Chapter 28

Priest & Regret is the twenty-eighth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Sousou no Frieren.

Summary
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren, Fern, and Stark are in the Alt Woods. Frieren’s party decides to stay in Sein’s village, and attempts to recruit Sein nearly every day. At first, Sein discloses that since his childhood friend Gorilla said he would return in three years but ten years have passed since then, he believes that Gorilla is already dead. However, after being confronted by Frieren, Sein eventually admits that he cannot leave because he cannot abandon his older brother and leave the village, as he also stayed in the village for Sein’s sake when he was a child. That admission angers Sein's elder brother, and elder brother slaps Sein and point out that elder borther has not once regretted the decision he made, but Sein has. Sein apologizes to his older brother, and decides to join the Frieren’s party after all in pursuade of Gorilla.

Plot Details
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren, Fern, and Stark are in the northern countries, specifically Alt Woods.

Fern goes to the market and manages nuy back clothes for Stark and Sein cheaply. She unbashfully expresses her displease with Stark, and her anger with Sein for stripping away Stark's clothing. Fern thinkgs gamblers are scum of the earth, but thank to Heiter's education, she is okay with drinking priest and thinks that alcohol cures everything. Frieren says that whether or not they should make Sein an ally, she still would like to support Sein to become an adventure, because that's what Hero Himmel used to do. The radiances of Frieren's hope is blinding for Sein as he feel like he has lose that spark. The trio party decided to stay in the villege in order to aggressively recruit Sein. Each time Frieren's party came to invite him, it brings a flash back to Sein -- he recalls Gorilla announcing that he was going to explore the Northen Countries, and Gorilla would be back for the harvest festical three years from now, and he would expect Sein to give him a reply whether Sein would go on the next adventure with him. Frieren's party consults Sein’ brother about what Sein liked, and the answers are “Alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, and older ladies”. In fact, he aspires to become an adventurer when he was a kid just for the sake of traveling with an older lady. Frieren tries to persuade Sein by telling him she is a far older lady, and Sein is disappointed throughoutly. She even tries the blow kiss technique, to which Sein said “someone take this child away”. However, the technique seems to be effective with Fern and Stark, as Stark states it is too lewd for him, and Fern states if she were to take a direct hit it would have been dangerous for her. Frieren is also disappointed because she was able to make Himmel fainted when she tried it on him.

Sein tells the trio that i’s enough ready, he has no intention of being an adventure. Sein think Godrilla is dead already since it has been 10 years since Gorilla set out for his Northen Country adventure, and has not came back despite his promise of returning after 3 years. Frieren points out to Sein that he is giving up before Sein has even gone to pursue Gorilla. She tells him that it has only been a mere ten years, and if Sein doesn't go now he would regret it in the near future. As Sein begins to say "why...", Frieren interupts him and say he must be wondering “why now, after all this time”, “thats because im talking about the story that unfolds for you now”. The statement seems to touch Seins, but the then bring up another reason - he cannot leave because his big brother stayed in the Village for Sein’s sake. Sein shares that he overhead the conversation between his brother and Heiter when Heiter came from the Holy city for an inspection. From the flashback, Sein was behind the door listening in to Elder brother conversation with Heiter. Heiter said that with his talent, he could serve at the priest at the holy city. However, elder brother declined, and stated that he had no concerns about living in this villages, and he cannot take Sein's hometown away from Sein, since Sein already lost his parents when he was very young. From the flashback, Sein concludes that his Big Brother stayes behind in the village for Sein's sake. Sein's brother, upon hearing that, becomes angry and slaps Sein. He told Sein that “I have no once regretted the decision i made, what about you”, and questions Sein how long Sein is planning to drown himself in regret. It is the first time Sein's brother raises his hand on Sein and showing Sein that kind of expression, which rattles Sein.

Later on, Sein comes to talk with Frieren party, explaining what has happen between Sein and his brother - that he has applogies to his brother. Sein told the party he has decided to become an advensturer and will pursue Gorilla. In the meantime, he will join Frieren party and stays with the party while he is finding Gorilla.

Frieren party, now including Sein, set out on their journey.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Fern
 * Stark
 * Frieren
 * Sein
 * Gorilla
 * Sein's elder brother
 * Heiter

Locations

 * Alt Woods