This is one of those volumes of The Devil is a Part-Timer! where there’s no supernatural force invading. However, there are plenty of battles — battles of the heart, that is.
At its core, volume 13 of this series is meant to answer two questions: what’s going on, and where do the characters go from here. Emi’s mother (and Maou’s old acquaintance) Laila has reappeared on the scene, but Emi in particular isn’t thrilled. Part of it is because she’s been fluttering in and out of their lives that they doubt her motivation and commitment.
The other part is what she represents to everyone: a sign that things can’t remain as they are right now.
Change, of course, can be a good thing or a bad thing. In Chiho’s case, she’s happy that her crush and her friend are getting along, but she’s less thrilled about how close they have become. At the same time, she’s soon going to be an exam student who won’t be working at MgRonald’s anymore, and thus lose one of her connections to Maou and his circle at Villa Rosa Sasazuka. Others chide Maou on how he may be taking advantage of Chiho’s kindness, and Emi also overhears a conversation that makes her realize she may be hurting her.
On the other hand, Rika decides to confess to Ashiya, and this leads to a moving scene between her and Chiho as they both deal with feelings for otherworld demons. Wagahara shows Chiho being cheered up by a friend of hers from school (who readers have met before), but one of the strengths of The Devil is a Part-Timer! is to show how intricate the character relationship charts are. Yes, we met Rika as a coworker of Emi’s, but she’s become a friend of Chiho’s, several years her junior. Years ago, Laila looked after a young Maou, but now he’s the one explaining her daughter’s complicated emotions to her. Even at the very end, the others wonder how the angel Gabriel fits into this picture to be brought along to visit Laila. It’s a sophisticated web.
It’s especially fascinating as the background of the Sephirot and its purpose finally become clear. So it’s kind of funny that as readers learn more about why they’re so important, the spirits of the Sephirah are a bit annoying in this volume. Acieth just keeps eating, Erone follows along, and Alas Ramus is upset that she doesn’t get the same treatment despite being the “older” sister. Especially Acieth — geez, I was so tired of hearing about her appetite.
Anyway, the light novel provides a rather concise and clear explanation on how magic, the Sephirot, and angels/demons are connected. I have to admit being disappointed the light novel didn’t include Laila’s 90s-style report, complete with rainbow WordArt. That would have been a lot of fun to see and be unique. Still, Wagahara doesn’t subject readers to pages and pages of revelations and characters discussing them. In fact, more explanations from Laila are put off until the next volume.
That may seem ridiculous considering volume 13 is all talking and introspectives — or as the author describes it, “Volume 13 takes a cornucopia of assorted smaller episodes and puts them all together to accelerate things along.” It’s an accurate description: it provides a natural buildup to a potential Final Boss, plenty of character introspection, and romantic entanglements. Even Acieth’s gluttony can’t bring this book down.