The Village of the Sword ｢
Summary[]
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren's Party is in the Schwer Mountains. The party presses towards the north and reaches the Village of the Sword, which protects the Sword of the Hero. The blade was pulled out by Himmel 80 years ago. The party members meet with the village chief, who tells Frieren that she didn't fulfill her vow of coming half-century later to fulfill her duty of exterminating the demons that regularly appear around the village. The next day, the party kills the numerous demons that appear near the cave which surprisingly still holds the Sword of the Hero. It is revealed that Himmel was never able to pull the sword out, but the story was spread that he did so that the hero could be arbitrarily glorified by future generations. The village chief thanks Frieren's Party and they continue their voyage.
Plot Details[]
Himmel admires his replica of the Sword of the Hero.
The chapter starts with a flashback of the Hero Party. They have just started their journey to defeat the Demon King, and are currently traveling on the road out of the capital. While walking, Frieren complains that the King is a cheapskate, as he only gave the party ten copper coins for their journey. Heiter says that it isn't entirely uncalled for, since many have tried to defeat the Demon King only to have been unsuccessful in their attempts. Himmel says that it isn't so bad, comparing it to an adventure and Heiter agrees. They change the subject when Frieren asks if Himmel's blade is the fabled "Village of the Sword." Himmel says that it's just a replica he was gifted when he saved a peddler visiting his village from an eagle-like monster. Himmel mentioned that the peddler said the sword was for the hero of the future upon giving it to him.
Himmel defeats a monster to save a peddler, who then gifted him the replica of the Sword of the Hero as token of gratitude.
Frieren asks if this was the motivation for him to become a hero and Himmel replies in the negative. Himmel recounts a time when he was young, a kid named Heiter told him that he would only become a fake hero with a fake sword. That's when Himmel thought, why not just become a real one then; and that he would take the real "Sword of the Hero" and take down the Demon King. He then jokingly says that time is merciless, the kid who said that is now a fake priest who spends his days drinking; Heiter corrects Himmel, saying that he is an actual priest. Frieren wakes up from her dream, and the flashback ends.
Twenty-nine years after the Hero Himmel’s passing, Frieren's Party are in the Northern Lands, specifically, the Schwer Mountains. Frieren's Party is currently traveling through a blizzard. Frieren had underestimated the weather in the mountains. She tells Fern, who is currently carrying her, to press on north since that's where their destination, a village is. Fern asks if Frieren can walk and she says no. Stark offers to carry her as Fern must be tired, but Fern calls him a pervert.
They reach their destination, and by then the blizzard has subsided. Near the entrance of the village, they see a broken-down building. They are welcomed to the Village of the Sword by its leader, who is a child and introduces herself as the 49th village chief.
The young village chief greets Frieren's party.
While walking with the young chief, Frieren asks what the broken-down building destroyed; the chief tells Frieren that it was a hunter's cabin in the past and that it got destroyed by the Lord of the Mountains. Frieren tries to recall if there was ever a lord. Stark comments on being in the Village of the Sword, Frieren asks if Stark was aware of it; Stark says it is the village that protected the "Sword of the Hero," a weapon that was allegedly bestowed by the Goddess and enshrined at a holy ground nearby. Historically, no hero could ever pull it out, until 80 years ago. Stark says that there was a legend about it and the chief tells him that the legends say that only the hero that could pull it out was the hero that drove out the great calamities. Fern then asks if Himmel was the one who pulled out the sword, and Stark confirms. Stark is confused about how Fern doesn't know the story, since it's very famous, and she replies that Heiter had never mentioned it.
They go into a building, where Frieren and the Chief converse. The Chief is angry at Frieren, since she was late on her promise to return a half-century later, which she gave her grandmother the past village chief. Frieren says that she told them that it would be safe for the next 80 years, but the village chief says that she still has to fulfill her duty. Fern asks what the chief means by duty, and Frieren tells her it is demon extermination. The chief says that the Lord of the Mountains has been quite violent lately. Frieren then decides that they will start the next day.
Frieren blasts and kills the Lord of the Mountains.
The next day, Frieren's party starts to defeat many wolf-like monsters. Fern asks why they haven't issued a subjugation request, despite the situation being so bad. The chief replies that they wanted to, but Himmel was the hero, after all, which leaves Fern confused. Stark sees more monsters gathering at the entrance of a cave and proceeds to exterminate them. He was about to say something to Frieren, but gets pounced on and knocked down by the Lord of the Mountains. Frieren asks Stark if he can still move. Stark cuts the demon's arm off and calls her a cruel boss, moving out of the way. The creature then takes a swing with the remaining claw at Frieren but is blocked by Fern casting defensive magic. Frieren praises her and then proceeds to exterminate the lord with a big blast of ordinary offensive magic. Stark confronts Frieren about what is inside the cave, which is the "Sword of the Hero."
She tells him that it was the reason that the demons were gathering at the entrance of the cave. They can not resist the urge to destroy the blade even though it's protected by a powerful barrier. Stark says that is not what he meant, Frieren understands and tells him that Himmel could not pull the sword out, recalling the time the Hero's Party went to the Village of the Sword.
Himmel declares his resolve to be a true hero in front of Frieren, Heiter, Eisen, and the 47th village chief.
In a flashback, Himmel has just unsuccessfully tried to pull out the sword. The village chief at that time remarks it with him being not a true hero either. Heiter tries to console Himmel, but before the priest could, he says that it's fine to be a fake hero. Himmel reassures his determination to defeat the Demon King, as long as he does it doesn't matter if he is a real or fake hero.
Frieren says that even without the sword, Himmel proved that he could save the world and that he is a true hero. Fern asks why this was kept a secret, and Frieren replies that it was probably the doing of those who wanted Himmel to be the hero. She says that unsavory anecdotes like that would be detrimental to the hero, and says that the hero will always be glorified by future generations, and eventually their original story would become obscured.
Later when Frieren's Party is about to travel on, the village chief thanks them in front of the gates and asks Frieren not to be late next time. Frieren's Party continues its voyage.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Locations[]
Battles and Events[]
Battles[]
- Young Himmel vs. eagle-like monster
- Frieren's Party vs. Lord of the Mountains & other canid monsters
Objects of Interest[]
Spells & Techniques[]
- Unnamed magic that shoots a high concentration of mana (possibly Zoltraak)
- Unnamed techinque to swing a battleaxe (possibly Lightning Strike)
- Unnamed magic that creates a defensive shield
- Unnamed magic that creates a powerful barrier that protects the Sanctuary of Hero's sword
Objects[]
- The real Sword of the Hero