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Megami Tensei II — Tokyo Tower Witch Mysteries

A smiling hooded witch, most of her features covered, walks down a hall of marble and flesh.Source: Digital Devil Story Megami Tensei II Messiah Project 2036

Last updated: 2023-03-16
Author: もこもこ
Original source: https://trickle.day/activities/e5f1444b7a995a

The witch's background, it's like a mystery until she meets the main character...

(That's what makes her mysterious and witch-like.)


I thought I would summarize what we know about the witch in the game for now.


The witch's name is the same as the heroine of "Devil Busters"

The silent protagonist is the one who gives her name when the in-game CRPG Devil Busters prompts to name the characters.


(Interipelli's note: This could be an effect of Pazuzu's possession of Devil Busters, though it is surprising that it changes a "real life" person's entire history!)


(Raindare’s note: It's possible that she’s playing Devil Busters at the same time he is. This doesn’t make perfect sense since Pazuzu is clear that once the shelter’s network is connected to the outside world zombies start downloading themselves inside, but it’s one way to make sense of it.)


She could be an employee of Tokyo Tower in Shiba

She is called "Hime-sama" (lit. "Princess") by an old lady living in the Tower.


She might be an apprentice, or a follower of Pazuzu

The Fandom Wiki claims this, but I don't recall that being the case in the game or other sources.


(Interipelli's note: It seems reasonable to assume based on in-game events that the witch worked with Pazuzu up to a point, though to what end is unclear.)



It is possible she was part of the Church of Messiah

She was called a traitor by NPCs in Shinagawa (Messians?) and Pazuzu's subordinate, Orthrus.


She appears to have a bad reputation among Shinagawa NPCs.


(Interipelli's note: Her clothes hint at the Messian connection in the Famicom version.)



A girl called a witch rides on the back of a giant beast and runs around the ruins. Source: もこもこ

She has a good reputation with the bar goers in Ariake

Some say they got their injuries healed from the witch.


In Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei II, one shares that little kids play with the witch.


The old lady at Tokyo Tower acknowledges her as a healer

Specifically, the old lady says if you're injured, ask the princess to heal you.


Does the witch work as a clinic?


Can she put up a barrier to keep demons away?

There is a ward at the entrance of Tokyo Tower, blocking your way. I don't know who put it there.


The ward outside Tokyo Tower looks just like the ward that protects Pazuzu in Shinjuku.


It is possible that Pazuzu taught her how to create wards... what? Is it a problem with the amount of space available on a video game cartridge? (Putting the meta thing aside...)


Orthrus can destroy the barrier. (Like Bael's claws?)


(Interipelli's note: Speaking of barriers, there is also the matter of the boss sigil on the floor where you first meet her.)



Is she associated with Checkman? (Famicom version character)

At the request of Checkman, the witch gave the fire tally to Hiroko at the shelter.


Checkman said that he was asked by "that person" (the witch), so it's possible that he's on that person's side after leaving the Messianic Church after Pazuzu was sealed...


The game and the strategy guide don't mention anything about this...


In Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei II, the witch still gives the fire tally to Hiroko, but the explanation from Checkman is replaced by a message from a stranger on a computer.


The witch could have elements of a foreigner?

It's possible that the witch has blonde hair because she is a foreigner or has foreign ancestry.


It is also possible that her hair changed from a natural color when she gained magic power.


Seeing as she can communicate with the protagonist and his friend in fluent Japanese, I believe she grew up in Japan (Tokyo).


(Interipelli's note: The early Shin Megami Tensei games and the Devil Summoner games do not shy from portraying foreigners as speakers of comically broken Japanese.)


The friend of the silent protagonist also became a blonde when he received magic power. Since he defected to Pazuzu's side, it's possible that Pazuzu did something to both of them...?


The DDS:MT2 section of Kazuma Kaneko Graphics (Interipelli's note: 90s art books) indicates that blonde haired people are mutants. Is it possible that demons were fused with them?


(Raindare’s note: Obviously hair colors other than brown/black are considered kind of exotic in Japan, so it makes sense that mages and/or mutants would be blonde. It’s reminiscent of how in the west red hair is associated with witchcraft because it’s so rare.)

An illustration of the Tokyo Tower witch in front of a ruined city. Source: もこもこ


As an aside...

Perhaps it doesn't really matter, but Mora won't let folks cross the river without a tally.

Since the witch went to the shelter and returned to the main land, I wonder if she has a fire tally for herself...

Are Mora and the witch in the business of selling tallies to cross the waters of ruined Tokyo, rather than simply giving them to the protagonists?

Is that why the man in Shibuya who wanted the witch to rub his shoulders had Mora tallies to give...?

But you don't see them in ordinary junk shops, right? Then where do they sell tallies?