ORIGINAL STORY BY KANEHITO YAMADA / TSUKASA ABE
29 YEARS FROM THE DEATH OF HIMMEL THE HERO
THE SCHWER MOUNTAINS IN THE NORTHERN LANDS
Mistress Frieren is about to fall asleep.
- She fell asleep. - Oh well. I'll carry her on my back.
But you have your axe.
But my hands are free.
- I'll carry her on my back. - Why?
Just because.
In the end, the king only gave us ten copper coins.
- What a cheapskate. - It can't be helped.
Up until now, many heroes have departed
and failed to defeat the Demon King.
Well, earning our own travel expenses by completing
subjugation quests isn't so bad.
- It makes it more like an adventure. - You're right.
Hey, that sword is the Hero's Blade.
It's a replica.
I once saved a peddler who came to my village from a monster
and he gave this to me saying, "To the hero of the future."
He was just playing.
- Is that why you became a hero? - No.
There was an annoying kid named Heiter in the orphanage.
And he told me,
"Since you only have a fake sword, you can only become a fake hero."
"Then I'll become a real hero and show you."
That's what I thought.
One day, I will get a hold of the real Hero's Blade
and defeat the Demon King.
But time sure is merciless.
Heiter, the one who was running his mouth,
is now a fake priest who does nothing but drink.
I'm a real priest.
- It was just a dream... - Mistress Frieren.
You're finally awake.
This scenery is like déjà vu.
- I must still be dreaming. - Wouldn't that be nice.
I took the mountain's weather too lightly.
Keep going north.
The village we're headed to should be there.
Okay.
Mistress Frieren, can you walk on your own?
- No. - I see.
You smell good.
Jeez...
You must be tired from carrying her the whole time.
Fern, I'll take over.
Pervert...
Why?
The blizzard is dying down now.
I was about to freeze to death.
A village actually exists this deep in the mountains?
We were waiting for you, Mistress Frieren.
You're the current village chief? How young...
Yes, I am the 49th village chief. It's hereditary.
Welcome to the Village of the Sword.
There was a destroyed cabin outside the village.
We used to use that as a hunting cabin.
- The Lord of the mountains did that. - Lord?
Was there such a thing here?
So this is the Village of the Sword?
You know about it, Master Stark?
It's the village that protected the Hero's Blade.
In the sanctuary near the village,
there was the Hero's Blade, which was said to be bestowed by the Goddess.
All sorts of heroes
tried to pull it out throughout history, but it never budged.
That was until 80 years ago.
There was a legend regarding that...
The only one who can pull out the Hero's Blade
is the hero destined to stop the great calamity that will destroy the world.
That's it.
So Master Himmel is the one who pulled out the sword?
That's right.
It's a pretty famous story. You've never heard of it?
No, Master Heiter never told me.
Here it is.
So warm...
This is unacceptable, Mistress Frieren.
You promised to return in half a century.
Normally, I'm mild-tempered, but I am mad about this.
Those were the last words of my grandma, the chief two generations before me.
I said it'll be fine for another 80 years.
The people of this village who have been protecting the Hero's Blade
should be able to protect themselves.
That may be true.
But we need you to do your job too.
- What do you mean by "your job"? - Getting rid of monsters.
Monsters regularly show up around this village.
Recently, the Lord of the mountains has been acting up too.
I guess we'll start tomorrow.
I'd rather get this out of the way.
There are so many monsters so close to the village.
Why didn't you hire
other adventurers if your situation was this bad?
We would have loved to but...
Himmel is a hero, after all.
There are seriously so many monsters.
They're assembling by that cave.
Frieren! This is...
It's the Lord.
I see. No wonder I didn't know about you.
You're a newcomer.
You think you're a lord after just 80 years?
Stark, you can still move, right?
You sure know how to use people!
Good job.
Now my job is done.
Frieren, care to explain?
That's the Hero's Blade.
This is what attracts the monsters here.
Monsters can't get through the sanctuary's strong barrier,
but they can't resist their urge to destroy that.
That's how scared they are of the Hero's Blade.
That's not what I'm talking about.
Yeah...
Himmel wasn't able to pull out this sword.
This time's hero wasn't the real one either, huh?
Himmel...
What's wrong with a fake hero?
I will defeat the Demon King and restore this world's peace.
Then being "real" or "fake" will not matter anymore.
And Himmel accomplished just that.
He showed that he could save the world without that sword.
He's a real hero.
Then why is that fact being hidden?
That was done by the people who want to idolize Himmel.
Unappealing stories like how he couldn't
pull out the Hero's Blade are unnecessary for a hero.
Heroes are always
overly romanticized by future generations.
And in time, the truth becomes completely obscured.
I knew you'd come through for us, Mistress Frieren.
Thanks a bunch.
That's also my grandma's last words.
What kind of last words did your grandma leave?
Well then, see you in another half century.
Next time, don't be late.
29 YEARS FROM THE DEATH OF HIMMEL THE HERO
APPETIT REGION IN THE NORTHERN LANDS
Once we drop off our things at the inn, everyone's free until nighttime.
I haven't seen a town in so long. I can finally relax.
What are you going to do?
Do you want to shop around together?
I'm good. I'll relax here and read my grimoires.
Really? Then I'll go by myself.
Oh, that reminds me...
Today is Stark's 18th birthday.
Why don't you tell me these things beforehand?
I don't have anything ready.
Just buy something in the town.
I don't know what Master Stark wants.
You're so unprepared, Fern.
It's your fault, you know.
By the way,
what are you planning to give to him?
It's special.
A potion that only melts clothes.
When it comes to men,
they're happy just getting something like this.
That's what Master told me.
What? You're interested in it too?
When you bought this obscene potion
did I not tell you to return it?
Forget about you.
This potion was valuable, you know...
What should I give him?
I forgot I had this.
I have no choice but to get information from him directly.
Although it'd be very obvious...
Master Stark.
He went out?
A warrior carrying an axe on his back?
He helped me push this cart.
I believe he went toward the plaza.
He was just playing with us.
He helped him down from the tree.
He stopped a cow who was out of control.
He's helped many people.
That was very rude of Mistress Frieren.
There's no way Master Stark would be happy getting such a perverted potion.
Master Stark...
That cloud looks like boobs.
He is a pervert.
Are you serious? That one looks like poop!
No, he's just childish.
- I've got to tell Fern later. - How am I supposed to react to that?
Master Stark.
Fern, great timing!
That cloud...
Sorry, never mind.
- Um... - Want to take a walk?
Yes.
Hey, why are you mad? Did I do something?
How should I bring it up?
I'll apologize.
No matter how I do it, it'll be obvious.
Might as well ask him straight out.
Master Stark, is there anything you want?
Why?
Because today is your birthday.
Is it? What does that have to do with what I want?
It's for your birthday present.
What? You're giving me something?
Never mind. You're being annoying so I won't give you anything.
No, I wasn't trying to be funny or anything.
I've never gotten any presents on my birthday before.
I never received anything from my late family members or my master.
So I thought that's how it was.
Not even your family?
- Was that your culture? - No...
They probably just didn't care about me.
My hometown was a village of warriors.
Weak people didn't belong.
You let a mere monster do this to you?
Try to be like Stoltz. Not only is he unharmed,
but he also doesn't have a speck of blood or dirt on him.
A spotless white cloak is the sign
of this village's strongest warrior.
Stoltz, you are this village's pride and joy.
Of course, Dad.
Stark, on the other hand, is such a failure.
Despite how much he trains every day,
he hasn't been able to fight a monster even once.
It's starting to rain. Let's go.
I'll go train my good-for-nothing brother.
Don't bully him too much.
I'm heading back. I don't want to waste my time.
Stark.
Brother...
I'm sorry...
Good concentration.
I bet you'll become strong.
But your stance can use some work.
Actually, my older brother was the only one who was different.
But...
When my hometown was attacked by demons,
I still abandoned him and ran away.
No wonder my family never celebrated my birthday.
I'm a failure who can only run away.
If it were Himmel, he wouldn't have run away.
Master Stark,
let's go pick out your present.
The past doesn't matter.
Stark, the warrior whom I've seen up until now,
has never run away even once.
I might run away some day.
We won't let you get away.
- But I... - If you don't come, I'll choose myself.
All right, fine.
- Okay, I choose this. - No, that's too expensive.
Yes ma'am.
Welcome back. What took you so long?
Mistress Frieren, what is up with these ridiculously huge Hamburg steaks?
What are you saying? A birthday isn't a birthday without these.
Master never gave me a present,
but he always made me a birthday Hamburg steak.
What is this about?
- Stark, Eisen never told you? - About what?
Warriors can be so difficult.
You're in no position to say that.
Yeah, I'm also difficult, so I know what it's like.
We're stupid, aren't we?
We should know that we have to put our feelings into words.
This is...
Why do you make a ridiculously huge
Hamburg steak whenever it's someone's birthday?
This is a custom from the region I'm from.
It's a gift you give to reward a warrior who has worked very hard.
Think of it as a birthday present from me.
But Eisen, we're not warriors.
Anyone who has worked hard is a warrior.
- Really? - Who knows?
A warrior who has worked very hard?
Brother, what are you making?
Hamburg steak. It's your birthday, isn't it?
Don't tell Dad or anyone.
Run away, Stark.
You must live.
Eisen gave me the recipe.
How is it? Does it taste good?
Yeah.
Also, this...
There's still a little left.
Don't make me pour it on your head again.
Huh? What's that?
It has nothing to do with you.
- It's a valuable potion. - What kind?
- Pervert. - Huh? Why?
- Pervert. - Why are you calling me that?
- Himmel! - I got a nosebleed.
- Alcohol is the best medicine. - What about it?
- Adults use dirty tricks. - I like older women.
"Aversion to One's Own Kind."
Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita