Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 142 Manga Review
葬送のフリーレン Manga Review
Sōsō no Frieren Chapter 142

Spoiler Summary/Synopsis:

Captain Fräse reports to the Emperor that Serie requests an audience with him. Since Serie brought a large number of escorts, the Emperor decides he will do so in kind, only he will make Serie wait a bit. The Emperor then asks what Captain Fräse is up to since she prevented Kenken from participating. Originally, Denken arranged for the Emperor to meet with Serie and conclude a treaty. However, he knows this plan isn’t Captain Fräse’s plan.

Captain Fräse confesses she is acting on her own, but begs to be spared until everything is over. The Emperor reminds her that he’s allowed her to act, despite her opposition to Denken, because the pair have protected the Empire. She request that he continue to ignore her actions so that she can keep the continue the Empire until everyone can use magic. As Captain Fräse leaves, the Emperor muses on how nothing, including the Empire, can last forever.

Elsewhere, Übel and Land discuss the situation. Übel feels that Sense’s plan to hold back and wait puts them in a bad position. As such, Übel feels the Shadow Warriors need to be provoked. As they continue to discuss things, the pair head into a hallway, lined with suits of armor. Übel notes that the held swords are in fact real with a cutting edge.

Routine pops out of the door at the end of the hall. She retreats with an apology, then reports to Iris about Übel and Land. Übel informs Land that they have two opponents. As Iris and Routine prepare to attack, Übel uses her slashing magic, destroying the wall and knocking Routine back. Routine and Iris quickly recover to grab Land and Übel. Meanwhile, Kanone reports to Captain Fräse that fighting has started.

Thoughts/Review

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 142 was rather an interesting chapter, and one I had to read several times. Let’s dive in.

The Emperor

I don’t think the Emperor has actually been seen before  Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 142. I’m slowly rereading the earlier volumes from Viz, so I’ve a way to go to get to the latest volume Viz released. Nevertheless, the Emperor interested me a great deal. As ruler, he was ready to sign (conclude) some sort of treaty with Serie, who’s the head of the Continental Magic Association. I presume this is due to the fact that folks like Captain Fräse want everyone to use magic and Serie has strict rules governing mages. Thus we have a conflict.

What’s interesting is that while the Emperor used Denken to set up his meeting with Serie and do the treaty, he’s allowing Captain Fräse to seemingly undermine that work. The Emperor seems to want to help Captain Fräse, but she wants to keep her plans secret from him. I presume this is so he can honestly say he didn’t know what she was up to.

What kinda shocked me is that though he seems to genuinely want to help her, he almost seems sincere when he says he would have put her to death if he knew of a way that would work. At the same time, the Emperor is a pragmatist in that he understands all too well that even the Empire will one day fall, despite Fräse’s efforts.

I’ll be honest–it wouldn’t surprise me if Fräse is technically working with the Shadow Warriors.

Übel and Land

One has to just love the dynamic duo of Übel and Land. Their interesting relationship continues in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 142. Übel’s the type to go in where angels fear to tread. Land is ultra cautious, to the point that he sent clones to take his First Class Mage exam. Yet at the same time, Land agrees with Übel that waiting isn’t the best move. However, nothing he proposes will help the situation.

I honestly wasn’t sure if she’d start something or not. However, the way she went on the offense was completely logical. The best defense is a good offense. However, I’m going to say that while Übel did launch the attack on Iris and Routine, I don’t think Übel and Land are there. Well, I don’t think Land is there at all. However, I think a Land clone and Übel are actually hiding at the suits of armor.

Considering Übel’s ability to copy other folks magic, it wouldn’t surprise me if Übel now can use Land’s cloning magic. So while Iris and Routine capture realistic clones, Übel and Land can either escape or get the drop on their opponents. Either way, things are about to get interesting. I wish I’d reread recent chapters for this current story arc to refresh myself though. 😅

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In the end, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Chapter 142 was a very interesting chapter, opening up the first salvo in the upcoming conflict. Sadly, Frieren is off next week, so chapter 143 won’t come out until August 20 in Japan.