"Lady Tamamo? You haven't been seen in days! What are you doing here?"

Tamamo's smirk disappeared. "Is that any way to speak to your superior?"

The monster recoiled. "I... Apologies, my lord."

"And as for your question... That is none of your business. Now, allow me entry. I wish to speak with Saja."

"O-Of course. Let her through!" The monster shouted. Tamamo watched as the command was repeated by numerous monsters, until eventually, the gate was opened. "Lady Saja is in the castle, my lord."

Tamamo could not lie. Being treated with such respect again was a nice feeling. She didn't have to deal with people assuming she was a child, or being unaware of her status as an ancestor. In her current form, anyone who looked at her could see her power just by looking. It radiated off of her, making sure no one would dare to disrespect her. And the lustful looks she got from men were quite nice too...

Remina was just as grand as it always had been. It was made by human settlers before the war ever began. Initially, Tamamo and the others planned to level the city and feast on the men, but Alipheese ordered them not to. She liked the idea of a human town on her continent, and let them stay. Under her protection, the city thrived. Quickly, it began the most advanced human settlement in the world.

Of course, being located on a monster continent meant it was more or less forced to let monsters live among them. Minagi was ecstatic when she heard of the new kingdom. The other ancestors would also visit every now and then, either for a quick snack or to oversee how the monster population was doing.

Unfortunately for the humans living in Remina, there was no more king. Not ever since the Great Monster Wars began. To further reinforce Hellgondo, Alipheese took ownership of the city for herself. An ancestor was almost always in Remina, making sure it remained safe and prospered. Humans were not treated badly in Remina, surprisingly. The only issue was when Kanon or one of the other more... voracious ancestors took charge. Those days were far from safe for humans.

Whenever I was in charge, the city would undergo its greatest era of glory ever! None can deny that I was clearly the greatest ruler. Only Saja might be able to rival me... But I was the one who saved the city from human underpopulation. I didn't see her doing anything about it...

Huh, why am I getting caught up over something that happened a thousand years ago...?

Tamamo No Mae shook off the distracting thoughts. She had an important role to play today. Since a siege was deemed unviable by Ilias, they chose to instead go for an all-out attack. Tamamo, rightly so, pointed out how stupid that was. Instead, she would sneak in first, take Saja down either through violence or words, and then they'd take the city from there.

I'll try to convince Saja to just give the city up first... But I'll have a lot of explaining to do. First off, she's never even seen me before. I'll just have to act like I'm the Tamamo she knows until we're alone.

And if I can't convince her... Then I'll just have to beat her down.

...Even if it hurts my pride to admit it, Saja was always the strongest of us. Can I even beat her on my own...?

Well, I just need to distract her for long enough. Once the angels get through, they can help me take her down.

Tamamo suddenly stopped walking. A large statue caught her eye. It was in the centre of Remina, made of finely polished marble and decorated with gold.

...What the hell?

Six ancestors and one goddess. Tamamo had seen it before. However, today she noticed something she had never seen before. First off, Minagi was right beside Alipheese, instead of Saja, who would normally be considered Alipheese's second in command. On top of that, Tamamo knew something was off about Minagi's... figure. Her natural gifts were far bigger than normal...

Did she... change her body on the statue so more men would come to her...?

Hahaha, how pathetic! I'll have to make fun of her for it later...

Hmm. Speaking of, where is Minagi? I haven't heard a word about her in ages... Oh well, I'm sure she's out fucking someone right now, as always.

Tamamo No Mae continued down the stone street. All around her, monsters pointed at her, mostly in admiration and amazement. Seeing an ancestor was not exactly rare, but it was still a special event in their boring lives. Tamamo was used to their gaze by now.

Ah, there it is. Remina Labs...

Promestein said she'd be interested in working with the scientists here... But who says I can't see what they're up to first?

During the war, Tamamo had made great use of the scientists in Remina. She had them create a weapon of war for her, named Giganto weapon. She had considerable power, far surpassing that of the average monster queen. She was built to last. When the Hero Luka came to attack the Monster Lord's Castle and bring the Heavenly Knights to heel, Tamamo sent the biological weapon after him. Fortunately for the world, Luka won the battle.

Poor girl. I heard she met her demise on the battlefield in this world. Well, I suppose she was never truly alive in the first place.

Anyway, I'll check out the lab later. For now, I must focus up.

Remina's castle loomed ahead. It was a grand building, bigger than any castle in the world, even the Monster Lord's. After the end of the war, a new king rose in Remina. He took charge of the kingdom, leading it into the future. Unfortunately, that was hardly a very bright future. Remina slowly fell farther and farther from grace, becoming less of a shining star of coexistence and more of a city barely keeping its citizens in check. Things only got worse when Black Alice rose to power.

I remember those days... What cruel luck is it that she was born into such a powerful position? After her mother's death, she took the throne for herself and waged war against humanity for fun... Eventually, the Hero Heinrich struck her down, and her sister took charge.

In those days, I opposed Heinrich, solely out of loyalty to the Fateburn name... Thankfully, he just about managed to beat me...

"Halt. State your business." A guard said. The man next to him looks horrified.

"What are you doing!?" He tried to whisper and failed. He spoke into his fellow guard's ear. "That's Tamamo No Mae, the ancestor!"

Tamamo couldn't help but snicker. Without a word, she pushed past the guards and let herself in. They uttered no word of complaint. The inside of the castle was just as grand as Tamamo remembered. But right now, she had no time to admire the architecture. Saja awaited her.

Oh, right. I should find out what room she's in.

Using her magic, Tamamo sensed for Saja.

The throne room, of course. You always did think a lot of yourself, sister.

Monsters and humans got out of the way for Tamamo as she walked by. One of her fluffy tails grabbed a glass of wine. She took a sip. Not the best, not the worst. Saja probably ordered it, Tamamo thought. She always did have peculiar tastes... In men as well as wine. What kind of ancestor allows a common human to marry her? It's ridiculous...

Well, she can do as she wants. But I've told her before, getting attached is never a good thing. Humans are destined to die after only around sixty years or so. That's about thirty good years, and then that's it. They're either too old or too young to really do anything with...

Not that there is anything we can do about that. Their lifespan will always be minuscule when compared to ours... if we even have a lifespan. I certainly haven't felt myself getting any older.

Bah! Enough of this. I have a job to do. These thoughts only serve to make me sad.

Tamamo No Mae stood outside the doors to the throne room. She unveiled her signature fan, using it to hide part of her face, an old habit. A wide, sly smile reached her face.

Now then, let's see if I've still got it. Tamamo No Mae, destroyer of nations... here we go.

The Golden Kitsune elegantly opened the door. Saja was on the far end of the room, looking bored as she sat on her throne. But when she saw Tamamo, that all changed. Her tail shot up, and her eyes opened wide.

"Greetings, sister."

"T-Tamamo!? What the hell are you doing here!? Where have you been!?" She asked, rising from the throne.

Tamamo closed her fan, bringing it to her lips. "Shhh... Relax, sister. Anger will ruin what good looks you have left, you know?"

"I demand an answer! Alipheese will have your head for this! What were you doing!?"

Tamamo laughed haughtily. "My head? Oh, please. We can't afford to lose another ancestor now, can we?"

Saja looked really annoyed now. "Answer. The. Question."

"Geez, you're no fun anymore... Look, I was busy dealing with that damn Hero. He snuck up on me before I could return to Noah."

"For multiple days?"

"What can I say? He's a feisty one. I sent my kitsunes to help yous, did I not?"

Saja said nothing. "Exactly," Tamamo said, smiling. "I tracked him all the way to Gelon before I lost his scent. Now, I've returned."

"And why didn't you use your telepathy to explain all of that to me before showing up here?"

Tamamo shrugged. "What difference would it make? Besides, I was busy. Now, I have a few questions for you, Saja. What the hell happened in Noah!? You're telling me we lost all of our territory there!?"

Saja physically recoiled. "Well, the Daystar attacked us. She was clearly being helped by that goddess she so adores, and she had a full army behind her!"

"And what did you have? Did our army suddenly disappear?"

"I... made a decision," Saja admitted. She looked away. She knew she was going to be berated for this... "I chose that saving our army for later was more important than sacrificing it just so we could kill the Daystar. Thousands would've died for it."

Tamamo No Mae put her fan away. Her tails lowered, sweeping along the floor gently. Slowly, a smile appeared on her face. Not the evil smile she would use when assaulting another, but a gentle, almost calming smile. That frightened Saja more than anything she expected Tamamo to do.

"Heh, you haven't changed a bit, sister," Tamamo said. "I haven't seen you for a thousand years... I've grown to miss our conversations. You're the only one I saw as an equal. Well, slightly below me in truth, but—"

"A thousand years...? Did you hit your head on the way in? What are you talking about?"

Tamamo sighed. "Well, this will take a while to explain." The kitsune approached her sister. When she was close enough, she sat on the steps to the throne. "I am not the Tamamo you know. I am from another world."

Saja suspended her disbelief. "Another world... I have heard you talk with Lord Alipheese about it..."

"Not me. This world's version of me. The second Tamamo No Mae. You are the second Saja, while I am the first Tamamo."

"The second? There are no other Saja's."

"There is. She's sealed away in my world. The First World. Something caused a new world to be born. As far as I know, Ilias's death caused it... But that's a matter for another time." Tamamo explained. "In short, I am a Tamamo from another world."

For some strange reason, Saja found the story somewhat believable, instead of completely insane. Tamamo had never acted like this before, and Alipheese had told her other worlds were a possibility...

"Hmph... That might technically be possible... But this story of yours still has holes. Why are you here—How are you here? It makes no sense."

Tamamo sighed. "Well, to make the story make sense, I'll have to tell you everything from the beginning... In my world, the Great Monster Wars ended in, for lack of a better word, a draw..."

And so, Tamamo explained the story of her entire world, even if she did have to skip over some details here and there. She started with the sealing of the ancestors and Alipheese, then went on to Black Alice's rise in power, Heinrich's rebellion, and then all the way to Luka's rebellion, 500 years later.

"And then, a few years later, we received a letter with Luka's name on it. The sender was Black Alice, who had somehow returned. We did as she asked. She ended up sending Luka here. He landed in Gelon, fought this world's version of me and saved a young girl... but you can already guess the rest, right?"

Saja had listened to Tamamo carefully. She still hadn't thrown the possibility of this all being an elaborate prank out the window yet, but she was beginning to believe Tamamo more and more. "And how did you get here?"

"A spell. Projection allowed me to project a fake body here. If I were to die in this world, my soul would be sent back to my true body, which is in the First World." Tamamo explained.

"And how can you be sure of all of this? Why jump to the conclusion that there are two worlds? Why do you think Ilias's death caused this one to come into existence?"

"Two things, White Rabbit and the Tartarus. The former is, as her name suggests, a rabbit girl. She seems to be the Spirit of Time, as far as I can tell. She told Luka all of this, and he in turn told me. The latter is a strange structure in Sabasa. It links this world to the First World."

Saja sighed. "I see..."

"I know, I wouldn't believe me either if I was in your position, sister. But it is the truth."

The ancestor looked away. "Hmm... So where is the real Tamamo then?"

"Haah... I was afraid of when you'd get around to that... Well, to put it bluntly, we have her imprisoned."

Saja was surprised by the small fire of rage that had built up inside her. "I see... Did the Hero Luka do this?"

Tamamo nodded. Saja's frown worsened. "And where is this prison...?"

"I can't trust you with that information. Is there anything else?"

"...Why did you tell me all of this?" Saja asked.

Tamamo gave her a huge shrug. "It's what my instincts told me to do. Out of all my sisters, you're the only one I believe doesn't have to be an enemy."

"You, who is responsible for my sister's imprisonment? Why would I join you, why should I not just kill you right here and now?"

"First off, I doubt you could. Secondly, you should join me for a multitude of reasons. You want this war to end as much as we do, don't you? I already told you, we have Ilias and her entire army on our side. Combine that with Luka and Rinoa, and a full army of humans, and you're completely outclassed."

"Hmph. Be that as it may, I still see no reason to join you."

Tamamo sighed. "You're in a hopeless situation. I'm proposing we end this war here and now. Talk to Alipheese, tell her our plan. Tell her we can end this war today if need be! All those deaths can be avoided!"

"And Ilias gets to keep her power, gets to keep ruling over humans? Gets to keep slaughtering monsters who step too close to her domain, all the while telling the world we are nothing but evil parasites?"

"I already told you, that won't happen anymore!" Tamamo stood up. She walked over to her sister. "Look, sister, you and I both know this war has caused nothing but pain for everyone involved. This can be over, we can end it! Ilias will still have power, yes, but she won't abuse it like before."

"You promise me this...?" Saja asked.

"I promise. Ilias is nothing like she was before."

Saja sighed. "...I'm sorry, sister. But there is nothing to be done. Alipheese will never accept this... I cannot accept it either. This is not a truce of equals, but a pitiful surrender. You are right, this war is hopeless for us now, but we will not give up. We will fight on."

"That's what I was afraid you'd say..." Tamamo muttered. "Then I have no choice."

Tamamo unvelieved her fan. Saja was not surprised. "Do you truly want to do this? I can already tell you how this battle will end."

"That's where you're wrong, Saja." Tamamo took a deep breath, allowing the earth's power to flow through her. "I'm a thousand years older than you now. I've learned quite a few tricks in that time... Let's see if you can keep up!"

Saja did not hesitate. A wave of pure darkness flew at Tamamo. The kitsune was quick to dodge, ducking under it. Using her fan, she guided flame towards her sister. Alipheese's second in command deflected the flames with ease.

"You were always weaker than me, sister!" Saja shouted. "After I take you down, I'll free my real sister, and leave you here in the rubble!"

Tamamo said nothing. In terms of battle prowess, Saja was just a bit under Micaela, which was still impressive. Tamamo, on the other hand, was never close to that level of power. Instead, she had opted to study the other areas of magic, like manipulating souls and harnessing the moon's power, instead of going for all-out power as her sister did.

Speaking of, I'm at a disadvantage. It's still daytime. I can't use my strongest attack... I'm limited...

Maybe changing up tactics will turn this fight in my favour...

Tamamo flicked her fan out to its maximum size. She ran towards Saja, dodging any attack that came her way. When she was close enough, she started to slice her fan, which was enveloped in a wave of blue flames. Saja used her tail and fists to pummel the kitsune, but Tamamo's own tails managed to stop her.

"It doesn't have to be like this," Tamamo said. "Alipheese will understand, I'll talk to her if you won't! She'll understand!"

"No, she won't!" Saja shouted. She infused her fist with darkness. "You've grown too optimistic, sister. Do you really think everything will turn out just as you want it to? It's childish!"

Her punch crushed one of Tamamo's ribs, causing her to falter for a moment. Saja's tail swept the kitsune's legs. Tamamo tried to get back up but was too busy countering the multitude of attacks coming from the Lamia Ancestor.

Tamamo's frustration grew as her healing techniques continued to fail. There wasn't enough moonlight for that. In a desperate attempt to get away from the danger her sister posed, Tamamo rolled up into a ball. Once she was far enough, she jumped back out, taking the brief moment of calm she had to check her injury.

It's not that bad. It'll heal with time... But it will slow me down...

"You'll pay for that," Tamamo said. Adrenaline coursed through her body. "Fine. You don't want to surrender. You want to go down fighting, right? Well, don't worry. I'll grant you your wish."

Tamamo's tails expanded to their maximum size. Blue flames shot out from the kitsune's body. Saja recognised the attack.

"Hmph. An impressive display for such a meagre attack. Come, see if you can even scratch me with it!"

Such arrogance will be your downfall, sister...

"Nine Tails Funeral Pyre!"

Fire filled the throne room. Saja set up a barrier, but it was quickly turned to ash. The flames started to burn her skin. She used whatever magic she could to push the fire away, but there was simply too much.

Finally, the flames began to disperse. The roof had caught fire, and the golden throne had started to melt around the edges. Tamamo had to take a second to rest.

She looked over at her sister. Saja was still standing, but her skin was full of burn marks. The attack was far stronger than she anticipated.

"You did not lie..." She muttered. "You're stronger than the Tamamo I know."

Saja looked towards the Golden Kitsune. "But not strong enough."

Another wave of darkness, this time too quick for Tamamo to dodge. She was flung into a wall. The stone bricks broke upon impact.

"You chose the wrong side in this war. When you came to this world, you could've joined us. We would've accepted you with open arms... We could've defeated Ilias with your knowledge—We could've ruled both worlds! ...But no. Instead, you chose to side with that damn hero..."

"So tell me. Where is he now? Where are any of your allies, for that matter?" Saja asked. She flew above her sister. "I suppose it does not matter. They will be dealt with in time. One by one."

The air began to crackle. Something felt off.

"Thunder of judgement."

A holy bolt of lightning struck Saja, grounding her. Tamamo's ears were ringing, and her chest was bleeding. But even still she just about managed to look up. The roof burned behind a blonde-haired angel, like something out of a painting. For the first time in her life, Tamamo recognised that Ilias truly was a goddess deserving of her title.

"Chaos? You're telling me there was another element that existed before light and dark? How?"

"I don't know," Promestein admitted. "That's what I intend to find out. One of the things, anyway. Since we know light and dark originated from chaos, we can assume that chaos also originated from something else..."

"It would only make sense... But only the gods would know something like that."

"Right. I'll ask them later." Promestein said. The man laughed, assuming it was a joke.

The man felt awkward at the girl's confused gaze. "A-Anyway, you said you're here to sign up as a scientist?"

"I won't be able to be here all the time, but I can visit every now and then. My name is Promestein. I am an angel." Promestein informed.

"An angel...? Really? You aren't pulling my leg, are you?"

"What? No. Why would I pull your leg?"

"You know, the saying?"

Promestein did not understand. The man moved on.

"Alright... Well, you being an angel doesn't really matter I suppose. It's not like there are any rules against it or anything. Oh, but one thing. Don't go around saying that to everyone. Some of the others have had their family killed by your kind, and even if you might not be like your fellow angels, the hatred still applies. Just say you're a human."

Promestein nodded. "Well, I must be going. Oh, and here. I have a few journals to donate."

"Right, give them to our receptionist." The man said. He left Promestein, returning to work.

The labs are as impressive as the others said. Computers, laboratories... It has everything I'll need to work.

The red-haired dropped off her multitude of scientific journals with the receptionist before leaving. Having others review her work would help her improve in the future.

Hmm. He is right about one thing though, I doubt any other angels share my love for science. It's a pity. Our long lifespan would allow us to study the fields of science far more effectively than any human could.

I did see a few monsters in there. But most of them have lifespans that are still far shorter than mine...

"Promestein, there you are." A poorly disguised angel ran up to the girl. "What are you doing!? You were supposed to hang back with the others while we attacked the city."

"I grew impatient," Promestein admitted. "Well, it does not matter now. Go on, lead me back to the others."

"It's too late now!" The angel said. "Our goddess has already started the attack! We have to hide!"

Don't assume she is my goddess as well...

Promestein was dragged along by the angel, bringing her into a nearby alleyway. From all around, she could hear the battle commence. From the small sliver of sky she could see above her, she watched as holy magic and dark clashed, exploding into an oddly beautiful array of colours.

The hand holding the red-haired angel was shaking. The girl was unusually small, and she was blonde and blue-eyed like the goddess who made her. It didn't take a genius to see she was frightened.

"You should calm yourself," Promestein said. "We will be fine in here. Besides, even if we do get attacked, I have some combat ability myself."

I even fought Ilias herself... Heh, I wonder what this angel would think of that...

The angel nodded. After a few more explosions, she nuzzled her head into Promestein's lab coat.

...Is she serious?

"I don't understand..." Promestein muttered. "You have a sword at your hip. You must've been trained to be a fighter, no? Why are you so scared?"

The angel did not answer. After a while, she moved her head away from Promestein. "Hey... Are you really Promestein?" She asked.

Looks like someone wants to distract herself...

"I am," Promestein admitted. "Why?"

"I didn't think it was true at first... Did the goddess really manage to save you? They said you broke her laws thousands of years ago... Is it all true?"

Swallowing her pride was an easy task for Promestein. Such frivolities mattered little to her. "...Yes. The goddess's infinite wisdom showed me how wrong I was. I thank her every day for saving me from that path of sin."

The angel smiled. "That's great."

More time passed. Just outside of the alleyway, Promestein could hear swords clashing and spells exploding. She waited and waited. Eventually, the sounds began to die down.

"Let's see what's going on," Promestein said. She walked outside, with the other angel clinging closely behind.

What is that...?

From Remina's castle, a winged figure could be seen flying in the distance. It seemed to be two people. One with wings and one with tails. When they got closer, Promestien recognised them as Ilias and Tamamo, with the former flying the latter out of the castle.

"You mean... we have to seal ourselves?"

Alipheese sighed. "There is no other way. If we do not do as she says, the war will continue. Ilias was not lying when she said it would eventually lead to the destruction of this world. Even if we do manage to beat her, she has threatened to kill the Four Spirits of Nature. If they die, there may be nothing we can do to save this world."

Tamamo No Mae, destroyer of nations, unveiled her blood-red fan. Her signature smug smile was not present. "I see... So what, we just give up? We surrender to her?"

"No," Alipheese said. "This is not a surrender. We are at a stalemate. Ilias has agreed to not kill any more monsters if we seal ourselves."

"And you believe her?" Tamamo asked.

"Of course not. That's why I want you to implement a safety measure. If too many monsters are killed in a short period, and the balance of dark energy in the world tips over, then our seal shall be broken. This will stop Ilias from killing our kind."

Tamamo pondered the situation. "That kind of spell should be possible... But how can we be sure Ilias won't find some loophole? And what's to stop her from killing one of your children?"

"There is no loophole I can see... And you will watch over my line after we have been sealed. Ensure that the Fateburn line continues into the future. Keep all of our kin safe from Ilias and her heroes."

Tamamo nodded. "I would do as you ask, my lord, but I will be sealed as well." The Golden Kitsune pointed out.

"There is a technique to escape the seal. I will teach it to you momentarily."

Tamamo No Mae was surprised. "There is...?"

"Indeed. You are the only one I am trusting with this information."

Tamamo knew why. She was easily the smartest of her sisters and by far the most cunning. If anyone could protect the Fateburn line, it was her. "I see... But, my lord, what happens if Ilias spots me? She will know we broke the deal."

"That is why you will stay hidden. Besides, the technique will also change your appearance. You will look far younger than you do now... Perhaps that will be enough to keep your true identity safe."

Alipheese sighed. "I know this is a lot to ask of you, my daughter, but you are the only one I can trust."

Obviously. The others are all idiots... And Saja is too prideful. I have no doubt she would be unable to hide her identity...

"I understand..." Tamamo No Mae muttered. "When do we begin?"

"Tomorrow... I will give you some time to think about it. Come to me when you wish to learn the spell." Alipheese said as she slithered away. There was much to do for the Goddess of Dark.

Tamamo sat in contemplation.

So much responsibility... Am I truly capable of this...?

What am I saying, of course I am! I am Tamamo No Mae, the greatest ancestor! This task is child play!

Now then, let's go see what that spell was...

Morning light shone upon Tamamo's eyes.

That dream again...

Pain hit Tamamo when she tried to shift around in the bed. Her memories came flooding back to her.

I fought with Saja... then I...

Did Ilias save me...?

Bearing with the pain, Tamamo rose in the bed. When she did, a girl in the corner made her presence known. "Ah, you're awake!" She stuttered. "Ilias told me to let her know..."

The angel ran out of the room.

I guess watching over someone who killed thousands of your kind would be scary...

With a great effort, the kitsune jumped out from the bed. She was a little annoyed when she realised what height she was.

This is bad... my unsealed form is now my natural one... I don't want to get used to that.

Tamamo returned to her more compact form, which she felt much more comfortable in. She checked herself for injuries. A few bruises here and there, but most of her cuts were healed.

Did Ilias do that as well...?

The door opened. The Goddess of Creation stood there. "You are awake." She said.

"I am."

"You lost your fight with Saja," Ilias said. The tiniest smile could be seen on her face. Tamamo ignored it.

"I did."

"I saved you." Ilias pointed out. Her tiny smile grew ever so slightly.

"You did... Thank you." Tamamo forced herself to say. "What is it? Why are you here?"

Ilias walked inside. "Am I not allowed to check up on you?"

Tamamo wasn't buying it. "I highly doubt that is why you came here. You already knew I would be fine when you healed me."

Ilias sighed. "Does everything have to be an interrogation with you...?"

She closed the door. "We have taken the city. Saja fled the scene after seeing me, naturally. When she ran, much of the army followed. The rest surrendered the city."

"Congratulations," Tamamo said bitterly. The pain of that battle still hurt.

I failed to convince her...

Damn it. Is violence still the only answer?

"You don't look very pleased," Ilias said. "What's wrong?"

"Why would you care?"

"Don't be so hostile," Ilias muttered. "I am only trying to help."

"To help? You cannot fool me, Ilias. You act as though you have changed, as though you are now somehow good. But we all know that is a lie. Hell, I bet even Luka knows, deep down. You pretend to be good so you can keep your grip on power. Well, don't worry. We'll all keep playing along, for now."

Without even realising it, Tamamo had returned to her natural form. She walked over to the goddess. "But don't delude yourself into thinking this will last. Once we have killed Black Alice, you're next."

Ilias looked down. "This is... No... You're mistaken. I have changed." She said. "And Luka does trust me! He knows I'm better than I was!"

"Oh, well congratulations! You're better than when you tried to destroy the entire world. Do you want a medal?" Tamamo said sarcastically.

"You... Do you know how hard I am trying!? I'm trying, Tamamo, unlike you!" Ilias spat. "Look at you, back in your old form. Did you even notice!?"

Tamamo was taken aback. She looked at herself. "What..."

Neither person spoke. Tamamo walked back to her bed, returning to her sealed form. There was a long silence before she spoke again. "I... I apologise." She said. "That was out of line. We are allies... I was simply upset with my failure."

"No... It's fine. You're not wrong, after all." Ilias muttered. For some reason, Tamamo felt bad for her. She offered the goddess a spot beside her on the end of the bed, and she took it.

"I was wrong," Tamamo said. "You are better than you were. Much better."

"But it's not enough," Ilias said. "I still feel it, you know? I still have those... thoughts. When I see a monster... sometimes my first thoughts are of revulsion, even now."

"You are not alone in that... I still find myself thinking like that about angels as well. It is something we must live with. What is important is we don't act on those thoughts." Tamamo said. "And... for the record, I believe in you. If someone like me was able to become a better person, then it should be easy for you."

Ilias laughed a little. "You were pretty terrible... Ugh, the things you did to those humans..."

"Hey, they liked it!" Tamamo said. "I mean, not at first, but after a little training..."

"We don't have to talk about it," Ilias said, standing up. She went to the door.

Ilias turned back towards Tamamo. "...Thank you for believing in me." She said just before leaving.

Notes

The demo for part 3 of Paradox has been released, along with an announcement: Part 3 will be delayed to 2024. This means I'll easily reach my goal of completing Dark Past before Part 3 comes out, which I suppose might be the silver lining in this dark cloud.