Chapter 1

The Journey's End (のわり) is the first chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
The Hero Party makes a triumphant return to the Royal Capital after vanquishing the Demon King. It includes the Hero Himmel, Warrior Eisen, Priest Heiter, and Mage Frieren. As the party members celebrate, they reminisce about their long ten-year adventure. However, Frieren, being an Elf, felt it was short, as time passes differently for elves. Nevertheless, all of them were glad to have been able to adventure together. At the same time, the party watches the Era Meteors occur, and they all vow to meet again to watch the meteor shower again fifty years later. The next day, the party members go their separate ways, with Frieren going on a journey to acquire more magic. In her pursuit of magic, she travels far and wide, which finally leads her back to the Royal Capital five decades later. She finds Himmel to have grown very old. Meanwhile, Frieren herself does not look a day older. Together, they meet Eisen, who hasn’t changed much appearance-wise, as he is a Dwarf, and Heiter, who has also aged like Himmel, as they are both humans. Together, the hero’s party once more goes to see the Era Meteors in a location a week’s walk from the capital. They venture through many places, reminding Himmel of the memories of days past, finally reaching the place where they witness the Era Meteors once again. Shortly afterward, Himmel passes away, seemingly content. At his funeral, Frieren begins to cry, unaware of the reason why, as she simply traveled with him for a mere ten years. She questions why she never thought about getting to know him more. After the funeral, the party disbands once more, and Frieren goes on a voyage to acquire magic, while also deciding to get to know humans better as well.

Plot Details
The story begins with the Hero Party’s triumphant, carriage-ridden return to the Royal Capital. Some members are already thinking of getting a job, as life still goes on. The hero remarks that the road ahead for Frieren is so long, that it is beyond the others’ imagination.

As the party reaches the Royal Capital and walks through the streets, the citizens come out and congratulate them, cheering for their victory. In the castle, the king praises Hero Himmel, Warrior Eisen, Priest Heiter, and Mage Frieren for defeating the Demon King, remarking that a peaceful era will now dawn upon the world.

After meeting the king, the party members converse and walk through the plaza, and Eisen and Himmel mention how the party has reached the end of its adventure. The members reminisce about the different parts of their adventure, such as Himmel and Eisen almost being executed for being impertinent to the king, Heiter always being useless after getting a hangover, and Frieren being eaten by a mimic. Despite these ridiculous memories, everyone was glad to have adventured with each other. Frieren states how their ten-year adventure was short though, much to the shock of Heiter and Himmel. As they converse, the Era Meteors, a meteor shower that happens once every fifty years, begins. Himmel remarks that it is a perfect beginning to a peaceful era. Frieren mentions how it is hard to see in town, and she says that next time, fifty years later, she will take the others to a place where the meteor shower can be witnessed more beautifully. Himmel chuckles at this, then agrees.

The next day, the party disbands, and Frieren goes on a journey to acquire more magic since she plans to explore the Central Lands for over a century. As she leaves, Heiter and Himmel talk about how they (Humans) cannot perceive an Elf’s feelings, saying that even a century might feel like just another day to her.

In her pursuit of magic, Frieren travels far and wide, through different lands and climates, and five decades later, her need for Darkness Dragon horns finally brings her back to the Royal Capital, as she left the one she found in the Demon King’s castle in Himmel’s possession. She notices how the townscape has changed considerably since she was last there. As Himmel calls out to Frieren from behind her, she finds him to have grown very old. Meanwhile, Frieren herself does not look a day older. Himmel thought he would never see her again.

At Himmel’s house, he returns the Darkness Dragon’s horn to Frieren, thinking of it as a treasure that his beloved comrade left to him for safekeeping. Frieren goes outside and sees the statues of the hero party, now all degraded due to the passage of time. After Himmel gets ready, he and Frieren go meet Eisen and Heiter at the Capital’s gate. Frieren remarks how Heiter, who has also aged, looks more dignified, and he states that it is because he is a bishop now at the Holy City. Meanwhile, Eisen does not seem to have changed much appearance-wise, as he is a Dwarf.

Together, they all undertake a one-week journey (which Himmel thought of as elder abuse) to the place where they can witness the Era Meteors with a nice view. Himmel felt nostalgic throughout the journey. As they ventured to many places, it reminded him of all the beautiful memories he made with his comrades. As they finally reach the place where they witness the Era Meteors again, Himmel thanks Frieren, as they were able to have a really fun adventure at the end.

Shortly afterward, Himmel passes away, seemingly content. As the citizens mourn his loss at his funeral, they question why Frieren does not show a hint of sorrow, despite being one of Himmel’s comrades, even though Eisen and Heiter were not grieving either. Suddenly, Frieren starts shedding tears, unaware of the reason why, as she simply traveled with him for a mere ten years. She questions why she never thought about getting to know him more, despite being aware of a Human’s short lifespan.

After the funeral, the party disbands once more. Heiter returns to the Holy City, telling Frieren and Eisen to show their faces more, as he might not be around for much longer. He jokes that his years of chronic drinking might finally be taking their toll. Frieren continues her journey to acquire magic, while also deciding to get to know humans better as well. She asks Eisen to become her vanguard, but he refuses, saying that he is no longer at an age capable of wielding an axe, shocking Frieren. They bid their farewells, and Frieren leaves for her voyage.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Himmel
 * Frieren
 * Eisen
 * Heiter

Locations

 * The Royal Capital

Events

 * Return of the Hero's Party
 * The Era Meteors (occur twice)
 * Beginning of a peaceful era
 * Himmel's death

Spells

 * Various unnamed spells

New Tools

 * Frieren's Staff
 * Grimoire
 * Darkness Dragon Horn (shown only; stated to be able to be used for summoning)

Chapter Notes

 * The king gave the Hero Party only ten coppers when they began their journey
 * A mimic looks like a normal chest from the outside but it is a trap with sharp teeth and a large tongue
 * After Frieren took the Darkness Dragon Horn from Himmel, she gave it to an eagle-like bird