South of the Gold Region, at the edge of the mountains that surrounded the Navel of the World was a place that everybody actively avoided by fear of disappearing. It was known as the infamous "Solitary Cave", and rumors reportedly told that this used to be a cavern where the Monster Lords of old banished monsters that had challenged their authority. It might have been true during a long-forgotten time, but, after centuries, the cave had been mostly abandoned… Until the Arachne Tribe appropriated the cave for themselves after they've been removed from Yamatai.

And now, after the death of their leaders at the hands of Kanon, the Ancestor of all plants, the most powerful and notable members of the tribe were present in an impressively large cavern barely illuminated by a few magical flares. The ambiance was heavy and solemn, as it was time to choose a new representative and leader that would define the future of the race.

An atlach-nacha, a large spider who was blind as she always lived underground in the darkness was presiding the ceremony as she was the oldest member present. The room was eerily silent, as nobody was discussing, only skittering around while throwing cautious gazes around.

"Sisters… Friends… We are all gathered today to choose a new representative, something that should have been done a long time ago-"

"A long time ago?" An arachne lord on her side was already interrupting her and glaring at her. "Are you saying that we should have looked for a new leader even as Spider Princess was still alive?"

"No. I am saying that we should have prepared for what would come to be should she die, something that every other race in this world do. She had no official second in command."

"Mmh… Continue."

"Thank you… As I said, Spider Princess has spent the last months imprisoned in Grangold for supporting Ilias and Black Alice, and, unfortunately, she was killed and devoured in a recent assault-"

The arachne lord returned with a vengeance. "And that's the Monster Lord's fault! She planned this to silence political opposition!"

A tsuchigumo, a large spider clad in oriental clothes stepped forward before the president of the assembly could react. "…A plan that would have destroyed half the city and nearly killed her little hero in the cleanup? I remind you that she herself and her advisors are smarter than that."

"Even then, she didn't react when our leader got assassinated!"

"She did. And you might call her death an assassination, but everybody around us would call that poetic justice."

For the first time since the assembly had gathered, outraged exclamations fused around. This didn't deter the oriental spider in the slightest as she stepped in the middle of the cavern.

"Face it, and like it or not, but her reign was the biggest disaster our tribe ever faced!"

Cried redoubled. Another arachne lord than the first came to her side.

"We had a nice spot near Yamatai, and were even worshipped by the locals, but it was not enough for her! And we got banished! Then she allied with Black Alice, who was only herself a pawn of Ilias, and who would have killed her ourselves! I dare anyone to say otherwise!"

The cries of indignity calmed ever so first arachne lord moved in front of the duo.

"We were only getting our share fair of food as one of the strongest clans!"

"At the cost of other monsters?"

"Why should we care? They are weak, just like the Monster Lord."

"Then if they're weak, what does that make us since we're now at their mercy?"

The words froze the atmosphere, and a heavy silence fell on the room. The atlach-nacha cleared her throat.

"Aranje, if you would please develop… These are not words to be thrown around likely."

"And I will. This is the truth, and Mizuki is entirely right when she says that Spider Princess' reign was a disaster. Nacha, you are the oldest and wisest among us, please remind us how many we were at the beginning of her reign… How many united members the Arachne Clan counted."

"One hundred and seventy-four."

"And now?"

"…Ninety-three… Although I estimate that around thirty members left us to join Kagetsumugi."

"We still lost around half the tribe!"

"They were all weaklings! And she did that so we could feast!"

"The other tribes are going to feast on our remains if we continue in her footsteps!"

Both arachne lord glared at each other. Several other spider girls were positioning themselves behind their chosen representative, and soon each side was glaring at each other, although their numbers were heavily unbalanced: three spiders sided behind Aranje for each siding with her opponent. Only the atlach-nacha was remaining neutral, somehow keeping both groups at bay by her simple presence.

"Aranje, Serda, do you present yourself as new leaders?"

Both arachne lord nodded, without even taking a look at their interlocutor as they were too busy glaring at each other.

"Does anyone else wishes to lay claim to the throne of the Arachne Tribe?"

Not a single voice or skittering answered her, only a tension-filled silence.

"In that case… Both contestants are to agree on a method to define who will be the leader."

"A fight to the death!" Serda grinned maniacally as she showed off her claws.

"…I refuse. Peer proclamation or nothing else."

Serda looked at her opponent, surprised, while Aranje remained steady.

"And I invite every last one of my sisters to think such a decision is a sign of weakness to join my opponent."

Not a single one moved. Serda snarled.

"Don't think I will submit to your rule! I certainly won't join you to bow down in front of the Monster Lord!"

"Then you and your little bloodthirsty fanatics are free to leave."

"Excuse me?"

Aranje slightly raised her head to imperiously look down on her surprised opponent. "I said that you are free to leave. I don't want half the remainder of our dying clan to be slaughtered into a pointless battle, and it's clear you're too stubborn to change yourself or even accept that our whole race is at now one of the least important in every aspect. Even if we did gather every living spiders, the best we could do would be launching a suicidal assault on Grangold."

Serda emitted a few confused blabbering noises before she recovered her composure and glared at Aranje. She attempted to step forward with a clear murderous intent in her eyes, but a hand on her shoulder held her back. She looked behind her to see her concerned followers.

She had forgotten that less than a quarter of the tribe was behind her.

"We are still free to ask for our share of our clan's legacy!"

"Then I will let you the full legacy of what Spider Princess built while I keep everything her predecessors did… Oh, that's right… She didn't build anything but more hatred for our clan!"

Serda silently searched around her for more support, but even her followers were reluctant to start a fight that would spell their violent demise. The voice of the atlach-nacha echoed again, almost surprising her.

"If neither you nor anybody else formally contests her decision, then Aranje will be named the new queen of our clans."

Serda growled. "She will be the worst leader and will turn us into a weak joke! Mark my words! I leave, but you will hear about me and you will come back groveling at my feet."

She left, followed by around twenty spiders. Eventually, the tension in the air evaporated. Mizuki stepped up on Aranje's side.

"What are your orders, my queen?"

"…Contact the Monster Lord as soon as possible. It is time to use our webs to build a future and not just trap preys."

A few minutes later, Serda and her followers were alone in a small forest south of Grangold as night was starting to fall. The Arachne Lord was growling and passing her nerves on what little vegetation was present around.

"Damn it, damn it damn it! And damn them! They want to grovel in front of the Monster Lord! Let them be!"

One of the more powerful spiders moved by her side with an expression of worry on her face.

"What are we going to do now, my lord?"

Seda growled.

"First, we are going to raid Grangold to take men. We must have left the place before the Monster Lord and her goons show up. I have no doubt these cowards back home will contact her… And then… We will move back and take our revenge on Yamatai Village."

Several of her followers worrily looked at each other.

"…This place is protected by one of the Heavenly Knight and Yamata No Orochi… It's too dangerous."

"Then we'll go take control of Plansect Village!"

"…The Slime Queen is apparently living there because an even worse monster is occupying Undine's Spring."

Serda cried in fury.

"Then do you have any idea where we could go?! And before you consider even presenting me the option, I absolutely refuse to join Kagetsumugi! I didn't refuse to bow down in front of the Monster Lord to join forces with that little childish toymaker!"

"…Lady's Village?"

"Are you serious?! There won't be anyone to eat there and it's right next to Succubus Village!"

"Yes, but Succubus Village is apparently dealing with its own troubles… They won't intervene unless we keep attacking Grangold."

"…" Serda glared at her interlocutor before growling again. "Very well. Let's attack Grangold to get men and move there afterward."

The two dozen spiders skittered toward Grangold to arrive in sight of the city under the cover of the night. The city itself was passably illuminated, and the spiders were far enough from the road to not attract attention. Serda glared at the city. It was time to make them pay for what they did to their leader…

"…Shouldn't we scout the place first?"

"No. We cannot lose a second as the Monster Lord has probably already been warned by those worms. We are attacking now. Just grab the first men you see and regroup here."

The spiders silently obeyed her and she herself started moving in. Leading an army wasn't so bad, why did the others criticize the late Spider Princess so much? She had provided for the tribe and removed the weaker members… Everybody had to rely on their own strength.

As she progressed toward the city, she heard an alarm scream even before the first spider reached the wall. She groaned and climbed the vertical surface at an impressive speed to see several guards at the top supported by mages further on the sides of the wall. A few spells and strikes were exchanged from each side before the spiders managed to overwhelm the men. She killed two guards in so many strikes of her claws, and spun a web to catch two others. However, she could feel her body slowing down as two mages were casting spells. She answered with a spell from her own, and both of her opponents froze up.

"Retreat! It's a trap!"

Serda growled as someone was apparently already thinking that she could upstage the lead from her. However, before she could give the order to push the attack, one of the spider collapsed to the ground in a wave of fire while another was sent back flying in a scream by an unseen strike.

As she fully focused, she could recognize the silhouette of Granberia, the Heavenly Knight of fire. It looked like the dragonkin had already come back to Grangold...

Spiders were falling under her blade at an impressive rate, making Serda's own allies fall into a panic.

With a war cry, she charged at the back of the dragonkin, but the latter parried her attack just in time before counter-attacking with a vertical slash. Serda managed to dodge her just in time although the heat wave from the sword was enough to make her recoil slightly more. She readied a spell at Granberia, but the dragonkin pushed her away and broke her focus with a series of rapid sword slashes. One of Serda's own lieutenants jumped in her place, allowing her to get some precious seconds of reprieve as well as a better eye on the fight.

Saying that the raid was going poorly was an understatement. None of her soldiers managed to sneak by to take humans, and although a few guards had been killed in the initial assault, it was clear the humans and their monstrous reinforcement would get the better of them.

Suddenly, several of her allies simply disappeared from sight. At first, she thought that it was a spell from the Grangold's guards, but they also slowed down their assault in surprise. The only one who managed to remain focused in the chaos was Granberia herself, who used the opportunity to strike at Serda. The attack sent the spider flying off the wall, and she landed upper body first in the moat below.

Her body dulled by the pain, she looked up to see Granberia standing at the top of the wall, surrounded by humans. The moment the dragonkin jumped, Serda herself felt something pull her away. She needed a few seconds to gather her bearings in front of her new surroundings. She was now in a large, stone-made room, and alone. The only sound that reached her ears was a clacking sandal noises, until a small humanoid form fully covered in a brown outfit showed up.

"Greetings. I am Kagetsumugi. You might have heard from me."

The spider lowly growled at the puppeteer as she was still lying on the floor.

"I expected to receive more appreciation as I just saved you from the Monster Lord's infamous soldiers. I am offering support to everyone that stands against her, you know…"

"I know your kin… You would just play with us like puppets."

Kagetsumugi emitted a low, dark, inhuman chuckle.

"You are not entirely wrong… However, I still require your support."

"In your dreams." Serda spat a blood clot.

"You don't understand." Kagetsumugi pulled some magic thread from the hem of her robe. "I do not ask for your support. I merely tell you I require it."

Serda turned paler as she finally understood what the puppeteer meant.

"So, these are the Lilith Sisters…"

Succubus looked at the three succubi sitting in front of her around the table. Lilith was barely more responsive than what Alma Elma remembered, Astaroth was doing everything to avoid anyone's gaze, and Morrigan was nervously grinning like an idiot.

Alma Elma and the mayor of Succubus Village were accompanied by Witch and the duo Lilith & Lilim, the small blond succubi twins who had lived during Black Alice's reign. Ironically, the mage was currently the one who knew the most about the legendary trio. She felt weird to have those three myths right in front of her, and she still had difficulty accepting the idea that their fate was in her hands. She had mentally prepared herself to great them… And was disappointed upon seeing them. Maybe it was because they had been beaten, but they weren't half as seductive and lascivious as she imagined they would be. For a moment, the succubus soothsayer wished that she could see them in their full power… until she realized that it might be a terrible idea.

"I welcome you to Succubus Village." The mayor's tone was formal, and not overly warm. Even her expression was unusually cold, her eyes half-closed with a mix of contempt and disdain. "We are more than willing to help you integrate into society and find your place in this world… For as long as you are willing to."

"Which means that if you act up or try to escape, you will go back to the Monster Lord's jail and may end up sealed for eternity." Alma Elma glared at the trio, before her expression softened slightly. "Of course, this would be only as a last recourse. We're here first and foremost to give you a chance to live in this world."

"We know." Lilith showed the back of her left hand, where a small seal was located. "Like animals that would be put down."

"It's a safety measure after your… Passable first impression."

"She has a point." Both older sisters glared at Morrigan, who chuckled nervously. "I didn't say I did better myself…"

"You will be given lodgings, and opportunities to feed amongst the population. However, I insist on the fact that killing your partner can very well be ground for immediate banishment from this village."

The three legendary succubi nodded.

"In that case… I will show you your housing. This will not be the royal rooms of the Monster Lord's Castle, but it will be more than enough to welcome partners for any affairs."

"And we won't even be able to improve it…"

"Consider it part of your punishment. If you can prove you can live without killing your partners or attempting anything that would threaten peace, we will let you recover your full powers and even let you be fully free afterwards."

Morrigan chuckled darkly. "Is it yours, or Tamamo's promise?"

"Both."

The youngest of the Lilith Sisters emitted a small gasping noise while Succubus got up.

"Now, if you will follow me…"

The quartet left the chief's house, leaving behind them Alma Elma, Witch, and the twins. The succubus soothsayer got up to get closer to Alma Elma.

"About that book I gave you… Did you learn anything about its history? And what do you think we should do with it?"

Alma Elma grimaced. "I'll try to keep it short and simple."

She explained what Micaela told her, namely that the race lost a lot of power after Black Alice's defeat and the death of way too many succubi, which led the remaining ones wanting to distance themselves from any violence to be known as dispenser of pleasure and nothing else. When she finished, the succubi twins were looking particularly downcast.

"This…" Lilim sighed. "We didn't think her majesty's game could do so much harm to our race… But we have to admit that it's true… We feasted happily under her, without a care in the world, and a lot of our kin followed her… And died in battle."

"We didn't really accept it… We were ourselves so engrossed into our own tea party with our mistress that we didn't notice the dwindling number until Heinrich was on the Monster Lord's Castle doorstep… We ended up sealed, Black Rose died, and so did most succubi…" Lilith looked up at Alma Elma with a tear streaming down from her face.

"We failed as leaders of the race."

"I… Can't say I'm better myself. Succubus is the one who helped bring the race together, I… didn't do much for the race actually."

"Then maybe it's time we do something?"

There wasn't a hint of sarcasm in Witch's voice, which in a way surprised Alma Elma and the twins.

"We'll talk about it with Succubus."

"Speak of the devil…"

The scantily-clad mayor was already back.

"They seemed to do fine, we'll see them tomorrow."

"By the way… about the risk for their partners…"

"They all volunteered."

Alma Elma remained frozen. She blinked a few times in surprise.

"Wait, really? Did they understand-"

"Every human in the village was told that those three succubi are legends from ancient times that systematically killed their partners. They all said that they understood, but that they didn't mind if they got to taste that superlative pleasure."

"Damn idiots!"

Succubus sighed and closed her eyes. "You have no idea how far humans can fall into depravation when they're here. This is a hamlet for succubi, but some men think it's just a place to express their darkest fetishes, like that one that brought a cow. Not to eat."

Witch took her face in her hand and muttered.

"Damn perverts…"

Succubus shrugged. "I expected as much when I brought that haven up…"

She smirked. "At least they're damn honest."

In the meantime, the Lilith Sisters were discovering their new quarters: A comfortable wooden house with three bedrooms, each with their own king sized bed, a kitchen with a dining room that also served as a living room, all furnished to welcome six persons.

"I can't believe we're reduced to living like common succubi." Morrigan was the first to groan as she looked at their new home. "We just got a better, more comfortable prison cell."

"I'll take it." Lilith smirked slightly and stretched herself. "I call that progress."

"I still can't wait to get in that colosseum! Some sweet action would really do…"

"Not for me… I'm going to sleep. Feel free to search partners, but don't drain them to death. We don't want to make a bad impression on everyone… I really want to settle down."

Morrigan and Astaroth looked at each other, surprised, as Lilith closed the door leading to her room.

"What the fuck is going on with her? I mean she was perfectly fine, then this world apparently broke her before they brought her into prison, then she seems fine with it now? Did Tamamo brainwash her?"

"I… Don't know. I really don't know." Astaroth looked down as she tried to consider what she had observed from the outside world and what Lilith told her. Maybe experiencing it firsthand herself would help her understand. For now, however, although she didn't do much, she found herself extremely tired and not particularly hungry.

"I'm going to hit the hay too. Don't do anything stupid that could get us into troubles please."

"Pfff, don't treat me like a child! I want to point out that we're here now because of Lilith's ideas."

"Whatever…" Astaroth left to her bedroom and closed her door behind her, leaving Morrigan alone.

The blue haired succubus took a look at the room around her. It could use some decoration, or some company… Except the only one available was made from the perverts that flocked to this village in hope of tasting a succubus. Where was the joy of corrupting and dominating someone who came to you on their own accord?

Bah. She could give it a go tomorrow. For now, she could as well get to sleep.

"We have to do something about those Lilith Sisters!" The brown haired, scantily clad succubus glared at Lilith who had a devious little smirk on her face.

Neither Alma Elma nor Witch were surprised when troubles showed up as soon as the sun rose the very next day. What they were surprised by, however, was its nature.

Several succubi had showed up unhappy at the house of the mayor and asked for the expulsion of the Lilith Sisters. At first, Alma Elma thought that the succubi had already broken their agreement… Until she looked at the street and saw that a full waiting line was present in front of the lodging of the legendary succubi. Several men had apparently left their partners, frustrating them, and a small dispute had exploded when some succubi forcibly attempted to get the men back, leading to a physical altercation which was expeditiously solved by an all too eager Astaroth. Lilith intervened to calm the situation afterward as she was bringing some exhausted -but not endangered- men out of their house.

And the legendary succubus was the one who ended up acting reasonable by asking the mayor to mediate the conflict. Alma Elma could tell by the latter's expression that she was already regretting having welcomed the Lilith Sisters.

"Men in our village are free to see who they want, when they want, as long as no harm comes to them. We won't kick the Lilith Sisters out of the village for something like that, as you were the ones who attacked first."

"Then what are you going to do?! You're the leader! Do something!"

"We have no reason to step in if it doesn't degenerate further."

The succubus looked aghast at the mayor, the latter showing a stone face just like everybody else save for Lilith who was still smirking. She growled, then left in a huff. Succubus subtly nodded, and Witch stood up to follow the succubus.

The mayor massaged her face as she looked at Lilith. "You're already causing quite us quite a pain."

Lilith bowed. "I apologize for my sister's behavior. She always needed an outlet for her energy, and is quite eager to fight in the colosseum."

"Maybe later." Alma Elma shook her head. "I wish my mother trained me to be a leader instead of simply teaching me about pleasure skills and castigating me for using my energy for anything else…"

Lilith leaned back on her chair and exhaled sensuously. "Then let me ask you a question… Who do you think would be the best leader for succubi today? I hope you have read about our Ancestor, by the way…"

Alma Elma frowned, but took a moment to try to come out with a serious answer. She herself was out of the question. Her leading skills were non-existant, even if she was the descendant of the last queen, she had a very laissez-faire approach to leading their race. Just like her mother before her if what she remembered was right. Still, it was what being a succubus was about... Except it couldn't continue like that for now.

The succubi twins who were queen at the time of Black Alice were just like her, playing around and only leading their race in the loosest sense. Besides, they had realized that their way had cost a lot to their race, and were unlikely to want to try their hand again.

Lilith and her sisters were out of the question. The trio of succubi was living in pure accordance to their own hedonistic desires, had no trust from their fellows or everyone else, and only Lilith had the skills required to make for a leader… Except as the ur-succubus, she would just end up as the past ruler, and that was not considering the influence her sisters would have on her.

As the Ancestor of succubi, Minagi could be considered a tempting option, as her nature alone would make every succubi obey her. Alma Elma shivered uncontrollably. She was a sexual predator through and thorough. She would organize a never ending hunt to sate her lust, and even if her "Chains of Pleasure" project looked reasonable, Alma herself was more than wary about the intent behind that. And besides, everybody back at the Monster Lord's Castle was worried about her possible plans.

No, all things considered, the only reasonable option was… Succubus herself. Even if her power didn't command much, she was the voice of reason and the only succubus used to deal with the needs of more than a few fellows while being able to deal with the administrative tasks related to reigning. If she trained slightly to be able to put down less severe threats by herself...

"…You're all making me uncomfortable."

It's only when the mayor talked that Alma Elma noticed that everybody else had come to the same conclusion.

Lilith giggled. "It looks like you all agree. Anyway, if we're done, there are men begging to be pampered by me…"

Alma Elma nodded. "I'll return to the Monster Lord castle to deal with some details. I'll be back soon."

"We're going to take our leave as well then…" Lilim yawned, and her older sister sympathetically hugged her closer. "We have a man who has a small fantasy that requires both of us…"

Alone, Succubus took the opportunity to ponder what that discussion offered.

Leader of the Succubus race...

"Wait! Wait!"

Witch caught up to the succubus that was briskly walking away. The latter growled before turning toward the monster that was coming to interrupt her.

"What is it?! I can't even count on the mayor to solve a problem with those three, and the two supposed queens are doing nothing!"

"And you confronted the Lilith Sisters?"

The succubus spat on the ground. "That damned red-haired bitch beat me!"

Sensing an opportunity, Witch produced a large volume. "Then why don't you train to become stronger? That would be a good way to show them and hold your own against them."

Her interlocutor sneered. "Boring. I'm going to Grangold. I'm sure people there are tired of ant girls and golems."

She groaned one last time before flying away, leaving behind a stumped Witch with her huge book. The succubus soothsayer returned at her friend's house to see Succubus being just as downcast, her head resting on her hand.

The scantily clad mayor checked the book from afar. "It's that famous forbidden training book you kept talking about?"

"It's not forbidden."

Succubus smirked. "I know. Can you leave it here? I might end up checking on it…"

Witch kept the book in her hands for a minute, before finally handing it down to her friend who delicately accepted it.

"I'm surprised you decide now, of all time, to follow its advices. Did something change your mind?"

"You could say that…" Succubus started flipping through the pages.

Witch didn't pry any further. She had more study to do herself, after all.

Far away, in the hallways of the castle of San Ilia, a small archangel was just as concerned by her kin. A few days ago, she had unleashed the information: A monster could save angels and make them immortal. However, as far as she knew, it was the most depraved one, the succubus that had attacked San Ilia.

Reactions from her kin were… Impossible to understand. Some of them shrugged it off and considered that no solution had been found. Others were reluctant, and showed hesitation. And a last few seemed a little too eager to have this issue solved to simply be motivated by the fear of their own mortality.

And then… There were the other ones. Those that had remained entirely silent at first. The first time she really dealt with one of them was a day after the announcement, when she saw a veteran angel soldier packing her gear. She approached her by curiosity.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving." The green-haired angel didn't even look at her before answering.

"You want to see more of the world? I understand."

The angel glared at her. "No, you don't understand anything at all. You only want us to submit to monsters, and we refuse to bend the knee for anyone else but the Goddess of Light."

Mariel was completely dumbfounded, and needed several seconds to recompose herself before answering.

"I don't want you to bend the knee to anyone! I simply informed you that the solution to stop dying from leaking holy energy exists… It's… Something we still have to work on I guess."

"You guess?" The veteran glared at Mariel, but the small archangel didn't move an inch. "Ilias didn't guess. She knew the best path and led us there whatever the cost was. She knew and cared about us, contrary to you!"

"I care about you!" Mariel surprised herself when she raised her voice. "If I didn't, I would either let everyone fend by themselves or oppress the few remaining angels!"

Her interlocutor scoffed. "You're just unable to take a decision. You can't recognize that our strength is still there, and tolerate monsters." She lifted a bag with her weapon over her shoulder before stepping out of her room. "Go rot in hell you criminal!"

Mariel sighed. "You know there's still one of those Ancestor out there?"

"Let her come! We will beat her!"

The small archangel remained stumped as the other angel was now briskly walking away.

"You won't beat her. You won't…"

Her voice started cracking ever so slightly. She slammed the door close and threw herself on the bed, crying every tears in her body.

"You won't come back…"

After a long moment, Mariel managed to gather her bearings.

Those angels leaving her were actually probably not striking on their own. She had heard the rumors about higher ranking angels reappearing through the world before disappearing again… What were the odds that one of them managed to contact them to bring them in her fold.

What were the odds that the second leader of the True Faith was indeed one of them?

Probably not that low… She didn't know enough about her elders to be able to either confirm or deny it. Her old contact might however…

…Time to meet her directly.

In the meantime, still locked in her pocket dimension beyond most mortal's access, Alipheese was patiently observing the events unfolding, although her feelings were as confused as ever.

The Goddess of Darkness felt a notable sadness born from the lack of visit from every one of her descendants. Neither her loyal Tamamo nor her own granddaughter Alice came to discuss with her since they first showed up. Worse, the former had placed wards all around the castle to hide what could be happening inside from her sisters' prying eyes.

As the seal weakened more and more, Alipheese herself realized she was now able to influence the outside world herself. Any effort from her would easily overpower the wards and peek into the castle itself… except she found herself unable to do so. She had the abilities, but every time she attempted to break the barriers, her hand stopped in its track and her mind held back before doing anything.

It was the same for every other event she could assist to. She had the power to sway angels and any monsters at this distance, but each time she considered it, she instantly shot down the idea for a reason or another.

The only thing she did was watching. Watching her daughters get beaten one after another by the hero or simply trying to do an effort to find their place into this world. Only Saja was still roaming free, and when she laid her eyes upon the flying lamia, she couldn't tell if she was proud or worried.

As time kept passing, she kept looking through different scenes happening in the world. From fights in the colosseum, to the socialization of the Lilith Sisters in the Succubus Village, to other scenes of daily life… Everything was here to offer her a fine entertainment.

And yet, she found herself unsatisfied. She had a world full of opportunity, full of life almost within her grasp, freed from the most hate-filled commandments of Ilias, and she was frustrated. At first, she thought it was the fact that she was still stuck in this empty void while her children merrily enjoyed this world… Well, not all of them. Kanon was as stubborn as ever, and she couldn't tell for the others.

But as time passed by, she simply couldn't see herself living here. It was not because of its inhabitants or the new culture… It was something else entirely that made her unhappy. And being unable to understand it frustrated her to no end.

"Why…? Why can't I be happy for them…?"