The three returned to the top floor of the Cube, not to the throne room but one of the many rooms which also existed here. One of those rooms was of course especially large and comfortable, that being the room Yuki had planned to be used by herself and Yamato indefinitely. But since she did not want anyone else to ever enter that room, because of the sole fact that she thought it felt nice, they were now in a random room with basic things in it like a small bed, a couch and chairs, and whatever else the heart desired. While Yamato sat on the couch, Yuki and Amael stood because Yuki's explanation included visual support through gestures.
"Alright, so that's how it all went down… I think I understand? But to think we are now opposing God, and Natsumi is here as well… However, I shall not question you, Milady. But even in your weakened state, you are more powerful than I, which makes me wonder, why you would need my help?"
"Ah yes, a true moron with no sense for the greater picture… Let me explain! I, beautiful and wise goddess, serve as pillar of our religious beliefs and legitimize our claims to invade the Holy Empire of Humanity. Even though Natsumi is sabotaging us there quite a bit, once they go down it only proves our divine superiority. Our glorious emperor Yamato, still needs political and military strength to actually support that title, to eventually ascend to actual godhood like status in the eyes of the people, as only relying on my word just won't cut it in the long run. Which is where you come in, Ameal!"
"I do?"
"Yes! At first, we planned on relying on Marneras for military operations. But we just so happened to lack an army he could lead, so that plan was put on hold for now. Combined with the sudden attack on my beloved's life, I was forced into making a drastic decision and summoning you, since you come with at least 100 angels!"
"Uhm, I'm sorry to interrupt you, Milady… But about those angels…"
"…What?"
"Laphinael, the Temperance, took them from me…"
"Laphie? As in, a mutiny?"
"No, not at all! Her intent was pure at heart! It was because I was unfit to—"
"—Alright, I get it, you got depressed or whatever. All I'm hearing is your usefulness just drastically dropped…"
"I see… In that case, I am willing to sacrifice my own life, so that you may regain enough strength to summon her in my stead!"
"Oho, hold on now. What makes you think I'm so weak that I would need to—"
"—No one is being sacrificed.", Yamato said as he looked up from his book.
"Yes, Master…"
"With all due respect, your majesty… Milady said I was of no use to her, or you. I think I have the right to—"
"—Well, I think not. As I recall correctly, you are my property now, yes?"
"That is how Milady phrased it, yes… But I believe she only meant it in the metaphorical sense!"
"I totally meant that literally. If you have a problem with that come fight me about it."
Yuki said as she took a peek at Yamato's book from over his shoulder.
"B-but, Milady…!"
"Oh, boohoo."
"…Anyway, as my property, I of course won't just throw you away like that. Not when you have so many useful abilities, as I read here."
"So that's what that book is for… You could have just asked me and I would have told you everything about myself."
"Yes, but this was faster. Also, Yuki was right to call you out on the actual use your sacrifice would have. She is not that weak, and the reason we can't summon more of you is not just because it consumes a lot of mana. But let's not talk about that… Why do you want to die?"
"I do not wish to die! It is just my duty to sacrifice myself if necessary!"
"Yes, I'm sure you hold that belief dearly… But that's not what this is about. You're…Damaged. Deeply troubled. To the point where you wish your own death."
"You got it all wrong!"
"No, I do not think I do. I think I see you, even though you frantically try to hide."
"I am the Angel of Diligence, and I would never even think about throwing my life away, no matter the circumstances! How can one be so presumptuous to think they know me like that!"
"…"
Yamato closed the book with one swift motion. As the pages clapped together, Yuki's gaze shifted to Amael, who was acting quite out of line for her taste. Forced head first into the ground by a mere look, Ameal once again found himself under immense pressure in more than one way. Yamato calmly put the book aside, and stood up from the couch he had been sitting on. Crouching next to Amael who was unable to move even the tiniest bit.
"You know… Lies are always such a nuisance… Even if they are not created with harmful intent, or even explicitly to do something good, to me they always just seem irritating. Often because I usually see right through them, which I can't help but take offensive in."
"I don't…get it… What exactly is your problem…?"
"My problem? That's not that easily answered, honestly… So let's just focus on your problem instead."
"I told you already…! I don't have a problem!"
"Right… And I told you that I see you. So let's start over, shall we?"
"What is this? Therapy!?"
"Actually, yeah, why don't we call it that. I imagine you didn't have therapy in heaven, which I suppose is understandable considering it's supposed to be a perfect place or something. But that's where the problem lies, huh? It's because you did not fit in, that you grew more and more distant."
"And maybe Yuki's abusive tendencies played a role too, but I'd rather have him blur her out…"
"Did she tell you this…? Because if so, I assure you that—"
"No, that's not what this is. I told you I see you, not she knows you and told me about you. And this isn't about her or me in the first place… This is about you. What do you want?"
The pressure lifted slightly, just enough so he could speak freely.
"What do I… Want? What kind of question is that… You're ridiculous."
"Well, it's a question I'd assume you never really asked yourself."
"Are you trying to get into my head or something? That's not how this works."
"I'm just trying to help you, trust me."
"And why would you do that? Where is this coming from, we just met!"
"That's true… But it's alright. I can't quite explain it to you… I'm sorry. Anyway, let's focus on your childhood. Or, more like early life, right? I'm sure your life has been so long that it is impossible to go over every little detail, but I still feel like there's a root to this."
"To what!?"
Yamato led out a deep sigh. Yuki was not sure what he was doing either. To her everything seemd fine as it was, but if he thought otherwise, she would just go along with it.
"It's only gone temporarily, y'know…"
"W-what?"
"That feeling you are denying, the one you had when we summond you and that disappeared when you saw Yuki again. It's a momentary break, not a reset."
"How do you—"
"You spoke of a space where you waited, for a long time, I assume. Maybe it was there that you felt as though your purpose was lacking? Maybe it had been something you carried with you all along, but either way your time there was important."
"That's… That's right…"
"As Diligence, I guess you often help people out as best as you can? You need a task, as it is your very nature to be busy. Almost a compulsive need to work, maybe? Or the praise that comes with it, is that it?"
"…There is this voice in my head… It's like a constant drive, that forces me to work and work and… The moment I was born, it was there… The first thing I ever heard, was this tight feeling in my chest, that only lessens when I am working on something… But even then, it feels like it's just building up again, and I only use all my strength to push a weight up that will eventually crush down again…"
"I can help you."
"An empty promise…"
"Well, not entirely… I can offer you a safe space. A momentary break from that drive, and all your responsibilities."
"I can't imagine that… But assuming I believed you… What do you want from me in return…?"
"Nothing, of course… I told you, all I want is to help you of course…"
"Can you really… Give me even a single moment of complete silence…? Is such a thing, truly possible?"
"I promise that if you believe in me, I can reward that faith with something you will describe as a miracle!"
Yuki was intrigued herself now, as she lifted the pressure of Amael completely. She could not care less about him, and her only interest was of course being witness to Yamato's miracle.
"I'm sorry… I can't have faith in something that I cannot imagine in the slightest…"
"In that case, let me just show you."
Yamato mumbled something that neither Yuki nor Amael fully understood. However right after that, Amael slowly lifted his head off the ground, looking around the room as if disoriented somehow. Then, the sound of a tear hitting the floor broke the silence. He them solely looked up at Yamato who was standing in front of him. Somehow he looked much more graceful than before, like the brightest star in the sky. No, the sun itself. Reaching up to this glorious figure, that emitted warmth and light, essential for all life, one could argue the silence in Amael's mind replacing the voice had become the true source of insanity.
"You're… You're god…!"
Yamato could not stop himself from smiling, though he made sure it was a kind one, even if an arrogant one would reflect his true feelings much more accurately.
"When you are in need of new tools, buying the best option available seems like the natural thing to do. But true profit is made by buying a broken one and repairing it to even surpass whatever else was available. But then again, if you already have a favorite, it doesn't matter how good the broken one becomes. If you don't exclusively use it for things that your favorite is to valuable for, you risk neglecting your favorite. So, in the end, the broken object remains a temporary asset, which eventually is discarded again."