[MOMONGA]
Huh? What the hell?
That's a powered suit!
Like we had in Yggdrasil!
Does that mean they're
a player like me?
I can't believe they
were eliminated so easily.
[AINS] Mm. All according
to my plan, of course.
[GUARDIANS gasp]
[AINS]
Mm...
[COCYTUS] Ah, it took me
a moment, but I get it now!
[MOMONGA]
What? You do?
[SHALLTEAR]
Ooh, ooh, ooh!
I think I understand
the plan, too!
Lord Ains suspected that this
person in the red might appear,
so he reacted accordingly
with his deployment!
In other words, he sent
an underwhelming force,
because he never intended
to win in the first place!
[AINS]
Mm.
Fine work!
A brilliant deduction!
[AINS]
Y-Yes.
So, wait, am I supposed
to know the red guy?
He's from one of only
three adamantite-rank
adventurer teams in Re-Estize.
They're called Drop of Red.
Our reports indicated
that they operate
in the north of the Kingdom.
Oh, so Lord Ains
att*cked a northern city
in hopes of drawing him out?
[COCYTUS]
Like a master fisherman,
our lord seized his quarry.
[AINS] Couldn't have
said it better myself.
[GUARDIANS gasp]
Now, the next step.
We should plan another
att*ck on the city soon.
Only this time,
we will handle it properly
and raze everything
to the ground.
[AINS]
Yes. Exactly what I was--
[AINS]
O-On second thought,
that port city is frankly
beneath our notice.
I believe it's time to shift to
the next phase of our operation
and att*ck the royal
capital directly.
If that's what you
wish, so be it.
We can always decimate
the remaining cities later.
[AINS]
Yes.
[MOMONGA] While we're busy
finishing up this w*r,
they should have
plenty of time to flee.
[AINS]
Make preparations, for soon,
we shall march on the capital.
Every city and every
town along the way
will be flattened
beneath our boots!
Let's teach the world
what becomes of a kingdom
that defies Nazarick!
[GUARDIANS]
Yes, sir!
[knocking]
[ZANAC]
Yes?
[SOLDIER A] Forgive the
intrusion, Your Highness,
but Princess Renner is here.
I'm busy. Tell her we can
speak during dinner.
My Lord, she said
if you don't meet
with her immediately,
she'll start spreading
unfounded accusations about you.
[sighs] We can't have that.
Tell her I can spare a moment.
But if she has those
other two with her,
then they wait outside.
As you wish, My Lord.
What is it?
[RENNER] I wanted to see
if Father was still alive.
Is that a joke?
What, do you think I k*lled him,
because I wanted to do
all this paperwork myself?
[ZANAC] Father's alive,
but he isn't well right now.
I'm having him rest a bit.
It's remarkable that you've
been able to detain him.
Without Marquis Raeven's
help, no less.
That settles it.
The m*llitary and the
head of internal affairs
must've taken your side.
Father kept insisting
that we could
talk our way out of this.
But we're long past the stage
where negotiation's an option.
I'm sure he just wanted
to save more lives,
but he only maintained that
position because he thought
the enemy's declaration
of w*r was an idle thr*at.
In reality, the Sorcerer
Kingdom's army
has been heading north
this whole time.
It would seem that
they targeted the border
near the Council State.
I assume that's to
prevent us from receiving
any support troops from them.
Quick to catch on, I see.
At any rate, the settlements
were completely destroyed
and all of their
people were massacred.
The message is clear.
They won't negotiate,
we must fight.
But enlighten me,
why do you think their
forces have gone unnoticed
until just now?
If you've figured out this much,
surely you know
the answer already.
Yes. It means some of our nobles
have betrayed us, right?
Still, who outside of the palace
could control so much intel?
Marquis Raeven, of course.
[gasps] What? No. Surely not.
[RENNER]
This is his domain, isn't it?
Here's a thought.
Marquis Raeven loves
his son quite dearly.
What do you think he would do if
someone took his family hostage?
[ZANAC]
So, they forced his hand?
Is that what you think?
Well, it's possible,
but it's just as likely
he decided our kingdom
has no future.
[sighs] You've always been
more clever than me.
How would you handle this mess?
I believe the enemy
will be coming
straight for the capital.
So first, I must ask
if you have any army ready.
Well, yes.
[RENNER] And do you think
that army can win?
It's not a matter
of winning or losing.
We don't have any choice.
The enemy is burning
down our cities,
and they're murdering
everyone who lives in them.
Our chance of victory is slim,
but we have to fight.
We'll gather our soldiers
for one last battle.
The citizens will help.
Once they see the
cruelty of our enemy,
they'll want to fight, too.
I must admit, you've
truly become a king.
[gasps]
[RENNER] Your logic is correct.
I have nothing to add.
It's a pity, I won't
be much use in battle.
But as the face of our kingdom,
it's my duty to lead the troops.
If I die, then Father
will see this
to its grim conclusion.
You are free to escape
whenever you like.
I'll stay for now,
but I'll be ready to go
when the time arrives.
[SOLDIER B]
You think we should run?
[SOLDIER C]
Hell no! I'm fighting!
Hey, our client didn't
specify who needs to come,
and this hardly requires
the whole party,
so how about I take care of it?
Lakyus, if there's a reason
why you don't want us
coming along, just say it.
Uh, no. Don't worry,
it's nothing like that.
[GAGARAN] I bet it's
'cause the Drop of Red
will be at the meeting, too.
Their leader, Mr. Azuth
is your uncle, isn't he?
I'm sure the two of you
have a lot to catch up on.
I get it.
Yes! That's exactly right!
--So, I'll just--
--[TINA] Something's fishy.
--[TIA] Agreed.
--[LAKYUS] Huh?
Summoning us
and the Drop of Red?
What kind of job needs
two adamantite rank teams?
Could be a trap.
You think they mentioned
Mr. Azuth to lure us in?
[EVILEYE] Maybe. Either way,
we should stick together.
Plus, I'm looking forward
to meeting a famous hero.
Though I wish you had
introduced us sooner,
since he's a relative of yours.
[sighs]
[LAKYUS]
This is the meeting place.
Yep, fishy all right.
We should prepare for the worst.
[AZUTH]
Come on in.
[WOMEN laughing]
So, uh, the thing is...
About my uncle--
some of the stuff he does can be
a little bit controversial.
[WOMEN laughing]
What's up, Laky?
Long time no see!
[LAKYUS]
Your "lady friends" aside,
this is a business meeting,
couldn't you at least
put a shirt on?
Well, I could.
But I also could have
stayed in bed,
so let's just call it
a compromise.
You can't act like this!
Act like what?
--[WOMEN moan]
--[WOMAN B] Oh, you!
[EVILEYE sighs]
What a sorry excuse for a hero.
Get your floozies out of here.
Wow, kid, that's rude.
What, are you jealous, shrimp?
So insecure you have
to wear a dumb mask?
[EVILEYE]
Charm Person.
Now scram.
Okay, no prob.
[EVILEYE]
Charm Person. Go.
Sure, whatever you say.
[AZUTH]
All right.
Nice thinking.
I approve. Lakyus!
Everyone made it on time.
[gasps]
[AZUTH]
Whoa, whoa, cool it.
You're the last ones to show
up to the meeting and you
waltz in here like you're
looking for a fight?
Maybe we were just waiting
for your whores to leave,
you dirty old man.
Heh. You guys're the ones
who decided on this place.
Can't blame me for
having a little fun with it.
Ew.
[FIFTH SEAT]
Very clever.
Now can everyone
settle down and play nice?
All right.
You are the leader this time,
so I guess that's only fair.
Then let me get
straight to the point.
I come to you
with a proposition.
I speak to Lord Azuth Aindra,
and the other members
of the Drop of Red.
As well as all members
of Blue Rose.
We want to recruit you
to an exclusive team.
[BLUE ROSE gasps]
One second. What country
are you folks from?
We're talking about
the future of the world here.
--[TINA] What?
--[TIA] Who's there?
[FIFTH SEAT]
No need to be alarmed.
After all, if we really
intended to k*ll you,
we'd do it quickly,
instead wasting time
with all these pleasantries.
I get it now. They're
from the Theocracy.
[EVILEYE]
Are you sure?
An elite team of
their greatest heroes.
"The Black Scripture,"
I believe it was?
Though I heard
at least one of you
deviated from the
heroic path a bit.
[laughs] Seems I've developed
quite the reputation!
That said, I'm not special.
In fact, there are people
here as strong as me,
maybe even stronger.
I'm looking at you, Evileye.
You'd give me run for my money.
[AZUTH] So, I don't
think this is the time
to join your little club.
But while you're here,
why don't you help us
drive out the Sorcerer King?
No thank you.
Right now, our only mission
is to recruit talent.
Well, ladies, may I have
an answer from you as well?
[FIFTH SEAT] We have no
intention of forcing your hand.
If we're truly to secure
the future of humankind,
then how would we?
I require loyal allies
for the struggle ahead.
I'm afraid I'll have
to refuse. Everyone--
[GAGARAN] Come on.
You're the leader, aren't you?
You don't need to ask.
We'll follow your decision.
Very well then.
No need to waste
your time any further.
We shall pray for your health,
and for the downfall of the
Sorcerer King, of course.
[LAKYUS] Uncle.
What are you going to do now?
I'll hang out in the capital,
until the Sorcerer
King shows up.
No way anyone
can stop his advance.
So don't you even entertain
the thought of fighting him.
Run away.
That's not funny.
I won't leave the capital
behind. Can't we help you?
I've got a job to do,
and I'm the only man
who can pull it off.
That means I gotta
do it all on my own.
[EVILEYE]
Cryptic.
You think you can k*ll
the Sorcerer King?
[AZUTH] Wouldn't even
dream of it, little lady.
But as long as I'm alone,
I'll be fine.
Even if he surrounds
the whole capital,
he won't be able to catch me.
Well, time to get
some bodies rocking,
if you ladies catch my drift.
Sorry for the wait, my dears!
[WOMAN B]
Get over here, silly!
[m*llitary REPRESENTATIVE]
Your Highness.
Yes, I know.
[ALBEDO]
Lord Ains.
An enemy envoy is approaching.
And judging by his armor,
he thinks himself important.
[AINS]
Mm.
[ZANAC] I am the crown prince
of the Re-Estize Kingdom,
Zanac Valleon Igana
Ryle Vaiself!
I would like to
request an audience
with the Sorcerer King,
one-on-one!
Shall I shoo the
rat away, Lord Ains?
We're under no obligation
to humor our foe, after all.
[COCYTUS] If Lord Ains refuses
to converse in good faith,
others may think him
vindictive and close-minded.
And who will spread that opinion
once we've k*lled them all?
[AINS]
Let us take care, Albedo.
There are those
who may be stealing
glances at us from afar.
[ALBEDO]
Forgive my negligence.
[AINS]
I suppose I'll go see him, then.
[COCYTUS]
Shall I act as your guard?
[AINS] A prince has
come to face me alone.
It's only appropriate
that I answer in kind.
[ZANAC] It's an honor that you
came to meet me, Your Majesty.
I am Zanac Valleon
Igana Ryle Vaiself.
[AINS]
The honor is all mine.
I am the Sorcerer King,
Ains Ooal Gown.
Will water suffice?
[ZANAC]
Yes.
Very considerate
of you, Your Majesty.
Ah, this is lovely.
[AINS]
Good.
With that out of the way,
we may begin our discussion.
[AINS] What did you wish
to speak about?
Perhaps you are rejecting the
justification for our invasion?
That part is clear enough,
but I still have a question.
Why have you chosen to engage
in such needless cruelty?
Why won't you accept
our plea of surrender?
[AINS]
Hm. Because there's no benefit
in accepting your surrender.
How is that?
[AINS] It is more advantageous
for us to make an example
out of you, and in doing so,
show the world how foolish it is
to oppose the Sorcerer Kingdom.
To that end, we will
decimate all of your forces,
then we shall march upon
the capital and reduce it
to naught but a pile of rubble.
And thus it shall remain,
for hundreds or even thousands
of years, a lasting monument
to the folly of opposing
the Sorcerer Kingdom.
That seems so close-minded.
[AINS]
What?
You possess such great power.
So there are countless ways
that you could demonstrate
it to the world.
And yet you have chosen
to be vindictive instead.
[AINS]
One might think so.
Do you have a goal
in doing this?
[AINS]
How shall I answer that?
[MOMONGA]
My friends from Yggdrasil
may exist somewhere
in this world.
That's the hope I've held on to.
[AINS] My goal is simple,
but shapeless.
It is honest
and straightforward,
but it slips through
one's fingers so easily.
In short, there is only one
thing that I am searching for.
Happiness.
That can't be all.
[AINS] In the end,
is that not the prize
that all creatures yearn for?
Living and undead?
And to achieve that,
you would rob others
of their happiness?
[AINS]
Is that such a surprise?
My only purpose is to bring
prosperity to those I treasure.
If I can do that,
why should I care
what happens to anyone else?
If your people could only
achieve happiness by making
the people of another country
suffer, what would you do?
Would you tell your subjects
to give up on their own joy?
Pure sophistry!
I do apologize, Your Majesty.
[AINS]
Please, I take no offense.
But do you truly believe
that this is the only way
to achieve your goal?
With so much strength and
intelligence at your disposal?
[AINS]
Mm. There may be other ways.
But they say that the
goddess of opportunity
has hair on her forehead,
but is bald from behind.
In other words,
when you see a chance,
you must seize it immediately,
lest it pass you by.
That's quite the
strange goddess!
Pardon me.
I didn't intend to
belittle your deities--
I'd simply never heard
of such a thing.
Forgive my rudeness.
[AINS] No, I only meant it
as a turn of phrase,
not an object of worship.
But the point is,
I will not take chances.
If I can destroy you
to better protect my
loved ones, then I shall.
Thus is w*r. Does that
answer satisfy you?
[sighs] I suppose so.
It's the duty of
any nation's leader.
We must act in the best
interests of our people,
above all else.
So, I do understand
your logic, at least.
I see why you won't accept
my kingdom's surrender,
and I see there's
nothing I can do.
[AINS] Perhaps it's my turn
to ask a question now,
though nothing comes to mind.
No, wait. The sword
of Gazef Stronoff.
Do you know who has it now?
I noticed that you're
wearing his armor.
Indeed. Though I
was given the armor,
the sword was entrusted
to a man named Brain Unglaus.
[AINS] Ah, I see. I know him
in passing, at least.
So, is he here with
your forces now?
No, to my knowledge,
he is in the royal palace.
[AINS] In that case, I suppose
I can destroy your soldiers
with whatever spells I fancy,
since you have
nothing worth saving.
It's not really
my intention to lose,
but I would appreciate it
if you'd use magic
that doesn't cause
undue suffering.
[AINS]
Mm. Fair enough.
Since we've become
acquainted with one another,
I'll make certain to slaughter
you as gently as I can manage.
[laughs] I'll call that a mercy!
Truly refreshing. I'm grateful.
[ZANAC]
Your Majesty.
Before I go, might I ask
one last question?
[AINS]
Hm.
I fear my elder
brother was k*lled.
Were your subordinates
responsible for that?
[AINS]
Elder brother?
I do seem to recall
a prince being slain.
I see. I s'pose that's
closure at least.
Thank you, you've finally
put the matter to rest.
Farewell.
[AINS]
A dauntless man.
That must be what
true royalty is like.
[ZANAC sighs]
[AINS] In short,
there is only one thing
that I am searching for.
Happiness.
[ZANAC]
Well, that settles it.
I was never fit to be king
in the first place.
All I ever wanted was
to make this kingdom
a place worth living.
[NOBLES]
Your Highness!
[NOBLE A]
You're unharmed!
[NOBLE B]
What did the Sorcerer King say?
The enemy plans
to k*ll every last person
in the kingdom, I'm afraid.
Negotiation was never an option.
[m*llitary REPRESENTATIVE]
Welcome back, Your Highness.
It sounds like the talk
didn't go well.
No, but I never had
high expectations.
That's fair enough.
So, what kind of monster
was this Sorcerer King?
[ZANAC] I'd say he
was surprisingly human.
It's true.
He was certainly a monster
on the outside,
all bones and such.
But on the inside, he's
just like any other person.
Now then, what's
our plan of att*ck?
I'm afraid we don't have a plan.
We've lost our talented knights.
Most of them were wiped out
in the previous w*r.
Honestly, I wasn't
too fond of Stronoff
when he was alive, so I
never thought I'd miss him
at a time like this.
[SOLDIER D]
What do you want? [groans]
Don't move an inch!
[gasps]
[m*llitary REPRESENTATIVE]
Stay away!
Don't touch His Highness!
[ZANAC]
A rebellion at a time like this?
No, they're just desperate.
They'll do anything to survive.
Heh.
Stand down, you traitors!
[ZANAC]
Wait. I'll speak to them.
Out with it, then. What
business brings you here?
Your Highness.
We've come to demand that
you offer up a surrender!
That is not an option.
Our only hope for survival
is defeating the Sorcerer King.
I confirmed that myself.
How could we possibly win?
He has a whole army of undead!
Perhaps our kingdom
cannot survive this,
but we don't all
have to die here.
If we offer your head
to the Sorcerer King,
then he may spare us.
We pray that he'll accept
it as a sign of loyalty.
[NOBLE A]
There's no time.
Don't resist and we'll
make it quick.
I am a prince.
I will fight to the bitter end.
There's no fear within me.
If you dare to challenge me,
you must be prepared to die!
Lost your nerve? Face me!
Come and take this head
if you think you can!
[ALBEDO]
Lord Ains.
[AINS]
Yes? What is it?
It would seem we have guests.
Some nobles from Re-Estize
request an audience.
[AINS]
Bring them here.
[NOBLE A] It's an honor
to bask in your glory,
Your Majesty.
Our only wish is to serve
humbly at your feet.
So, we offer this gift.
Please accept it.
[AINS]
Give him a proper burial.
[AINS] So, what happened
to the armor he was wearing?
[NOBLES gasp]
[ALBEDO]
What's wrong?
Surely you wouldn't refuse
to answer Lord Ains' question.
Well, uh, I would
assume it's still
on the prince's corpse,
which would be in his tent
where we left it.
[AINS]
Hm. I see. Very well.
Splendid job, all of you.
And fine work
deserves a fine reward.
What is it that you wish?
[NOBLE A] Please spare me
and my family, Sorcerer King!
I pledge my undying allegiance
to you and you alone!
[NOBLE B]
As do I, Your Majesty!
[AINS]
Yes, yes, no need to beg.
Don't worry. As requested,
I won't k*ll you.
[NOBLES]
Thank you, My Lord!
[AINS]
Albedo. Send them to Neuronist.
We'll find their families later.
Of course, My Lord.
[NOBLE A]
I'm truly grateful!
Long live the great
Sorcerer King!
[AINS]
Aura.
[AURA]
Uh. Yes, My Lord?
[AINS]
You heard the deal.
Tell Neuronist not to k*ll them,
not until they beg
for death, at least.
[AURA] Understood,
Lord Ains! No problem!
[AINS] And even when
they do beg for death,
she doesn't need to be
in a hurry about it.
Got it!
[AINS] I've lost interest
in this farce.
Cocytus, take command,
with Mare as your second.
[COCYTUS, MARE]
Yes, sir.
[AINS]
Don't hold back.
Use the full extent of your
strength, however you see fit.
04x10 - The Last King
Watch/Buy Amazon Merchandise
After refusing to log out of a popular MMORPG, a veteran player decides to rule over the game and its NPCs.
After refusing to log out of a popular MMORPG, a veteran player decides to rule over the game and its NPCs.