Gretel

"Hey Mother, praise me. I've defeated the evil witch."

- Gretel

Gretel was a girl kidnapped and raised by Eve and Adam Moonlit, and the twin sister of Hänsel. Born as part of Project 'Ma', the newborn twins were taken by their mother, Meta Salmhofer, to Held's Forest and raised by the Moonlit Family after Eve killed Meta. After being abandoned in the forest during a famine, Hänsel and Gretel murdered their foster parents and split Eve's Original Sin into the vessels of sin.

Early Life
Gretel was born along with her twin brother, Hänsel, on December 27, EC 0 in the Levianta Royal Institute as part of Project 'Ma'. After being birthed by her mother, Meta Salmhofer, Gretel and her brother were placed in in vitro conditions at the Levianta Royal Institute. Celebrated by the people of the Magic Kingdom, their births marked the first year of the new Evillious Calendar. Some time later, they were taken by their mother from the laboratory and hid in Elphegort.

After a year of being hidden by Meta, she carried them to Held's Forest for a stroll. While there, Meta settled them near a tree and left them. Soon after, she and Hänsel were discovered by Eve Moonlit. The witch then took the infants and carried them through the forest as she fled from their mother, prompting the twins to cry. After Eve killed Meta and showed the children to her husband, Adam, the woodcutter couple adopted the newly orphaned babies and raised them as their own. Secretly learning the two weren't their real parents, Gretel caused tons of mischief for them over the years, scolded by her mother each time.

Abandoned
In EC 013, fragments of the Levia-Behemo dragon descended upon the twins as two lights and fused with their bodies, making them incomplete copies of the twin gods. In EC 014, Gretel and her brother were led by their parents deep into the forest on a moonlit night. The curious twin asked her mother what fortune they would find on their path and wondered aloud if their destination would have lots of their favorite snacks to eat.

Eventually, Gretel and her brother realized that they would be lost if they continued on the path and were soon after abandoned by their parents to die. Seemingly betrayed, Gretel and her brother concluded their parents were actually a wicked witch and her henchman that had tricked them.

Filling the glass bottle her brother had with moonlight, the two used it to light their path as they wandered. At last, Gretel and Hänsel arrived back home, recognizing it as the "witch's house". With manic expressions, the twins decided to murder the witch, believing they would become happy if she was gone, and their shadows began spawning tendrils. Knocking at the door, Adam and Eve answered and, while they stared in horror, Hänsel and Gretel grabbed their fake parents with their shadows' spectral arms. Gretel then happily implored her "mother" to praise her for defeating the evil witch, laughing.

While Hänsel murdered the "henchman", Gretel shoved Eve into an oven. Watching the "witch" burn to ashes in the oven, they witnessed her body become the embodiment of her Original Sin. Using items located throughout the house, the two split it into seven fragments,  scattering the vessels of sin across the world and hoping they would eventually cleansed. Gretel and her brother then enjoyed the confines of the witch's house, sleeping in a chair there for the rest of night before deciding to go out and search for their "real" mother and father.

Wicked Maid
Main Article: Arte

"Do you know Arte and Pollo's true identities? Are they your minions?" "No. It's a bit difficult for me to describe. They're Hänsel and Gretel— reincarnations of friends of mine, or parents or kids."

- Banica Conchita and the Demon of Gluttony

Following her death, Gretel and her brother reincarnated as the twins Arte and Pollo in the Beelzenian Empire during the turn of the fourth century EC. Losing their parents at a young age, the twins became servants to the Conchita family and became obsessively loyal attendants to Banica Conchita. After finding and keeping the wine glass vessel of sin, the two presented it to their dying master in July of EC 323 as a means to save Banica from her eventual fate of overeating.

Once the Duke forged a contract with the Demon of Gluttony, the two supported "Evil Food Eater Conchita" as she began indulging in increasingly disgusting foods, killing any staff that opposed the feudal lord on her orders. Banica later gave Arte command of her undead horde guarding the Conchita Mansion and the maid freely used the glass to control the dead soldiers for her master. Arte was later killed and devoured by Banica around August of EC 325.

Marlon Assassin
Main Article: Ney Futapie

"She isn't Ney. This child is Gretel. The girl otherwise should've been born with the name "Riliane". Because fate was distorted, she had a different appearance and decided to pursue a different life, the poor child."

- The Demon of Gluttony, Banica Conchita

In EC 482, Gretel reincarnated as Ney Marlon, the illegitimate daughter of Queen Prim Marlon of the Kingdom of Marlon and King Arth I of the Kingdom of Lucifenia. Discarded by her mother to hide her infidelity, Ney was raised and experimented on by Prim's court mage Abyss I.R. Becoming obsessed with pleasing her mother, Ney infiltrated the Kingdom of Lucifenia as a spy, and, feigning amnesia, was adopted by Head Maid Mariam Futapie of the Three Heroes.

Ney was eventually hired as a maid at the royal palace, where she worked to undermine the reign of Princess Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche. During the Lucifenian Revolution of EC 500, Ney killed her adoptive mother before returning to Queen Dowager Prim in Marlon. Made the commander of the Espionage Task Force, Ney assisted King Kyle in his Witch Hunt. Later given the Glass of Conchita by Abyss I.R., Ney took command of Retasan Fortress and revived undead hordes for Marlon's Beelzenian campaign in EC 505.

Forced to retreat, the assassin returned to her mother in Marlon and joined her at Castle Hedgehog while building up their undead forces in preparation for Kyle's retaliation against them. During the ensuing battle, Ney's sanity snapped, causing her to kill Prim before wildly attacking Kyle and completely submitting to the Demon of Gluttony. After being subdued and captured, she was killed by Abyss I.R. at Lioness Castle.

Servant to the Glass
"Foolish child. You are to never be reborn. I have taken your soul from your body. I shall make you the foundation for the Master of the Graveyard."

- Banica to the ignorant "Ney"

Afterwards, Gretel's soul was merged with the Glass of Conchita and her memory of her past lives reawakened; the familiar immediately returned to serving the new Demon of Gluttony, Banica, learning about her master's ambition to find the "graveyard" where the technology of the Second Period was located to become the Master of the Graveyard and devour the world of everything. Two weeks later, the two watched Abyss I.R. battled Germaine Avadonia and Yukina Freezis. When Abyss suddenly attempted to use the Marlon Spoon against Riliane, the remorseful "Ney" used the Demon of Gluttony's power to cancel out the Demon of Greed's magic, saving the princess and leading to the mage's defeat.

Possessing Her Twin
After Irina Clockworker reclaimed the Glass of Conchita and changed her identity to "Julia Abelard", the wealthy aristocrat stored the vessel in her mansion's treasury in Rolled, Lucifenia. In EC 603, Gretel awoke and saw a boy with Hänsel's visage closely examine the glass. Once the boy grabbed the wine glass, the familiar's spirit entered through the arm holding the vessel and traveled up to his brain to possess him, forging a contract between him and Banica. Reading through his memories, Gretel confirmed the adopted Lemy Abelard was a reincarnation of Hänsel and telepathically related that they were alike before the boy passed out.

After he awoke and was lectured by Julia for an hour before she left, the annoyed familiar finally told the still crying child to shut up, saying it was undignified of him. When he inquired who she was, Gretel considered it before introducing herself as "Ney", citing she was another person of him. She then explained her awakening when he took the wine glass to the seven year old boy and that only he could hear her voice, saying she was him and vice-versa. After Lemy expressed his concern over being the only one who could hear her, Ney insisted him having someone to talk to was a positive, asking whether he was lonely not seeing the kids from his orphanage.

As Lemy considered the truth to her words, he asked how she knew and the familiar reiterated she was him and therefore knew him, demanding the boy treat her nicely as a result. When Lemy then fretted over her constantly staying with him, Ney described that she wouldn't talk to him for periods, making him not hearing her around be essentially the same thing. Lemy replied it sounded wrong and Gretel scoffed that he shouldn't nitpick, noting they couldn't be separated and that he touched the glass to begin with. Once the scared child questioned if that meant she was haunting him, the exasperated familiar reiterated that she was him.

Afterward, Gretel watched Lemy live out his daily life as Julia's adopted son, occasionally speaking with him. Sometime after the boy was given the Glass of Conchita as a present for his eighth birthday by Julia, the familiar inquired if he liked his mother while Lemy admired in the glass in his room. He answered he did, listing off that she was kind, pretty, and bought him whatever he wanted. Once he added she was a little scary, Gretel sighed and agreed before suggesting she wasn't as good as she was acting.

When Lemy questioned if she was implying something, Ney denied it, claiming Julia might not have been as nice a person as he thought. Lemy then asked why she'd say that and the familiar speculated she took him in to use him in the future, stating she knew all too well that those people existed. The annoyed boy immediately yelled his mother wasn't like that and Ney offhandedly agreed with him, warning him not to yell or his maid Phoebe would worry.

Presidential Inauguration
While Julia and Lemy at dinner at home on August 17, EC 609, Gretel heard Julia tell Lemy about her presidential inauguration ceremony the next day, noting there would be an after party at the Lucifenian Palace and that his friend Rin Chan was scheduled to sing there. After Lemy attended the inauguration speech in Milanais Square the next day, the familiar noticed the boy head back to the Abelard estate after the ceremony concluded. Noting he wasn't going to greet Julia, Lemy replied he would just wait for her to return home in the evening.

Ney immediately called the boy stupid, reminding him of what his mother said and that he should go change clothes to attend the party. When Lemy brushed it off as just having old men and women he didn't know there, Gretel retorted that he didn't listen to Julia the night before after all, reminding him that his important friend would be singing there. Once the shocked boy changed at the mansion and took a carriage to the palace, Ney remarked that the building used to be called the "Lucifenian Royal Palace" for the royals that lived there.

She then elaborated for the curious Lemy that the place had been converted for social gatherings after Princess Riliane's death during the revolution 110 years ago. When the impressed boy noted she knew a lot, Ney barked that he should know these things too before hurrying him to enter. Once he entered and started wandering in search of the Hall of Mirrors, Gretel told him to turn right at the next fork in the halls and head up until he reached the hall's doors on the left. Once he entered, Lemy reiterated that she knew a lot and asked why it was so detailed.

Before the familiar could answer, Bruno Marlon greeted Lemy. When the boy failed to recall him, Ney quickly reminded him about the Freezis Foundation executive. After the boy salvaged the conversation, he mentally thanked Gretel. While the two talked during Rin Chan's performance, Gretel heard Lemy relate about his encounter with Rin and Fifth Pierrot three years ago. Afterward, she and Lemy listened to Bruno relate about Rin's manager Ton Corpa's shady reputation killing the children he puts to work while leaving no evidence.

Rescue the Diva
"Leave it. All. To me."

- Gretel

Lemy's repeated failure to meet with Rin in the wake of her tours abroad and subsequent retreat into Corpa's mansion due to scandal, Ney suggested that he could try forcing his way into the mansion to see her instead in early October of that year. When the boy refuted that him doing so would be absurd, she said it would be fine since she would be helping him and the boy finally agree. Seeing the Saint Fauro paper's report that the Cirque de Lune would be tented on the grounds of Corpa's mansion before their performance on October 10, Gretel devised a plan to have Lemy disguised as a member of the circus to sneak into the estate grounds and later infiltrate the mansion when everyone was asleep

After the boy disguised himself as a pierrot on October 5, Gretel removed the golden key vessel of sin from Julia's treasury and put it in Lemy's left pocket to help with the infiltration. Lemy then executed Ney's strategy and successfully infiltrated the mansion at 2:00 AM the next morning. Noting the pitch darkness, Ney told Lemy to not use a light and try feelings his way to Rin's room somehow. As Lemy abided and slowly felt his away onward, the disembodied spirit warned him to be careful since him being found out wouldn't be good for his mother. Lemy mentally affirmed he understood before continuing onward.

Gretel then heard the faint sound of crying and questioned if he heard it too. Locating it to be somewhere upstairs, she suggested it was Rin and asked him to find the stairs. After Lemy found his way upstairs and to Rin's room, the spirit listened to the two friends converse through the locked door when the diva revealed Ton kept the key. Ney then mentioned he had an extra key and directed him to Grim the End in his pocket. She then told the shocked boy he could open any door with it and told him to try it.

Once he used the vessel to open the door and Rin revealed Ton had killed the person she lip-synced to and would kill her as well, Gretel watched as Ton Corpa confronted the two as they tried to escape. Noticing Lemy's legs were trembling, Ney mocked him for being intimidated. After the boy failed to intimidate Corpa by claiming to be "Fifth Pierrot", the disembodied spirit inquired if he wanted her to help. When Lemy wondered what he could do, the demonic familiar told him it wasn't anything complicated, reiterating he should have hope, courage, and believe he could do it. Gretel then told him to leave it all to her as she took full control of his body, swiftly disarming Corpa of his knife and stabbing in the back with it before relinquishing control.

Defying Conscience
"I told you to shut up, Ney!" "Are you and "Ney" in a fight, Lemy?" "—No, it's nothing."

- Lemy and Julia

After Lemy escaped with Rin to his aunt Mayrana's mansion in Calgaround before being intercepted by Julia and brought back home alone, the familiar watched Julia reveal her position as leader of Père Noël to the boy and coax him into helping her "correct" the world as the criminal organization's assassin, Fifth Pierrot, with the skill he demonstrated killing Ton. As Lemy thought how his mother was gentle and always said right things, Ney interjected that it was only what he thought and that he was simply still afraid of being abandoned and left orphaned again. The boy mentally told her to shut up.

Gretel then listened to Julia convince Lemy his smile while killing Corpa was proof his instincts were telling him it was right. When the red cat mage questioned if him killing Ton was due to "Ney" lending him her power, Gretel admitted "Abyss" was correct and congratulated her on the guess. After Julia told her adopted son to do what he could until she introduced him to the other members of Père Noël, Ney mockingly told Lemy how he had suddenly joined the criminal organization.

Lemy yelled that he already told her to shut up and Gretel then silently listened to Julia assign him his first mission to hunt for the traitorous Seventh Magician hiding in Rolled. When the red cat mage recovered Grim the End from her son and inquired if the "ghost" was being naughty taking it, Lemy asked Ney if that was the case and Gretel remained silent. Afterward, she listened to Julia reveal Lemy's origins as a prostitute's illegitimate child, claiming to have met the woman and learned she cruely threw him into the Orgo river to drown in the freezing waters.

Over the following months, Gretel watched while Lemy murdered random prostitutes throughout Rolled in search of Seventh Magician. During the period, Julia told Lemy and Ney about the events that occurred with Second Dealer, Third Sleep Princess, and Fourth Shadow, resulting in the death of their black market dealer, Kaspar Blankenheim. Later on, First Santa Claus shared the news of Mayrana and Margarita Blankenheim's deaths in late October and Bruno Marlon joining Père Noël as the new Second Dealer.

After Lemy murdered his eighth prostitute on January 4 around 2:00 AM, the disembodied girl sarcastically noted how he was at his mother's complete mercy. When Lemy retorted that he was killing of his own free will, "Ney" pointed out that the brainwashed don't realize it themselves, relating the tale of a girl she "knew" who went mad and killed the mother who brainwashed her for years. The new Fifth Pierrot screamed that he didn't want to kill his mother and the voice stated that it was only his current thoughts.

She then admitted he was remembering the pleasure of killing, saying it wasn't necessarily a bad thing and that she could relate. When Lemy argued he was only killing prostitutes because it was just, Ney retorted that it was obvious he also took pleasure in it. As she pointed out they both instinctually remember it, Lemy yelled for her to be quiet and the annoyed girl finally relented, noting he was noisy. Once they arrived at the Abelard manor and saw lights were still on, Gretel noticed the two shadows in the window resembling Julia and a man. After sharing her observation with Lemy, the boy went inside and confirmed it was Bruno.

Slaying the Magician
"What the... Why didn't it work!? The Demon of Lust's power... If I use it, every man's heart is... mine to... u..." "Are you an idiot? Do you think that woman would send Lemy over to you without at least taking some measures?"

- Yuzette Ora and Gretel

When Lemy went to investigate the brothel on 7th Block on February 11, EC 610, Gretel watched while the brothel owner led the boy to Isabel Ismael; she then witnessed him confirm Isabel was Seventh Magician before attempting to slay her. After the murderer was brainwashed by Yuzette's Lust spell and embraced her, Gretel took over as the enchanted boy told her what he wanted, saying she wanted her life. Jabbing Lemy's silver knife deep into Yuzette's chest, Gretel leaped away while the confused woman questioned why the Demon of Lust's power failed against the boy.

The mad twin then asked if she was an idiot, noting her failure to consider that Julia would send the boy after her without taking some measures. Laughing at Yuzette's lapse in judgment, Gretel pointed out how the Lust spell only worked on the opposite sex and that she should know that was what got Duke Venomania killed as Julia's apprentice. When the dying prostitute finally deduced she was one of the Demon of Gluttony's servants possessing Lemy, the wicked maid told her to be relieved since "Ney", Lemy, and their lord were destined to desolate the world.

After telling her to rest easy at the bottom of hell, Gretel watched the woman finally perish before returning control to Lemy. As Lemy recollected his knife and the Venom Sword, Ney noted Julia's claim it was one of her "treasures". When the boy began to leave, she stopped Lemy before reminding him to eliminate the brothel owner as a witness. The boy questioned if he really had to and Gretel reminded him about all the prostitutes he already killed. Once Lemy excused that as part of his search for Magician, Ney argued that he shouldn't let himself get caught if he really wanted to help his mother.

Once Lemy agreed and began preparing his weapon, Gretel noticed the brothel owner watching them from the room's entrance and warned Lemy. As the assassin prepared to kill her, the demonic familiar recognized the owner as Elluka Clockworker and stopped the boy. When he questioned why, she admitted she didn't notice since her atmosphere was different but that he'd likely lose to her all the same. After the mage suddenly greeted "Ney", the familiar expressed her shock that she heard her voice before realizing she may have just inferred it from Lemy dropping her name.

Lemy then inquired if they were acquainted and Ney explained that she was a very different from the woman she knew a long time ago. After Elluka promised to keep Fifth Pierrot's murder of Seventh Magician a secret in exchange for a meeting with Julia, Gretel heard the mage introduce herself as Third Sleep Princess and immediately retorted that she was lying and shouldn't be trusted. She then told Lemy about the Mage of Eternity and that she was his mother's nemesis.

Once Elluka insisted she was telling the truth, Gretel heard Lemy agree to the deal; shocked, Ney reiterated that he shouldn't believe her. When the child countered that they'd get caught without her cooperation, the disembodied voice reluctantly agreed, citing it didn't matter to her either way. Afterward, she warned that he shouldn't be surprised to regret his decision later.

New Père Noël
"It's just great. The guy's trying to be with both of his fake mothers. In the end, he'll be coming here. And then he'll remember everything."

- Gretel to Banica

After Lemy returned home and explained what transpired to Julia, Gretel observed the two secretly meet with Elluka at the brothel two days later, listening to "Sleep Princess" explain that she took over Elluka's body when the mage attempted to use the Swap Technique to destroy her. After the brothel owner proved she could use Eve's powerful hypnosis and both her and Gumillia were recruited into Père Noël as the new Seventh Magician and Eighth Sniper, the prostitute handler suggested "Ney" be the new Fourth Shadow; when Lemy asked what she thought of it, the voice bluntly admitted she wasn't partial to it and found it frivolous.

Over the following months, Gretel rarely spoke up to Lemy. After the boy was assigned to assassinate Nob Nicole for Second Dealer during a diplomatic meeting, Gretel silently waited with the child while he hid in the Lucifenian Palace rafters watching President Julia and the other Lucifenian politicos talk with Bruno and the other top Freezis Foundation executives on May 23. When a pair of Justea investigators barged in and revealed Bruno's plot to kill Nob and secret identity as the fugitive Kaidor Blankenheim around 5:34 PM, Gretel saw Julia signal Lemy to kill Bruno.

Noticing the boy think his mother was signalling him to kill Nob while everyone was distracted, Ney told him he was wrong and to look again. Once the confused child realized he was supposed to kill Bruno, the voice noted she seemed to be abandoning Second Dealer. As Lemy admitted that Bruno was a comrade and that even he'd be killed while everyone was watching him, Gretel interrupted to relate the fact that Bruno would reveal everything about Père Noël if he was arrested and so Julia concluded Lemy had to be sacrificed as well to protect her identity.

After Lemy weakly argued her notion was ridiculous, Gretel stated that was all he was to Julia. When he then countered that his mother must've considered something to keep him from getting caught, the amused familiar scoffed that she should try it then, beckoning him to act immediately. Seeing the scared and confused boy fail to move, they watched Bruno be arrested and taken away.

At night on September 9, Ney watched Julia send Lemy to an inn on 12th block while she dealt with persons looking into her connection with Bruno. While the boy thought about his mother's reasons around 9:00 PM, Ney noted that it was out of fear that he'd leak information related to Père Noël. Soon after, Seventh Magician came in with Eighth Sniper and Gretel listen to the mage offer Lemy a chance to escape from the criminal organization with her before it completely fell apart.

When the woman in the wheelchair warned him about Sixth Venom, Lemy responded that the two shouldn't be acquainted and Ney wondered if Elluka looked into him since he nearly killed her. Seeing Seventh Magician lifting an eyebrow as if in response to her comment, the disembodied voice questioned if she did actually hear her and the mage dejectedly admitted that she could. Once she clarified that she knew about Venom because she was at Mayrana's mansion, Ney proclaimed the impostor was too intelligent to be the Sleep Princess. Seventh Magician then stated she understood the girl's hatred for her before telling "Gretel" to face reality.

Brought to silence, the familiar listened to Magician finish making her offer to Lemy before leaving. Afterward, Gretel returned to the dimension in the Glass of Conchita while Lemy slept that night and reported what had been transpiring to Banica. When the demon questioned why the boy wasn't using the dead soldiers to solve the current mess, the maid stated he didn't know how and wouldn't even realize it if he could. Banica immediately advised she teach him, pointing out the fact she had the most experience.

Gretel argued that he'd always been too stupid to teach, saying he just got washed away in people's words. The demon noted he had already made the contract and concluded that they should just watch things play out thereafter. When her master then asked her opinion on what decision Lemy would make about Magician's offer, the wicked maid affirmed the boy was just trying to be with both of his fake mothers, noting he'd be ultimately joining them there and remembering everything regardless. Banica then noticed something and told the familiar to look; obeying, the two saw Lemy's soul watching them.

Thereafter, Gretel continued watching Lemy's day-to-day actions, including relaying Elluka and Gumillia's treachery to Julia. While the boy thought about how the world didn't understand the good his mother was doing for everyone around October 2, the demonic familiar whined about him constantly going on about her, questioning if he had any original thoughts of his own. The boy immediately told her to be quiet and she abided, silently observing as he restarted his nightly murders of persons opposing Julia.

Reviving the Stupid Servant
After the murderous boy was shot through the heart by Gumillia on December 26 and subsequently buried, Gretel waited underground with the "corpse" until Julia put the Glass of Conchita and a folded pair of clothes by his grave around a month later. After Julia left for her planned duel with Elluka and Gumillia at Pale Noël's tomb in Elphegort and wanted Lemy, Banica decided they'd use the opportunity to get close to the Mage of Eternity and lead Lemy there to help his "mother" with her battle.

Around 2:00 AM the next morning, after Banica healed his fatal injury, "Ney" told him to get up, pointing out he'd already overslept for a month. Once the boy awoke and dug himself out of the grave, the disembodied voice wished him a good morning before noting it was technically still late at night. When Lemy stripped off his suit jacket, Gretel noticed his casual clothes laid out for him by the tombstone and asked if he was going to change into the clothes his mother brought.

The child then began to ask about why he was alive, the wicked maid clarified that he wasn't dead due to their master's protection. Lemy questioned if he meant his mother and Gretel denied him though admitting they could be considered the same thing. Wondering if he still didn't remember anything, she saw the boy make a perplexed look and dropped the topic; she then hurried him to change clothes and bring the glass, pointing it out for him by the grave.

Duel of Merrigod Plateau
"Give up, Gumillia. The person contracted to the Demon of Gluttony is able to obtain especially strong recovery powers. Showing off your gun at Lemy is meaningless!"

- Gretel

After the Demon of Gluttony led him to Julia's location at Merrigod Plataeu's Apocalypse Cliff on January 30 around 2:00 AM, Ney warned Lemy that Julia was likely engaging Seventh Magician and Eighth Sniper within the tomb, leading him onward. As the boy traversed the cliff ravine, Gretel stated they only needed to go a little further to reach Julia at Pale Noël's grave. Once they reached the cave entrance, Ney urged him inside. As the boy protested that he didn't have a light, she assured him that it should be lit inside.

Once Lemy entered the glowing moss-covered cavern and approached the main chamber, Gretel saw him barely dodge a blue fireball. Noting it had been while since she'd since the red cat mage's fire magic speciality, Ney warned the boy to be careful since it'd take a while to regenerate him when he's burned to ashes. When the boy began questioning who the "red cat mage" was, she quickly answered it was his mother. Met with his surprise, the disembodied voice retorted that he should've known she wasn't a normal human, adding that he should've seen the magic tools in her treasury.

Gretel then watched while Lemy entered the main chamber and joined his mother in facing Elluka and Gumillia. After the green-haired mage shot him through the heart again before Banica healed his wounds again, Lemy remarked that it must've been what healed his wounds before and Ney explained it was because he was in direct contact with the glass and therefore their master's divine protection was stronger. After the boy thanked her, Ney told Gumillia to give up, saying shooting Lemy was meaningless since the Demon of Gluttony had especially potent recovery powers. Afterward, Gretel and Banica watched while the four battled one another for the next two hours.

Reunited with Hänsel
"Arte."

- "Lemy" upon seeing Gretel again

After Gumillia used Grim the End to finally kill Lemy, Banica brought Hänsel's soul into the wine glass to join them. As Hänsel awoke, Gretel slowly approached the boy and welcomed him back. Once he recognized "Arte", Gretel listened to Banica not his memory was slowly returning and praise him for fulfilling his mission of getting close to Elluka. When the demon assured him he'd remember more things soon while they watched the rest of the duel, the wicked maid chimed in that those things included her.

As Banica opened a dimensional portal to the outside world again, Gretel retrieved the various breakfast dishes and brought them over to them. Asking "Pollo" if he was hungry, Arte suggested they have breakfast despite it still being pretty early in the morning. Seeing the boy staring deep in thought while she and the demon ate, she reminded him that Banica would eat everything if he didn't hurry.

While the three dined together, Gretel watched Julia discard human body and self-destruct her red cat body with Black Box Type S, dragging everyone caught in the blast into Seventh Magician's inner psychological world. When Irina Clockworker, Gumillia, Eve Moonlit, Levia, and Behemo confronted one another in their original forms within the mental world, Gretel watched until Irina transformed Eve into the "Master of the Court" and turn the area into the Court.

Shortly afterward, Banica left to enter Levia's inner psychological world from the outside, interrupting the duel. Gretel then watched as Banica declared her intention to kill Irina before her Master of the Court became a threat to her, summoning the massive skeleton Worldeater and clashing it with the mage and gods. After seeing the resulting blast cause the souls of Irina, Levia, and Eve to fuse into one, Banica returned and Gretel saw Hänsel sulk over his master's near murder of his former adoptive mother in the corner of the glass' world.

Victory Meal
"Well, let's leave them alone for a while. There are other matters for us to attend to. Since I've finally assembled you and Pollo— no, the twin gods Hänsel and Gretel."

- Banica

After bringing Banica her next collection of meals later that day, the demon thanked the maid for the food and Gretel sat beside her master while they ate. When Banica asked if Pollo wasn't joining them, she pointed out that he was sulking in the corner and the demon noted something was wrong. Arte denied it, explaining he was just angry since she had nearly killed the person he was calling mother up until recently. Banica immediately retorted how that wasn't fair of him since she did end up failing to do so and Arte murmured that that wasn't the underlying issue.

Dropping the topic, the maid inquired if that failure would cause them a lot of trouble and Banica suggested it could be considered convenient since it assimilated all their nuisances into one person. When the maid then inquired what state the new soul was in, Banica answered that the three Ma candidates had become one. When her master said it was happily ever after, Arte retorted it wasn't really "happy" and Banica said they should leave them alone for a while.

The Demon of Gluttony then admitted there were other matters for them to attend to since she finally acquired both her and Pollo. After Banica stated they needed to look for the Grave Yard to complete her plan of becoming the Master of the Graveyard, Arte immediately noted that they couldn't leave the glass as anything but voices outside of places like the Court. Banica then declared they'd have to find a new contractor, saying they needed to complete the goal before the other Masters got too ahead of them. Afterward, she thanked the maid for the delicious meal.

World's End
"Oh, that's right. Arte wanted to see you. Make sure to show your face to her before you go." "Arte—" "Would it be easier for you to understand if I called her "Ney"?"

- Banica and Allen

After the Third Period's destruction and subsequent merging with the Hellish Yard in EC 998, Gretel and her twin joined Banica at the Conchita Mansion in Gasto, cooking and serving her desired meals in the forms of Arte and Pollo. When the Demon of Gluttony later agreed to the sun god's request of having Allen Avadonia meet with her among other demon contractors, Gretel became anxious to apologize to her half-brother from her Ney incarnation for murdering his beloved Michaela.

After Hänsel brought Allen to Banica and retrieved the Four Mirrors of Lucifenia from Michaela, the servant passed the vessel of sin to Gretel. Later on, the two leaned against the closed doors of the dining hall and listened in on their conversation. When Banica left after telling Allen to see Arte, Hänsel pulled on his sister, telling her to hurry. The nervous Gretel told him to stop, admitting she knew before trailing off.

As they struggled, the doors suddenly opened and the two fell onto the floor, greeted by Allen. "Arte" immediately rose to her feet and dusted off her skirt, silently staring at one another. The girl then noted her current form might have been a bit weird for him and told him to wait. She then transformed into her Ney appearance and related that it would probably be easier for him to talk to her like that.

When Allen said seeing her face was enough for him, the maid expressed her glee he felt that way before trying to make her apology. Giving up shortly after, Gretel sighed that it simply wasn't within her character to do so. Allen then noted that "Ney" was just being shy like always and the maid related how she couldn't remember what her actual personality as Ney was like anymore. She then hesitantly questioned if the former servant was going to see Riliane next.

Once the boy confirmed he was, she told him to give the princess her best wishes. Asked if she wasn't going to see her herself, Gretel related that she needed to stay behind and cook Banica's cuisine since their cook hadn't returned. The servant  then said his goodbyes and Ney passed the four mirrors over to him, explaining how they came into possession of them. She then watched the Demon of Pride manifest its miniature form  before departing with Allen for Lucifenia.

Legacy
After her soul merged with the Demon of Gluttony, the sun god Sickle contemplated if Gretel's complete subservience to Banica was a result of being copies degrading with each reincarnation and had discarded their forgotten reason for existing in the first place. Centuries later, Nemesis Sudou began hearing the voices of Gretel and her twin, telling her repeatedly how she had been abandoned by her mother, Ma. Gretel's degraded will later manifested as the female servant of Evil's Theater, serving the Master of the Graveyard.

Ma wrote several screenplays involving Hänsel and Gretel and adapted them into films. While watching the films with an intruder to Evil's Theater, Ma questioned if the twins even existed, citing they seemed to be hidden so well by their parents that that there were no recorded documents of them in existence. While reflecting on the "motions" of the Master of the Court, Gammon Octo noted how Hänsel's reincarnation as Lemy was uncharacteristically born without a Gretel counterpart. Gammon also wondered what became of the twins, questioning if they needed to ask the Master of the Hellish Yard to find an answer.

Personality and Traits
As a child, Gretel acted kind and innocent alongside her brother and appeared obedient to their parents. They weren't naive, however, and realized when the forest path the family took would inevitably get them lost. After being abandoned by her mother and father, Gretel became embittered by the event and concluded that Adam and Eve weren't their real parents at all, simply a witch and her henchman that had tricked them.

Gretel could also be extremely devious, murdering Eve with smile on her face, all while mocking her foster parent. Likewise, she and her brother became determined to find their real parents, despite not knowing who they might be. Gretel seemed to usually lean on her brother for support, letting Hänsel lead them along the path ahead of them and often holding his hand. The twin also had a particular affinity for tasty treats.

Skills and Abilities
After being fused with a fragment of Levia-Behemo, Gretel became an imperfect copy of one of the dragon gods. As a result, the young twin's shadow could come to life and manifest in dark, twisted forms, such as arms, hands, or other appendages, and be freely manipulated by her. Gretel also showed some other magical capabilities, splitting the Original Sin into seven pieces and scattering them across the world.

It also allowed Gretel to reincarnate every few centuries, her soul fated to be reborn in an identical body every few centuries, typically with her reincarnated brother as a twin. However, if either of the girl's fated parents had children with someone else before her intended birth, Gretel could instead incarnate as one of those children instead or not incarnate in that particular reincarnation cycle at all.

Character Connections
Meta Salmhofer: Gretel's real mother. Gretel didn't remember Meta, growing up in Eve's care, but she later expressed a wish to find her "real" mother after Adam and Eve were dead. She passed on a fanatic loyalty to Meta to most of her reincarnations, showing this loyalty to all her mother figures and people resembling her.

Eve Moonlit: Gretel's foster mother. While initially considering her her mother, at some point Gretel realized Eve was not her true mother and was resentful of this, causing her foster mother trouble and acting out as a form of punishment. She later was convinced Eve was a wicked witch after she and Hänsel were abandoned by her. Delighting in her accomplishment after killing Eve, Gretel later considered her to be a pretentious and troublesome woman, discovering her Original Sin among her ashes.

Adam Moonlit: Gretel's foster father. Gretel grew up thinking of Adam as her father, however she became convinced he was the wicked henchman of a witch after she and Hänsel were abandoned by him and delighted in bringing about his death. She gave him no more consideration after discovering Eve's Original Sin.

Hänsel: Gretel's twin brother. Gretel loved her brother and was always beside him if she could help it, taking comfort from holding his hand and helping him defeat the witch and henchman. She also acted as Hänsel's voice of reason, telling him the truth of what he heard and saw after their foster parents were dead. She stayed with him after Eve's death and would usually be by his side in their reincarnations.

Arte: One of Gretel's reincarnations. Gretel passed on her appearance and soul to Arte's, and with it she passed on her loyalty to anyone resembling Meta, such as Conchita.

Ney Futapie: One of Gretel's reincarnations. Gretel passed on her soul to Ney, and with it she passed on her loyalty to her mother figures, such as Prim.

Female Servant: A remnant of Gretel born from the Glass of Conchita. Made from residual traces of Gretel, the Servant shared her appearance and loyalty to anyone resembling Meta, such as the Master of the Graveyard.

Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche: One of Gretel's intended reincarnations. Due to the disturbance of fate caused by Abyss I.R. and Prim Marlon, Gretel instead reincarnated as Ney Futapie.

Conceptualization and Origin

 * Gretel is inspired by the character from the Brothers Grimm's tale "Hänsel &amp; Gretel".
 * In the original story, Gretel is depicted as a gluttonous child, strengthening her link with the Demon of Gluttony.
 * Gretel's name is derived from German, meaning "pearl"; it is also a diminutive of the name Margaret.
 * Gretel's status as a ghoul child may be a reference to the sin of Gluttony and her reincarnation's service to Banica Conchita; ghouls are undead spirits or demons usually depicted as scavengers and human flesh eaters, often associated with graveyards and burial grounds.

Curiosities

 * She shares the same birthday (December 27) with her Vocaloid.

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