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Yeah, a super lonely person with a screwed-up head having imaginary friends that only show up when nobody else can see isn't exactly a mysterious event that needs explaining by magic.
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Feb 3, 2017 00:39
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| # ? May 14, 2024 22:22 |
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ProfessorProf posted:
Prof, you've got a broken tag here.
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Feb 3, 2017 00:55
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[timg]http://lpix.org/2680645/rg7_c21_warai3.png[/IMG "Be-lz!!" "Ange-sama, you're amazing, incredible!!"
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Fixed.
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Feb 3, 2017 01:02
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idonotlikepeas posted:Yeah, a super lonely person with a screwed-up head having imaginary friends that only show up when nobody else can see isn't exactly a mysterious event that needs explaining by magic. I wouldn't go so far as to call it literal magic, but rather another kind of magic - the power of imagination. Yes, it's shown here in a sad, miserable light; both Maria and Ange are extremely lonely individuals who've turned to imaginary friends as a source of solace in their otherwise depressing lives, but that doesn't mean all imagination is sad. Imagination creates beautiful, wonderful things as well. Anyone who's read a good book or played a particularly absorbing video game can tell you that. A fictional world one can immerse oneself in until, even for just a brief moment, the boundary between reality and fiction blurs and anything can become real...that is something I would call magic. Magic doesn't have to be supernatural or mysterious or malevolent at all. It could be as simple as having a tea party with a lonely child, and helping her believe her stuffed animals are real.
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Feb 3, 2017 01:09
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Oh, yeah, if you don't mean literal magic, I'm right there with you. Incidentally, I was poking through earlier entries yet again and ran across this: ProfessorProf posted:
Ha ha, Krauss. Ha loving ha.
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Feb 3, 2017 03:20
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"My father is already dead. All that's here is a phantom of what Father once was. At any rate, as long as he has no intention of coming out, there's nothing we can do."
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 I accepted that the only power that could save me from those sad, painful days at Saint Lucia Academy... was the thing called magic, and I received Maria's introduction to the basics...  "...Imagine... a vast space... The scene from when I looked down at the mountain's base from a rest stop at the peak... Like this...?" ...Normal girls get over their fascination with magical girls when they leave elementary school. So seriously training to use magic at this age... was embarrassing even for me. But even that embarrassed feeling felt pleasant to me now. Right then, I was learning mental concentration from Maria onee-chan, in order to use magic. But it wasn't going very well. It was about as hopeless as teaching a person to wiggle their ears by showing them... It seems that you need to imagine a vast space to gain the mental concentration for using magic. So I remembered the time from my younger days when my family had gone on a small vacation, when I had looked down towards the base from a viewing platform at a rest stop on a peak, and I tried painting this scene in my mental world.   "Your image is still far too foggy. There's no temperature in the air, and there's no wind. No smells, either. The world is still very thin. You can leave those for later, though, so for now, just imagine a wider space." 'Uryu. Why do you have to imagine a vast space?' "From the time of their birth, Humans have inside of them a toxin that blocks magic. If that toxin isn't purified, you can't use magic well. One effective method of achieving this is to imagine a vast space." "...Just now, I thought of the world as seen from the window of an airplane, but that didn't work. I can't even think of... a world more vast than that." 'In that case, Maria just has to teach Ange about the vast world Maria has...! Won't that make it easy for Ange to imagine as well? Uryu!' "...That's right. And, I'm interested in the kind of world Onee-chan imagines when she uses magic. I'll use it for reference." "Uu-, that won't work. The mental world must be vast and isolated. A world with no obstructions other than yourself. So, if you teach someone about that world, it won't be isolated anymore. That's why you mustn't reveal your mental world to anyone. And if you draw up a good mental world, you too must keep it as a secret only for yourself." 'Uryu... So stingy, Maria...' "Thanks, Sakutaro. I guess there are no shortcuts in training. I'll make an effort. It's okay, I've been given plenty of hints." 'Uryu...! Do your best, Ange...!' ...However, Maria onee-chan showed me that she could fill her own world with happiness using a power that's impossible for me. I used to look down on that happiness as something empty. Because I didn't believe in magic, I also denied everything else, refusing to believe in the happiness that magic gave birth to. But slowly, bit by bit, Maria onee-chan's world grew happier. In the past, I'd disparaged it, thinking it too pitiful to look at. But... that might've been nothing more than jealousy. I was forced to admit that. And now, this was my first step in my search for happiness... A vast space. A dry wind that could blow without being blocked by anything. Let me feel that wind blowing through my own hair. I see, even the ground might get in my way as I am now. Then, I don't need a ground. Brush the ground away, downwards, downwards. In other words, it was as though I had floated up, leaving the ground far behind. After pushing the ground further and further downwards, the ground grew foggy and faint, and for the first time, it began to feel like the sky. Then, I understood its vastness. In that instant, I felt the vivid wind go right through even my body... in other words, blowing through me without any resistance.  "...Yeah, I get it. I get that I've been... released from all hinderances." 'You did it, Ange, you did it...! You've taken your first step into the world of witches...!' "...This is... the world of witches...?" "Yeah. So, let's try practicing the magic that you've always wished for, Ange. Magic that'll summon friends. A magic that'll create allies who'll save you from your loneliness, and thereby bring you happiness." 'Will Ange also be able to summon friends like me?! Uryuuryu!' "...As she is now, it's still far to early for Ange to summon friends like Sakutaro from the sea of zero. To begin, let's start by practicing with friends that are easy to summon." "...What will we start with...?" "Because you're a witch of Mariage Sorcière, you are also permitted to use those employed by other witches in the alliance. For example, Sakutaro is my friend, but since you're in the same alliance, he's your friend too, and you can summon him. You wanna try summoning Sakutaro one of these days? When you're so lonely it gets tough, I'm sure Sakutaro will cheer you up."I see. You could call Sakutaro a being employed by Onee-chan. So, as a witch in the same alliance as her, it's possible for me to summon Sakutaro too... I met Sakutaro's gaze. How pleasant it would be to have him just be there by my pillow, so he could talk to me a bit on lonely nights.  "...If I call out, will you appear... and talk to me...?" 'Uryu-! I can't wait to be summoned by you, Ange! Uryuuryuuryu!'Looking happy, Sakutaro pressed his head against me like a cat. Suddenly getting a cute younger brother... felt a bit confusing, a bit embarrassing, and a bit nice. Unable to understand why I couldn't honestly accept this feeling, I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Right. I'll give it all I've got, Onee-chan." "Then let's practice. Let's try summoning the furniture of Beatrice, a witch from the same alliance." "...Beatrice's... furniture."Hearing Beatrice's name gave me a slightly strange feeling. When it came to the crime on Rokkenjima, the public kept going on and on in a frenzy about how it was a sacrifice ceremony performed by a witch.  So, if the witch did commit that crime, that would make her the culprit who stole my family from me. However, Maria onee-chan said that Beatrice was a good witch. If I held negative emotions towards Beatrice, she'd get mad, leading to a nasty fight, and refuse to talk for a while. At this moment, Onee-chan was my only close friend. So to avoid worsening her mood, I'd decided to think of Beatrice as nothing more than Onee-chan's magic teacher... Also, I believed that the crime was a conspiracy cooked up by Aunt Eva. I would definitely expose the truth about that someday... "Ange, obstructions are entering your body again." "...Sorry, I lost my concentration. One more time..."I'd expect no less from you, Onee-chan... You instantly noticed that I was being overcome with idle thoughts. After shaking my head just once, I re-imagined the wind blowing through a vast space...  "But they're very energetic and fun kids. They might become your new friends, Ange. First, I'll show you how to summon them. Watch."Maria onee-chan lifted both hands up to the level of her head... and quietly unified her mind. The state I wasn't able to reach except by meditating for a long period of time, she reached in the span of a few quick breaths. Then, a pale light began to gather in her palms, and one by one, the girls began to show themselves.  BGM: Novelette The way they were summoned one after another in a line was a masterpiece. Incredible. Just like the illustrations in Onee-chan's grimoire, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory... The younger sisters were behind the eldest, Lucifer, who saluted Onee-chan.  "The Seven Sisters of Purgatory, right here...! Lady MARIA, it has been quite some time." "Yes. Long time, no see. Is everyone well...?" "We furniture are what we are because we are used. To us, being summoned after so long is truly an honor!" BGM: HANE  "You look as delici-, I mean, cuuute as ever!!" "Me fiiirst!! Kya-, today he's so fluffy, squishy, and cuuute!" "Aaah!! Let me hug him too, let me hug him too!" 'U-Uryu-! Can't breathe! I won't run away, so let go of me, everyooone!' "Hey, you all!! Are you trying to break Lady MARIA's furniture?! Anyway, get away from him, hugging is prohibited!!" "...Even though you're saying that, it looks like you want to hug him the most, Satan-nee. *giggle*." "Wh- I-It's not like I have any i-interest in something so fluffy, squishy and cuddly!" "Hey!! Be silent in the presence of Lady MARIA and Ange-sama, you foolish sisters!!"They were so energetic... I was shocked by their sudden burst of activity right after they appeared. And on top of that, I was surprised that the innocent Sakutaro was on such good terms with the Seven Sisters.  "...That's unexpected. To think that Sakutaro would be so loved by such shady people." "They're fellow members of the same alliance. There's nothing to be scared of, right?" "But on the off-chance that their mood worsens, it looks like they could finish Sakutaro off in an instant..." "It's all right. The witches of the alliance and their furniture are all friends. So Sakutaro can play without worrying. Of course, that goes for you and me too, Ange." Member witches must respect each other's magic and creations. Even the sisters, who were normally shady and belligerent, treated fellow alliance members as friends. So, to the Seven Sisters, Sakutarou was a mutual friend. He was loved by all of them, and they were even trying to steal him away from each other. This scene as they squeezed him and loved him was a bit charming. "...I see. They're fellow members of Mariage Sorcière, after all."At a glance, you'd think that Sakutaro's casual atmosphere and the Seven Sisters' shady one would be like water and oil. It looked like they definitely wouldn't be compatible. And yet, they were interacting in a friendly way like it was completely natural... If this wonderful alliance could join all the peoples of the world together, I wonder if everyone in the world would be able to become friends right away. "All you Seven Sisters, listen. Right now, Ange is in the middle of magic training. So I want everyone to lend their power." "Certainly, Lady MARIA. But what specifically?" "The magical power materializing you will move from me to Ange. In that state, I want you to be by her side all the time. You just have to talk with her." "...My apologies, but I wonder if Ange-sama's magical power will be able to easily summon all seven of us around the clock..."The oldest sister, Lucifer, gazed at my complexion as she advised this, speaking reservedly.  "That's the kind of training it is. Ange has more talent and magic than everyone imagines. It'll be pretty tough, but I think it's worth it for Ange to take this challenge as she is now. Ange, starting now, I'll move the magic power materializing them over to you. In other words, it will become as though you had summoned them."So, what Maria onee-chan was trying to say was something like this. To keep the Seven Sisters materialized, you are continuously burdened with a significant amount of magical power. Maybe you could say it was like training while wearing a weighted wristband. 'Uryu... Doing all of the Seven Sisters would be pretty tough... Isn't that asking a lot of Ange all of a sudden...?' "Thank you, Sakutaro. But this is training to become a witch. I want to see how far I can go."...The seven of them certainly do seem boisterous. But even if this is for training, having them with me will surely distract me from my loneliness, at least a little. I understood it would be an ordeal, but wanted to give it a shot. "Don't overdo it if it gets tough, okay?And everyone, if it looks tough for Ange, take it easy." "Certainly. Get it, everyone?!" BGM: Parallel "Well then, Ange-sama. For now, we, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, will become your furniture. Lady MARIA, if you would." "Yeah. So, Ange, can we start?" "...Sure. I'm a little nervous." 'Uryu... This might be tough all of a sudden... If you feel like you're getting a headache, lower your magic power immediately...' "Okay, I'll move the source of magic power over to Ange..." In an instant, the inside of my head felt very heavy. This is... Yeah, it's tough... Until then, the inside of my head had only been used for myself. It was almost like it was now being used for seven other people. If they just stood there and blinked once or let out a single sigh, that would put a strong pressure on my head... "...Lady MARIA, my apologies, but perhaps the burden from all Seven Sisters at once might be too great after all." "...I-I'm okay... ack..." "...No... It won't work after all. You're using all of your energy to materialize them. There's no point if the burden is such that you can't balance it with your everyday life. And anyway, this is a bit unrefined for a witch." 'Uryu... That's why I said doing so many suddenly was impossible... Everyone, erase yourselves for a bit...' "Right. It seems it'd be better to lower the number of people. Asmo, erase yourself." "Me agaain? I'm opposed to youngest-sister-bullyiiing!! Disappear starting from the top every once in a whiiile!" "That would mean I'd have to disappear second, right?! No, no, nooo!" "Don't make a ruckus, Asmo and Levia-nee!! That kind of disturbance will become a burden to Ange-sama!!" "The noise you're making is also a burden, stupid Satan!!" "Eek!" "...Aah, ack... gah..."The Seven Sisters started arguing over who should erase themselves first. The energy from that fight all became a burden, forcing Ange to bear an even greater headache...  But even at that level, Ange was still far from comfortable. In the end, once six of them had erased themselves, I was finally able to calm my breathing. With my magical power, forget the Seven Sisters, just one person is my limit...  BGM: Apathy Mammon, who had won all of the rock, paper, scissors matches and was permitted to remain until the end, grumbled. 'Uryu... Mammon, you shouldn't say things like that... Ange is still just starting her training. Are you all right, Ange? Is your headache okay...?'Sakutaro stretched up on his tiptoes, trying to pat Ange's head. Watching this, Maria scratched her head, acknowledging that this sudden training had been too difficult. "Uu-. Maybe that was a little too much. I'd be perfectly fine with this much though. The more friends you have, the more fun it is." "...Now I'm even more aware of how incredible you are, Onee-chan..."Apparently, when one reaches Maria onee-chan's class, one can summon enough people to perform in an orchestra. For a witch apprentice, that's awe-inspiring...  "Are you okay? Ange-samaa?" "...I'm sorry... It looks like summoning you is the most I can do." "Well, I guess I'm okay with that. After all, of all the Seven Sisters, I get Ange-sama all to myself. What do you think, Ange-sama? If it's just me, will it be a burden for you?" "No, I think I'll be able to manage you alone somehow..." "Great! Then please train a lot and cultivate your magic power a bunch. Then someday, for sure, please bring the Seven Sisters together and let us serve you. Promise?" I see, that definitely fits with her being Greed. But maybe you could also call it having a positive attitude. "...Yes. I promise. I have to be able to do at least that much someday." "Thank you, Ange-sama! I, Mammon of Greed, will surely serve you until that day...!"My headache finally abated, and I relaxed both hands, which had been clutching at my head. Then Mammon stuck out her hand, helping me stand back up... 'Uryu? Ah. Maria, Ange, it's about that time. If we don't return to the room, you'll be scolded.' BGM: None I hadn't expected Sakutaro to talk about the time. I was brought back into reality. As though the light had disappeared, the vast world sunk into the darkness, and I was in a tiny, tiny bathroom stall, sitting on a toilet... Onee-chan's grimoire was open on my lap. I looked at the clock. It was almost 20:00, time for lights out. If I show up late for the roll call before lights out, not only will things get pretty annoying, but it'll cause trouble for my roommates and floormates. I couldn't care less about causing them trouble, but I don't want them messing with me later... *sigh*... My free time by myself is already over for today. I'll sleep, wake up, tomorrow will begin, and another long, long gray-colored day will repeat again. I closed the grimoire and rose from the toilet seat... At that time, Onee-chan appeared again and spoke.  BGM: Moonlit Night I'd forgotten. The moment I'd returned to reality, Mammon's materialization had stopped... One more time, I created a strong image of the existence of Mammon in my mind...   "...I'm sorry. I got careless." "It's been incredibly long since I've materialized in the human world, so I'm interested in absolutely everything. I'm getting a bit excited. Where is this?" "...The Saint Lucia Academy dormitory. This is a stall in the shared bathroom. Each room has its own bathroom, so no one comes here. It's quiet, and perfect for reading books." "So in this dorm, you have to hide in a toilet stall even to read a book? Do they burn books or something?"...I have a two-person room, so my roommate is always there. Our relationship is gloomy and it feels like I'm always getting ignored. The atmosphere's bad, so I really can't relax there. And, as long as I'm not there, she can do what she likes, call her friends over and chat away. It's more convenient for them too if I don't return until just before lights out. There's also a library, but there's a group that uses it as a meeting place, and they're always talking behind my back. So I don't like to go there. During lunch, it's the bushes behind the school building. During the night, it's the stall in the shared bathroom in the dorms. Those are the only hideaways where I can find peace... I opened the door to the stall... and went out. I turned around, signaling with my eyes for Mammon to come with me.  "...I don't really get it, but I realize it'd be hard to call this place pleasant for you, Ange-sama. Let's go out quickly. I hate the air here." "Really? I think the air here is the most decent." When it came time for lights out, we had to change into uniform pajamas that we hated and called prison clothes, line up in the hallway, and go through the dorm leader's roll call. On the off-chance that someone was late, we would take collective responsibility, and all of the floormates would have to undergo punishment in the form of volunteer work... As long as I avoided this, the girls would look at me coldly, but they wouldn't get in my way. That alone was enough for me. Mammon looked at the passing kids and the furnishings of the dorm with interest. Without paying her any particular attention, I hurried back to my room. In front of my room was my roommate, who had already changed into her prison clothes, chatting with some kids from the room next door. When they noticed me hurrying back, the topic of their conversation noticibly changed. They lowered their voices, stealing glances at me. I acted like I didn't notice, went into my room, and changed. Then I hastily went out into the corridor. Everyone was already lined up.  "You think so too? That's what I think. And unlike prison, you don't get out early for good behavior."...After bad-mouthing the place, I noticed something. Having someone to listen to your complaints... feels surprisingly good. Fortunately, Mammon's form can only be seen by her summoner, me. And of course, there was no need to speak out loud for this conversation. All I had to do was speak inside my mind, so no one could listen in. Magic... and the friends it creates... might actually not be so bad.  "All of these people are sheltered brats. Feels like they aren't even alive. Kyahahaha." "Stop it. If you're seen by some chance, it'll be pretty bad, right...?" "Humans without a fragment of hopes or dreams are like a lump of anti-magic. There's no way they'll be able to see me."" "Hah, you lower life-forms can't even see. *giggle*giggle*!" "...Are you okay being around so many Humans with that magic-resisting toxin?" "I'm fine as long as you continue to make me materialize, Ange-sama. Although, since you'll probably have to keep concentrating to materialize me, there's a chance you'll neglect your daily life. Look, that girl you're sharing a room with is calling you, right?" "...Huh? Oh-" She's probably trying to push a few more chores onto me. My roommate, who never even looked me in the eye normally, was smiling at me unpleasantly. But it'll be easier to have the weekly duty pushed onto me alone, rather than doing it together with her. That's a small price to pay to have her continue to ignore me non-stop... Even so, with a completely shameless excuse, she sidestepped the issue for some reason and insisted on flipping the situation around, as though I should've come forward and done it of my own initiative. One of the special traits of this academy is that it's full of girls who don't know how to ask a favor.  "Yeah. I hope you do, one of these days."...Yeah. Having a friend nearby all the time to complain to... makes me happier than I thought it would. It really was lively with all the Seven Sisters gathered together. I'm sure just watching them mess around will be a lot of fun. I want to gain enough magical power to summon all the Seven Sisters at once, and soon. So I'll train much, much more, and finally summon... the thing I really want to find. "...? What is it you really want to summon, Ange-sama?"Mammon noticed my conversation with myself inside my head and asked about it blankly. I hesitated to talk about it, but then figured that there was no reason to hide it and told her.   "So you mean... the souls of the dead...? Calling a resident of another world is summoning, but calling back the souls of the dead is called resurrection, and they're completely different. Resurrection is supposed to be a very high-level magic."I know. So much so that even Maria onee-chan can't do it at all. But that's the thing I want to find with magic... the most. I've been warned that it's a very difficult, high-level magic. So great that, in the worst case, I might not necessarily reach that point even after training for my whole life. Furthermore, I have no vessel. A vessel is vital for making magic succeed, whether it's summoning or resurrection. Because I don't have that, a magic that would already have been difficult is now hopeless. That's right. I have nothing to remember Dad or Mom by. However, by an extraordinary coincidence... I do have something to remember just Onii-chan by. And that's... this.  BGM: Wingless "Long ago, without telling Dad, I went with Mom to meet Onii-chan, and we went to play at an amusement park. This is a prize from the crane game there."I know it's cheap, I realize that it doesn't match my style, and I get that it's too childish. But this hair accessory is the only thing that makes me feel as though Battler onii-chan is by my side. The glass case had been filled with plastic capsules packed with fun-looking things. It seemed that each capsule had some cute accessory in it. The game was to grab those with the crane, but I was young and it was too hard for me. I tried it several times, but I didn't even get close. Mom said that whatever was inside was probably cheap anyway, and we didn't even know what we'd get, so there was no point in getting all upset over it. But whether it was something cheap or not wasn't the problem. The process of grabbing happiness with my own hands felt really important and sacred to me. So I wanted the cheap thing inside more than anything.  With his arms that were longer than mine, Onii-chan grasped the happiness that I couldn't reach. Onii-chan really was coordinated. It seems he often played with his friends at the arcades. After only one or two attempts, he grasped that thing on the other side of the glass with the crane that I hadn't even been able to touch... and threw it into the exit chute.  For several days, I felt like opening the capsule would be a waste. Then, one day, I finally opened it up. And what revealed itself inside... was this pink-jeweled hair accessory. Since that day... It's been a symbol for Onii-chan. Since I was young, I felt that having all four of us gathered, including Battler onii-chan, was a precondition for a happy family. So I wanted Onii-chan and Dad to make up quickly. In my own way, I'd treated this hair accessory as a charm for bringing my whole family together. So I always used to wear it. I wanted to feel my reliable, fun, and wonderful Onii-chan by my side all the time... and let him live in our house.  "One day, I'll surely possess the high-level magic to revive the souls of the dead. And the only key... the only vessel... that can make that successful is this." "...I see. I did feel an incredible magical power from that hair accessory. So that's what it was." "Magical power...? There's magical power in this thing Onii-chan gave me...?" "Maybe I should say that it resides in you, Ange-sama. Your strong desire to call your brother gives you magical power. Resurrection certainly is a high-level magic, but there can be no mistake that you're steadily and unconsciously climbing the stairs towards it." "...I'm glad. It's nice to hear someone other than myself acknowledge that." In that sense, even though these words came from a shady demon girl who controls one of the seven deadly sins, they made me very happy. "Well, I can't guarantee that you'll obtain the resurrection magic before your life is over. However, your power as a witch is proportional to the height of the mountain you dare to climb. If you don't lose heart, I'm sure you'll rival even our former master, Beatrice, as a Great Witch someday." "...I wonder if I can. I wonder if I can become a Great Witch and revive Onii-chan... no, my family." "The Witch of Resurrection, Lady ANGE...!" "Kyaah, wonderful! A Witch of Resurrection is a very rare kind of witch. Having a master like that would make me pretty proud. Actually, I'd love for that to happen. Because furniture's worth is also proportional to the class of its master! Please pass Beatrice-sama up and become a peerless Great Witch! As a representative of the Seven Sisters of Purgatory, I'll support you from the bottom of my heart! Kyaha!"...I'd thought that if a magical friend were to appear for me too, a cute kid like Sakutarou would be best. But even this fifth sister of the shady Seven Sisters who controlled the seven deadly sins... was enough to calm my heart so much all by herself. Maria onee-chan has probably known that since long ago. That's why she recommended the world of witches to me over and over and over again. And I kept on stubbornly rejecting her... I should've given in and started my training as a witch sooner. A year for a child is worth ten years for an old person, right...? Now I find my past self, which only ever complained, deplorable for wasting my precious time. Long after I turned off the lights and slipped into bed, Mammon continued to talk to me alongside my pillow. I promise. One day, for sure, I'll develop a magical power that can summon the Seven Sisters. And I'll let them have a lively and fun time. The seven of them make a single whole. None can be left out. 
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Feb 3, 2017 14:38
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So this has all been the imagination of a lonely girl who misses her family, and is trying to discover what went wrong on that island. Why do I have a bad feeling that Battler is going to be shown as less than innocent once the truth is uncovered? 
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Feb 3, 2017 15:12
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I wonder if that non aggression treaty will come into play at some time.
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Feb 3, 2017 15:19
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idonotlikepeas posted:Now, you can't just say something like that and not show it to us. Does anyone have a copy they can post? Somehow I only just now remembered reading this post. Personally I have a bigger problem with Ange's original sprites.  
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Feb 3, 2017 15:29
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tiistai posted:Somehow I only just now remembered reading this post. Personally I have a bigger problem with Ange's original sprites. To this day I have no idea why Ange wears a massive bowtie in her outfit. It's not even a school uniform.
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Feb 3, 2017 16:18
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She just wants her family back. What looks like mostly imagination exercises aside, Ange's difficulties aren't surprising. She's trying to keep her friends imagined without devoting most of her mental concentration. Imagining a conscious entity is one thing when you're sitting alone in a quiet room, but once you're out there walking around around and doing things that take attention it's something else entirely. Wait a minute, why is Ange back in school? Isn't she being chased down? And where's her bodyguard?  Edit to below: I...guess that's it? But the whole relearning to do magic thing seems a lot like a continuation of the previous update where she's already on the run... Lycaeon fucked around with this message at 18:19 on Feb 3, 2017 |
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Feb 3, 2017 18:04
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Lycaeon posted:Wait a minute, why is Ange back in school? Isn't she being chased down? And where's her bodyguard? The entirety of today's update is a flashback.
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Feb 3, 2017 18:10
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RedMagus posted:So this has all been the imagination of a lonely girl who misses her family, and is trying to discover what went wrong on that island. How would that work? Wasn't it said in red that Battler wasn't the killer or accomplice last episode? And Purgatory-Battler seems like an extension of First episode Battler and in the 2nd episode, the prospect of Battler's being the killer was brought up and dismissed. Is there something in all of this that makes you suspect otherwise, or is it just the suspicion that Ange's innocence regarding her family will be broken because that's the fate innocence seems to meet in this series? That isn't me saying that suspicion is wrong, because while Battler probably wasn't involved with the murders, her mom could have been... and even if she wasn't, Ange might see her whole obsession with Rudolph and her burning jealousy of Asumu. Ange lost everyone at that age where your mom and dad are seen by the child as perfect, infallible beings... how will she react now that she's Battler's age and learns the truth?
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Feb 3, 2017 18:53
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Lycaeon posted:Edit to below: I...guess that's it? But the whole relearning to do magic thing seems a lot like a continuation of the previous update where she's already on the run... I mean, thematically it is a continuation. She's thinking back on the first time she was learning how to magic because she's relearning it now.
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Feb 3, 2017 19:47
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Episode 4 basically has 5 plotlines it constantly jumps between with little warning, more or less on a whim.
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Feb 3, 2017 22:47
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Aumanor posted:The entirety of today's update is a flashback. tiistai posted:I mean, thematically it is a continuation. She's thinking back on the first time she was learning how to magic because she's relearning it now.  Still...slow doesn't mean uninteresting. If we look past the childishness of it, the idea that you can create a conscious, sentient, independent familiar that follows you around and comments on things like what Mammon and ghost-Maria are doing with Ange is more than a little fascinating. I just wish the ones shown here weren't so one-dimensional...the stake sisters are all pointlessly similar and the catboy might as well be a goldfish for all the personality he has. Though that's probably a consequence of them being part of Ange's brain power and not actually real. Lycaeon fucked around with this message at 01:01 on Feb 4, 2017 |
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Feb 4, 2017 00:41
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I've been working on-and-off on an interpretation of E2 incorporating the Shannon-as-mastermind theory, but I just wanted to post an exchange that made me  , now that we know Kinzo died prior to the game's events.ProfessorProf posted:
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Feb 4, 2017 01:00
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"...I remember how that person's wife used to be jealous of you. Is Kinzo well?"
"He is very well."
"...Hmph. *cackle*cackle*cackle*cackle*!"
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Tender Child Loins posted:I've been working on-and-off on an interpretation of E2 incorporating the Shannon-as-mastermind theory, but I just wanted to post an exchange that made me I'm pretty sure that hasn't been confirmed yet.
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Feb 4, 2017 01:27
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So the only written records that survive are Beatrice's. Well, there definitely was a Beatrice who could have written things down and thrown them into the sea. Say, here's something interesting. This year, someone fished a message out of the ocean that had been drifting for over 100 years.
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Feb 4, 2017 01:34
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savixeon posted:I'm pretty sure that hasn't been confirmed yet. Makes sense to me so I'm running with it as my "blue" theory. Same with him growing up in Taiwan, which is a possibility that has only been hinted at sideways at best in-game.
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Feb 4, 2017 04:22
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 Unable to stand watching Aunt Rosa and Maria onee-chan's relationship, I ran away from Beato's and Onii-chan's game, didn't I...? I've got to go back. I've got to go back, support Onii-chan, and quickly bring him back from this strange world of the witch's game. After all, as long as I'm here, I'm not allowed to call myself Ange. ...At that time, I felt someone's presence. When I turned around, I could see Mammon there.  BGM: 599 Million Ruins "...Thank you. I'll go back now." "Isn't it great?" "What is...?" "That you were able to meet Battler onii-chan." "...Is that sarcasm?" "Well, if that's how it sounds, feel free to call it that." "...I'm sorry. I should've taken it literally. Yeah, you're right. Even in this screwed up world, being able to meet Onii-chan makes me happy from the bottom of my heart." "And you'll win against Beatrice, for your Onii-chan's sake...?" "Yes. Can't have him playing around in a world like this forever. It's about time for him to return home. That's why I came to call him." "...Please do the best you can. Although I can't support you, since my current master is Beatrice-sama." "I know. Until October 5, 1986, you are Beatrice's furniture. And eventually, you'll become my friend." "But eventually, you'll throw that friend away. After all, ng, gah..." "Are you okay? It's pretty... painful." "...Excuse me, G-Gretel-sama." "No. Thank you." "...?" "I'm glad. Glad I was able to meet Onii-chan. That's my answer to your first question. Well, let's go back. If I grumble too much, you'll get in trouble with your current master." "Yes. I'm glad you understand. Well then, thi I'm sure Mammon was about to say "Well then, this way..." But then, she stopped, as though the film had been torn off at that point. It looked like she'd suddenly frozen. Then, I noticed. She wasn't the only thing that had frozen. Even the air and floating bits of dust had frozen in place in empty space. A world where it seemed even time had frozen. Yes. This looks like a portent that Bernkastel will appear. But the atmosphere was different somehow. Then, I understood. It wasn't Bernkastel. It was the other witch.  BGM: Golden Sneer "...Lambdadelta. The rules don't apply to you, do they?" "Of course not. Rules exist to bind others. What kind of idiot would bind themselves with them?"Bernkastel is a witch who supports me, but this girl is different. This witch supports Beatrice. In other words, she's a being on the opposing side. But there's some kind of difference between her and Beatrice. Even compared to Bernkastel, there's something strange about Lambdadelta's existence. It's... how should I put it... Maybe like she's a being from a higher dimension... In any event, I was still unsure about how to deal with her. The only thing that was certain was that she was my enemy. No, just knowing that might be enough, but... "So, do you have some business with me?" "Not really. When I listened in on your conversation, it started to get a bit interesting. I thought I'd let you hear something good." "You're supposed to be my enemy. I can't think of a reason for you to tell me something that'd help me. So the moment I start listening to you, I lose. Bye, <see you next time>." "Don't misunderstand. My opponent is Bern, not you. In other words, it's possible for there to be a topic that benefits both you and me." "...Sorry, but I don't feel like listening."...Although I said that, I probably won't be released from this frozen time until Lambdadelta is satisfied. This itself might be proof that she's in a higher dimension than me. I haven't been given the option of not listening to her. All I can do is try not to be shaken by anything she says... and strengthen my mental guard. She'll probably try to make me believe something disadvantageous to me, threatening me...  BGM: None "...Bernkastel...lied?" "Didn't Bern make it sound like your big brother would come back if you defeated Beato?" "...Who knows. I don't feel like talking with you."My brother coming home... I hadn't been promised anything that dream-like. Getting just one person only if I was lucky...had been a promise without very high hopes. But that's enough for me. After being promised an eternity of isolation, having a faint but still non-zero chance was like a shining beacon. "In a way, that promise of Bern's wasn't a lie. If Bern promised, then I'm sure that if you defeat Beato, Battler and your parents will be released and will come back to you." "Then there's no problem." "...Seriously? That kid is surprisingly cruel. To think she'd deceive you, even though she knows." "...How are you saying I was deceived?" ...But I won't be released until I lend an ear to her. So it's something I'll have to hear anyway... Even though I realized I was falling into a trap, I urged her forwards. "What year is it now?" "...You're talking about the world of the game board? In that case, it's October 4, 1986." "That's right. So if you win against Beato, then on October 6, when the typhoon has passed, the people who were trapped on the island will return. On October 6, 1986, that is, right?" "...So what?" "How was your October 6, 1986? ...You were at your relatives' house, right?"...I'd been at the house of the only Sumadera my mother trusted, Grandpa. We got a call. When I was playing with building blocks in the tatami room, we got that call... After watching to make sure that I'd remembered, Lambdadelta laughed unpleasantly... and spoke.  BGM: Miragecoordinator "..."Even though I didn't understand what she was saying, I noticed an unpleasant sweat seeping out all over my face... Aaah, I don't get it. I DON'T GET IT. What is... this witch saying...? "Okay, so it's like... If you defeat Beato, Battler will certainly be released. And he'll probably return home. To his home in 1986. After all, that's how it is, right? Battler was locked up from the 4th to the 5th of October in 1986. It's only natural that he'd return the next day if he were to be released, right?" "...And you? You're a person from the year 1998. You're Ushiromiya Ange of the year 1998 where Battler did not return. Know what that means?" "...What... are you talking about? If my family came back home on October 6, wouldn't that be wonderful? I'd come home from Grandpa's house right away. And then we'd meet. Everyone would be happy..." "Yes. Ushiromiya Ange probably would be reunited with her family. The six-year-old Ushiromiya Ange from 1986 would, right...?" "...Who am I?" "Ushiromiya Ange. An eighteen-year-old one." "No, that's not it. You aren't Ushiromiya Ange. You're a witch's piece with that name. Strictly speaking, the name ANGE Beatrice belongs to a completely different person. Know what that means?" ...Huh? Huh? Who... am I? Huh? "...And thaaat's why I think Bern's cruel. No, I think she's a meanie. Especially since it's not like she hasn't gone through the same thing herself." "...Am I... being tricked... somehow...?" "Yeah, but please don't blame Bern, okay? After all, depending on how you look at it, that kid isn't lying. If Beato is defeated, your family will be returned. Returned to Ushiromiya Ange. But she probably didn't say that this Ushiromiya Ange would be you, right...?"Was it like that...was it like that...? What did Bernkastel say to me, again...?  Bernkastel started by saying that. Then I spoke. If I save them, does that mean my family will come home? And how did Bernkastel answer that, again...? Umm, umm... '...I cannot promise that.' U-Umm...! She did make me a promise. In exchange for accepting this fight...! Yes, this is what she said!  ...Yeah, that's right. She didn't say any more than that she'd look for it. She didn't say she'd find it. But... I was prepared for that from the beginning. But even so, that child promised that as long as I didn't give up, there was a faint chance of it happening... And, in the end, she said this. 'I'm giving you a chance for revenge. In exchange, I promise to search for and bring you the happiest resolution among the possibilities you're capable of accepting.'  "Even just a small chance of shaking that absolute zero... would be worth it. I was warned beforehand that even if I succeeded in my revenge, it might be a wasted effort. So, umm..." "Yeah, there's no lie in that part. Beato's game board is perfect. Even having you around makes the chances of Beato losing so slim that it's doubtful you could even dream of it happening once in your life." "In other words, your chance of winning is almost zero, so absolutely that it could be regarded as infinitely close to zero. So, Bern can be forgiven for saying that part in such an evasive way." "...But I can say for sure that she was tricking you when she let you get your hopes up. After all, even if you could overcome astronomical odds and win, the person your family will come back to isn't you. It's the six-year-old Ange that exists in this 1986, the true Ushiromiya Ange. Not YOU." "...Bern will still probably go around the billions of Fragments, searching for the best world for you. But didn't she tell you? That she planned on bringing it to you as a present, but wasn't able to find it?" "...She did..." "Hehheheheheh, *giggle*giggle*giggle*...!! You're finally starting to notice, aren't you...? No reward has been prepared for you in this battle." "...The sort of goal you'd be capable of accepting is completely... ..no. I'll proclaim it upon my name. Upon the name of the Witch of Certainty, Lambdadelta! I proclaim that it 'certainly' doesn't exist...!" "...That can't be..." "That's what Bern lied about. Or should I call it speaking in riddllles? She made you misunderstand and think you could be saved. I came to clear that up." "...In other words, no matter how hard I fight, no matter how hard I pursue victory, my family won't come back to me...?" "Right, they won't come back! With 'certainty'! Ohohohohohoh!! The Witch of Certainty says it with certainty!" "Isn't this incredible? Several ancient kings have dedicated historical buildings to me because they wanted me to give them certainty! And here I am, graciously giving it to you as a present. Isn't this reeally incredible, cute and marvelous? Ohohohohohh!! Buut! I have a single good proposition for you." I knew I shouldn't have listened, and now I'm starting to be overwhelmed by this witch, Lambdadelta...! "My opponent is Bern, not you. Didn't I just say it's possible for the two of us to talk about something that benefits us both? I've said that from the beginning. So listen to me. You have no choice...!" "...Okay, okay, I'll listen... I've just gotta listen, right?!!"I finally lost control over my emotions and exploded from the inside. I don't have a clue anymore. I believed that I was Ange. But at some point, I stopped being Ange. That's right, I'm ANGE. Not Ange...! Who am I? I'm not my parents' child, nor my brother's little sister. I'm just a piece... in a witch's game...! "There's no need to be so pessimistic. I mean, think about it, okay? Right now, you're together with Battler onii-chan." "While it's true that you can't tell him your name, at least you're positioned as his ally in a game where he battles a witch, and you're able to be with him for all eternity. Know what it meeeans...??"...I can't stand it, but I understand...  Continuing to tie means continuing the game for eternity, and it means that I can remain with Onii-chan as a piece. But if Onii-chan wins... or loses, and the curtain closes on the game... "You, as a piece, will disappear." "..." "How do you define happiness for a game piece? Getting used by someone playing the game, nothing more. You won't find it when the game's shut in a closet, gathering dust, right?"...In the past, the Seven Sisters of Purgatory said it as well. Furniture's happiness comes from being used, not being stored away. That's right. I am now... the witch's... furniture. "Let's change things around a bit. To be honest, I want this game to continue in a tie for all eternity. An unending game is an eternal cage. An absolute closed room that never opens for all time and that'll finally make Bern surrender." "After all, if the game ends, the closed room'll fall apart. So I'll go easy on Battler a bit, to stop him from surrendering. Don't worry, okay? When Battler's about to surrender, I'll become his ally." "...But you know? I get the feeling that Beato is faintly starting to realize. I think she's starting to realize that her victory won't come for all eternity in this game." "But she is, of course, the Endless Witch. Beato's stupid, so she optimistically thinks that even so, she'll surely win eventually, like she just has to repeat this game on and on endlessly. Of course, pretty much all blondes are morons, *giggle*giggle*!" "...In this game of witches, there will never be... a victory or a loss..." "...Bern noticed that. So, she looked for the most powerful piece for breaking that deadlock, found you, and threw you in. To make this game end, you see?" "...To make this game... end..." "What's a piece's role when the game ends? I'll state it clearly. Your existence is a contradiction. Your reason for existing is to bury yourself in the darkness and despair...!"My goal is to defeat Beato and release my captive family. And yet, even if I succeed, I won't be rewarded.  ...Continuing the tie... for all eternity... "Yes. As long as the tie continues forever, this world will not crumble." "What is this world? It's the world of the game with the witch. A world where Beato and Battler fight for all eternity." "And at the same time, it's a world where you get to be with Battler for all eternity...!!" "...Nng, aaaah... ah..."My head was spinning. That confusion became a hot liquid, and I felt it pouring from my eyes... It was so hot... that it felt like it'd burn my face...  "...That kid tricked you, you see? She made it look like you might be saved if you became her piece. But I won't deceive you there!" "...So I'll say it, ANGE. Become my chess piece. Unlike Bern, I won't offer you rewards based on lies that certainly will never be granted. As long as you become my piece and help me so that this world 'certainly' never ends... Then with 'certainty', I'll swear upon my name that this world will 'certainly' continue!" "That's not all. I'll add on a bonus. This rule that binds you. I'll clear it away for you. Well, of course, I'll only do it after you've sworn to become my piece, okay?"In my own throat, there was a thick, loud gulping sound... Aah, I shouldn't have listened... If I hadn't listened, I could've remained an innocent little sister, praying for my brother's victory. But I might be different now. I might've been degraded into a witch's furniture, one that cares about nothing but being by Onii-chan's side... "...I'm not telling you to betray your brother, okay? If it looks like Battler's gonna lose, you can save him with all you've got. On the other hand, when Battler closes in on Beato too much, I want you to hold back a little. That's all I'm asking, all right?" "Don't worry, there's no need to actually betray Battler. Battler can't win against Beato alone. That's why Bern threw you in, you see? As long as you don't lend a hand, Battler will be unable to win against Beato for all eternity." 
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Feb 4, 2017 15:28
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Welcome to paradox time people. This is why going back to change the past is so hard. If you go back and change it, why did you make the time machine and go back in the first place? HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA
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Feb 4, 2017 18:46
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DLord posted:Welcome to paradox time people. This is why going back to change the past is so hard. If you go back and change it, why did you make the time machine and go back in the first place? The only answer that makes sense is multiple timelines but then that means that your change didn't help the time you came from. And that is why time travel is almost never the answer to your problems.
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Feb 4, 2017 18:51
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What a bitch.
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Feb 4, 2017 18:51
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And the other shoe drops - even if Ange rejects it, the temptation will now forever be at the back of her mind, and she may end up subconsciously give suboptimal advice because "Help Battler" and "Stay with Battler" are now opposite goals in her mind. Strawberry Shortcackle is the most wicked witch.
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Feb 4, 2017 19:06
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But in the end, imaginary is imaginary. It's not real. If Ange ever solves what happened, the mystery, the tea room, the battle with Beatrice, and being alongside her brother, all of that will end. She'll return to her present, where her family is still dead, and nothing can bring them back. But it'll be even worse, as for a brief time her imagination and delusion did bring her brother and family back. They'll be dead for good this time, as once she understands the mystery she'll know their deaths for certainty. So the solution is apparently to never solve the mystery, but continue in the delusion of trying to solve it, so she'll be with her brother and family forever, with the slight caveat of having to watch the latter get murdered over and over. Edit: Now that I think about it the tea room meta world purgatory stuff isn't nonsense at all, but a rather cleverly constructed metaphor for the psyche in general. quote:
I don't think you realize the irony of that statement. Lycaeon fucked around with this message at 23:04 on Feb 4, 2017 |
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Feb 4, 2017 19:07
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Well, technically time travel would work. In fact, it would another answer to the question of the murders, that someone from the future made a time machine and went back to create this mystery. No magic needed and capable of creating all the closed rooms as well.
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Feb 4, 2017 20:06
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I kind of get the feeling that even if Battler wins everyone's still getting hosed over, like the future Ange comes from will refuse to change regardless. Maybe in this time loop or whatever you like to call it Eva eventually leaves the island regardless of any interference, and since she's more than a little familiar with Beatrice she could have been eventually screwed over by Ange on the game board. Which would explain why Eva hates Ange so much, although Eva might have just grown to be an old sack of poo poo because of her dead family.
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Feb 4, 2017 20:19
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The more and more I read over things the more I'm starting to realize this story isn't just a murder mystery but also some sort of philosophical allegory. I took a course in philosophy and literature in college, and Ange's predicament bears an awful amount of similarity to one of the central concepts we looked at - the knight of faith and knight of resignation. The philosopher's name was Søren Kierkegaard. I won't go on a whole lecture about the subject, but in short, both knights are people who are pursuing an impossible goal or dream. The knight of resignation accepts the dream is impossible and becomes content with holding the image of it in his mind forever. The knight of faith, however, goes the opposite direction - he makes a leap of faith - the leap into infinity - and chooses to believe his goal and dream is real and achievable despite all evidence telling him otherwise. This is further emphasized as a miracle - the knight of faith has reached the impossible by denying reality, embracing divine possibility instead. Which is the exact predicament Ange's facing. She wants her brother and family back, which is for all intents and purposes an impossible goal. She makes the leap of faith anyways, symbolized by jumping off the building and embracing a miracle - The Witch of Miracles, in fact. And so she enters a world where her brother is alive, alive and fighting against the witch that murdered her family. She enters the fight as well, to bring her family home. Opposing her in this scene we see the Witch of Certainty, Lamdadelta. She represents reality - the knowledge that her family is definitely dead and there is no way of bringing them back. Except there is. Bernkastel, the Witch of Miracles, embodies that hope, that one in a million chance that her faith will be rewarded and that her family will return. quote:
We would call this delusion, because all of this is in her imagination. But what is faith if not delusion? Faith is the very act of believing in the impossible. The author of this story is a genius. 
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Feb 4, 2017 21:48
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"...Trying to read any probabilities before the result is useless. So I cannot tell you that number."
"Yes. As long as you do not throw that desire of yours away. But be prepared. It is extremely close to zero."
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Lycaeon posted:I don't think you realize the irony of that statement. But Strawberry Shortcackle isn't blonde, she's Super-Paper! There's a huge difference.
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Feb 4, 2017 22:02
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Between EP4 and EP5, a total of four extra TIPS were released. Three of them got the visual novel treatment in Tsubasa. This one, similarly to the Letter from a Summoner, was released in the commercial guidebook for EP4 and as such also has parts of it omitted. Unlike the Letter, though, this one already had a translation by one animesuki forums user cardslash02 so I didn't have to start from scratch. It was a decent translation but I did do some editing and fixed some mistakes. The two speakers (interviewer and interviewee, presumably) were denoted with the two different kinds of Japanese quotation marks, 「」 and 『』. I left these in as they were, the main reason being that telling the difference between ' and " is a bit more annoying. A Certain Witch Hunter's Interview Tape (omitted) 『During the war, Mr. Ushiromiya was just a powerless junior officer, but because of his proficiency in English he was able to establish strong affiliations with the occupying forces after the war, obtaining great influence and connections. Because of this, it was rumored that he procured the gold using his relations with the US army.』 (omitted) 「He also utilized the authority of the GHQ to purchase Rokkenjima, did he not?」 『That's right. With the GHQ connection always supporting him in the background, Mr. Ushiromiya rapidly stocked up assets in the postwar period. People say that he was quick to receive word of the Korean War, securing his place among the rich who reaped the biggest benefits from the special procurements.』 (omitted) 「Then, as I thought, Mr. Ushiromiya was just a gambler who happened to win a once-in-a-lifetime bet, and the legend of the gold is just an illusion.」 『I can't say for sure. Until Mr. Ushiromiya's gold is exposed under the light of day, it will remain just an illusion... But even so, as daring as the president of Marusoo certainly was, he was not the kind of careless man to have blind faith in his business partners.』 (omitted) 『This was told by a certain doctor who was close to the president at the time he was dying. (TL note: The word used here was "sensei" which could refer to a variety of professions, such as teacher, but I figured doctor is a good guess given that the president was dying.) (omitted) Ultimately, the chairman made a 40% investment in the faction as a whole, but a 10% share was a personal investment. It was that 10% share. In other words, 10% of the ten tons of gold, or one ton, was practically entrusted with him.』 「One ton of gold bars, is that so? Today, the relative value would be about two billion yen, right?」 『Those gold bars were eventually returned to Mr. Ushiromiya, but it is said they were temporarily placed in the possession of the president. (omitted) In the arrangement of inheritance after the chairman passed away, there was only one piece of evidence supporting the existence of the Ushiromiya gold. A single 10 kg ingot had turned up. I think it had probably been a commemorative gift of some sort.』 「Without the president's cooperation, there's no way he could have gained the trust of the other power brokers. Perhaps it was a reward or gratitude for that.」 『I think so too. However, after that, it seems the gold ingot was unfortunately lost. There are no photos left of it either, but there are many who witnessed it such as the family and stakeholders.』 (omitted) 『Well, there are a lot of things in this world that cannot be proven with physical evidence. Do you love your wife?』 「Sorry, I'm single.」 『You see, a wedding ring is supposed to be the proof of a mutual, everlasting vow of love. But even that doesn't stop cheating and adultery, right? Whether you and your spouse still love each other or not, if you have to ask them to prove it to you, isn't that in itself proof that your love has disappeared?』 「I suppose it is.」 『As the wife keeps repeating that she loves her husband, he has no choice but to take her words at face value. It's surely the same for the wife. Every morning, when you turn 50 or 60, the morning starts with a kiss. But if that's nothing but a habit and the love's long gone, there's nothing you can do anymore.』 「Is that because "without love, it cannot be seen"?」 『Oh, it seems you know that phrase. Yes, it's exactly that. The people who didn't stop respecting and believing in the president could certainly see the ten tons of gold. The people who didn't care about the president or Mr. Ushiromiya could not see it. Something like that?』 (omitted) 『This truth about Rokkenjima or whatever it is that you guys are pursuing, there's nothing left of it anymore. It's been a long time and all the evidence is long gone... You should just decide on whatever you like. (omitted) If you want to understand what happened, you need evidence. Actually, no, if you just figured out what they were thinking, wouldn't you inevitably understand what happened?』 「"Spin the chessboard around", is that what you mean?」 『What is that?』 「Ah, never mind. Basically, it means to read your opponent's moves. Getting a feel for your enemy's thought process.」 『Oh, that's what it means. Yeah, that sounds about right. What were Mr. Ushiromiya and the other related people thinking, how did they want to live their lives? If you don't think about things like that, you'll never arrive at the truth.』 「"Without love, it cannot be seen"?」 『Hahhaha, again with that pretentious line. Yeah, that's fine too. That rich weirdo, what ridiculous schemes could he even have been up to? Thinking like that, it cannot be seen either. If you assume you couldn't possibly understand what a strange, wealthy eccentric was thinking, take off those rose-colored glasses! I suggest you think of him as just a human being. Shouldn't that be enough? Associating him with this, I can help my childhood friend save face, isn't that right?』 「Thank you very much. Once I've prepared the transcript I will send it to you, so please check it over.」 『That's okay, checking is a pain so just publish it as it is. No matter what gets glossed over, anyone reading it in bad faith will come up with a spiteful interpretation anyway. Just please leave me anonymous. That was my condition for talking to you in the first place.』 「Yes, I understand. Thank you again for today.」 『You're welcome. Could you stop the tape now? No matter how many times I do it, audio recording- bzzrrt.
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Feb 4, 2017 22:41
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Lycaeon posted:The more and more I read over things the more I'm starting to realize this story isn't just a murder mystery but also some sort of philosophical allegory. Well, he's certainly somebody whos thought things through! But this is a really good point that illustrates this dilemma, and a good illustration of the predicament Ange faces. Following the thread of Shortcackle's logic, she isn't actually guaranteed to wink out of existence- as a creature of the possible future, she might just be dumped back into her lonely, miserable present whilst watching the child Ange achieve happiness in another parallel dimension. Or else just be stuck in limbo as another Witch, as this seems to be how they come about. It's a really knotty question if you follow it to its conclusion: if you had the opportunity to guarantee happiness or the aversion of a mistake for your past self, would you take that opportunity, even if it meant nothing would change for you due to either non existence or, as Sir Terry put it, a refugee of the opposing leg of the Trousers of Time? Well, I'd certainly like to believe I would (because I'd like to believe I'm not a selfish monster  ), but that's a heavy decision on Ange's shoulders. Not the first time this problem has been addressedf in visual novels either, as it comes up in another no half as clever, but easily twice as wordy...
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Feb 4, 2017 22:51
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resurgam40 posted:It's a really knotty question if you follow it to its conclusion: if you had the opportunity to guarantee happiness or the aversion of a mistake for your past self, would you take that opportunity, even if it meant nothing would change for you due to either non existence or, as Sir Terry put it, a refugee of the opposing leg of the Trousers of Time? The knight of infinite resignation is what Ange would be if she accepts true happiness is impossible for herself. It's the option Lamdadelta is offering her; "keep this fight going forever, so you can forever hold the image of your brother and family in your mind while accepting that you'll never get them back." (Quoted from wikipedia: "The knight of infinity may or may not believe that they may be together in another life or in spirit, but what's important is that the knight of infinity gives up on their being together in this world; in this life.") The knight of infinite resignation contents himself with holding the memory of his dream in his heart forever while accepting its impossibility. quote:
Bernkastel offers Ange the divine possibility the knight of faith would embrace; that it is possible for Ange to regain her family in this world, in this life. (Quoted from wikipedia: "The knight of faith feels what the knight of infinite resignation feels, but with exception that the knight of faith believes that in this world; in this life, they will be together.") Such a thing is impossible, but it's that belief in the impossible that defines the knight of faith and separates him from the knight of resignation. quote:
It's really a beautiful allegory, and I'm kicking myself for thinking the tea party scenes were nonsense. Edit: It would also explain why Bernkastel and Lamdadelta are fighting each other; they're two fundamentally opposing philosophical concepts in the psyche of Ange or anyone else faced with the dilemma of desiring something that is impossible. Either you can resign yourself to the fact that it will never happen but still fantasize about it, or you can believe that it will happen anyway through a miracle. Edit2: Christ, Ange isn't the only person faced with this dilemma. Just look at Kinzo. 
Lycaeon fucked around with this message at 04:03 on Feb 5, 2017 |
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Feb 5, 2017 00:57
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bman in 2288 posted:What a bitch. Ryukishi07 wrote every piece of dialogue of this story, including the actions of the characters you are making GBS threads yourself over. Please take this criticism of yours his way, and stop getting so mad over fictional characters. I didn't think it'd come to this, but the Stake sisters are actually really likeable. Seeing Ange be able to have a friendship with at least one of them helps balance out the poo poo that Ange has to deal with in her life, and boy, does it keep piling up. Please, Beatrice, start murdering everyone already. EagerSleeper fucked around with this message at 08:24 on Feb 5, 2017 |
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Feb 5, 2017 08:21
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EagerSleeper posted:I didn't think it'd come to this, but the Stake sisters are actually really likeable. All Seacats are strong in their own special ways 
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Feb 5, 2017 08:39
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Let's get some posts to push the impending update onto a new page.
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Feb 5, 2017 15:24
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Still worried about Sakutaro.
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Feb 5, 2017 15:34
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There definitely has to be meaning that out of all the Stakes, Ange picked Mammon to keep summoned.
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Feb 5, 2017 15:57
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Robindaybird posted:There definitely has to be meaning that out of all the Stakes, Ange picked Mammon to keep summoned. You mean besides greed being the most fitting one for her character?
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Feb 5, 2017 16:00
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Robindaybird posted:There definitely has to be meaning that out of all the Stakes, Ange picked Mammon to keep summoned. The reason for that seems to be quite trivial- she has the stake corresponding to her.
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Feb 5, 2017 16:03
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