The Last King

Claude!

My friend. Good day to you.

I can't believe you activated that heirloom of yours without me! Why didn't you let me know?! I missed out on a historical turning point for your kingdom!

M-My apologies... Yet, I stand by my decision. We did not know what kind of danger would lurk within it.

Yeah. We kinda ended up fighting some huge dinosaur thing.

Seriously?! I guess that's fair enough then. So, did you find out what you were looking for in the end?

Yes. I was finally able to inherit what was rightfully mine.

So everything goes ahead as planned?

Absolutely. We have come this far. I assume you have been getting all of the preparations sorted?

Of course. I'm ready to go whenever you are.

Excellent. Then that just leaves us with the execution of the plan. Let us proceed to the terrace at once. We can perform the inheritance rite there!

Okay. Let us get started with the inheritance rite. It is time for me to become a true king.

That's right. There can't be a kingdom without a king after all.

Hey, Claude. What actually is this inheritance rite?

The heirloom itself contained information on how to control it, and how to perform the rite. This ceremony is just one for me to accept what has been passed down to me through my royal line.

I see...

Let us not waste any more time.

Hear my plea! The rightful ruler of Kelkale stands here for all to behold! The time of revival and atonement has arrived! Spirit serpent, custodian of knowledge. Grant me the union of the blood, flesh, and bone of my forefathers!

And with that, the rite is complete.

So, what was sealed in that heirloom anyway?

I thought it was all a bit hoaxy at first. But there is really information backing this all up now, isn't there?

Yes, it seems it has been saved using some application of magic. Although it should be easy enough to turn this into readable data.

Which means you've been making some preparations of your own I see.

Well everything is ready to go on this end. We just need to get that information onto one of our devices. When we do, I should be able to hack into anywhere. Even Xeno-Domain.

Phenomenal! Then let us move onto the execution phase of our plan.

I'll get to my terminal and provide backup for you then.

I'm counting on you.

The time has come, kings of old. For you to perform your last royal duty before your final slumber.

Right, Aldo. We shall hold up our side of the plan too. We need to go to Xeno-Domain. Our objective awaits us there.

Okay. One of these terminals should be suitable for our needs. Time to initiate phase one.

Phase one?

Indeed. First, we disable the firewall of this terminal with this device. Then, we compromise Xeno-Domain's security systems temporarily.

Did you do it?

Without a hitch. Now we can move onto the next phase of the plan.

Okay. So what do we do next?

That would be to hack into the Xeno-Domain mainframe. With the security systems compromised, we should not have any problems gaining control over its OS.

Seems like you've really thought this all through.

This is for the plight of my lost kingdom. Even the slightest flaw in this plan is unforgivable. My friend has already tampered with all the devices in the area ahead of time. Let us move further into the lower district.

This is the terminal... All we need to do now is to connect this device and...

This will take a fair amount of time. Not that we expected any less from the terminals in Xeno-Domain.

So...what exactly are you doing? Is there anything I can help you with?

Just conserve your energy for now. All we can do until the installations are done is to wait. We are planting a piece of information onto the Xeno-Domain databases. Unbecoming of a king, but necessary.

What kind of information?

All will be revealed when the installation has finished.

What's going on?!

I feared this would happen. It seems that the security for the mainframe is better protected than we had originally planned.

Detecting unauthorized lifeforms. Confirming ID... Failed to find registered user. Assuming prohibited access. Initiating quarantine protocols. Alerting all units.

Claude, we gotta do something!

Aldo, there is no need to panic. I had planned for such an occurrence as this.

*krrr* Transmission unsuccessful... Unable to initiate alert broadcast.

There was a good reason for compromising the security before we started this. They cannot call back up now.

Initiating battle mode, form alpha. Confirming targets for elimination. Beginning assault.

We must protect this terminal at all costs until the installation is complete. Aldo, I require your assistance now!

Is it almost done?

Looks like everything has been uploaded correctly. It should begin any moment now.

It worked!

Ancestral fathers, my subjects. Behold! I have finally done it!

Claude, think you could tell me what this is all about already?

My apologies for keeping you in the dark. But I need to see that everything worked as planned first.

Fret not. I will reveal everything to you once this is over.

Right...

I imagine my friend too, is starting to get anxious at this juncture. Let us head back to IDA School. He should be awaiting our arrival in a classroom on the third floor.

Claude! You made it!

I'm sorry I wasn't able to deactivate all the security measures.

My dear friend, as you can see, not even a single crease in my uniform. Do not concern yourself.

If you say so. Shall we get to it then?

Let's. Everything has gone according to plan. All we need do now is check the fruits of our work.

I can check right now! Let's have a look here. Just need to bring up the personal history database and...

Here! Claude, this...this is amazing! The plan worked! It really worked!

You are sure about it? After all this time... Finally the plight of my family has been...

Claude, just what has happened? What did you do?

Aldo, of course. Now that the dust has settled, I can tell you what has been done this day.

In this world, the highly advanced Kelkale was feared by its neighbors. That fear prompted its destruction. Those nations then sought to eradicate every last item that could be traced to Kelkale's existence.

As a kingdom possessing great technology, Kelkale was feared by its neighboring states. And fear was what prompted its destruction. Those nations then sought to eradicate every last item that could be traced to Kelkale's existence.

What a tragedy...

Narrowly escaping the fires of war, my ancestors continued to lose what they had held dear during their flight. They began to worry that if they did not act, Kelkale's entire history would be wiped from the face of the earth. And thus, my ancestors sealed Kelkale's history into the heirloom. In the hope that someone would one day rebuild it.

And so I planted all the data on Kelkale's history that was stored in the heirloom onto the Xeno-Domain's databases. Now anyone in the Xeno-Domain can read about Kelkale at any time.

But what about all the people outside of the Xeno-Domain?

Oh, Aldo. For what purpose did you think we risked our lives for going all the way into the Xeno-Domain's Lower District?

After taking control of the mainframe to upload the data on Kelkale, I put another program of my own on there.

You can't mean?!

That is right. Every single database in Elzion with a connection has received that information now.

I'm impressed! You keep mentioning the plight of your kingdom and its revival, which I get. But I just don't see how that is connected with any of what we just did?

A little slow on the uptake, I see. By doing what we did, people will naturally come into contact with information on Kelkale one way or the other. The existence of the Kelkale Kingdom, and its people, will become an undeniable public truth. People will now start to remember the kingdom that was once lost in the rubble of time.

Remember?

That's right. Forgotten history will once more become etched into the minds of the people. And so the people and country that has been lost for so long, will find life again in the memories of people today. That is exactly how I have achieved the revival of the Kingdom of Kelkale.

So that's what you were planning! Whenever you said revival, I always thought you were going to actually rebuild it.

I did rebuild it. Just, in the memories of people.

A country is its people. King Miglance said something to that effect, did he not? The proof that the people who supported my country did exist will remain in the memories of those alive today. And within that memory, left by the people of the past and inherited by those of the future, lies the verification of my kingdom. That is the revival I have sought after all this time. Even if I am to be labeled as mad in the process.

Claude, I...

And as the last in line, I too, have fulfilled my culminating duty. A great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Oh right... Wait. What do you mean by "last in line"? Is that it for your kingdom now? I thought it had just started?

Even for me, attempting to call what I reign over now a country is pushing it. Although, you are right.

Up until now, I have known no other way of life than that of a king. To make matters worse, it has grown on me to a point where I could not give it up easily.

I don't see why you can't just keep on being a king. I can't even imagine you being any other way!

Well, whatever you do. Don't forget me as well! As your first and only retainer, I deserve to be a part of this.

Very well then. It seems the path I must walk is clearly paved in front of me. Today I end my life as the last king of Kelkale.

And I am reborn as the first king of my newly forged kingdom!

You're going to forge a new kingdom? But how?

Perhaps I will make my enterprise in business and, with enough funds, build my own plate, like the IDA School has. Or perhaps, I shall find a way to return to the polluted surface and start an entire new nation on the ground again.

Haha. I can't even begin to imagine how you're going to be able to do any of that.

But, you know. I'm kinda excited. What do you say, Your Majesty, wanna start planning your great new nation now?

My dear friend, I was just about to ask you the same. After all, there can be no kingdom without its people.

Building your own kingdom, huh?

It all seems like a bit of a dream still. But I'll do whatever I can to help out.

So, a king and his faithful retainer, now a trusty companion... As humble beginnings go, it is not a bad one in the least.

And so, with that, I declare that from this day hence, we forge our new kingdom. A kingdom for its people. Let us swear here to build one that rivals even that of the great Kelkale!