prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 4 Scene 8: The Lie

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Still in the world of Ange's past. This is what, a flashback within a flashback?

Whoops! Ange hastily recreates the image of Mammon in her mind.

Mammon is excited to be back in the human world, so she has a lost of questions. Unfortunately, Saint Lucia Academy doesn't have much to offer in the way of excitement.

She's picking up the atmosphere quickly, though. Saint Lucia is supposed to be a school for rich girls, but in practice it's more like a prison.

Ange is pleased, at least, to have someone who will listen to her complaints.

Mammon casually trash-talks the passing students. None of these people have a speck of magical aptitude, so she's safe in here.

It's hard to keep idle thoughts secret from somebody who lives in your head. A magical forehead-piercing death stakew as not the first thing on Ange's summoning list.

It was her family. Unfortunately, summoning the souls of the dead is high-level magic, far beyond her capabilities. Besides, having nothing to remember her parents by, she has no vessel for them.

Actually, though, she does have something for Battler.

Those beads. Battler won them for her at a crane game when she was younger. They don't really match her style anymore, but she keeps wearing them in his honor.

Flashback within a flashback within a flashback!

As you may recall, Battler didn't live with his family until shortly before the Rokkenjima Incident. That's why he was missing from all the intervening family conferences.

Mammon can feel the magical power emanating from the cheap accessory. More precisely, Ange's magical power expressed through it.

Resurrection is high-level magic, but Ange is approaching it, one step at a time.

Lady ANGE. The Witch of Resurrection.

Ange resisted Maria's urgings to step into the world of magic for a long time, but maybe it's not so bad.

Like Ange, Battler, Rudolf and Kyrie, the Stakes are a family. Families should be brought together.

Purgatorio

Whoops, that's right. Ange ran away from the game, didn't she?

Isn't it great?

Isn't what great?

That you were able to meet Battler.

Sarcasm?

It's all right if that's how it sounds.

I'm sorry. I should accept it literally. Yes, it is. Even in this screwed up world, being able to meet Battler makes me happy from the bottom of my heart.

And you'll win against Beatrice, for his 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. I can't support you, though, seeing as my current master is Beatrice.

I know. Until October 5, 1986, you are Beatrice's furniture.

And eventually, you become my friend. But eventually, you'll through that friend away. In any event... ng, gah...

Are you all right? That's pretty painful.

...Excuse me... G... Gretel.

I'm glad I was able to meet Battler. That's the 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, th

In mid-sentence, time freezes for Purgatorio.

Looks like another witch is about to appear. Probably Bernkastel--

...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?

So, do you have some business with me?

Not really. When I listened in on your conversation, it was 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 would help me. So the moment I start listening to you, I lose. Bye.

Don't misunderstand. My opponent is Bern, not you. In other words, it is possible for there to be a topic that benefits both you and I.

Sorry, but I don't feel like listening.

Hehehehehehe. There's no need to square off like that, I just came to resolve your misunderstanding. No, that's not quite it. I came thinking I'd inform you about the lie Bernkastel told you.

...Bernkastel... lied?

In a way, that promise 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?

What year is it now?

You're talking about the world of the game board? In that case, it's October 4th, 1986.

That's right. So if you win against Beato, then on October 6th, when the typhoon has passed, the people who were trapped on the island will return. On October 6th, 1986.

So what?

How was your October 6th, 1986? You were at your relatives' house, right?

BGM: Mirage Coordinator

See? If you defeat Beato, Battler will certainly be released. 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 atural that he would return the next day if he were to be released, right? And you? You're a person from the year 1998. You're Ange of the year 1998 where Battler didn't return. Know what that means?

What... are you talking about? If my family came back home on October 6th... wouldn't that be wonderful? I would come home from grandpa's house right away, and we'd meet. Everyone would be happy...

Yes. The six-year-old Ange from 1986 would probably be able to reunite with her family.

...Who am I?

Ushiromiya Ange. An 18-year-old one. No, that's not it, either. You're not Ushiromiya Ange, you're a witch's piece with the same name. Strictly speaking, the name ANGE-Beatrice belongs to a completely different person. Know what that means?

And thaaaat's why I think Bern's being cruel. Especially since it's not like she hasn't had that experience herself.

...Am I... somehow... being tricked...?

Yeah, but 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 to Ushiromiya Ange. But she didn't say that this Ange would be you, right?

That's it. That's all that Bern promised. She didn't even say she would find it.

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, that chance of winning is almost zero, so certain that it could be regarded as infinitely close to zero. Bern could be forgiven for saying it in such an evasive manner.

Bern will still probably go around the billions of Fragments, searching for the best world for you. But didn't she tell you? She planned on bringing you a present, but wasn't able to find it.

...She did...

Hehehehehehe, you're finally starting to notice, aren't you? No reward has been prepared for you in this battle. When smashed, Beato's game board will disappear. Then you, as a piece, will also disappear.

That's Bern's lie. Or should I call it speaking in riddles? She made you misunderstand and think that you could be saved. I came to clear that up.

...In other words... no matter how hard I fight... my family won't come back to me...?

Right, they won't come back! Hohohohohoh! The Witch of Certainty says it with certainty! There have been several ancient kings who dedicated historical buildings to me because they wanted me to give them certainty you know. I am graciously giving you that as a present. Isn't this really wonderful, cute, and marvelous? Ohohohohoh! Buuuut! I have a single good proposition for you.

What is the happiness of a game piece? Nothing more than playing in the game. It doesn't come when the game's shut in the closet, gathering dust, right?

Let's change things around a bit. I want this game to continue in a tie for all eternity. A certain closed room that never opens for all time and finally makes Bern surrender. Beato does want to win a bit, you know, but that's actually a problem for me. After all, if the game ends, then the closed room will fall apart. So I'll go easy on Battler to a certain degree, so that he doesn't surrender. Don't worry, all right? When Battler's about to surrender, I'll become his ally.

But she is, of course, the Endless Witch. Beato's stupid, so she optimistically thinks that even so, she'll surely win eventually, and just has to repeat this game on and on forever. Of course, blonde-haired girls are almost always stupid!

...In this game of witches... there's no such thing... as victory or loss...

I won't let her win, and I won't let her lose. With certainty! Bern noticed that, so she found you to be the most powerful piece, and threw you in to break that deadlock. 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!

You can't lose, and you won't be rewarded if you win. So, I've brought you a third choice. With that choice, our interests match each other. As long as the tie continues for all eternity, this world will not crumble. The world where Beato and Battler fight for all eternity. And, at the same time, a world where you can be with Battler for all eternity!

Right, ANGE-Beatriiiiiice? Since Bernkastel's goal is to end the game and end the world where you and Battler can interact, why should you be her ally? 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!

That's not all. I'll add on a bonus: The rule that binds you. I'll clear it away for you. Of course, that's only after you've sworn to become my piece, all right? I'm not telling you to betray your brother, all right? 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? As long as you don't lend a hand, Battler will be unable to win against Beato for all eternity.

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