02x15 - The Queen of the Lake

[bunniefuu]

Only three days left in the year.

I wonder how you're all

spending your time?

Brother, were you up late again?

It's a school project.

On mechatronics.

Mechatron...?

Big Brother... Check this out!

What the?!

The Holy Sword Excalibur's

been discovered in ALO?

So somebody got to it first, huh?

Read the article.

They've only just found it, that's all.

Doesn't seem like

they've actually acquired it yet.

Is that all?

Don't scare me like that.

A few months ago, Leafa, Yui and I got swallowed up

by a huge earthworm-type monster on the Arun Plains

and were dropped into Jotunheim,

an underground realm.

There, we came upon

a four-armed humanoid monster

assaulting a demon that resembled

a hybrid elephantic jellyfish.

When Leafa asked me

to save the monster being bullied

I guided the four-armed monster

to the lake and it fell in,

giving the elephantic jellyfish

demon the victory.

Dubbed "Tonky" by Leafa, this demon

transformed himself into an eight-winged creature

and let us ride on his back, carrying us

to a passageway leading to the surface.

It was on the way up

that we saw it.

A giant labyrinth hanging from the World Tree,

wrapped up in its roots...

And a long, golden sword

shimmering at its base.

Excalibur...

I was planning to go after it

one of these days...

But you've had your hands full

clearing levels in the New Aincrad.

Yeah, but I wonder how they found it?

Players can't fly in Jotunheim, and it's so high up,

you couldn't spot where Excalibur is unless you flew.

You think someone rescued

one of Tonky's friends like we did

and managed to put up a Quest Flag?

That would make the most sense.

A creepy thing like that...

Uh, no... to want to save such a unique demon

requires really weird taste...

No, I mean a philanthropic heart...

Who knew there was

someone else besides you, Sugu?

He is not creepy! He's adorable!

But that means that

it might just be a matter of time

before someone crashes that dungeon

and claims the sword.

Yeah, you're right...

What are you gonna do, Big Brother?

Sugu, going after rare items

isn't the only thrill that virtual MMOs offer.

Yeah, I guess not. Just powering up

through our weapons specs isn't really...

But seeing as he showed us that sword,

I think we need to live up to Tonky's expectations.

I'll bet that deep down inside he must be hoping

that we'll break into that dungeon.

I mean after all,

Tonky's our friend, am I right?

Even though you just called him creepy?

So anyway, Sugu... Are you free today?

Well, they did call off practice

for the holidays...

All right! Hey, Tonky can carry

up to seven people max, right?

So that means me, you, Asuna...

Klein, Liz and Silica...

That leaves one more, huh?

Agil's got his cafe to run...

And Chrysheight isn't exactly reliable...

And I'm sure Recon's in Sylph territory...

Hey, I know! Let's invite Sinon!

Hey, that's it!

Okay, I'm gonna let everyone know.

You contact Asuna. Okay, Big Brother?

Right!

Before I head home to Kyoto,

I wish I could see Kirito again...

H-Hello! Kirito?

Good morning, Asuna.

Is this a good time?

We're planning to go on

an ALO quest this afternoon...

Sure! I'm free all day today!

All right! I'll text you where and when

we're gonna meet, then.

I'm counting on you!

Okay, then I'll see you there!

All right!

I've been walking in the light all this time

I've been following footprints

that didn't exist until yesterday

Although I've been in a maze with no goal,

with a map drenched in rain

I have no regrets at all

If I cry out

I'm sure my voice will reach you

The sound of the bell in the beginning of the story

Will connect us during our journey

The future world that you envisioned

Will lead you to a sky of that day

And will make our dream come true

and even go beyond miracles

The future world that you envisioned

Exists somewhere even now

Let's add layers of our dream

and reach the true pure light

Ah on give for my way

"Queen of the Lake"

Are you already off

for the New Year's holidays, Klein?

Yep, since yesterday.

Even if we wanted to work,

no shipments come in at this time of year, see.

My lousy boss is like,

"Since you're getting a week off for New Year's,

we're totally a white-collar corporation!"

I mean he's bragging about it!

Yo, Kiri-dude...

If we manage to snag

Excalibur today,

you're gonna help me get

the Soul Blade Kagutsuchi, okay?

But that dungeon's freakin' hot!

Yeah, and this Jotunheim

we're heading for today is freakin' cold!

Hey, then I want something too!

The Shining Bow of Shekhinah!

I-It's only been two weeks since you created your avatar,

and you're already thirsting for a legendary w*apon?

Well, the bow that Liz built for me is great,

but if I could get just a little more range...

Excuse me...

In this world, bows are weapons

with more range than a spear, but less than magic!

You're the only one who wants to snipe

from meters away!

If I could be greedy,

I'd want at least twice that much.

We're back!

Thanks for waiting!

Welcome back!

Hey! We've been waiting for you guys!

While we were out shopping,

we gathered some information.

It doesn't seem like there's anyone or any party

that's reached that dungeon yet, Daddy.

Oh, yeah?

So how did they find out

where Excalibur is?

Well, apparently, they found a different quest

than the one we found with Tonky.

And it seems like the NPC indicated Excalibur

as the reward for that quest.

Not only that, but it doesn't seem to be

a very pleasant kind of quest.

Rather than an errand-type

or protection-type quest,

it's more of a slaughter-type quest

where you have to mow down monsters.

Because of that, Jotunheim is a bloodbath right now,

with people vying for re-spawns.

You're right, that doesn't sound too pleasant...

Yeah, but don't you think it's weird?

This Holy Sword Excalibur

is sealed at the far end of a floating dungeon

teeming with terrifying demons, right?

So what the hell is an NPC doing

showing it as the reward for a quest?

Now that you mention it,

it does seem strange.

I could understand if it were to help us

get to the dungeon, but...

Well, we'll find out

once we get there, I'm sure.

All righty!

All weapons are fully restored now!

Seriously, we've got ourselves a party

full of meatheads as usual, huh?

If you're complaining,

then why don't you boost your magic skills?

Huh! Hell, no!

As a samurai, I can't acquire any skill

with even a whiff of magic!

I'm honor-bound not to!

Excuse me...

Since time immemorial, samurais in RPGs

have been classified as warriors/black magic users!

Huh! I'd sooner break my sword

and quit being a samurai than ever use magic!

Oh, but the other day, you used

a Flame-attribute sword skill, didn't you, Klein?

I think that must've been

at least half magic!

What? For real?

Yes. It's just as Silica said.

With the update in May,

sword skills have been added to ALO

and in addition to physical skills, the advanced skills

include earth, water, fire, wind, darkness, spirit...

...a full lineup of magical attributes!

Uh... is that right?

"You'd sooner break your sword

than use magic," was it?

Kiri-dude!

You don't chant when you use a sword skill

so let's just say it doesn't count.

Guess it can't be helped!

You guys, thank you all

for coming on such short notice.

Someday, I'll express my gratitude mentally.

All right, then,

let's give it our best sh*t!

Right!

Jeez, how many steps are there, anyway?

About as many as a whole tower's worth

in the New Aincrad dungeon zone, maybe?

Listen up... if we went by the normal route,

it would take hours minimum to get to Jotunheim.

But it's five minutes

if we take these stairs.

Instead of complaining,

you'd best take each step with gratitude... troops!

It's not like you built them yourself!

Thanks for the dig.

Why you...!

Look, you! Do that again

and I'll sh**t a fire arrow up your nostril!

You really have no fear, do you?

Cold!

Amazing...

K-Kiri-dude...

OK! I just cast a freeze-resisting support spell!

Tonky!

No sweat. He may not look it,

but he's an herbivore.

Yeah, but when I brought him some fish

from aboveground the other day,

he gobbled it up in a second.

Come on, he's telling you

to get on his back.

H-Hey, easier said than done!

See, my grandpa told me on his deathbed

not to ride in American cars or on flying elephants!

The other day at the Dicey Cafe, you gave me

one of your grandpa's homemade dried figs, remember?

It was really tasty,

so let me have another sometime!

Upsy-daisy!

I'm counting on you, Tonky.

All right! Tonky, take us to

the entrance of that dungeon!

Hey, I wonder what would happen

if we fell from up here?

I'm sure the one right here...

The one who once plummeted from a pillar

outside Aincrad trying to climb to the next level.

I'm sure he'll experiment

with that one day!

Speaking of falling from heights,

wouldn't that be right up a cat-type's alley?

Yahoo!

B-Big Brother, look at that!

But that's...

What exactly is going on?

Did somebody tame

that humanoid demon?

No, that's not possible!

The success rate for taming demons,

even for a Cait Sith Master Tamer with

specialized equipment at full boost, is zero percent!

Meaning that... in other words...

what was the term again?

They're piggybacking, then?

Joining the fray as the four-armed giant

att*cks the elephantic jellyfish...

It's like they're adding insult to injury!

But I wonder if it's that easy

to control a monster's Hate Stats?

Why aren't they fighting

the humanoid demon?

Hey! Look! Over there!

What the hell is going on here?

Could it be what Asuna

mentioned earlier?

That slaughter-type quest

that was discovered in Jotunheim...

Maybe this is it.

Collaborating with humanoid beast-gods

to eradicate all animal-type beast-gods.

Something like that.

--Gi...

--...gantic!

I am the Queen of the Lake... Urd.

O Fairies who have bonded

with my kinsmen.

My two younger sisters and I

have a request to make of you.

Please, we wish you to save this country

from the Frost Giant tribe's att*ck.

Daddy, that person is an NPC.

But it's a little strange...

Unlike normal NPCs, her speech

doesn't adhere to the fixed-response routine.

She's connected to a language engine module,

which is close in scale to a core program.

You mean she's an AI, then?

That's correct, Daddy.

In the past, Jotunheim, like your ALfheim,

once received the blessings of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

It was covered in

beautiful water and greenery.

We, the Hill Giant tribe, and the beasts

who are our kinfolk, lived in harmony.

Further below Jotunheim,

a country of ice, Niflheim, exists.

This realm is ruled over

by the king of the Frost Giant tribe, Thrymr,

who infiltrated this country, and took the "sword that

slices through all steel and trees," Excalibur...

hurling it into Urd's Spring

at the center of this realm.

The sword severed the thickest roots

of the World Tree,

and in that instant, Jotunheim lost the blessings

it had been receiving from Yggdrasil.

And that would be Excalibur?

The Frost Giant Tribe under Thrymr's rule

advanced on Jotunheim from Niflheim in full force,

built a great number

of castles and fortresses,

and captured many of us

from the Hill Giant Tribe, imprisoning us.

Upon the mass of ice

once known as Urd's Spring,

they built the massive castle, Thrymheim,

and seized control of this land.

My two sisters and I escaped

to the bottom of a certain frozen lake,

but we no longer have the power

that we once did.

The Frost Giant tribe

were not satisfied,

and are trying to annihilate our kin,

the beasts who've survived in this land to this day.

Because by doing so,

my powers will be totally extinguished,

and that will allow Thrymheim

to float up to ALfheim above it.

Wh-What the...? But if that happens,

the city of Arun will be destroyed!

King Thrymr's objective

is to seal ALfheim in ice and snow,

and to att*ck until he reaches the top

of Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

In order to obtain the Golden Apple,

said to grow there.

Frustrated by their inability

to wipe out our kinfolk,

Thrymr and the generals of the Frost Giant tribe

have now begun to use even the power of you fairies.

Luring you in by offering Excalibur as a reward,

he is trying to make you hunt our kinfolk into extinction.

However, it is impossible for King Thrymr

to bestow that sword upon others.

For when Thrymheim loses Excalibur,

the blessings of Yggdrasil will return to this land,

and that castle will melt away.

Y-You mean offering Excalibur

as a reward... that's all a lie?

Is that kind of quest even allowed?

Most likely, Thrymr is planning to bestow the Forged

Sword Caliburn, which looks exactly like Excalibur.

Th-That's so unfair!

Can a king really do something like that?

That very unfairness

is Thrymr's most powerful w*apon.

However, he has made one mistake.

In order to gain the fairies' cooperation,

he has sent most of the giants under his control

from Thrymheim to down on the ground.

At this time, that castle's defenses

are thinner than they've ever been before.

I see.

When this rock turns completely pitch-black,

our kinfolk will have been hunted to extinction

and it will serve as proof

that my powers have vanished.

O Fairies, please infiltrate Thrymheim

and extract Excalibur from its main plinth.

"Holy Sword of Thrymheim"

I am counting on you, O Fairies.

Somehow, this is shaping up

to be one amazing event!

This is a normal quest... right?

But for a normal quest,

it just seems too ambitious...

If the animal-type beast-gods

are wiped out,

didn't she say that the Frost Giant tribe

would seize control of the surface next?

Yeah, she did.

But would the admins go that far

without any update or event notifications?

Normally, they'd give you at least

a week's advance notice, right?

But we just gotta do it

for Tonky's sake, Big Brother!

You're right.

We came here today in the first place

to storm that castle and grab Excalibur, right?

If their defenses are thin,

who could ask for more?

All right!

This is the last great quest of the year!

Let's score big and get ourselves on the front page

of tomorrow's MMO Tomorrow!

Right!

Wait for us, Tonky!

I promise you that

we'll take back your country!

Let's go!

(You need a time machine?)

We stand side by side with our carefree faces

Talking about the same old things

While the heroes on TV look busy

as they fight for the future

It feels cozy here with you,

more than anywhere else

What can I do? I used to like being alone,

but I can't go back to that time

Even when we have our silly little chats

We don't say we're happy or sad,

because we're so much alike

Those days like an adventure movie

have long since gone

But I hope this appalling flood

of fond remembrances never ends

(You need a time machine?)

Next time: "King of the Giants."