Chapter 36: I'll Build It! The Founding of Macminal Museum

Hi, guys. It's been a while.

Hi, Sebastia. Sorry to barge in, but there's something we'd like you to research. We need to find a way to break through the barrier that the ancient ogre clan used to use.

The ogre clan? Sounds like you guys are up to something interesting again. I've heard of them, but history isn't exactly my strongest subject.

I know we wouldn't be here without the discoveries of the past, but it's building on that knowledge that interests me. I can look it up for you, though. Give me a sec.

Thanks.

Found something.

Already? Nice work!

A giant stone key was discovered in some ancient ruins a while back. And its name is--wait for it-- The Ogre Key! Real original, huh?

Ogre Key, huh... It may be worth taking a look at it. Where was it you said they're keeping it?

Well, it WAS in the Macminal Museum. The only problem there is...

Macminal... Oh, right, didn't it have to shut down? It's over in Nilva, right?

That's right. All its exhibits and artifacts have been scattered to the four winds, including the key...

What?! So, how are we supposed to find it now?!

At this point we'll take any info you got on the museum, Sebastia. You must have something?

Hmm, let me think... Right.

It was curated and maintained by the Macminal Foundation, a hereditary trust set up by its founder. But they spent a lot of money acquiring what turned out to be a phony statue, and their finances took a nosedive.

A phony statue, where have I heard that before...

Since it was a private museum from a long time ago, that's about all the info there is on it.

If we can find one of the Macminal family maybe they could tell us more. They might even be able to help restore the museum.

And if we could restore the museum, we'd know the whereabouts of the key. But, how?

The Macminal Museum... I do believe I have heard of it someplace before.

If my memory serves me rightly, it was at Time's Forgotten Stop. I faintly remember a young lass clad in the attire of this time there who made some remark about Macminal.

Really, you remember that? We've traveled around so much, it's getting harder to keep track.

Alas, my memory too, fails me from time to time. I cannot give you my word that it is correct.

That's not much to go on...

But at a time like this, it's better than nothing. I guess we may as well check it out.

Thanks for the help, Sebastia. I'll...

Wait, Amy. Watch your back, okay? I hear a shady organization has been on the move lately.

A shady organization?

You remember how the chaos particles eating away at spacetime got washed away by some kind of green energy wave?

Ah yes, some curiosity of Miss Feinne's Geo power, or what have you.

There's a group who claim the exposure to that wave transformed them, and that they've been reborn as a whole new race. I don't know how much of their ideology is rooted in truth, but at this rate we could have a revolution on our hands soon.

A revolution?

They say they'll overthrow society and build a new world by neohumans, for neohumans. What a bunch of zealots. They've also been attacking museums, libraries, anywhere that symbolizes knowledge from the "old world order." Try to avoid crossing swords with them, if you can.

I'll be careful. Thanks again. See ya.

Then let us make haste to Time's Forgotten Stop!

The Macminal Museum? It's been run by the same family ever since it was first built. People make a lot of the fact that the founder started out as a humble traveling merchant, or so the story goes.

Do you know where that Macminal merchant is now? We'd really like to meet him...

The thing about traveling merchants is...they travel. Who knows where he could be at any one time?

Oh, right. Of course. Maybe this was a dead end after all...

Hold on. There is a rumor that he rose to fame after an incident at an Ancient Battlefield. Apparently he made friends with the Nopaew Clan, and his commerce skills skyrocketed from there.

And this happened at a battlefield?

So the story goes. The details of exactly what occurred have been lost, though.

Don't worry, that's enough for us to go on. Thanks for the tip!

Oh. Well, you're welcome. Good luck.

Get ready for a field trip to an ancient battlefield in search of the Nopaew Clan then!

Hey, we're looking for a merchant named Macminal. Is that you, by any chance?

Yes, my name is Macminal. What do you want with me?

Phew, I'm glad we managed to get hold of you. I have something very important to discuss with you. Now, I know this'll be a shock, but...

You're from the future? And you say my descendants will found a museum in my name?!

Poooh! Pohpohpopoew!

Hm? What's that now? I shouldn't believe some crazy story about the future from strangers?

You're absolutely right! That was close, I was almost tricked there again! You expect me to believe that? People have told me fantastic stories before, and every time I've ended up losing a ton of Git. Right now I can't even afford to run my own shop, let alone my dream museum. You think I'm a peddler because I enjoy travel?

Now that I think about it, his descendant also got scammed with that rip-off phony statue.

Being gullible must run in the family...

Thank you, my little Nopaew friend. You saved me a great deal of trouble there.

Poh paew.

Ahem. So, tell me, what is this "future" nonsense you speak of all about then?

It isn't nonsense, honestly. Look, I know you've had some bad experiences, but this really is the truth. I'm not asking for money. We've got no reason to deceive you.

No way! I am not getting fooled again! Now let me get back to work.

That could have gone better... What now?

That kind of thing'd be hard to dismiss. Sound like a plan?

Okay! Let's get Synth Hydra to take us to Nilva.

Very well! We will depart at once. Next stop--the Floating City, the year 1100 AD.

Great, we're in Nilva now.

That's the place where Macminal Museum used to be, over there.

Over where?

Oh... That huge empty space, I see...

We've gotta find a way of restoring the museum so we can get the Ogre Key.

Yeah, but first we have to find some proof that it existed. Otherwise Macminal will never believe us.

Let's look around for someone who might know more about the museum.

Hey, we're looking for somebody who might know something about the Macminal Museum, could you help us?

Macminal Museum... Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while. It was an awful long time ago, but I used to work there, you know.

Really?! Did you hear that Amy, this guy might be able to help us.

Yeah, let's hope so. Umm, you wouldn't happen to still have anything related to the museum?

I'm sorry, but they took everything away to pay off the debts. There's nothing left, I'm afraid.

That's terrible!

Are you sure there's nothing? We really need something, anything.

All I have left is a small pamphlet on the museum that I kept for myself. If that's any good you're welcome to take it.

Thanks a bunch! We owe you one.

Hmm...

Amy, what's wrong?

Do you really think that guy'll believe us with just a bit of paper? He seemed really on guard before...

...You're right. Let's just bring this back to the Ancient Battlefield and show it to him. We can think of another plan after that.

Oh, it's you guys again. Sorry, but I'm not in the mood for tales from the world of tomorrow. Move along, you're gonna scare off my customers.

Wait, wait, just listen. Take a look at this.

Hm? What's this, a scrap of parchment? Ma-Macminal Museum? Displaying many rare and unique artifacts?

Uhm, hmm... I just don't believe this!

(I knew it'd be no good...)

I can't believe I am seeing this with my own two eyes! I believe you, completely and utterly!

Poh?!

What! Really? You're gonna believe us, just like that?!

Poh poh! Po-paew!

I know, I know. They are still very suspect and all. But look, look here! That insignia on the flag... Make no mistake, that is the design I created in secret, to one day use when I am finally successful in building my museum!

Poh...

I must ask, this is no dream is it?! You must tell me truthfully! You're saying you really went into the future and brought this back to show me?!

Of course, it's all true! Are we really that suspicious?

It's just so much to take in! The Macminal Museum...

My apologies, my little Nopaew friend, but I'm afraid I will have to postpone our business together for the time being. I'll return back to you once this is over. Would you wait for me until then?

Poh!

The Macminal Museum... It has a nice ring to it, I have to admit!

Sorry to spoil your fun, but you might want to take a look at the notice on the back.

On the back... Hrmph!

Closing down? What is the meaning of this?

It's a shame, isn't it? It took all those years to build, but it was forced to go out of business in the end.

Wh-What?!

Apparently one of your descendants blew a ton of money on a fake statue, and that was the end of the museum.

A fake? How dare they! Will con artists never cease plaguing my family? We're too easily fooled... What a miserable end to a promising enterprise...

It's my fault... Am I destined to pass on my good-natured gullibility to future generations? But those future generations are the ones who'll build it... Urrrgh, what to do...

Hey now, don't cry. It'll be all right... Y'know, do something productive. Maybe you could leave a message to help steer your kids away from bad decisions, or--

That's it!

Of course, I hadn't thought of that. A message, eh? Yes, I must lay plans for the future. I'll draw up a house code, precepts that will be upheld as law in my family. None of us will be fooled again! And our museum will last through the ages, a monument to peace and learning. Heh heh... Hah hah hah haaa!

Okay. Good luck with that.

Haaah haa... Huh? Oh, right. Thank you so much! You may have just saved my family. I'm going to work ten times as hard from now on. One day I'll earn enough to build this museum.

You'll get there someday. I'm looking forward to going there and seeing all you've achieved.

Right! To Unigan! There's funds to be earned!

Hah Hahaha! Macminaaal Muuuseeeum!

With that attitude, the museum in the Future is bound to have been restored! Let's get back to Nilva!

What's going on here... Why hasn't anything changed? I'll bet the Macminal family ran into another disaster. Urgh, how does a lineage as clumsy as this last so long?

Macminal said he was going to Unigan, right? Let's head there and tell him what's happened.

Hello, my friends. How was it? Is the Macminal Museum everything I hoped it would be?

Sorry, it was still closed when we checked on it...

What? Did my house codes mean nothing at all? Perhaps my streak of idealistic philanthropy is too deeply ingrained for mere warnings to work...

Don't get discouraged. The true course of history depends on the work of you and your descendants.

Fine words, but how? That's the question. I have plenty of ideas, but I have no idea if any of them will work...

Hey, Aldo, something's been bothering me for a while now... Doesn't it feel like we've met this guy before?

You think?

His appearance and mannerisms are an 85% match for the passionate archaeologist we encountered in Elzion.

Oh yeah, I bet it's that guy!

Maybe you're right. Perhaps he's a Macminal too. Seems too perfect to be coincidence.

Maybe he'll have some idea of how we can save the museum. Wanna go talk to him?

Let's hope. Okay, we'll go and see if he knows anything.

I wish you luck, my friends. Save my clan, my legacy...

Don't worry, we're not giving up yet. We want the museum back in action just as much as you. Maybe even more.

Alright, let's get to Elzion on the double!

Ah, you fellows, back again?

No way! He looks just like Macminal!

Are you related to the Macminals? The family that owned the old museum?

That's right, Macminal was the name of my distant ancestors. You're a sharp one! I spent many happy hours in that museum when I was a lad... I was heartbroken when it had to close.

I knew it! Okay, so, we want to get the museum open again, and we think you can help. For starters, do you know exactly why it had to shut down? Or how it could've been saved?

It's a little late for that, don't you think? I mean, it is closed--that ship has sailed.

Well... Umm...

What-what now? Don't mumble now, speak up. Is there something you aren't telling me, perhaps?

Aldo, indicating high-levels of suspicion, take emergency action immediately!

Um, okay. No! We're definitely not suspicious!

Aldo, you idiot, that's just going to make him even more suspicious of us!

Hah ha, it's all clear now! I know what you're after...

Wait, please! We're really not trying to trick you, I promise!

You want me to donate to the restoration of the old museum, do you not?!

Huh? Umm, actually... Yeah, that was kinda it.

Y-Yeah, that's right. How about it? Would you help us rebuild the museum?

Very well. For the good of the museum, no price is too dear! How about I donate the gem of my collection? One moment, if you please.

Here we go...

What the heck is that thing?!

I excavated this stone tablet during one of my covert digs. I call it the Karma Stone. See the ancient script carved into it? These are thought to be the origins of our written language. A fitting centerpiece for a top-class museum, wouldn't you say?

And you've been keeping something that important to yourself?

Analysis shows the tablet with a 99.9% match as genuine. Providing Mr. Macminal with this would make staying out of economical crisis statistically feasible! The placement of this in the museum would almost guarantee non-closure.

I'm counting on you. Bring the museum back to its original glory!

Leave it to us. We'll take the tablet from here.

Okay, let's bring this to Macminal back in Unigan!

My friends. Did you find anything to solve our problem?

Yeah, take a look at this. A present from one of your descendants.

Good heavens! It's magnificent...

He said it was called the Karma Stone.

Maybe if you make this the centerpiece of the museum, it'll be successful for longer.

Wonderful, absolutely marvelous! This is an embodiment of the beginnings of our civilization! I will treasure this artifact and leave strict instructions that it must always stay in the family.

A thousand thanks, my generous friends! You have saved my family legacy from ruin.

We really can't wait to see that museum!

Wow, so this is the Macminal Museum?!

We got there in the end! And the real thing's pretty impressive...

Yeah, it feels all kinds of historical.

Hm? There's something written here...

Ah, you there, could you be...?

It's the Archaeology Buff!

It is you! I have something for you. Been keeping it safe all these years.

For us?

It's an old letter, passed down through generations of the Macminal family...

Signed, Macminal...

There, I've passed that along to you. You have my thanks too, of course.

Don't mention it. I'm just so happy he finally did it.

However, I am concerned about this new suspect group targeting the museum, I suppose you've caught wind of them too?

Oh yeah, Sebastia told us about those, neohumans, or whatever they're calling themselves.

That's right. Fortunately, the museum remains unscathed, albeit under high alert...

You sound kinda unsure about that, isn't it better to be safe and prepared than sorry?

Ordinarily, perhaps... My ancestor may have been a tad overly cautious. I suppose he was worried about being tricked.

In the event of an attack on the museum, he even went as far as using monsters to defend it!

What?!

So far we haven't had any problems, so nobody's noticed, you see. At the moment, the museum is closed off to the public. I advise your upmost caution if you intend on venturing inside.

I-Is that right... Well, thanks for the warning.

Well, I must be on my way now. But, please do not hesitate to visit me whenever you wish.

And here I thought we might be able to take it easy for while.

Well, it's not so bad, right? Now we can finally get into the museum.

So let's quit wasting time out here and go get that Ogre Key!