Cafe Enchante: Il Fado de Rie, Good End

[alias_sqbr]

Masterlist

So I nearly had to stop playing this because it hit a bad button for me, but I struggled through and overall loved it.

It's very similar to Canus's route in a lot of ways, including some very similar plotting that is either Thematic Parallels or laziness, and the same structure that starts out as fluffy slice of life and ends as fantasy melodrama.

The start of the route hit some VERY UNCOMFORTABLE buttons for me to do with neuroatypicality. Il has poor social skills and tends to accidentally cause trouble doing all sorts of every day things. Now this isn't a real human disability, and is (somewhat inconsistently) explained/dealt with during the Fantasy Melodrama. But there a bunch of scenes early on where some characters condescendingly tell Il it's ok to give up on learning new skills and just stay home and eat candy, and another shouts at him to stop being stupid.

As the route goes on it becomes clear that Il never used to care about learning social skills etc and really was happy to stay home and eat candy. And once he decides he does care he figures things out pretty quickly. Also Kotone handles things the best out of everyone, and always treats him with respect. But the period when he was trying and failing and everyone else was handling it unhelpfully was QUITE UNPLEASANT for me, and it may take me a while to stop being pissed off at Ignis.

And then that stopped happening so much and I liked the rest of the route! I mean if I think about it as a disability metaphor at ALL I still feel kinda gross, but I'm mostly managing not to.

The fantasy melodrama was delightfully batshit Japanese-writers-poke-at-Christianity humanism. And the romance worked for me really well, it was still fairly high concept but I believe them as a real couple and got pretty swoony. There's also a lot of passionate feelings between men that are called friendship but are also paralleled with the het romances, and in general while I did have to handwave some annoying individual heteronormative lines the overall dynamic was mildly subversive of typical otome gender roles. Il may be a powerful immortal who spends a lot of time protecting Kotone, but he's also a delicate woobie who cries very prettily.

I didn't feel up to the bad ends.

Misyr was in this route a lot and not just swooning over Il, and some moderately important questions got answered, it feels like maybe I was meant to play this later.

Content notes: I spoil some Code Realize twists that got re-used. Suicide. Unfortunate treatment of Magical Disability. Violence from the love interest towards the heroine For Reasons. Zero sexual consent issues though!
****
Going back through the main route I'm reminded that early on Kotone had a weird dream about someone saying "Solitude is lonely" and a purple-nailed hand that looks a lot like Misyr's coming towards her.

And when she got mind controlled and sent to the island, she heard what sounded like Misyr's voice.

Also when Misyr was describing his childhood, he sounded like he was describing someone else.

So I wonder if Misyr isn't the real demon lord. He definitely has the power, but maybe he stole it or something? He has a certain goodnatured con-man-ish-ness, I can totally see him as someone who got in over his head, playing a part. He could be a Good Twin, a clone, a shape shifter, a human hero who somehow inherited the role when the old king got defeated...so many possibilities! Or it could be something totally different, I am pretty patchy at guessing these things.

Anyway, back to Il.

You're right, Kotone, otome games ARE an expensive hobby. The way Il describes his carefully placed merch as a "pyramid of love" containing the essences of the characters feels kind of like a shinto/pantheism thing, to the extent I have any sense of how that works.

Aw, while everyone else is preparing for the tea party Il was told to sit in a corner and not cause trouble. When she finds out he is always forbidden from the kitchen she says he should at least be allowed to grab a drink from the fridge.

Il: o.O Kotone...are you and Souan perhaps...different people? But your bodies share genetic code. At least, that is how I understood it. The only change being in speech and gender.

Kotone feels sad: she's thought Il was friendly because he liked her.

Il: But even though you are different, I like it. Souan would have served me from behind the counter, but you sat next to me. I wish to redefine my view of you, and see how this relationship blooms. Are you willing to work on this with me?
Kotone: Of course. I'd like to get to know you :)

Misyr says that if Il used his powers in Medio you'd get a downpour of flowers instead of light *tucks away for the vague Vennia/Il idea I had last night shh*

Hmm! Chose something a little different in Chapter 4 and got what I'm pretty sure is EXACTLY the dialogue about Misyr and Il's powers I saw in Chapter 6 last time. I wonder if it will show up again in Chapter 6, if it does I probably won't notice since I'm skipping everything I've already seen.

(and then my keyboard broke but now it's working again? *pokes it gingerly*)

Hey! It's chapter 6 and I got slightly new dialogue!

Misyr is pretty cute in his concern for Il, who is recovering from casting magic while cold on Bestia.

Il: It's a little funny, I must be the first angel ever to collapse from the cold. Being at Enchante...brings so many new experiences...zzzz

Misyr and Kotone both find this very endearing.

I'm taking a screenshot of Il's sleeping face just because it's so pretty. I just realised he has long fingernails, too. Misyr has long claws which is a little different but still A+


Since the only date choices in Chapter 7 are Il, Rindo, and Canus, the walkthrough has sent me on a date with Ignis. He "asks her out" by saying "We're going out" then walking off, expecting her to follow. ROMANCE.

He sits next to her awkwardly in a park, looking silently angry, and then suddenly stands up and apologises for her experiences in Bestia, asking if there's anything he can do to make it up to her. She asks to go for a walk around the park...where Ignis quickly gets surrounded by adorably friendly puppies.
Ignis: Stop climbing on me, you brats, you'll hurt your little claws!
Kotone: It's like you're their big brother :D

That's pretty cute.

But now it's time for...THE IL PATH!!

Kotone hears Il singing on the roof, he floats down to talk to her and she says his voice sounds very pretty, pure but also very him.
Il: Thank you. Singing is nothing but a familiar action to me...but with your words, I feel like perhaps it is truly something of value.

Chapter 1:

Il is happy because the first otome game he ever played is being remastered, and Kotone is taking him out to an otome cafe.

Ignis mutters that Il has been pampered every day of his life so I guess we're going to learn about his miserable early life (haha, as if we aren't going to learn about EVERYONE'S miserable early life)

Ignis: I guess it's good that skinny pale hermit is leaving the house even if it's for a pansy otome cafe. Just don't spoil him.
Kotone: Consider it market research :)
Canus: I think we should celebrate his initiative in leaving the house.

Hmmmmm :/ Ugh and then Ignis said some very unfortunate things I am going to gloss over. Please do not get too unfortunate with the disability narratives game I want to like you.

At the cafe Kotone almost feels like SHE'S in an otome game but that would be SILLY ;) ;)



After some shilling for how AMAZING otome cafes are, Kotone is a bit baffled by the image of a penguin with an aristocratic haircut who Il says is worshipped as a god in Japan?? Is this a reference I'm not getting?

Then he cheerfully does the whole "try my food and say ahhh" thing, but when Kotone gets awkward he wonders if he hasn't reached the right friendship level. So she relents, blushing. HMMM. GET THE FEELING YOU GOTTA LEARN TO SET BOUNDARIES WITH THIS ONE, KOTONE.

A girl shyly asks if he wants to swap for a duplicate character coaster, which he says he wasn't sure of the etiquette for himself, but soon he's cheerfully swapping with the other customers.

When she says she'd be happy to visit again Il is surprised but happy. Noone else is willing to hang out in otome places :(

He asks if she wants a rest in the park on the way home, and sings her a lullaby...which knocks out everyone in a large radius. Birds have fallen from the sky.
Kotone: We need to call an ambulance!!
Il: They should all wake up within three days so there is no need for concern :)
Kotone: ...I screwed up D:
Il: Hello Rindo and Misyr, are you on an outing? :)
Misyr: *sigh* I suggest you cover your ears, humans. Here's a special delivery harpy screech straight from the demon realm *horrifying screech*

URGH NOW IT'S TIME FOR EVERYONE TO LECTURE IL

Like I don't think they're in the wrong to do so, that was messed up, but it is hitting some badddd buttons for me.

Animal crossing just updated for December maybe I'll catch some bugs :/

Il is unperturbed, saying he'd heard most humans need more sleep anyway. Everyone gives up and Kotone is annoyed: Il knows they're upset but noone explained why what he did was bad in much detail. She thinks it's important everyone explain things enough to Il that he can learn to make decisions for himself, otherwise he will continue to face negative consequences.

Everyone agrees she has a point, hooray, hopefully that dynamic will not be repeated too often going forward.

...every route is going to give me more things to be sad aren't being fixed for the other LIs, isn't it /o\

When she explains that people could have been hurt, Il stares at her in silence for a moment with a serious expression, then smiles and agrees he hadn't taken that into account, like he was processing.

He only looks genuinely abashed when he sees Kotone apologising because she feels personally responsible as his supervisor/superior (hmm) He looks up what has been translated as "supervisor responsibility" but feels like is a reference to a specific Japanese cultural thing. He ends up reading about seppuku in horrified confusion.

Il tries to see Kotone in the kitchen to apologise but Misyr is all controllingly paternalistic and assumes he wants cake despite Il attempting to explain otherwise. On the plus side it turns out Ignis and Canus are doing the dishes under her supervision. Il feels strangely hollow to know she's spending time with them and not him, and goes back to his room.

For the last ten years, he has rarely left Enchante, just sitting in the cafe or playing games in his room. The few times he went outside, other people took care of things, so he had no need to learn more of the world outside, nor much interest in it.

Since Kotone's arrival he's become more curious, but no less ignorant, and this has made her life difficult. He's tried looking for webpages to teach him 'common sense' online with no success. Why is he the only one left behind? He calms himself with some of his merch.

Canus says he shouldn't feel too bad, it was everyone else's responsibility to look out for him, which does not make Il feel better.

Mikado wants to do a psych exam on Il but thankfully Rindo drags him away.

Kariya points out that pretty much all the fairies he's met in Medio have as much trouble understanding human concepts as Il. The other cafe regulars are the exception amongst non-humans.

Kotone thinks the best way for Il to learn about the world is to go into it, with her being more careful to help him avoid trouble.

Mikado's assistant approaches while she's watching an ad for the remade game on an outdoor TV and asks a bunch of questions about Il and otome while refusing to reveal anything about himself or his own motives. Then he says Mikado will be busy for a while so he'll be visiting Enchante to do Kariya's examinations. Kotone doggedly keeps being friendly and polite in the face of his flat emptiness.

As a reminder, he looks like this:

Mikado asks the assistant what he thinks of Kotone.
Assistant: Unremarkable. Totally incapable of controlling THAT.

And then he asks Mikado for a detailed explanation of what otome games are. HE IS TOTALLY AN EVIL ANGEL. HE EVEN LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF EVANGELION.

Il is failing to cheer himself up with otome games, which just remind him that heroines like it when love interests are dependable and helpful. His memory provides incidents of all the other regulars helping Kotone while he just asks her to do things for him. It was the same with Souan, but some reason now it bothers him.

So he goes to talk to Ignis. Who, I've just realised, shares a room with Canus! I thought it was odd that Canus had sports stuff in his room. And two beds.

Il: You call me a hermit. But what should I do to change?

So after dinner Il carries his own dirty dishes to the kitchen, but doesn't know how to do so and drops them.

Chapter 2:

A human man unsuccessfully runs from a silhouetted angel, who 'looks young' and sounds exactly like the Assistant. He tells other more NPC-looking silhouetted angels "Only thirteen more until we recover our objective. Everyone head back, and continue searching for suitable subjects." He looks to Enchante and mutters "It is time to return order".

BLUH Il wants to help but is screwing up and I haaate it so much I stopped playing for a while and seriously thought about giving up and playing someone else. But no, I like enough of this to plough through it.

What annoys me is he's always sure he knows how, doesn't ask for help, then screw things up. And he totally COULD be doing better if he and someone else just went through each step super slowly, and if he stuck to figuring out one thing at a time. Which is obvious! But noone suggests it! They just watch him fail and are either nice about (everyone but Ignis) or not (Ignis, who keeps calling him an idiot >:( )

Il's lack of common sense is written in a very inconsistent way to suit the plot. So I can't say if he should be able to figure out this approach or not. But SOMEONE should.

He's clearly miserable and consumed with self loathing.

Kotone: It's ok, I used to fail at chores too. Mom and Grandpa kept teaching me, and eventually I got better.
Il: Thank you for your encouragement. I think...there's truth in it. However...I've broken so many things, yet you don't scold me. Perhaps...you've gone beyond anger, and have simply given up on me?
Kotone: That's not...
Il: Never mind, I apologise. It would be presumptuous of me to draw such a conclusion.
Misyr: Why don't you have one of these cookies?
Il: No. You enjoy yourselves. I'll return to my room.

Ignis explains that he suggested Il do more housework, but didn't think it would go this badly and feels bad for him. But he puts the blame ultimately on "the three amigos of enabling" (Misyr, Canus, and Rindo), and says thanks to them, Il is suffering. Ok I think Ignis is going about this as badly as everyone else but it's more tsundere inability to directly express concern than genuine callousness, which is something.

Canus: I'm sorry. For some reason, when watching Il...I can't help but fulfil a knightly duty.
Misyr: And I assumed he'd never have any interest in chores.

Kotone: This goes beyond a lack of life experience. Il possesses immense intelligence and dexterity, and he's trying so hard to learn. It just doesn't add up.

OK. BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY BOTHERING ME. BUT IF IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE THAT'S DIFFERENT.

(Whether it's better is yet to be seen. EDIT: Having finished the route...yeah I still don't really see why he's so bad at carrying dishes)

Mr Assistant arrives to give Kariya his exam, flatly rebuffing Kariya's attempt to say hi and Kotone asking for his name. Nnng the GPM rune thing over his face looks like a weird creepy smile.

Rindo: Did he try anything funny?
Ignis: Like draw blood?
Canus: Or try to steal hair?
Misyr: Or peel off skin?
Kariya: Ew, no.
Mr Assistant: Why are you treating me as suspicious?
Kotone; Sorry, I guess we're used to Mikado's unorthodox methods.
Mr Assistant: I retract my protest.
Kariya: Why don't you ask him about Il?

D:

Mr Assistant: It's simple biology. He has no need for such menial tasks and this was born with no ability to learn them. Could you get anything more out of a puppet?
Kotone: What D:

But he just gives her a gift to apologise for Mikado's earlier rudeness, and leaves.
Ignis: Throw some salt at the door! That's how you wards off unwelcome pests in this country, right? >:(

Ok, I forgive you for being shitty to Il, Ignis, you do care, you just suck at showing it.

The present is a new "console" (a Switch) and a copy of the game remake Il was waiting for: "Life is Love"

Did Mr Assistant make an evil Switch??

When Kotone shows Il the game and says she's going to play it he is delighted.
Il: This young man on the cover is a particular favourite. The more you progress, the more enticing his enigmatic persona. When you are finished we must discuss it :D
Kotone: Heehee, cute.
Il: Wouldn't you say he is more handsome?
Kotone: Just talking to myself >.>

This game is going to have to do some heavy work to have me not read Il as pan. (EDIT: If they tried, they failed :D)

Il managed to successfully carry Kotone's bag for a teaparty with Titania!

Il is completely oblivious to the passive aggressive insults under Vennia's superficial politeness and it makes them give up and go quiet haha. Canus and Titania think this is amazing.

*still ships it shut up*

Canus goes off to do 'personal business' :(

Titania says she wants to know Il better, as an associate of Canus, and asks him to kneel down so they're eye to eye. Looking into his eyes she says "I understand now why Vennia's sarcasm didn't work. You are truly pure." Even the little childlike fairies are not so pure. Curious, she puts her hands on his cheeks and pulls him gently closer so she can lean her forehead against his and see into his heart.

There is the sound of static.

Titania: What...are you? D:

Vennia and Kotone rush over in concern. Titania says Il is not at fault, but does not explain what she saw that made her so frightened. And afterwards she tells Vennia not to talk about this to anyone. And that Il has a pitiable soul.

Il successfully helps Kotone do the laundry, asking her lots of questions and getting plenty of advice. Then she trips over a sheet and he catches her and she's struck by how strong he is despite being so slender.

Il is so happy to have helped successfully that he literally glows, and floats up with her to the roof, hands shaking in hers with joy to have been of use to her, and successfully obeyed her orders.

:D

She says it's a huge accomplishment to be able to change his life the way he has.
Kotone: It's like you're becoming more human...oh, but is that insulting to say to an angel?
Il: No :D :D :D

She is overwhelmed by the beauty of his smile, so much more full of feeling than his usual small gentle ones.

Il: I always felt empty compared to others, and was reminded of how unlike a human I am countless times. So I gave up. I am elated to find out where this change is taking me. And it's thanks to you. You never wrote me off. I want to change more, for you! I want to be someone you can depend on. I have played so many games but still don't know to express my feelings of gratitude...
Kotone, pushing through embarrassment: I...like your smile. Let's...keep trying all sorts of things, Il.

Kotone starts playing the game, about a woman who runs a shop frequented by wizards and other people from her magical kingdom.

The character she's pursuing, a Mysterious Unnamed Man, is 100% voiced by Il's voice actor. His mellow, polite demeanour reminds her of him as well.

Kotone is starting to realise she has feelings for Il but is in denial. When Ignis describes him as like "A baby bird following his parent" it gives her a hollow feeling to be seen as his parent.

She bumps into a highschool friend who is supportive about the cafe then asks if she's into anyone. Kotone reluctantly admits there's someone she's 'curious' about.

Kotone: At first I thought he was cute, but he has this lovely smile and I realised he's a man, too. Something about that straightforwardness and purity intrigues me...I think...sometimes...maybe...BUT IT'S NOT LIKE I WANT TO DATE OR ANYTHING.

Just as she's out by herself at night she reads an article about 5 disappearances near Enchante, then hears a scream from an alley way. She prepares her phone to ring for help then runs in (SMART COOKIE) but all she finds is a strange glowing object which later turns out to be...a FEATHER.

That night, Kotone plays the game, and notices that one of the Mysterious Man's lines seems familiar: it's something Il has said to her before.

Rindo asks Il and Misyr to examine the scenes of these disappearances since it's suspected magic is involved. When Kotone brings out the feather, Il makes a choking sound and COLLAPSES??

Misyr shouts at Rindo to hide the feather while Il chokes and claws at his chest and Kotone rubs his back trying to get him to breathe /o\

While Canus takes Il to his room, the others stare at the feather: beautiful, mysterious, and strangely sterile.

Il jumps out of Canus's arms into his room and wards the door. He weakly asks to be left alone. He sits on the floor, gasping for breath. Are the other angels looking for him? What if they come into contact with Enchante? What if....Kotone learns his identity?

And then looking at his Switch he thinks "when she plays that game...will she discover my true identity?"

OH. Wait, so it may not even be an evil Switch, the angel assistant legit just wants her to play the game?? Il touches his face, wondering what it looks like right now. What will Kotone make of his false smile?

THIS IS THE KIND OF ANGST I AM HERE FOR, OTOMATE

Il: I must take countermeasures. This will require me to think...I must return to my usual self.

Is "Il" a persona, based on the character in the game?

Ah, and Kotone has come to a similar conclusion! Aw, but she thinks he's just copying the guy out of respect.

One night she bumps into Il, who hasn't left his room in several days. He seems calm, but explains that since he's a fallen angel, if he's caught by normal angels he'll be punished or re-educated.

Kotone's friend suddenly rings to say she's coming over, laughing at Kotone's concern about the kidnappings. Il and Kotone rush out (after Il checks that this person is important to her), and when they hear a scream he carries her as he flies. They find the friend collapsed in an alley surrounded by creepy looking angels, who are neater and more monochrome white than Il. Kotone worries Il will be afraid but he says he won't lose composure in a situation like this.

Il: My former brethren, exactly why are you in the human would? Why are you snatching humans? Is this his doing?
Angel: He decided to deliver the Oracle to this world as well, and save it. Oh fallen angel. Return to your original duties, and follow his will.

The glossary says the "oracle" is how god gives his orders to the angels and those of "lower" worlds. So I guess we're talking mind control.

TIME TO KILL GOD AGAIN :D

Are all these routes about killing God? I am 100% down for that. Hooray for Japan and it's deep seated issues with organised religion.



Note: I initially interpreted Il's wings as pure white with exaggerated shading, but they're meant to look like they have black tips.

Il: You want me to minimise collateral damage, and recover your friend without injury, correct?
Kotone: Can you do that?
Il: Possibly :)
Il, shooting the angels with countless arrows of light: For the damage you've done to humanity- no, to Kotone's heart, expect to take some damage.

Is she filling the God-shaped hole in his programming...

He seems more powerful than them. Is he the head angel? Like...Lucifer? Probably not, but it's fun to imagine.

He reaches for Kotone's friend...and a light comes from the sky and CUTS. OFF. HIS. ARM.

HIS ARM.

IT LIES IN A MASSIVE POOL OF BLOOD AS HIS BODY BLEEDS OUT

Il, dripping with blood: How inconvenient :/

He picks up Kotone's friend with his other arm and carries her to Kotone.

Il: Here you go, as promised ^_^
Kotone: D:
Il: Is something wrong? Is this the wrong person?
Kotone: YOUR ARM??? D: D:
Il: Oh, it will recover quickly.
Kotone: You've been hurt because of me ;_;
Il: But I didn't fail this time. I thought you would be happy :(

And then he reaches for her hand and quotes the game: "Please don't worry. This wound is nothing. The thought of you is enough to ensure that."

Kotone thinks this is a pretty lame time to quite a video game, but then his head falls forward.

Il, in a flat voice: Damage confirmed. Bodily injuries in excess of 10%. Activating self-regeneration program. Gathering and converting ki from Ley Line underground as alternative to Spirit Energy.

There is a bright silver light, and his arm is back to normal, even the blood on the ground is gone.

Il: Just now...did I happen to say anything strange out loud?
Kotone: ...
Il: :(

The unspoken rule amongst the regulars is not to ask about each other's business, but Ignis and Rindo express concern that the other angels may coerce or control Il. Canus has been at Enchante the longest, but explains that he was away when Il came for the first time.

Static. Il faces two figures, and feels like he's about to lose something. He reaches towards them, wanting to hear 'that voice' again...but then everything dissolves in blood.

He wakes in a panic at the memory. And then he decides he needs to capture the other angels for the GPM before they reveal his past.

He worries about why Kotone was crying, and how far she must be in the game...and then "an unknown black thing" swells within his head.

What I assume is Assistant, facing a round gold and white door like an art nouveau airlock: Soon that thing will manifest a nova of instability within him.

Then he looks, unconcerned, at a group of miserable dark winged fallen angels and tells them God has offered them the chance of forgiveness if they 'overcome their fate of Judgement'.

Assistant arrives at the cafe and demands Kotone hand over Il to the GPM because he's suspected of helping with the kidnappings. Rindo tried to stop him but was overruled by higher-ups: Assistant is actually working for the Intelligence division and Rindo has been declared too biased. When Canus and Misyr try to stop him Assistant says they are but guests. Only Kotone gets to decide.

Kotone angrily says that she believes in Il and that there is no evidence that he's colluding with the angels.
Assistant: And how do you know you understand the nature of angels?
Kotone: ... :(

But instead of pressing the point he says the GPM will let Il go if the bad angels can be captured tonight. Not aware that Assistant is the HEAD bad angel, everyone but Misyr (who stays silent) thinks this is a good idea, so Kotone agrees.

Misyr says he has Demon World business he usually takes care of at night, but he can do it now instead.

But Assistant says Misyr is also under suspicion so isn't allowed to leave the human world
before the mission. Which means he'll have to leave during the mission, and of course Il isn't allowed to help at all. So it's the three least magical dudes against a group of angels...

He does allow Canus to bring in some fairies from Medio to create illusionary people to act as lures. Rindo will be organising things from headquarters.

And...OHHH. Il and Kotone will be in the shop. Watched over by Assistant D:

D:

Also, based on the precedent of this and Canus's routes, I guess the Evil Assistant in Ignis's route will be his sidekick Dromi. Not sure who it would be in the other two, though. Mikado for Rindo I guess? Someone new for Misyr as Final Boy? MISYR HIMSELF??

Anyway.

Misyr is in the shop for now and clearly thinks Assistant is shady. Assistant goes off Do Work in a room upstairs and is TOTALLY going to be doing something shady to Il offscreen I just know it.

Canus: Misyr. At first I thought you were the same as me...but you know something about Il that makes you want to protect him, and keep it coming to light, don't you?"
Misyr, softly: ...I don't know anything. It would be easier if I did.

Il comes downstairs and is especially chill and logical without any melodramatic or poetic flourishes and I suspect him of being Assistant in disguise. (EDIT: Nope!)

Everyone asks him about his world, Caelm, and he explains.

Other than angels and fallen angels, there is only God. Angels follow God's commands and have no other reason to act. Fallen angels are those who ignored the commands or broke God's Laws. Caelm is usually an insular world, indifferent to outsiders, and God's highest priority is peace in Heaven. Even in the name of progress any proposal that disrupts the natural order of Caelm is rejected. So the kidnappings are confusing. Something must have happened after he left.

When Canus and Ignis are gone, Misyr quietly calls Kotone outside. He's asked Kariya to stay the might. Misyr, I know you're worried about Kotone and Il, but he is a CHILD.

When Kotone thinks it's too dangerous, Kariya says "Please, just let me help. I know he's not good at conversation, and he gets on my nerves sometimes...but he teaches me math, and lends me his game consoles. I rather like Il."

Aw.

Kariya is going to hide in the kitchen under a perception filter to keep an extra eye on Assistant. I hope he brought a book!

Rindo is at GPM HQ thinking things are fishy too, especially when Mikado says he was told Kariya chose not to have him do exams any more.

But when he tries calling Enchante...he gets only static.

(Is this related to the static around the ??? that resembles Misyr and controlled Kotone? Or different?)

Misyr stays as long as he can, but at about 11:30pm is looking pale and sounding breathless and has to leave for the Demon World. Interesting!

Il apologises for making her cry the other night, and Kotone stops herself "falling back on the knife" of offering him sweets and instead apologies for confusing him, saying she was sad to see him injured.
Il, confused: Sad? Sad. Sad...

And then he quotes another game line to try and cheer her up, with exactly the same voice and smile as the character.
Kotone: Who...are you? Am I speaking with the real Il? You're exactly like that character. It's not a coincidence, is it?
Il: D:
Kotone: And you were so unphased when you were injured. Are you hiding something from me? Exactly what kinds of beings are angels?

He stares at her, frozen. There is a crash of thunder and the lights go out.

Assistant, voice even colder than usual: You remain silent? In that case, I shall tell the truth.

Il: That voice, you... D:
Assistant: I was masking my presence. But to think you would fail to realize my identity...the human world has truly had a negative influence on you.

And then he throws off his hood, and a horrified Il chokes out his name: Solitus.



(Hot. Also he has a deep, rich, yet slightly raspy voice like a Japanese Gideon Emery *Cough* Anyway)

Il is Solitus's fellow Apostle, the Angel of Judgement, unique in Heaven, and is being given the chance to return.

This is a lot like Saint-Germain from Code Realize but I'm here for it.

Solitus: During your absence a large number of the defective have accumulated, and are in need of disposal.

AHHHHH

Il: I won't return! I'm a fallen angel...to you people I'm nothing more than defective! How could you see this failure as appropriate to carry out His Oracle?
Solitus: I reject your false claims. If you had truly fallen, you would not require data collection of emotions like this.

He throws Kotone's switch to the ground and the game continues on auto mode. Il reaches for it in horror as the "Mysterious young man" character finally reveals his name: Il Fado de Rie.

Solitus: Kotone Awaki. You had such praise for this creature, but it was all meaningless. We are puppets without need for emotions. Il...no- this being's true name is Judgement. He simply imitated the personality of this fictional man. All contact with you was nothing. An act. A falsehood.

And then Solitus gives Il the chance to defend himself, but only in his own words, without using fictional actions or dialogue.

Wow. This is sure something!

Il hyperventilates wordlessly. But then he cries that Solitus is wrong.

Il: ...Kotone, I'm no puppet!

He takes a step towards her but she takes an instinctive step back, miserably asking if his smile and all his words before were just an imitation :( :(

Il: Don't go, Kotone ;_;

But Solitus interrupts, saying it's time for Il to conquer a trial of Judgement. The room fills with terrified black-winged fallen angels, staring at Il with hostility.

Solitus: Recover this individual...or kill that girl. And I shall free you from your fate.

One of the fallen angels throws an attack at Kotone but Il easily deflects it. He could defeat them all, but just shouts for them to stay back.

Solitus pulls out a spear, but instead of attacking, starts reciting: Angel of Judgement, return to your original form. Judge the fallen, those who defy the Law and gain foolish emotions.

Il cries that he doesn't want to kill any more, but his arm starts to move against his will. It's entangled in threads of light. The fallen angels try to attack him first but to no avail. They die to Il's arrows, splattering the shop in blood, as Il cries "No!"

Kotone and Il stare at the corpses in horror, then the bodies and blood dissolve into light.

Il: I...killed again. She knows. AAAAAAA a A a Q R : W B S, ...!!!!

me, sqbr: o.O

Il shouts and smashes the things around him, his voice rough with static.
Il: I don't know! I don't know! What is this pain in my chest! Everything differs from the gathered data! Weren't emotions supposed to be beautiful, and filled with hope?! If emotions evoke such agony...then I, this individual...chooses to...abandon everything!

???: Connection to individual #0000 confirmed. Commencing requested process.

The air fills with glowing letters, and Il falls to the ground. Kotone cries out his name.

I'm trying not to blame her for just standing there and not being more typical-otome-heroine trusting and supportive when he most needed it. She is having a bad day too.

Solitus, with a small smile: This form is where your truest talents lie. Apostle of Judgement has been collected. Returning to Heaven...

There is the sound of Canus and Ignis unsuccessfully trying to break down the door, back early by Misyr's request. Kariya takes this moment to run past and open the gate.

There is a sense of overwhelming power as Misyr appears, and the moment he sees Il collapsed he glows with magic and shouts "I'll kill you!!", his murderous intent visible.

Solitus: I have poor prospects facing you as an opponent. The priority objective is complete. Even without collection, he must voluntarily return to Heaven.

And he vanishes in a glow of light.

Kotone cautiously approaches Il, who stares blankly and says in a flat tone "Full erasure of emotion confirmed. Personality reset complete."

Chapter 3:

That was all one chapter???

Misyr, 15 years ago. He hadn't been coming to the cafe very long, and was still learning about the human world. One day, while Canus was away, Souan took him to meet someone in a room. "A young man" lay in the bed, sheets pulled up to his chin as if to protect himself. Seeing the mixed black and white feathers on his wings Misyr recognised him as a fallen angel immediately.

(This is the point where I realised we weren't supposed to be seeing his wings as pure white haha)

Souan says he found the man injured by the gate, and he was yet to respond to anything beyond some initial terror at being approached. Since demons are supposedly connected to angels, Souan is hoping Misyr can help.

Misyr says that's silly and also "I'm not a demon, you know"?? But he tries his best to be friendly. The angel says nothing, even when Misyr recognises him as the Angel of Judgement from his hair colour (?) Misyr peers down to see into Il's eyes and sees only despair, not the full range of emotions he'd expect from a fallen angel.

Il: ...what is...love?
Misyr: Love?

Misyr: In the past I too despaired. I rejected the state of human existence. My state overlapped with him to a painful degree.

So Misyr and Souan try to get Il out of his shell, but all he'll say is to ask what love is.

Just as Misyr is starting to lose hope at being able to help Il, he happens across an ad for an otome game, and thinks that the way the characters react to their emotions with different expressions might help Il understand how emotions work. He explains the working to Il then leaves him to play alone.

In a flat, soft, deep voice, Il says "Command received". After playing for a while he says "Love...this man learned it...in such a short time? Commencing calculation. Error. Altering data acquisition priority. Quantifying this man's varying statuses."

And then, in his usual Il voice, "Copying personality data, complete."

And the next morning he greets Souan and Misyr cheerfully. Looking at the console, Misyr recognises the voice and smile and realises what happened. He feels terrible, but it can't be undone.

Back in the present:

Misyr: In the end, he never developed naturally, and was anchored into a fictional personality. I feel bad for hiding the truth, but I just couldn't say it.

He was so overprotective because he was worried that something could cause what Il had gained to shatter into nothing.

And now none of them know how much of his emotions and personality were real, and if any of it remains.

Misyr: All he wanted was to understand love. Even if the inside was fake, Il was trying in his own way to find the answer >:(

Kotone: So, Il. There are some chores you can help me with!
Il: ...
Ignis, grabbing Il: Aren't you mad?? Were you lying when you said you wanted to help Kotone? Say something!
Il: ...

Misyr leaves, looking haggard. Kotone tries to live as usual, in the hopes Il's personality will come back, but feels miserable. The GPM launches an investigation into how Mikado hired an evil angel.

Dromi arrives, cheerfully oblivious, and goes to talk to Il...about the angels he's seen in Bestia??? They're standing around a giant wormhole looking scared and muttering about the final stage of an experiment??

Kotone keeps talking to Il cheerfully though he never responds. She tells herself this is all her fault for not trusting him and she has no right to feel depressed.

Misyr returns, obviously miserable, and Kotone says "You cherish him like a little brother, don't you?"
Miayr: As a friend. As family... I wanted to protect Il.

He describes how Il squeed to him after he helped Kotone and she said she liked his smile.
Misyr: Was the smile he showed you really fake?
Kotone: ...no. Such a wonderful smile could never be copied. But it's too late ;_;
Canus: It's not like you two to give up so easily. A means remains.

Titania told Canus that when she looked into Il's mind, it was steeped in darkness. But he had a mind, a soul. His emotions may have been sealed or sucked out but they have a place to return.

Misyr and Kotone decide to take Il, Ignis and Canus to Caelm to try and get Il's personality back.
Kotone: See, Il! You are loved :)
Il: ...

The arrive inside what looks like Noah's Ark? But beached on an endless marble plain, which is decorated with beautiful yet coldly geometric white and gold columns and buildings. Canus says he feels weak here, as if there is no nature for him to draw strength from.

The ark has been hidden by a perception filter.

With no other clues, they walk towards a large tower. Suddenly, the previously passive Il stops and says "Analysis of surrounding lifeforms. Neither angels nor fallen angels. Commencing Judgement of foreign invaders threatening the peace of the Heavenly World Caelm".

And then he attacks them all, including Kotone. Misyr defends Kotone, and the three men fight back, but Il is on his home turf and is just as strong as the three of them put together, if not stronger. He's also learning quickly, and improving his attacks.

This feels like an endgame scene just before Il regains himself etc but based on the walkthrough there's lots to go? Where is this going??

It feels like whoever wrote this scene has more experience with JRPGs than actual battle descriptions lol but hey so do I.

Il: Conclusion: all simple attacks will be neutralised. Requesting approval for large scale destructive spell, Cherubim.

Light gathers into him and huge circles form around him in the air. Misyr laughs weakly that he's not sure even he can defend against this but it's too late to run.

And then....


???

He paralyses Il with some sort of jamming magic, then teleports the others to safety in his hideout, an old abandoned science lab. He is Epilogi, leader and protector of the fallen angels.

Il's beautiful voice sings out and the place they were standing is destroyed by a giant beam of light. Solitus leads Il away, saying God is looking forward to seeing him. Il says nothing :(

Epilogi: Wow ending up in another world through a random wormhole is tough, and then to be targeted by that massacre weapon!

Kotone is about to correct him but Misyr quietly says they don't want to alienate their one source of info.

Using "an old device" that looks like a holographic computer, Epilogi explains that angels are treated like biological terminals controlled by God, who reads their thoughts, sends them commands, and erases their emotions, though they have some space to interpret their orders. They all draw on a shared Spiritual Energy source called The Spirit Forge, and when an angel gets older and starts to degrade it is ordered to kill itself to return that energy to the Forge.

Ignis: What? That's sick!
Epilogi: I don't claim to understand God. Us underlings have never even seen his face.

Canus says nothing haha. It would be nice to have him react but I guess they don't want to spoil his path or remind the player how NOTICEABLY SIMILAR the worldbuilding is. It also has a lot in common with the Finis route of Code Realise, which I'm halfway through. I'd mind more if I didn't really like all these tropes.

Emotion is forbidden because it creates change. Epilogi fell when he was supposed to kill himself and got this feeling of "You've gotta be kidding". But that made him a criminal to be hunted down by the angel of Judgement, with all wormholes out controlled by the Apostles. The options are live like normal and die. Or fear it...and still die.

Kotone and the others decide to tell Epilogi and the other fallen angels the truth about why they're here...only to become prisoners, because all the fallen angels hate Il for killing their friends.

Kotone offers Epilogi some coffee she brought in a thermos. He says he's never tasted anything before so can't say if it's good, but warms up to them a little. Kotone talks about all the good times she shared with Il, and Epilogi finds it hard to imagine the cold and cruel Angel of Judgement changing so much.

He tells them that normally fallen angels are just killed by Il, but Il is God's favourite and has special functions. So Epilogi doesn't know how Il can be fixed, but their best bet is the tower in the centre of Caelm, the home of God. That facility holds important devices for managing angels. But the angels will be waiting.

Misyr: Why are you helping us?
Epilogi: Well, it wouldn't be so bad if the Angel of Judgement stopped his duties. And thinking about it...he had no choice in taking on that role, he just happened to be born strong. He was treated as a weapon and didn't even get a name. And...I've gained an interest! I want to see that weapon smile :)

He says he'll even help fight, as long as in return they let the fallen angels out through the gate to take refuge on Earth.

Solitus and Il are harmonising over the Forge to create a wormhole. A voice tells them to stop the experiment.

It's God! Who is...A COMPUTER. (I called it!) WITH A PIPE ORGAN. (...I did not) He looks disconcertingly like the Secretly Evil And Also A Steampunk Computer father from Code Realise haha.



God is delighted to have Il under his control. His most beautiful masterpiece. And now without even a little independent thought.

This is delightfully Lucifer-y. First and most beloved creation of God, fallen because he chose free will!

Solitus cheerfully tells an impassive Il he's going to the maintenance room to have extra protections against falling added. Solitus is, in his restrained way, happy to have Il back, and missed him while he was gone, though he doesn't think of it that way consciously. They were made at around the same time, it is only natural for there to be some instability while one is absent. And since Il is back now, everything will go back to the way it was.

Solitus: No need for concern. I will not allow you to fall ever again :)

haha I get the feeling there was some cute joke about politely entering someone else's home that didn't quite translate, as Misyr and the others break down the door to the tower.

Canus and Ignis distract the main guards by cheerfully breaking random machines: every angel has keeping the machines intact as a top priority. Misyr picks up Kotone and flies up the tower with Epilogi, alas I'm pretty sure he just uses magic and not pretty bat wings or anything.

When Solitus attacks, Misyr throws Kotone to a surprised Epilogi and says he's entrusting his precious family to Epilogi's care.

Epilogi is very much the good natured manly warrior type. There's been no discussion of angel gender (I think God creates them so there's no biological reproduction?) but I am of course very curious! Pretty sure all the angels we've met have been men or at least had male sounding voice actors.

Solitus: You are an impurity and shall be- *flinches back from the wave of hatred emanating from Misyr*


It's funny comparing this to how cheerfully upbeat Misyr was when Canus was under threat. I mean, he cared! But yeah.

Epilogi and Kotone find a bunch of advanced machines, way fancier than the ones in the abandoned laboratory the fallen angels use as a base...

WAIT. Someone built that lab. Someone, presumably, built God.

Someone (presumably human) brought the Earth plant that became the World Tree to Medio.

Someone plausibly set up Bestia to be nasty in the particular way it is.

Humans created the GPM.

There are humans in the Demon World involved in some deadly endless cycle of violence.

Is this not just lazy writing, but a THEME?? Did someone, plausibly a human or at least Earth based, add Evil Controllers to all these worlds to suck the life from the native inhabitants as part of some larger plot? Is it not a coincidence that these specific guests were drawn to the gate, but related to them all being so key to the cycles of violence their worlds are stuck in?

DID SOMEONE CREATE CAFE ENCHANTE FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE?? MAYBE SOUAN???

IS THIS GAME ABOUT COLONIALISM AFTER ALL???

Anyway.

They notice the machines seem to be holding open a wormhole, plausibly one to Earth for all the kidnappings etc.

And then they hear footsteps. It's Il.

Il: Fallen angel discovered. However, God's command is top priority. Judgement will be served afterwards. Executing Judgement of Kotone Awaki, origin of critical malfunctions in this individual.
Epilogi: You're making him kill HER? You really are a bastard with bad taste, oh high and mighty God!!

Kotone thinks to herself that if she dies here, she'll never save Il. And she stands her ground, with her back against the fancy machine. Not because she trusts Il to protect her, but because she knows if he wasn't trying to protect the machine he'd have killed her already.

Bless.

Il can't use his magic arrows, but ties Epilogi with magic chains and puts his hands around Kotone's neck to strangle her. As she starts to lose consciousness, she puts her hands on his, not to pull free, but out of affection (ah, otome heroines)

And then just as the world starts to go black, she hears him softly say her name. He still has his hands around her throat, but without any strength to them, and just slowly repeats her name, as if trying to understand what it means.

We see Misyr and Solitus fighting, only for a sound to chime. Solitus goes to leave, and Misyr laughs at the idea he'll be able to...only for Misyr to find himself bound in a barrier of white light.

Misyr: You think this will contain me? I'm insulted.
God: That barrier was created using the Apostle of Judgement's flesh. If you break it by force, his limbs will be violently torn from his body and impossible to restore.
Misyr: D:
God: As expected. They all carry definitive sentiments towards THAT.

Solitus thanks God for his help and flies away, as Misyr shouts "How much are you going to treat Il as nothing more than an object?!"

Kotone hugs Il and shouts "I'm here! If you call for me, I'll answer!"

Solitus sees them and is appalled. "Hurry and kill her! She is a harmful virus who causes nothing but bugs in you!" He shouts at Kotone with visible fury "For a being split from God to be corrupted by a commonplace human...it cannot stand! What did you do to this individual? Or is this somehow the doing of Misyr Rex?!"

Kotone: All I did was live with him, laughing and smiling.

Solitus attacks her. Il blocks the blow, but is thrown against the machine by the force of it. There is a bright light.

???: Memory storage device Michael activated. Confirmed code for individual 0000.

Il regains the memory of his fall.

An angel begs for his life, saying he has always faithfully followed God's commands, and still plans to. Il kills him. He follows God's orders, via Solitus, to kill more. Il has only limited scope for thought, and without orders stands at God's side like an unused puppet, or asleep in a nourishing tank.

He is told to pass Judgement on the Apostles of Recollection, a man and woman who together form one angel, in charge of research and history. Right, there must be a girl angel, he could hardly learn about love from two MEN :/

The Apostles of Recollection are based in the lab that will later become the fallen angel base, and use jamming magic to cut Il's connection to God. Without commands, he shuts down. They sit him down comfortably and tell him about their fall: one day, after many years together, they were nearly separated, and started to notice each other as the opposite sex and not want to be separated.

"What is opposite sex? True, far fewer angels are female in form... but this is simply caused by differing materials used in their creation, and they are treated as no different to men."

*eyes roll out of head at heterosexuality as a sign of free will*

But I guess it makes sense if angels were originally a biological species whose life cycle has been coopted, with sexual and romantic tendencies repressed by God unless they fall. Like I don't mind these two angels being straight. Straight people do exist. I GUESS.

OH LOOK SEPIA TONED CHIBI ART THAT ALWAYS ENDS WELL

They explain their "bugs" (emotions) to Il, saying all they want is for him to hear about these feelings before the end. Though if they have one regret, it's not knowing the name of this beautiful feeling.

Il wonders how these peaceful people can really be a threat to Caelm.

They similarly say he seems too soft and light to be so dangerous, and try to draw him into talking to them. Their kindness makes something strange happen in his chest. Days pass, and they teach him about the strange expression they wear: a smile. They say it is shown to friends, but how can Il be their friend?

And then Solitus arrives, and tells him to execute them. To everyone's shock, he refuses, haltingly saying that they pose no threat to Caelm.

Solitus says whatever virus he's been infected with will be fixed by a reset...and stabs him. Solitus's spear can pass on a single command. And it tells him: pass judgement.

As he kills the Apostles of Recollection they smile gently and say they were glad to meet him, and thank him for not denying the emotion within them.

Il tries to rouse their dead bodies but they dissolve into light, and he only manages to grasp at two tiny particles. His connection to God is restored, and he goes along with Solitus to be reset.

God expresses disappointment that even Apostles fell to such meaningless, worthless emotions. Without even really being aware of what he's doing, Il shouts that this is wrong, and attacks Solitus before fleeing.

He promises the tiny specks of light that he will bring them back, that they will work out the meaning of this emotion together. But the final specks disperse and as he realises they are truly dead he cries for the first time.

(I know we're not supposed to ship this as a poly triad but nobody can stop me)

He wanders at random, fleeing pursuit with no other goal, until happening upon a place where a voice says "Genetic authentication response. Commencing spatial concealment. Welcome back, Master."

And in this hidden place, within the giant beached boat, he finds the gate. Falling through it in exhaustion, he finds himself looking down at a small lifeform with no wings. She's holding an antiquated information storage medium: a book, with two angels on the cover wearing familiar heated expressions.

Il: What is...that?
Kotone: It's a wonderful story about love!
Souan: Hey, where are you? My idiot son finally came to pick you up!
Kotone: Grandpa! You have a customer!

And so Il wants to understand love. To know that this emotion is neither meaningless or worthless.

*imagines an AU where Kotone and Il 'grow up' together like Mytho and Rue in Princess Tutu*

Kotone wanders inside the memory place, experiencing so many angels' memories she's losing track of her own. But she sees Il and, though she can't even remember her own name, says "I'm here".
Il: I'm fine like this. If I return, I'll gain emotions once again. I don't want to know something like that. I thought emotions were beautiful...why did they want something so painful? I'm sure even love causes agony.
Kotone: It's true, without emotions you could live more efficiently. But...I would never have known how much I like your smile.
Il: Even knowing my existence is false? This must be a mistake. Such an emotion is for unsullied lives. Someone like me, a nameless puppet with abilities only for slaughter, could never be granted such a thing.
Kotone: I don't need that logic. I just don't want the emotions you learned to be stolen. I want to be the one to teach you. So let's think together, about the answer to what love is.

He wails and cries like a child, like he never could as his persona, and she holds him in her arms.
Il: Why would you say something so cruel when I said I didn't want it! But I still...I want you to teach me love! The weight of these emotions! That it isn't worthless...I want to prove it with you, and nobody else!
Kotone: I know it hurts. But that's one step towards the emotion we seek.
Il: Then...a name. Who am I? A weapon? A puppet? A fictional person?
Kotone: You...are Il, of Enchante. The person I love the smile of.
Il: Then you are...Kotone. The one who gave me my smile. The one I want to learn more emotions with, even if it's painful.

MY HEART

Solitus: Impossible!
Il: I have fallen by my own will. Solitus, my other wing, symbol of my tragedy. I won't be following your guidance any longer. I don't care if I'm imperfect, or foolish. I'll cry at unfairness and resist. No matter how many times I'm reset, I will simply fall again. And the me who exists now will live on in my heart!

He knocks Solitus out.

There is grey-black in his feathers again. His voice has emotion to it, but it still deeper and less sing-song than Il-the-persona. But he's back to regular Il as he cheerfully tells Epilogi (whose name he gets wrong) to escape through the wormhole while Il flies to the top of the tower. He has a fight to pick with God.

(And there's no way to take Kotone to safety without making things worse)

God: *plays his own ominous entrance music* I am very disappointed. You are beyond salvation.
Il: I don't want your salvation. Let's stop this. There's no need to bring the human world into the Heavenly World's perpetuity.

The abductions and wormhole to the island were all part of an experiment to turn humans into angels.

God: But you know why this is necessary.

Chapter 4:

Ten thousand years ago, Caelm was home to nature based Spirit Beasts. But then humans arrived, bringing technology, and the two created a world of divinity and science.

But then the humans built Skynet an AI to make the world perfect and stable: God.

God decided humans had the most efficient bodies, but their emotions caused too much change.

So he created the perfect being, combining preserved material from the human with the most superior brain, and top tier sprit beasts.

God: I sealed the soul, shaving off all waste and excess to create a living computer terminal.
Il: That was me.

Once angels were in full production, God turned all other life into energy, and took Il out of storage to start his work. All the variables were set to have the world remain stable for perpetuity.

But then Il fell, and wormholes started to appear. Angels were sucked in and were thus lost to the cycle of energy. To regain stability, God needs new angels. So where better to get the energy to make them than Earth?

And now that he's seen the effect a single human had on his greatest masterpiece, he has decided that all of humanity must receive Salvation.

Il: O God. I apologise, but I'll be destroying you now!

But God just absorbs his attacks, and with an ominous chord, ties Il down with ropes of light, and starts to absorb him too D:

God: Thank you for your long service. You were a truly superior piece.
Kotone: Il D:
??: WAIT

It's Solitus :D

He kneels before God and begs him to reconsider. The Apostle of Judgement cannot be recreated! Why remove their best combat asset??
Il: Solitus...
Soltius: Stop defying God! If not, your body will...
Epilogi: Then we'll just have to make it so he CAN oppose it!!

Epilogi casts his jamming magic and Il is free. He grabs Kotone and escapes with Epilogi.

Back at Enchante, everyone surrounds Il and gives him manly affection in the form of pokes and thumps. But they all step back so Misyr can gently approach him and say "welcome home".

Yeah ok, game, I ship it.

Later Mikado is whining that he thought having an angel assistant, recruited from the higher ups, would be COOL and maybe he'd get SAMPLES. Noone is very sympathetic.

Il says he's stopped copying the game now he has his own will. Yet his air seems much the same.

Mikado gets everyone to read the character Il's bio: A sheltered noble who became an overprotected recluse. So his actual personality will be similar, just more serious.

Rindo tries to give Kotone a pat on the shoulder and Il shields her saying "No! Kotone is mine! Ignis and Misyr told me before that Rindo is a wolf seeking women, I thought they meant a Demon Beast but now I understand. I forbid you to go near him!"

Kotone might have objected but is too busy being aware of Il pressed up against her saying how much he wants to touch her warmth.
Il: Is...that ok? ;_;
Kotone: o.O
Ignis: GET A ROOM
Misyr: It's like Enchante to have a relaxed atmosphere ;)

Kotone persuades Il to move away a little. Sorry Misyr, no threesome for now.

Il explains that in three days God will open a wormhole to start Salvation...and it will be right over Enchante. The only way to stop it is to destroy God, and even if they knew how to do that, doing so incautiously could make the wormhole become unstable and damage Earth and other worlds.

Epilogi says they've found records in the lab from before God's creation which seem to mention Il, even though that should be impossible. The fallen angels ignored the records the Angels of Recollection gathered before because it wasn't about them, which is a very angel thing to do.

Seeing the lab, Il is overcome by memories of the Angels of Recollection, and falls to his knees offering them a silent prayer.

...ok so if there's magic that lets everyone understand the languages of other worlds, and everyone seems to be able to immediately read Japanese, why can't Kotone read Caelm writing??

Anyway. The lab was created by a young scientist who was forced to work on God because noone listened to his arguments that making Skynet is a bad idea and also enslaving Spirit Beasts is wrong. He hid the [Ark], which everyone else has forgotten the importance of, and keyed access to his own genetic code (eg he's who Il is cloned from) And he put a secret failsafe into God's combat protocol called The Judgement Project which should cause a self destruct if he ever hurt humans.

But because God moved his combat protocols into Il, and didn't use Il to kill the humans, it never fired.

UNTIL IL WAS ORDERED TO KILL KOTONE. The game doesn't say this but it was the trigger for Il to gain full self actuality. Although he shot at her earlier! Eh, idk, I shouldn't overthink it.

Anyway, Il should have the ability to kill God if he's threatening humans. Looking at the code, Il says it should be just possible within three days...and freezes, then pretends it was nothing. Epilogi and Kotone ask the obvious "will this kill you too" question and Il says he will have to temporarily merge consciousnesses with God but his body won't be harmed. HMM.

The way Otomate re-uses sounds is usually fine, but a door just hissed open with the sound used in Code Realise for people melting when they touch the heroine's poisonous flesh and it was a bit disconcerting.

God tells Solitus he won't hesitate to absorb Il next time, and Solitus agrees yet is confident of capturing Il and resetting him, unwilling to admit any conflict between God's will and his own. After he leaves, God mutters to himself that it's time to replace THAT as well. Yeah, Solitus, you are pretty close to fallen, dude.

It's the night before Salvation.

Il sits in his room, writing two letters. One is to Epilogi, and the other...he thinks about throwing away, then realises he is crying. Since gaining a heart, all he seems to do is cry. He holds the letter to his face, then hides it, and goes to see Kotone.

Kotone is too nervous to sleep, and happily agrees when Il asks her on a date with a sad smile. He holds her tight and flies them to the high building they visited on their last date. He snuggles up close and apologises for quoting game dialogue at her last time: it was the only way he'd known how to cheer up a woman. Those memories seem like a dream, his personality back then was a dream too.

But Kotone says he did cheer her up, and whatever words he may have used he was consciously choosing to do his best to make her happy. She doesn't think the old Il was so different, but regardless right now he is holding her by his own will. He angsts a bit about the blood on his hands and says he's not afraid of his duty any more. She says he's not facing it alone.

Il: Kotone. Do you like Enchante?
Kotone: Yes! And it will always be waiting for you.
Il: Yes. I will return. Regardless...of the form that takes.

He leans closer and they kiss.

Il: Even though I've seen it in many games...actually doing this with the person I cherish...I can't help but tremble with nervousness. After this is over there are so many things I want to do with you. Like helping with the dishes! And cooking! I want to become a reliable man for you.

His wings sway happily.

ADORABLE

The great thing about him having learned about romance from otome games is any time he says something annoyingly Otome Hero I think "Ah, he'll learn better".

There's no overt sexual energy in this scene but they are super into each other romantically.

When he starts talking about wanting to visit her home town and gaze at the sea with her, he gets a little sad, then says there are feelings he wants to tell her...but he'll tell her when everything is over. She knows what he means, and feels the same, but just says she'll be waiting, and they kiss again.

He calls her the cherished tone that plays in his heart ;_;

The next day, Misyr creates an illusion of bad weather to help the government evacuate all the locals. A wormhole forms, and angels start streaming out.

Misyr, softly: Il...are you really going?
Il: Yes, this is something only I can do. So you figured it out? You really are sharp. You helped me quite a lot. Pathetic as it sounds, I had forgotten my true identity, and everything you did for me when I first arrived. But if you hadn't extended a hand to me, I might never have met Kotone. You have my gratitude.
Misyr, weakly: Il, I...
Il: Please, don't say any more. There's only one thing I want to hear.
Misyr, with a sad smile: ....I got it. Go in, Il. Protect the things you want to protect.
Il: I'll be off. Misyr, my cherished family.

That's, um. Pretty shippy, in a Misyr -> Il way. And Misyr's overprotectiveness of Il feels a little less weird knowing he was aware of how precarious Il's sense of self was.

I'm not sure when Il remembered what, and if he'd genuinely forgotten he wasn't really Il until the angels showed up. If he had, that might explain some of his incompetence: it was him modelling an incompetent character.

Il has asked Kotone to come with him, to see things through to the end, and she is happy to stay by his side.

The only one left defending God's tower is Solitus. Which seems like a bad idea on God's part when he knows Solitus is falling, but I guess noone else stands a chance.

Il: As expected, it's God's oracle for you to stand in our way.
Solitus: God's oracle? I couldn't care less about that! This time, I shall retake you!! If you fall countless times, I must simply fix you each time! You belong here with me! In this world! I shall return you to your proper form and kill this human that caused your fall!

...ah. I guess Misyr's scene was there to show that a dude can love another dude without going the full yandere haha.

Il puts Kotone into a cube of light (!) and tells her he'll finish this quickly. He tells Solitus the protective barrier is linked to his energy, so to kill Kotone Solitus would have to kill Il first.

Il would normally be stronger, but not in his fallen state. (Solitus should be fallen too by now dammit). Solitus manages to graze Il and sends the command to stop all combat, but Il just shouts "You have no authority over me!" and burns out the part of himself controlled by the Oracle.

AW YEAH IN YOUR FACE SOLITUS GO FREE WILL

TIME FOR A SONG BATTLE MADE OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHT

(largely left to the imagination lol)

Il takes his feelings of love for Kotone and creates a new song, never sung before, and sings it with a wide joyous smile. Not a song to attack, but to protect. He hopes this song of love reaches his dead friends, where-ever they are (because he loves them)

A furious Solitus aims his spear at Il, and remembering advice Ignis gave him about close quarters combat, Il kicks him in the balls. (The writing is euphemistic but that's clearly what it is)

Then he creates a sword of light, using skills taught to him by Canus. And following advice from Misyr, he abandons all calculations and follows his instincts, pulling Solitus close and then slamming them both into the ground. And then he uses the Judgement Program to remove Solitus's ability to get healing energy from the Spirit Furnace.

Solitus: I cannot...accept it...to be defeated by such crude and wasteful tactics!
Il: From the moment you said you would kill someone I cherish... I had no qualms about using any method.
Solitus: Don't go...God will reclaim you. You will vanish...from my world. Why do you always flee, no matter how hard I pursue? Why do you not understand that this individual...that I...that you, as my friend for all these years...that I don't want to lose you!

Il thinks "Ah. And that's why he didn't care about the means he used...", explicitly equating Solitus's feelings for him to Il's for Kotone.

...ok, I was initially reading these two as brothers but uh...not so much.

Il thinks back to the moment thousands of years ago when he and Solitus were activated.

Solitus: Only I am fit to serve alongside you, and only you are fit to serve alongside me. Together as the two wings of God. Form a compact with me to preserve the peace of this world.

Even though Il lacked the will to reply, Solitus always talked to him, saying he would maintain Il while in suspended animation, and remain by his side, as his "other wing".

How did Il never notice how Solitus felt before now? He realises that God probably did, and manipulated Solitus's emotions towards Il. To use him.

Il: Solitus, have you noticed? Your wings are a little bit black. The attachment you have for me is an emotion. Because of the emotion you denied, you always chased after me.

"That emotion is likely what people call...friendship"

IS IT THOUGH

Overwhelmed by passionate, obsessive feelings of...friendship, Solitus cries out and tells Il to kill him, to take revenge for the Apostles of Recollection.

Il: I still don't have emotions enough to resent anyone.
Solitus, who was resenting Kotone for taking Il away before he even really had emotions: ...
Il: It's true that at one time I fell into despair because of you. But the time I spent by your side...at the very least, I wasn't lonely. Farewell. I pray that you fall in the right way.
Solitus: What does that even mean D:

Il leaves Solitus and flies to face God. He gives God a final chance to repent his sin, but when God says no, Il says he will kill God as his final Judgement. His voice is strong and certain.

God smugly says Il can't move a single finger against him, and plays the song to make Il submit. But Il negates it, and once God scans and recognises the Judgement Program, for the first time he is afraid.

God asks: given how strongly Il fought to avoid being a puppet, is he really willing to merge and then destroy them both, thus destroying his own soul?

Kotone: Wait, what?! But you... You only just got back your emotions D:
Il: If I don't, your world, your Enchante for me to go home to...
God: Ha! Even if you do gain the ability to attack me, you lack the power to destroy me.
Il: O God. You are as arrogant as the insatiable people in power who created you. How have you not realised...all the lives we have stolen....their souls remain within the Spirit Furnace! If they voluntarily decide to supply energy to me, I can destroy you!

Kotone can only cling to Il and cry for the future she wanted to share with him. With a shaking voice, he says he wanted that too, but asks her to let him act like a man, in the end, and for her to remember him like this.

He steps away, wings gone pure white, and cries to the furnace above "My brethren! My sins! Open your eyes and awaken now! As your judge, I use my authority to break your slumber! And as part of God, I shall allow you...to think! Of what is right, and what is wrong...you may ally yourself with God, you may ally yourself with me. I shall not restrict you!"

HELL YES FREE WILL AND DEMOCRACY IN HEAVEN

Some choose God out of spite towards Il for killing them, which is a bit self defeating, but is totally something people would do.

God tries to strike Il down while he still has the chance, but Solitus and appears and blocks the blow.
Solitus: Fulfil your godslaying. My friend, Il Fado de Rie!

And the souls of the Apostles of Recollection fall on Il and hope they can give him strength. Il embraces them and takes them into his body.

God: I still...this peace...this power! I shall not give it up!

Il calls forth a Seraphim spell, a bow and arrow made of light. His voice rough with static, Il says softly that it is scary to let go of his emotions, and he feels like he's crumbling away. But since it hurts to lose them, this proves that his feelings for Kotone and Enchante aren't meaningless.

His legs become weak and Kotone has to help hold him up.

Il: Scary...I have forgotten what that means...Kotone...do I have...the smiling face you said you like? If possible...until the final moment...I want to keep it.
Kotone: It's ok. Your smile...is beautiful.
IL: I'm glad I met you. I...love you.

His fingers let go of the arrow and then fall, weak. God explodes and the world is filled with light.

The credits roll.

It's a year later. Kotone has just found Il's hidden letter to her, which implies there might be some hope if even a small part of his shattered soul remains. But Titania already told Kotone that his body is now an empty shell. Unable even to breathe, he rests in his nourishment tank on Caelm.

Caelm is adjusting to everyone having emotions now, with Solitus and Epilogi in charge. And Kotone is still running Enchante, determined to protect the place Il protected.

Solitus stares at the empty shell of God, now a statue warning others to never try for dominion. His wings remain white, since he fell just as God was destroyed, and he sees them as evidence of his sins.

Epilogi: Yo Solitus! Ah, whenever you have free time you come here to mope.
Solitus: I come here to remember my sins. Il Fado de Rie...I called him my friend, but treated him with cruelty for so long. Countless times, I have tried to kill myself.
Epilogi: D:
Solitus: Fleeing from my sins won't serve as atonement.

Il's letter to Epilogi said to use his lifeless body as the new God??? Solitus says this would be a sacrifice disguised as God, and refuses.

They go to check on Il's nourishing tank and it's empty!

OH GOD. IL ISN'T JUST SEXY WOOBIE LUCIFER. HE'S SEXY WOOBIE JESUS.

Epilogi is freaking out, but realising that the glass is broken from the inside, Solitus smiles.

The regulars all express grief for Il in their own way, trying to comfort Kotone. She tries to keep up a brave face, but is sad.

As she brings sheets in from the rain, she thinks of Il, and then the fabric parts to reveal a figure in white: Il, walking slowly towards her. His wings are white, and there is no light in his eyes.

Il: Who...are you?
Kotone, a mixture of heartbroken and overjoyed, determined to accept whatever of Il she can have: The owner of Enchante, Kotone Awaki.
Il: Kotone...Awaki...why have I been searching...for you? What is...this feeling in my chest.
Kotone: You probably feel...the same as me. I...I like you. I love you.
Il: Love...my memory is hazy. But I know there is something I must do.

He kisses her. The light returns to his eyes, and his wings turn black. Not from despair this time, but love.

(there was other stuff but I was too busy swooning to remember)

Prologue 3:

"When was it? When he came here? I believed it would be the same at first. That he would just die like the others had."

...ok I tried replaying this scene to get Cam to tell me what song is playing and it turns out the "prologue 3" scene in the menu is different! Instead of a classical song I can't remember the name of (EDIT: Chopin Nocturne Op 9 No 2), there's only the sound of wind, and the backdrop is a strange empty windswept plain. And there's more text:

"Half of them would perish in a few hours. Noone survives a full 24 hours."

Yet days pass, and while 'he' struggles in pain he still survives. "There were so many times I tried to thank him for surviving, to say we are both the same...survivors. It's ok that these feelings are one sided. All I need is for someone to be in the same position."

HMMM. I bet one of those is Misyr, probably the other guy.

Anyway! I liked Il's route a lot. But rereading all this...to the extent that Il's original state can be seen as a disability, he is now magically cured, and noone really had to learn to fully accept him in his diasbled state. I do like that Kotone explicitly would be fine dating him as he was, but...idk. The idea of someone with limited free will trying to learn how to Person from computer games is great, but the execution didn't quite work for me. I prefer when this sort of plot shows the full slow progression with a full acceptance and understanding of the character's limitations and quirks at each stage. Kotone did come to accept Il as he was at the start of the game, but never really had to live with him in that state after the point where she fully understood it.

The m/m subtext felt pretty deliberate (except maybe Il/the Apostles of Recollection) and the whole "Other men may love my pretty boy but he only loves ME the BEST GIRL" thing is not my favourite form of wish fulfilment, especially when there's no requited or explicit queerness. But I've seen more obnoxious examples.

Anyway. Il in all his forms is very loveable, and Kotone loves them all, and they all love her. And I am such a sucker for KILL GOD FIGHT FOR FREE WILL as a plot that I'm willing to forgive a lot.

Given that Ignis pissed me off and this game seems low on sexuality or sleaze I might do Rindo next.

Comments

[scytale]

So...otome conventions are the best date, and otome games will teach you to have feelings?

The Disability Parallels sound very unfortunate. :( The Machine Angel Skynet stuff sound fun, though (although omg, so the angels are drawing power from eating Spirit Forge souls, basically??).

This game sounds very plot and worldbuilding heavy. o.o


(there was other stuff but I was too busy swooning to remember)

...understandable! I swooned a bit just reading this!


*imagines an AU where Kotone and Il 'grow up' together like Mytho and Rue in Princess Tutu*

:D


"That emotion is likely what people call...friendship"

IS IT THOUGH


I laughed out loud. :P

Solitus just seems very angsty and angry and fun in general. I'm almost getting Jiang Cheng vibes, with the jealous and resentment.

I ship him and Epilogi based on this summary!


"When was it? When he came here? I believed it would be the same at first. That he would just die like the others had."

?? This makes me think you're right, that Misyr is the human hero who became the demon lord.

[alias_sqbr]

So...otome conventions are the best date, and otome games will teach you to have feelings?

Yep. It must be true, this otome game told me so!

This game sounds very plot and worldbuilding heavy. o.o

Yeah it's great! I'm enjoying it as a fantasy story separate to the romance.

Solitus just seems very angsty and angry and fun in general. I'm almost getting Jiang Cheng vibes, with the jealous and resentment.

I ship him and Epilogi based on this summary!

Oh, yes, great comparison! With Il as Wei Wuxian, the quasi-brother who Left.

I ship them too!