Chapter Summaries

Dugu Qing, Fern, and Frieren registered for the first-class mage exam after Laiern recognized Frieren’s Holy Staff Certificate. A month later, Dugu Qing took an overworked Fern out to the mountains, where the scenery helped her relax before the exam.

• Frieren tried to leave rather than take an exam without a certificate, but Laiern accepted her Holy Staff Certificate and approved her participation.
• Dugu Qing and Fern registered for the exam, and Laiern recognized Dugu Qing’s name from rumors that he had drawn the Hero’s Sword.
• The group returned to the hotel, where Fern trained intensely while Frieren and Dugu Qing took it easy; Stark explored town.
• A month later, Dugu Qing visited Fern and invited her to climb a mountain, and she agreed to take a break from studying.
• Dugu Qing flew Fern to the mountains on the Clear Radiance Sword, and she relaxed as she admired the maple leaves.

Dugu Qing and Fern escaped to Maple Mountain, where they shared food, music, dancing, and an overnight camp as Fern tried to gather the courage to express her feelings. Frieren unexpectedly joined them, and the three returned to Auwest the next day.

• Dugu Qing took Fern hiking on Maple Mountain, where they enjoyed snacks and the mountain scenery.
• Dugu Qing played the lyre while Fern danced among the clouds and maple leaves, and he improvised a new piece inspired by Zhuang Zhou's Free and Easy Wandering.
• Fern asked to stay overnight, so Dugu Qing returned to the hotel for camping supplies while Fern prepared a campsite and roasted rabbit.
• Frieren noticed how quiet the hotel felt without Fern and set out to find her after Dugu Qing had left.
• Fern approached Dugu Qing's tent, but Frieren arrived and interrupted her before she could lift the flap.
• Frieren stayed with Fern in a tent, and the next day Dugu Qing, Fern, and Frieren enjoyed Maple Mountain before returning to Auwest.

Dugu Qing cooked a lavish pork feast for Frieren, Fern, and Stark as the Level One Mage exam approached. Meanwhile, Serie confirmed the coming world-destroying calamity and instructed Laiern to prepare quietly rather than spread panic, before heading to the Moonlight Hotel for lunch.

• Dugu Qing bought ingredients and prepared several pork dishes to reward himself and ease Fern's stress before the exam.
• Frieren, Fern, and Stark smelled the food and gathered at Dugu Qing's room to eat.
• Serie confirmed to Laiern that the rumor about someone drawing the Hero's Sword was true and that a world-ending calamity was coming.
• Serie told Laiern to build high walls and stockpile grain, warning that sharing the news would drive rulers to exploit the weak and plunge humanity into chaos.
• Serie returned to the magic tower and dragged the distracted Laiern along to the Moonlight Hotel.
• Dugu Qing served the feast, and Frieren, Fern, Stark, and Dugu Qing toasted before eating their fill.

Serie wanted to taste Dugu Qing’s cooking but was reluctant to visit him while Frieren was there, so she sent Laiern to bring back some food. After enjoying the dishes, Serie became eager to recruit Dugu Qing as Laiern’s junior.

• Serie asked the receptionist for Dugu Qing’s food, but the receptionist refused to retrieve any.
• Laiern offered to visit Dugu Qing under the pretext of informing him about the exam, and Serie agreed.
• Laiern told Dugu Qing that the exam would start at ten in the morning three days later, then joined him, Frieren, Fern, and Stark for lunch.
• After the meal, Laiern asked to take some food for Serie, and Dugu Qing gave him a small portion.
• Serie tasted the food, praised Dugu Qing’s genius, and asked Laiern to find a way to recruit him as his junior.

Lavina and Kanne discussed the First-Class Mage Exam, while Dugu Qing and Fern explored the city and talked about becoming teachers. After Lavina became captivated by Dugu Qing when they crossed paths, they met again at the exam hall three days later.

• Lavina asked Kanne whether she would take the First-Class Mage Exam, and Kanne said she would use it to practice being brave.
• Dugu Qing and Fern walked through the city, agreed to become teachers after their adventure, and discussed what spell Fern wanted to learn from Serie.
• Lavina saw Dugu Qing passing by and became captivated by his appearance, while Kanne excitedly speculated about who he was.
• Three days later, Dugu Qing, Fern, and Frieren arrived at the Continental Magic Association for the exam.
• Lavina approached Dugu Qing and introduced herself and Kanne, while Fern watched her warily.

Dugu Qing, Fern, and Frieren formed separate teams for the first mage exam, which required each team to capture a Meteoric Iron Bird while keeping all three members together. After the test began, Dugu Qing’s team found a bird, but Denken’s attempt to capture it sent it flying away.

• Genau explained the team exam rules and gave the participants silver bracelets to find their teammates.
• Fern teamed up with Ubel, Frieren teamed up with Lavina and Kanne, and Dugu Qing teamed up with Denken and Laufen.
• Genau led the teams to the Grobe Basin and explained that each team had to keep a Meteoric Iron Bird in its cage until sunset the next day without losing a member or leaving the barrier.
• Dugu Qing avoided telling Denken what magic he specialized in and settled on a tree branch while Denken and Laufen waited below.
• A Meteoric Iron Bird landed on Dugu Qing, but Denken tackled him, breaking the branch and sending the bird flying away.

Dugu Qing kept a Meteoric Iron Bird with him while Denken urged him to delay catching it, and Ailu’s attempt to capture the bird ended with her landing on Dugu Qing. The next day, Frieren’s team drove the birds toward a single puddle, drawing the other teams there and setting up a major battle.

• Dugu Qing explained that catching a Meteoric Iron Bird too early would make his team a target, then fed the bird that landed on his shoulder and rested with it.
• Ailu approached the sleeping Meteoric Iron Bird, but it fled when she attacked, and she landed on Dugu Qing instead.
• Denken teased Dugu Qing about Ailu, while Laufen explained that Ailu had been trying to catch the bird.
• The next day, Lavina froze the river and used mana to drive the Meteoric Iron Birds toward the forest’s only mana-free puddle.
• Frieren’s opponents gathered at the puddle, leaving a major battle about to begin.

Dugu Qing’s group captured a Meteoric Iron Bird with little effort, while Frieren’s team also caught one before Richter separated Frieren from Lavina and Kanne. The two girls were overwhelmed by Richter’s teammates and lay injured as the mages prepared to finish them off.

• Dugu Qing’s group captured a Meteoric Iron Bird after it landed on his head, then decided to rest while waiting for sunset.
• Frieren caught a Meteoric Iron Bird at a puddle with Lavina and Kanne.
• Richter split the ground beneath Frieren and the two girls, revealing that his team meant to target Lavina and Kanne.
• Lavina attacked the two black-robed mages with ice magic, but they broke free and dodged her spells.
• Kanne’s defensive magic shattered, and the black-robed mages struck both girls down before raising their staffs to finish them off.

Frieren shattered Serie’s barrier, bringing heavy rain that helped Lavina and Kanne defeat their opponents. Fern captured a Meteoric Iron Bird and drove off Wirbel with Ubel’s help, but Dugu Qing arrived disguised as another bird and Ubel tackled him.

• Frieren defeated Richter, bound Lichita, and broke the barrier, unleashing the rain and shocking the examiners and Serie.
• Lavina and Kanne used the rain to overwhelm and defeat the two black-robed mages, and Frieren praised them.
• Fern captured a Meteoric Iron Bird, but Wirbel restrained her and demanded the bird before she escaped his gaze magic and attacked him.
• Ubel joined Fern in driving Wirbel away, and the two recovered the caged bird.
• Dugu Qing transformed into a Meteoric Iron Bird and flew to Fern, but Ubel mistook him for another prize and knocked him to the ground.

After transforming back into his original form, Dugu Qing escaped Ubel’s overly bold advances and healed the injured Ehre. He rejoined Denken and Laufen, and the group rested before heading to turn in their Meteoric Iron Bird.

• Ubel held Dugu Qing after he transformed back, but Fern intervened and freed him.
• Ubel apologized for grabbing Dugu Qing, then openly expressed interest in getting to know him; Dugu Qing ignored her and asked Fern if she was all right.
• Fern showed Dugu Qing the Meteoric Iron Bird she had caught, and he told her to take care of herself before they parted.
• Dugu Qing found Ehre injured in the woods and used Goddess's Magic to heal her before leaving.
• Dugu Qing reunited with Denken and Laufen, and after they rested, the group set out for the appointed place to turn in the Meteoric Iron Bird.

After passing the first magic exam, Dugu Qing spent time with Fern, Frieren, and Stark before Ubel secretly entered his room and restrained him with Gaze-Binding Magic. The chapter ended with Dugu Qing asking Ubel what she wanted.

• Dugu Qing and the others passed the first exam, celebrated at the hotel, and returned to rest.
• Dugu Qing prayed at the cathedral with Fern, who wished their time together would last forever.
• Frieren invited Dugu Qing, Fern, and Stark to a restaurant she had once visited with Himmel, where she was disappointed that the steak tasted different.
• Ubel followed Dugu Qing back to the hotel, entered his room, and used Gaze-Binding Magic to restrict his movements.
• Dugu Qing chose not to resist and asked Ubel what she had come to do.

After Ubel visited him at night, Dugu Qing tried to clear his mind and settled into a morning of waiting with Fern for Frieren. The group bought bread and met Wirbel, Lavina, and Kanne, leaving Stark to head off on a lion-pig hunt and Fern asking Lavina about her clothes.

• Ubel released Dugu Qing from her binding magic, helped tie his hair, and left after inviting him to take a walk the next day.
• Dugu Qing reflected on the people he had met during the exam, resolved not to dwell on them, and went to sleep.
• Fern waited for Frieren to wake so the four of them could buy bread, while Dugu Qing offered to play Hero Killer with her.
• Frieren woke up, called Stark, and joined Dugu Qing and Fern to buy bread at the bakery.
• Wirbel asked Fern to lend him a teammate for a lion-pig hunt, and Stark went with him after seeing the gathered girls.
• Kanne gave Frieren a basket of pastries in thanks for helping with the first exam, and Fern asked Lavina why she had changed her clothes.

Dugu Qing introduced Lavina and Kanne to Hero Killer, and the group began a five-player game. Fern mistakenly identified Dugu Qing as a rebel and eliminated him, only to discover he had been the loyal minister.

• Dugu Qing suggested playing Hero Killer with Frieren, Fern, Lavina, and Kanne, then explained the roles and rules.
• Fern dealt the identity cards: she was the lord, Dugu Qing the loyal minister, Frieren and Lavina the rebels, and Kanne the traitor.
• The players chose their characters, and Fern used Lian Po’s skill to draw a large hand of cards.
• Dugu Qing stopped Fern from taking one of his cards, so Fern wrongly concluded he was a rebel and attacked him until Bao Si was eliminated.
• Dugu Qing’s revealed identity showed Fern had killed her loyal minister, while Kanne and Lavina celebrated the game and Fern apologized for misjudging him.

Lavina proposed wagering money on their card game, but Frieren and Fern repeatedly outplayed her. After a full day of games, Lavina had lost five gold coins and vowed to study the rules before returning to win them back.

• Lavina suggested that everyone wager one silver coin per game, and they began a new round with her as ruler and Frieren as the loyalist.
• Lavina amassed a large hand and repeatedly targeted Frieren, leaving her nearly defeated before Fern attacked Lavina and Dugu Qing used Beacon Fires and Wolf Smoke to drain Lavina's health.
• Kanne stripped away Lavina's remaining cards, and Frieren revealed herself as the loyalist by attacking Lavina and ending the game.
• The group played throughout the day, with Frieren and Fern earning money while Lavina lost five gold coins and Dugu Qing lost ten.
• Lavina took the game manual and resolved to study it so she could return the next day and win back her money.

After Jian Ze announced that the second exam required examinees to reach the deepest part of the Ruined King's Tomb before sunrise, Dugu Qing, Frieren, and Fern entered the labyrinth. Frieren guided them through its traps as Jian Ze followed, while the other examinees chose their own paths.

• Fern received the notice naming Jian Ze as chief examiner, and Lavina warned the others that none of the examinees had passed Jian Ze’s previous tests.
• Jian Ze told the eighteen examinees to reach the Ruined King’s Tomb’s deepest part before sunrise and gave each of them an escape golem.
• Dugu Qing led Frieren and Fern through the western gate before Denken or the others could ask him to join their party, and Jian Ze followed them.
• Lavina and Kanne entered through the same gate, while Denken and Laufen gathered a smaller group and the other examinees took separate routes.
• Frieren led Dugu Qing and Fern past the labyrinth’s traps, and Fern recorded their route as Frieren recalled exploring labyrinths with Himmel.

Frieren, Fern, Dugu Qing, and Jian Ze explored the labyrinth, where Frieren got caught by a Mimic before the group continued hunting for treasure. In a vast hall, they found a copy of Dugu Qing, and Fern reacted furiously while Dugu Qing prepared to face it.

• Frieren opened a chest despite Dugu Qing and Fern warning that it was a Mimic, and the Mimic swallowed her until they pushed her inside and made it spit her out.
• Dugu Qing healed and cleaned Frieren while Fern fixed her hair, and Frieren admitted she usually escaped Mimics with offensive magic that curled her hair.
• The group fought Gargoyles, found gems in a secret room, and continued searching side passages after Frieren decided she had not had enough treasure hunting.
• Dugu Qing opened a heavy stone door and revealed a copy of himself standing in the hall.
• Fern became enraged at the copy's likeness, but Dugu Qing restrained her and said he and Frieren would deal with it; Jian Ze wondered whether Fern's reaction revealed her feelings.

Dugu Qing and Frieren defeated Dugu Qing’s nearly identical double, then explored the labyrinth and found a hidden chamber with an ancient mural. At the deepest hall, they learned that Frieren’s double blocked the way, and Fern claimed she might be able to defeat Frieren.

• Dugu Qing and Frieren worked together to destroy Dugu Qing’s powerful double, and Dugu Qing buried its body before the group moved on.
• The group searched the lowest level’s hidden chambers, collected treasure, and discovered a golden staircase behind the ancient sage’s statue.
• Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, and Jian Ze entered a chamber containing a mural of a king from the Unified Dynasty period, then continued toward the labyrinth’s deepest part.
• Denken told Frieren that her double guarded the hall ahead and that the mages had been unable to challenge it.
• Methode’s restraint magic failed against Frieren, but Fern said she might be able to kill her, prompting Frieren to suggest making a battle plan.

After learning that the Water Mirror Demon controlled the flawless replicas, the mages prepared to confront Frieren’s replica and discovered a weakness in how she used mana detection. Frieren chose Dugu Qing to fight beside her, confident they could destroy the replica.

• Dunst told the group that Edel had escaped after Jian Ze’s replica attacked her, and that the replicas could not be controlled with mental magic.
• Lavina and Kanne reported that the Water Mirror Demon controlled all the replicas from a hidden chamber on the deepest level, and defeating it would make them disappear.
• Fern noticed that Frieren briefly interrupted her mana detection when casting a spell and proposed exploiting this weakness against the replica.
• The group shared their information and planned the battle, while Lavina and Kanne briefly resumed their quarrel.
• Frieren reflected on her acceptance of death and felt pleased that Fern had discovered one of her weaknesses.
• Frieren chose Dugu Qing to accompany her into the hall and fight her replica.

Frieren and Dugu Qing fought the Water Mirror Demon’s Frieren clone while the other mages battled the remaining clones. As Frieren kept the clone occupied, Dugu Qing struck from behind with a lightning dragon that pierced its body.

• Fern agreed to stay behind after losing rock-paper-scissors to Dugu Qing, who entered the hall with Frieren.
• Frieren unleashed her full mana and fought the clone with powerful spells while Dugu Qing hid and watched for an opening.
• Dugu Qing attacked the clone from the shadows, but its defenses blocked his Mana Bullets as Frieren wore down its attention and mana.
• The Water Mirror Demon sent the other clones toward the hall, while the examinees worked together to defeat clones across the labyrinth.
• Frieren intensified her barrage until the clone focused less on Dugu Qing, who appeared behind it and pierced its body with a lightning dragon.

After the examinees conquered the Ruined King's Tomb, Serie canceled the planned third test and announced that she would personally interview them. As the examinees feared facing the legendary mage, Serie eagerly hoped that one of them would notice her mana fluctuating.

• Dugu Qing destroyed the purple crystal, completing the conquest of the Ruined King's Tomb and ending the replicas.
• Jian Ze announced that everyone who had reached the labyrinth's deepest chamber had passed the second test, and Frieren got trapped in another Mimic before Dugu Qing and Fern freed her.
• At the council meeting, Serie canceled the original third test and decided to assess the examinees herself; Laiern revealed that he had noticed Frieren suppressing her mana.
• Serie left the council hall hoping that Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, or another examinee would notice her mana, while Laiern began wanting to fight Frieren.
• A staff member announced that Serie's third test would be an interview, alarming the examinees and prompting Lavina and Kanne to cling to each other in fear.