Chapter 48

Ruins of the King's Tomb is the forty-eighth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Summary
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Frieren's Party arrives at the Ruins of the King's Tomb for the second exam. The participants of the second exam are seen listening to Sense's explanation of the tomb. Before the exam begins, Sense provides all participants with a golem in a glass bottle in case trouble occurs. As Fern and Frieren prepare to enter the dungeon they are interrupted by Sense who decides to follow the pair. Whilst in the dungeon, Frieren reminisces about her former party's experience with dungeons, where Himmel's passion for dungeons is seen. As Frieren and Fern are exploring the dungeon, only five participants left outside the dungeon, including Denken and Richter. The remaining participants team up and enter together. The chapter ends with Frieren being trapped by a mimic as Fern attempts to pull her out.

Plot Details
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Frieren's Party and the other First-Class Mage candidates face their second exam: a dungeon raid into the Ruins of The King’s Tomb. The examiner, Sense, lays out the rules: reach the deepest chamber of the tomb before dawn, and they pass; otherwise, they fail. She hands them each a bottle containing a golem that can whisk them away to safety if they break it, but warns them that doing so will also end their exam. Blei objects to the unfairness of the test, pointing out that no one has ever returned alive from the tomb, let alone mapped it. Sense replies that a true First-Class Mage must be able to overcome the impossible and venture into the unknown. Methode, another candidate, asks how they will prove their achievements. Sense says she will accompany them as an observer and witness their success or failure. She then declares the start of the exam.

Richter notices that there are multiple entrances and relays that to Denken. Denken recognizes the dungeon as a relic of the Unified Dynasty era, when such tombs were designed with many paths, but all of them led to the innermost depths. He then suggests to Ton that they should cooperate with each other since there is no need to compete. Ton scoffs at his proposal, saying that there is no obligation to do so and that there could be a risk of becoming a sacrificial pawn for another examinee. He also distrusts Denken because of his knowledge of dungeons and decides to go solo. Wirbel forms a group, but only with his team from the first exam. Denken shakes his head at their foolishness. Frieren tells Fern that it is time for them to enter as well. Sense follows them, thinking that they are the safest option. Frieren warns her not to get in the way, and Sense promises she won't get in the way or lend them a hand.

Frieren guides them through the dungeon, choosing the safest route. She advises them to be cautious and map their progress. She spots a trap tile and alerts Fern, who compliments her dungeon expertise. Frieren says she learned from experience. She explains that Himmel had a passion for dungeons. Fern wonders what she means by passion. Frieren says he was thrilled by dungeons, which she finds rather insane.

The scene shifts to a flashback of the Hero Party. They stand at the top of a staircase that leads to the lower level of a dungeon. Himmel declares that they took the wrong turn and suggests going back to the previous fork. Heiter agrees, but Eisen protests, saying they should go deeper to find the monster. Himmel chides Eisen for his impatience and declares that they must explore every nook and cranny before moving on. Frieren gives him a strange look, and he asks her if she thinks he is crazy. He says he wants to have fun while helping others, and Frieren warns him that the dungeons will get more dangerous as their journey progresses. Himmel says that he will enjoy himself till the end. He says he dreams of an adventure where they raid dungeons, slay monsters, find treasure, and then realize that one day they have saved the world. He jokes that there might be a rare grimoire hidden in the other direction, and Frieren suddenly changes her mind and wants to go back.

The story returns to the present. Kanne and Lawine enter the dungeon as a pair. Only five candidates remain at the entrance: Denken, Richter, Laufen, Methode, and Länge. Denken laments the low turnout, saying he expected better from such talented people. Richter says not everyone is as logical as him, but adds that the smart ones stayed. He says they have no idiots who would fall for a mimic in their group, which is good enough. Denken exclaims that such a fool would never enter this exam. They enter the dungeon together. Meanwhile, Frieren and Fern encounter a chest. Frieren senses its mana and thinks there is a grimoire inside. Fern tells her that the spell ‘Mikheit’, which analyzes treasure chests, shows that it is a mimic. Frieren says the spell is only 99% accurate, and Fern asks what she means. Frieren says that the greatest mages have made historic discoveries by seeing through the last percent. She claims that, based on her experience as a mage, she is sure there is a rare grimoire in the chest. She opens the chest, only to find a mimic that bites her. Frieren cries out that it is dark and scary, and Fern tries to pull her out. Sense watches them with concern, wondering if she made a mistake in following them.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Sense
 * Frieren
 * Fern
 * Blei
 * Dunst
 * Methode
 * Länge
 * Lernen (mentioned)
 * Edel
 * Land
 * Übel
 * Ehre
 * Ton
 * Laufen
 * Denken
 * Kanne
 * Lawine
 * Wirbel
 * Scharf
 * Richter
 * Himmel (In Flashback)
 * Heiter (In Flashback)
 * Eisen (In Flashback)

Locations

 * Ruins of the King’s Tomb

Events

 * Sense explains the rules of the exam.
 * The examinees enter the dungeon solo or in various groups.

Spells

 * ‘Mikheit' which analyzes the contents of a treasure chest.