This chapter opens with saying "one month later". You're playing mahjong against Amakusa, Kadoc, and Jeanne. Kadoc is losing, when the room heater appears to be running low on gas, so he offers to go get kerosene to refill it.
Outside it's already snowing. Kadoc thinks to himself that these calm days are nice, but he can't help but feel like maybe you're being too negligent. There's still things causing him anxiety whenever he thinks about them, but he's learned not to rush into things by now. During this, he seems to space out weirdly, as if he loses his train of thought, and then returns to think about mahjong again.
After mahjong, most people head back to their rooms. Kadoc notices a guitar in his room, which he's unsure when he bought, but picks up nonetheless.
You come into his room with Mashu (or without Mashu if you're a boy and already there) and get all excited about this image. It seems he can only play a basic amount, and you actually get the option to choose whether Guda can play or not here. If they can't, Kadoc teaches them a bit, and if they can, they play the intro to a "certain song about a hotel". Seems that's all they know, actually. Guda and Kadoc then jam for a bit more, before heading off to sleep.
The next morning, Mashu wakes you up, though you're still really sleepy. We see Habetrot's "ghost" try to get a hold of Mashu, but to no avail. You meet up with Kadoc in the kitchen, who asks if you wanna play some more mahjong, but you say you'll do that tonight. Irene finds it amazing the way you're acting right now, as if ■■■■■ has really taken full control of your lives. She asks Jeanne if this is really all right, to which Jeanne says a little bit never hurt anyone.
Jeanne reminds you that rent's due, but you say some work is bound to come up soon, so she agrees to go easy on you about it.
Later that evening, when you're about to start mahjong, Kotomine unexpectedly arrives at the Granato, asking if he can join in on the game. While you're playing, Kadoc keeps feeling like something is off, and Guda has visions of Mashu in their mind, wondering why she isn't holding a shield. Then, Kotomine poses the question: "How long do you plan to continue living like this?"
Kotomine Kirei:
Living mildly, dying mildly. These must be expressions alien to yourselves.
Or perhaps, such is how you aspire to be? If that be the case, it can only be described as comical.
I can hardly believe you would set yourselves to quietly sleep away in seclusion, steadily moving to your ends.
Jeanne says he should at least earn the right to preach this crap by winning first, and Kirei agrees that's fair. However, while continuing to play, he asks if you had any plans to visit the Greed district, and says you should be wary of that circle's warden. The game grows more and more intense, until it finally finishes some time later. At that point, Kotomine asks you again: "It has been a month since you begun living at the Granato. Is there anything you have neglected to remember?" You hadn't even realized you'd forgotten something.
Kotomine Kirei:
A most grievous ailment. One only the archangel presiding over ■■■■■ could inflict.
And yet, if things continue on as they are, their ruin is also a likelihood. That cannot be what you desire.
Jeanne says that's totally not the case, and meanwhile, Kadoc grabs Mashu and Guda to step out of the room for a bit. When they leave, Jeanne complains to Kirei about wanting to laze around a bit longer. But such is not the way in this place, and Kotomine says SHE won't wait around forever, and that there's only so much time until the orders for Chaldea change from "monitor" to "purge".
Outside, you all collectively realize what you'd forgotten until now. About your mission here, and about the Storm Border. You've wasted a month's time like this now. Jeanne joins you and says it was a rare opportunity to allow you to live your lives like normal. She says she basically shot you with a "sloth beam", and it kinda seems like a way for her to force you to "heal" in Purgatory. See, this is a place where you're supposed to purify your sins, and one in which sins and torments readily come to the surface more easily. That's why most people here have nightmares often. But just like growing up, over time you learn to deal with the nightmares until they fade away.
So she asks if you've had any more nightmares recently. Guda says they might have, but can't remember if so. Kadoc says he still has some, but definitely fewer, to which Jeanne says he still has some ways to go. As for Mashu, Jeanne says hers is a special case.
Also, now that Mashu's memories are back, she can hear Habetrot again. Actually, it seems Jeanne was blocking that connection, because otherwise Mashu would just break out of it all immediately. As recompense, Jeanne shares some magical energy with Habetrot, who now manages to manifest normally. She manages to mention how she's been trying to help you cheat in mahjong, before she starts becoming invisible again and can no longer hear her voice. Jeanne says her Saint Graph is like a bucket with a hole in the bottom because of the damage she's sustained. Once she's unsummoned back to Chaldea it should fix itself, but there's no helping it in this Singularity.
Jeanne proceeds to fill you in on some happenings while you've been out of it. First of all, more and more angels have been ascending to the third, second, and first order. Secondly, the amount of Grail Drops being produced has dwindled significantly. Kotomine explains it's because the angels started forcefully collecting Grail Drops on their own, which has led to the sinners becoming unsure if their sins will even be purified in the first place. So they either stop praying and go to Hell, or they're killed by angels. Either way, Purgatory will be in a bad state before long.
You think to yourselves you could've helped if only you hadn't slacked off, but Kotomine claims there's no reason getting angry with Jeanne for this. You have only yourselves to blame for not being able to resist the temptations of Sloth. Kadoc doesn't quite agree with that though since there's no way humans could resist a SLOTH BEAM from a SERVANT.
Anyway, Jeanne explains the reason she did all this is because she's the arbiter of Sloth in this Singularity, and she judged accordingly that the three of you desperately needed to take it easy for a while. However, since you (and Kirei) want to prepare for your trial which you still believe you can win (and Jeanne doesn't), you're gonna have to get out of this the good old fashioned way: by beating up Jeanne.
Jeanne also already expected Kotomine to take your side, though you're more surprised he'll ally with you here. He says he's doing this because if you never challenge the trial, then him being here as a prosecutor has no purpose. Besides, as a priest, there's no way Sloth can get through to him, so he'll be able to help you out here easily.
[Battle against <Metatron Jeanne>] (Habetrot cannot be used, forced Kotomine support. He immediately gets put under a special sleep debuff that doesn't break on damage)
After the battle, you note that Sloth did in fact get through to Kotomine, rather easily too, but he just laughs it off. Jeanne agrees to also not evict you, but tells Kotomine to get out of here. Before he leaves, he says he'll see you in court.
Jeanne says she has something to talk to you about, and asks you to follow along to her room, alone. Mashu insists on coming along at first, but Irene steps in and says they should talk instead. Of course, Mashu is free to say no, but as usual she can't, so she stays behind. Kadoc takes this opportunity to get some intel from Ashoka in the kitchen meanwhile. You're then allowed a choice for which of these three scenes to view first.
--- Your talk with Metatron Jeanne ---
Jeanne slips under the kotatsu immediately as you enter the room. A voice is heard from the closet, saying it's unfair she's hogging all the heat. You're really curious as to why the closet is talking, but Jeanne slams it shut again and says not to worry about it, because she sure doesn't. Anyway, she wants to know what you're planning on doing now. Of course, the answer is to continue to work to fix the Singularity.
Jeanne sighs. Of course that's what you would say, but she feels like you're forgetting a crucial fact here: you can't fight your way out of this one. You'll need a compelling argument and a firm conviction to win in court. Needless to say you already have the latter, but you really don't have much of an argument against the judge, at least not one she'll hear out. Now that you've overcome Sloth, Jeanne feels like it's fair to tell you what kind of argument Metatron Jeanne works on.
Metatron Jeanne:
"Humanity has erred. The error has resulted in the Bleaching. As such, humanity ought to perish."
"Then we will wait for our planet to birth a new prime species...or whoever we are to consider the next generation of sapient beings."
"Even if that will take millions of years. That is the duty of the former mankind. Our penance."
In other words, it's fair to say it's almost like she's given up. She doesn't care about saving mankind at this point, but would rather dedicate all the planet's resources to make a new one, whatever form that life takes. She sees that as more worthwhile in the long run, and so will happily wait out that event. You obviously think that sounds like a really bad plan, and it's natural you would think that, being of the previous mankind and all, but Jeanne tells you to think about it in rational terms for a bit. The Earth is currently bleached and all of humanity and its history were erased in an instant. Even ignoring how that came to be, it's a fact that to fix this you have to not only cull all the Lostbelts, but also rectify things at the final destination.
Metatron Jeanne:
Anyway, in the process, who knows what you will lose, how you will be scarred, and what price you will have to pay?
Not even I can know that.
But it's certain that...it will be hard, and it will be painful, and it will be excruciating, right?
Going that far, sacrificing everything you can along the way, you will finally arrive at your ending.
But if all you get in return is the restoration of the previous mankind, is that really worth it?
If that's all you'll get, wouldn't it be more efficient to just start from scratch?
However, this Jeanne doesn't seem to fully agree with the conclusion either. Regardless, as far as the judge is concerned, it's a closed case. She doesn't believe the Bleaching and all its consequences is just something you can undo, and it doesn't help that Chaldea and Guda all have sins of their own. Jeanne says that from an arbiter's perspective, there's something REALLY sinful about Guda specifically, though she can't seem to remember what exactly that is. But it was something that can't just be wiped clean, even if atoned for. And as long as that remains, there's no way the judge will grant you the right to save the Human Order, instead of devoting resources for future safekeeping.
That said, this Jeanne doesn't really think you're a sinner at all. You're cool, and you work hard when needed, and cook good food, and even chill out with her whenever she wants. So her proposed solution is instead that you just stay here and chill for eternity. Obviously, that's a no-go. But Jeanne begs and pleads, even falling to the ground and wrapping herself around your legs.
Once she's calmed down some more, you ask her again how you can manage to win the trial, despite all her warnings. She explains you first and foremost need a convincing argument, and not just something basic like "Killing is bad". And you can't ever use someone else's argument, or the judge will know immediately and set your existential value to zero. Considering the nightmares you guys have been having are a result of this Singularity bringing guilt and sins to the forefront, you should start by searching within those. However, since you've seemingly already overcome your own nightmares, you must've already resolved yourself, so you just need to strengthen that into a proper argument.
After one last attempt to make you succumb to Sloth, the scene is interrupted by Amakusa knocking on the door.
--- Mashu's talk with Irene ---
The two girls enter Moriarty and Dante's office, thanks to Irene having made a copy of their key because they "have an arrangement where she cleans for them". She asks Mashu if she would like coffee or tea to drink, to which Mashu replies tea, and Irene then promptly hands her a cup of coffee. "I couldn't find any tea," she says, while sipping on some herself.
The reason Irene wanted to talk with Mashu is because of the "homework" she gave her a month ago. It seems that question never left her mind, even with Sloth in the picture, so Mashu does feel like she's arrived at an answer. She takes a good look at Irene, as she formulates her thoughts.
Whenever I look at the person before me, somewhere in my heart, I feel distress.
I feel my thoughts shut down, my body getting hot, and the sweat on my skin growing cold.
And though I want to look away, I can't tear my eyes from her. Her very existence agitates my heart.
So after all these thoughts and feelings, I can finally give a name to what this feeling is.
The emotion that Irene Adler feels about me.
Mashu:
I...am hated. By you.
Irene is a little disappointed at the lack of conviction here. In the end, Mashu dealt with this issue in a most machine-like manner, though Mashu can't seem to understand why that's a bad thing. Regardless, Irene says that's certainly a correct conclusion, so she'll honor her part of the deal as well and reveal her true name. She then transforms into her second Ascension again.
Irene:
My True Name is Lilith. The Mesopotamian Woman of Storms and the mother of the evil Lilim spirits.
Not pleased to meet you.
You heard right. 'Cause like, I hate you, Kyrielight.
Yup. I truly hate you from the bottom of my heart. You makes me feel, like, SO disgusted.
I feel happy when you're hurt or when you're sad. Your misery is my pleasure.
I hate your face, your voice, your tone, your personality. If I had to choose between kissing you or a toilet, I would ALWAYS choose the latter.
This hatred doesn't stem from hating mankind, or anything like that. She just hates Mashu specifically, and Mashu only. Mashu is dejected, and can't understand why this is. Have they met before somewhere? But that's not the case either. However, it is the case that Lilith knows all of Mashu's past. She knows she's a Demi-Servant, and an artificial human made just for that purpose. That she's an automated life form only pretending to be human. A notion that Mashu obviously rejects. But Lilith simply asks: "Have you ever felt hate towards people who are evil?" Mashu can't seem to argue this, and thus Lilith reinforces her claim that Mashu isn't human.
Lilith:
All humans have their own scale of what is good and bad. So that you can sort between what you like and what you hate.
A hundred scales could be found in a hundred people, and no matter what you put on them, they'll shift.
If someone you love is bad, the scales will surely shift.
If someone you hate is just, then, same way, the scales will budge.
Not a single person has scales that are truly fairly balanced.
But that's just how humans are. Vague, halfhearted, ambivalent, and uncertain.
It's that unclear nature that I love about humans.
Fujimaru is like that too.
Their scales are just as vague as anyone else's.
They've hated, grieved, sympathized, enraged, forgave, faltered, despaired. And every time they did...their scales shifted.
So, Kyrielight.
I do actually like Fujimaru.
I've lied a lot, but this is not one of those times... You understand that, right?
But, YOUR scales are different.
Your scales deserve hate and resentment. Why? Because they don't shift.
No matter what you put it on it, they never shift.
No matter the evil you face, your scales remain unperturbed, and so you never come to hate anyone.
And that... That is truly foul. It's foul, and I HATE it.
Mashu wonders if that's really so wrong, but Lilith only bounces the question right back at her. Does Mashu believe there ISN'T anything wrong with that? Mashu is now even more dejected than before, and thinks back to a conversation with Tepeu.
Tepeu:
Differences exist, Mash. It's something which comes to be. Life is not all the same.
It's all right that you would feel sadder about the misfortune of someone close to you rather than someone you have little to do with.
You humans sought something to connect with, something which could allow you to shine. And because of that, your mankind prospered.
It's rather cruel to say, but a world of equals would turn out much the same as ours.
A world where those who are special are neither acknowledged nor noticed... A world where it's not possible to save even a single friend...
Lilith gets Mashu's attention again by throwing tea in her face. She says it's an inherently human trait to force your ideals on others. Parents force them on their children, and children force them on their parents in return. We force them on world leaders, on heroes, on friends. We want them to be lively, virtuous, obedient, resolute, straightforward, intelligent...to be forever pure. But she also says humans learn to compromise with these ideals. Even if we want someone to be obedient, we know they'll have their own goals. Even if we want them to lead a happy life, we know life's not all about happiness. And in that sense, the ideal pushed on Mashu by Chaldea is surely to remain forever pure. Yet Mashu has never made an attempt to compromise on this, no matter how many opportunities she's gotten.
Mashu is starting to get angry now. She doesn't think that's true at all. What the hell does Lilith even know? But Lilith points to one certain fact: that Mashu still uses her shield. Despite all the issues it's been causing her, she still clings to it to prove that she remains as pure as always. That's why she's the only one who doesn't bear the sin of felling the Lostbelts. In fact, felling the Lostbelts isn't the issue in the first place. Mashu's sin is purity itself; that she doesn't even attempt to bear the sin.
Lilith turns back to her first Ascension, and tells Mashu not to worry. It's not like she's gonna fight Chaldea or kill Guda. The only one she hates is Mashu, so if there was anyone to kill, it would be her. (At this point Lilith starts using another pronoun for Mashu, which is a lot ruder, but that obviously doesn't translate well into English, so just pointing out that tidbit here.) Actually, she jokes about attempting to kill Guda, but she knows even doing that wouldn't make Mashu actually angry. She might get a little upset, but she'd scrutinize the action with logic, and not let her emotions get the better of her.
Lilith casts a spell which knocks Mashu into the back wall of the room. Standing over her, she says from hereon out she'll always get in Mashu's way. She'll become an obstacle, a wall to surmount. Maybe Mashu can get Guda on her side of this fight to help, but in that case, Lilith says she'll just cut their head and win that way, even if it means sacrificing herself in the process. Mashu yells out that she won't let that happen, which just angers Lilith even more. That's exactly the reason, she thinks. What Mashu should be saying is that she doesn't WANT that to happen.
Either way, this will be a fight between only the two of them. A fight to the death between two people who (should) hate each other. Mashu accepts the terms for this, and Lilith clarifies she was just joking about killing her Master. Of course she won't do that, at least not as long as Mashu swears this will be a fight between just the two of them. And with that, Lilith leaves the disgusting defect standing before her.
--- Kadoc's talk with Ashoka ---
In the kitchen, Ashoka asks Kadoc if he believes he bears a sin. Or rather, something manifesting as guilt towards Mashu and Guda. Kadoc asks if Ashoka can keep this to himself, and then starts thinking about his sin as he sees it.
Kadoc:
My sin... My sin is...
Being a Crypter. Being someone returned to life to destroy the world, rather than to save it.
That is who I was...or, well...
??? (Flashback to the scene in the coffin):
If you desire acclamation, then choose rebirth. If you desire indolence, then choose eternal sleep.
It makes no difference to God.
Kadoc:
I was inconsequential enough that I was told my choice made no difference either way.
I was reborn, summoned my Servant, acquired a Lostbelt...
...even though I know it was wrong. And yet, I never considered fighting against it.
I threw myself into my role with all I had, and tried to accomplish my objective.
Though...either way, nothing changed because of my actions. Like they said, I made no difference.
It really did not matter what I chose.
But I can't disregard the steps that I took, even if they took me nowhere.
I received instructions from the Alien God, or well, the only instructions I got directly were those from before.
Kirschtaria never said anything. Thinking back on it, even if he did want to oppose them, he probably couldn't.
Or maybe he felt like if someone had to do it, it should be him. Either way, I was chosen to carry it out.
I ordered Anastasia...to slaughter them all.
In other words, his sin is one of betrayal. Kadoc expects Ashoka to offer him advice and say like "it's no big deal it'll work out", but Ashoka says it's actually a very big deal. In this betrayal, Kadoc claimed the lives of a lot of people. But despite that guilt, he keeps moving forward to some ultimate destination, and in that regard, Ashoka does have some advice to offer.
Ashoka:
A choice will present itself to you in this Singularity.
A very cruel choice. Because whatever happens, nobody can save you.
Alone you will ponder, and alone you will choose...
The loneliness of that act will no doubt serve as your punishment.
Kadoc wonders how he could possibly choose, but Ashoka says they are not the same person, so he can't help him make that choice. Still, in life, Ashoka was someone who slaughtered many people, and eventually found Dharma. So perhaps, the correct choice is just the one that feels least bad at face value. Kadoc says he'll keep this in mind for when the time comes.
Onto other matters, Ashoka asks how many more Grail Drops you collected before Sloth entered the picture. The answer to that is three, so he has another request for you, for which he'll pay four more, so that you can strengthen your Grail Dagger. He wants you to help escort to people to the circle of Hell meant for Greed. He warns that Hell is a dangerous place. Obviously. The people there don't fear death, because they're already in hell, so the wardens rule with absolute iron fists.
As for the wardens, he says they're patterned after the donne described in the Divine Comedy, in groups of three and four: the three donne who represented Charity, Hope, and Faith, and the four donne who represented the cardinal virtues of Justice, Courage, Prudence, and Temperance. All of these wardens are Servants, but they might not all be your enemies.
Originally Posted by mami-kouga
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