Life Lessons from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - Anime Episode 6 (Part 2)
Manga/Anime“Frieren: Beyond Journey's End” is a work full of suggestions that makes you think, “If I had encountered this sooner, my life would have changed.” It is a work full of implications.
It has laughter, tears, and makes you think about life.
In this series, I write down my thoughts based on life lessons while poking fun at “Frieren.” It contains complete spoilers, so it is recommended to read it after watching the anime.
Bold text in quotes refers to life lessons or important lines, while normal text is for commentary and other remarks. Comments are welcome.
The following magazine contains all 28 episodes of the first season of the anime, and the second season is also being posted as it airs.
This time, it is the second part of Episode 6, “The Village Hero.”
It can't be helped, can it?
Frieren and her party arrive at a town with a checkpoint leading to the Northern Lands. A sturdy captain of the guard tells them that the checkpoint is closed.
Frieren happily says, “Let’s wait here for a while,” and tries to go out to visit magic shops. Fern and Stark look at her with dead eyes.
Frieren: ...What is it? The checkpoint isn't open, so it can't be helped, right? Look, we're disbanded here.
She definitely just wants to go visit magic shops herself lol
Stark, who was left behind, asks Fern.
Stark: Shall we go get something to eat?
Fern: ... (piercing gaze).
Stark: Yeah, I'll go alone.
...Scary (muttered).
Fern-nee-san is too scary lol
At this point, she still treats him like “this guy” from the first part of episode 6.
Jumbo Berry Special
Stark, who came to the tavern alone, ordered the Parfait Jumbo Berry Special that he ate with Eisen when he was a child.
Stark: When I came here before, I was a brat, so I couldn't eat it all and shared it with my master.
...But, was it always this small?
Master: That's because you've grown up, kid.
“That's because you've grown up, kid,” he says lol
Stark: I see, I've grown up.When I was a kid, everything seemed so big, but even my master's back, which was so broad, had become small before I knew it.
Master: Eisen is old now, too. Make sure you show him some filial piety.
Stark: I'm in the middle of that.
...But was it really this small?
Master: The passage of time is cruel, isn't it?
Stark is too easy...
It would be a good story if it were just the bold text, but it's clearly small.
The exquisite interaction, including the background music, is hilarious.
Setting aside the Jumbo Berry Special, it's a common feeling that things which seemed huge when we were children don't seem that way when we grow up. As we get older, our impressions change.
Evaluation skyrockets for being "normal"
Fern sits down next to Stark, looking angry.
Stark: Uh... what? Why are you angry?
Stark, misunderstanding, tries to give her half of his Jumbo Berry Special—he really is kind.
Meanwhile, Fern tells him it looks like it will take over two years for the checkpoint to open.
Fern: If you were told you'd have to wait in this town for over two years, what would you think?
Stark: Uh, I wouldn't like it.
Fern: Exactly! You wouldn't like it, right! (Leans in)
Stark: U-uh, yeah (What is with this person?).
Fern: I'm relieved. So, Stark-sama, you are normal after all.
Stark: Hey, did I do something wrong?
His evaluation skyrockets just for being "normal" enough not to want to wait two years lol.
His retort of "Did I do something wrong?" is also excellent.
Well, for Fern, who has always been with Frieren—whose sense of time is strange—perhaps she was just happy to meet a normal human.
Stark's kindness
Stark and Fern think of ways to cross the checkpoint. They can't fly over it, and they try the merchants' guild, but it's no use.
Stark: Let's try the black market or the thieves' guild.
Fern: Isn't that a bit dangerous?
Stark: It's fine, I look pretty strong, and I'm good at bluffing.
Fern: You do have a villainous face, though.
Stark: Shut up.
It's nice to see their interactions becoming softer.
Even that fails, so Stark decides to go to the guard station as a last resort. Fern asks him why he's so desperate.
Stark: Well, we don't have much time.
When Stark was little, he was taken by Eisen to visit a town, where he heard about the adventures of Himmel and his party who had set off from there.
Stark: Even though he never talked about himself, he would talk about the hero party's adventures so happily.My master cherished those ten years of adventure more than anything else in his long life. I'm sure Frieren is the same.
Fern: I wonder.
Stark: My master is no longer at an age where he can travel. Yet, he was the one who told me to go.
That's why, in my master's place, I have to experience lots of silly and fun journeys and bring back plenty of stories to tell him. That's about the only way I can repay him.If I dawdle too much, my master might die.
Stark felt Eisen's feelings regarding the journey to defeat the Demon King. In contrast, Fern still seems unable to gauge Frieren's thoughts.
Fern, who has been staring intently at Stark and listening, smiles faintly.
Fern: Then, we shouldn't be getting held up in a place like this.
Stark: Well, that person seems like he'll live a long time yet, though.
You can tell that Fern's attitude is improving after experiencing Stark's kindness.
Frieren on the Run
As the two walk through town, they spot Frieren sneaking around.
Frieren: Be quiet. I'm being chased.
The captain of the guard seems to be giving orders and searching for Frieren.
Stark: What did you do?
Frieren: I don't know. I was just going from one magic shop to another.
Stark: ...Oh.
They are easily found, and the captain apologizes.
Frieren: W-wait. I have a feeling this is going in a very bad direction.
Even the castellan comes to apologize.
Frieren: No, no, I don't mind. This person was just doing their job as a guard, and I'm not in any hurry at all, in fact, I'm just taking it easy...
It's cute how Frieren desperately tries to make excuses while fluttering her grimoire.
Castellan: You intend to head north again, I presume. (Omitted) Please feel free to pass through the checkpoint.
Frieren droops her ears in disappointment and drops her grimoire.
Departure for the North
The three depart, seen off by the guards, the castellan, and the residents. When Fern wonders aloud, "Why didn't you just give your name from the start?", Frieren explains that she isn't good at being sent off with such fanfare.
Stark: I'm glad I got to see it. So this is how my master set off for the north, too.
Fern looks up, remembering Heiter. The way the old and new parties intersect with Frieren at the center is wonderful.
Frieren: Ah, I wanted to research magic.
Fern: You're still on about that?
Stark: It was a lot of work, you know, everything after that. Right?
Fern: Yes.
There was no combat this time, but it was clear that their trust as a party has deepened.
Summary of this episode
When you are a child, everything looks so big.
The passage of time is cruel. Even for the same things or events, your impression changes as you grow older.
(Bonus) Enjoying a real-life "Jumbo Berry Special" in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
I would like to introduce a parfait I ate during my recent trip to Tohoku that can truly be called a real-life "Jumbo Berry Special."
The "Jumbo Parfait" exclusive to the Cybele no Mori Tendo store (Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture). It is just under 30cm tall and costs 2,200 yen including tax.
Although the shape of the container is quite different (it looks like the painting of Vermeer's The Milkmaid lol), it is a size that lives up to the name "jumbo." It must be quite difficult to make, as it took nearly 20 minutes to arrive.
It uses strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberry ice cream, making it very close to a Jumbo Berry Special.
It also contains cheese mousse, so you can enjoy the change in texture. It was certainly difficult to finish by myself, but as a sweets lover, it was a dream come true.
Note that they change the fruit to seasonal ones, so it only resembles a Jumbo Berry Special in the spring. If you have the chance to go to Yamagata, I highly recommend that sweets lovers try it.
Sharing is definitely recommended, though...
※After that, while looking for jumbo parfaits, I discovered the "Sumo Wrestler Parfait" at Baby Face Planet's as something you can eat more casually.
It comes in a Premium Malt's pitcher and serves 4-5 people for 3,289 yen including tax....No, no, a pitcher is way too unrefined. The image is just too different lol
It looks like it has less fruit than the jumbo parfait, but fortunately, Baby Face Planet's is currently operating in 28 prefectures from Hokkaido to Okinawa. If you want to try the Jumbo Berry Special vibe nearby, please check it out.
Next time, here ↓