I begin my game with Beatrice.

October 5, 1986. The calm before the storm. Right now, on the island of Rokkenjima, the skies are peaceful, the conversations are friendly, and the witch is just a legend... a rumor... a portrait in the hall. None of these humans could imagine that right now, at this very moment, the VIP room the guests maintained but which was never used by anyone, VIP or otherwise, was currently receiving guests...

Greetings. I am the demon, Hip. I have arrived to serve my mistress, the Golden Witch, Beatrice... I know that, surely, her revival is at hand.

... Only... I arrived to find myself disappointed. Where was the Beatrice I had longed to meet? I was told by the master summoner who ruled over this mansion that Beatrice died and was no longer with us. The foolish ramblings of a mad old man, I told myself at first... And yet, after searching the entire mansion, I could not find the one I was looking for.

I did, however, meet her.

In the VIP room, I met a young woman who called herself Beatrice... Yet, she was not. She was a bewitching young woman, surely, with flat-banged golden hair done up in a complicated bun, bearing a red rose ornament, striking blue eyes, and a nice figure... She wore a black blazer with gold buttons over a similarly colored vest, over a pink tie and white dress shirt, along with a provocatively short, frilled red skirt, and tall black boots over taller black-and-red striped stockings. The absolute territory between her skirt and stockings showed a bit of a golden tattoo of the Ushiromiya family crest, the One-Winged Eagle, across her upper leg. She was, frankly, any healthy male demon's dream... However...

She was incomplete. I told her so.

The so-called witch had already been planning the ritual of her revival, naming the furniture she would summon and what she would have them do. She was including me in that count. When I told her she was incomplete, however, she came to a quick stop, the smile disappearing from her face like a magic trick. "Hip, was it? What right do you have to tell the Golden Witch, Beatrice, what she is or is not qualified to do?"

Only a powerful demon who never fails to grant the wishes of his masters... qualified sorcerers and witches, naturally. But you're no witch.

"I could kill you this instant, just for saying that," Beatrice taunted me, pointing one of her long, thin fingers into my face.

Wouldn't you normally have a tool for that, oh great Beatrice? If you're a witch, where is your wand? Your scepter, or staff?

"Gh! That is... I am in the middle of a revival ritual," the young woman declared, crossing her arms. "For a time, my power will be incomplete."

Yes... and for that revival ritual, you need to be acknowledged by humans, don't you? You need to make all of the humans of this island acknowledge you as the Golden Witch. To do that, you've come up with an elaborate plan... a series of ritual sacrifices.

"You sure seem to know a lot about the fun party I have planned," Beatrice admitted, smiling wickedly. "You're right on the money, though, Hip! If you're a demon who can grant my wish, how about you join in?! I'll let you have the first bite...~" She wagged a finger at me teasingly, as though trying to bring out my demonic nature.

...That ritual won't work, Beatrice.

"... What?" The good humor drained from the young woman's face once again, her eyes sharpening as if reconsidering me. "If you don't want to take part, that's acceptable... However, I won't allow you to stand in the way."

What I'm trying to tell you is you don't have enough time. I know your ritual, Beatrice. You need to go through a series of twilights, right? At the completion, the Golden Witch will revive, and no one will be left alive. Only, you don't have time for a bunch of twilights.

"Is that supposed to be a threat? I wasn't kidding when I said I could send you packing...! I advise you not to underestimate me-"

I'm trying to help you here. I've seen how this story goes. You don't have a bunch of twilights because tonight, this very night, someone is going to take your power away from you. You left the key to your power behind a powerful lock... Someone, this very night, is going to stumble upon that key. Once they do, you will be **** to cede everything to them. You need a Plan B, Beatrice.

"It's... impossible," Beatrice muttered, looking not at me, but at some far-off point, as if trying to peer through the wall. "No... You're saying I'm to lose before the game even begins? Wh-what about my confrontation with Ushiromiya Battler?"

He's important...? Regardless, there will be no confrontation. When your power is claimed, you will cease to be. Isn't that fair? You're the one who gave them that opportunity.

Beatrice didn't say anything, but her eyes told me she believed me. She cupped her mouth in her hand as her eyes swam, and I could tell her mind was racing to decide if she had any options available to her.

I snapped again to get her attention. Beatrice, I need you to focus. I'm giving you this warning because I'm on your side. I have a game you can play... This one will only take a night. If you win, you will prove yourself worthy of your title, and your revival will happen not a number of nights from now, but tonight. This very night. Then... do whatever. Gouge whateever, kill whoever, doesn't matter.

"Ho..." The young blonde crossed her arms and tilted her head up, reconsidering me once again. "Not many demons are brave enough to approach to seek me out as an opponent. I hope you are prepared to lose at your own game, Hip."

Again, I'm not your opponent... This is a cooperative game. Allow me to explain how it works.