Why did you bring us back?
The Hero and his party were still there.
It was clear the Devil King's real target was you.
Once we retreated,
I doubt he would bother with those who pose no threat.
You overheard our conversation?
Lady Dina
was listening in the whole time.
Or, rather, monitoring it.
However, there was no need for you to interrupt at such an important—
Lady Libra is correct!
The Devil King left without engaging the Hero's group.
Is that so?
I suppose I achieved my goal of protecting the Hero.
Mistress Lufas?
We'd like to be alone with our thoughts.
Alovenus, huh?
Now that I think about it, there's little I know about this place.
The Goddess of Mercy created this world,
and in the online game she represented the developers.
She also likely played a role in my arrival.
Then there's this "Goddess's Scenario."
What was Lufas trying to do about that two hundred years ago?
I wish I could have listened to everything the Devil King had to say.
There are even greater differences than I expected between the game and this world.
I don't understand anything!
Several Days Later
Laevateinn
Hero, I'm sorry.
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
I had formed your team in the hopes it would be prepared for anything,
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
There Was Something Incredible in My Homeland!
Episode 12
but Alfie has fled in terror,
and the squad of Rangers has vanished.
Still, worry not.
I've already prepared new elites to aid you.
First!
We have Alfie's father! The strongest mercenary!
The Ogre, Gantz!
You can rest easy with me, Hero!
He's nothing like his daughter.
Next!
We have the adventurers who conquered that
black-winged tyrant's grave and obtained its treasure!
We're quick!
We're strong!
We don't let our prey escape!
We're...
Hawk's Eye!
We've received your summons, Your Majesty.
You can trust us with the Hero boy!
Boy?
Also!
I'll be joining you in battle as well, Hero!
I may be an old man now,
but in my youth I fought hard on the front lines!
For the sake of my people's bright future!
I'll risk my life as well!
I'll show you the swordsmanship of Alioth VI!
The king has gone mad!
Restrain him!
Release me!
Um, is that acceptable?
Release me!
It's not a crime?
It's not an issue.
Our king isn't one to be particular about such things.
I see.
He's a benevolent man then!
Is that the issue here?
If he weren't, Sir Friedrich would have been imprisoned long ago.
That's something to laugh at?
Doesn't the king need to have dignity, majesty, and so on, though?
He's already given up on that.
What is this place?
Now, once more...
This party shall set out to defeat the evil Devil King, Orm, and the Conqueror, Lufas!
What's with these pointlessly quirky characters?
Vanaheim
Lady Parthenos has been protecting your homeland for two hundred years.
We should be grateful for her loyalty.
Though wouldn't that be impossible?
Parthenos was a human.
Is it possible for humans to live so long in this world?
We should be reaching the barrier soon.
Hmm?
We passed through that barrier awfully easily.
I guess that means she recognizes us an ally?
Huh?! A guest?!
Just a moment, please!
That sounded awfully young for Parthenos.
Did she develop some spell to reverse aging?
A heaven-winged?
That's definitely not Parthenos.
We're—
Young girl!
You tremble before my great lady?!
Such an attitude is disrespectful—
Idiot.
Why?!
You're the one being disrespectful.
Uhh, forgive us.
Our subordinate was rude to you.
We are someone... suspicious, however,
we came here to see Parthenos.
You know Granny?
"Granny"?
Virgo
m 0 -35 l 25 -35 25 35 0 35
Level
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 30 0 30
Race
m 0 -25 l 22 -25 22 25 0 25
Heaven-Winged
m 0 -25 l 22 -25 22 25 0 25
Class Levels
m 0 -30 l 18 -30 18 60 0 60
Acolyte
m 0 -35 l 18 -35 18 37 0 37
Priest
m 0 -35 l 18 -35 18 35 0 35
Bard
m 0 -25 l 18 -25 18 25 0 25
She's rather strong by this era's standards.
It doesn't look like she's blood-related to Parthenos.
Maybe she's an adopted granddaughter?
Those wings!
Are you Miss Lufas?
We are.
These are two of the Twelve Heavenly Stars, Aries and Libra.
The idiot splayed out over there is Aigokeros.
This is Dina.
I've heard of you.
Oh! My name is Virgo.
If you'd like, I can bring you to Granny.
What a nice, honest girl.
Mistress Lufas!
What is it?
This is bad!
This girl's personality overlaps with mine!
Does it?
A-At this rate, I'll become less unique,
and I won't stand out anymore!
Yes, but...
You never did.
Now, please follow me.
Granny will be delighted.
Here's Granny.
She always believed that you would come back to life,
and her obsession kept her alive,
but last year she choked on some fruit.
Hey, what's the meaning of this?
The Twelve Heavenly Stars are still around.
Isn't that exactly what you said?
Now we have the Conquering Eleven Heavenly Stars instead of twelve!
Uh...
Well, um...
I mean, the barrier was still in place,
so who wouldn't think that she was still alive?!
Also, how is this barrier still active if Lady Parthenos is dead?!
Don't change the subject.
Though that is a good question.
Granny's resentment kept her in this world after her death.
Then she's Parthenos the Vengeful Ghost, not the Maiden!
We understand the situation for now.
We'll just have to meet with Parthenos and help her pass on.
Do you know where her ghost is?
I'm positive she's within the barrier, but...
How do you know she became a ghost, then?
Granny occasionally comes out to restore the barrier,
that's when I see her.
But she just restored the barrier recently.
So the next time she'll come out will be several months from now?
Well, it's not like we're in a hurry on our journey.
Then we simply need to break the barrier!
Leave it to me!
Invisible!
No, wait!
Break!
How was that, my lady?
Aigokeros.
Yes!
We're now very aware that you're a hasty fool of a goat.
What were you going to do if that caused Parthenos to mistake us for an enemy?
Why are the Twelve Heavenly Stars full of idiots who won't listen?!
Then we shall wait for her.
She's not here.
She's not here!
Maybe she's already passed on?
That possibility is surprisingly likely.
In that case, there's no reason for us to remain here any longer,
so let's set out.
Oh, are you sure, though?
This is your hometown, isn't it?
Doesn't that mean your mother's grave is here?
Hmm...
My mother...?
Master, I recall that you always visited this land once a year
to offer prayers to your deceased mother.
Apparently her mother carries a lot weight for Lufas,
but to me it's just a stranger's grave.
Still...
Indeed.
It wouldn't be bad to stop by.
Going to pay your respects?
I don't want to climb a mountain that high.
What is its elevation?
3,807 meters.
That's taller than Mt. Fuji!
Well, in that case...
There, alchemy complete!
How's that, Tanaka?
No, Tanaka Jet!
Excellent!
It seems to like it.
Now then,
shall we?
It's strange.
I'm feeling nostalgia for Lufas's homeland.
Even though I've never been here before.
This town you were born in...
it seems like a nice city.
We only have bitter memories of this place.
We only remember how we were discriminated against,
scorned, and the neighborhood brats threw stones at us.
You have memories of that?
It's not good to let yourself get drawn too far into her memories.
You might wind up losing your sense of self.
If you think it's too much,
then please consider leaving at once.
Understood.
I retract my earlier statement.
Huh?!
If the people threw stones at Lady Lufas,
then this city was a heinous cesspit.
What do you three think you're doing?!
I appreciate the sentiment,
but we don't want you destroying our home and our mother's grave as well.
Oh? This is quite a nice building.
So this is your home, Lady Lufas?
Yes.
Although, I can count the number of times I've entered it.
So what I actually call my home is...
This.
T-This is...
This is where Lufas grew up.
My father hated us for being born with black wings.
I imagine he would have killed me if he had been allowed to.
Master, may I have authorization to murder your father?
No, let me!
It's my right!
There's no point.
He's already dead.
Do any of you recall hearing the phrase "Goddess's Scenario"?
The Goddess's Scenario?
The Devil King was telling me about it the other day.
Nothing exists in my memory.
I haven't heard it either.
Hmm?
Hmm...
Apparently Lufas was rather secretive all those years ago.
Allow me to answer that question.
Much time has passed, Lady Lufas.
I'm relieved to see you haven't changed even after all these years.
Hmm?
Oh my.
I sealed Vanaheim like you instructed me to,
but two hundred years was a long time!
Oh?
What's the matter, Lady Lufas?
Don't tell me you've forgotten this old lady's face.
I even made haste to recreate the way I looked back then.
H-Hold on?
Is that you, Granny Parthenos?!
What, my grandchild,
you can't recognize me after changing my appearance a little?
N-No, I wouldn't call that a little!
Lady Lufas.
I am Parthenos the Maiden, one of the Twelve Heavenly Stars.
I've come to lend you my strength once more.
Parthenos the Maiden
Parthenos,
first of all, allow us to apologize for making you wait so long.
We've put you through great trouble.
Parthenos!
It's been a long time.
Your resemblance matches that within my long-term storage.
Therefore...
Getting to the point, could you tell us what you know about the Goddess's Scenario?
Of course. Though before that, Lady Lufas,
how much of your memory are you missing right now?
Wh-What?!
So you know of it?
Of course.
"I'll likely be missing my memories
after the Goddess pulls her cheap trick during my revival."
Those were your very own words to me, after all.
Why did we order you to seal away this city two hundred years ago?
Would you come with me alone, Lady Lufas?
Please have the others wait here.
The answer is in here.
This is one of the Goddess's vanguards, an arbiter of the world.
It is one of the Five Dragons, the Dragon of Heaven who commands Light.
The Dragon of Heaven?!
It actually existed?!
It's one of the Five Dragons commanded by the Goddess Alovenus.
They don't appear in the game,
so they were legendary characters that only appeared in the lorebooks.
Dragon of Heaven
m 0 -35 l 25 -35 25 35 0 35
I don't think I could win, even with Lufas's stats.
Level
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 30 0 30
Race
m 0 -25 l 22 -25 22 25 0 25
Dragon
m 0 -25 l 18 -25 18 25 0 25
Element
m 0 -30 l 20 -30 20 15 0 15
Sun
m 0 -25 l 18 -25 18 25 0 25
This is dangerous!
They are all in a deep sleep.
However, when the world is truly in danger, they will awaken
and fulfill their duty as guardians.
So I had you seal this place in order to seal them away?
Then the reason you drove the heaven-winged away...
Yes. It was to prevent the people from getting caught up in this.
Did Merak and the others know about this thing?
Only a scant few knew about it among the heaven-winged.
They called this a sacred, divine guardian,
and were grateful for it.
So the water dragon Levia that was in Svel was modeled after this?
The world would easily be destroyed if this thing went wild.
This is no guardian deity.
It's just a god of destruction.
In the past, you plotted to destroy the Goddess's scenario.
However, you said you couldn't win
if you made both the Goddess and the Five Dragons into your enemies.
That's why you acted first
and sealed away the Five Dragons sleeping throughout the world.
You were planning to lead all the forces of Mizgarz
to challenge the Goddess once you defeated the Devil King.
You said the dragons would awaken if the world faced a crisis, yes?
What's determines if the world's facing a crisis?
Does the way the Devil King's nearly driven mankind to extinction not count as a crisis?
It most likely depends on the Goddess's judgment.
If none of them have awoken once so far,
then that means the Goddess doesn't recognize the devilfolk's attacks as a crisis.
That, or she sanctions them.
Indeed.
Were you able to seal the other dragons too?
Those who received your orders did.
Tauros the Ox sealed the Dragon of Earth in the underground world of Helheim.
Aquarius the Water Bearer has sealed
the Dragon of Fire in the burning lands of Muspelheim.
And Gemini the Twins have sealed the Dragon of Wood in the fairy homeland, Alfheim.
And the Dragon of the Moon?
We still have yet to discover it.
Impossible.
There's no way it's hiding on the moon itself, right?
We are grateful for your information.
You can return to Virgo's home along with the others.
What will you be doing, Lady Lufas?
I still haven't visited my mother's grave yet.
Lady Lufas.
Please be careful.
The Goddess possesses a special ability known as Avatar.
Avatar?
The Goddess is unable to act herself.
However,
she can create Avatars that obey her directions and instigate others.
Someone you might have thought was just a powerless person in town
could easily prove to be the Goddess.
We don't know where the Goddess is lurking in this world.
With that, I'll go ahead and head back.
Translation: Timer: Editor: Quality Control:
John Pickett Andy Ellis Gabriella Ramirez Meagan Smith
What was the past Lufas thinking,
when she plotted to pick a fight with the Goddess?
There's so many things I don't know, it's all so confusing.
However, there is one thing I do know.
Lufas Maphaahl was a hindrance to the Goddess.
Anyone capable of revolting against her
in the world she created
would be nothing but a nuisance.
That's why the Goddess did something during Lufas's resurrection to seal away her memories.
And that little trick...
was me.
God damn it!
Yeah. Shit. God damn it all!
I really was completely unnecessary!
I was just meant to cover up the original Lufas
and act as a lid to keep her from her fulfilling her goal.
That was the "new role" the Goddess bestowed upon me.
I shall bestow a new role upon you
Will you accept?
But I don't understand.
Why me?
She could have chosen someone more convenient, like someone devoted to her.
That adds another reason for this journey.
No, that's not right.
I'm not adding one.
I've finally gained a real reason.
I'll do whatever it takes to meet this Goddess
and ask her why she dragged me into this.
Until now, I've been delighted at being reincarnated here,
and just let myself go with the flow
while claiming I was traveling to gather up the Twelve Heavenly Stars.
I want to know...
Why did the Goddess drag me here from my world?
But more importantly...
Finding out I was dancing in her palm and being used without knowing it,
makes me feel incredibly...
sick.
I'll uncover Lufas's goal,
find out what she wanted to do,
and do it myself!
Then that Goddess will have to
make contact with me somehow!
So from now on,
I'll truly be chasing after Lufas!
This isn't out of some sense of justice, nor courage,
and certainly not concern for the future of this world.
This is personal.
It's my counterattack against the Goddess
who dragged me into this!
To Be Continued!