Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

In German, 'father' contains 'a', while 'sin' contains 'i'. As for the Holy Spirit, its pronunciation is neither purely 'i' nor purely 'a', but a unique combination.

In short,

In the ancient Germanic understanding, the sound "i" was often associated with positive words such as light, joy, and the heavens, while "a" was often associated with negative concepts such as the abyss, sorrow, and depravity.

The change from Sam-i-el to Sam-a-el, a seemingly insignificant vowel shift in the name, symbolizes the fall from divine light to the fury of the abyss.

This bears a striking resemblance to the archangel's past.

Of course, Samir is not Samael.

After all, Magic Shooter is just a phantom, nothing more. The devil as the villain is at most a secondary creation based on human fear and imagination of fallen angels.

However, it is true that Samir and Samael have some connection.

Anger – believing that the actions of the one in heaven are wrong.

Gluttony – believing that the teachings of the One in Heaven are wrong.

Gluttony and rage, these two original sins, form the core of the Magic Bullet Shooter - Seventh Shot, which is why it was able to hit Novia.

As for why it only self-destructed inside Erise's body before...

the reason is simple.

Besides the fact that Novia was not present at the time, which prevented the bullets from finding the correct "desperate" target, the main reason was Eri's own unique characteristics.

Utsumi Erise is the Lord's Mind, Permanderges.

So, in the absence of Novia, who in the world could be more suitable for this definition than Eri?

Just then, a soft laugh broke the tense atmosphere as Eri and Novia stared at each other in the hall.

"Oh dear, I didn't expect that Erise would still find out even now." Lilith's voice was filled with laughter. "Erise must be feeling terrible right now, she's probably about to faint from anger."

Eri didn't say anything.

He didn't even move his eyes, still staring intently at Novia, as if he wanted to burn two holes in him with his gaze.

"Oh right, I think I have something to tell Erise..."

Lilith wasn't annoyed by this; she simply moved closer to Eri as she spoke, extending a slender finger to gently tap the tip of Eri's nose.

"After thinking about it, I realize that I am also Erise's mother, yeah, that's it."

This isn't Lilith making things up; it's the truth.

Because the angelic concept Mystic Code 'Samael/Kamer' is based on the materialization of Lilith's deeds, it is not an exaggeration to say that Lilith is the mother of wrath. And over the long years, the 'source' of this power will, like dandelion seeds, sow countless 'factors' across the European continent.

This is similar to the end of the Age of Gods.

All dragon species on the continent of Western Europe can trace their bloodline back to the strongest pure-blooded dragon, Typhon, the Greek progenitor. They were all born from the "factors" he lost.

Samir and Samael had this kind of relationship.

Therefore, Eri, who embodies the concept of a "magic bullet shooter," can be considered the child of "wrath." Consequently, it is not inappropriate for Lilith, the mother of "wrath," to claim herself as Eri's mother.

This time, Erise did react.

"Do not."

Eri turned her head abruptly.

"certainly not."

The reason the girl was so decisive and vehement in denying this claim was not simply because she knew clearly that her mother was Izanami.

Instead, she simply couldn't imagine how she would face her grandmother if she accepted this absurd truth.

How should we face this, Mr. Shinzuru?

Lilith, Kama, Melsin, and even that lazy, seemingly lost-in-thought Sloth... these guys are like domesticated cripples. But for Eri, it doesn't really matter, since they are ultimately just external beings and won't shake the foundation.

However, things are different now, even after a thousand years.

Chitose Masuru is her grandmother.

Eri Utsumi is someone in this world whom he dislikes but also respects and finds hard to part with. Those who are not familiar with Eri will call her Masato's granddaughter.

The thought of Chitose made Erise's heart feel like a tangled ball of yarn, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a single thread to untangle.

Eri knows.

She had always known that Chitose liked Novia from the moment she saw Chitose meet Novia, but she felt she could try to stop it.

Not long ago, during that hasty video call, the scene that Erise had witnessed before her eyes reappeared—

The girl who always exuded a strong sense of nostalgia, with long silver hair and wearing a black sailor uniform in the Meiji era, had somehow turned into someone with black hair exactly like her.

It's not just about hair color.

That hairstyle, that length, even the slight curl at the ends, were exactly the same as Utsumi Erise's.

And that face.

The expression on that face, which should have been cold and dignified, was a complex mix of girlish shyness, unease, and anticipation.

Looking back now, Eri belatedly realized that it was the very expression she desperately tried to hide every time she faced the Demon King, yet it always unconsciously showed itself.

Could it be that.......

An even more absurd and terrifying thought uncontrollably emerged from Erise's chaotic thoughts.

Could it be that Novia actually likes herself?

And all that Chitose did was just... just playing herself... to cater to preferences?

No.

wrong.

This is too... too twisted...

Jealousy, confusion, fear, shame, and an instinctive aversion to that distorted emotion that was beyond comprehension—all these negative emotions swept over Erise.

At that moment, all the girl wanted was to escape.

"I'm sick!"

Eri let out a low growl, turned around abruptly, and ran towards the door without regard for anything else.

As the girl was about to rush once again into that cold and familiar twilight, as the wrought iron gate representing the "boundary" stood—

A figure appeared, or rather, walked in, without warning.

It is indeed a thousand-year-old crane.

The girl's grandmother stood there quietly, still wearing that black sailor uniform in the Meiji era style that seemed to never be changed, her long silver hair swaying slightly.

Eri's steps came to an abrupt halt.

The girl stared blankly at the person in front of her, at her grandmother.

His chest was still heaving violently. Countless words, countless questions, and boundless anger were stuck in his throat like a flood bursting its banks, yet he couldn't utter a single word.

what you up to?

Why did you do that?

What exactly is your relationship with Novia...?!

Eri wanted to vent all the grievances and anger in her heart.

However, there was nothing Erise could do.

At this moment, Chitose quietly looked at Eri's face, which was full of resentment, and seemed to have thought of something, so she spoke:

“Erise,”

The voice was as always, devoid of pity, comfort, or even the slightest ripple, just like the tyrant and dictator that Eri had always remembered.

“If it weren’t for the accident, you would be my child, Chitose Manzuru’s child, not Izanami’s child.”

Chisui raised her hand and gently tucked a strand of silver hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear.

"So you and I can be both nominal grandparents and grandchildren, and in fact mother and daughter."

Please, have mercy on me.

Eri felt like her brain was about to overload.

A de facto mother, Izanami.

Lilith, who has just come to claim to be her mother.

Now, there's another grandmother who should have been her mother, Chisui.

What exactly am I? Am I a Frankenstein's monster, cobbled together from countless "mothers"?

The next moment, Qian Sui smiled gently.

"You are Novia's child."

"........ha?"

This time, Eri Se finally regained her voice, although it was dry and hoarse, but at least she was able to speak again.

"I...I think you...you're saying such nonsensical things, isn't that a bit...too impulsive?" she retorted incoherently, instinctively trying to form sentences. "Although...although theoretically, if the two of you were together...plus what you just said, it seems...it seems pretty much like that...but—"

"Impulsive? No, not at all." Chitose Masuru gently shook her head, her gentle smile still present. "I wasn't impulsive, Eri. What I said is true."

"You are derived from him."

"That's enough!" Eri Se finally lost her fragile composure, letting out a furious outburst tinged with panic. "Are you trying to say that when I was four years old, when I met him, you two were already together back then, and that's how I was born?! Don't be ridiculous! How could that be! That guy, that guy... how could he possibly... No! That's impossible! He has no sense of self-awareness... he simply..."

"That's it."

Chisui listened quietly to her screams, her smile unchanged.

"I understand, Eri. I understand what you want to say."

Of course I understand.

How could I not understand?

Eri's vehement denial was not due to moral indiscretion or logical incomprehension.

I'm just scared.

afraid of losing.

I fear that the precious emotions I've nurtured for over a decade will be utterly shattered by this "fact," plunging me into an abyss of no return.

As long as this relationship is denied, there are endless possibilities between her and Novia.

She could still dream that one day she could become the unique and special person by his side.

But if we admit it...

And so, it all came to an end.

Because that's taboo.

It is a taboo that is absolutely forbidden in any world and any era.

"Although I really don't want to start explaining to you from such a strange place..." Chitose sighed softly, "but there's no other way now. Listen carefully, Eri."

Although she looked slightly more hesitant than before, Chisui's voice was still as gentle as ever.

“I understand your anxiety right now. But you don’t need to think things are that serious. No, perhaps I should put it another way. It is indeed an incredibly troubling problem, one that can even cause you pain. But you know you have to take it one step at a time. There’s really no need to worry too much. I know Novia pretty well.”

"...Are you done talking?"

Eri's voice suddenly became unusually calm, and her blue eyes, which had been somewhat unfocused due to anger and panic, regained their focus.

"I probably know."

The black-haired girl raised her head.

His body was trembling uncontrollably, and he could no longer tell whether it stemmed from extreme anger or extreme joy.

But it proclaims it as if in an ode:

"What I love is my fq."

“You all think you’re my mother, ah, what a strange relationship.”

"I was the first to come into contact with him! I was the first! I was the beginning! Whether it's Manazuru, Kuonji, that guy named Lilith, or any of those other inexplicable people who wanted to take him away from me! I, Utsumi Erise, am the one and only in Novia!"