this, Serie points out a flaw in the exam stage due to the presence of a powerful mage, whom Lernen identifies as Frieren. She declares that because of Frieren, many substandard mages have passed and will inevitably meet a futile demise if they proceed with the normal third-stage exam – a result neither Serie nor Sense desires.

Before Sense can apologize, Serie waves off her apology and asserts that Frieren is at fault. Serie announces her decision to make an exception and personally conduct the third stage exam by screening each of the 12 mages peacefully. She notes that Lernen has no objection to her decision despite having always been in charge of the third stage to which Lernen replies that this was because Serie’s impulsiveness did not only begin that day. Lernen adds that he is not qualified to test Frieren as he realized from a glance that she was restraining her mana and possesses an overwhelming amount of mana almost rivaling that of Serie’s, an observation that delights Serie. Serie asks Falsch if he had noticed the same, but he replies that Frieren’s mana did not appear restrained and unstable, adding that even if it was possible to show no instability, it would take an unfathomable amount of time to develop an impractical technique.

Serie remarks that Frieren has dedicated her entire life to a technique aimed at deceiving demons. Demons, being highly sensitive to mana, cannot be easily fooled by mana restraint that hasn't been perfected over several centuries, unless it's done by a prodigy. Serie acknowledges that such a technique is inefficient, and the time spent on it could be better utilized to significantly enhance one's strength. However, she highlights the significance of this inefficiency in combat situations. In battles between skilled mages, even a minor miscalculation in an opponent's mana could prove fatal. Serie notes that Frieren lacks the technical prowess expected for someone of her age, but her polished mana restraint has allowed her to eliminate demons with ease.

As far as Serie knows, only the Demon King had been able to see through Frieren's mana restraint in a single glance until Lernen. Lernen modestly claims it was a mere coincidence that he noticed a slight instability. Serie recalls that it's been half a century since a timid, young Lernen became a first-class mage and regrets that he will never have the chance to fight Frieren, even if it's a battle he could emerge victorious in, considering his old age. As Serie leaves the premises, she reflects that human apprentices should not be taken, and while walking alone, she laments that Lernen was never able to see the instability in her mana.

Back to the present, Falsch reveals to the twelve mages that Serie will personally interview everyone. Frieren realizes that Serie has no intention of letting Fern and her pass the exam. Fern asks Frieren if she is acquainted with Serie and Frieren responds that they have been a long time ago. Frieren explains that Serie will likely rely on her instincts to determine who passes, adding that her pure instincts have never been wrong and Frieren herself never became the mage that Serie wanted.

As the interview process commences outside the building, a nervous Kanne approaches Serie. Instantly, Serie fails her and orders her to go home. Kanne asks for the reason, to which Serie bluntly replies that it's because Kanne couldn't envision herself as a first-class mage. Serie explains that Kanne's visible fear of Serie's mana demonstrated her lack of belief in her abilities. She goes on to emphasize the fundamental principle in the world of magic: one can only materialize what one can visualize. This was followed by the consecutive failures of Dunste, Laufen, Scharf, and Ehre.

As the next candidate, Frieren, approaches Serie, the latter remarks that Frieren also couldn't envision herself as a first-class mage. Serie states that it's because Frieren doesn't anticipate Serie passing anyone. Serie allows Frieren a chance at passing and asks her about her favorite magic spell. Frieren doesn’t hesitate to say flowerbed making magic, the same spell that her master Flamme taught her, which Serie finds foolish. Serie rejects Frieren, and Frieren heads back into the building. Serie expresses disbelief that someone like Frieren had defeated the Demon King as the latter did not even try to stand her ground after being ridiculed. Frieren replies that the feat was done by the Hero Party and that if any one of the members were to fall, then they would all have fallen. Serie states that Frieren was lucky to be blessed with comrades, a statement that Frieren fully agrees with.

A flashback begins at a time when the Hero Party was camping. Frieren approaches Himmel and asks him why she was recruited as Himmel replies that they were looking for a powerful mage. Frieren retorts that powerful mages were plentiful in the Royal Capital and that she didn’t have to be the one. Himmel responds that he thought Frieren was good, which causes Frieren to continue to ask why. Himmel states that although Frieren does not remember, the two have already met in the past. HImmel explains that when he was a child, he had gotten lost in a forest while searching for herbs and had despaired at the thought of never being able to return to the village again. Just then, an elf approached him and frankly told Himmel the directions to a nearby settlement, causing the young Himmel to think that she was a very cold person. Unsure if it was done on a whim or if the elf had sensed unease, Himmel states that the elf had shown her flowerbed making magic as the young child realizes for the first time that magic could be beautiful.

As the flashback ends, Frieren tells Serie that although it was just a mere coincidence, Flamme’s magic was the reason that Frieren was able to meet Himmel and the rest of the party. Before leaving, Frieren cautions Serie that even if she intends to reject Fern, she won't be able to because Fern will exceed her expectations as a sign that the era of humans has already arrived. As the moment for Serie to interview Fern arrives, Serie, puzzled, ponders the meaning behind Frieren's words. Fern's reaction to Serie's mana mirrors that of the other failed mages, but then, suddenly, Fern responds with surprise to Serie's mana. Serie, intrigued, inquires about what Fern sees. Fern's response - instability - prompts Serie to light up and invite Fern to become her apprentice. However, Fern immediately declines the offer.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Serie
 * Sense
 * Genau
 * Falsch
 * Lernen
 * Frieren
 * Fern
 * Kanne
 * Dünste
 * Laufen
 * Scharf
 * Ehre
 * Himmel (in a flashback)
 * Heiter (in a flashback)
 * Eisen (in a flashback)

Locations

 * Äußerst
 * Northern Continental Magic Association

Events

 * Serie fails Kanne, Dünste, Laufen, Scharf, Ehre, and Frieren
 * Fern sees the instability in Serie's mana
 * Serie asks Fern to be her apprentice
 * Fern rejects Serie's offer

Spells

 * Spell to create a field of flowers (in a flashback)