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Since Rosen was stuck in bed with nothing better to do, he started watching anime.
At double speed.
It wasn't like sneaking in an episode during class, where even the smallest distraction felt fun. This time, he finished all twenty-four episodes in just over an hour.
[Shut-in Angel: "You guys still watching?"]
[Shepherd: "Just finished."]
[Shut-in Angel: "That fast? Don't tell me you watched it on double speed."]
[Shepherd: "I did. A lot of the plot I still remembered pretty clearly. Besides, Esdeath doesn't even show up in the early episodes, so I just skipped the fluff."]
[Shepherd: "Honestly though, the story's pretty straightforward. I skipped past a lot of the filler details."]
[Shut-in Angel: "That's how most healing-type shows are, 107~. So, what'd you think? This time it's not just us watching anime—now that a real person's involved, that world must actually exist, right?"]
[Shut-in Angel: "Sure, the anime story might not line up exactly with reality, but at the very least the Empire's overall state probably isn't too different."]
[Shepherd: "Doesn't matter what should or shouldn't be done. If Esdeath doesn't agree, we can't exactly force anything, can we?"]
[Shut-in Angel: "Fair point.jpg"]
[Shut-in Angel: "Still, if there was a way, I'd like to change things over there. Life for humans in that world looks just as miserable as in Saeko's zombie world. No… probably even worse. At least zombies can be fought, but you can't defend against human greed. cat-sigh.jpg"]
[Shepherd: "Wow, rare moment—you actually said something worthy of an angel."]
[Shut-in Angel: "Excuse me?! Rude! You're in the same line of work as me—you don't get to lecture. Don't think I don't know why you 'take in' all those pretty homeless girls as disciples!"]
[Shepherd: "It's mutual consent, how could that be an ulterior motive? And anyway, I'm still better than those priests who like little boys, right?"]
[Shut-in Angel: "lol"]
Gabriel hadn't met many clergy in person.
After all, she had to hide her true identity while in the human world. Most of her actual friends were angels or demons. She had a few gaming buddies too, but nothing deep.
As for the whole "priests and little boys" scandal—she'd already heard about that back in angel school. But those who crossed the line had always received the harshest punishment.
They kept chatting idly until another group member finally finished the whole Akame ga Kill! series.
[Blizzard from Hell: "Just finished. Honestly… even though the revolution succeeds, I don't feel happy about it."]
[I Dont Wanna Eat Monsters: "Right? So many people died. In the end, only Najenda survived, the protagonist got wrecked, and even the bright, cheerful big sis Leone died so casually…"]
[Bad Woman: "She killed the Prime Minister on her own, only to bleed out in a slum. What a cruel, ironic ending."]
[Old Mage: "At least Akame survived. But all the new recruits died too."]
[I Dont Wanna Eat Monsters: "And so many good people from the Empire died as well. Why couldn't everyone just understand each other? If the Empire was that rotten, couldn't they all just join forces and topple it?"]
[Shepherd: "If humans could really understand each other, the UC wars wouldn't have lasted decades."]
Even the "Newtypes" in Gundam hadn't managed perfect understanding. The only time it really happened was in 00, when the Innovators and humanity came together—and that was thanks to an alien factor, the ELS. Otherwise, the fighting would've just gone on.
[Shut-in Angel: "Okay, newbie, your turn—what'd you think, @Ice Witch?"]
[Ice Witch: "Laughable. Pathetic. You think I'd ever die in such a meaningless way?"]
She had skimmed through the early episodes at high speed.
It wasn't until her own appearance that she slowed down.
From a god's-eye view, some of Esdeath's actions did seem strange. But still—the anime's version of her felt like a completely different person.
Searching for "a partner in love"?
And with such bizarre requirements at that?
Sure, a few of the points matched her true preferences, but right now she had no interest in romance, much less marriage.
As for the so-called male lead, Tatsumi—Esdeath felt nothing for him. Watching from the outside, his behavior even struck her as childish and laughable.
He might make a passable little brother. Husband? Absolutely not.
[Shut-in Angel: "Knew it. Reality never matches the script. In the anime, you were head over heels for Tatsumi the second you met him."]
[Ice Witch: "Too naïve. Even setting aside the fact I'm not interested in love right now, how could I possibly fall for someone from Night Raid?"]
[Ice Witch: "What does matter, though, is the intelligence. Especially the part about the Revolutionary Army—they've already turned so many Imperial generals? When I return to the Capital, I'll need to clean house."]
[Shut-in Angel: "Hold it! Wait! Didn't you just finish the whole anime?"]
[Ice Witch: "Exactly. That's why I want to verify things. Like whether Night Raid's base is real."]
[I Dont Wanna Eat Monsters: "And if you find it?"]
[Ice Witch: "If it's fake, I ignore it. If it's real—well, I'll either bring the army down on them, or I'll go myself. They do have some strong fighters, after all. It could be entertaining."]
[Blizzard from Hell: "I think you're missing the point here…"]
[Shut-in Angel: "Yeah, no kidding! After watching the whole thing, aren't you supposed to hate the Prime Minister and realize the Empire has to go? How are you exactly the same as before?"]
[Ice Witch: "I don't overthink things. I do my duty, and no one tells me otherwise."]
Of course Esdeath was fully aware of the Empire's current state.
But the idea of changing it? That was the Emperor's job, not hers.
"..."
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