☀ REFERENCES PART 2
Ange: ".........Self-satisfaction is life itself, he says."
Mammon: "That's just boring. Life is nothing without greed."
I noticed that Mammon had suddenly appeared, her abundant hair fluttering over by the prow of the ship.
Ange: "It's true that a life of greed would be fun. But unlike you, humans have a limited life-span. If greed remains for eternity, that means that a person has desires even in the last moment before they die. Having desires means that there's something they want. Something they don't have, some way they aren't complete. ......I'm sure it's tough to die when you can't think of your life as being fulfilled. So I'm sure self-satisfaction is necessary."
Mammon: ".........I see. Because of the existence of a life span, you have to find a common ground there? All of my masters had very long life spans, so I've never thought of it."
Ange: "I wonder if humans live so that they can be satisfied. ......If so, unselfishly is probably the easiest way to live. ...I see, I understand why greed is one of the seven deadly sins."
Mammon: "*giggle*. Your praise honors me."
Apparently that counted as praise in Mammon's eyes. She turned and gave a graceful bow.
Mammon: "Ange-sama. Do humans live so that they can be satisfied at the moment of their death?"
Ange: "......Wouldn't it be pretty tough if you were unsatisfied about something at the moment of your death?"
Mammon: "If so, then humans live only so that they can meet a satisfied death. They live so that they can have a better death. They live so that they can die."
............This kid's saying something pretty incredible. ...I see, as I'd expect from a demon stake. However, that might be the truth.
Humans suffer because they aren't satisfied, and live only to be satisfied. In other words, that might be the same as a desire to die while satisfied.
Ange: "I can't counter that. ......People live in order to be satisfied. And they hope to die while still satisfied. So, not knowing how to make yourself become satisfied is very tough."
Mammon: "What can they do to become satisfied? In a human's life."
Ange: ".........Being acknowledged. Hearing 'you are happy'."
Mammon: "If it doesn't matter who acknowledges them, then I will do so."
Ange: "Yes, there's that. .........People don't know who they should have acknowledge them."
Mammon: "So, searching for that person to acknowledge them is the journey of life? Hmmmm."
Ange: "It sounds strange. Whether you're acknowledged or not, it supposedly doesn't change your circumstances. ......And yet, if you are acknowledged you will be satisfied, while if you aren't then you won't. ...It's almost like the blue bird. ......Because you can't notice the blue bird even though it's already in the cage, you have to go out on a journey searching everywhere."
Mammon: "What the heck. Kyahhahaha. Human lives sure are stupid."
Ange: "That's right. Amakusa said something really good. ......Rich is the one who is content with what they are...was it? I don't know where that proverb came from, but it has a deep meaning. ......In short, if you won't be satisfied enough unless someone acknowledges you, that's the same as not acknowledging yourself. ......The ultimate in self-fulfillment is acknowledging yourself."
Mammon: "That's right. Because if you can become aware that you are fully satisfied, there's no need to be acknowledged by anyone. Just by taking notice of the small things, the humans' foolish journey of life can be ended easily. You can spend the rest of your life playing and having a good time. A human's life is so ridiculous, kyahhahahaha!"
Mammon's choice of words was bad, but it was surely the truth. If most of a human's life is a journey where they wish that someone would acknowledge them, so that they could achieve a satisfied death... .........Then when they realize that the person to acknowledge them is not someone else, but they themselves, that pointless journey can end. Humans who have ended that journey can probably spend the rest of their lives as they wish with their chests stuck out.
......How sublime, how praiseworthy would that be.
Ange: "You know, it seems Amakusa's on pretty bad terms with his parents. ......That makes sense. He's in the kind of trade that'd have proper parents wanting to make him wash his hands of it."
Mammon: "Isn't that alright though? As long as it's fun for the person in question."
Ange: ".........Exactly. That's what it comes down to in the end. Criticism of yourself as you're observed by others doesn't matter. If your existence is firmly acknowledged by you yourself, that's enough. ......If you can live with confidence in yourself, surely you can accept any kind of lifestyle. I'm sure Amakusa will eventually eat a stray bullet on the battlefield and get seriously injured. ...He might even die. But I don't think Amakusa thinks that's unreasonable. I'm sure he'd cackle about how that's also part of life."
Mammon: "What a great way to live. I'm enchanted."
Ange: "......Pitiful humans who aren't acknowledged by themselves...wander about searching for that their whole lives, and without anything being accepted, they do nothing but grumble and die while still unsatisfied. ......How pitiful. Compared to people whose lives drag on without any purpose, Amakusa is more likely to eventually die by the roadside, but I think he's much more noble for living his life with his chest stuck out."
Mammon: "Aren't the winners in life those who achieve enlightenment? If they can do that even a little sooner, they'll be able to live that much more of their life effectively."
.........With Mammon's words, ......I finally accepted a certain fact. I've......described her as an abnormal kid, as a little strange. However, ......that wasn't true. She did nothing but stick her chest out, .........so that she could finish that journey faster than anyone else.
Ange: "..................Maybe that's what made Maria onee-chan, ...so amazing. When she was at the age where she might or might not enter the first year of elementary school, she had already reached that point."
For other people like us looking at her life from the outside, her life isn't something we could say was blessed. But even though days such as that were engraved in her diary, ......they always finished up by saying it was a happy day. Even though the part of her mother that didn't love her daughter came and went, she believed that her mother loved her.
The mother's love that didn't exist, she created herself, filling her world with love.
Others might observe her as an unsatisfied pitiful girl, ......but she herself had acknowledged that she was satisfied.
And so, she was happy that way.
It is easy to observe that as something pitiable and sad. But to her, that was an outsider's opinion, and didn't matter. 'Whether it was happy for her', was the only important thing. It's just like how, when people who live in the city point to the lifestyles of those in rural areas, and mourn their inconvenience and feel sympathy for them, it's really none of their business. If those who live there are satisfied with what they have, that's more than enough.
Ange: ".........I've finally noticed something. I noticed it just now. ......I did something horrible to Maria onee-chan. .........And to you all and Sakutarou as well, on that day."
Mammon: "........................"
Ange: "Whether magic exists, or not. ......That's not up to other people to decide. It's up to you yourself. Whether magic exists to Maria onee-chan is a problem for Maria onee-chan to decide, and not for me. ......And yet, when I was young, on that day, I said it. By saying there was no way magic exists, ......I hurt her."
Magic not existing in my eyes...matters in my world. Denying it even in Onee-chan's world just because of that was totally barking up the wrong tree.
Ange: "Mariage Sorciere is the Witches' Alliance Maria onee-chan created. I was invited into that, and told to become a witch with them. Thinking it a new, interesting game, I went along with that for a while. ......But, because of the cruelty of youth, I got tired of it half-way through. And, ......I tore her pure heart apart with sharp words. ......At that time, we must have gotten into a huge fight. I forgot about it right away, but she couldn't forget about it. ......After all, to her, magic was a natural power that certainly existed, and she had believed that she would be able to share that with me. .....To Maria onee-chan, magic is a power that can interpret the world as blessed, ......no, which can truly make everything blessed. She just wanted to share that with me too. The young me tore that feeling apart. ......So when no one would understand magic together with her, she closed herself up in a shell."
Mammon: ".........If so, then Lady MARIA's journey through life wasn't over after all. If she could accept herself, then there would be no need to collapse just because you denied her, Ange-sama."
Ange: "Onee-chan was young. She still hadn't reached a philosophical viewpoint like Amakusa. ......Yeah, now I understand... Why the witches' alliance called Mariage Sorciere was necessary."
--An alliance where each acknowledges that the other is a witch.
"...That's right, I'm pretty sure that was the first article in the agreement of Mariage Sorciere. ......Witches of the alliance would acknowledge each other and respect each other. That is the deepest and the only meaning of the witches' alliance......"
Maria onee-chan wanted to share with me the secret laws to make the world happy, called magic.
But I was young.
And she was too.
......I hurt her with innocent cruelty.
Ange: ".........On that day, I said it...reckless words. To you all and Sakutarou. I said there was no way you exist."
Mammon: "How rude. We acknowledge that we exist ourselves. We're not like humans, with their souls half-asleep. ......'I think, therefore I am'. Whether you acknowledge or deny magic, the existence of the magic called the Seven Stakes of Purgatory...is therefore a fact. ......As long as we acknowledge that ourselves, to borrow your words."
Ange: "It truly would be violence for another person like me to deny that. .........I'm sure that would be like having your true mother yell 'I wish you had never been born', no, 'disappear'."
......Even after being slammed by all those words, ......Maria onee-chan's magic, .........made her believe in her mother's love.
Sakutarou, her magic friend, always encouraged her. ......He kept saying that her mother loved her, that she was coming home late because of her work, and that she would definitely bring back a present...
Even after Maria learned the fact that it really wasn't because of work, magic still kept her believing that. So by believing that her mother loved her, by acknowledging herself, she filled her world with love and peace and serenity, ......and established it perfectly.
Ange: "What happened 12 years ago, ...what happened to my family.........This was not...a journey to search for that."
Mammon: "............Then what is this journey?"
Ange: "It was a journey, ......to apologize to Maria onee-chan for what happened that day."
Mammon: "........................"
Ange: "I don't know why, but that's what I think. ......If I hadn't hurt her, .........the incident 12 years ago might not have occurred. ......That's what I think."
I have no basis for it. I don't have a clue how hurting Onee-chan would connect with a mysterious incident several years later. But for some reason, I can't imagine that there is no connection.
A witch caused that incident.
And the culprit is the Golden Witch, Beatrice.
And Beatrice was part of the Mariage Sorciere Alliance of Witches. I had horribly hurt the other witch of that alliance. I had hurt her with the thought of magic not existing.
.........So several years later, a crime due to a witch occurred, and that two day period which can't be explained with anything but magic was thrust in my face, thanks to the message bottle.
Ange: "......I'm surez that I'm not unrelated. .........I don't get it. It could be chance, it could be fate. .........For some reason, I've starting thinking that way on this journey."
Mammon: "And your basis?"
Ange: "None. That's just what I'm thinking."
Mammon: "Hmmmm...... The Japanese sure are interesting. Even if they're the victim, they feel as though they did something wrong, and apologize for no reason. ......I could understand if you said 'I hate Beatrice for stealing my family!' or something, but you really are weird, feeling guilty for no reason and apologizing."
Ange: "Of course I hate Beatrice. I couldn't continue this journey without that feeling. But it's alright to select yet another purpose for this journey. There's nothing wrong with adding on a goal of apologizing for past sins, in addition to getting revenge on a witch for 12 years ago. I can at least go to Rokkenjima, apologize for my reckless remarks, and offer flowers. ......No, .........there's something better than flowers. And I think that would be more fitting for Onee-chan."
I stood up, and, not minding that the sea breeze scattered my hair, I concentrated my mind...... I lifted my palm up to the height of my head, ......and imagined a vast space......
Mammon: "............Ange-sama, ..............."
Ange: "......Be quiet. .....................Come, arise. ......I am the witch apprentice, ANGE Beatrice. ......I was excommunicated, but I was once a member of the same alliance, and you are dearly-missed furniture who played with me. Answer to my call........."
It was hard to tell in the middle of the day, but a faint blue light gathered around the palm of my hand.
.........Then, .........Sakutarou's form was revived. It truly was long-missed, that figure. His cute ears, his bright-red muffler. ......It came off easily, so Onee-chan faithfully re-wrapped it all the time, didn't she...
Mammon: "......Sakutaro............Can you see? Do you know who we are...?"
Sakutaro: "...Uryu......? ?Uryu......? Mammon...? Ange.........?"
With a sleepy face, as though waking up from a long slumber, Sakutarou looked all around him as he spoke.
Ange: "It's been a long time, ......Sakutarou. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've summoned you with my own power. ......And now, I am the only one who can summon you."
Sakutaro: ..................Uryu......"
Those words might have been a bit cruel.
Sakutarou's face clouded over...
Ange: "In the past, I denied you. .........Now that I have summoned you, ......that means that I have accepted your existence."
Sakutaro: ".........Is it alright......? Is it alright...for me to be summoned into Ange's world......?"
His eyes were slightly frightened.
......It was only natural. I, who had played with him like a friend before, had suddenly denied him and tried to burn him with the magic-resisting toxin. It was only natural that he was scared......
Ange: "I apologize. For that day. .........To you too, Mammon. And to the rest of you."
At some point, ......the rest of the Seven Sisters had gathered on the deck.
No, they are there at all times.
Always by my side.
As long as I acknowledge that it's okay for them to be there, they will always appear.
Ange: "You certainly do exist. Lucifer. And Leviathan. And Satan. And Belphegor. And Mammon. And Beelzebub. And Asmodeus. ......And Sakutarou too."
Lucifer: "......Is that alright? You are one who is challenging Beatrice-sama, Ange-sama. ...Is it alright for one in a position of denying witches to acknowledge us?"
Ange: "About whether magic exists or not in my world, sorry, but let me put that on hold. It's not like I myself acknowledged the existence of magic."
Leviathan: "......But then, what about the contradiction, of you acknowledging us?"
Ange: "Because magic exists for people who believe. Even if I don't. If someone believed, then magic will exist in the human world. That will not be interfered with in any way, whether I believe in magic or not. No, it must not be interfered with. That person just had to hold their head up high and believe in their own magic. I acknowledge that. So even if you all exist, that isn't strange at all."
Satan: ".........Quite a play on words, that...but it's an interesting interpretation."
Belphegor: "What you're saying, Ange-sama, is probably a Devil's Proof."
Ange: "A Devil's Proof......?"
Beelze: "After all! To prove the existence of demons you just need to bring one with you."
Asmo: "But it's impossible to deny the existence of demons."
Mammon: "Kyahha! And we are here. That means that whether Ange-sama believes in magic or not, our existence is unshakable."
Sakutaro: "......Uryu? The magic-resisting toxin, .............is disappearing, ......from Ange......"
Mammon: "Y, you're right............Even though you're in a position of denying magic, ......why......?"
Ange: "That's probably............because I learned what it's like to respect and acknowledge. Right now, ......I might be able, ......to understand the depths of Maria onee-chan's, ......and Beatrice's magic."
In the past, I didn't believe in things like magic. Thinking something like that couldn't exist, I acted like I was closing my eyes tightly and couldn't see anything.
But now I'm different. I get the feeling I can look right at the thing called magic, and close in on its true nature......
Satan: "......How frustrating. It's truly rare to find a human so free of the magic-resisting toxin in this day and age. And she has such an uncommon genius for being a witch..."
Leviathan: "That's right. .......If Ange-sama tried to become a witch right now, ......she could grow to be a Great Witch, maybe even at Beatrice-sama's level."
Belphe: "Even so, she has acknowledged our existence, and is our master. ......Most likely, Ange-sama will be our final master. Let us think of this as our final service, and apply ourselves to the fullest."
Beelze: "......Ble-ah. But I just can't sta~nd that Ange-sama still doesn't believe in magic herself."
Asmo: "......Ange-sama, please believe in magic to~o. Feels like a waste to finally have a master and have it not be a wi~tch."
Mammon: "Even though you have outstanding talent which could make you one of the greatest of witches, your goal is to attack witches. It's so frustrating. ......Well, even so, that's your life, the way you live, and in the world where you've decided that, there's nothing we can do to complain."
Ange: "Thanks for understanding me. Yeah, whether magic exists to me···· or not, that's up to me to decide. Whether magic actually does exist somewhere in the world or not, you see?"
When I think about it, the world is so vast, .....and yet small. Billions of people live on the earth. But I probably won't meet even 1% of those people.
Even so, I will speak of a world. 'My world', which doesn't know even 1% of the world.
Ange: "I'm not qualified to deny the laws of a world I don't know. ......So just because magic doesn't exist in my world, I can't deny that magic exists in a world I don't know. That makes it a true Devil's Proof. No, maybe it's more like 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'."
I can be confident in the world I know. So even if that is denied by a complete stranger who doesn't know a thing about my world, that's nothing to worry about.
And in the same way, just because I don't know something, that doesn't make me qualified to deny a world I don't know.
Ange: "Therefore. Regardless of whether there is magic in my world or not, ......I cannot deny the magic Maria onee-chan taught me."
Sakutaro: "Uryu! After all, even if you've never seen it, ......magic exists!"
Ange; "Yes. That's why, as I've already said, ......you friends of the witches' alliance, Mariage Sorciere, cannot be denied by me or anyone else."
I proclaimed the most important part again.
.........Even though the sea breeze and crashing of the waves were noisy, it was a time of silence.
Both Sakutarou and the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, ......reflected upon my words.
And, probably, I did too. Whether magic exists. Whether witches exist. Because, ignoring what the answer would be for my world, ......I had proclaimed a contradiction so openly by acknowledging its existence.
Sakutaro: "Thank you, ......Ange."
Belphe: "If you will acknowledge that much, acknowledge witches too.........No, that was a foolish question. You already have a clear answer to that question."
Ange: "Sorry. Although I do acknowledge that witches might exist somewhere in this world. But that does not shake my world."
Mammon: "......You won't acknowledge witches or magic. You'll definitely expose the truth of Rokkenjima. ......Right?"
Ange: "Yes. That is my world. Even if a real witch exists, I won't acknowledge it in my world. No matter how much that witch tries to convince me."
Lucifer: "Your position is to attack witches, Ange-sama. ......And I understand well that you have not the slightest wavering in that feeling. We are your furniture, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory...! We will always be by your side. We will always be waiting for the day that we can be useful...!"
Satan: "Although since you don't believe in magic, we can never be anything more than someone to talk to."
Leviathan: "That's enough for now. We've been left room to exist. For that alone, we should thank and acknowledge Ange-sama."
Stakes: "In short! All of u-s!"
Sakutaro: "Are all together again...... Uryu-!!"
Stakes: "Kya-h!! Sakutaro-! Let me squeeze youuuuuuuuu~!!"
When Sakutarou was overcome with emotion and tears came to his eyes, the Seven Sisters closed in and mobbed him. ......They were also celebrating a long-missed reunion. If their existence is permitted, they are definitely capable of existing here. No, even if I don't permit it, they can exist. Because I acknowledged them, they showed their reunion's joy to me as well.···············. As I watched over that scene, .........I reflected over what this journey of mine meant.
Ange: ".........I wonder if everyone will forgive me this way."
Mammon: "That is enough. We are furniture. Just being summoned, just being allowed to be by your side makes us happy."
Sakutaro: "Uryu...! Ange, thank you very much......!"
Ange: "......Come to think of it, why was I able to summon Sakutarou? ......No, it's the other way around. Why wasn't Onee-chan able to summon Sakutarou?"
Maria onee-chan had despaired, thinking that Sakutarou had died. Which meant she hadn't been able to summon him anymore, like this. In the past, Onee-chan said it was more advantageous in a summoning to have a vessel. However, a vessel is like training wheels, and it shouldn't be absolutely necessary.
......In other words, even if the stuffed animal lion that was Sakutarou's vessel didn't exist, it should be possible to summon him.
......No, when you put it like that, it's even a little doubtful whether things summoned are limited by life and death. Moreover, Sakutarou should have been an especially important friend to Maria onee-chan. She should have been able to strive hard to summon him one more time. It certainly was sad that the original stuffed animal vessel had been torn apart, but why did he 'die' and become impossible to summon again......?
Sakutaro: "...That's because, ...at that time, Maria saw my stuffed animal torn, and decided···· that I had died."
Mammon: "It's the same as the existence of magic. ......If in Lady MARIA's world, Sakutarou has died, then Sakutarou cannot exist in her world."
Sakutaro: "............Uryu......"
The shock of having her beloved stuffed animal torn apart...had left a wound in her heart serious enough to prevent her from summoning her irreplaceable close friend.
In Maria onee-chan's eyes··········· Sakutarou died. So even if Sakutarou can exist like this to me, he cannot exist before her.
Sakutaro: "I......was always together with Maria............When Maria cried, I was always right beside her, telling her not to cry............But my form, my voice, ......nothing of me will reach Maria......"
Sakutarou hung his head, looking sad.
Ange: "......After that incident, the nature of Mariage Sorciere rapidly began to change. Before then, the alliance was a peaceful thing. But after the incident, it grew full of shadier things, focusing on how to curse people you hate. ......Onee-chan's diary began to show a clear change."
A diary is a mirror that reflects one's heart as it is. It probably showed the personality called Maria die, and be reborn as the evil witch personality MARIA. When she buried the diary in hatred and sadness, ......her heart surely was not satisfied. Because it wasn't satisfied, she had to bury it with hatred and sadness. And while still unsatisfied, she met with death.
......I wonder if her unsatisfied soul has a hole opened in its chest from sadness even now, and continually wanders, tears dripping down and calling Sakutarou's name......
........................
Ange: "............You, ......are needed by Onee-chan."
Sakutaro: "Uryu........."
Ange: "What can I do to revive you in Maria onee-chan's world? If I learn that method, I'll be able to save Onee-chan. ......That is the method of atonement imposed upon me. What can be done to revive Sakutarou?"
Sakutaro: ......To Maria, my vessel had a very vital significance......"
Ange: "The vessel. ......In other words, if we could revive the lion stuffed animal..."
Sakutaro: But............Mama Rosa made my stuffed animal herself, so only Mama Rosa can make it......
Even inside the diary, Maria onee-chan had asked this of Beatrice, and was refused for that reason. The magical significance of a stuffed animal being unique and handmade is very large. Then, if we could make the same thing once more...... But Rosa oba-san is already gone from this world. We can't make the same thing again.
Ange: "......Was there ever another identical stuffed animal made, or anything like that?"
Mammon: "He is a stuffed animal made for Lady MARIA's birthday present, and is the only one in the world. ......A handmade and unique vessel. So it conceals a great magical power. And, ......if lost, it will not be obtained again. It will not revive..."
Sakutaro: ".........Uryu........."
......Because she had known that, Maria onee-chan had watched that stuffed animal, which was unique in that world, be torn apart, .........and despaired. Because it was a stuffed animal unique in the world, and she couldn't allow a compromise such as buying another one, ......she had despaired from the bottom of her heart......
Ange: "......But, Sakutarou is right here. Even without a vessel, he's here. Because I acknowledge that, he certainly exists in my world. .........Even if Maria onee-chan doesn't acknowledge him, that cannot be denied. Right...?"
Mammon: "Logically that's true, ......but I think using the same logic to make Lady MARIA accept him could be difficult."
Sakutaro: "......Maria...............I'm not dead... I'm right here............... Uryu......"
Ange: "I'm sure that on Rokkenjima, ......I'll be able to be reunited with Maria onee-chan. And, ......no matter what, I will revive the you that's inside Onee-chan, and let you be reunited."
Sakutaro: "Can you do it......?"
Ange: "It will probably be hard. ......Just like how, after being invited into the witches' alliance, I rejected it without understanding what it meant, she might also reject your existence. .........But, I've got to do it. That's the only way I can atone for my sins."
Mammon: "............Ange-sama......"
Ange: "What is waiting on Rokkenjima? And what will happen, what will be created? ......Although maybe nothing will happen."
Sakutaro: "........................"
Ange: "That island, which was the beginning of everything, is the final destination of this journey. .........I will bring all of you, and as your master, furniture of the witch, ... I have to return to the witch's isand, to Rokkenjima."
---------
However, I have a general idea.
......I'm sure the contents were the same.
Without a doubt, there had been a key, a card, and a note with a PIN inside the envelope......
Ange: "......Beatrice............What was she trying to do here...? So did she hand out this stupid money to all surviving relatives? .........I won't forgive her, ......for mocking them even after their deaths........."
Sakutaro: 『Uryu..., uryu......, Ange.........』
Sakutarou acted nervously. ......As I looked at his worrying face, my agitation began to cool off bit by bit...
Ange: "I'm sorry... My hatred of Beatrice isn't something that's started now. ......I was just surprised and angry to find out that I had a connection with the witch already at the age of six on that day..."
Mammon: ".........For the past 12 years, you have always been enslaved by Beatrice-sama's curse. ...This might be proof that this really was a curse. But please, don't fall apart. Part of this journey should be to break through that."
Ange: "That's right...... Just letting the blood rise to my head won't get me anywhere. Got to think calmly. .........What's going on? What's the meaning of handing out a hundred million yen to the relatives? Is she trying to provoke us......? Damn that Beatrice........."
Sakutaro: 『Ange......, calm down............Uryu......』
As Sakutaro buried his head in my stomach, he urged me to stay calm. ......I took another deep breath, and started thinking.
Ange: ".........I wonder if the sending of this envelope was to support the theory that Beatrice was behind that crime."
Mammon: "It was postmarked right before the family conference. And it was intentionally set up so that it would be sent back after some time."
Sakutaro: 『......They wanted it to be sent after the incident, is that it......?』
Ange: "Yeah. That's what it implies. .........But there are a few doubtful parts. Why such an uncertain method?"
Mammon: "Uncertain?"
Ange: "Yes. After all, you couldn't even guess at how many days it would take for the mail to return before you did it. ......Normally, you couldn't even guess at the amount of time it would take for the receiving post office to research, determine that the recipient was unknown, and return it."
Sakutaro: 『Yeah, now that you mention it...... It'd be more dependable if they just set an arrival date and mailed it that way...... Uryu...』
Mammon: "......Maybe, but still, if they mailed it the day before, then no matter how quickly it returned, it would probably arrive Monday or later. I wonder if they wanted to make it seem like a letter from the dead."
Ange: "......A letter from the dead, you say. ......You're right. That surprised me, and it made me feel bad. ......Some mail with my dead family's name written on the outside in large letters...was thrown into the mailbox with an ominous label attached. ......However, it doesn't really make sense to me. I would have mailed it to arrive on a specified day. I just can't understand why someone would allow the insecurity of it arriving on a day other than the one they imagined."
Sakutaro: 『..................Uryu. ......But it really does sound like Beato to me.』
Ange: "Huh? You...know about Beato?"
Sakutaro: 『......Well, I only talked with her a little. ......Still, I can pretty much accept that Beato'd do something like this. ...Can't you imagine that happening too, Mammon? Beato likes pranks like this, right?』
Mammon: ".....................Yeah, that might be true. ......I wouldn't put it past Beatrice-sama to try a vicious prank like a letter from the dead."
Sakutaro: 『No, that's not all. .........Beatrice would find it more interesting to do it through an uncertain method instead of one that was absolutely certain.』
Ange: ".........She would find an uncertain method...interesting...?"
I remembered Maria onee-chan's diary.........It had described playing with Beatrice very often. During those times, Beato sometimes played pranks on the adult relatives with Maria.
But those pranks always had a touch of witch aesthetics.
Which was, .........that it was more interesting if it was uncertain.
---------
.........In any event, it seemed that proceeding any further would be impossible.
If I continued any further, I wouldn't be able to return.
In other words, .........this is...the border. This place is 1986 and 1998. And, it is that day and today. The boundary between this world and nirvana.
ANge: "............This place is, ......this journey's final destination, it seems."
As the strong wind blew Mammon and Sakutaro's hair, they looked down from the hilltop...
Mammon: "......From here, I can't really tell. Where's the mansion? Let's get closer."
Sakutaro: 『Uryu, ...that's impossible. We won't be able to come back.』
......We won't be able to come...back. ...Is it? I see. ......This is 1998, ......and I am the Ushiromiya Ange who has been left all alone.
At first, it was a journey to die.
But not anymore. It has become a journey to accomplish something......
Ange: "Yeah. ......So, I'm sorry, you two. Although, as I was back then on that day, I would have gone down that cliff without any hesitation."
Mammon: "Come on, this is pretty lame for the skyscraper-jumping Ushiromiya Ange."
Ange: "Sorry."
Sakutaro: 『This place is as good as any. .........Because you can feel the wind of that day.』
Ange: "..................Was the wind...really like this?"
Sakutaro: 『Yeah. Very soon, they will come. ......Everyone.』
Sakutaro said it as though it was completely natural.
-----------
Sakutaro: 『Uryu-!! Ange, Angeeeeee...!!』
Mammon: "Ange-sama, no...! You must not provoke them...!! You should at least make it seem like you're going along with them, so you can buy some time...!"
Kasumi: ".........They often say that, ...you should throw your foolish pride, ...out with the garbage......"
Sakutaro: 『Oh, Amakusa-san...?! If Amakusa-san comes, I'm sure......!』
Mammon: "......No, I can't see him.........You idiot, Ange-sama...! Why did you come without Amakusa...!"
I didn't need Mammon to tell me.
......Right then, I really was right in the middle of regretting it.
I walked a long way. The forest was very thick.
......I have no doubts that the disturbance here will not reach the boat......
----
Mammon: "Stop it..., stop it......!! Don't, ......defile Lady MARIA's magic...!! Don't defile it, ......with your filthy toxin...!!"
Mammon cried and yelled, ......but she had no way of reaching Kasumi.
--------
The instant I opened my eyes, a tremendous wind arose.
Eva: "Wh, ......what is this, all of a sudden.........?!"
Ange: "Come, arise, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory."
Kasumi: ".........Whaaat......"
There was a flash behind me, and in an instant, seven high-level furniture were gathered there. It was a power that far surpassed the magical power I had had in my prime.
It was a power that matched even Maria onee-chan and Beatrice.
Stakes: "The Seven Sisters of Purgatory, right here...!!"
Mammon: "......A, Ange-sama......!"
Ange: "You said it once. ......Because I lacked magical power and resolve, ......I could not use you or your sisters. ......This isn't some cheap emotion, like wanting to get back at my bullying classmates. ...In order to protect Maria onee-chan's, .........Mariage Sorciere's world, ......I now order you to show me the miracle of magic."
Mammon: "I, it's impossible... No matter what, before such a mass of toxin........."
The Seven Sisters also remembered what happened in that classroom.
......If they could have obeyed Ange's order, they would have.
......However, ......surrounded by the toxin that runs thick in humans, they hadn't been able to display the miracle of magic.
......And they remembered very well how deeply that had hurt Ange......
But Ange spoke very quietly.
Ange: "In that case. You all believe too."
Mammon: "......Huh?"
Ange: "............Mariage Sorciere was created to make people happy. ...And also to fight the black witch. In order to show that miracle to the foolish black witch, ...who denies the world that one of the founders, the Witch of Origins Lady Maria, gave birth to, ......and in order to protect that world, .........believe. In magic. In witches. Right now, in the miracle...!"
When Kasumi gave an order to the black-suits, one of them took out a gun and pointed it at Ange.
Kasumi: "You'll show us magic, right? Then show us. Use magic to shoot this man down with a fireball or lightning or something. You get one chance. .........Show us before I count to three, alright? If you can't, then you had best prepare yourself, okay? Uffufufufufufu!"
Ange: ".........................................Shoot."
Kasumi: "What's with this kid. Hehheheh, she's lost it."
The black-suit pointing the gun laughed at Ange's farseeing attitude.
Eva: "Ahhahahahahaha!! Are you serious?! This girl's lost her mind! In that case, get yourself shot! Why not diiiiiiiiiiiiie?!"
Sakutaro: 『Ange...!! ......I, it's impossible! You can't block bullets with magic......!!』
Ange: "No. There's nothing to be afraid of. ............To my magic, to the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, bullets are like nothing."
Mammon: "A, Ange-sama........."
Mammon was perplexed by Ange's absolute trust. ......If she could comply, she would have. On that day as well. But, ......because she had been unable to do anything, she had hurt Ange.........
Man1: "Hehheheh, you brat. If you can use magic, let us have a look right away."
Man2: "What's wrong? We're tellin' you to show us magic right now!!"
Man3: "Come on, no need to hold back, right? *booom*! Show me some magic!! Hihhehhehheh!"
The black-suits jeered at her.
But Ange simply concentrated her mind in silence......
Eva: "Why not shoot?! She's also telling you to try and shoot, you guys!"
Kasumi: "......This kid's already lost her mind from fear. Bye-bye, Ange-chan. ......Go and pretend to be a witch as much as you want in heaven. ......Shoot."
Eva: "Heheh, you sure?"
Kasumi: "Shoot! Die, Ange!!"
Eva: "If you can do it, then give your magic a try!!!"
The black-suit cocked the gun, and sneering...pulled the trigger.
"........................"
The sound of gunfire rang out, ......and the world...stopped. A red spray scattered out, .........and chunks of flesh flew.
Mammon: "...eh, ............ah......"
Luci: "What are you doing, Mammon? ......Would you let a boorish pebble of a bullet reach Ange-sama?"
Lucifer lined up the bullet perfectly, and with a single swing, ......sliced it...... Then, ......in the chest of the black-suit who had apparently fired the gun, ......was a hole as big as a fist...
Levia: ".........Every once in a while, it's alright for me to go first."
Half of Leviathan's body was covered with blood, and a scornful smile was on her face. ......Then, slowly........., the pitiful prey that she had brought down...fell over.
Mammon: "Y, ......you pierced...a human......!!!"
Satan: "Idiot! Do you still not believe?! In our master's magic power...!!"
Eva: "Are, ......you, ...kidding me.........?!?! Y, you materialized, ...in front of this many humans?!?!"
Kasumi: "Wh, .........what is, ...what?!"
Kasumi and the rest were flustered... He certainly seemed to have fired the gun...... However, ......it hadn't hit Ange, .........and why, ......was the person who fired, ...instead......?!
Ange: "......This is...magic. ......Great job, Leviathan."
Levia: "The greatest honor...!! You foolish humans who dare oppose our master! Now is the time of judgement! Prostrate yourselves!!"
Eva: "W, why......?!!! You shouldn't be able to bring magic into the world of humans...!! They shouldn't be able to see magic, they shouldn't be able to be touched by magic!! ......Why?!!"
Ange: "............Because this...is true magic."
Eva: "......Gah, ......aaaaaaaaaaarrrggggg...!!"
Kasumi: "Wh, what are you people doing?! K, kill, kill!!!"
One of the black-suits, who had finally come to his senses, took out his gun, readied it,
Luci: "Did you think I'd permit you the disrespect of pointing the barrel of a gun at our master......?! Die."
Those words were a requiem.
......The man had already had his chest pierced by Lucifer, who had become the Stake of Pride in an instant.
*thump*!
With the sound of the second person falling, the black-suits now realized for certain that their lives were in peril...!!
Man1: "Uh, waaaaaaaahsasa, save me......!!!"
The instant the black-suits, doubled over in shock, turned on their heels to escape from that place, ......the Stake of Sloth......
Belphe: "............Be thankful that recompense for your violence against our master will be settled with just this. Die!!"
In his right eye, a hole as big as a walnut opened, and his head split.
Belphegor was sprayed with blood, and her face twisted demonically with the joy at being able to use her full power...!
Men: "Ooh, waaaaaaahhh?! Who?! Who's there?! Where are you?!"
The black-suits were flustered, pointing their guns in every direction. But they didn't understand what was happening. They only knew that something terrifying was coming for them from somewhere, but they didn't know where...!!
Eva: "Dumbass! Th, the enemy is right before your eyes! The witch's furniture is after you!!!"
But they could not see...!! Because they didn't believe in magic, they could not see...!! Just as the black witch said, Satan was standing boldly right in front of the black-suit. However, the black-suit couldn't see that at all...!
Satan: "*giggle*...! You think humans could see our forms? Perceive us? Ahhahahahahahaha, you stupid humans!! Time to pay your foolish compensation for forgetting your awe of magic!!"
Kasumi: "Eee, eeeeeeeeeeeekk!!! What's this?! What's going on?!"
Ange: "............You cannot see. Because you have no love."
Eva: "......Impossible!! Even though there are so many humans here, even though the magic-resisting toxin is everywhere, ......why can you manifest your magic?! Who, ...are you?!?!"
Ange: "............A witch. And unlike you, a real one."
Men: "W, whaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh, damn iiiiiiit, you biiiiiiiitch!!"
As though announcing his candidacy for being the fourth victim, one of the black-suits pointed his gun at Ange.
......And the trigger was......
Ange glared at him coldly, and simply ordered.
Men: "D, diiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!"
Ange: "Next. Satan."
Satan: "Satan of Wrath, already right here!! Blockhead!! You think a simple bullet could hit Ange-sama or us now?!!!"
The Stake of Anger, ......pierced and smashed the bullet fired by the black-suit, and continued straight on, towards the man's face-
Satan: ".........Know your foolishness, and regret it in hell!! Die!!"
With a terrible explosive sound, the upper half of the man's head was smashed. Bathed in scattered flesh and blood, Ange quietly asked one more question.
Ange: "...Hey, Kasumi oba-san. .........Do you still...not feel like believing in magic?"
Kasumi: "Th, there's no way...something so ridiculous, ......exists...!! I, I won't acknowledge it...!! There's no way magic exists......!!! Yes, that's right... There's no way magic exists...!! There's no way witches exist!!"
Sakutaro: 『M, ......magic exists!! Witches exist......!! Uryu-!!』
Mammon: ".........That's right. Magic exists. Witches exist. ......And, in this world filled with anger and sadness, it can become the key that opens the door to the world of happiness...!! I won't let, ......someone like you deny that!!"
Sakutaro: 『The key to a world of happiness is held in everyone's hand...! And, ......no one has any right to steal that away......!!』
Ange: "You pitiful human who cannot understand this. .........If there had been magic in your life, it would probably have been very different, and much more calm. When I think that in your entire life, you were never able to meet with a true witch, ......I pity you."
Kasumi: "Eee, ......eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkk!!!"
Kasumi let out a piercing scream. At the same time, two of the black-suits came for me at once, thrusting their guns at my head.
......Like they were trying to use me as a hostage against something their eyes couldn't see. ......Against the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, who had now reached the level of weapons, this was completely pointless.
Men: "Damn, where are you?! You don't stop attacking, and this bitch is dead!! Show yourself!!"
Beelze: "Kyahhahahahahahaha!!! What the hell's he sayin'?! And his guts look so tasty too. .........Ange-sama, leave the next one to me!"
Ange: "Go ahead. Kill him."
Beelze: "I'm thankful!! Sooo, happyyyyyy!! Diiiiiee!!!"
The man's chest split, and his guts poured out. ......This terrible way of dying threw the other man into a total panic. However, Asmodeus's form was already at his back, grasping his neck, ......and smiling obscenely......
Asmo: "What a cute kid. ......Hey, hey, where do you want me to pierce? *cackle*cackle*cackle*cackle*, Ange-sama, do you have any preference?!!!"
Ange: "Head."
Asmo: "Certainly, my masteer!! Die!!"
The final black-suit had his head smashed by the Stake of Lust, and as his insides scattered, he twisted and fell.
In the gruesome world where six people lay in a sea of blood, .........witch and human confronted each other.
--------------
Ange: "Mammon."
Mammon: "......Y, ......yeah!! Mammon of Greed, right here...!!"
Ange: "Thanks."
Mammon: "......Huh?"
Ange: "Because I met with you and Sakutarou, I was able to understand everything."
Sakutaro: 『......Ange......』
Ange: "Look away, Sakutarou. .........Mammon. Release that woman. And, protect the honor of Mariage Sorciere...!!"
Mammon: "Y, .........yes!! ......Prepare yourself, Sumadera Kasumi!!"
Even though the world was frozen, the Stake of Greed flashed like lightning, .........and had already pierced Kasumi's back...
Mammon: "If you possess the slightest virtue, you shall have an audience again on the mountain of Purgatory!! .........Diiiiiiiieee!!!"
The upper half of Sumadera Kasumi's head was smashed.
......Her cage of flesh was shattered, ......and she was finally released......
--------
Ange: "............Thank you, Mammon. ...This time, I want to apologize again, and from the bottom of my heart, for calling all of you powerless on that day in the classroom. You were excellent furniture for protecting witches."
Mammon: ".........I'm the one that's grateful. ......I feel truly honored at being able to meet a good witch...a good master in the end, and at being able to fulfill my duty as furniture...!"
Mammon had understood.
This would be the final job I'd give her.
Mammon quietly walked up to me.
Then, she looked down at Eva.
Mammon: "That's just boring. Life is nothing without greed."
I noticed that Mammon had suddenly appeared, her abundant hair fluttering over by the prow of the ship.
Ange: "It's true that a life of greed would be fun. But unlike you, humans have a limited life-span. If greed remains for eternity, that means that a person has desires even in the last moment before they die. Having desires means that there's something they want. Something they don't have, some way they aren't complete. ......I'm sure it's tough to die when you can't think of your life as being fulfilled. So I'm sure self-satisfaction is necessary."
Mammon: ".........I see. Because of the existence of a life span, you have to find a common ground there? All of my masters had very long life spans, so I've never thought of it."
Ange: "I wonder if humans live so that they can be satisfied. ......If so, unselfishly is probably the easiest way to live. ...I see, I understand why greed is one of the seven deadly sins."
Mammon: "*giggle*. Your praise honors me."
Apparently that counted as praise in Mammon's eyes. She turned and gave a graceful bow.
Mammon: "Ange-sama. Do humans live so that they can be satisfied at the moment of their death?"
Ange: "......Wouldn't it be pretty tough if you were unsatisfied about something at the moment of your death?"
Mammon: "If so, then humans live only so that they can meet a satisfied death. They live so that they can have a better death. They live so that they can die."
............This kid's saying something pretty incredible. ...I see, as I'd expect from a demon stake. However, that might be the truth.
Humans suffer because they aren't satisfied, and live only to be satisfied. In other words, that might be the same as a desire to die while satisfied.
Ange: "I can't counter that. ......People live in order to be satisfied. And they hope to die while still satisfied. So, not knowing how to make yourself become satisfied is very tough."
Mammon: "What can they do to become satisfied? In a human's life."
Ange: ".........Being acknowledged. Hearing 'you are happy'."
Mammon: "If it doesn't matter who acknowledges them, then I will do so."
Ange: "Yes, there's that. .........People don't know who they should have acknowledge them."
Mammon: "So, searching for that person to acknowledge them is the journey of life? Hmmmm."
Ange: "It sounds strange. Whether you're acknowledged or not, it supposedly doesn't change your circumstances. ......And yet, if you are acknowledged you will be satisfied, while if you aren't then you won't. ...It's almost like the blue bird. ......Because you can't notice the blue bird even though it's already in the cage, you have to go out on a journey searching everywhere."
Mammon: "What the heck. Kyahhahaha. Human lives sure are stupid."
Ange: "That's right. Amakusa said something really good. ......Rich is the one who is content with what they are...was it? I don't know where that proverb came from, but it has a deep meaning. ......In short, if you won't be satisfied enough unless someone acknowledges you, that's the same as not acknowledging yourself. ......The ultimate in self-fulfillment is acknowledging yourself."
Mammon: "That's right. Because if you can become aware that you are fully satisfied, there's no need to be acknowledged by anyone. Just by taking notice of the small things, the humans' foolish journey of life can be ended easily. You can spend the rest of your life playing and having a good time. A human's life is so ridiculous, kyahhahahaha!"
Mammon's choice of words was bad, but it was surely the truth. If most of a human's life is a journey where they wish that someone would acknowledge them, so that they could achieve a satisfied death... .........Then when they realize that the person to acknowledge them is not someone else, but they themselves, that pointless journey can end. Humans who have ended that journey can probably spend the rest of their lives as they wish with their chests stuck out.
......How sublime, how praiseworthy would that be.
Ange: "You know, it seems Amakusa's on pretty bad terms with his parents. ......That makes sense. He's in the kind of trade that'd have proper parents wanting to make him wash his hands of it."
Mammon: "Isn't that alright though? As long as it's fun for the person in question."
Ange: ".........Exactly. That's what it comes down to in the end. Criticism of yourself as you're observed by others doesn't matter. If your existence is firmly acknowledged by you yourself, that's enough. ......If you can live with confidence in yourself, surely you can accept any kind of lifestyle. I'm sure Amakusa will eventually eat a stray bullet on the battlefield and get seriously injured. ...He might even die. But I don't think Amakusa thinks that's unreasonable. I'm sure he'd cackle about how that's also part of life."
Mammon: "What a great way to live. I'm enchanted."
Ange: "......Pitiful humans who aren't acknowledged by themselves...wander about searching for that their whole lives, and without anything being accepted, they do nothing but grumble and die while still unsatisfied. ......How pitiful. Compared to people whose lives drag on without any purpose, Amakusa is more likely to eventually die by the roadside, but I think he's much more noble for living his life with his chest stuck out."
Mammon: "Aren't the winners in life those who achieve enlightenment? If they can do that even a little sooner, they'll be able to live that much more of their life effectively."
.........With Mammon's words, ......I finally accepted a certain fact. I've......described her as an abnormal kid, as a little strange. However, ......that wasn't true. She did nothing but stick her chest out, .........so that she could finish that journey faster than anyone else.
Ange: "..................Maybe that's what made Maria onee-chan, ...so amazing. When she was at the age where she might or might not enter the first year of elementary school, she had already reached that point."
For other people like us looking at her life from the outside, her life isn't something we could say was blessed. But even though days such as that were engraved in her diary, ......they always finished up by saying it was a happy day. Even though the part of her mother that didn't love her daughter came and went, she believed that her mother loved her.
The mother's love that didn't exist, she created herself, filling her world with love.
Others might observe her as an unsatisfied pitiful girl, ......but she herself had acknowledged that she was satisfied.
And so, she was happy that way.
It is easy to observe that as something pitiable and sad. But to her, that was an outsider's opinion, and didn't matter. 'Whether it was happy for her', was the only important thing. It's just like how, when people who live in the city point to the lifestyles of those in rural areas, and mourn their inconvenience and feel sympathy for them, it's really none of their business. If those who live there are satisfied with what they have, that's more than enough.
Ange: ".........I've finally noticed something. I noticed it just now. ......I did something horrible to Maria onee-chan. .........And to you all and Sakutarou as well, on that day."
Mammon: "........................"
Ange: "Whether magic exists, or not. ......That's not up to other people to decide. It's up to you yourself. Whether magic exists to Maria onee-chan is a problem for Maria onee-chan to decide, and not for me. ......And yet, when I was young, on that day, I said it. By saying there was no way magic exists, ......I hurt her."
Magic not existing in my eyes...matters in my world. Denying it even in Onee-chan's world just because of that was totally barking up the wrong tree.
Ange: "Mariage Sorciere is the Witches' Alliance Maria onee-chan created. I was invited into that, and told to become a witch with them. Thinking it a new, interesting game, I went along with that for a while. ......But, because of the cruelty of youth, I got tired of it half-way through. And, ......I tore her pure heart apart with sharp words. ......At that time, we must have gotten into a huge fight. I forgot about it right away, but she couldn't forget about it. ......After all, to her, magic was a natural power that certainly existed, and she had believed that she would be able to share that with me. .....To Maria onee-chan, magic is a power that can interpret the world as blessed, ......no, which can truly make everything blessed. She just wanted to share that with me too. The young me tore that feeling apart. ......So when no one would understand magic together with her, she closed herself up in a shell."
Mammon: ".........If so, then Lady MARIA's journey through life wasn't over after all. If she could accept herself, then there would be no need to collapse just because you denied her, Ange-sama."
Ange: "Onee-chan was young. She still hadn't reached a philosophical viewpoint like Amakusa. ......Yeah, now I understand... Why the witches' alliance called Mariage Sorciere was necessary."
--An alliance where each acknowledges that the other is a witch.
"...That's right, I'm pretty sure that was the first article in the agreement of Mariage Sorciere. ......Witches of the alliance would acknowledge each other and respect each other. That is the deepest and the only meaning of the witches' alliance......"
Maria onee-chan wanted to share with me the secret laws to make the world happy, called magic.
But I was young.
And she was too.
......I hurt her with innocent cruelty.
Ange: ".........On that day, I said it...reckless words. To you all and Sakutarou. I said there was no way you exist."
Mammon: "How rude. We acknowledge that we exist ourselves. We're not like humans, with their souls half-asleep. ......'I think, therefore I am'. Whether you acknowledge or deny magic, the existence of the magic called the Seven Stakes of Purgatory...is therefore a fact. ......As long as we acknowledge that ourselves, to borrow your words."
Ange: "It truly would be violence for another person like me to deny that. .........I'm sure that would be like having your true mother yell 'I wish you had never been born', no, 'disappear'."
......Even after being slammed by all those words, ......Maria onee-chan's magic, .........made her believe in her mother's love.
Sakutarou, her magic friend, always encouraged her. ......He kept saying that her mother loved her, that she was coming home late because of her work, and that she would definitely bring back a present...
Even after Maria learned the fact that it really wasn't because of work, magic still kept her believing that. So by believing that her mother loved her, by acknowledging herself, she filled her world with love and peace and serenity, ......and established it perfectly.
Ange: "What happened 12 years ago, ...what happened to my family.........This was not...a journey to search for that."
Mammon: "............Then what is this journey?"
Ange: "It was a journey, ......to apologize to Maria onee-chan for what happened that day."
Mammon: "........................"
Ange: "I don't know why, but that's what I think. ......If I hadn't hurt her, .........the incident 12 years ago might not have occurred. ......That's what I think."
I have no basis for it. I don't have a clue how hurting Onee-chan would connect with a mysterious incident several years later. But for some reason, I can't imagine that there is no connection.
A witch caused that incident.
And the culprit is the Golden Witch, Beatrice.
And Beatrice was part of the Mariage Sorciere Alliance of Witches. I had horribly hurt the other witch of that alliance. I had hurt her with the thought of magic not existing.
.........So several years later, a crime due to a witch occurred, and that two day period which can't be explained with anything but magic was thrust in my face, thanks to the message bottle.
Ange: "......I'm surez that I'm not unrelated. .........I don't get it. It could be chance, it could be fate. .........For some reason, I've starting thinking that way on this journey."
Mammon: "And your basis?"
Ange: "None. That's just what I'm thinking."
Mammon: "Hmmmm...... The Japanese sure are interesting. Even if they're the victim, they feel as though they did something wrong, and apologize for no reason. ......I could understand if you said 'I hate Beatrice for stealing my family!' or something, but you really are weird, feeling guilty for no reason and apologizing."
Ange: "Of course I hate Beatrice. I couldn't continue this journey without that feeling. But it's alright to select yet another purpose for this journey. There's nothing wrong with adding on a goal of apologizing for past sins, in addition to getting revenge on a witch for 12 years ago. I can at least go to Rokkenjima, apologize for my reckless remarks, and offer flowers. ......No, .........there's something better than flowers. And I think that would be more fitting for Onee-chan."
I stood up, and, not minding that the sea breeze scattered my hair, I concentrated my mind...... I lifted my palm up to the height of my head, ......and imagined a vast space......
Mammon: "............Ange-sama, ..............."
Ange: "......Be quiet. .....................Come, arise. ......I am the witch apprentice, ANGE Beatrice. ......I was excommunicated, but I was once a member of the same alliance, and you are dearly-missed furniture who played with me. Answer to my call........."
It was hard to tell in the middle of the day, but a faint blue light gathered around the palm of my hand.
.........Then, .........Sakutarou's form was revived. It truly was long-missed, that figure. His cute ears, his bright-red muffler. ......It came off easily, so Onee-chan faithfully re-wrapped it all the time, didn't she...
Mammon: "......Sakutaro............Can you see? Do you know who we are...?"
Sakutaro: "...Uryu......? ?Uryu......? Mammon...? Ange.........?"
With a sleepy face, as though waking up from a long slumber, Sakutarou looked all around him as he spoke.
Ange: "It's been a long time, ......Sakutarou. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've summoned you with my own power. ......And now, I am the only one who can summon you."
Sakutaro: ..................Uryu......"
Those words might have been a bit cruel.
Sakutarou's face clouded over...
Ange: "In the past, I denied you. .........Now that I have summoned you, ......that means that I have accepted your existence."
Sakutaro: ".........Is it alright......? Is it alright...for me to be summoned into Ange's world......?"
His eyes were slightly frightened.
......It was only natural. I, who had played with him like a friend before, had suddenly denied him and tried to burn him with the magic-resisting toxin. It was only natural that he was scared......
Ange: "I apologize. For that day. .........To you too, Mammon. And to the rest of you."
At some point, ......the rest of the Seven Sisters had gathered on the deck.
No, they are there at all times.
Always by my side.
As long as I acknowledge that it's okay for them to be there, they will always appear.
Ange: "You certainly do exist. Lucifer. And Leviathan. And Satan. And Belphegor. And Mammon. And Beelzebub. And Asmodeus. ......And Sakutarou too."
Lucifer: "......Is that alright? You are one who is challenging Beatrice-sama, Ange-sama. ...Is it alright for one in a position of denying witches to acknowledge us?"
Ange: "About whether magic exists or not in my world, sorry, but let me put that on hold. It's not like I myself acknowledged the existence of magic."
Leviathan: "......But then, what about the contradiction, of you acknowledging us?"
Ange: "Because magic exists for people who believe. Even if I don't. If someone believed, then magic will exist in the human world. That will not be interfered with in any way, whether I believe in magic or not. No, it must not be interfered with. That person just had to hold their head up high and believe in their own magic. I acknowledge that. So even if you all exist, that isn't strange at all."
Satan: ".........Quite a play on words, that...but it's an interesting interpretation."
Belphegor: "What you're saying, Ange-sama, is probably a Devil's Proof."
Ange: "A Devil's Proof......?"
Beelze: "After all! To prove the existence of demons you just need to bring one with you."
Asmo: "But it's impossible to deny the existence of demons."
Mammon: "Kyahha! And we are here. That means that whether Ange-sama believes in magic or not, our existence is unshakable."
Sakutaro: "......Uryu? The magic-resisting toxin, .............is disappearing, ......from Ange......"
Mammon: "Y, you're right............Even though you're in a position of denying magic, ......why......?"
Ange: "That's probably............because I learned what it's like to respect and acknowledge. Right now, ......I might be able, ......to understand the depths of Maria onee-chan's, ......and Beatrice's magic."
In the past, I didn't believe in things like magic. Thinking something like that couldn't exist, I acted like I was closing my eyes tightly and couldn't see anything.
But now I'm different. I get the feeling I can look right at the thing called magic, and close in on its true nature......
Satan: "......How frustrating. It's truly rare to find a human so free of the magic-resisting toxin in this day and age. And she has such an uncommon genius for being a witch..."
Leviathan: "That's right. .......If Ange-sama tried to become a witch right now, ......she could grow to be a Great Witch, maybe even at Beatrice-sama's level."
Belphe: "Even so, she has acknowledged our existence, and is our master. ......Most likely, Ange-sama will be our final master. Let us think of this as our final service, and apply ourselves to the fullest."
Beelze: "......Ble-ah. But I just can't sta~nd that Ange-sama still doesn't believe in magic herself."
Asmo: "......Ange-sama, please believe in magic to~o. Feels like a waste to finally have a master and have it not be a wi~tch."
Mammon: "Even though you have outstanding talent which could make you one of the greatest of witches, your goal is to attack witches. It's so frustrating. ......Well, even so, that's your life, the way you live, and in the world where you've decided that, there's nothing we can do to complain."
Ange: "Thanks for understanding me. Yeah, whether magic exists to me···· or not, that's up to me to decide. Whether magic actually does exist somewhere in the world or not, you see?"
When I think about it, the world is so vast, .....and yet small. Billions of people live on the earth. But I probably won't meet even 1% of those people.
Even so, I will speak of a world. 'My world', which doesn't know even 1% of the world.
Ange: "I'm not qualified to deny the laws of a world I don't know. ......So just because magic doesn't exist in my world, I can't deny that magic exists in a world I don't know. That makes it a true Devil's Proof. No, maybe it's more like 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'."
I can be confident in the world I know. So even if that is denied by a complete stranger who doesn't know a thing about my world, that's nothing to worry about.
And in the same way, just because I don't know something, that doesn't make me qualified to deny a world I don't know.
Ange: "Therefore. Regardless of whether there is magic in my world or not, ......I cannot deny the magic Maria onee-chan taught me."
Sakutaro: "Uryu! After all, even if you've never seen it, ......magic exists!"
Ange; "Yes. That's why, as I've already said, ......you friends of the witches' alliance, Mariage Sorciere, cannot be denied by me or anyone else."
I proclaimed the most important part again.
.........Even though the sea breeze and crashing of the waves were noisy, it was a time of silence.
Both Sakutarou and the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, ......reflected upon my words.
And, probably, I did too. Whether magic exists. Whether witches exist. Because, ignoring what the answer would be for my world, ......I had proclaimed a contradiction so openly by acknowledging its existence.
Sakutaro: "Thank you, ......Ange."
Belphe: "If you will acknowledge that much, acknowledge witches too.........No, that was a foolish question. You already have a clear answer to that question."
Ange: "Sorry. Although I do acknowledge that witches might exist somewhere in this world. But that does not shake my world."
Mammon: "......You won't acknowledge witches or magic. You'll definitely expose the truth of Rokkenjima. ......Right?"
Ange: "Yes. That is my world. Even if a real witch exists, I won't acknowledge it in my world. No matter how much that witch tries to convince me."
Lucifer: "Your position is to attack witches, Ange-sama. ......And I understand well that you have not the slightest wavering in that feeling. We are your furniture, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory...! We will always be by your side. We will always be waiting for the day that we can be useful...!"
Satan: "Although since you don't believe in magic, we can never be anything more than someone to talk to."
Leviathan: "That's enough for now. We've been left room to exist. For that alone, we should thank and acknowledge Ange-sama."
Stakes: "In short! All of u-s!"
Sakutaro: "Are all together again...... Uryu-!!"
Stakes: "Kya-h!! Sakutaro-! Let me squeeze youuuuuuuuu~!!"
When Sakutarou was overcome with emotion and tears came to his eyes, the Seven Sisters closed in and mobbed him. ......They were also celebrating a long-missed reunion. If their existence is permitted, they are definitely capable of existing here. No, even if I don't permit it, they can exist. Because I acknowledged them, they showed their reunion's joy to me as well.···············. As I watched over that scene, .........I reflected over what this journey of mine meant.
Ange: ".........I wonder if everyone will forgive me this way."
Mammon: "That is enough. We are furniture. Just being summoned, just being allowed to be by your side makes us happy."
Sakutaro: "Uryu...! Ange, thank you very much......!"
Ange: "......Come to think of it, why was I able to summon Sakutarou? ......No, it's the other way around. Why wasn't Onee-chan able to summon Sakutarou?"
Maria onee-chan had despaired, thinking that Sakutarou had died. Which meant she hadn't been able to summon him anymore, like this. In the past, Onee-chan said it was more advantageous in a summoning to have a vessel. However, a vessel is like training wheels, and it shouldn't be absolutely necessary.
......In other words, even if the stuffed animal lion that was Sakutarou's vessel didn't exist, it should be possible to summon him.
......No, when you put it like that, it's even a little doubtful whether things summoned are limited by life and death. Moreover, Sakutarou should have been an especially important friend to Maria onee-chan. She should have been able to strive hard to summon him one more time. It certainly was sad that the original stuffed animal vessel had been torn apart, but why did he 'die' and become impossible to summon again......?
Sakutaro: "...That's because, ...at that time, Maria saw my stuffed animal torn, and decided···· that I had died."
Mammon: "It's the same as the existence of magic. ......If in Lady MARIA's world, Sakutarou has died, then Sakutarou cannot exist in her world."
Sakutaro: "............Uryu......"
The shock of having her beloved stuffed animal torn apart...had left a wound in her heart serious enough to prevent her from summoning her irreplaceable close friend.
In Maria onee-chan's eyes··········· Sakutarou died. So even if Sakutarou can exist like this to me, he cannot exist before her.
Sakutaro: "I......was always together with Maria............When Maria cried, I was always right beside her, telling her not to cry............But my form, my voice, ......nothing of me will reach Maria......"
Sakutarou hung his head, looking sad.
Ange: "......After that incident, the nature of Mariage Sorciere rapidly began to change. Before then, the alliance was a peaceful thing. But after the incident, it grew full of shadier things, focusing on how to curse people you hate. ......Onee-chan's diary began to show a clear change."
A diary is a mirror that reflects one's heart as it is. It probably showed the personality called Maria die, and be reborn as the evil witch personality MARIA. When she buried the diary in hatred and sadness, ......her heart surely was not satisfied. Because it wasn't satisfied, she had to bury it with hatred and sadness. And while still unsatisfied, she met with death.
......I wonder if her unsatisfied soul has a hole opened in its chest from sadness even now, and continually wanders, tears dripping down and calling Sakutarou's name......
........................
Ange: "............You, ......are needed by Onee-chan."
Sakutaro: "Uryu........."
Ange: "What can I do to revive you in Maria onee-chan's world? If I learn that method, I'll be able to save Onee-chan. ......That is the method of atonement imposed upon me. What can be done to revive Sakutarou?"
Sakutaro: ......To Maria, my vessel had a very vital significance......"
Ange: "The vessel. ......In other words, if we could revive the lion stuffed animal..."
Sakutaro: But............Mama Rosa made my stuffed animal herself, so only Mama Rosa can make it......
Even inside the diary, Maria onee-chan had asked this of Beatrice, and was refused for that reason. The magical significance of a stuffed animal being unique and handmade is very large. Then, if we could make the same thing once more...... But Rosa oba-san is already gone from this world. We can't make the same thing again.
Ange: "......Was there ever another identical stuffed animal made, or anything like that?"
Mammon: "He is a stuffed animal made for Lady MARIA's birthday present, and is the only one in the world. ......A handmade and unique vessel. So it conceals a great magical power. And, ......if lost, it will not be obtained again. It will not revive..."
Sakutaro: ".........Uryu........."
......Because she had known that, Maria onee-chan had watched that stuffed animal, which was unique in that world, be torn apart, .........and despaired. Because it was a stuffed animal unique in the world, and she couldn't allow a compromise such as buying another one, ......she had despaired from the bottom of her heart......
Ange: "......But, Sakutarou is right here. Even without a vessel, he's here. Because I acknowledge that, he certainly exists in my world. .........Even if Maria onee-chan doesn't acknowledge him, that cannot be denied. Right...?"
Mammon: "Logically that's true, ......but I think using the same logic to make Lady MARIA accept him could be difficult."
Sakutaro: "......Maria...............I'm not dead... I'm right here............... Uryu......"
Ange: "I'm sure that on Rokkenjima, ......I'll be able to be reunited with Maria onee-chan. And, ......no matter what, I will revive the you that's inside Onee-chan, and let you be reunited."
Sakutaro: "Can you do it......?"
Ange: "It will probably be hard. ......Just like how, after being invited into the witches' alliance, I rejected it without understanding what it meant, she might also reject your existence. .........But, I've got to do it. That's the only way I can atone for my sins."
Mammon: "............Ange-sama......"
Ange: "What is waiting on Rokkenjima? And what will happen, what will be created? ......Although maybe nothing will happen."
Sakutaro: "........................"
Ange: "That island, which was the beginning of everything, is the final destination of this journey. .........I will bring all of you, and as your master, furniture of the witch, ... I have to return to the witch's isand, to Rokkenjima."
---------
However, I have a general idea.
......I'm sure the contents were the same.
Without a doubt, there had been a key, a card, and a note with a PIN inside the envelope......
Ange: "......Beatrice............What was she trying to do here...? So did she hand out this stupid money to all surviving relatives? .........I won't forgive her, ......for mocking them even after their deaths........."
Sakutaro: 『Uryu..., uryu......, Ange.........』
Sakutarou acted nervously. ......As I looked at his worrying face, my agitation began to cool off bit by bit...
Ange: "I'm sorry... My hatred of Beatrice isn't something that's started now. ......I was just surprised and angry to find out that I had a connection with the witch already at the age of six on that day..."
Mammon: ".........For the past 12 years, you have always been enslaved by Beatrice-sama's curse. ...This might be proof that this really was a curse. But please, don't fall apart. Part of this journey should be to break through that."
Ange: "That's right...... Just letting the blood rise to my head won't get me anywhere. Got to think calmly. .........What's going on? What's the meaning of handing out a hundred million yen to the relatives? Is she trying to provoke us......? Damn that Beatrice........."
Sakutaro: 『Ange......, calm down............Uryu......』
As Sakutaro buried his head in my stomach, he urged me to stay calm. ......I took another deep breath, and started thinking.
Ange: ".........I wonder if the sending of this envelope was to support the theory that Beatrice was behind that crime."
Mammon: "It was postmarked right before the family conference. And it was intentionally set up so that it would be sent back after some time."
Sakutaro: 『......They wanted it to be sent after the incident, is that it......?』
Ange: "Yeah. That's what it implies. .........But there are a few doubtful parts. Why such an uncertain method?"
Mammon: "Uncertain?"
Ange: "Yes. After all, you couldn't even guess at how many days it would take for the mail to return before you did it. ......Normally, you couldn't even guess at the amount of time it would take for the receiving post office to research, determine that the recipient was unknown, and return it."
Sakutaro: 『Yeah, now that you mention it...... It'd be more dependable if they just set an arrival date and mailed it that way...... Uryu...』
Mammon: "......Maybe, but still, if they mailed it the day before, then no matter how quickly it returned, it would probably arrive Monday or later. I wonder if they wanted to make it seem like a letter from the dead."
Ange: "......A letter from the dead, you say. ......You're right. That surprised me, and it made me feel bad. ......Some mail with my dead family's name written on the outside in large letters...was thrown into the mailbox with an ominous label attached. ......However, it doesn't really make sense to me. I would have mailed it to arrive on a specified day. I just can't understand why someone would allow the insecurity of it arriving on a day other than the one they imagined."
Sakutaro: 『..................Uryu. ......But it really does sound like Beato to me.』
Ange: "Huh? You...know about Beato?"
Sakutaro: 『......Well, I only talked with her a little. ......Still, I can pretty much accept that Beato'd do something like this. ...Can't you imagine that happening too, Mammon? Beato likes pranks like this, right?』
Mammon: ".....................Yeah, that might be true. ......I wouldn't put it past Beatrice-sama to try a vicious prank like a letter from the dead."
Sakutaro: 『No, that's not all. .........Beatrice would find it more interesting to do it through an uncertain method instead of one that was absolutely certain.』
Ange: ".........She would find an uncertain method...interesting...?"
I remembered Maria onee-chan's diary.........It had described playing with Beatrice very often. During those times, Beato sometimes played pranks on the adult relatives with Maria.
But those pranks always had a touch of witch aesthetics.
Which was, .........that it was more interesting if it was uncertain.
---------
.........In any event, it seemed that proceeding any further would be impossible.
If I continued any further, I wouldn't be able to return.
In other words, .........this is...the border. This place is 1986 and 1998. And, it is that day and today. The boundary between this world and nirvana.
ANge: "............This place is, ......this journey's final destination, it seems."
As the strong wind blew Mammon and Sakutaro's hair, they looked down from the hilltop...
Mammon: "......From here, I can't really tell. Where's the mansion? Let's get closer."
Sakutaro: 『Uryu, ...that's impossible. We won't be able to come back.』
......We won't be able to come...back. ...Is it? I see. ......This is 1998, ......and I am the Ushiromiya Ange who has been left all alone.
At first, it was a journey to die.
But not anymore. It has become a journey to accomplish something......
Ange: "Yeah. ......So, I'm sorry, you two. Although, as I was back then on that day, I would have gone down that cliff without any hesitation."
Mammon: "Come on, this is pretty lame for the skyscraper-jumping Ushiromiya Ange."
Ange: "Sorry."
Sakutaro: 『This place is as good as any. .........Because you can feel the wind of that day.』
Ange: "..................Was the wind...really like this?"
Sakutaro: 『Yeah. Very soon, they will come. ......Everyone.』
Sakutaro said it as though it was completely natural.
-----------
Sakutaro: 『Uryu-!! Ange, Angeeeeee...!!』
Mammon: "Ange-sama, no...! You must not provoke them...!! You should at least make it seem like you're going along with them, so you can buy some time...!"
Kasumi: ".........They often say that, ...you should throw your foolish pride, ...out with the garbage......"
Sakutaro: 『Oh, Amakusa-san...?! If Amakusa-san comes, I'm sure......!』
Mammon: "......No, I can't see him.........You idiot, Ange-sama...! Why did you come without Amakusa...!"
I didn't need Mammon to tell me.
......Right then, I really was right in the middle of regretting it.
I walked a long way. The forest was very thick.
......I have no doubts that the disturbance here will not reach the boat......
----
Mammon: "Stop it..., stop it......!! Don't, ......defile Lady MARIA's magic...!! Don't defile it, ......with your filthy toxin...!!"
Mammon cried and yelled, ......but she had no way of reaching Kasumi.
--------
The instant I opened my eyes, a tremendous wind arose.
Eva: "Wh, ......what is this, all of a sudden.........?!"
Ange: "Come, arise, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory."
Kasumi: ".........Whaaat......"
There was a flash behind me, and in an instant, seven high-level furniture were gathered there. It was a power that far surpassed the magical power I had had in my prime.
It was a power that matched even Maria onee-chan and Beatrice.
Stakes: "The Seven Sisters of Purgatory, right here...!!"
Mammon: "......A, Ange-sama......!"
Ange: "You said it once. ......Because I lacked magical power and resolve, ......I could not use you or your sisters. ......This isn't some cheap emotion, like wanting to get back at my bullying classmates. ...In order to protect Maria onee-chan's, .........Mariage Sorciere's world, ......I now order you to show me the miracle of magic."
Mammon: "I, it's impossible... No matter what, before such a mass of toxin........."
The Seven Sisters also remembered what happened in that classroom.
......If they could have obeyed Ange's order, they would have.
......However, ......surrounded by the toxin that runs thick in humans, they hadn't been able to display the miracle of magic.
......And they remembered very well how deeply that had hurt Ange......
But Ange spoke very quietly.
Ange: "In that case. You all believe too."
Mammon: "......Huh?"
Ange: "............Mariage Sorciere was created to make people happy. ...And also to fight the black witch. In order to show that miracle to the foolish black witch, ...who denies the world that one of the founders, the Witch of Origins Lady Maria, gave birth to, ......and in order to protect that world, .........believe. In magic. In witches. Right now, in the miracle...!"
When Kasumi gave an order to the black-suits, one of them took out a gun and pointed it at Ange.
Kasumi: "You'll show us magic, right? Then show us. Use magic to shoot this man down with a fireball or lightning or something. You get one chance. .........Show us before I count to three, alright? If you can't, then you had best prepare yourself, okay? Uffufufufufufu!"
Ange: ".........................................Shoot."
Kasumi: "What's with this kid. Hehheheh, she's lost it."
The black-suit pointing the gun laughed at Ange's farseeing attitude.
Eva: "Ahhahahahahaha!! Are you serious?! This girl's lost her mind! In that case, get yourself shot! Why not diiiiiiiiiiiiie?!"
Sakutaro: 『Ange...!! ......I, it's impossible! You can't block bullets with magic......!!』
Ange: "No. There's nothing to be afraid of. ............To my magic, to the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, bullets are like nothing."
Mammon: "A, Ange-sama........."
Mammon was perplexed by Ange's absolute trust. ......If she could comply, she would have. On that day as well. But, ......because she had been unable to do anything, she had hurt Ange.........
Man1: "Hehheheh, you brat. If you can use magic, let us have a look right away."
Man2: "What's wrong? We're tellin' you to show us magic right now!!"
Man3: "Come on, no need to hold back, right? *booom*! Show me some magic!! Hihhehhehheh!"
The black-suits jeered at her.
But Ange simply concentrated her mind in silence......
Eva: "Why not shoot?! She's also telling you to try and shoot, you guys!"
Kasumi: "......This kid's already lost her mind from fear. Bye-bye, Ange-chan. ......Go and pretend to be a witch as much as you want in heaven. ......Shoot."
Eva: "Heheh, you sure?"
Kasumi: "Shoot! Die, Ange!!"
Eva: "If you can do it, then give your magic a try!!!"
The black-suit cocked the gun, and sneering...pulled the trigger.
"........................"
The sound of gunfire rang out, ......and the world...stopped. A red spray scattered out, .........and chunks of flesh flew.
Mammon: "...eh, ............ah......"
Luci: "What are you doing, Mammon? ......Would you let a boorish pebble of a bullet reach Ange-sama?"
Lucifer lined up the bullet perfectly, and with a single swing, ......sliced it...... Then, ......in the chest of the black-suit who had apparently fired the gun, ......was a hole as big as a fist...
Levia: ".........Every once in a while, it's alright for me to go first."
Half of Leviathan's body was covered with blood, and a scornful smile was on her face. ......Then, slowly........., the pitiful prey that she had brought down...fell over.
Mammon: "Y, ......you pierced...a human......!!!"
Satan: "Idiot! Do you still not believe?! In our master's magic power...!!"
Eva: "Are, ......you, ...kidding me.........?!?! Y, you materialized, ...in front of this many humans?!?!"
Kasumi: "Wh, .........what is, ...what?!"
Kasumi and the rest were flustered... He certainly seemed to have fired the gun...... However, ......it hadn't hit Ange, .........and why, ......was the person who fired, ...instead......?!
Ange: "......This is...magic. ......Great job, Leviathan."
Levia: "The greatest honor...!! You foolish humans who dare oppose our master! Now is the time of judgement! Prostrate yourselves!!"
Eva: "W, why......?!!! You shouldn't be able to bring magic into the world of humans...!! They shouldn't be able to see magic, they shouldn't be able to be touched by magic!! ......Why?!!"
Ange: "............Because this...is true magic."
Eva: "......Gah, ......aaaaaaaaaaarrrggggg...!!"
Kasumi: "Wh, what are you people doing?! K, kill, kill!!!"
One of the black-suits, who had finally come to his senses, took out his gun, readied it,
Luci: "Did you think I'd permit you the disrespect of pointing the barrel of a gun at our master......?! Die."
Those words were a requiem.
......The man had already had his chest pierced by Lucifer, who had become the Stake of Pride in an instant.
*thump*!
With the sound of the second person falling, the black-suits now realized for certain that their lives were in peril...!!
Man1: "Uh, waaaaaaaahsasa, save me......!!!"
The instant the black-suits, doubled over in shock, turned on their heels to escape from that place, ......the Stake of Sloth......
Belphe: "............Be thankful that recompense for your violence against our master will be settled with just this. Die!!"
In his right eye, a hole as big as a walnut opened, and his head split.
Belphegor was sprayed with blood, and her face twisted demonically with the joy at being able to use her full power...!
Men: "Ooh, waaaaaaahhh?! Who?! Who's there?! Where are you?!"
The black-suits were flustered, pointing their guns in every direction. But they didn't understand what was happening. They only knew that something terrifying was coming for them from somewhere, but they didn't know where...!!
Eva: "Dumbass! Th, the enemy is right before your eyes! The witch's furniture is after you!!!"
But they could not see...!! Because they didn't believe in magic, they could not see...!! Just as the black witch said, Satan was standing boldly right in front of the black-suit. However, the black-suit couldn't see that at all...!
Satan: "*giggle*...! You think humans could see our forms? Perceive us? Ahhahahahahahaha, you stupid humans!! Time to pay your foolish compensation for forgetting your awe of magic!!"
Kasumi: "Eee, eeeeeeeeeeeekk!!! What's this?! What's going on?!"
Ange: "............You cannot see. Because you have no love."
Eva: "......Impossible!! Even though there are so many humans here, even though the magic-resisting toxin is everywhere, ......why can you manifest your magic?! Who, ...are you?!?!"
Ange: "............A witch. And unlike you, a real one."
Men: "W, whaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh, damn iiiiiiit, you biiiiiiiitch!!"
As though announcing his candidacy for being the fourth victim, one of the black-suits pointed his gun at Ange.
......And the trigger was......
Ange glared at him coldly, and simply ordered.
Men: "D, diiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!"
Ange: "Next. Satan."
Satan: "Satan of Wrath, already right here!! Blockhead!! You think a simple bullet could hit Ange-sama or us now?!!!"
The Stake of Anger, ......pierced and smashed the bullet fired by the black-suit, and continued straight on, towards the man's face-
Satan: ".........Know your foolishness, and regret it in hell!! Die!!"
With a terrible explosive sound, the upper half of the man's head was smashed. Bathed in scattered flesh and blood, Ange quietly asked one more question.
Ange: "...Hey, Kasumi oba-san. .........Do you still...not feel like believing in magic?"
Kasumi: "Th, there's no way...something so ridiculous, ......exists...!! I, I won't acknowledge it...!! There's no way magic exists......!!! Yes, that's right... There's no way magic exists...!! There's no way witches exist!!"
Sakutaro: 『M, ......magic exists!! Witches exist......!! Uryu-!!』
Mammon: ".........That's right. Magic exists. Witches exist. ......And, in this world filled with anger and sadness, it can become the key that opens the door to the world of happiness...!! I won't let, ......someone like you deny that!!"
Sakutaro: 『The key to a world of happiness is held in everyone's hand...! And, ......no one has any right to steal that away......!!』
Ange: "You pitiful human who cannot understand this. .........If there had been magic in your life, it would probably have been very different, and much more calm. When I think that in your entire life, you were never able to meet with a true witch, ......I pity you."
Kasumi: "Eee, ......eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkk!!!"
Kasumi let out a piercing scream. At the same time, two of the black-suits came for me at once, thrusting their guns at my head.
......Like they were trying to use me as a hostage against something their eyes couldn't see. ......Against the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, who had now reached the level of weapons, this was completely pointless.
Men: "Damn, where are you?! You don't stop attacking, and this bitch is dead!! Show yourself!!"
Beelze: "Kyahhahahahahahaha!!! What the hell's he sayin'?! And his guts look so tasty too. .........Ange-sama, leave the next one to me!"
Ange: "Go ahead. Kill him."
Beelze: "I'm thankful!! Sooo, happyyyyyy!! Diiiiiee!!!"
The man's chest split, and his guts poured out. ......This terrible way of dying threw the other man into a total panic. However, Asmodeus's form was already at his back, grasping his neck, ......and smiling obscenely......
Asmo: "What a cute kid. ......Hey, hey, where do you want me to pierce? *cackle*cackle*cackle*cackle*, Ange-sama, do you have any preference?!!!"
Ange: "Head."
Asmo: "Certainly, my masteer!! Die!!"
The final black-suit had his head smashed by the Stake of Lust, and as his insides scattered, he twisted and fell.
In the gruesome world where six people lay in a sea of blood, .........witch and human confronted each other.
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Ange: "Mammon."
Mammon: "......Y, ......yeah!! Mammon of Greed, right here...!!"
Ange: "Thanks."
Mammon: "......Huh?"
Ange: "Because I met with you and Sakutarou, I was able to understand everything."
Sakutaro: 『......Ange......』
Ange: "Look away, Sakutarou. .........Mammon. Release that woman. And, protect the honor of Mariage Sorciere...!!"
Mammon: "Y, .........yes!! ......Prepare yourself, Sumadera Kasumi!!"
Even though the world was frozen, the Stake of Greed flashed like lightning, .........and had already pierced Kasumi's back...
Mammon: "If you possess the slightest virtue, you shall have an audience again on the mountain of Purgatory!! .........Diiiiiiiieee!!!"
The upper half of Sumadera Kasumi's head was smashed.
......Her cage of flesh was shattered, ......and she was finally released......
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Ange: "............Thank you, Mammon. ...This time, I want to apologize again, and from the bottom of my heart, for calling all of you powerless on that day in the classroom. You were excellent furniture for protecting witches."
Mammon: ".........I'm the one that's grateful. ......I feel truly honored at being able to meet a good witch...a good master in the end, and at being able to fulfill my duty as furniture...!"
Mammon had understood.
This would be the final job I'd give her.
Mammon quietly walked up to me.
Then, she looked down at Eva.