Chapter 109: Illusialand: Straight On 'Til Morning

Wh-What is this place?!

It looks like a big theme park...

Incredible... How did they create something of this scale with only magic-based technology?

Look at all these attractions! It's enough to make my metallic heart flutter!

Kinda reminds me of that time we went to Toto Dreamland...

It's so colorful! We should come here for fun some time!

Definitely! Maybe we can come back once this is all settled, right Guildna?

...I'll consider it.

Haha, please do. It's a very charming place during the daytime.

Even I'm starting to get excited! We never had any places like this in the Empire.

Well, you can count me out. I'll take exploring a dark damp cave any day over crowds and crying kids.

Agreed. This place looks like massive waste of time and money.

Don't worry, we didn't come here to play. Let's hurry up and find Jillfunny.

I'll find you no matter what, Sis. You don't have to run anymore.

What is this place?

It's the entrance to the Illusia Glider, the park's most popular attraction. It uses magic to float cars on a course around the entire park.

Whoa! I can't wait to ride it! Uh...after we deal with Jillfunny, I mean. Any idea where she might've gone, Commonsarg?

No... We'll just have to search the area.

Alright. But this place is pretty big... It might take a while.

Wait! Wouldn't we be able to get a pretty good aerial view from the Illusia Glider?

Not a bad idea, but there's one problem...

...You need a ticket to get on it.

A ticket?

Yeah. You need to collect stamps from four other attractions, and then you can exchange the stamps for a ticket. The attractions are pretty spread out, so either way you look at it we've got a lot of exploring ahead of us.

Okay, then we'll just have to keep an eye out for Jillfunny as we search for the four attractions.

......

Is something wrong, Commonsarg?

No, just thinking about something that happened a long time ago.

...It's not important. Let's keep moving.

...The Illusia Glider.

We spent a lot of time together here... I still remember that innocent little smile, and how you'd cry when you got scared.

...I feel like I finally understand why I'm here and what it is I must do.

Hmm... We never did find Jillfunny.

Yeah. In the end we're right back where we started. But we did get a ticket, so at least it wasn't all for nothing.

...... Let's head inside.

Alright...

Doesn't look like she's here...

...She is, trust me. I can sense her. Come out, Sis. I know you're there.

...Over here.

Jillfunny!

I knew you'd come after me, Commonsarg. You can't afford to let me get away.

Why speak to me like I'm your enemy? We're siblings, aren't we? But you're right that I can't let you go. You're the key to finding the Golden Sword. You're too important.

We can't just turn a blind eye to accusations that serious. Tell me the truth Jillfunny... Did you really do it?

Not to mention that we can't just turn a blind eye to your crimes!

What accusations? What did I do?

We already heard everything from Commonsarg. You're a mass murderer!

......

Murderer? I haven't killed anyone.

Huh?

...I want to believe you, Jillfunny. We've traveled together.

But what you're saying doesn't line up with what Commonsarg told us. Why would he lie about that?

Then why would Commonsarg say that you did?!

......

What's going on here, Commonsarg? You told us she killed dozens of innocent people.

I said nothing of the sort about my dear sister. I only said that she had been cryogenically frozen for the crime of murder, and that is the undeniable truth.

There ya go tryin' to confuse us again!

No... Think about it.

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.

He's been telling us that she was frozen AS a killer, not that she WAS a killer. Being punished for the crime doesn't necessarily mean she was guilty.

And you knew this? You knew that she wasn't the real culprit from the beginning?!

...Heh. Looks like I was right all along. You might be able to hide behind that nice guy act around these naive fools, but I could smell the blood on you from a mile away.

Isn't that right, Commonsarg?

...Yes, I suppose it's time to drop the act. It's exactly as you suspect. I'm the real killer, and I used Jillfunny as my scapegoat.

What?! You've got to be kidding me!

What a dastardly trick! We've been had!

How could you be so cruel?! How could you kill so many innocent people and then blame it on your own sister?!

I already told you. It's because I've seen the truth. There was no need for hesitation or fear.

Commonsarg! What have you, ?!

...I killed them, obviously.

And yet, the Golden Sword still won't appear. Why?

The Golden Sword? What are you talking about?

Perhaps I killed them incorrectly? I should wrap things up here for today. I need time to consider what I've learned from this. Make sure you don't tell anyone, Sis.

Listen to yourself, Commonsarg! You might be my brother, but I can't help you get away with murder!

You have to turn yourself in and face the consequences! It's the only thing that can save your soul! No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you!

I suppose there's nothing I can say to convince you...

Commonsarg?! What are you, ?!

Just a little trap I set up. I do this kind of thing a lot in my work.

...Ngh!

There's no point in resisting, Sis. Not even YOU can break out of that one. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to take the fall for this.

Stop! Let me go!

Are you afraid? Well, don't be. I love you, Sis. I'd never even dream of killing you. Besides...us trackers prefer to use "colder" methods than that.

Sweet dreams, Sis. May your eternal rest be peaceful.

I just can't believe that Jillfunny was the murderer...

I know. I didn't want to believe it either, but then she attacked me, and I, I had no choice...

Commonsarg... Are you really sure about this? Jillfunny will be locked in the Glass Mausoleum forever.

I'm sure. I can't stand the thought of her being executed. At least this way she can rest peacefully.

...Alright. This will put an end to our search for the killer.

But be careful, Commonsarg. Kindness can be a double-edged sword.

Thank you, Amelie, but you don't need to worry for my sake. My blade is strong, and nothing will break it. Nothing.

(That's right. I would never kill my dear sister.) (After all, she still has so much left to offer me. Her blood might even one day prove to be the key...)

My sister took the fall for me and was frozen in the Glass Mausoleum.

Then why awaken me now?

Because something occurred to me about why my previous ritual failed. "Offer your petals unto the blade of subjugation, so that the Golden Sword might shine again."

That's our brother's sword!

That's right. I stole it so that I could complete the ritual, and yet, no amount of rok lifeblood ever seemed to satiate the blade. But then it dawned on me, Perhaps it can't be just ANY rok's blood. Maybe the blade thirsts for OUR blood! The blood of the Sword Guard!

I'll offer up the petals of my own family if that's what it takes to become the successor of the Golden Sword!

You monster! You want that sword so badly you'd sacrifice your own sister?!

Sure looks like it. This guy was using us from the start.

As sickening as his story sounds, I still can't understand why he would involve us. He must have known we would discover his plans eventually.

Good point. It doesn't really make sense that he'd want to travel with us.

Oh that? That's simple...

Whoa! What the, ?!

It's because you're already connected to the Tree of Time and the Winged Beast. Who better to deliver her life to the Golden Sword?

You're out of your mind! We'd never agree to something like that!

It doesn't matter whether you agree to it or not. I just needed to find ANYONE other than myself who could have done it. Amelie believes me incapable of killing my sister.

Think of how much influence it could buy me with the council if I were to apprehend the ones responsible.

...So, it's the same trick as before, huh? You want to pin your crimes on somebody else?

Wake up, Commonsarg! Do you really think you can find the Golden Sword using methods like this?!

Of course I do. Destiny is on my side. I WILL liberate this time layer! I will become its savior! For I am the successor of the Sword Guard!

Heh...hahaha, !, Gyaaahahahaha!!!

...He's out of his mind.

Yeah... And he's been like this since long before we first met.

...Commonsarg.

Ah, yes! What better place to settle our differences than this wonderland of memories?! Come on, Sis! Over here!

...Stop!

Jillfunny! We're coming with you!

Here it is, The Illusia Glider... Let's get on!

This really brings me back, Sis. Do you remember the first time we came here together as kids? Those really were the days...

Yes... I remember it well.

Come on. I just wanna see you smile again. Laugh for me one last time, Sis. That way you can die happy!

What happened to you, Commonsarg? Is that little boy whose eyes used to light up when he saw the view from the Illusia Glider really gone forever? ...All this death and sorrow for a single sword...and your sins just keep piling up.

As your sister, it's my duty to put a stop to it!

You can certainly try, Sis! But we all know how this ends!

No... The Golden Sword is mine... It's mine...

Why, Commonsarg? Was it really worth it?

His obsession was so extreme it drove him to madness... It's like he was being toyed with by the hands of fate.

Sis... I...

Jillfunny! Stop!

......

Who the heck is she?!

Oh, her? She's been tailing us since Jasmond. How did you not notice it already?

Seriously?!

Because you're his sister? If so, then it's as much my duty as it is yours.

What?!

I'm seeing double!

...Heh, now I get it.

From the moment I laid eyes on Commonsarg...

So, the Jillfunny I knew was just a fragment of the original?

They've become one...

...Who cares why? It's not like it even matters anymore.

Jillfunny! There's no way that Commonsarg threw away his feelings for you! He's your brother! I...I think he just wanted you to stop him!

Sis... Where...did it all go wrong?

...Back when we were kids you...you used to tell me that story... "Offer your petals...unto the blade...so that the Golden..."

......

Jillfunny... I don't know what to say...

...... Honestly... I don't know what to feel. When her memories flowed into me, I saw all of the time I spent with my brother. We experienced so many wonderful things together, and now... Why? Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't I have seen it sooner?

Jillfunny...

...I'm so sorry he dragged you all into this.

We're the ones who should be apologizing, Jillfunny. We couldn't do a single thing to stop him...

...... I have to ask you something. Did you agree to join my brother because you wanted the Golden Sword for yourselves?

No. What happened was...

...So basically, we don't even really know what the Golden Sword is. We just know that the Chronos Empire is after it.

They must need it to liberate the time layer. There's no other explanation.

The Tree of Time and the Winged Beast have already awakened, making the Golden Sword the final key.

We're running out of time. We have to find it before they do.

...Alright, I understand the situation. I'm part of the Sword Guard, too, so I may be able to help you in place of my brother.

You'll join us, then?

I will. It is my duty to find out the truth about the Golden Sword.

"Offer your petals unto the blade of subjugation, so that the Golden Sword might shine again."

...Despite being one of the Sword Guard, I was blind to the dangers of the prophecy. Even as it was leading my brother down a path of madness, I never saw it. It was like I didn't want to.

Jillfunny...

What my brother did was unforgiveable. I know that.

But his quest for the Golden sword was also his duty as a member of our lineage. Now it's my turn to carry that torch. I'll never let the Golden Sword fall into imperial hands. The people who lost their lives to this madness deserve at least that much.

We're with you all the way, Jillfunny.

There she is! It's Jillfunny Engold!

The council!

Wait! This is a misunderstanding! Jillfunny is, !

You were only frozen because Commonsarg petitioned for mercy on your behalf. I will not make the same mistake twice.

You've gotta listen to me! Jillfunny was NOT the killer!

Don't waste your breath, Aldo. No matter what you say, it's just going to sound like an excuse.

Yep. To them we just look like the blokes who killed their hero and set a killer free.

I order you to lay down your weapons and surrender at once! As for you, Jillfunny...

, Your sentence is going to be carried out right here and now!

Amelie...

You'll pay for what you did to Commonsarg! I'll never forgive you!

I don't think we're going to talk our way out of this one... We need to get out of here.

Kamlanage! You got this?!

You didn't even have to ask. ...Let's go, Guilty Hades!

Everyone! Get on!

An iron giant?! They're trying to escape!

Jillfunny!

Wait for me Amelie. We still have much to discuss.

...Goodbye, Commonsarg.

She deflected my magic... I should've known that wouldn't be enough to deal with the eldest daughter of the Sword Guard. Let's see how you like this, then!

Ahh!

That attack just now, ! Amelie! When did you, ?!

After you were confined to the mausoleum, I trained in curse magic day and night. This one can render any target completely powerless.

I needed the strength to make sure such a tragedy could never strike again.

In the end, it still wasn't enough...

But I'll never let you get away, Jillfunny! I'll never let you take the Golden Sword!

Argh! Come on, Guilty Hades! The controls aren't responding!

What's wrong?!

Guilty Hades's internal systems are rapidly shutting down! Flight controls down! Thrusters down!

Wait! Does that mean, ?!

, That's right! We're crashing!

Not agaaaiiin!!!

Gyah! It's too early for me to croak!

Guilty Hades is fully offline! Losing altitude!

...Tch! Everybody brace for impact!

There's nothing I can do. It's completely unresponsive.

Any idea why yet? Was it damaged somehow?

I don't think so. We're still linked, it just won't move. It happened after we were hit by that magic.

That's not good... No amount of repairs is going to solve a metaphysical problem.

I'd say we should go take a look around, but uhh...we're at the bottom of the ocean.

Yeah. I do still have the air tank from Aquatic Fantasia, but there's no telling how long it would actually last.

Then it looks like we're down a trench without a paddle!

Sorry, guys. If only I'd seen that magic sooner...

No, it's not your fault, Kam.

......

Chin up, mate! This is a good opportunity! Think of all the shipwrecks and sunken treasure we could find down here!

You make it sound so easy...

Ahh! What's that?!

Warning! A huge object is approaching fast!

Wait. I know that voice...

No way! Is that the Sleeping Pearl?!

Phew... Looks like everyone made it aboard safely.

Thanks, Sleeping Pearl. You couldn't have had better timing.

But why were you even there? Don't tell me you've been alone down here this whole time...

No, no. I had a rok scientist acting as my captain a while back. We were traveling the world together. In fact, that's the whole reason I'm able to travel underwater like this.

It sounds like a lot has happened...

Indeed. It's no short of a miracle that we were reunited again.

...It couldn't just be a coincidence.

Huh?

It wasn't. I don't know how, but I could sense that you had returned. I never forgot about you, even after 800 long years apart.

I guess our arrival here must have triggered something...

Maybe. Ever since then, I've been searching all across the sea for you. I'm so happy I finally found you!

Us, too. Thanks for rushing to our rescue.

Who could've imagined such a thing was possible...

Sometimes people and machines just have a special bond. No point overthinkin' it. This ship must mean a lot to you.

...Yes, it really does. Thank you, Sleeping Pearl.

I never stopped believing I'd find you one day. I'm so happy I can be of help to you again.

Us, too, Sleeping Pearl.

Alright, we need to get back to the matter at hand.

What are we going to do about fixing Guilty Hades?

Um, about that. I believe that the magic Amelie attacked us with was a kind of gravity curse.

A gravity curse?

I see... That would certainly line up with what we saw. She must have manipulated gravitons to overload Guilty Hades's system.

You've heard of it before, Ashtear?

Even if we don't completely understand it, magic is governed by certain unbreakable laws. It's not that different from a scientific discipline.

I wonder if the roks are capable of sensing things that we humans can't see or hear...

Maybe. And they might even be able to bend those forces to their will.

Paddle located! Now that we know gravitons are the cause, we might actually be able to find a way out of this!

Yep. Even if we can't break the spell, there might still be a scientific solution.

Maybe, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.

We need proper equipment to run a thorough analysis.

Equipment, huh? How about we try traveling back to our own world for a little while, then?

Hmm... I'm sure we could run the analysis using the Xeno-Domain system, but it would still take a lot of time.

Oh... Then what're we gonna do?

Um... How about starting with the cabin logs?

The logs? You mean the ones left behind by that scientist that was aboard the ship?

Yeah, that's right. I remember the captain saying they were researching gravity and atomic particles.

They did?! This is starting to sound promising!

Yeah, it is. Let's head to the cabin to look for clues.

Huh? That's weird... The door won't open. Is it locked?

Oh, right. I think the captain used to lock it with magic. Give me just a moment.

Okay. You can come in now.

Thanks!

Looks like these are the captain's logs.

What do you think? Any information we can use?

Give me just a moment.

...Here. It says their lab is located in Omegapolis.

Wait, what?!

How?! Omegapolis was a city in the age of the meks!

I've heard that around the year 800 our world underwent sudden large-scale climate change. Mek civilization sank to the bottom of the sea.

That is correct. That is why the roks first built their floating cities.

Right. And that's also why I was modified to travel underwater.

Really...

Well, it looks like we've found our next destination. If the city still exists somewhere on the ocean floor, then we should be able to find out more there.

Yeah. That will be much faster than going all the way back to our own world.

Do you know how to get there, Sleeping Pearl?

Yes, but there's one small problem. Omegapolis is surrounded by extremely strong ocean currents. I don't have the power required to navigate them...

So now we've got to find a way to get past those currents, too?

Tch... It's just one setback after another with you people. What are you even planning to do after fixing Guilty Hades? It's not like it can fly you back to the floating continent.

She's got a point. Add that to the to-do list...

You could try using the teleportation gate. It's not too far from here.

Huh? You mean it's on the ocean floor?

Yeah. The roks used to use it a looong time ago. It's to the west of here.

Finally, some good news! Do you know where it leads?

No, and I can't guarantee it still works, either.

Based on everything else we've learned, I'd say the chances of it connecting to one of the floating continents is pretty strong. It was probably in use before they ever set them afloat.

Well, sitting here worrying about it isn't going to get us anywhere. We've just gotta try it out for ourselves.

Yep. The first thing you need to do when explorin' an unknown cavern is secure your escape route.

Alright, then let's try out this gate before we head over to Omegapolis.

Wait! There's something I want to give you first.

...A magic tome?

That's right. My previous captain used it to dispel magic barriers and seals, like the one used to lock this cabin.

Oh yeah? But are you sure it's okay to just give it to us?

Yes, it's fine. I can't do much more than open the cabin door with it anyhow. If it can help you on your journey, then I'm sure the captain would've wanted you to have it.

...Alright. We appreciate it.

Yes, except there's one problem, Our crystal rod doesn't have enough power to actually use the spell.

...Oh. Guess we'd better stop by the Lightspark Tree, then.

Is this the gate the Sleeping Pearl was talking about?

I think so, and it's just as old as they said. Please, wait a moment.

It should work now.

Great! Time to jump!

Nice! It really was connected to the upper world.

Okay, but where are we? Somewhere out in the meadows?

I'm not sure... We should probably take a closer look around.

Hey...

Isn't that the town we came to using the first gate?

Thank goodness... I was worried we might've gotten lost.

Looks like we can get back to Jasmond, too, then.

We'll all rest easier knowing that.

Yeah. Let's finish our preparations and head back to the Sleeping Pearl.

We should try and get enough magic power to use the spell we got from the Sleeping Pearl.

Yeah, good point. Let's see if we can find a Lightspark Tree.