[He keeps his expression neutral as he sips his drink, listening to Erichthonios tell him... essentially his life's story. Interesting.]

I see. So she wanted to become a god.

[As irritating as it might be, he doesn't truly know where new souls come from. He only knows what happens after they die - but there's more people than there used to be. Therefore, new souls must come from somewhere... and the divine is unfortunately the only source he can think of that makes sense.]

Of course you loved your mother unconditionally. Most children do care for their parents, and tend to normalize any abuse or ill treatment at their hands that they encounter. And if she was the sort of person you describe, it would not surprise me if she manipulated you into caring about her above all others.

[He huffs in slight amusement - not at Erichthonios, but... well. It's not a tactic he hasn't used - and recently. Kazuya cares about him - maybe not without question, but enough to make his plan work. In theory. ... Maybe not in practice in his timeline, but...]

Especially if your relationship with your father was frayed... what happened after you went to Pandaemonium?