"…And that's all for my father's adventures. We were born nine months later, and educated by the Heavenly Knights. I received most of my lessons from Tamamo and Erubetie took a liking to me, while Neris has been taught the way of the sword by Granberia and spent a lot of time with Alma Elma's to our parent's chagrin."

"Ok, let's take a break for a second if everybody's fine with it."

Micaela massaged her forehead as she looked around her. Alma Elma and Neris were busy casually gossiping slightly away and Ilias was trying to make herself as small as possible as her crimes against everyone had been laid bare one more time in front of every one. Only Tamamo and herself had fully and carefully followed the story counted by Nero, getting some much needed insight on their actions in the process.

"Let's disregard what Ilias did for now. The situation is desperate enough as is and she's already paying it hard enough."

"Thank you." The small goddess voice was a pathetic whisper.

"We don't do this out of generosity." Tamamo looked at her with jaded eyes. "There are a lot of people who still want you dead out there, and we won't let you die until this whole crisis is solved, with your concourse of course. We will make sure that you are correctly accommodated, supported and geared, but should you start getting back to your old tricks, I will make sure Luka ends you. Is that clear?"

Ilias nodded. Micaela didn't say anything. Now that they knew everything about her, that threat was not fully unwarranted, even in her current situation and even after everything that the small goddess had to endure, Micaela wasn't sure her debt could be fully paid: She was the one responsible for creating the Goddess of Chaos as a side effect of a plan that involved a failed genocide, all that because she couldn't bear the continued existence of monsters. From its motivation to its result, everything with what Ilias had done was wrong. Maybe if she did spent the remainder of her life atoning.

Micaela shook her head. She could have stepped in herself and ended Black Alice when Ilias saved the damn Monster Lord, just like Lucifina offered to do. She shouldn't be one to judge.

"So the hero and the Sixteenth indeed end up romantically involved… Now that she's dead and with Luka currently giving up on life, you'll certainly never exist in this world."

"Wait, what is it with Luka-boy quitting?" Neris and Alma Elma joined back the group.

"He's currently fine with all the worlds getting destroyed if it means that those that are wrecking this one die in the process."

"…Luka never gave up."

Micaela leaned back against a tree. "I understood that, but then again, he apparently could have if those parallel worlds some of us visited were anything to go by. And you didn't exactly considered all those moments when Luka asked himself maybe in his adventures. It could have ended as soon as Iliasburg apparently. Back onto the matter at hand, it looks like he lost his heroic willpower long ago, getting only merely carried by the motion. And with what happened recently, reasons to live followed suit."

"I could give him reasons to live." Neris smiled lewdly, licking her lips.

Everybody save for Alma Elma stared in disbelief at her. Tamamo was the first one to talk.

"No doubt, you had a hand in her education."

"Neris. That was in really poor form."

"Besides, I already claimed dibs." Alma continued with a sing song voice.

Micaela kept massaging her face to comfort herself.

"Before we continue, I would like to remind both of our nymphomaniacs that we're currently dealing with the upcoming end of the world, a predicament that is not helped in the slightest by the current mindset of the hero who's supposed to save it. So if you want a chance with him later, you must first focus a bit on the issue at hand, please."

Both monsters looked down in shame for the shortest of second before going back to gossiping.

"Now, on to the anomaly itself that led you here… What, when, how."

Nero closed his eyes as he recalled what happened. "Several months before we left, a tear appeared at the navel of the world where the gate that led to Heaven was. Tamamo started directly investigating it, and, after a few weeks of research, we found out that the death of Ilias did have… Unexpected side effects." Nero grimaced. "Then we further examined the place, and we've seen the other world through it. The first things we noticed were the Tartarus and the Chaos Goddess herself. As we learned more and more, we found out that the rift kept expanding."

"Let me guess what comes next." A frustrated Micaela continued. "The best minds worked together and found that its speed of expansion was related to the one happening in other worlds, and that it's related to how close they are to the true history, namely, your."

Nero raised an eyebrow. "Do you really need us to tell you everything?"

This time, it was the first seraph who looked down in shame. "Sorry. Bad memories from last time I heard that speech…"

The young man decided not to push that point further.

"You're fully right anyway. Since we have both dark and holy powers in our genes thanks to our lineage, we were able to go through Tartarus and reach the other dimension in an attempt to correct its course… Then the White Rabbit fell on top of us. I had heard about it from Tamamo's lessons, but I apparently hadn't given them the credit it's due."

"By the way, what is she exactly?"

Tamamo shrugged. "Simply put, the most fitting and simple designation would be the Spirit of Time. Contrary to the other ones, she's not materialized most of the time since she's not linked to an element, but to an abstract concept. She was supposed to guide the Monster Lord through time of crisis should Ilias abuse of her skills in that domain and try to pull someone from another timeline, the present, or the future to help her in her fight. Luckily it never happened… Until now."

The kitsune scratched her head with her fan. "I guess she sealed Alice because the Sixteenth would never have gone on an adventure with Luka if she had her full power in that context. Someone looking for his father is less interesting than someone wanting to spread coexistence. Besides, Alice's mother wanted her daughter to not be involved into that mess and likely asked for a favor, I guess."

"Since we were acting directly, she initially attacked us. We managed to learn at that moment that people from other world interacting and messing with true history also increased chaosization. Since then, we took a more supporting approach than a direct one, and we focused mostly on helping Luka on his adventures as soon as they started. Of course, we also had to keep an eye on the other invaders that arrived."

"And we thank you for your support, but unfortunately, you also brought a new lot of issues. Your mistimed presence led to the White Rabbit being unable to support Alice when she needed it the most."

"She was the one who attacked us!"

"And you're the ones who intruded in her home world. Still, we have a more urgent problem with Luka being unresponsive. It's clear everybody has his sights on him both for his role in history and his limited time travel abilities, and the hero is somewhat psychologically vegetative right now."

"And we're currently in the dark about that, so if you could tell us what this is about…"

"The gist of it is that Luka can go back to the beginning of his adventure once Ilias is dead." Micaela looked at Tamamo. "Can the White Rabbit do that?"

The kitsune fanned herself. "With the work of Reaper, the one of the beginning and the end, it would make sense. The beginning of his adventure is marked by Ilias's appearance in his dreams, and end with her death. Sooo... If he indeed got welcomed into his Hades by them..."

Ilias blinked, dumbfounded by Tamamo's explanations.. "Where did you learn all that? Even as a goddess, I don't know anything about them!"

"From my own mistakes when dealing with magic, mostly… I learned a lot from the secrets of this world, enough to get entrusted by the Dark Goddess to watch over her bloodline." Tamamo's ears flickered repeatedly. "I'll be honest, I'm just throwing out educated guesses there. I never really dealt with her directly before all that mess."

Nero repositioned his glasses. "I see... On the matter of Luka, how many times did he run through this adventure?"

"Even he doesn't know." Micaela took a breath and considered what she just said while everybody was looking at her. "…Really too many times then. And if he restarted each one of them, it's likely because they went as well as this one…"

"…Wow, how didn't he go crazy from that before?"

"…Good question, I see several possible answers, and I don't like any of them."

"You really think those two erased Luka's memory of the most traumatic events? I mean... Why?"

"We can only make supposition, but I'm starting to get afraid about their endgame with him exactly. The White Rabbit more or less said she want the world saved, but I remain skeptical on the matter."

Ilias frowned. "I manipulated enough heroes when I was back into Heaven to know that their intention behind it is nothing good."

"…In any case, we told you everything we know." Nero bowed in front of the group. "We're willing to help you if it helps Luka."

Micaela looked at Tamamo, and saw her crazy playful eyes back on her face for a split moment before the kitsune turned toward Nero. At least one person got back in a better mood.

"Weeell, since you currently don't have to follow the hero Luka, you basically are free right now, aren't you?"

"We still have some tasks to accomplish, but otherwise, we're willing to help you."

…How can you manage to master the most complex magical spells and miss a red flag that big?

"Good, because we might require your help for a little something."

"Sure, what is it?"

"You see, it's about the Snow Continent…"

"Well that's fortunate."

Tamamo was smiling again. Her companions were glad to see her like that. But deep down, each of them doubted about whether that was because she had seen a hope for the future of the Fateburn line, or if it was because the kitsune's wickedness was resurfacing as the plan to take revenge against the Lilith Sisters was coming along.

The party was back in the Pocket Castle, enjoying a few drinks after the relatively tense exchange with the twins. However, they agreed it was worth the time spent, as they now had a more reliable support from them.

"Now we only have to pull Luka out of his depression. If anybody has any ideas on how to do it…"

"I tried having Heinrich motivate him." Ilias shook her head. "No result."

"He doesn't even react to my teasing…" Alma Elma crossed her arms under her chest and pouted.

Tamamo took a small sip from her tea. "Well, I have an infallible strategy remaining…"

"No brainwashing."

"I wasn't thinking about it."

"No Lukamaera either."

The kitsune's ears perked up."…Actually you gave me an idea there. I should see Promestein…"

Micaela and Ilias both grimaced, and Tamamo took a moment to enjoy their expression before continuing. "…But I was more thinking about a traditional sustained psychological accompaniment."

Alma Elma nodded. "I would have agreed, but this is going to take months."

"But it's not like we have much of a choice anyway… See what you can do. In the meantime, I'm going to see if Chrome managed to do something with the doll parts. See you."

Micaela stepped up from her chair and started making her way to the laboratory while her other companions kept discussing detail for Luka's upcoming therapy.

She reached the laboratory to be greeted by the sight of Chrome sleeping on a desk, with an unsupervised distillation montage bubbling furiously on the side.

"Chrome."

The small necromancer catapulted awake. "Don't drink that Frederica! The blue glue is for dolls, not zombies!"

"Whatever. Is this normal?" Micaela pointed at the montage.

The answer came in a slurred speech. "I dunno, Lucia was the one working on it. Anyway, I got this for you…"

Chrome pointed at a small package wrapped in cloth. Micaeal carefully opened it, expecting something to come out to bite her. "They're Doll Slaying Talismans. They directly disrupt the artificial nervous system existing inside them."

"Only three? I mean, you did a good job, but I'd thought you'd be able to do more."

"I could have done a lot more… But there were only two decaying feet and no actual doll parts because someone pulverized them to oblivion…"

"Still, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Chrome face planted on the desk again while Micaela briskly walked away from the experiment that was now whistling loudly, threatening to blow in the necromancer's face.

Tamamo entered into Luka's room to see the hero in the same pathetic state Heinrich had seen him earlier: He was still curled up on his bed, perfectly immobile, staring at his feet. She jumped in front of him in an attempt to comfort him.

"Sheeesh, still folded over yourself? Determined to let yourself die?"

"Aren't you the same?"

"I did my mourning, and after going out, I found out the situation isn't so hopeless after all. In fact, it was stupid of me to act like that and close on myself with so much support around. Maybe you should consider getting out of your room and take a moment to see the others."

"Why would I? What's the point?"

"Does everything need one?"

Luka raised an eyebrow. The first physical reaction the kitsune had seen since the beginning of their discussion.

"Of course, you're a hero involved in saving the world from literal otherworldly threats in a race against time. But sooner or later comes a moment when you should learn to take a break and remember that you're fighting for something and someone. Remember what I said when we went to Grangold?"

"You mean before we found Alice got killed…"

"Yes. And as sad as it is, as much as it is a personal failure for me, I can't let myself die for it. There are still people to save out there, a mission to accomplish… And to carry me through that, I still have friends to support me, delicious tofu to eat, and company to take. And I intend to enjoy those to their fullest. Those small things are also what help me go through the harder times."

Luka emitted a few groans under his breath. Tamamo couldn't tell if it was because she was starting to grate his nerves or if it was because she started to reach him… In any case, her work to pull him out was a long-term mission. She could resume it later.

"Well, I'm off!" She jumped from Luka's bed, with a big, goofy smile. "Alma's out there drinking alone, and I want to see what happens next! Don't you want to see it yourself?"

"No." It was barely a pathetic whisper.

"Suit yourself!"

She started stepping away when Luka called out to her.

"Tamamo?"

"Yes?"

"…Can we talk more later? There are some things I want to know about."

The kitsune tilted her head and smiled. "Sure! Any time you want!"

She slowly closed the door that lead to the hero's room, and, the next instant, Alma Elma was in front of her with a huge smile on her face and both hands behind her back.

"Remember when I told you you could make up to me later for your little outburst?"

Tamamo's ears flattened themselves on top of her head. "Yes, I do…"

"Weeeell, you're officially inscribed into the next Master Tournament at the Colosseum. There's only one detail to solve, and it's your gladiatorial name."

The kitsune's ears perked back up. It sounded funnier than expected… Until Alma Elma showed her two sets of clothes: One was a large round red armor with a green helmet, and the other one was a black and white French maid uniform with leopard trimming, topped with a ring held by a metal wire that made it look like the halo of an angel.

"Do you prefer Tomato Nowae or Fluffing Maid?"

Tamamo's eyes voided themselves of any life in front of the choice presented to her. Right afterward, she had a small hiccup and exploded into uncontrollable burst of laughters.

On her throne in the Puppeteer's towers, Black Alice loudly exhaled by her nose while Kagetsumugi was working on yet another Monster Lord's doll. The small puppeteer preferred to remain silent in front of her mistress. The latter probably already knew about the lost doll anyway, and if the eighth Monster Lord had decided to not do or say anything about it, then she was fine with it herself.

This time, her anger was not fully dedicated to those that had destroyed her creations, but also to herself. She acted recklessly, completely out of line, and the destruction of the combined doll was the price to pay for that moment she lost herself in her ego.

She was connecting a set of magical string when her lord sighed again and wallowed on the chair. She hadn't gathered much information from the destruction of the dolls, except that it was by the hand of the first seraph who had used an impressive amount of holy power. Since then, she carefully worked to reinforce her projects, news and ancients alike, to resist those attacks better.

It was another mistake she had made with her projects. She could let her artistic abilities give life to her inspiration as much as she wanted, a more pragmatic part of her was to acknowledge that she also had to take steps to protect her work appropriately.

Black Alice sighed yet again and was now sitting across the armrest, her head resting on a fist. Kagetsumugi ignored her as she carefully placed new talismans across her creation and took a step back to admire her work. Her smile turned into a frown: Those talismans swore on the monster's outfit and almost looked like vandalism. If their placing hadn't been done by her hand, she would have transformed the culprit into a new puppet on the spot.

As she tried to see how she could integrate them without degrading her work, Black Alice sighed once again, and was this time positioned upside down on the throne. Already nervous after the latest event, it took Kagetsumugi some time to gather herself and ask her lord in a polite tone.

"Is something the issue, mistress?"

"I'm so boooored! I can't even play with the hero, he's already broken!" She repositioned herself and sat on the chair appropriately. "Tell me, what's the fun in a broken toy?"

"There's still the pleasure of fixing it…"

"Booooooriiiiiiiing."

"Then may I suggest her majesty takes some little time to travel the world incognito? Surely staying inside this place, doing absolutely nothing is getting maddening?"

Alice emitted a low, nasal sound for several seconds before she straightened herself up correctly.

"You're right! I've been doing nothing for several months now! Maybe travelling will give me ideas for some fun! Thank you, you're good advice!"

Black Alice instantly disappeared, and Kagetsumugi got back to her handiwork with a relieved sigh. She could now resume her work on her doll without any unpleasant background noise to interrupt her.

If she had realized what her words would entail, she would have torn her vocal chords on the spot.