Chapter 56

Fern's Staff is the fifty-sixth chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Summary
Right after the events of the previous chapter, the examinees rest in Äußerst. Fern confides with Stark that she is upset with Frieren, who reacted callously to her broken staff which Heiter gave her. The various examinees who did not pass the second stage commiserate their failure. Frieren takes Fern's broken staff to Richter and asks him to fix it before the third stage of the exam. Stark and Fern are shown eating food in a market, and Stark tells Fern to try to understand Frieren who is doing her best. Fern, still upset, returns to her room with Frieren, where she sees her fixed staff on her bed. The next day, those who passed the second exam gather in front of the Northern Continental Magic Association, where the third stage of the First Class Mage Exam begins.

Plot Details
Right after the events of the previous chapter, Stark is seen meditating as an unnamed elderly man continues to overlook him, stating that the art of battle is an endless path and that Stark is one step closer to the truth. He departs, reiterating that he has nothing more to impart to Stark, leaving the young warrior bewildered once more.

As the man leaves, Stark notices a disgruntled Fern approaching him with visible anger and fearfully asks why. Crouching next to Stark, Fern tells Stark that she had an argument with Frieren as Stark notices that the arguments have been coming rather frequently. With the third stage of exam looming, Stark tells Fern that this isn’t the time for them to be fighting as she cuts him off, explaining that this particular argument hurt her deeply. She had expressed her desire to repair her staff, which had been shattered during the second stage of the exam. In response, Frieren had suggested replacing the staff since it was beyond repair. While Fern understands the practicality of this suggestion, she reveals that the staff was a cherished gift from the late Heiter and had been a part of her since childhood. Stark assures her that Frieren bore no malice, but a saddened Fern explains that she could never imagine parting with the staff.

Inside the town of Äußerst, Kanne is seen hanging out with a dejected Lawine. Kanne contemplates the lengthy three years until the next first-class exam, and Lawine half-heartedly requests Kanne to tease her as usual, despite not being in the mood for it. Kanne offers a head pat, which Lawine quietly accepts, leaving Kanne taken aback. Lawine tells Kanne to hurry, just as Frieren approaches them, carrying a bag filled with the broken shards of Fern's staff.

Inside Richter’s shop, a disgruntled Richter asks how long Denken is going to linger in his shop. Richter states that he has failed the exam and is a nobody to Denken now, telling him to leave and not get in the way of his business. Denken responds that he is in the shop as a customer to which Richter hastens him into buying something. A loitering Laufen offers Richter a pastry from her basket before being rejected and eating the pastry for herself. Calling back to Richter’s disqualification during the second stage of the exam, Denken tells Richter that he was simply unlucky, and anyone placed in the same situation would have ended up similarly. However, Richter dismisses this consolation and acknowledges that he has suffered defeat and is in a bad mood. Denken notes out loud that despite his mood, he has opened up his shop to which Richter responds that work is still necessary to live regardless of his mood.

Richter supposes that it is good that he was the one to drop out of the exams and can take it three years from now as a feeble, old man like Denken is unlikely to have that much time left. Denken starkly agrees as Richter attempts to further upset him. Denken states that Richter is a brazen boy unworthy of admiration as he disrespects authority and is exploitative against the weak. Despite this, Denken bears no hostility against him as Denken had also once been brazen like him. Richter asks what he intends to mean by that and Denken tells him that there is no need for pessimism as he will be stronger than ever in three years time. Denken takes his leave, and Laufen, speaking on his behalf, offers an apology to Richter for Denken’s lack of tact, referring to the experienced mage as “Grandpa.” Richter, in confusion, asks about their relationship and realizes that Denken has taken his leave without actually buying anything from his shop.

Shortly after, Frieren enters Richter’s shop to the shopkeeper’s anguish as he wonders if he was having an unlucky day. Frieren reveals that she has asked around town and found out that Richter is capable of repairing any staff in his shop regardless of any damage. Richter tells Frieren to show him the staff before expressing unhappiness that Frieren had handed him apparent chunks of trash. Frieren responds saying that it may not be trash. Richter states that he was starting to feel better and was now back in a terrible mood thanks to Frieren, refusing to work on the chunks of the staff given to him. Frieren prepares to leave as she takes this response as Richter stating that he did not have the ability to work on the staff, which irritates him enough that he began to work on the staff. Richter begins to repair Fern’s staff as Frieren reads from a pile of grimoires on a desk. Frieren asks if Richter can repair the staff by the end of the day as she would like the staff to be fixed in time for the third stage of the exam to the shopkeeper’s annoyance. As Richter finally finishes his repair, he apologizes to Frieren for calling the staff a piece of trash as it was apparent that the staff had been meticulously maintained and treasured.

Meanwhile, Stark, who had gone out with Fern for food, says that it is time to head back. As they walk back to the inn, Fern complains that Frieren does not understand her. Stark responds that he also does not, which only serves to anger Fern to the point of hitting him. Stark says that this lack of understanding is why it is important for him and Frieren to keep trying to get to know Fern and that he believes Frieren is trying her best. As Fern enters her room, she is surprised to find her fully repaired staff on her bed and Frieren already asleep. A short flashback begins where a young Fern is conversing with a sickly, elderly Heiter who explains that Frieren lacks emotions and empathy to the point of causing difficulty for others. Heiter explains that this issue sheds light on Frieren’s best quality: that she is aware of and will worry about such things. With this memory, Fern looks fondly upon her staff with a smile.

The next day arrives and the twelve mages who passed the second stage of the exam gather in front of first-class mage Falsch who states that he will commence the third-stage exam.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Stark
 * Fern
 * Frieren
 * Heiter (in a flashback)
 * Lawine
 * Kanne
 * Richter
 * Denken
 * Laufen
 * Sense's Spiegel clone (in a flashback)
 * Falsch, Wirbel, Scharf, Ehre, Übel, Land, Methode, Dünste

Locations

 * Äußerst
 * Northern Continental Magic Association

Events

 * Fern's broken staff is fixed by Richter
 * The third stage of the First Class Mage Exam begins