Original subtitles

No wonder the Ruins of the King's Tomb were impregnable.

Who knew we'd run into something like this?

Denken,

is that something you can deal with?

There's one thing I can say for certain.

If this weren't an exam, I would've already broken my bottle.

ORIGINAL STORY BY KANEHITO YAMADA / TSUKASA ABE

We call the lord of that dungeon Spiegel,

the Water-Mirror Demon.

It's a monster from mythical times that comes out

in Ewig the Sage's heroic tales.

We believe that

Spiegel reads the memories of those who enter the dungeon

and creates a clone of them.

There are modern-day monsters with

similar traits, like the Einsam.

But the clones that Spiegel creates are tangible

and perfectly copy people's

abilities, mana, and even techniques.

That is why the Ruins of the King's Tomb is still uncharted.

Why did Sense choose this dungeon as the exam location?

Fighting your clone means fighting an evenly-matched opponent.

Calm self-analysis and teamwork is necessary

in order to defeat the clones without any casualties.

This exam is very fitting for a pacifist like her.

This is bad...

Let's retreat.

Denken!

Well then...

What shall we do?

A dead end, huh?

I guess we're cornered.

Four-eyes,

I want to hear your opinion, as an expert in cloning magic.

Do you mind?

As I've said before, my name is Land.

Well, whatever...

How perfect of a copy is that clone of mine?

Übel, you're the type

who is talkative even during a battle, aren't you?

It's like you'd die if you stayed quiet.

Good observation.

Yeah, I might die.

That thing is silent.

I guess it hasn't copied my memories or personality.

No, it probably just can't speak.

During the first attack,

it pulled out the bottle

with the evacuation golem out of my pocket.

I see.

That is indeed something I would do.

It's also knowledgeable about us.

The reason why it's not attacking us even though we're cornered

is because it's wary of your Sorganeil.

Or it just enjoys watching people suffer.

That's not funny.

You're bleeding a lot.

Four-eyes, you're not going to last very long at this rate.

Yeah...

Can I ask you one last thing?

Are you the real Four-eyes?

Who knows?

I wonder...

Use my bottle.

That is for your own survival.

Interesting...

I see.

Well then, Four-eyes, wait here for a second.

I'll get your bottle back.

Hey, wait...

Of course, it will come towards me.

In order to use Sorganeil,

the target's entire body must be within view.

The first one to miscalculate the distance between us will lose.

If our abilities are equal, winning and losing is up to luck.

Luck has never been on my side,

so I hate fights that depend on luck.

That's why I have no interest in fighting myself.

My goodness...

I'm just helplessly suicidal, aren't I?

As usual, I'm unlucky.

This is why I hate these things...

But

it seems you were even more unlucky than me.

Four-eyes, that was surprisingly fast.

As I thought, the bottle was fake too, huh?

Übel,

you knew that it was my clone who was fatally injured?

Why did you put your life in danger?

I guess it's because I was convinced that you'd come for me.

Did I come across as such a nice guy?

No, not at all.

More like, that's not relevant at all.

Four-eyes,

you didn't even try to accept my bottle.

You don't want anyone to die because of you, am I right?

That's why I created

a situation in which I would die because of you.

Thank you, Four-eyes.

I feel like I got to know you a little better.

Is that right? Good for you.

Do you feel like you can relate to me yet?

I'll probably need some more time.

I'm pretty sure we're near the innermost depths...

Mistress Frieren, I see stairs over there.

Fern, show me the map.

I think we've explored every corner of this floor.

There's a hidden room behind this wall.

I'm sure there are treasures.

Judging from this atmosphere, there's a possibility

that a rare grimoire is hidden in here.

But there was nothing that looked

like an entrance anywhere.

True...

But according to the layout,

there definitely should be a room here.

Mistress Frieren, this is amazing!

It depicts the achievements of the king who was buried here.

I have never seen a mural from the Unified Dynasty era in such

pristine condition.

This is a valuable find.

It's magnificent.

This raid is almost going a little too smoothly.

We might just pass the exam before we know it.

That might be.

What's wrong? Why are you gathered here?

Guessing from the layout,

the innermost depths should be somewhere beyond this hall.

So?

It's been half a day since that thing stationed itself there.

Things are starting to get fun.

Now this is how dungeon raids are supposed be.

A perfect clone, huh?

That thing seems to be just as strong as me.

Unless we do something about that clone,

we can't make it to the innermost depth.

Do you have any suggestions?

Let's see...

If that thing is a perfect replica of me,

its weakness would be the same as a real life mage.

To defeat a mage of a higher caliber,

one would use a restraining spell or hypnosis magic.

I'm resistant to both, though.

But it might create a window of opportunity.

You should be able to seize that opportunity and defeat it.

Methode,

you're skilled in those kinds of tricks.

I wouldn't call myself "skilled" but...

Excuse me.

How intriguing...

My restraining spell won't work on you.

You smell good.

This should work on anyone unless

there's a significant difference in mana.

Frieren,

please look into my eyes next.

Hypnosis magic doesn't work either.

I am not able to break Frieren's mental defense.

Oh my...

I guess she really is resistant to both.

But although her mental defense is complex and strong,

it seems to be a very old system.

An expert in hypnosis magic may be able to find its weakness.

Can you think of anyone among the examinees?

Edel, the second-class mage, may be able to.

But unlike me, she has absolutely no combat skills,

so I honestly don't know if she can make it this far.

And first of all,

hypnosis magic doesn't have any effect unless the target has a mind.

Who knows

if the clones are replicated to that extent.

We don't have enough information.

Edel, what do you think that is?

Who knows?

But there is no doubt that it is just as powerful

as Sense, the first-class mage.

We can't conceal our mana and hide here forever.

We'll have to defeat it.

You think you can defeat it, Blei?

I know I'm out of the question,

but even you and Dünste can barely fight inside this dungeon.

Modern magic isn't meant to be

used to fight in dungeons to begin with.

That's because most dungeons

were already done being raided during the Demon King's era.

And we focus too much of our resources on powerful defensive magic.

We've begun to rely more on natural elements for offensive magic.

Because rather than creating something out of nothing,

it takes up less mana to manipulate or transform

elements that are already accessible around us.

And in that sense, that thing is very efficient.

Its hair is covered in multiple layers of magic.

It's safe to assume that it has numerous ways

of fighting even inside this dungeon.

In my opinion, we can't win against that thing.

Magic is all about visualization.

The fact that it can freely transform and manipulate

each strand of hair, which is impossible to even count,

means its ability to visualize is beyond any normal human being.

That in itself makes it a far superior mage than us.

Honestly, it's a miracle that we were able to evade it this far.

We did our best.

First of all, we aren't even fighters.

It's time to call it quits.

To be honest, I'm scared and want to go home.

Edel,

your voice won't reach it?

I may be from a clan which makes a living off of hypnosis magic,

but there is no way

I can meet the requirements to use high-level orders against that thing.

At best, I'd only be able

to make it kneel and create a window of opportunity.

Even to do that, I'd have to look into its eyes and talk to it.

So it's not impossible?

Only if it has a mind.

How much time do we need to buy?

Fifteen seconds.

You probably can't buy any more than that.

What do you mean?

You will find out soon.

Surround us with defensive magic.

What?

In modern magic battles,

there are two ways to break through defensive magic.

Either shatter it using sheer mass

or slip past it using technique.

Those with many tricks up their sleeve usually use the latter.

How surprising...

Who knew it would use both methods.

It's as powerful as a giant!

I thought a complete barrier of

defensive magic would last a maximum of 15 seconds.

But who knew it would give out even sooner.

But now we've made eye contact.

The more skilled a mage gets, the more they look at their opponent.

Kneel!

I see...

Now I understand.

It doesn't have a mind.

It's just imitating the workings of a mind very precisely.

There is no way for us to win against it.

We have no choice but to rely on others.

Run with all your might and find those who can fight.

Like I said, it's time to call it quits and go home.

I don't want to feel any more pain.

How handy.

You're even going to protect me from harm?

We should run too.

At this rate, will anyone be able to reach the innermost depth unharmed?

Didn't I call it?

She never intended to let anyone pass the exam in the first place.

Since we have such little information,

we should prepare just in case it doesn't have a mind.

In that case, we'll have to use sheer force.

Is that possible?

I don't know.

Jeez...

I can't even tell what they're thinking.

But just as I thought, we work pretty well together.

If it's a simple head-to-head battle of mana,

Ehre can overpower Scharf and I.

However,

I know how to win.

No matter who I'm against

or what the circumstances are.

By sheer force, huh?

Um, in that case...

I might be able to kill Mistress Frieren.

-Yeah? -Yes.

Well then,

let's draft up a plan.

-It's coming together. -Let's draft up a plan.

-So you had information. -Shall I help?

I think you should apologize.

-It has no weakness. -How unpleasant.

You look like you're having fun.

"A Fatal Vulnerability."

Subtitle translation by: Kiko Morita