【Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End】Adventure x Drama x Fantasy! Winner of the 14th Manga Taisho with over 2 million copies in circulation!!

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a Japanese manga series written by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe.

This series is being serialized in Shogakukan’s weekly Shounen Sunday since April 2020. The chapter’s released uptil now have been collected into 6 separate volumes. The series has over 2 million copies in circulation. It also won the 14th Manga Taisho and the 25th annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for a new creator.

Since the manga is fairly new, an anime is yet to be announced.

Normally, a fantasy story begins with the hero’s gathering up to fight the demon lord, but this story is a bit different. This story begins after the Demon lord’s defeat, as a new adventure begins for our main character.

The hero’s party which includes, Hero Himmel, Warrior Eisen, Priest Heiter and Mage Frieren, make their way back to the capital after defeating the Demon lord.

The king and the citizens praise the party for their triumph against the Demon lord, with the king remarking that a new and peaceful Era has begun, all thanks to them.

The hero’s celebrate their victory as they reminisce about their 10 year long journey, and all the adventures they had together. Frieren though feels that the adventure was short lived, as 10 years isn’t much for an elven’s lifespan.

Then begins the Era Meteors, a meteor shower that happens once in every 50 years. As they enjoy the peaceful and the beautiful star lit sky, Frieren promises that after 50 years, she will take them to a place where the meteor shower seems even more beautiful. Himmel sighs, as Frieren doesn’t realize that the other heroes might not be alive after 50 years, but then agrees.

Soon after, the party members go their separate ways, as Frieren sets out on a journey to acquire more magical skills. The journey takes Frieren far and wide across the world, through different and beautiful places and before she knows, 50 years have passed.

In search of the Dark Dragon’s Horn, which she left in Himmels care, she makes her way back to the capital after 50 years. She encounters Himmel who is now an old man and has gone bald, while Frieren doesn’t look a day older than she did 50 years ago.

They meet up with Eisen and Heiter, who have also grown old and head to the special place to see the Era meteors once more. Frieren reveals the special place to be a week’s journey which Heiter thinks as elder abuse. As they make their way to the location, Himmel thinks back to the old adventures and is very grateful that he got to experience it once more.

Shortly after, Himmel passes away, as a funeral is held for the mighty hero. As the citizens grieve during his funeral, they wonder why, despite being one of Himmel’s comrade, Frieren shows no emotion. Eisen and Heiter were also at peace with his death, as they knew that the time Himmel passed here was fulfilling, hence were not grieving.

Suddenly, Frieren starts crying, thinking that even though they traveled together for 10 years, she should have gotten to know him better, and that she still doesn’t understand human emotions. Heiter pats her head.

After the funeral, they disband once more. Heiter looks at their faces one last time, as he might not meet them ever again. They say their goodbyes, and Frieren departs on her new journey.

And thus one adventure ends and a new one begins. What awaits Frieren on her voyage to learn magic and understand human emotions?