Chapter 72

## Chapter Guide

**The General** 「 ()  ()  () , *ROMAJI*?」 is the seventy-second chapter of Yamada Kanehito & Abe Tsukasa's *Frieren: Beyond Journey's End*.

## Summary

Right after the events of the previous chapter, Genau reapplies a barrier to the church and tells Stark burial traditions in the Northern Plateau. Methode tells Frieren that as Serie's apprentice, she has been tasked to subjugate demons with Genau. In a flashback, Methode questions Serie's decision to pair her with Genau, who tells her to not be like him, as he likes fighting and is not a decent person. After, the group shares information on the demon that attacked the village, which they believe to be a quadruple wielder. Meanwhile, a distance away from the village in the ruins of a castle, a young demon runs up to Revolte and tells him that prey have fallen into their trap. Revolte tells the young demon they will wait for them to split up, as although he does not understand why, he has noticed that humans have a habit of leaving someone behind to protect corpses.

## Plot Details

Right after the events of the previous chapter, the mages and Stark begin brainstorming their next moves. Methode and Stark work to analyze the slashing movements of the demon, with Stark suggesting that Methode’s interpretation of the moves as a single sword wielder seems unrealistic. He proposes that the demon responsible may be a dual wielder. Meanwhile, Frieren explains to Fern that demons generally conceal their mana for short periods, so they are probably outside the mages’ mana detection range for the time being. Frieren mentions that Genau has informed her about areas where demons could be residing, so they will move to investigate those places first.

Before continuing, Frieren suggests that the group have their dinner first as she deploys the hard bread, much to Stark’s and Fern’s dismay. Frieren tells the two to be patient until the distribution network throughout the Northern Plateau improves. Methode offers to bring Genau’s share of dinner to the church, but Frieren requests to hear her analysis of the enemy, prompting Stark to go to Genau instead. Frieren asks Methode if the enemy is a dual wielder, and she clarifies that the demon is a quadruple wielder.

Meanwhile, Stark meets with Genau outside the church. Genau asks if Stark is leaving already as Stark reveals that he has brought dinner, with Genau noting the hardness of the bread. Stark asks what Genau was doing, and he reveals that he has placed an even stronger barrier on the church to protect the villagers' corpses since the demons had destroyed the initial barrier. Stark asks why the corpses are left like that and offers to help bury them. Genau, realizing that Stark would not know about the local customs, reveals that cemeteries are not common in the Northern Plateau unless they are fortified or in fortified places. Instead, corpses are brought to the southern end of the Northern Plateau to be buried with the help of the Chivalric Order of the Norm. He adds that this is because monsters would be easily drawn to poorly made graves, contributing to a hellish sight. He also agrees with the Norm Company’s insistence that corpses be burnt, considering it the most rational approach. However, the clergy won’t tolerate such actions, something Genau also understands. He finds it insane to burn away someone who has died in agony, though it is something that has to be accepted to allow one to rest in the land of their birth.

Meanwhile, the sound of Frieren’s crunching fills the room as Fern notes that it does not sound like she is eating bread. Methode finds it strange to enjoy food together with the two, as she did not expect to meet Frieren’s party. Frieren agrees, recalling that they received a subjugation request letter from a squirrel while the party was camping on the other side of a mountain. Frieren asks why Methode and Genau are here, as it seems unlikely to be a coincidence. Methode reveals that Serie has personally tasked her and Genau with subjugating demons in the Northern Plateau. Frieren expresses relief that she did not become a first-class mage to avoid such work. Methode explains that it comes with being Serie’s apprentice, a duty most first-class mages undertake. Fern reveals that she rejected Serie, and Frieren praises her for being a good girl. Frieren notes that it must be a hassle to have Serie giving orders, but Methode disagrees, expressing her desire to be more useful to Serie, as Serie is small and adorable, which confuses Frieren. Methode adds that Frieren is just as adorable, before mentioning  that Genau has taught her a lot on what not to be come.

A flashback begins in the Continental Magic Association building where Genau and Methode are stood before Serie. Serie revealed that Genau’s partner had died in battle the other day and ordered the two of them to clear out demons in the Northern Plateau. Methode cordially offered a handshake to Genau in hopes of being good partners, but Genau coldly remarked on the dangers of the Northern Plateau and told her not to get in his way. Serie, noticing Genau’s unfriendliness, ordered him to shake hands with Methode. Later, Genau fed birds as Methode stood behind him. He asked Methode if she believed that she was a good person, and Methode did not follow. Genau continued to explain that his previous partner was a good person who had been earnest, sincere, and overly friendly, the opposite of him. He added that his partner had died defending a kid, further causing a failure in killing a quadruple-wielding demon, and divulged that he would never do something as foolish as he had forsaken many people already. Methode asked Genau why she was paired with him, as he had no clue since it was Serie’s decision. Genau answered that the only thing he was sure of was that first-class mages who took on missions in the Northern Plateau always happened to be the ones who loved to fight. As the flashback ended, Genau wondered why Methode was chosen over someone like Ubel since he believed that anyone who liked fighting could not be a decent person before telling Methode not to become like him.

Later, the group prepares to split as Frieren tells everyone to share information beforehand. Methode starts by revealing that traces of mana seem to indicate four demons were part of the main force that attacked the village, with one being a quadruple-wielding demon general. Stark asks what a demon general is, and Frieren explains that they are skilled demon warriors that rely on martial arts and strengthen physicality through mana, with some even spending several centuries mastering their arts. Frieren notes that there were generals who were much stronger than Eisen in the Demon King’s army, which perplexes Stark. She adds that there is a good chance that the enemy at hand has an inhuman body, believing that a lack of experience against a master swordsman wielding four blades was what caused the demise of the Chivalric Order.

Meanwhile, a young demon approaches a four-armed serpentine demon, identified as Revolte, and reveals that prey has entered their net that will result in a special dish flavored with great mana for Revolte. The demon reveals that the preys consist of a warrior and four mages, with three being first-class mages, and asks if it is time to make a move since it is a number they can handle. Revolte rejects this idea, citing a bad feeling, and tells the demon to wait until the humans split up. The demon asks if they will, and Revolte is sure, as he has slaughtered many humans specifically for that. Revolte reveals to the demon that he has noticed a peculiarity in that humans tend to leave someone behind to protect the corpses and despite not knowing the reason, plans to take advantage of such a situation. Meanwhile, Genau has volunteered to stay behind in the village until the Chivalric Order arrives to pick up the village’s corpses.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Methode
* Frieren
* Fern
* Stark
* Genau
* Serie (in a flashback)
* Unnamed young demon
* Revolte

## Locations

* Rufen Region
	+ Genau's hometown

## Battles and Events

#### Events

* The group of mages shares information about the demon who attacked the town
* The group of mages decides to split up, with Genau remaining to protect the town, and the rest of the group searching for Revolte