☀ REFERENCES PART 1

[wantnotneed]

This is where I dump text and text that pertain to the events within EP4 that pertain to Mammon's interactions. There are some things about the other Stakes as well as Maria, Sakutaro, and Ange. Just a little reference thing for me to look back at. You're welcome to look as well, but why would you, really.



Mammon: ...Ange-sama? ...But that's some pretty shabby magical power. ...Is it really Ange-sama?

Ange: It's been a long time, Mammon. ...Have you been well?

Mammon: ... And here I was convinced that furniture which has already fulfilled its function would just be left to rust away in a closet. ... So, what kind of side show is this? You aren't going to say that you're my owner, are you, Ange-sama...?

Maria: ...Yes. Ange is your master."

Mammon: Lady MARIA... How unsightly of me. Was that barrier just now yours, Lady MARIA?

Maria: Yes. Because I thought that as she is now, Ange might just have gotten finished off by you. I lent her a talisman.

Mammon: ...If I am told by Lady MARIA that Ange-sama is my master, I cannot refuse. ... Ange-sama, please, your orders. Am I required for a new ceremony? A new sacrifice...? However, that's only if you're willing to handle me yourself and get your own hands dirty.

Ange: ...That role isn't something I'm asking for anymore. ... All you have to do is just talk with me, like you used to.

Mammon: ........................"

Ange: "..................."

Mammon: ".........Heheh. ...Yes, if that is what you desire. Furniture is furniture because it is used. It is an honor just to be summoned. Ange-sama."

Mammon had a slightly complicated smile on her face.

......She accepted her new master because Maria had told her to, but it looked like she hadn't gotten over her discontent at working for Ange with her frail magical power.

Perhaps she had some other reason for hating Ange, ......but for now, it seemed that she couldn't disobey Ange even if she was discontented.

Mammon: ".........So? What should I do?"

Ange: "I don't know. .........Just do something lively. Like old times."

Mammon: "Well now. This liveliness you speak of is probably the bustle from when we sisters are together. It may be difficult by myself. ......Did you forget?"

Maria: "......That's right. The Seven Sisters were really lively when they got together. ......But with Ange's magical power now, I think summoning Mammon is the best we can hope for. The stakes for the other six have been lost."

Mammon: "My apologies, Lady MARIA, but I wonder if it may not be impossible to summon the Seven Sisters via my own stake. ......If I am to be employed, I would hope that Ange-sama has at least that much power, you see......?"

Mammon giggled.

......Apparently, she wanted me to summon the other sisters without a vessel.

I see.

Since she's unable to satisfy herself with being summoned alone, she's asking for the other sisters to be summoned as well.
...I get it, greed. Yes, she was like this back then, wasn't she......

.........To furniture, the times during which they are used are bliss.
No matter how badly they are exploited, being used is a furniture's joy.

Not only that, but no matter how polite you might put it, not being given a job would be more painful to them.

Mammon spoke as though to provoke me, but she wanted me to summon the other sisters somehow and rescue them from the world of nothingness.

.........In that case, all she has to do is honestly say so.

These demon people really aren't honest.

Maria: ".........Ange. Don't overdo it. You'll need enough rehabilitation just from summoning Mammon."

Ange: "Oh, I'll need rehabilitation just from one? Well, I'm just killing time anyways. .........Alright, Mammon. I've already got myself started. I'll call as many as I can."

Mammon: "Really......?! Not bad, Ange-sama! Alright, quickly, quickly!"

It seemed that even though she had said it, Mammon hadn't really expected Ange to do this.

She hopped around, badgering Ange to summon the other sisters.

......The consumption of physical and magical power used to call Mammon alone was considerable.

...It will probably be pretty tough to do six more.

......I'm awed by the magical power of those who could summon sisters like this at will with a snap of their fingers, and who therefore reach the level where they can be called witches.

Maria: "Mammon, don't make Ange overdo it. Ange still isn't in her normal condition..."

Mammon: "Hu-h?! Ange-sama said that she'd summon everyone!"

Actually, I only said that I'd call as many as I could.

......Guess this is greed.

Maria: "Don't overdo it, Ange. You should rest for today. You're tired enough."

Ange: "It's alright. I'm just killing time anyway. Let me get tired enough so that I can just fall over asleep."

......This time there's no vessel.

I'll have to strengthen the image from my knowledge of the grimoire, and materialize them with just that.

I held my hands out into the air, replaying in my head the sensation from when I had summoned Mammon......

I'm acquainted with all of the Seven Sisters, right?

......Remember, in the past, ......the time I talked with them.........

Once again, ......the power of magic began to fill me up.

It let off a faint, and yet distinct pale light from both of my hands......

Mammon: "Ange-sama...! Hold on, hold on, good luck...! Hey, Lady MARIA. Ange-sama will definitely summon everyone, right? The Seven Sisters will get to be reunited again, right? Right?!"

Maria: "Yeah, definitely. ......But there's no guarantee that it will happen tonight."

Mammon: "Ange-sama can do it...! Please, Ange-sama...! Start from the youngest sister, Asmo...!"

Ange: ".........Asmodeus. The seventh sister. .............Got it. I'll call them in order starting from the youngest."

A strand of hot sweat dripped down from my forehead.

......This really is going to be one hell of a burden.

The pale light in this space, ......began to slowly form into the outline of a girl...

Ange: ".........Come, arise. One of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory, Asmodeus of Lust..."

There was no vessel.

......However, with a strong conviction that she definitely did exist there as a core, ......her form began to crystallize...

Her outline became distinct, .........and the form of the youngest of the Seven Sisters, Asmodeus, was finally created.

Asmo: "Asmodeus of Lust, right here...............Where is this? Am I alive......?"

Mammon: "Asmo...!! I'm so glad!!"

Asmo: "Mammon nee-san! ......Where in the world is this? Who summoned me?"

Mammon: "Ange-sama did...! Ange-sama said she'd revive all of us...!"

...No I didn't.

Asmo: "Ange-sama, thank you! Next is Belz...!! Do Belz please...!"

Ange: "......Beelzebub. The sixth sister. ......Beelzebub of Gluttony. Come, arise..."

At this rate, ......I wonder how many I can summon.

If I can't concentrate, ...this is probably it.

The pale light made an outline, .........and formed into Beelzebub.

Beelze: "Beelzebub of Gluttony, right here......"

Asmo: "Be-lz!!"

Mammon: "Ange-sama, awesome, awesome!!"

Mammon and Asmodeus jumped onto Beelzebub, celebrating their reunion.

......Summoning three people at once.
...My head was throbbing.

Without resting, summon the next one.

Ange: "......Come, arise. One of the Seven Stakes, Belphegor of Sloth..."

Belphe: "Belphegor of Sloth, right here. .........My, ...to think that I would be needed again..."

Beelze: "Belpha-neeeeee! I'm huuungry! I mean, I'm glad to meet you again!!"

Belphe: "To think that the Seven Sisters would be able to meet again... Ange-sama, we are truly thankful!"

Mammon: "Keep it up and do Satan-nee next! And Levia-nee and Luci-nee...!!"

Ange: ".........Yeah, ...I get it. ......So please, try not to be so loud. ......Doing four people at the same time, ......is pretty...tough..."

Maria: "Ange, don't overdo it any more than this. You did a good job summoning even four of them after such a long time."

Belphe: "...Stop it, Mammon. Right now, Ange-sama is being pressured with the burden of summoning us. Ange-sama, I beg that you do not strain yourself too much..."

Mammon: "No way! Ange-sama promised! She said we'd all play together again!"

...No I, ...

Mammon: "Right! Ange-sama! You said everyone would meet again! You promised that we could meet again right away!"

Ange: "...........................That's right, .........I promised. ......I didn't promise anything about when, ......but I certainly did...promise."

Mammon: "So keep that promise! If you don't, I'll never forgive you for forgetting that until today, Ange-sama...!"

Ange: ".....................Come, arise. One of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory, Satan of Wrath..."

My mind's getting hazy.........But...I'll call.

Even though I've forgotten those days.

Even though I hadn't thought of those days as anything but sadness and loneliness.

......Because certainly...the short time I've spent with them, ...... was fun, without a doubt.

Satan: "Satan of Wrath, right here. ............What the hell are you people doing!! Do you realize how much it's burdening Ange-sama just to let us have an idle chat?!"

Satan, who had apparently figured out the situation immediately after being summoned, cried out in a loud voice, telling her sisters off.

......That loud voice made my consciousness fade again.

Satan: "We are furniture who have been granted rest by Beatrice, and whose duty has been finished! Not only are you not honored at being given another chance to be of some use, but you're putting a burden on our new master, you disgrace to furniture!! Erase yourselves right away!!"

Belphe: "Yes, it's like Satan-nee says. I'll erase myself. You all erase yourselves too. In this moment, that is the best way for us to be of use to Ange-sama."

Mammon: "No way. Not until everyone's summoned!"

Beelze: "Same he-re! I'm hu-ngry! I mean, I'd hate to leave again so soon after being reunited!"

Satan: "Don't be so selfish!! Come on, erase yourself quickly!! Come on, Asmo! Disappear right now!!"

Asmo: "Waaaah, Satan-nee's bullying me...! It's not fair if you always bully the youngest one!"

Ange: ".........Yes, they really are lively. ......It doesn't.........bore me......"

Maria: "That's enough. You've surpassed your limits for now, Ange."

Ange: "......You're, ......right....................."

In a situation where I had summoned five of them, and where they were messing around as they pleased, the load was far too heavy for me currently, with my meager magic power......

......This is, ...............it......

As my consciousness went hazy, I fell over onto the bed.

......Have beds always felt this soft......?

..................

It seemed that the sisters were still squabbling together as much as they liked.

......For a way to kill time until drowsiness comes to get me, ......this is enough............

Feeling something warm and nostalgic in the sisters' liveliness, I sank into a world of deep sleep.........

At the entrance to my dream world, I felt Maria onee-chan, ......and Sakutarou waiting to receive me.

Maria: "............You worked hard. ......And...good job."

Sakutaro: "Uryu. ...Welcome back, Ange..."

......Welcome back...is it?

Then I should respond like this...

.........Glad to be home.........
---------------------
1, 2, 3 people. 4, 5, 6, 7 people...

The way they were summoned one after another in a line was a masterpiece.

......Incredible.

Just like the illustrations in Onee-chan's grimoire, ......the Seven Sisters of Purgatory...

The younger sisters were behind the eldest, Lucifer, who saluted Onee-chan.

Stakes: "The Seven Sisters of Purgatory, right here...! Lady MARIA, it has been quite some time."

Maria: "Yes. Long time, no see. Is everyone well...?"

Lucifer: "We furniture are furniture because we are used. I think of being summoned after so long as an honor from my very heart!"

Mammon: "Kya-? Sakutaro-! It's been a whi-le!"

Beelze: "You look as delici-, I mean, cu~te as ever!!"

Asmo:"Me fi~rst!! Kya-, today he's so fluffy, squishy, and cu-te~!"

Levia: "A~h!! Let me hug him too, let me hug him too~!"

Sakutaro: "U, uryu-! Can't brea~the! I won't run away, so let me go everyo~ne!"

Satan: "Hey, you all!! Are you trying to break Lady MARIA's furniture?! Anyways, get away from him, hugging is prohibited!!"

Belphe: "......Even though you're saying that, it looks like you want to hug him the most, Satan-nee. *giggle*."

Satan: "Ack!! I, it's not like I have any i, interest in something so fluffy, squishy and cuddly!"

Luci: "Hey!! Be silent in the presence of Lady MARIA and Ange-sama, you foolish sisters!!"

They were so energetic...

I was shocked by their sudden burst of activity right after they appeared.

And on top of that, I was surprised that the innocent Sakutaro was on such good terms with the Seven Sisters.

Ange: "......That's unexpected. To think that Sakutaro would be so loved by such shady people."

Maria: "They're fellow members of the same alliance. There's nothing to be scared of, right?"

Ange: "But on the off-chance that their mood worsens, it looks like they could finish Sakutaro off in an instant..."

Maria: "It's alright. The witches of the alliance and their furniture are all friendly. So Sakutaro can play without worrying. ......Of course, that goes for you and me too, Ange."

One of the pacts of Mariage Sorciere.

"Mutual nonaggression and noninterference".

Member witches must respect each other's magic and creations.

Even the sisters, who were normally shady and belligerent, interacted with fellow alliance members as friends.

So to the Seven Sisters, Sakutarou was a mutual friend.

He was loved by all the Seven Sisters, and they were even trying to steal him away from each other.

This scene as they squeezed him and loved him was a bit charming.

Ange: "......I see. They're fellow members of Mariage Sorciere."

At a glance, you'd think that Sakutaro's casual atmosphere and the Seven Sisters' shady one would be like water and oil.
It looked like they definitely wouldn't be compatible.

And yet, they were interacting in a friendly way like it was completely natural......

If this wonderful alliance could join all the peoples of the world, ......I wonder if everyone in the world would be able to become friends right away.

Maria: "All you Seven Sisters, listen. Right now, Ange is in the middle of magic training. So I want everyone to lend their power."

Lucifer: "Certainly, Lady MARIA. ...But what specifically?"

Maria: "The magical power that makes you materialize will move from me to Ange. In that state, I want you to be by her side all the time. You just have to talk with her."

Lucifer: ".........My apologies, but I wonder if Ange-sama's magical power will be able to easily summon all seven of us around the clock..."

The oldest sister, Lucifer, gazed at my complexion as she advised this, speaking reservedly.

...In other words, she was saying that the burden might be heavy for me at that point in time.

Maria: "That's the kind of training it is. Ange has more talent and magic than everyone imagines. I think it will be pretty tough, but I think it's worth it for Ange to take this challenge as she is now.

......Ange. Starting now, I will switch the magic power that is making them materialize over to you. ......In other words, it will become as though you had summoned them."

So what Maria onee-chan was trying to say was something like this.

To keep the Seven Sisters materialized, you are continuously burdened with a significant amount of magical power.
......Maybe you could say it was like training while wearing a weighted wristband.

Sakutaro: "Uryu...... Doing all of the Seven Sisters would be pretty tough...... Isn't that asking a lot of Ange all of a sudden...?"

Ange: "Thank you, Sakutaro. But this is training to become a witch. I want to see how far I can go."

......The seven of them certainly do seem boisterous.

But even if this is for training, having them with me would surely distract me from my loneliness, at least a little.

I understood it would be an ordeal, and wanted to give it a shot.

Maria: "Don't overdo it if it gets tough, alright? And everyone, if it looks tough for Ange, take it easy."

Lucifer: "Certainly. Get it, you guys?!"

Stakes: """"""Ye-s, Onee-samaa!""""""

Lucifer: "Well then, Ange-sama. For now, we, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, will become your furniture. .........Lady MARIA, if you would."

Maria: "Yeah. ......So, Ange. Can we start?"

Ange: "......Sure. ...I'm a little nervous."

Sakutaro: "Uryu... This might be tough all of a sudden... If you feel like you're getting a headache, lower your magic power immediately......"

Maria: "Then, I'll move the source of magic power over to Ange.............................."

Ange: "...........ah..."

In an instant, the inside of my head felt very heavy.

......This is......, I see, .........it's tough...

Until then, the inside of my head had only been used for myself.

It was almost like it was now being used for seven other people.

......If they just stood there and blinked once or let out a single sigh, that would put a strong pressure on my head...

Belphe: "......Lady MARIA. My apologies, but I wonder whether the burden from all Seven Sisters at once might be too great after all."

Ange: "I, ......I'm alright........., ......ack........."

Maria: "...No... It won't work after all. You're using all of your energy to materialize them. There's no point if the burden is such that you cannot balance it with your everyday life. In any event, this is a little unrefined for a witch."

Sakutaro: "Uryu... That's why I said doing so many suddenly was impossible... Everyone, erase yourselves for a bit..."

Lucifer: "Right. It seems it would be better to lower the number of people. Asmo, erase yourself."

Asmo: "Me agaain? I'm opposed to youngest-sister-bullyi~ng!! Disappear starting from the top every once in a whi~le!"

Levia: "That would mean I'd have to disappear second, right?! No no no-!"

Satan: "Don't make a ruckus, Asmo and Levia-nee!! That kind of disturbance will become a burden to Ange-sama!!"

Luci+Levia: "The noise you're making is also a burden, stupid Satan!!"

Satan: "Eek!"

Ange: ".........aah, .........ack............gah........."

The Seven Sisters started arguing over who should erase themselves first.

......The energy from that fight all became a burden, forcing Ange with an even greater headache...

In the end, they decided the order with rock, paper, scissors, and 1, 2, 3 of them disappeared.

But even at that level, Ange was still far from comfortable.

In the end, once six of them had erased themselves, I was finally able to calm my breathing.

With my magical power, forget the Seven Sisters, just one person is my limit...

Mammon: "......Aaa~aah, this way it's not the Seven Sisters, but just me, right? You're a bit unreliable, Ange-sama."

Mammon, who had won all of the rock, paper, scissors and was permitted to remain until the end, complained.

Sakutaro: "Uryu... Mammon, you mustn't say such a thing... Ange is still just starting her training. ......Are you alright, Ange? Is your headache okay...?"

Sakutaro stretched up on his tiptoes, trying to pat Ange's head.

Watching this, Maria scratched her head, acknowledging that this sudden training had been too difficult.

Maria: "Uu-. Maybe that was a little too austere. Maria is perfectly fine with this much though. Because the more friends you have, the more fun it is."

Ange: ".........Now I'm even more aware of how incredible you are, Onee-chan..."

If I reached Maria onee-chan's class, I would be able to summon enough people to perform in an orchestra.

For a witch apprentice, that's awe-inspiring...

Mammon: "Are you alright? Ange-samaa?"

Ange: "............I'm sorry... It looks like summoning you is the most I can do."

Mammon: "Well, I guess I'm alright with that. After all, of all the Seven Sisters, I get Ange-sama all to myself. ......What do you think, Ange-sama? Will I be a burden by myself?"

Ange: "No, I can manage you alone somehow..."

Mammon: "Great! Then please train a lot and cultivate your magic power a lot. Then someday, for sure, please bring the Seven Sisters together and let us serve you. Promise?"

After checking that, for the time being, there was nothing wrong with her own materialization, Mammon immediately returned to a good mood, and tried to make me promise to work harder.

I see, so this is greed.

...But maybe you could also call it forward-looking.

Ange: "......Yes. I promise. ...I have to be able to do at least that much someday."

Mammon: "Thank you, Ange-sama! I, Mammon of Greed, will surely serve you until that day...!"

My headache finally abated, and I relaxed both hands, which had been clutching at my head.

Then Mammon stuck out her hand, helping me stand back up...

Sakutaro: "Uryu? ......Ah. ......Maria, Ange, it's about that time. If we don't return to the room, you'll be scolded."

Ange: ".........Huh? .........Oh..."

I hadn't expected Sakutaro to talk about the time.

......I was brought back into reality.
-----------
Maria: "......Hey, Ange. You're forgetting your training. ............Take Mammon with you."

I'd forgotten.

...The moment I'd returned to reality, Mammon's materialization had stopped...

One more time, I created a strong image of the existence of Mammon in my mind...

Mammon: "Sheesh, you're so mean, Ange-sama. Why'd you erase me so suddenly...! At this rate, you won't be able to call all Seven Sisters easily!"
Ange: "............I'm sorry. I got careless."

Mammon: "It's been incredibly long since I've materialized in the human world, so I'm interested in absolutely everything. I'm getting a bit excited. Where is this?"
Ange: ".........The Saint Lucia Academy dormitory. This is a stall in the shared bathroom. ......Each room has its own bathroom, so no one comes here. It's quiet, and perfect for reading books."

Ange: "In this dorm, you have to hide in a toilet stall even to read a book? Do they burn books or something?"

............

I have a two person room, so my roommate is always there. Our relationship is gloomy and it feels like I'm always ignored.

......The atmosphere's bad, so I really can't relax there.

And, as long as I'm not there, she can go all out, call her friends and have a chatting party.

It's more convenient for them too if I don't return until just before lights out.
There's also a library, but there's a group that uses it as a meeting place who're always talking behind my back.

So I don't like to go to the library.

......During lunch, it's the bushes behind the school building.

During the night, it's the stall in the shared bathroom in the dorms.

Those are the only hideaways where I can be given peace...

I opened the door to the stall, ......and went out.

I turned around, signaling with my eyes for Mammon to come with me.

Mammon: ".........I don't really get it, but I realize that it'd be hard to call this place pleasant for you, Ange-sama. Let's go out quickly. I hate the air here."

Ange: "Really? .........I think the air here is the most decent."

When I left the bathroom and entered the corridor, because it was near lights out time, there were several kids who had gone to play in other rooms dashing back to their own.

When it came time for lights out, we had to change into uniform pajamas that we hated and called prison clothes, line up in the hallway, and go through the dorm leader's roll call.

......On the off-chance that someone was late, we would take collective responsibility, and all of the floormates would have to undergo a punishment called volunteer work...

As long as I avoided this, the girls would look at me coldly, but they wouldn't get in my way.

......That alone was enough for me.
Mammon looked at the passing kids and the furnishings of the dorm with interest.

......Without paying her any particular attention, I hurried back to my room.
In front of my room was my roommate, who had already changed into her prison clothes, chatting with some kids from the room next door.

When they noticed me hurrying back, their topic of their conversation noticibly changed. They lowered their voices, stealing glances at me. I acted like I didn't notice, went into my room, and changed.

Then I hastily went out into the corridor.
Everyone was already lined up.

Mammon: ".........Hey, this is weird. Isn't this a a school for rich girls? Feels like a prison. Feels stupid."

Ange: "You think so too? That's what I think. And you could say the thing that makes it more strict than a prison is that you don't get out early for good behavior."

......After abusing the place, I noticed.

Having someone to listen to your complaints, ......feels surprisingly good.
Fortunately, Mammon's form can only be seen by the summoner, me.

And of course, there was no need to speak out loud for this conversation. All I had to do was speak inside my mind, so no one could listen in.

.........Magic, and the friends it creates, ......might actually not be so bad.

Mammon: "These guys, all of them are sheltered brats. Feels like they aren't even alive. Kyahahaha."

Ange: "Stop it. If you're seen by some chance, it'll be pretty bad, right...?"

Mammon: "Humans without a fragment of hopes or dreams are like a lump of anti-magic. There's definitely no way they can see me. These lower life-forms can't even see. *giggle*giggle*!"

Ange: ".........Are you alright being around so many humans with that magic-resisting toxin?"

Mammon: "I'm fine as long as you continue to make me materialize, Ange-sama. ......Although, you probably have to keep concentrating to materialize me, so there's a chance you'll neglect your daily life. ......Look, that girl you're sharing a room with is calling you, right?"

Ange: "......Huh? .........Oh-"

Girl: "Ushiromiya-san, are you listening? About the weekly duty next week, there's something I wanted to talk about."

......She's probably talking about pushing a few more chores onto me.

My roommate, who normally never even looked me in the eye, was smiling at me unpleasantly. But it'll be easier to have the weekly duty pushed onto me alone, rather than doing it together with her.

That's a small price to pay to have her continue to ignore me non-stop... Even so, with a completely shameless excuse, she sidestepped the issue for some reason and insisted on flipping the situation around, as though I should have come forward and done it of my own initiative.

......One of the special traits of this academy is that it's full of girls who don't know how to ask a favor.

Mammon: "......That kid. She pisses me off. I'd love to just gouge her right in the forehead."

Ange: "Yeah. I'll leave it up to you then."

..................

......Yeah.

Having a friend nearby all the time to complain to, ......makes me happier than I thought it would.

It really was lively with all the Seven Sisters gathered together.

......I'm sure that just watching them mess around would be a lot of fun.

......I want to gain the magical power to summon all the Seven Sisters at once, and soon.

So I'll train much, much more,
.........then take the thing that I really want to call to me, ......and summon it.

Mammon: ".........? What is it that you really want to summon, Ange-sama?"

Mammon noticed my conversation with myself inside my head, and asked about it blankly.

I hesitated to talk about it, but then thought that there was nothing to hide, and told her.

Ange: "..................My family. .........Dad. Mom. Onii-san."

Mammon: "So you mean, the souls of the dead...? Calling a resident of another world is summoning, but calling back the souls of the dead is called resurrection, and they're completely different. ......Resurrection is supposed to be very high-level magic."

I know.

......So much so that even Maria onee-chan can't do it at all.

But that's the thing I want to call with magic...the most.

......I've been warned that it's a very difficult high-level magic. ...So great that, in the worst case, I might not necessarily reach that point even after training for my whole life. Furthermore, I have no vessel. A vessel is something vital for making magic succeed, whether it be summoning or resurrection.

Because I don't have that, .........what would have been just difficult magic became hopeless.

That's right. I have nothing to remember Dad or Mom by. However, ......by an extraordinary coincidence... I do have something to remember just Onii-chan by.

And that's, .........this.

Mammon: "......That hair accessory with the pink jewel? What the hell, I hate to say it, but it looks a little cheap for you, Ange-sama."

Ange: "Long ago, without telling Dad, I went with Mom to meet Onii-chan, and we went to play at an amusement park. ......This is a prize from the crane game there."

I know it's something cheap, I realize that it doesn't match my style, and I get that it's too childish.

......But this hair accessory is the only thing that makes me feel as though Battler onii-chan is by my side.

[ CUTSCENE ]

Ange: "But, ......my memories of Onii-chan...are very distant. ......I can't do it as easily as Maria onee-chan created Sakutarou from a lion stuffed animal. ......One day, I will surely possess the high-level magic to revive the souls of the dead. And the only key...the only vessel...that can make that successful is this."

Mammon: "...........................I see. I did feel an incredible magical power from that hair accessory, but now I know what it is."

Ange: "Magical power...? Magical power resides in this thing of Onii-chan's...?"

Mammon: "Maybe I should say that it resides in you, Ange-sama. ......Your strong desire to call your brother to you gives you magical power. ......Resurrection certainly is a high-level magic, but there can be no mistake that you are steadily and unconsciously climbing the stairs towards that magic."

Ange: "............I'm glad. It's nice to hear someone other than myself acknowledge that."

Your own effort isn't something that you can observe by yourself. In that sense, ......even though these words came from a shady demon girl who controls one of the seven deadly sins, ......they made me very happy.

Mammon: "Well, I can't guarantee that you will obtain the resurrection magic before your life is over. ......However, your power as a witch is proportional to the height of the mountain you dare to climb. If you don't lose heart, I'm sure you will one day become able to rival even our former master, Beatrice, as a Great Witch."

Ange: "......I wonder if I can. I wonder if I can become a Great Witch and revive Onii-san, ......no, my family."

Mammon: "The Witch of Resurrection, Lady ANGE...! Kyaah, wonderful! A Witch of Resurrection is a very rare kind of witch. Having a master like that would make me pretty proud. Actually, I'd love for that to happen. Because furniture's worth is also proportional to the class of its master! Please pass Beatrice-sama up and become a peerless Great Witch! As a representative of the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, I support you from the bottom of my heart! Kyaha!"

.........I'd thought that if a magical friend were to appear for me too, I'd have liked a cute kid like Sakutarou.

But even this fifth sister of the shady Seven Sisters who controlled the seven deadly sins was enough to calm my heart so much all by herself.

......Maria onee-chan has probably known that since long ago. That's why she had recommended the world of witches to me over and over and over again. And I kept on stubbornly rejecting that...... I should have given in and started my training as a witch sooner. A year for a child is worth ten years for an old person...wasn't it...?

Now I find my past self, which only ever complained, deplorable for wasting my precious time. Long after I turned off the lights and slipped into bed, Mammon continued to talk to me alongside my pillow.

......I promise.

One day, for sure, I'll develop a magical power that can summon the Seven Sisters.
And I'll let them have a lively and fun time. The seven of them make a single whole. ......None can be left out. Family must be together. I must, ......bring them together.........

Ange: "........................"

[ BACK TO THE METAWORLD ]

My awareness began to return slowly. I hadn't been able to stand watching Rosa oba-san and Maria onee-chan's relationship, ......and had run away from Beato's and Onii-chan's game, hadn't I...
......I've got to go back.

I've got to go back, support Onii-chan, and quickly bring him back from this strange world of the witch's game.

Because as long as I'm here, ......I am not permitted to call myself Ange.
......At that time, I felt someone's presence.

When I turned around, .........I could see Mammon there.

Mammon: "Gretel-sama. Beatrice-sama said that if you do not return soon, it will become a hindrance to the progression of the game. I beg that you return swiftly."

Ange: "............Thank you. ...I'll go back now."

Mammon: "Isn't it great?"

Ange: "What is...?"

Mammon: "That you were able to meet Battler onii-chan."

Ange: "............Sarcasm?"

Mammon: "Well, it's alright if that's how it sounds, okay?"

Ange: ".........I'm sorry. I should accept it literally. ...Yes, it is. Even in this screwed up world, being able to meet Onii-chan makes me happy from the bottom of my heart."

Mammon: "And you'll win against Beatrice, for your Onii-chan's sake...?"

Ange: "Yes. ......Can't have him playing around in a world like this forever. ......It's about time for him to return home. That's why I came to call him."

Mammon: "............Please do the best you can. Although I can't support you, seeing as my current master is Beatrice-sama."

Ange: "I know. Until October 5, 1986, ...you are Beatrice's furniture. And eventually, you become my friend."

Mammon: "But eventually, you'll throw that friend away. In any event, ......ng, .........gah..."

Mammon moaned as if she had bit her tongue, staggering as she clutched her chest. Apparently, the rules apply to people other than me as well.

Ange: "Are you alright? That's pretty... painful."

Mammon: ".....................Excuse me. G, ...Gretel-sama."

Ange: "No. Thank you."

Mammon: ".........?"

Ange: "I'm glad. Glad I was able to meet Onii-chan. That's the answer to your first question. .........Well, let's go back. If I grumble too much, you'll get in trouble with your current master."

[ CUE ANGE AND LAMBDA'S TALK ]

----------------------

Levia: "Hey!! That's mi-ne! Give-it-back-!!"

Beelze: "No, no, I'll eat i~t! Asmo, Asmo, pass!"

Asmo: "Kya-hahahaha! Over here, Levia onee-sama~!"

I wonder where they swiped it from. They were fighting over a donut or something, playing around really loudly.

Satan: "Heeeeey!! Ange-sama is reading, so can't you be a little more quiet?!"

Luci: "You're the loudest one by yelling that, Satan! Be silent!! You foolish sister!"

Satan: "Y, you're the loud one, Lucifer onee-sama!! D, do you have a complaint?!"

The oldest and the third oldest sister were already used to arguing with each other. Even though they're both so quick to anger, it's a bit funny how they're both having to hold back a little. They might be surprisingly like each other.

Belphe: "*cackle*cackle*. You were told to be noisy, but this is a bit too much. Won't you lower the volume a little?"

Ange: "............They can mess around all they want. It's a hundred times more pleasant than the shrill laughter in the classroom."

Mammon: "Ange-samaa, go to the next page quickly! You read really sloow!"

Ange: "You like to read, Mammon? And you looked like you'd be the worst at doing plain things."

Belphe: "Mammon controls greed. ......That also includes a thirst for knowledge. Still, she wants to keep that knowledge all for herself, so be warned that she refuses to let people read any book you give her, and sometimes burns them after reading them."

Mammon: "I like learning things that no one else knows. I like being able to do things that no one else can do. So I like studying and practicing. Because I want to keep intelligence that no one else knows about all to myself."

As Mammon said that, her eyes sparkling, she peered down at the page that was open and read through it again. You could see the greed that made her covet the same page even more thoroughly than I did.

As you can see, my magical power has grown much stronger than it was on the first day I summoned them. By now, I've gotten so that I can summon all of the Seven Sisters of Purgatory at once and still calmly read a book like this.

This place, although I can't recall where it was, is a quiet and calm street-side bench. I had been young back then, so I don't remember where this is. ......Still, I remember that my days walking here had been a lot of fun.

Together with Dad, Mom, ...and even Onii-chan, it was a memory of a very rare and very happy day when everyone had been together... The people who walked by every once in a while didn't notice me. They just pleasantly ignored me and passed by as though everything was normal.

Even the Seven Sisters' incredible outfits weren't embarrassing or anything, because it wasn't like anyone was actually watching. Come to think of it, I'm getting pretty used to it. As long as they don't make me wear those.

I was sitting on a stylish bench, memorizing a timeline for world history.

......In an academy system where everything is based on collective responsibility, there's no tolerance for dunces. It seemed that I was considerably below the average grade for the class.

According to those extremely intellectual girls, if I alone improved my grade, the average would rise drastically. ......They had been kind enough to show me with a graph drawn by colorful pens on a B4 sheet of drawing paper. ...Just thinking of the effort it had taken to draw that was repulsive. But I've already spat out all of those complaints.

......I've already spat out at them with my constant and furious anger and sadness. The Seven Sisters were sometimes indignant, sometimes compassionate, and sometimes mourned along with me. ......I was truly happy to be able to share emotions like that with friends.

It's said that they were originally furniture that existed to carry out Beatrice's cruel sacrifice ceremony.

......According to the occult message bottle, which I didn't like, ...it seems that several of them even attacked my family.

But I don't believe that, and it's pointless to question them about it.
They are furniture, so they only respond to their master's requests.

Even if they really did attack my family, I can't hate them. ......What I really hated, ......was the Golden Witch Beatrice. .........Or else the ringleader of the Ushiromiya Suspicion, Eva oba-san.

Mammon: "......Ange-sama, quickly, the next page."

Ange: "Oh, sorry. .........I'm tired. Mind if I take a break?"

Beelze: "Kyahaha! Ange-sama said break!"

Asmo: "Let's play, let's play! Ange-sama, let's pla-y!!"

When they noticed that I had interrupted my studying, the most energetic youngest sisters gathered around me.

That wasn't all. Even Maria onee-chan and Sakutaro showed themselves. They had probably been very close by, but they must have hid themselves so that they didn't interrupt my studying.

Sakutaro: "Uryu-! Ange~! How's studying? How's studying?"

Mammon: "Kyaaah!! Sakutaro-!! How are yooooouu?!"

Levia: "Wait a second! Let me squeeze him tooooooooooo!!"

Lucifer: "Don't we always say that the first one wins?! Kyaa, cute, cute!"

Sakutaro: "Ukyuu--, you're crushing me-! Uryuu--!"

Belphe: "Your luck ran out when you showed up when all of the Seven Sisters were gathered. Give up and let us squeeze you."

Satan: "Come on! It always turns out this way!! I apologize for my stupid older and younger sisters...!"

Maria: "Ahahahahaha. Everyone's happy to meet Sakutaro. ...How's it going, Ange? How is studying?"

Ange: "Thanks. Well, not bad. They were nice enough to pass around printouts from a quiz that another class took earlier. Their beautiful sense of solidarity is enough to bring tears to my eyes. ......Well, at least it's probably better than just putting a timeline into my head."

Sakutaro: "Uryu. You sure are good at studying, Ange. You'll be able to get a lot of points, uryu~~."

Maria: "Good work. Maria was just awful at studying, so jealous of you for being able to get a good score if you study hard."

Ange: "You're joking. When it comes to English, Latin, and knowledge of the occult, you're much more amazing for being able to remember everything."

Maria: "Maria can remember anything when studying magic, but can't remember anything boring. So that didn't help at all for tests."

Ange: "Well, it's true that occult knowledge would be like that, but your grades must have been pretty good in English, right?"

Maria: "In the first year of elementary school, on a Japanese language test, there was a problem when Maria was given a picture of a gun and four squares, and was told to write its name in the four squares. Got punished for writing 'rifle' (????/raifuru)."

Ange: "Why? Doesn't that fit?"

Maria: "It was supposed to be the Japanese word for gun (????/teppou). Maria was told that it was wrong because you don't learn katakana in first grade. ......Maria didn't really get it, so from that day on, on tests, Maria wrote everything in hiragana. But got in trouble with Mama for some reason. Got in trouble with the teachers too."

Ange: "....................You were probably born in the wrong country, Onee-chan."

Maria: "Then Maria would like to have been born in the country of witches, and enter a witch school. Uu-."

Sakutaro: "If that happened, you might have had friends with much, much more wonderful magic! Uryu-!"

Maria: "Uu-? But it's not like Maria minds it now. After all, Maria can use a lot of magic, and has a lot of magic friends. Just Sakutaro would be enough for Maria."

Sakutaro: "I'm not the only one! There's also Sakusuke and Sakukichi, the animal band, Shimoda-kun the seal, Sanae-san the rabbit, Mr Pig-kun, and plenty more!"

......Incredible.

The number of Onee-chan's friends keeps increasing.

Every time I ask, the number of names for her friends increases. But there's no doubt that Sakutaro is her best friend. ...I'm a little jealous of all those close friends.

Maria: "......What do you think? About the Seven Sisters? Do you get along with them?"

Ange: "Those sisters are really energetic. They sometimes say shady stuff, but they aren't bad. ...I'd wanted to get a cute kid like Sakutaro, but I think being with them now is more than enough."

"*giggle*. If I had learned the Magic of Origins more, I'm sure I would be able to give birth to friends you would like, Ange. Creation would still be a little too hard for you now."
"There's a difference between creation and summoning. ......And, resurrection is also different."
"............So your greatest wish really is to revive your family...?"
"Yes. .........I have a vessel for it. This."
"That's right. ...I'm sure that hair accessory will eventually become the key to summoning Battler. ......The rest is up to your training, Ange."

-------

Mammon: "You need to be a bit greedier, Ange-sama. Go however far for the thing that you desire! You're lacking the willpower to never give up until you get it!"

Sakutaro: "Uryu-! That isn't true, Ange is doing her best...!"

Ange: "Thanks Sakutaro, Mammon. Crying about it won't help anything. There's nothing I can do except hang in there. I'll try hard. I'll grit my teeth. I'll definitely make my dreams come true. Certainly."

Sakutaro: "Uryu! You're awesome, Ange, do your best! Mammon and I will support yo-u!"

Mammon: "Yes, we'll support you. The greedier our master is, the more our worth will increase."

"More importantly, Ange-samaa! We've finally got 10 people gathered he-re!"

Asmo: "We planned to have everyone play shiritori or something!"

Beelze: "If you lose, there's a punishment game! Let me nibble someone's ea~rs!"

Satan: "Come on, is there anything inside your head other than food?!"

Luci: "Please forgive my foolish sisters' stupid proposals... Is it really alright for you not to return to your studying about now?"

Levia: "No, no, nooooooo!! I waited so long for you to finish studying, so I can't stand it if you don't play with us!"

Belphe: "I don't think it's a bad idea. Perhaps playing every once in a while is good for softening the mind."

Ange: "............You controlled sloth, right Belpha? What you're saying sounds reasonable, but you're actually being sneaky."

Belphe: "Hmph. My apologies. ......You are diligent, Ange-sama."

Maria: "If it's okay with Ange, I'd also like to play with everyone. Everyone noisy. It'll definitely be fun."

Sakutaro: "Uryu-! Ange, Ange, let's play, let's play! Let's all do shiritori-!"

Maria: "In that case, let's start from Sakutaro's 'uryu-'. .........In this case, what do we start from? 'Ryu'? 'Yu'?"

Ange: "From 'uryu-'? ............I wonder. Maybe it really should be 'ryu'?"

Luci: "......It's rare for a word that ends like that to come up."

Mammon: "Then I'm first!! I'll start from 'ryu'! A 'watch ste~m' (ryuuzu)!"

Levia: "I wanted to say it first! 'Lute' would have been wonderful!"

Ange: "'Zu'? Feels like we keep getting tough ones. ...Wait a sec, what order are we going in? Who's next?"

Sakutaro: "Uryu. I don't think it matters who. Whoever thinks of something first."

Maria: "What's that? Sounds interesting. The person who can say the most wins? It's fast-talking shiritori!"

Beelze: "Then I'll go! 'Zucchini'! 'garlic stir-fry' (ninniku itame)! 'mekabu and pasta'~! All of them delicious! Kyaha, I said three of them!"

Belphe: "Belz takes three points. ......Can you use conjunctions?"

Satan: "If you could use 'and' then anything would work!! That last one doesn't count! Minus one point!! Let's start from 'me'."

Maria: "Then Maria. 'Meringue'~!"

Sakutaro: "'Ge'?? ...U, ...u, ......uryu-!"

Luci: "'Drainage system' (gesuidou), 'reclaimed land' (umetatechi), 'basement' (chikashitsu). Something like that?"

Levia: "Onee-sama, those are all pretty unrefined words, *giggle*!"

Luci: "S, so what, then why don't you try following up with something refined!! Anyways, that's three points for me. The next one's 'tsu' alright, 'tsu'!"

Maria: "Never played such a weird shiritori before. Uu-uu-! Interesting!"

Sakutaro: "Uryu-! I don't get it at all, but it's interesting. Uryu-!"

I've played normal shiritori before, but I've never experienced a shiritori this weird before.

There is only the lively Seven Sisters, Maria onee-chan, Sakutaro, and me. I'm now surrounded by friends that are just so fun.

......The courage to accept a world of magic, a world of witches...

...That alone didn't change the fact that I was still locked up in an academy, without a single friend in my class. But despite that, I'm able to have such a fun and lively time.

.........I'll also become a witch, like Maria onee-chan. And someday, I'll add my family to this fun circle. Dad, Mom. And Onii-chan.

......If possible, George onii-chan and Jessica onee-chan. And the other relatives. I'll call everyone, everyone here without a single person missing, ...and we'll all gather together.

Ange: "......This is my...dream. ......That's right. Until I make that come true, I definitely won't lose heart."

Mammon: "I'm sure you'll become a Great Witch, Ange-sama. As long as you believe that. We Seven Stakes of Purgatory will always serve by your side until that day comes."

Ange: "You'll be there...? No matter how long, ......you'll lend me your strength?"

Mammon: "Of course. After all, I'm your friend, right, Ange-sama?"

Ange: ".....................Yes, that's right. Let's all stick together and play together. Today, and in the future...always...always."

Mammon: "Until the day that your dream comes true, Ange-sama."

The lively, ten-person game of shiritori, cut off from time alongside the street, under the constantly bright rays of the sun, could have continued forever......

-------------

On the outside of that circle was Mammon, a shocked expression on her face...

Mammon: "This is a messed up school, just like usual. Shouldn't you be more than happy as long as your own grades are good?"

Ange: ".........It's probably because of that collective responsibility thing. Instead of worrying about their own grades, they're more concerned about how embarrassing it is for the class average to be low. Or maybe it's because they really hate the volunteer work they're forced to do as punishment."

Mammon: "So in other words, they aren't studying because they want their grades to be good, but because of collective responsibility and since they hate volunteer work?"

Levia: "......They're jealous and embarrassed. They don't want to be inferior than anyone, and they don't want to be humiliated. That's the only feeling that drives them to study."

Luci: "What noisy people. If they want to study, why can't they just do it themselves?"

Belphe: "In the end, without collective responsibility and volunteer work, they'd have no desire to study. ......How foolish it is to study without knowing the meaning of studying."

Satan: "Still, these guys are so annoying and stupid! Don't disturb Ange-sama's precious day for a minute!"

Asmo: "Waaah, hate those gu-ys!! Just go awa-y!!"

Beelze: "I'm hungryyyyyy!! Disappear noooooow, waaaah!!"

Ange: ".....................Sorry, everyone. I wonder why humans are so shameful."

Mammon: "It's probably because, instead of working hard themselves, it's easier to make you work hard and earn them a higher class average to satisfy their greed. ......Humans are all greedy. And they'll burden others with that to make things easier for themselves. ...We'll eventually be reunited with them on the mountain of Purgatory. When they get to fifth terrace, they better watch their step..."

Mammon controls the fifth terrace of the mountain that reaches to heaven, Mount Purgatory.

......Since she's saying this, you can probably be sure that after those girls die, their journey to heaven will not be an easy one.

...No, on the contrary, why don't they just fall into hell.

---------------

Asmo: "What the hell's wrong with these people...!!"

Beelze: "They're just the worst! Really pisses me off! What's so fun about gathering around Ange-sama and torturing her?!"

Levia: "Resentment that can't be spat out despite their jealousy. It doesn't matter who, as long as they can spit it out. They're the worst."

Satan: "Ange-sama! In this kind of situation, it's alright to go mad with rage for your own honor's sake!! Anger is an appropriate emotion and an appropriate reaction! If you don't get mad now, when will you get mad?!!"

Luci: "Stop it, don't stir Ange-sama up with cheap anger!! If Ange-sama could do that, she would have done it already!!"

Belphe: "............You should do so only if the situation could improve by getting angry. However, from a objective viewpoint, it seems doing that would only aggravate the situation further. It may be humiliating, but the wisest thing to do now is to withstand it."

Satan: "Ahha! You really are a sloth, Belpha! Quit fooling around, I can't stand this!! I can't forgive them!!"

Sakutaro:『...E, everyone, calm down... It'll become a burden for Ange...』

Mammon: "A burden?! What are you talking about? Is this the time or place to be calm?! We furniture are not so cruel as to cooly watch when our master is humiliated!!"

Satan: "Ange-sama!! You have no obligation to read such a humiliating letter! If you can't let out a cry of rage, then at least throw it onto the floor!!"

Mammon: "You don't need to trash talk them, you don't need to yell so loud that they bend over backwards! Just throw the notebook on the floor with all your might...!! By doing just that, you'll be able to show your strong will!!"

Luci: "Don't start running on by yourself, Mammon!! I told you, right?! If Ange-sama could do it she would have done so long ago!!"

Belphe: "Nothing will be resolved by the eruption of momentary emotions. Why don't you understand that doing that will only worsen the oppression towards Ange-sama?!"

Asmo: "Waaaaaaaaaaaaahh!! Why is this happening to Ange-sama when she didn't do anything wrong?!"

Beelze: "Not letting her eat dinner, and making her stay so long after school! I hate iiiiiiiiiiiiit!!"

Satan: "And it's not just tonight, but tomorrow and the day after too!! That's enough, you can't simply sit there bearing this humiliation!!"

Girl: "Hey!! Are you really listening to us?!"

Someone tugged at my hair. ......I was torn back into the tragic reality. ...I was no longer even permitted to listen to the Seven Sisters speaking on my behalf in my heart. My hair was lifted upwards, one of my hair ornaments came off, and I could hear the sound of it rolling on the ground.

......No one picked it up.

To the contrary, they casually avoided it as though something filthy was rolling towards them. I tried to follow it with my eyes, but my hair was tugged upwards again.

Girl: "Why do you ne-ver listen to us, even though we're talking about something so serious?!"

Girl 2: "In one ear and out the other, is it? Does anything get into that thick skull of yours?! Get a grip, alright?!"

GIrl 3: "Are you really conscious of the trouble you're causing us? You aren't going to start saying that you just wrote it grudgingly because we told you to, right?!"

Girl 4: "Until you really show regret of your own will, this seriously isn't gonna end, right?! It's not just for today. It'll seriously keep on going tomorrow and the day after, you see? Don't fuck with us, okay?!?!"

Girl 2: "I mean, why are you still even alive? Is it normal to go on living like this? If it were me, I'd just die!"

Girl 4: "You can't live like this, can you?! 'Cause you being alive just means getting in other people's way all the time, right? If it were me, I definitely couldn't live on!"

Girl 5: "Yeah, yeah, I'd die too. If doing that's better for the world, then I'd die right away! Riiiiiiiiight?!!"

......Then die.

Mammon: "Ange-sama......"

Ange: "Kill all of them now, you guys!! Lucifer, can you hear me?!"

Luci: "Uh, ......ah..."

Ange: "You Seven Sisters of Purgatory are incredible furniture that can massacre mere humans in a flash, right?! You're always boasting about it to me!! Then do it! Massacre them right now!! Right here, right now!!"

Luci: ".........Well..............."

For some reason, Lucifer hesitated.

......Why? What's wrong?!

You're certain-kill furniture that can fly around faster than the eye can see and instantly pierce the hearts of a witch's enemies, right?

And I am giving you an order as your master!!

Carry it out right away! Kill!! Kill them aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall!!

Luci: "..................A, Ange-sama.........Please, calm down......"

If they had immediately followed my brutal order, making heaps of corpses with me at the center... ......I was ready to reflect on my own reckless actions of stealing human lives so readily...ready to regret and repent, just as they had wanted me to.
I was prepared to do that. And yet, Lucifer just let an unsure expression rise to her face, and didn't move to carry out my order.

...............I've understood.

I've understood for a while. ......Vaguely. No, that's not it. ......I've known from the beginning. So I've......, ......understood that this magic is all empty, haven't I......?

Ange: "......The Seven Sisters of Purgatory? Yeah, right.........Foolish, foolish...............And I've known that from the beginning......"

Luci: "............A, ......Ange-sama...............a, aaaaaahhh......!!!"

I glared into the worthless Lucifer's eyes.

...And it seemed that pain accompanied that gaze.
As though she was being assaulted with a violent headache, Lucifer grasped her head with both arms. But it looked like she couldn't tear her eyes off my gaze. ......So she was assaulted with a pain that grew more and more violent.

Ange: "........................"

Luci: "Guhguhguh, ah......gahgaaa, agaa.........!! Gyack!!!"

Useless, useless......!!

I hate you!! Disappear...!!

You're nothing but a delusion inside my head...!!!

Hopelessness and disappointment.

Resignation and a dream's end.

A cracking sound, like you'd hear from a frozen lake's surface during a fierce winter, rang out just once.

At the same time, Lucifer's form, which was being tormented by a violent pain, stiffened in place and grew cloudy.

......It was almost as though a beautifully polished glass window had been heartlessly smashed and turned white from the countless fissures. And that was an accurate analogy.

At some point, Lucifer's form had turned into a glass ornament of the same shape. Countless fissures ran through it from the inside, and as the head and arms collapsed, it crumbled to the floor.

Asmo: "Eeeek?!!"

Beelze: "L, Luci-nee...!!"

Ange: "............Who's the second sister...? Leviathan? Carry out my order. Massacre them right now!!"

Levia: "N, no, um! ......Err, Ange-sama.........Please calm your heart and listen... We, umm, .........aaah, gwaagahhgguguggah, kyaaggghh!!"

I'm not looking for excuses or back talk or an answer. ......I want nothing more than a swift confirmation of my order to eradicate the girls who are humiliating me. If you're going to say anything else, there's no need for me to listen until the end.

After Leviathan also turned white due to countless cracks throughout her whole body, she fell over backwards, split into separate parts along her neck, hips and arms. If she had been smashed to bits and lost her original form, it probably wouldn't have seemed so brutal.

So seeing the two of them halfway left over made the remaining younger sisters shake even harder...

Ange: "......Why won't you listen to my orders...? Why? Why?!!"

Satan: "M, my apologies...!! H, here, under the current conditions, the anti-magic power is...e, extremely strong and..."

Ange: "What's that? You can't do it because humans are here? That's your logic? Isn't killing humans what you do?! If you can't do that, then what use are you as furniture?!! Die!!!"

Satan: "Eeeeek!! P, please spare me, Ange-samaaaaa......ah, aaaah, khhagah, gihh, ack!!"

As she clutched her head with both arms, Satan also turned white and fell down face first.

Apparently the neck is the most slender part after all. Her head slid off and rolled over to Belphegor's feet.

Ange: "You can't do it because there are too many humans? Then later on, I'll call them into the shadows one by one, and you can make a bloodbath of all of them, right?"

Belphe: "......With your current magical power, it may be easy for you to converse with us. However, you still lack the training in magical power to materialize us in front of all of the people here...!
I deeply understand your anger, but even if you could use us to attack, and murdered everyone here, that would only make the situation worse...! I do think it humiliating, but please control your anger for the time being..., .........ahgah, ......gaaaahaahh, kwaaaagghhgh!!"

Ange: "............Will I get the same answer from the next three...? Are you gonna tell me you can't do it because the anti-magic power is too great? Are you gonna tell me you can't do it because my magical power is too weak? ......Then I won't ask you to kill all of them. Just one person's fine, so try and kill them. Right here, right now...!!"

As Asmodeus and Beelzebub held each other, they crouched down, cringing in fear under my glare.

......If they had been able to obey my order, they would probably have carried it out immediately. And yet, here they were crouching down.

......Empty. Sad. And pathetic......

That's right, I've known. These girls can't even touch reality with one of their fingers......

Asmo: "N, ...no, no...!! Belz, I'm scared, Be-lz!!"

Beelze: "Ange-sama, spare us, spare us...!! I don't want to diiiiiiiieee!!"

Ange: "Die, useless furniture! Why are you guys even alive? Why are you alive when your lives are worthless? It doesn't matter if you die, right? Die. I'm telling you to die!! Do you think any idiot would leave furniture that has no use lying around?!"
Asmo & Beelze: ""Eeeeeeekkk!! aaaahh, gaaahh!!!""

Mammon: "P, please stop, Ange-sama!!"

Ange: "......Whaat is it, Mammon? Will you be the only one to fulfill my order? That's right. You're my best friend. ............You alone will do it for me. Get them!"

Mammon: "............A, as you are now, Ange-sama, ......even if you use us, you are not capable of committing murder!! It is furniture's duty to help with things their master can do...! Things that even the master can't do, we can't do...!! Do you hate them, Ange-sama? You do hate them, right? I really understand why you want to kill them!! Alright, in that case, go ahead and kill them, Ange-sama! If you stain your own hands with blood then we, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, will go along with you however far! However far!!"

Ange: "......I'm, ......asking you guys, .........because I can't do it myself, aren't I............ Isn't being able to do things I can't the thing that makes you furniture!!"

Mammon: "Yes, we are furniture. Furniture to be used...!! Please, go ahead and use us to kill! You'll be the one killing, Ange-sama!! If you're saying that you want to kill, then go ahead, be my guest! No need to hesitate, go and carry it out right now!! And once you've prepared yourself mentally, once you're prepared to dirty your own hands, then we will help you! But you haven't done that, Ange-sama!!"

Ange: "Pft, .........*cackle*cackle*, ahhahhahhahhahha... Ahhahhahhahhahhahhahhahha, don't speak, you furniture. You delusion!! I get it already, you don't all have to tell me. ...You guys can't do anything. You are nothing more than my delusions, illusions, daydreams...! I haven't had a single friend from the very beginning. You are just a phantom, a pretend friend I created in my heart, in my isolation, right? I've known from the very beginning!!!"

Mammon: "Ahhahahahahahahahahahaha!! Yeah, that's right! We're an illusion inside your head, Ange-sama, but so what? Yes, that's truue! We're just imaginary friends created to soothe lonely, lonely Ange-sama's heart because she doesn't have a single friend, but so what? If you want to look at reality, just look at it. You can stop looking at us and return to being surrounded and bathed with jeering over there!! C'mon, c'mon, go back, welcome home to reality!! Just call on us only when it's convenient for you and pretend you have friends, then spur us on even though you don't have the guts to dirty your own hands, then deny and erase us once you realize that it's hopeless! Yes, please enjoy it, I'll leave with a shriek of anguish just like you want, Ange-sama!! Just copy the jeering that you're being showered with right now, and do the same to us to get it off your chest. That's also furniture's duty!! Getting slammed against the floor when someone's pissed off is also a chair's important duty!! If that alone can absorb their master's bad mood even for an instant, there can be no greater honor for furniture. Kill me, deny me, your first and final friend...!!!"

At the end, Mammon had a mocking expression on her face, ......but for some reason it looked splashed with tears.

Mammon, Beelzebub and Asmodeus were smashed and fell to the floor......