My king, it's time you made a decision!
Now is the time to use your might as a hero
to make those filthy winged cretins behave!
We should exile them!
That's right, that's right!
This nation belongs to us!
I founded Gjallarhorn for the mixed-winged who had no other place to go.
But now the Twelve Heavenly Stars have robbed the white-winged of their homeland, Vanaheim,
and they too have lost their home.
That was why I reluctantly welcomed them into this nation,
but they ended up insisting on their special privileges
and persecuted the mixed-winged once again.
King Merak!
Please give us your answer!
They're the ones growing arrogant,
and the mixed-winged are the victims.
However...
I have white wings myself.
I want to respect their suggestions too.
It's left me unable to take a clear side, resulting in the current situation.
I'm...
not fit to be king.
I was destined to become king of the heaven-winged,
and I walked the path laid out for me by my parents.
But she...
Lufas Maphaahl was different.
She bore those hated wings,
but no matter how much she was persecuted,
she used that as fuel to grow stronger.
Watching her live her life was dazzling.
Compared to her...
I'm...
incompetent!
The best way to resolve this city's issues
would be for Merak to take action, but...
Well, how do I make contact?
Do something, Sky King.
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Skill selection, releasing limiter on right arm,
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Hey! 5%?! Seriously?!
Episode 8
Zuben El Genubi!
Fire!
Got you!
I see.
You can freely manipulate wind
and slice through metal.
You're of the Wood Element, correct?
Good job figuring it out!
I am Jupiter, one of the devilfolk's Seven Luminaries, master at manipulating Wood!
Now identify yourself, puppet!
You're no ordinary foe either!
Nice to meet you, Sir Jupiter.
I am one of the Conquering Twelve Heavenly Stars, Libra of the Scales.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Oh?
The Scales, the one said to possess the greatest power of extermination?
I heard you were destroyed at the Grave of the King,
but I knew that had to be false!
Skill selection, releasing limiter on left arm,
Zuben Es Chamali.
I am coming.
Aries.
Come work with me
to send those loathsome Seven Heroes to the Hel I herald from.
Aigokeros.
I won't accept your invitation.
My only master...
is Lady Lufas!
The same holds true for me.
I will not ask you to swear fealty.
Simply think of it as using them.
Aigokeros, listen!
Our master has returned!
She wasn't actually dead!
Then the one who struck down Mars really was—
Yes, it was Lady Lufas!
It's time to return to Lady Lufas once more
and reunite the Twelve Heavenly Stars!
Cut ties with the devilfolk at once,
and come with me,
Aigokeros!
I cannot do that yet!
Why not?!
Rejoining my master's side...
that would be ideal.
Yet unless I defeat her enemies,
history will only repeat itself.
I can only rejoin our master
after I've sent all of those loathsome heroes to Hel.
Only then will the fog over my heart be lifted!
I will claim Merak's head
and plunge this nation into hellish chaos!
Then I'll devour the devilfolk
and offer them as sacrifices to our master!
Aigokeros, wait!
Farewell, Aries!
Enjoy the show alongside our great master!
Watch as I drown this nation in blood!
Aigokeros!
It's true
that killing the Seven Heroes is the greatest wish of the Twelve Heavenly Stars.
I don't have any reason to stop him.
The issue is whether or not to tell Lady Lufas.
Though this white district is full of the scum that persecuted Lady Lufas.
I'll just watch for a bit longer.
If they're the same people
who treated her with such disgraceful racism,
then I'll...!
He's so late!
Honestly, what is wrong with him, making a lady wait like this?
This is the problem with...
Who's that?
They're incredibly suspicious.
Maybe I'll get some unexpected intel.
You're late, you know!
Sorry.
So? What did the king say?
It's no use.
We can't rely on that fence-sitting king!
He wouldn't even lend an ear to our plea!
Why not?!
Then we'll just have to crush those filthy-winged cretins ourselves!
Yes.
Of course,
this will mean soiling our hands...
But someone has to do it.
We can't defend what's right with just empty ideals!
Right!
What's right?
Plus, I've learned that they're preparing for war.
Is that true?!
It's information from Sir Jupiter.
So it's a fact.
I've already approached our colleagues with him
and recruited an army of volunteers!
That's reassuring!
So where is this Sir Jupiter now?!
Well...
He never appeared when we were supposed to meet.
Huh?
People without wings...
Hmm...
So this nation is already on the verge of civil war,
and the fuse on its destruction has already been lit.
So the name of the culprit trying to pour oil on those flames and accelerate it is Jupiter.
But then why didn't he show up for their meeting?
There must have been a reason he couldn't come.
Still...
Thanks to this, I have some good information to share with Mistress Lufas.
This country will be in turmoil soon.
She makes herself as solid as steel,
yet her weight can't be blown away by wind, so she's of the Metal Element!
That's the worst possible matchup against my Wood Element!
Enemy is specialized in mobility and evasion skills.
My accuracy of predicting his movements is...
now reducing the margin of error.
She's learning my damn movement patterns!
I hate to do this,
but I'm retreating!
It is futile.
Unfortunately for you,
I know this city much better than you!
Further pursuit would be inefficient.
Analysis of the enemy's appearance and fighting style complete.
The next time I make contact,
it will be the end of him.
So there you have it!
The white district is currently making preparations for civil war!
It's safe to assume that this "Jupiter"
is inciting the white-winged people.
That so?
I have a report.
I encountered and fought Jupiter, one of the devilfolk's Seven Luminaries,
in the white district.
Devilfolk are here in this country when it's likely to perish on its own?
I request the preparation of guns and alchemization of homing bullets
to ensure his elimination during our next encounter.
You don't have any?
We don't recall those being particularly rare.
I depleted my arsenal in defense of the grave.
Very well.
We shall alchemize some later.
I am grateful.
Aries.
Did anything happen on your end?
Aries?
Oh!
No! Nothing on my end.
Understood.
As for the state of the black district...
We felt bottomless hatred toward the white-winged.
We're certain that this city is moments away from civil war.
In addition
they've erected a bronze statue of us in the temple to worship.
My!
What a nice district then!
I propose we offer the black district our full backing in the event of civil war.
I think that's a good idea, too.
Seriously, people?!
Well, jokes aside!
We can just leave things alone here, right?
Merak is the one who should be doing something about this nation's issues,
so it's nothing for Mistress Lufas to concern herself with.
Lady Dina.
If this nation falls,
then the stalemate founded on the three Heroes will collapse,
and the devilfolk will invade.
At the very least,
we need them to oppose the devilfolk long enough for us to regain our former forces.
Oh! That's a proper opinion from Libra.
Therefore,
I think we should ally with the black district
and I propose we eliminate the white-winged faction
to unify the will of this nation's people.
If we prevail, then Master Lufas
will be able to use Gjallarhorn as her pawn.
She really is calculated, huh?
We won't be taking either side here.
For now, there's only one thing for us to do.
We need to capture this devilfolk, Jupiter, and this mysterious man, Jupiter.
Wait, are those two the same person?
Well, one would think that, yes.
If Libra hadn't stopped him,
Jupiter was highly likely to run into Dina at the clock tower,
given the direction he was going in.
Then Dina also trailed a suspicious individual in a white cloak who passed by the clock tower.
There she uncovered one of the white-winged's hideouts
and obtained information on Jupiter.
That means that Jupiter was originally heading for that hideout.
That is my deduction as well.
When I first discovered him,
Jupiter was disguised as a human.
Understood.
Then things here should improve once we capture Jupiter.
I am restricted from killing him?
Please try to capture him alive.
We want to drag him out before the public and make him testify.
Very well.
In short,
you want to prepare an easily recognizable villain
and make him take all the blame!
Is that right?
That's right.
However.
Your safety is the highest priority.
Show us your skill by bringing this devilfolk before us without dying.
We look forward to your results.
This is turning into an odd state of affairs.
All I wanted to do
was to meet the Hero, Merak,
and determine whether or not he's a player like me.
Yet this nation is one step away from civil war,
and if I stand idly by, it'll destroy itself.
I'm also half the reason for this civil war.
At any rate,
We need to do something about this.
Damn it!
This is an absolute pain in the ass!
If that preposterous golem is here,
then so is Lufas Maphaahl!
Why did she show up at this moment?!
Oh my, you were beaten awfully badly.
Why you!
What the hell are you doing waltzing out here?!
My, so scary.
Don't be so mad.
Shut up!
Why didn't you come back me up?!
Temper.
I was waiting for you at our meeting spot the whole time,
yet not only did you make a lady wait,
you blew off our date.
That's no way for a gentleman to act.
Then why did you lead them all into the city?!
There's no way someone like me could stop the Conqueror, right?
The plan was to incite those idiots into civil war,
and crush Merak once his country was gone!
There was plenty of opportunity for it to succeed!
However!
Now that that golem's there, I can't even get close to the city!
I do feel guilty that I couldn't be of more assistance.
That's why I've come here to help you tonight.
Help me?!
Yes.
That golem is in the way of your plans, right?
I'll keep her in check for a little while.
How long?
I can manage twenty minutes.
Libra,
take whatever you'd like.
I am grateful.
Huh?!
What the?! How does a design like that even work?!
The next time he sees me will be his last.
Remember to try and capture him alive.
By the way, Master Lufas.
I have not seen Lady Dina around for a while.
I am unable to detect her within a 100km radius.
I must conclude that she is somewhere outside of the country.
You don't need to worry about that.
She's able to use teleportation magic.
She's probably back at our base right now raising money or something.
Teleportation magic...
Are you referring to the spell, Exgate?
Hmm? Well, we're not sure.
This is surprising.
Does any teleportation magic other than Exgate exist in this current age?
Huh?
What's going on?
Why does something feel off?
No, that doesn't matter right now.
Though Libra does have a right to be surprised.
After all, "Teleportation Magic" didn't exist two hundred years ago.
There was never such a convenient spell in Exgate Online.
In the game, "Exgate" was just a term and part of the setting: no one could learn it.
So that means either Dina's teleportation magic is Exgate,
or some new kind of magic was created in the past two hundred years.
But if she can use that spell, then what does that make her?
Still, why?
Why am I suddenly remembering this right now?
Why did I just accept it as a given up until this moment?
Master Lufas?
It seems I'll need to have a long talk with her.
I'm back!
Huh?
Is everyone else out?
Huh?
Huh?!
We shall now begin questioning the defendant.
Everything you say shall be recorded in my memory.
Please do not attempt any subversion!
W-What?
Memory manipulation and teleportation magic.
That's a suspicious amount of talent for someone who was originally a background NPC.
Seeing her now, it's hard to believe she was just fading into the background.
In fact, she has too strong of a presence!
Answer us, Dina.
The teleportation magic you use.
That's Exgate, isn't it?
There exists a restriction such that Exgate cannot be used without the target's consent.
Oh, yes.
That's right.
She just outright admitted it!
Er, well...
Thinking about it, she wasn't really hiding it either.
It is a rare spell,
but it's also how I was summoned into this world,
and that older elf was able to use it too.
Next.
Who are you really?
We barely have vague memories of you being around all those years ago,
but you can't be human at the very least.
Yet we don't see any of the unique traits of elves, heaven-winged,
or vampires either.
I'm just an ordinary half-elf.
Oh, right.
Half-elves existed didn't they?
Though they weren't in the game.
What about your variety of abilities?
Two hundred years!
I worked hard training myself for two hundred years!
All so I wouldn't be part of the background anymore!
So I wouldn't be part of the background anymore!
She said it twice to emphasize its importance. I get it.
Now then, what to do?
I've run out of questions to ask her.
Hmm...
Nothing, huh?
Oh!
I can just use Observing Eye!
I'm completely baffled as to why I never even considered trying to use it on her before now.
Dina
m 0 -60 l 20 -60 20 60 0 60
Level
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 20 0 20
Race
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 10 0 10
Half-Elf
m 0 -60 l 20 -60 20 40 0 40
Class Levels
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 60 0 60
Acolyte
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 45 0 45
Priest
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 40 0 40
Mage
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 20 0 20
What's this?
She's pretty strong, isn't she?
She could fight the Seven Luminaries on equal terms.
Are you satisfied now?
I feel like I'm still missing something decisive, but...
For now, you're acquitted.
Please don't scare me like that!
Sorry.
Oh, right!
I just thought of something.
I can take Lady Libra anywhere I want to go with my teleportation magic.
Hmm? You can't use it with me, but you can with Libra?
Yes!
The conditions for using Exgate don't apply to Items and inorganic objects.
Since Lady Libra's a golem,
I can ferry her around with Exgate.
I could even test it right now, if you'd like?
Hmm...
Libra, what do you think?
I have determined there will be no issue.
Jupiter still has not approached the surrounding area,
thus the chances of him seizing this opportunity are below 5%.
There shouldn't be any problems then.
Go ahead.
Right!
Oh, why don't we take this opportunity
to organize the equipment we retrieved the other day together?
Understood.
Master, I shall be gone for roughly ten minutes, if that is sufficient?
Sure. We don't mind.
We'll be off then!
Well, maybe I'm overthinking it with Dina?
I'll need to talk with those two about what to do when they get back.
There's no way Jupiter will use this time to attac—
Huh?!
Hey!
Five percent?!
Seriously?!
Grave news!
Someone has attacked the white district!
H-Help!
Somebody!
This is terrible!
Those damn black district cretins have launched an attack on us!
They're planning to kill us!
I knew it!
Those bastards!
Come on, I'm counting on you.
Hey, look!
What's that?!
Kill them.
If you hate them, kill them.
Kill them!
Kill them.
Kill them!
Kill them.
If you hate them, kill them.
If you hate them, kill them!
Kill them!
How could this happen?!
Kill them!
The white district is attacking us!
We need to arm ourselves!
You're right!
Kill them!
If you hate them, kill them!
Kill them!
If you hate them, kill them!
Kill them!
Arm yourselves!
Kill them!
If you hate them, kill them!
Translation: Timer: Editor: Quality Control:
John Pickett Andy Ellis Gabriella Ramirez Meagan Smith