Chapter 107: The Glass Mausoleum: The Ripper Lurks

We've arrived. This is the Glass Mausoleum.

Whew... It's chilly in here.

So, if it's a mausoleum, does that mean ya've got mummies an' stuff in here?

Please don't tell me you were thinking about digging them up...

Do I look like a graverobber to you? I'm a trained professional! I'm only interested in excavatin' relics and ruins.

Yep! Mummies don't pay the bills!

What does all this have to do with the Golden Sword, Commonsarg?

There's an old prophecy in the Hollow, maybe you've heard it before, "The Cross of God will be shattered by the Golden Sword, the Tree of Time, and the Winged Beast." "Only then will the gates of true paradise be opened to us."

I haven't heard that exact prophecy, but I know of the Tree of Time and the Winged Beast. We traversed two different worlds in search of them.

, And we weren't the only ones. Emperor Chronos is also trying to find them. But we don't know what the part about opening the gates of paradise actually means.

Well, the third key, known as the Golden Sword, is said to be hidden somewhere in our era. Who knows what will happen if we don't find it before the Empire does. As a Sword Guard, it's my responsibility.

I've been wondering, what is the Sword Guard exactly?

The bloodline destined to wield the Golden Sword. That would include my older brother, my older sister, and myself.

...Or at least it would have before the butcher killings.

This is the second time today we've heard about that...

Were the killings all perpetrated by the same person?

I'd like to know that as well. Would you mind telling us more about it, Commonsarg?

...Alright, but it's not a pretty story. It all started with a mass murder that occurred a few years ago.

A mass murder?! Why would anyone do something so horrible?

There's a prophecy passed down by our people, "As worlds bloom like flowers at dawn, so too do they wither." "Offer your petals unto the blade of subjugation, so that the Golden Sword might shine again." The killer was trying to make it a reality.

...The petals were a metaphor for the lives of the roks?

Swords are tools of war, after all. If they exist solely to spill blood upon the earth, then what better guide to the supreme blade than death itself? If that's what it took to fulfill the prophecy, then the killer had no choice but to devote themselves to it completely.

Tch... Killing in the name of the greater good, huh? Self-righteous scum.

In the end, I'm the one who apprehended the accused. After discussing it with Amelie, we decided to sentence her to cryogenic disposal.

Why, that's quite the heroic deed, my boy!

Let's just say I get to practice laying traps a lot in my line of work. But the situation has changed, and in light of the Tree of Time's reawakening, I feel I have no choice but to wake her back up.

What?! Why?!

Because she's the key to finding out the truth about the Golden Sword. There's no question that the Jasmond Butcher's lust for the Golden Sword led to a mass murder. But still...I don't think I'll ever understand why her story had to end in such tragedy.

So, you want to press her for information? Sounds like a solid plan, given her obsession with the blade, but why didn't you interrogate her the first time around?

At the time we were too preoccupied with ending the bloodshed.

Well, that pretty much answers all our questions.

Maybe, but zat doesn't make zis a good idea. Isn't ze assassin dangerous?

Yeah, I'm with Helena on this one. It sounds like a bad idea.

...I admit that I have my doubts about whether this matter can be solved diplomatically. In fact, that's exactly why I asked you to accompany me.

But I don't intend to force you. I'll go alone if I must!

Hold on, Commonsarg!

I can see how important this is to you, and we do still owe you one. If something bad happens, we'll back you up.

Truly?! Thank you, my friend!

...She's frozen somewhere in here?

That's right. She's locked away in the innermost chamber. Let's head inside.

So, this is where she rests...

Looks like this is as far as it goes. Where is she?

The accused rests in the Cage of Acceptance and Despair... It's time to wake her up.

We use these caskets to freeze criminal offenders for all eternity. I'm going to start the thawing process.

J-Jillfunny?!

You know her?

Y-Yeah, but... It can't be true, can it? There's no way Jillfunny is a murderer...

(And anyhow, he said this girl has been frozen here for years... Who exactly IS the Jillfunny I know?)

So, this is her...

That's right. Some people call her the Jasmond Butcher...but I know her only as Jillfunny Engold.

...Did you just say "Engold"?

I did, and it's exactly as you suspect. The one who was cryogenically disposed of for the crime of murder...

Was my one and only older sister.

What?! You captured and froze your own sister?!

...Yes, and I did so without hesitation, because I knew the truth.

What "truth"?

As much as I'd like to explain, we're out of time.

......

...Long time no see, Sis.

Jillfunny...

......

...Common...sarg!

Massive energy spike detected! Origin unknown! Brace yourselves!

What is that thing?!

It's a crystalline life form born from magical energy... The Glass Dragon!

Stop this, Jillfunny! We didn't come here to fight you! We only want to talk!

...You and I have nothing to discuss.

Please, wait! You have to listen to me!

I'm so sorry, everyone! I have to go after her!

Commonsarg!

Uh, Aldo? I think we have bigger things to worry about right now. Way bigger.

Heh... Perfect. I was just thinking I needed some exercise.

Don't let yer guard down, mates! I don't want to end up as some dragon's lunch in a stuffy old mausoleum!

Me either! Let's do this, guys!

Don't let yer guard down, mates! I don't want to end up as some dragon's lunch in a stuffy old mausoleum!

Me either! Let's do this, guys!

Phew... We did it...

Commonsarg? Where's Jillfunny?

...I'm really sorry, but it seems she got away.

You let her get away?! She's a mass murderer, you idiot! I thought you were supposed to be a tracker!

Cool it, Minalca. That isn't helping.

No, she's right to be angry. I was a fool for thinking we'd be able to talk things out.

What did you expect after what you did to her? Of course she's gonna hate your guts!

I know. You're right, I...

Commonsarg...

Look. Right now, what we need to do is go after her. Any idea which way she went?

Illusialand if I had to guess.

Illusialand?

It was a theme park that ended up being the site of one of the crimes. It's on the continent floating west of Jasmond.

How can we get there?

There's a magic gate you can take in the meadows.

The only problem is that the gate is controlled by the council, and as outsiders, you'll need their permission to use it.

Ugh, those bastards again... I'm not sure I can look them in the eye again without punching a hole straight through their smug little faces.

Please don't say stuff like that in jest, Guildna...

Well, we've gotta do what we've gotta do. Let's get back to Jasmond.