Chapters · Final Saga › Elbaf

Chapter 1168: The Snows of Elbaph

Arc: Elbaf · Saga: Final Saga · Released:

Summary

An all-flashback chapter that reveals the truth behind King Harald’s death and the Aurust Castle Massacre. Fifteen years ago, a reformed Elbaf thrives under Harald: booming trade (Elbaf cedar, Elbaf seafood), giants serving in the Navy, the Walrus School full of happy children, and Harald’s dream of Elbaf peacefully joining the World Government (pp. 2–3). Harald mourns his late love Ida (her grave is shown) — the outsider who “taught me everything I know” — in a tender deathbed memory of her final days, where they discuss their children and her wish to be his “true wife” (pp. 4–7). Fourteen years ago at Sacred Marijoa, Harald is offered a knighthood as the backup for Shanks, who “has gone missing” while on track to become a full-fledged Knight of God; joining would let Elbaf enter the WG (p. 8). Approaching the Empty Throne, Harald finds it occupied — by Imu — who grants him monstrous, immortal power (the Depths Covenant: immortality and strength for absolute obedience) and turns him into an “undying knight in service to Mu” (pp. 9–11). Back at Aurust Castle, Imu reveals the true terms through the throne-room magic circle: use Elbaf’s entire warrior population to build a giant fleet rivalling the Navy — the giants as WG war-slaves. Harald, horrified (“I’ve been doing all this to help Elbaf escape the cycle of fighting!!”), realizes he is being controlled (“Damn you, Imu!!!”) and, unable to resist, orders himself chained to a pillar and calls for Chief Jarul and his sons — Hajrudin (at sea) and Loki (imprisoned in the Underworld cells). Loki is freed and summoned urgently to the castle. The chapter closes: “on this day there was a terrible massacre inside the castle… and the most beloved ruler in the history of Elbaph, wise King Harald, perished” (pp. 12–15).

New reveals

• Imu is shown sitting on the Empty Throne, speaking directly to Harald (“Why is someone sitting on the empty throne?”) — a direct on-page depiction of the throne’s hidden occupant (pp. 9, 13).
• King Harald was secretly transformed into an immortal, monstrous “undying knight” by Imu ~14 yrs ago via the Depths Covenant — “those who have accepted the Depths Covenant are given immortality and strength… but must obey orders in return” (pp. 10–13). Onlookers (unnamed WG elders on p11, likely the Five Elders — not named on-page): “he’s a weapon,” “more than a monster,” “and now he is immortal.”
• The World Government’s true plan for Elbaf: use the entire warrior nation to “build a giant fleet to rival the navy” — Elbaf’s giants as WG war-slaves. “Thou wilt create an abyss on Elbaph. That will be thy bond to us” (pp. 11–14).
• Harald’s bargain with Imu: he agreed to “be a slave” and that “history would be atoned for” in exchange for Elbaf joining the WG (p. 13) — a Void-Century-adjacent debt.
• ~14 yrs ago, “Shanks” was on track to be made a full-fledged Knight (“Knight of God”) once his mission finished — but went missing; Harald was offered the position “as his backup” (p. 8).
• Harald planned to abdicate the throne once Elbaf joined the WG, for “someone younger and purer” — leaving the day of entry “for Mu to decide” (p. 9).
• Ida is confirmed dead (grave shown, p. 4); deathbed flashback of her final, coughing days. She “taught [Harald] everything”; they discuss the children (“He’ll be Hajrudin’s little brother,” “What about Loki?” → “To me, that’s what he’s always been”) and her barred wish to be his “true wife.”
• The massacre recontextualized: the Imu-controlled Harald himself ordered his own chaining and summoned Loki on the fatal day (Loki freed from the Underworld Holding Cells “for that thing he did”) — reframing the “patricide” as Harald’s own desperate act against Imu’s control (pp. 14–15).
• The Aurust Castle throne-room magic circle (the pentagram/hexagram “demon-summoning circle” flagged @1139) is Imu’s communication medium — “O Great Imu…” (pp. 12–13).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Characters (shown, flashback): King Harald, Ida (deathbed + grave), Saul (at the Walrus School — “This is thanks to you, Saul”; “Dereshi shi shi!”), Imu (on the Empty Throne / behind the magic circle), Prince Loki (freed from the Underworld Holding Cells)
• Characters (mentioned): Hajrudin (“out at sea right now”), Jarul (“Call Chief Jarul”), Shanks (“has gone missing”)
• Locations: Elbaf, Mariejois (“Sacred Marijoa”), Aurust Castle, Walrus School, The Underworld (“Underworld Holding Cells”)
• Groups / lore: Empty Throne, Holy Knights (“Knights of God”), Depths Covenant (new), Abyss Pentagram, Five Elders (unnamed onlookers at the transformation, p11), Giants
• Cover: Hatchan (reader-request title-page illustration)

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Title-page reader-request illustration: “A FAMILY OF SHEEP KNITTING HATCHAN SIX GLOVES” by Mrs. Fuji — Hatchan in a “TAKOYAKI EIGHT” jersey with two sheep girls in the snow (“THANK YOU”). Decorative; no cover-story serial this chapter.
• Pages 2–3 — Wide shots of a thriving, trade-booming Elbaf; the Walrus School full of children; Harald’s dream-of-the-world speech.
• Page 4 — Ida’s grave (“IDA”); Harald’s mourning close-up.
• Pages 9, 13 — Imu on the Empty Throne addressing Harald; Imu’s single-eye motif and the Aurust magic circle.
• Pages 10–11 — Splash-scale panel of Harald’s monstrous, scaled, horned transformation (“This strength…!!!”) — mirror-worthy.
• Page 15 — Harald’s throne-hall portrait as narration confirms his death; “To be continued.”

Open questions raised

• Did Loki kill Harald at Harald’s own request — to stop the Imu-controlled immortal king — making the “patricide” a mercy/sacrifice? See The Truth of the Aurust Castle Massacre.
• What “history” does Elbaf owe atonement for, and what is Harald’s withheld “final duty”? See Void Century and Ancient Kingdom.
• If Harald was made immortal, how did he “perish” in the massacre — and is Loki’s own immortality (“I can’t even die”) the same Depths-Covenant mechanic? See Loki Cannot Die — the Accursed Prince’s Curse.
• Was the “Shanks” who went missing the Yonko (Red-Hair) or a Figarland — and what became of him after? GUARD. See Shanks Figarland Connection.
• What is the exact relationship the deathbed scene implies between Ida, Loki, and the “coming child” — vs. the established Estrid-is-Loki’s-mother canon? (Flag: ambiguous; verify.)