Talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear.

Talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear. (噂をすれば影が差す., Uwasawosurebakagegasasu) is the 7th episode of the first season of The Ancient Magus Bride anime.

Synopsis
Following up on the final task given to them by the Church; Chise and Elias investigate whether or not a Church Grim, otherwise known as a black dog, is hostile or not. The dog in question was named Ulysse, who saved Chise from certain peril because she reminded him of someone from his past named Isabel.

Summary
A familiar Sorcerer and Renfred have a dispute concerning the task the Sorcerer assigned Renfred to do. At the same time, Alice is left waiting for her teacher's return. Although Alice tries to dissuade Renfred from associating himself with the Sorcerer any further, he tells her to mind her own business and that he has a plan.

At Elias' House, Chise tries to create a nightmare-warding potion for an old lady that lives at the foot of the hill with assistance from several creatures. However, she instead develops a potent sleeping potion. Chise's inner monologue reveals that Elias has started seriously teaching his young apprentice magic.

Eventually, Chise and Elias set off to investigate the Church's last request, which is to investigate whether or not a Church Grim or Black Dog is hostile. On route to their destination, Chise inquires why the Church gives him tasks, which Elias details it's because he made a mistake a while back. Hence, as a quid pro quo for leaving him alone, he completes the tasks they give him. Elias then gives Chise a ring that Angie had sent her. It was a special ring that slows the natural production of magic, that'd help her condition as a Sleigh Beggy. Chise then reads Angie's letter and puts the ring on her right index finger.

The two then continue onward, and Elias reveals that he hopes to have a Familiar assigned to Chise so it can help consume her excess magic and have someone to serve her. When they arrive at their destination, they see a crowd of people surrounding a police investigation involving a body mauled to death. Wanting to investigate the area on his own, Elias has Chise explore on her own.

Within the nearby graveyard, Chise is ambushed by an evil spirit, but soon after her encounter with it, she's rescued by a man, who mistakes Chise for a woman named Isabel. Advising Chise to leave, the man collapses due to the injuries on his left arm. Although Chise wanted to heal the wound, the man claims Chise reminds him of a woman named Isabel and then transforms into a giant black dog. Unbeknownst to them, Alice was nearby, observing the situation unfolding.

The black dog tries to move, but Chise stops him claiming he shouldn't because of the injuries he sustained. After the black dog faints, Chise deduces that the injuries are similar to the mauled body from the police investigation. Alice then appears behind Chise and demands that she hand over the black dog. Chise refuses and, in retaliation, splashes her sleeping potion on Alice, causing her to faint.

Switching over to the black dog, he dreams about his former master Isabel who reveals its name as Ulysse. After waking up from his slumber, Ulysse talks about Isabel and how Chise resembles her. From her talk with Ulysse, Chise realizes that Isabel is dead and that Ulysse doesn't understand who he is. Alice then wakes up and realizes her hands are tied behind her back. Chise then interrogates Alice and learns that a "strange kid" is blackmailing her and her master into collecting materials for him. Emerging from Chise's shadow, Elias deduces that the black dog only recently became a Church Grim. Alice then explains about the kid's Chimera and asks for Elias' help defeating him, which he agrees to do.

As Alice explains what the kid looks like, Chise shoves Alice to the side as she takes a hit for her from an attack from a Chimera. The kid then appears before them and, although surprised that his Chimera didn't hit its target, was pleased it landed on Chise, who he considered a guinea pig. Enraged, Elias transformed into a hideous thorned monster.

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