Chapters · Final Saga › Elbaf

Chapter 1153: The Birth of Loki

Arc: Elbaf · Saga: Final Saga · Released:

Summary

An all-flashback origin chapter for the Elbaf royal family. Prince Harald grows up “unhinged” alongside Dorry and Brogy, an arrogant heir who deems everyone outside Elbaf “tiny and pitiful and boring.” On a raid at Bunt Kingdom (New World) he smashes a town to “rescue” a caged giant sideshow attraction, Ida — who rebukes him for hurting the kind humans who had saved and employed her, teaching him that “nothing in the world is meant to be destroyed” and to “see things from their eye level.” Harald reforms into the peace-loving reformer-king who connects Elbaf with the world (105 years ago). Ida, a giant from Samwanai Island (South Blue) who crossed the Red Line, becomes his partner and mother of Hajrudin (born 81 years ago in the Fishermen Village, Eastern Elbaf), but Elbaf law forbids the king marrying her — “the royal line must remain pure of blood.” Harald is instead betrothed to the pure-blood Queen Estrid, a materialistic geomancer from the Brewers Village who brings the eight-legged luck-horse Asla. Estrid bears Loki at Aurust Castle 63 years ago while Harald is away; horrified by his monstrous appearance and a prophecy that Harald would be slain by his own son, she declares Loki stillborn (“I bore no child”), denies him, and has him cast into the Underworld. Every misfortune to befall Elbaf is henceforth blamed on “Loki’s Curse,” and Queen Estrid falls ill.

New reveals

• King Harald’s origin. Prince Harald was raised “unhinged” alongside Dorry and Brogy; his “ancient giant blood,” size/strength, and noble status inflated him into a “royal pain” who despised the outside world (p. 2).
• Ida — Hajrudin’s mother — introduced. A giant woman born on Samwanai Island in the South Blue, who crossed the Red Line (the “Serpent of Blood”), washed up injured, and was saved/employed by humans in Bunt Kingdom before being caged as a “ten-meter woman” sideshow (pp. 3–5, 8). She reforms Harald’s worldview.
• Hajrudin is King Harald’s son with Ida, born 81 years ago in the Fishermen Village, Eastern Elbaf. The couple could not marry — “the royal line must remain pure of blood” (p. 10). (Confirms the “woman from a different giant nation” of Ch. 1137.)
• Queen Estrid — Loki’s mother — introduced. Harald’s pure-blood (“pure and ancient”) betrothed from the Brewers Village to the north; a geomancer obsessed with luck/fortune and hoarding wealth (pp. 11–12).
• Asla, the eight-legged “horse of good fortune,” is a gift from Estrid’s clan (p. 12) — evidently the “Lucky Horse” newborn Loki kills (Ch. 1136).
• Loki’s birth & abandonment. Born at Aurust Castle 63 years ago while Harald was away, Loki appears monstrous/demonic; Estrid recoils (“That is no son of mine!! It’s a monster!!”), orders it declared stillborn, denies him (“I bore no child!!”), and has the infant cast into the Underworld (pp. 13–16).
• The patricide prophecy predates Loki’s birth — “The prophecy said that King Harald would one day be killed by his own son!! …before it was even born!!” (p. 17).
• “Loki’s Curse” — every misfortune to befall Elbaf is blamed on the abandoned prince; Queen Estrid falls ill (p. 17).
• King Neptune of Ryugu was a newborn heir ~70 years ago, met when Harald visited the Fish-Man Kingdom during his diplomatic era (p. 13).
• The World Government blocked Elbaf’s diplomatic outreach — “The World Government has stepped in to block our path again… Why can’t countries be free to decide for themselves?!” (p. 17).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters: King Harald (Prince/King Harald — youth→reign, shown in flashback), Ida (first appearance), Estrid (first appearance, “Queen Estrid”), Prince Loki (birth, shown as infant), Hajrudin (shown as infant), Dorry & Brogy (childhood companions, referenced/shown), King Neptune (named as a newborn heir ~70 yrs ago), Asla the eight-legged luck-horse (named), Yamato (cover story only).
• Locations: Elbaf, Aurust Castle, Bunt Kingdom (first appearance), Samwanai Island (named), Fishermen Village (Eastern Elbaf, first appearance), Brewers Village (Northern Elbaf, named), The Underworld, Red Line (“Serpent of Blood”), Ryugu Kingdom (the “kingdom where those with fish blood live”).
• Groups: Giants, Fish-Men / Merfolk (referenced), the World Government.

Notable panels

• p. 1 — Title page: “Chapter 1153: THE BIRTH OF LOKI.” The title-page art doubles as the cover story: “Ogre Child Yamato’s Golden Harvest Surrogate Pilgrimage, Vol. 37 — ‘Daimyo of Ringo, Kikunojo and Boss Ocho.’” (B&W line art; not a color spread.)
• p. 3 — Ida caged as the “ten-meter woman” sideshow at Bunt Kingdom, New World.
• p. 8 — Ida’s biography: born on Samwanai Island (South Blue), crossed the Red Line (“Serpent of Blood”); Treasure Tree Adam behind. Caption “Elbaf, 105 years ago.”
• p. 11 — Full-body intro splash of Queen Estrid, the geomancer betrothed.
• p. 12 — Asla, the eight-legged “horse of good fortune” (Sleipnir echo).
• pp. 14–16 — Estrid recoils from newborn Loki (“It’s a monster!!”); baby Loki abandoned, crawling and grasping in the snowy wilderness.
• p. 17 — Silhouette of Loki; narration names “Loki’s Curse”; “Queen Estrid fell ill.” “To be continued!”

Open questions raised

• Is Loki genuinely “cursed,” or simply a scapegoated child — and does his monstrous newborn form tie to his devil-fruit / “Sun God” nature?
• What became of Ida (Hajrudin’s mother)? Is she still alive?
• What exactly was Estrid’s “geomancy,” and is her wealth-hoarding / luck-obsession significant, or a con?
• Which World Government intervention “blocked Elbaf’s path,” and how does it connect to the present-day Holy Knights assault?
• Did Harald ever learn what Estrid did to their son?