King of Slaves

As long as you don't give up, dreams DO come true... I'm living proof of that.

Take a look around. We're standing in a temple of gold! I've dreamed of a place like this ever since I read about Zipang in The Travels of Marco Polo!

I'm afraid so. He only cooperated with us until we got rid of his other enemies for him. Now that we have, he's shown his true colors.

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Fou, fou!

He was a wonderful leader for the Resistance. He always knew just what to say, and his allies looked up to him in every way.

And yet...there was always something nagging at me, making me wonder if we could really trust him.

Not knowing his True Name was certainly part of it, but even then, it felt like something deeper...

Now I know what it was: a fundamental difference in values.

I'm sorry. I might have been able to prevent this whole situation if only I'd trusted my misgivings.

You have nothing to apologize for, Mash. Nobody should go around sowing the seeds of mistrust without good cause.

I never gave much thought to what Columbus might value, personally.

But if he now means Fujimaru harm, then I'll crush him regardless.

It's no different from the other Agartha rulers we've fought. We just have to keep all of that in mind when we face him.

Well well, you talk a big game for such a scrawny kid. You're going to be a hell of a guy when you grow up.

Must be your royal blood, huh. That said... You're so straightforward that I bet it'd be real easy for someone to get the drop on you.

Thank you for the warning. Now... What is it you want?

Now that Agartha's rulers have all been defeated, the men you've been fighting to free should be able to return to the surface.

What do I want? You actually have to ask? Why, I want to rule this place myself, of course.

When I first awoke here, I couldn't believe how wonderful this world was! It's a paradise!

Hmm, I see you're still confused. Then let me ask you this: What sort of world do you think this is?

No no, you've got it backwards. I'm talking about WHY that's the case.

No no, that's not it. I'm talking about WHY it ended up that way.

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It's the best part of this whole underground world!

The fact that women can multiply endlessly!

You saw it for yourselves, didn't you? Just a bit of seed, and BAM! A whole new woman!

I couldn't believe it! It was like God had answered my prayers and brought all my dreams to life!

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You mean I have to spell that out too? Because you can sell them for a high price.

You can use women for all sorts of things, after all. And to make it even better, these women are stronger than men, which means they can do all sorts of heavy labor that used to be just for male slaves!

On top of that, it's easy to make practically endless amounts of them in no time at all! They don't even come out as children! It's a slave trader's dream!

...You're a horrible person, Christopher Columbus. No country in the world condones slavery anymore.

Huh? You think I don't know that? Of course I do. But that's just how it is in THIS day and age, right?

Nobody had a problem with it in my era! I'm just acting according to the values of my own time!

And it's not like my people invented slavery. Greece, Rome, the Middle East...it's been around forever!

And THAT means all your Heroic Spirits who come from those times used slaves back when they were alive, and they didn't think anything of it!

Some of those Heroic Spirits hear that slavery's frowned upon now, and decide to go with the times.

Others hear that it's frowned upon, but decide slaves are still too useful to give up.

That's all it comes down to, right? Who gets to decide whether that's right or wrong? When I grew up, slavery was normal. Who're you to tell me that was wrong?

That's...a complex subject.

I have to say, though... God certainly hands out blessings and trials in equal measure. I thought as much back when I crossed the Atlantic.

When I first awoke in this dream world come to life, it was already ruled by three queens, and I really had lost all my memories.

Maybe whoever summoned me made a mistake somewhere. I couldn't say. Still, I may not've had my memories, but I was still me.

So I followed my heart and set out to make my dream come true. At first, things seemed completely hopeless, but I never gave up.

Now, how'd I get started... Oh yes. The first thing I needed was a place to hide out safely...

Oh man, what's going on!? I can't believe I'm actually here in Agartha!

Take that, all you arrogant skeptics! I knew it existed! It had to, after I said it did!

I still don't know who summoned me here or why...

...but then, of course I would be here. I HAVE to be here! I'd bet anything Mahatma had a hand in this!

These peaches are delicious, and the river water's so clean. This should make for a great home base.

Now, what should I investigate first? Hehehe, there's Shambala... Agarthans... Ooh, I can tell I'm going to have my hands full just covering it all!

This is a momentous day. One small step for a girl, one giant leap for the occult!

Uh, sorry to rain on your parade, but do you have a minute?

Aah!

...

An Agarthan? You're an Agarthan, aren't you?

I have so many questions! What sort of ultimate truth have you arrived at? Why do you grow your beard that way? Is it some sort of spiritual thing?

Hey now, don't get the wrong idea. I'm in the same boat you are. I'm just a stray Servant who was summoned here without any idea what's going on.

Aww, so you're just another Servant. Phooey. ...So, what's up? What do you want, then?

Hey, I just said we're in the same boat. I've been looking for somewhere safe and ended up here, just like you. I was thinking we could help each other out.

Hmm. Help each other out, huh... I guess it WOULD be tough to cover all the fieldwork on my own.

And, well, it might be handy to have someone around to gather more mundane information while I go about seeking the ultimate truth...

Okay, you've got yourself a deal. I'll be the brains, you'll be the

Great, thanks. In that case, it'd be really helpful to me...

...if you died.

...Wh-what...the...?

I get a nice safe hideout, and you get to disappear. Everybody wins! Hahahaha!

I remember now... I killed a Caster when I first discovered that peach blossom spring.

She seemed too smart to go along with what I had planned, so I had to get rid of her just to be safe.

Then...even your hideout was built on someone else's sacrifice!?

We never did find out what happened to Helena after she disappeared from Chaldea... I wonder if

Of course there's going to be sacrifices. I'm trying to claim this utopia all for myself, after all.

I'm going to found my own country here: a kingdom of dreams, with an unlimited supply of slaves.

And now, the groundwork has been laid.

If a leader is defeated, the women of this world obey their new one. That's how this world works.

The question is...now that Penthesilea's been defeated, who's going to be that new leader?

I take it you aren't looking for a diplomatic solution.

Hahaha, of course not! You already know why I chose to make my move now, don't you?

Because I already have the perfect slave!

Thanks for handing me the reins to this guy, Scheherazade!

...

That is perhaps the biggest wrinkle in all of this.

I would've made sure to stop you from giving him control of Megalos if I'd been there. It's too bad that our communications weren't working then.

Because if there's one thing a slave trader should never have, it's a great hero in his service.

At last, this new New World is almost mine! I can't wait to drop my anchor!

You're up, my big, beautiful slave! It's time to put that monstrous power of yours to good use!

!!

Master...we can't let him win! Let's get him!

Ghh...!

...

Hahaha, you should know better than most just how strong this hero is!

And then there's my anchor! Every time I drop it, another part of my dream comes true!

On one island, I find a land of healthy indigenous people just waiting to be enslaved! On another island, a mountain of gold ready to be traded for glass beads!

I can't wait to see what I'll find on this island! Santa Maria Drop Anchor!

!

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Raaahhh!

I don't want to die!

Wowie, that was rough! But we made it!

Are you all right, Master!?

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Gotta be honest, I'm pretty much outta gas here.

We did not defeat all of the Amazons, but it seems there is no longer any need to...

...as they are merely standing around staring blankly into space. I take it you have defeated Penthesilea?

Yes, we did. But unfortunately...

...It seems your misgivings were well-founded.

Well, look at you two jumping into the fray. What good little allies you are.

You are of course welcome to join us. I can almost certainly find buyers who'd pay a great deal for slaves of your particular bent.

Talk about a priceless opportunity! Though of course, I'll have put SOME kind of price to you if I am to be paid for my trouble! Hahahaha!

...Allies, eh. That reminds me of something I need to confirm.

Oho, and what might that be? Go on, ask me anything.

Are you the one who set fire to the hideout?

Got it in one! Really, who else would it be!?

Wha...!? You mean, that fire was actually...!?

Oh, come now, think about it. We were up against the Amazons, right?

If they'd actually found our hideout, they wouldn't have just set it on fire.

They'd come after us with axes and swords and their war cry to finish us off for good.

B-but then... Why would you destroy our own hideout!?

Why? Because you useless good-for-nothings were practically shaking in your boots at the idea of facing the Amazons again, of course.

When his crew's freaking out, a good captain uses every tool at his disposal to keep the ship moving.

Sometimes he'll keep two separate logbooks. Other times he'll stretch the facts as far as they can go to claim that land is near.

It was the same thing here. I had to burn it all down to keep you useless idiots moving forward.

To make you steel yourselves and convince you that you had to keep fighting in order to survive.

I couldn't have you little turds resigning yourselves to being their slaves after coming this far.

You were MY slaves! You were the pawns I needed to claim this world for myself! You don't get to change masters unless I say so!

Th-then...all along, we were just...

After I claimed the peach blossom spring, the next thing I needed was soldiers.

Naturally, I quickly realized that the men fed up with their lot in life here were my best bet.

I have to say, you were a fine crew. Not one of you ever suspected I was anything less than altruistic.

I'm pretty used to putting down mutinies on my ships, so it was a pleasant surprise not to have to bother with that for you lot!

S-so many of us died...because we trusted you!

I know. It broke my heart to see so many useful laborers die without having a chance to sell them off.

But that's not enough to make me give up on my dream. It's like I always told you: as long as you don't give up, one day you'll reach your destination!

Yeesh... He doesn't break character for a minute, does he.

There is no reason one cannot be both a positive thinker and an evil person. It merely makes one an all the more despicable villain.

...I've known a number of people like him in my time, but I've never before seen one so unabashed.

I feel the same. At any rate... I feel much better now that you and Astolfo are here!

I'm certain that you were able to wound him badly in the last battle. You can do this, Master!

Hahaha! That's rich!

None of you ever once wished you were rich? Then go ahead, throw the first stone at me!

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Fou, fooou!

...

Y-you did it! Megalos has shut down!

Dammit!

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Haha, hahahaha... Oh no it isn't. Not yet. I'm not giving up. I'll never give up.

You can barely stand. If ever there was a time to give up, this is it. What more can you possibly

...Wait. Is that...!?

Haha, hahahaha! Good thing I had this stashed away!

Oh crap. Is that a Tamatebako!?

He must have still had one hidden on him!

Damn... We have to stop him from using it!

Too late! You'll never make it in time! Here, Megalos! I've got a little pick-me-up for you!

It's way better than dried meat and wine! Go ahead, take as much magical energy as you want!

This is bad! If Megalos gets a second wind while we're still exhausted...!

...Huh?

Did...an arrow just send the Tamatebako flying?

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...I didn't think I would actually hit it.

But...I guess all that training paid off.

It's just like you always said, Captain. The important thing is to never give up.

You...you worthless excuse for a slave! You're not even fit to scrub my boots!

Is that so. Because as far as I'm concerned, you're not even fit to wear those boots!

It's over!

You did it! That wound is fatal! But please be careful, Fergus!

Yes, I know! This is where the Demon God Pillar will

Dammit... Dammit...! I'm sorry, God!

I ended up wasting all the good luck you gave me!

But...I'm not giving up.

The next time I'm summoned, I'll find another treasure island to make my fortune.

I can't wait. I'm counting the days already... Haha, hahahaha!

...!?

...!?

He's...gone? Just like that?

Megalos as well! We must have completely destroyed their Spirit Origins! But, in that case...

Hmm, it appears this story has reached its conclusion. In that case, I trust you won't mind if I interject.

Or, to be more precise, I've accumulated so much evidence so quickly that I've only now reached a point where I CAN interject.

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I do of course understand that there is no need for me to involve myself in this matter, but given my nature, I'm afraid I'm compelled to do so regardless.

Now then...Ms. Kyrielight. I see you have your brow furrowed with quite a sweat.

Would you care to elaborate on the mystery that still plagues you?

That will explain how this whole matter began, and, most likely, how it will end.

...Our goal in coming here was to carry out the Remnant Order.

But we still haven't found the Demon God Pillar, even though we know it's somewhere here in Agartha.

Precisely. To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. The evidence is so clear that it practically leads you to the conclusion by the nose.

Nonetheless, since I know you to be something of a fan of mine, Ms. Kyrielight, I shall take this occasion to repeat one of my best-known lines:

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."

In this case, the "impossible" is the notion that the Demon God Pillar could not have been hiding within one of the leaders of the three nations in Agartha.

That its signal remains even after defeating all prior suspects proves that none of them were the culprit.

We can safely eliminate Chaldea's Servants from the pool of suspects as well. While not impossible for the Pillar to have hidden within one of them, doing so would have been needlessly complicated.

Now, it seems fair to assume that the Servants you met in Agartha who originated from Chaldea were forcefully summoned here to serve specific roles.

While they may have functioned as hooks and page-turners to propel one through the story, they are highly unlikely to be part of the main cast.

So...given all that, what is it that "remains"?

Who is the one surviving Servant we have met here in Agartha that has no relation whatsoever to Chaldea?

And thus, the story is complete. Thank you...