prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 2 Scene 2: The Deal

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Beatrice

The Golden Witch who has lived for a thousand years. She has surpassed the limits of humans and will, just as demons do, appear in response to a human's summon to lend them her power for a price.

She likes black tea and ice cream. She hates boredom and people who deny her existence.

BGM: Shadow of Gold

Beatrice speaks of the philosophers of old, who tried to describe the composition of the world. Each tried to break reality into its component elements - four, six, seven, eight, twelve... there were many theories, but all of them had one failing. They couldn't explain the one true element. The foundation of everything.

Do you know what that element is?

A man once believed that everything in the world can be explained with love. His birth was the dawn of a new modern era.

Shannon is speechless, but she knows the name of this newcomer without asking. Who else could it possibly be?

Shannon is caught between the portrait of the witch and the witch herself. She has nothing to fear, of course - Beatrice is merciful to those who show her respect.

Right?

Beatrice acknowledges Shannon's heart.

She can grant Shannon's wish, of course. For the Golden Witch, such a feat is trivial.

Beatrice is in a good mood tonight! She won't even demand an equivalent sacrifice for this boon.

Shannon is cautious. The feeling of hope is overwhelming, but she also knows that a witch's nature is to slip in through the cracks in the heart and take a soul prisoner.

The witch claims that this is merely a reward for diligently polishing the portrait for all these years. She asks nothing in return.

Nothing, that is, aside from one small, tiny, insignificant request.

Isn't that a bit of an odd request, though? I mean, why would a mighty witch be unable to break a tiny mirror?

That's not the first time we've heard such an expression, but it is for Shannon.

Anyway, the terms are quite simple.

If Shannon breaks that mirror, she may have whatever she desires.

Her response, however, is unexpected.

She refuses. Beatrice is not used to being denied.

So, she makes a declaration. Is the status quo what Shannon is after? She can have it.

Shannon feels the premise change. She doesn't need to break the mirror for Beatrice's sake.

She needs to break it to change her own fate.

If she breaks the mirror, she can be with George.

If she doesn't break the mirror, she can never be with George.

The choice is hers.

And she can't wait forever to make it. As she may recall, George is being set up to be married.

If Shannon does not bow down to Beatrice's demands, George will soon be out of her reach forever.

Beatrice's tirade is rudely interrupted by an outsider.

Kanon realizes only after shouting that he is talking to the ruler of Rokkenjima's night. Even when he does, he doesn't back down.

However, Beatrice is gracious enough to apologize for tormenting the poor furniture.

Before leaving, Beatrice provides both of the servants with a souvenir.

Two butterflies descend to the hands of the two. A moment's pain.

Nothing but a bruise. It will heal on its own in just a few days.

Just a mark to remind Shannon and Kanon that Beatrice truly was here tonight, and not just as an illusion.

And just like that, Beatrice vanishes as suddenly as she appeared.

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