Maximilian Lugenburg

**First Appearance** | Episode 16 (Ragnarok Online)

**Maximilian Lugenburg** is the head of the Lugenburg family and grandfather of Helmut Lugenburg.

On iRO, this character is localized as Maximilian Roegenburg.

* Maximilian as seen in the Ragnarok webtoon.

## Story

**SPOILER WARNING:** Plot and/or ending details follow.
Maximilian meets the invited adventurer at the Lugenburg villa and introduces himself. He then introduces his grandson Helmut Lugenburg, who is the Lugenburg candidate for the throne. He then directs the adventurer to his other grandson Wolfe Lugenburg and expresses how proud he is that his four grandchildren are growing up into fine people.

The adventurer returns some time later and Wolfe notes that he/she looks a little tired. The adventurer asserts how he/she had to go through a lot of work in order to investigate the rumor and Wolfe apologizes for all the trouble. Agnes overhears the conversation and asks what the rumor is about as she likes to gossip. Myer pops in and asks about the rumor as well. The adventurer asks if it would be alright to talk about the rumor with everyone and Wolfe decides that it would be fine since the rumor is about their family and it would be in their best interests to come together and figure out a solution. The adventurer then explains that the rumor talks about how if Helmut Lugenburg were to be chosen as king, he would drag the country into war. It was also rumored that one of his brothers is helping to fund war efforts. The adventurer believes that since the rumor has been circulating around Prontera, it would only be a matter of time before it spread through all of Rune-Midgarts. Wolfe quickly notes how specific the rumor is and suspects it must have been spread by someone within the family. Agnes is surprised that one of them have started the rumor and Wolfe correctly suspects Myer. Myer admits to starting the rumor and the entire family is shocked. Wolfe wonders if he had fun getting children to partake in his little ruse. Myer responds that it proves that the upper echelons of society aren't the only ones with the power to influence the common people. Wolfe demands to know how many people he got to spread the rumor and Myer expresses that he has friends in the church, markets, and backstreets that were more than willing to help out. Wolfe becomes furious that Myer is doing all he can to spoil his plan all because of immature sympathy. Myer argues back that all his plan will do is drag innocents into a war that doesn't need to happen. Wolfe counters that Myer is too young to understand why he and Helmut want to realize their dream of war. It was only 14 years ago that they were powerless to do anything despite being at the top of society as a royal family. Myer questions what would come next after they strengthen their family's power and unify the continent. Just because they achieve their plans, that doesn't mean it'll stop there. The fact that the four of them were able to grow up without their parents only goes to show how lucky they were compared to other families that weren't as fortunate. The world that Helmut and Wolfe are fighting for would only be good for the select few. Wolfe asserts that some sacrifices are necessary for the greater good. Myer counters that he knows that he only wanted to support Helmut for his own ends as Helmut being the Lugenburg candidate for the throne didn't bother him until Wolfe suddenly started backing him. Wolfe points out their name and fame are useless outside of the kingdom, and that the only way to gain power is to become as rich as possible. He realized this when he saw that the Wigners commanded great power wherever they went because of their wealth. Myer fires back that he can't use Helmut as a figurehead if Helmut fails as a king; money can't buy everything, but Wolfe refuses to see things otherwise because of what happened to their parents. Wolfe brushes his concerns off as nothing but idealist fantasies. Myer exclaims that he would be just as happy being his alter ego Jonathan instead, as he does not trust Wolfe and his weapon of mass destruction.

At this point, Maximilian and Agnes had enough of all the arguing. Agnes notes that everyone has their own idea of happiness, pointing out that Helmut is happier on the front lines, Wolfe is happier dealing with money, and Myer is happier on the streets. She cannot fathom why they would think that was not enough and that fighting and starting a war would accomplish nothing; they've fought each other for long enough and it was time to stop. Helmut agrees that Wolfe and Myer need to stop fighting and Myer decides to leave the villa entirely. Maximilian also agrees that the fighting needs to cease as it only begets an endless cycle of violence. Revenge will not bring back his son and daughter-in-law and they would not have wanted their children to to take revenge for them. Maximilian admits that he has allowed the children to do whatever they wanted for too long and wishes they would follow what their sister says and avoid starting another war. Helmut suddenly decides to leave and Kalbern leaves with him. The adventurer finally decides to intervene and expresses that the country does not want war as that would certainly lead to unnecessary death. With all that said and done, Wolfe asks the adventurer of one last favor and gives him/her a Top Secret Document to deliver to Isaac. The adventurer abides and leaves.

When the adventurer returns later, Wolfe wanted to know if Isaac was offended to have their business venture in war halted. The adventurer conveys that Isaac supports Wolfe's decision and looks forward to what new direction their partnership will take. Wolfe is relieved and explains that he had to come up with a new idea in order to maintain his partnership with Isaac. The adventurer questions his insistence on maintaining a business relationship with the Wigners, and Wolfe answers that it is something that he is suited for and enjoys immensely. It also allows him to express himself without having to be representative of the family as a whole. Maximilian interjects that the rumor about Helmut looking to start a war as a king and that the incoming war was being funded by their family were true. However, the part of the rumor about war breaking out should Helmet be crowned is not true. He explains that after his son and daughter-in-law conceived Agnes, the two of them vacationed to a neighboring country to rest and relax. There, they were attacked by monsters that were thought to have been chased to the remote resort that they were staying at. Maximilian and some Lugenburg guards arrived at the resort, but were not allowed inside as the area has been closed down and access was denied. The managers of the resort refused to let Maximilian and his soldiers through, as it would look bad for them to allow access to heavily armed foreigners. Maximilian and his people tried to make contact with those still inside the resort and time passed. Out of desperation, they at last bribed the resort managers into letting them in, but by then it was too late as Maximilian's son and daughter-in-law were both killed. They were still alive when he arrived, but so much time had passed that they died from their wounds. Maximilian had to tell his grandchildren about the attack, but said nothing about the details of it other than it happened in a neighboring country. He raised his grandchildren strictly to live up to the name of Lugenburg, but in hindsight he should have raised them with love instead. They ended up leaving in rebellion; Helmut joined the border patrol and Wolfe pursued economic ventures. Maximilian was resistant to having a merchant in the family, but Wolfe was stubborn. Myer eventually returned home and did well for a bit, but eventually left again. Agnes is the only one who grew up without being too affected by their strict upbringing. Since Myer left to dispel the rumor about their family, there left the issue of Helmut. Maximilian asks the adventurer to bring him back as he is the Lugenburg candidate for the Rune-Midgarts throne. He gives the adventurer a Prontera Badge and the adventurer leaves for the border checkpoint near Aldebaran.

The adventurer returns without Helmut and tells Wolfe and Maximilian that Helmut wishes to relinquish his position as heir of the Lugenburg family to Wolfe. He will return to support them in the Ritual of Blessing, but he desires to remain with the border patrol here on out. Maximilian had suspected that something was off when Helmut took off out of nowhere, but respects his grandson's decision. He decides that they will announce Wolfe as the new heir once the banquet and Royal Assembly are over and wonders if Wolfe can handle the new position he has been granted by his brother. Maximilian admits that being either strict on his grandchildren or being completely hands off were not the right way to go about raising them right. He decides that he will run things as his grandchildren desires. Wolfe expresses that as the new heir of the family, he will no longer pursue absolute power. As his brother Myer emphasized, Wolfe will seek out alternative ways to influence the kingdom without war. He implores the adventurer to deliver his new will to Myer and that he should come visit the family more often. Thinking back on it, Wolfe was surprised that Myer left without a word as the two of them used to be very close. He wonders why they have all become estranged from one another, aside from Agnes whom they treated well as their only little sister. Since Myer left, Wolfe tried to fill the void left behind with a desire to learn to be more self-sufficient.

The adventurer returns with word that Myer is glad that Wolfe and Helmut have given up on pursuing war, and that he will help Wolfe out however he can. Wolfe is relieved to know that their relationship is on the road to recovery and wishes to make preparations to welcome Myer back into the family properly. Maximilian is happy to know that their family issues have all been resolved and it was thanks to the adventurer's efforts. Wolfe extends his thanks to the adventurer as well and offers to help out the adventurer anytime he/she needs it.

Maximilian later appears at the Ritual of Blessing with the rest of his family. The ritual begins with Kronecker leading everyone to chant their blessings upon the chosen candidate Peter Heine.

*On behalf of the seven royal families supporting Rune-Midgarts*

*Here is the new appointed representative*

*May the blessing starlight reach the glory of the earth*

*Please allow the power from the source to be granted for all beings*

*The courage to charge forward and strike the enemy*

*The heart to embrace everything in this world*

*The strong will to protect everything within reach*

*The intact pride of justice and faith that never bends no matter what*

*The virtue of looking up to others with a humble mind*

*And the wisdom to see the truth*

Before the ritual could complete, an intruder appears and strikes down Peter. The intruder elaborates that he heard that a piece Ymir's Heart was hidden in the Room of Consciousness, but it turned out to be a fake. The adventurer and the royal families attempt to approach the intruder, but the intruder threatens that if they take another step he will destroy the fake Heart of Ymir. Kronecker is surprised that the Heart of Ymir is fake, which causes the intruder to realize that none of the royal families know where the real one is hidden if they were ignorantly carrying out the ritual with a fake. The intruder is frustrated that he wasted his time with a fake and decides to leave without causing more of a scene. However, he quickly backtracks on his word and destroys the fake Heart of Ymir. The royal families are then accosted by more intruders, but they are able to fend them off with the help of the adventurer. The intruders disappear and the royal families evacuate the ritual hall.

Maximilian and the other archdukes meet up with the adventurer after the ritual was canceled and demanded to know if the adventurer had told anyone about the ritual. Ian explains that the ritual had only been known by members of the seven royal families and no one else. Maximilian decides not to skirt around the issue and straight up tells the adventurer that he/she is suspected of having something to do with the intruders. Ian reluctantly admits to the suspicion and affirms that the adventurer is the only outsider in the history of Rune-Midgarts that knows about the ritual. Nihil defends the adventurer, saying that he/she has no idea what or where the Royal Family Past Memories are. He goes on to clarify that the adventurer was only told to observe the ritual after the Royal Assembly was completed, but was never told where and how it would be held.

Suddenly, Kronecker interrupts the inquiry to tell them that the Terra Gloria is now gone, having disappeared when the Heines were taking care of Peter during the invasion. He believes the intruders must have taken it during the chaos. Kronecker goes on to share that the Star of Blessing was said to be fake. Nihil interjects that he was responsible for allowing information about the ritual to leak. He recalls having talked to someone while he was drunk and believes that he is to blame for someone else knowing about the ritual besides the adventurer. Ian declares that the Walters will not sit back and do nothing despite not attending the Royal Assembly. Maximilian adds that he has heard the rumors about Nihil and wonders why he did what he did. He accuses Nihil of sabotaging the ritual and reminds him that Peter is also a Heine. Nihil tries to defend himself to no avail until the adventurer interrupts the call-outs, explaining that he/she overheard two individuals who were plotting to drug a member of the royal families. Maximilian demands proof of the plot, suspecting that the adventurer is making up the story to save Nihil's reputation. The adventurer affirms that the Nerius sisters can testify to having seen Nihil get drugged in the banquet hall. Ian decides that the families need to meet to discuss the matter and asks Kronecker what he thinks. Kronecker admits that if it were true that Nihil was drugged, it doesn't negate the fact that he acted carelessly. He sentences Nihil to house arrest, denying him contact with anyone unless absolutely necessary. He then turns the archdukes' attention to the missing Terra Gloria and the fact that the Star of Blessing was a fake. Ian agrees to organize a meeting right away to discuss their next actions.

## References

1. ↑ Invitation to the Royal Banquet
2. ↑ To Wolfe
3. ↑ Participating in the Banquet