Chapter 130

Leading the imprisoned Glück into a cell, Kanone, second-in-command within the Magic Special Forces, presses him to claim that Macht's deception rather than loyalty guided his actions. That version of events would spare him the Emperor's death sentence, since rooting out corruption in Weise might even earn reward, yet Glück will not disown the bond he shared with the demon. He senses an unseen hand steering the questioning and concludes that his interrogation is bait laid out to draw in Denken.

Offered a cigarette, Glück catches a scent he last encountered fifty years earlier and identifies Fräse as the unit's true captain. He remembers her old inspection of Weise, when Macht urged him to kill her and he refused for fear of provoking the Empire, a choice he now regrets. Kanone turns down his counsel, promising only to log mitigating circumstances, and tells him to serve out his role in Weise as penance.

Once Glück exits, Kanone reports to Denken, who is struck by the leniency of the coming judgment and offers to accompany the prisoner back to Weise. He questions her about the forces' objective, but she claims no authority to reveal it, leaving him to suspect the matter is being kept secret. Neu then interrupts with word that Übel and Land have been captured, and Kanone departs alongside him while Denken resolves to quietly lay groundwork, aware that distrust of him runs through the Capital and the Continental Magic Association alike.

Across town, Fern is astonished to find Frieren awake and dressed entirely on her own, and she rewards the rare feat with a lavish breakfast shared with Stark and Falsch. Sense looks on, baffled by the pampering, as Stark warns that so unusual an occurrence surely signals disaster the following day. The chapter brings the first appearance of Fräse, shown in flashback, and places Frieren and Fern on its cover.