Danmachi Season 5 Episode 5 Recap: Freya Transforms Orario into a Playground as Bell Cranel Faces Loss

Danmachi season 5 episode 5, titled “Invasion – Freya Familia,”premiered on October 31, 2024, via ABEMA Premium in Japan. In this episode, viewers witnessed the intensity of Goddess Freya’s obsession with Bell Cranel, as she manipulates the perceptions of everyone in Orario to regard him as a member of her Familia.

Freya’s enchantment, which does not affect Bell, effectively stripped him of his former identity. This episode unmistakably showcased the lengths Freya is willing to go to in order to possess Bell. Additionally, it explored the intricate dynamics between Freya and Horn, who swapped identities on various occasions.

Disclaimer: This article includes spoilers for Danmachi season 5 episode 5.

Danmachi season 5 episode 5: Freya Concludes Her Role as Syr

The episode starts with Freya reflecting on her experiences with role-playing in the mortal world, where she altered her appearance and voice to blend in with humans as a strategic maneuver. She embraced the guise of Syr, an “ordinary town girl,”as a way to pass the time.

This choice was fortuitous, given Horn was able to take on Freya’s role during her absence. Furthermore, Horn was granted a spell by Freya allowing her to momentarily fulfill the Goddess’s role. At times, they even shared consciousness, enabling Horn to play Syr convincingly.

In Danmachi season 5 episode 5, Freya expresses her enjoyment in embodying Syr, facing various challenges, and discovering her own vulnerabilities. However, everything shifted upon encountering Bell Cranel. Freya’s consuming desire for him caused her to abandon her dignity and pride, prompting her to eliminate the Syr identity entirely.

Bell and Ais in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Later, Bell confides in Ryu regarding the impostor masquerading as Syr. In their conversation, he reveals that Syr confessed her feelings to him, which he ultimately rejected. Ryu struggles to comprehend how Bell turned down such a sincere proposal, but he confesses that he aspires to confess his feelings to someone else in the future.

Ryu asks Bell about Syr (Image via J.C.Staff)

Ryu realizes her misjudgment and acknowledges that Bell has his own feelings, akin to Syr or anyone else. After apologizing to him, Ryu informs Bell that Syr has not returned to the tavern, and they decide to search for her together.

Meanwhile, Lily, Haruhime, Mikoto, and Welf express reluctance to partake in the Goddess Festival. With Anya and others injured, Mama Mia is short on help, prompting the Hestia Familia to seek out the missing Syr.

Danmachi season 5 episode 5: Freya Familia Sets Their Plan Against Hestia Familia in Motion

Goddess Freya in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Concurrently, Goddess Hestia ponders the significance of Syr’s identity until Freya materializes before her. Without preamble, Freya demands that Hestia surrender Bell Cranel to her.

Despite Hestia’s repeated rejections, Freya warns her to brace for the aftermath. The focus then shifts to various members of the Hestia Familia throughout the town as they face brutal defeats at the hands of the top adventurers from the Freya Familia.

The Gulliver brothers overwhelm Mikoto and pin Haruhime down. Meanwhile, Allen Fromel swiftly subdues Welf. Although Liliruca fights back against the Gulliver brothers, they injure her. Across Orario, Ottarl delivers a devastating blow to Ryu and takes down Bell Cranel with a single strike.

Ottarl, as seen in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Manufacturing a trophy from the weapons of the defeated Hestia Familia members, Ottarl presents them to Freya. Anger surges through Hestia as she witnesses Bell Cranel’s unconscious form on the ground. Freya then seizes Hestia by her ponytail, coercing her to rescind her bond with Bell.

Freya threatens to send her back to heaven and annihilate everyone in her Familia unless Hestia complies. Hestia faces despair, but suddenly, Hermes intervenes, revealing that Freya cannot transfer Bell to her Familia, as he has only been affiliated with the Hestia Familia for six months.

Bell Cranel in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Hermes reminds Freya that any member of a Familia must be engaged for at least a year before a transfer can occur. This stipulation was established by the Gods when they dwelled in the Heavens.

Although Freya concedes to Hermes’ reasoning, she implies that she will take measures to ensure the transfer is executed seamlessly in six months. As Freya exits, Hermes is left horrified by the implications of her words.

Danmachi season 5 episode 5: Goddess Freya Transforms Orario into Her Domain

In a startling turn during Danmachi season 5 episode 5, Alfi arrives with an injured Ryu, informing Hermes of a large crowd gathering at Central Park, summoned by the Guild with megaphones at the ready, possibly for an impending address.

Hermes urgently instructs Hestia to elevate her divine powers and tells Alfi to vacate Orario immediately. Jotting down a note, Hermes passes it to Hestia with a caution to return it at an opportune moment, threatening enmity if she fails to do so.

Simultaneously, Freya takes hold of the megaphone and, addressing the citizens of Orario, openly admits to her “ugly” transformation driven by her unyielding desire. In a remarkable display, she shifts into Syr and quickly reverts to her divine form, commanding everyone to bow before her.

Freya charms everyone (Image via J.C.Staff)

Suddenly, a radiant pink light envelops Orario. The next day, Bell Cranel awakens in an unfamiliar setting, encountering Hedin Selland, who instructs him to follow. Slowly, Bell realizes he’s within the confines of Folkvangr, the residence of Freya’s Familia.

Baffled, Bell finds himself recognized as part of the Freya Familia by all around him. In a desperate plea, he insists he belongs to the Hestia Familia, to which Hogni and others speculate that Bell may have been cursed.

In his frantic search to escape Folkvangr, Bell encounters another adventurer, Mord, who also identifies him as a member of Freya’s Familia. It soon becomes apparent that Goddess Freya has ensnared the minds of everyone in Orario.

Bell wakes up in Folkvangr (Image via J.C.Staff)

With her inability to charm Bell directly, Freya manipulated the perceptions of those around him, transforming Orario into her playground where Bell is perceived to be a part of Freya’s Familia instead of Hestia’s. The episode concludes with Bell noticing Hestia and his other companions, but despair floods him when he realizes even they do not recognize his true self.

Despite Hestia retaining her memories as the Virgin Goddess, she is compelled to keep them from Bell to protect herself and her Familia from the wrath of Ottarl and the other members of Freya’s Familia. Danmachi season 5 episode 5 culminates with Hestia tormented by her inability to comfort the despondent Bell, who collapses in anguish, questioning his fate.

Conclusion

Produced by J.C. Staff, Danmachi season 5 episode 5 presents a riveting twist in the storyline, as Goddess Freya forsakes her honor, reshaping Orario into her domain. Her unrelenting longing for Bell Cranel led her to forfeit the principles she once cherished.

Although she acknowledges the despair inflicted on Bell, her actions were driven by desperation. Notably, the other members of her Familia remained unaffected by her enchantments, setting the stage for future developments. This episode has undoubtedly laid the groundwork for an intriguing narrative ahead.

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