Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #23: Late to the Party

A random conversation from the Nicovideo comments:

“Are β-Types always flat chested?”
“Misha (adult) wasn’t.”
“Then Akane must be this game’s Shurelia-sama.”

This entry covers the final part of the cutscenes after finishing the Mebius Factory dungeon.

Spoilers, as usual.

The party takes the elevator back down and walks down the hallway, stopping and turning as they see soldiers running in the direction they came. Aoto worries they’re working for Clusternia, but Tatsumi corrects him that they’re the Arkia military. Aoto wonders what Arkia is doing here. Tatsumi comments that they arrive whenever something smells like trouble to see if they can profit from it… or so his master says.

Serendipitously, Gengai arrives at that moment. After greeting each other, Hikari asks how the Great Fang Militia is faring, and Gengai replies they’ve already broken through the main gates and invaded during the sudden commotion earlier; he entrusted the subdual of the main town to a subordinate and headed straight here. Saki wonders whether ‘the sudden commotion earlier’ was caused by the hymn she sung, and after realizing they were responsible, Gengai congratulates them on a job well done.

Aoto says that Katena deserves the credit, but Katena isn’t anywhere to be seen- until a moment later, when he arrives, asking them if a huge Clusternian Reyvateil passed by this way. Aoto replies, “That shemale? No, she didn’t pass by here… did something happen?” Katena says that it was nothing important, and makes the acquaintance of Gengai.

Hikari says that there’s no need to stay here and suggests that they head back to town before they’re accosted by the Arkians. His suggestion comes a bit too late, though.

The woman who’s just arrived recognizes Hikari. He, in turn, exclaims “…Rikka?!” in a tone of voice that suggests she was not someone he particularly wanted to encounter. She is quite excited to see him, exclaiming, “Kya, Doctooor! Where have you been?! I really missed you!”

She runs toward Hikari, only to trip and fall. Aoto asks if she’s okay, while the doctor remarks that she’s the same as ever. Scrambling back to her feet, she demands, “What have you been doing all this time?! When you disappeared all of a sudden, I was so sad!” Hikari asks what she’s doing here, and Rikka replies that she came to defend the Great Fang. Katena says, “Arkia defending the Great Fang? That’s a good one. Haven’t you always maintained neutrality in the past?”

Rikka retorts, “We have always been defenders of the weak. When Clusternia launched that huge army, of course we came to your aid. Though if we’re having a little workplace gathering here, you could’ve invited me… How thoughtless of you, Katena.” Aoto asks whether Katena knows this Rikka too, and Katena says ‘knows’ isn’t quite the right word… but this person is Rikka Ryosya, second in command of the infamous Arkia Laboratory.

Rikka asks “Well, now that we’ve been reacquainted, and it seems the problem’s already settled… what exactly happened here?” Katena explains that with Aoto and his companions’ help, he activated the DFP, which sorted things out quite nicely. He continues, “By the way, what reward are you planning to extort in return for helping the Great Fang?” Gengai remarks, “True, there’s no way Arkia would help anyone for free. You must have an ulterior motive.”

Rikka assures them they have nothing to worry about; this wasn’t a profit-seeking mission. “Clusternia’s offensive would have been unfortunate for us as well,” she says. “Jouteimon is our only point of contact with the Great Fang. We didn’t want it falling into their hands.” Katena replies, “I see, so you had a selfish reason of another sort…”

The serious business dealt with, Rikka switches back into ditz mode, demanding to know where Hikari’s been and complaining how cruel he was to abandon her. Hikari asks Rikka to stop clinging to him, and Aoto remarks he’s not someone to be underestimated after all. Katena says he never knew Gojyou and Rikka had that kind of relationship. Hikari denies there is anything between them, while the way Rikka is acting suggests quite the opposite.

Rikka says now that they’ve met again, Hikari should come back to Arkia with her; she doesn’t want to be apart from him again. Saki recalls out loud that Arkia is where those children were… that place, in her hometown… Aoto speaks up, asking Rikka if she can take them to a place named Ougai in Arkia; he says he wants to take Saki there.

Hikari says that he also wants to return Saki to her home, and will go with them if need be. This settles the matter, Rikka complaining she can’t possibly refuse anything he asks of her. “Well, since you settled the problem of Clusternia so neatly, I suppose taking you to Arkia is the least I can do to show my gratitude,” she admits. She asks them to come to Morokakka Harbor once they’re ready to depart.

Hikari sighs, muttering “I never thought I’d be returning to Arkia again…” Aoto asks him if something bad happened there, but Hikari says it’s nothing to worry about.

Tatsumi and Finnel linger in the factory for a private conversation. Tatsumi says, “…Finnel. This is our chance to reach the Tower.” Finnel seems shocked, and Tatsumi asks if something’s the matter. Finnel denies this awkwardly…

Outside, on the streets of Jouteimon, Aoto asks Gengai if he’s going to come to Arkia as well. Gengai retorts that he doesn’t intend to put himself further into Arkia’s debt. He says that earlier Rufan made arrangements to stow away on a ship to Clusternia, though. He’ll gather his associates on the inside, while Gengai gathers them in Jouteimon, and they’ll prepare to assault Clusternia.

Aoto apologizes for being unable to fight with Gengai, but Gengai says it’s fine as long as he’s keeping his promise to Saki. Tatsumi tells him to take care.

Nearby, Hikari asks Katena what he plans to do. Katena remarks that he can’t continue his research in this condition, and Hikari asks if he’ll come to Arkia as well. Katena begins replying that that’s absurd, but Hikari asks if he truly wants to continue his research.

Hikari continues, “I don’t know whether it’s of use to you, but I have some interesting information. That Reyvateil over there, Saki… her Soulspace is divided into many pieces.” Katena is surprised by this, and Hikari says “When I saw the map of her Soulspace, it reminded me of the one of that Reyvateil you showed me earlier.”

Katena says, “Ah, that old map…?” Hikari asks. “Do you still have it with you?” Katena doesn’t, but decides in a snap he will come with them to Arkia.

Finally, the cutscenes are over, except for a Party Talk Topic where Tatsumi again wonders if Finnel is a Clusternian spy. Aoto stands up for her, however, insisting that no one that clumsy and dimwitted could be trusted with any spying. Tatsumi still wonders why she seemed to be friends with Akane, though…

You can now wonder around Jouteimon, which I’ll probably take advantage of to dive into Saki again before embarking to Arkia and Phase 2. This Tuesday I’ll likely take off again too (last midterm), but I’ll have something less lame as a substitute for you this time around.

Tags: ar tonelico, ar tonelico 3, gust, jrpg