i7Let5tH

1The introduction
2
3"Milady, lady Dlanor has arrived."
4
5"Oh what is this! The inquisition has come just to check the outline, and what's more it's the head inquisitor! The Great Court seems to have a lot of free time, or a surplus of manpower."
6
7"......By my preciding witness, I expect your game will be unfathomly difficult and SPLENDID."
8
9"No need to flatter; have a seat. Ronove, prepare some tasty tea and cookies for the head inquisitor."
10
11"Yes, milady."
12
13"No, that's ALRIGHT. More importantly, I would like to see it right AWAY."
14
15"Very well. The outline is complete. But I'm still in the middle of decorating it as a story."
16
17Beato pushed her way through a pile of manuscripts on top of her desk and pulled out a single bundle.
18
19It was the manuscript for the new game.
20
21Revised countless times with various notes and tabs attached, it eminated a kind of dignified presense.
22
23Dlanor gave a bow, and accepted it.
24
25Then amidst the tea vapors as Ronove set the table, she turned over the front cover.
26
27"What is the name of the game this TIME?"
28
29"There isn't one yet. I always wait until I have completely finished writing the story before thinking of a name."
30
31"UNDERSTOOD. ......Then with no delay, I shall begin the READING.
32
33Although if I may say, it is disappointing that my first reading will be before it has become a beatifully arranged STORY."
34
35"Kukkukukuku. That is the biggest disappointment of all!"
36
37"............It seems that this time, too, it will be a truly complex and mysterious INCIDENT. ......I am really looking foreword to seeing just how this will be elevated to 'story' STATUS."
38
39"No need to flatter. Hurry and turn the page. I feel as if I am the newbie mangaka putting my manuscript in front of the editor."
40
41
42Beato made a rougish smile, and Dlanor returned the same expression.
43
44Dlanor had in her hands, ......the so-called "unfinished manuscript".
45
46No, on it's way to becoming a manuscript, it had a plot in the middle of it's construction mixed in- it was truly an unformed thing.
47
48If we were to use Beato's style of speech, ......it's just as if it was the milky form of ice cream before it was frozen.
49
50No, it's probably even less complete than that.
51
52It's still egg yolk, milk, and raw cream cast into a bowl and at the height of its mixing stage.
53
54"......It really is just like the egg of a TALE. You carefully put time into keeping it warm and cause it to HATCH."
55
56"If I could, I would love to show it to you as magnificent ice cream, since I wanted to allow you to fully appreciate it."
57
58"Of course, that would be IDEAL. ......However, I think this makes for the next best THING."
59
60
61Because, even if it's in an incomplete state now, the recipe is still exposed.
62
63We can see the precious other side of it; the side we could never see from a completed story.
64
65Those able to see this are...
66
67Only the witch who wrote the tale herself, and... the very few observers she allows.
68
69This is the unfinished, before it becomes ice cream...
70
71manuscript, in a muddy chaos soup state.
72
73In fact, it's missing the narrative development characteristic of a story; it's not even complete as any kind of reading material.
74
75
76However, even so,
77
78The Infinite Witch Beatrice's secret recipe, yet discerned by no one, is recorded upon it.
79
80To a chef, her recipes and her kitchen are sacred ground.
81
82To desecrate that is the greatest sacrilege.
83
84However, for those who admire delicacies, it is also the forbidden honey that no one can resist.
85
86This is not an example of one of Beato's interests, ... but we could instead say it's an example of one of Featherine's.
87
88
89From here on, what is recorded is... the cat's... guts.
90
91From here on, turning the pages means splitting the cat's stomach open and killing it.
92
93To love the cat, then kill it and enjoy it again.
94
95Those were Bernkastel's words, but they were originally uttered by Featherine.
96
97
98So I inquire of thee.
99
100Doth thou kill the cat? Or not?
101
102The ancient Featherine has regretted splitting the stomachs of and killing thousands of tales.
103
104And, in the relationship of irreversability between knowing and not knowing, she even likened not knowing to that of noble virginity.
105
106
107Thus, I must at least inquire of thee.
108
109Doth thou kill the cat? Or not?
110
111Beyond lies... the inside of the cat's stomach.
112Accomplices
113
114This time, let's make Krauss and Natsuhi into accomplices.
115
116But... Natsuhi has a lot of pride, so even if I flashed an enormous sum of money in front of her, it's hard to imagine that she'd easily be partner to a dreadful incident.
117
118With regards to that problem, I'll have to to corner her so she has no place to run and no margin for options.
119
120After the typhoon starts, I'll secretly guide Krauss and Natsuhi to the underground VIP room, reveal the bomb trigger, and threaten them.
121
122If they refuse, everyone dies. If they cooperate, those not sacrificed to the epitaph can come back alive.
123
124All means to connect the island to the outside have already been completely cut off. They have no way to resist.
125
126
127October 4. Past dusk.
128
129The rain and wind are getting stronger.
130
131The typhoon is already enveloping the island in earnest.
132
133
134"...Wh... What on Earth is this...?"
135
136Natsuhi stood frozen in front of the wide-open entrance to the secret underground staircase and the darkness beyond.
137
138"There is nothing to be afraid of. We should advance."
139
140Says Beato with a composed smile.
141
142"...This is... fa... father's secret passageway... isn't it?"
143
144Ever since his childhood, Krauss believed in the existence of a secret passage and secret room that only Kinzo knew about.
145
146But even so, when it's brazenly right before his eyes like this, he can't enter without hesitation.
147
148
149"Krauss, you aren't afraid of the dark, are you...?
150
151Or is it that you'd prefer to expose your body to the wind and rain here behind the chapel...?"
152
153"...Up ahead... what could be awaiting us?"
154
155"You should see it with your own eyes... But you're already imagining it, aren't you? Kukkukkukkuku..."
156
157"Dear, please stop. This is definitely some kind of trap..."
158
159"...I wouldn't go down these forboding stairs either, if I could. ...But it seems we have no other choice."
160
161
162While grinning broadly, Beato playfully spun the sawed-off rifle held in her hand.
163
164...Indeed, Krauss and Natsuhi had been threatened with that gun and forced here.
165
166They had thought for certain that when they were forced here, it was to kill them in a place where no one would notice.
167
168However, now that they've been shown this secret staircase, they were beginning to think that maybe she wasn't planning to kill them.
169
170That she knows this secret underground staircase is the cause of Beatrice being a witch.
171
172And she went out of her way to show it, so she probably has some other motive than to kill them; nay, she must.
173
174Krauss gulped deeply, and they began to slowly decend the underground stairs.
175
176
177Natsuhi follws behind her husband.
178
179And Beato, grinning confidently, followed after them...
180
181
182The enormous pile of gold in the underground VIP room...
183
184Of course it makes Krauss's and Natsuhi's hearts jump, but just that wouldn't make them accomplices to some kind of dreadful incident.
185
186And so, the bomb trigger is explained.
187
188Fortunately, Krauss has appreciation for Kinzo's madness.
189
190Even the embellishment that Kinzo amused himself with the trigger that would blow up the whole island... wasn't something that could just be laughed off.
191
192Understanding Beatrice's threat with the bomb, and the authority that comes with it, was something that they must be made to appreciate.
193
194
195...Omission...
196
197(I have no source for this part, nor do I know how much is missing. Maybe it's a good excuse to actually buy the book)
198
199
200
201"Th, that's...! W, why would father set up such a bomb device on the island he lives on...!? (Natsuhi)
202
203"Rokkenjima once had a secret naval base, and it had an enormous amount of explosives stored on it for the last-ditch war effort...... or so I've heard many times. And I vaguely remember that long ago father said he would, when his luck came to an end, cleanly erase himself along with the island... or something like that..."
204
205"Precisely. And that device is... a device inherited by the true head of the Ushiromiya family. In other words, only I can control it."
206
207By activating it, the device can at any time cause a giant explosion...
208
209Beato's explanation may not be convincing enough.
210
211In that case, Genji will be there too.
212
213If the same story also comes from Genji's mouth, it's credibility will sharply rise.
214
215"...Yes. The time bomb device created by the former head-sama now belongs to a new master, Beatrice-sama."
216
217"Th... that's..."
218
219Hearing the same story from Genji, Natsuhi is at a loss for words.
220
221And understandably so.
222
223On the island she had spent so many years... was buried an enormous amount of explosives. They could have, at Kinzo's slightest whim...... or by some kind of coincidental accident, massively exploded.
224
225Natsuhi was petrified at the reality... that she was still living on such an island even now.
226
227"...I, I see. It's a frightening story. But, aren't those explosives from the war era? I don't think they'd explode now..."
228
229"There are no problems. The head-sama had periodic inspections carried out."
230
231"Kukkukku. We also tested them, of course. They demonstrated their power. At the very least, easily everything within several hundred meters of the mansion will be completely blown away."
232
233"An explosives test...?"
234
235"Indeed. To assess the power of the explosives, I blew up a certain object...
236
237It's something you two are quite familiar with."
238
239Krauss and Natsuhi look at each other.
240
241They don't remember there being any kind of big explosion anywhere nearby.
242
243Shrugging her shoulders with a smile, Beato signals to Genji to explain it to them.
244
245"......Master, milady. Have you forgotten? ...About the local shrine?"
246
247"The local... shrine...?"
248
249The local shrine built on the reef just a little ways out from Rokkenjima's port.
250
251Last year it was demolished by some large wave or lightning or something......
252
253...They hadn't really thought about it much.
254
255But, there's no way some large wave would wash away the whole shrine, let alone the reef.
256
257There was a group among the servants who said purple lightning fell from the sky and smashed the shrine... or some such rumor. But there's no such thing as purple lightning, much less lightning that could smash a shrine and even destroy the reef.
258
259"......You don't mean...... no........."
260
261"Kukkukku! Yes, that's how it is. To celebrate my resurrection I had that shrine and the reef blown away! But to think they'd have that much power! I thought it would be great if they blew up the shrine, but I never imagined they would blow up the reef as well! The weapons of humans are truly dreadful."
262
263"......Ok. We understand the situation. ...So...? You invited us here and had us listen to year story. I'm trying to think of what you seek to get out of that. With all that gold piled there... I can't fathom you having want for money. ......I'm thinking that... you couldn't be telling us Rokkenjima's secret from a change of heart, could you...?"
264
265
266
267"...Now you're going to strongarm us into an exchange for something.
268
269...I can't even imagine what that something is, but as long as it's possible, negotiations are open."
270
271"Hoh. Your surprisingly quick uptake saves me some trouble."
272
273"Likely it's something we can't refuse. After all, right now you can take everyone on the island hostage."
274
275
276"Exactly. There are only two ways to escape from the explosion. One is a way to abort the timer that only I know of. The other is to go down the underground passage beyond this grating to the other side of the island to flee the explosion.
277
278As you can see, this grating's lock is under my control. You cannot refuse me given either intended method of survival."
279
280
281"We get it. We value our lives.
282
283...But at the same time, it seems you require some kind of cooperation from us. You're carrying the two incredible trump cards of the time bomb and the gold, so it seems to be your good fortune that we must merely nod our heads."
284
285"Fufufufu, Kukkukkukku...! Wonderful, Krauss. If that's they way you wish it, let's do it that way.
286
287...This isn't a threat. It's a trade. I wish for your cooperation."
288
289
290"Let's hear what we get out of it."
291
292"Let's make it this entire mountain of gold, and the guarentee of your family's life. However, you'll have to give up on everything else."
293
294"...May I ask for a little more detail on what you mean by 'everything else'?"
295
296"It means exactly that. Since this entire island is going to blow up...!!"
297
298
299Krauss and Natsuhi both were shocked at such an outrageous proposition.
300
301For a time they lost their composure, but even still it was an offer that couldn't be refused.
302
303Krauss calmed Natsuhi and regained his cool...
304
305He retorted that if the island were to blow up, there wouldn't be enough time to carry out the gold.
306
307
308Beato held out the card to an underground safe at a bank.
309
310This was what Beato had turned into cash so far.
311
312In an underground vault beneath the bank's head office slept 1 billion yen stuffed in an attache case.
313
314By holding out that card, she guaraunteed Krauss 1 billion yen.
315
316But Krauss found it hard to believe that there really was 1 billion yen in that safe.
317
318
319But, money can't buy the lives of his family.
320
321
322Once again, after disputing with Natsuhi, he was dispirited and worn.
323
324In exchange for his family's absolute safety, Krause reluctantly offered up his cooperation.
325
326
327Of course, there was self-interest too.
328
329The island being blown away would probably be treated as an accident.
330
331And along with that, without any relatives the investigation directed at him would become unresolvable.
332
333Of course this includes Kinzo's death, too; nearly all the troubles they bear would be gone.
334
335
336And even supposing there isn't 1 billion yen in the safe, there's a lot of money on Kinzo's life insurance plan.
337
338
339...Natsuhi was hesitant ...but to Krauss, it wasn't a bad deal.
340
341
342Suppressing the guilty part of his conscience, Krauss argued that there was no other way to protect Jessica.
343
344
345"...So, what will you have us do?"
346
347"We said we'd cooperate but... We won't partner with you for some weird crime."
348
349Krauss and Natsuhi said, completely drained.
350
351"I have want to put on a performance to welcome a certain person."
352
353
354"...A performance...?"
355
356"That guy and I have a taste for mystery novels; it's a relationship of exchanging contesting ideas. Therefore, to commemorate his return after 6 years, I wish to welcome him with a first-rate mystery."
357
358
359It would seem that, on this island shut off by a typhoon, Beato wants to put on some kind of kyougen* play.
360
361Their role is to obey the scenario she prepared, so that the story will stay consistent.
362
363Kyougen:
364
365Kyougen are a certain kind of Japanese Noh play. They are the let-loose version of Noh and are usually light-hearted, silly, and often bizzaire... I would say they have a kind of... "untamed" feeling to them
366
367
368In other words, to become characters in her play...
369
370To act and speak only in accordance with her scenario.
371
372There apparently was nothing more required of them than that.
373
374
375Except, all other things are forbidden.
376
377In the event that her story is interferred with, the safety of Krauss's family is not guaranteed.
378
379The only way to escape the giant explosion is to get far away from the mansion grounds.
380
381The only way to do that is to escape to the opposite side of the island by the tunnel out from the underground VIP room.
382
383And, that underground tunnel is blocked by a locked metal grate.
384
385Only Beato holds a key.
386
387And Beato promises that after everything is over, she will hand that key over to Krauss.
388
389The whole story is dangerous and shady all over...
390
391
392...No, perhaps this is a nesesary aspect for a kyougen play.
393
394She, in exchange for all the gold, is saying she wants help just for one last play, or perhaps side show.
395
396The dress of the witch in the portrait that she wears, and her whimsical smiling... are perhaps joys only permitted to those who solved the mystery of the epitaph.
397
398Krauss continued to press for his family's safety, that when that promise is broken all cooperation ceases.
399
400And to that Beato once again...
401
402...would scowl with a crazy laugh, that if they don't follow the scenario provided not a single persone will survive.
403
404
405And with that, Krauss and Natsuhi have been made complacent.
406
407The cooperation of all the servants and of Nanjo has already been arranged.
408
409The preparations for the game board are now complete.
410First Twilight
411
412And finally, the story begins.
413
414
415"In any case, nothing happens if dad doesn't come down." (Rudolf)
416
417"You've got that right. We didn't come to speak to our brother. We came to speak to father." (Eva)
418
419"..........."
420
421
422Krauss quietly bore all the harsh words of the siblings.
423
424He couldn't do anything extraneous.
425
426
427...He must behave in accordance with the scenario provided to him by the witch.
428
429...In the scenario, he was to wait until 24:00.
430
431Which... was soon to be.
432
433Then, they heard the chime of the banquet hall's grandfather clock.
434
435It's 24:00.
436
437It's time for that witch's scenario... to take motion.
438
439
440'At 24:00, there will be a knock on the door of the dining hall.'
441
442
443Knock-knock.
444
445
446The door was knocked.
447
448"...Who is it?" (Krauss)
449
450He meant to say it nonchalantly, but it came out slightly nervous.
451
452"...Forgive the intrusion. It's Genji."
453
454He is also a person following Beatrice's scenario.
455
456"Oh, Genji-san. ...What is it at such an hour?" (Eva)
457
458"This is perfect. I'm kinda thirsty. Should we take a little break for now and have some tea?" (Hideyoshi)
459
460
461Genji, after signalling to Krauss with a look, deeply lowered his head to everyone and made the announcement.
462
463
464"...Ladies and gentlemen, the head summons you to his study."
465
466
467Everyone stirred at those words.
468
469Eva doubted even the existence of Kinzo... but that very person was summoning everyone to his study.
470
471
472"...Wh ...What could this mean...?"
473
474"I... I dunno. ...I've never been able to understood dad's whims." (Krauss)
475
476All is going according to scenario.
477
478...Everyone is commanded to the study.
479
480And then in front of the study he and Natsuhi specifically will be told to wait......
481
482
483"Please wait. ...The master and milady are to wait here."
484
485In front of the study... Genji made the pronouncement.
486
487Natsuhi says nothing, silently casting her eyes at the floor.
488
489Seeing this, Eva smiles triumphantly.
490
491
492"Ohhh, what could this be? What on earth could he want to say to us first, without the two of you?"
493
494"No idea... I never know what dad is thinking." (Krauss)
495
496"Master, it is Genji. I have brought all your relatives."
497
498
499Genji says this through the door after knocking.
500
501
502A farce. Beyond that door lies only a deserted room that has lost its master.
503
504
505"Ladies and gentlemen. ...it is the study of the glorious Ushiromiya family head, Kinzo-sama. I implore you not to make any careless mistakes."
506
507"...Genji-san. Dad's in a good mood... right?" (not sure if Rudolf or Krauss)
508
509"Indeed. The master is in a very good mood."
510
511Both Eva and Rosa were visibly relieved.
512
513
514...But Krauss and Natsuhi knew.
515
516The master Genji spoke of... was a new master. It was that witch.
517
518Right now, awaiting them inside the study... was the Golden Witch, Beatrice.
519
520
521The island, the mansion he lived in... was, at some point unbeknownst, granted to the witch of the portrait as its new master.
522
523This mansion Krauss had come to believe was his home... had quickly became a very different place for him.
524
525
526With Genji leading, Eva and the other relatives were... swallowed up by the pungantly poison-scented study.
527
528Slowly the door closed... and with the heavy sound of the autolock, their existance disappeared.
529
530
531"..............."
532
533"...Does this mean... our job is over?" (Natsuhi)
534
535"......Well, at least for tonight..." (Krauss)
536
537"That woman is ominous. ...She gives me the terrible feeling that she's capable of destroying herself and everyone else if we're careless in dealing with her."
538
539"...Yeah, me too. That's why I think we should do exactly what she says. I think... if we didn't just nod our heads to her she would have killed us on the spot."
540
541"...All the servants are already that woman's henchmen, too."
542
543"Well, no one wants to die. ...Also, they may have the same reward promised to them. ...She's got 20 billion in gold, after all."
544
545
546Suddenly hearing unexpected footsteps, Krauss and Natsuhi went quiet.
547
548They looked and saw Kumasawa coming up the stairs.
549
550Kumasawa was also one of the witch's henchmen.
551
552They can't afford to lower their guard, but still they did view her as someone they could better relate to than Genji.
553
554
555"...Well done. Master's and milady's parts are complete for tonight."
556
557"......What is the witch saying to them...?" (Krauss)
558
559"Who knows... I don't know how Beatrice-sama thinks."
560
561"I see. Both the witch and father truly resemble each other in their whimsicalness." (Krauss)
562
563"What... should we do now?" (Natsuhi)
564
565
566"...Tonight you shall return to your rooms and rest. ...Starting tomorrow you are to follow tomorrow's scenario..."
567
568"Kumasawa-san. Have you... also been bought out by that witch?" (Krauss)
569
570".........I also value my life, so..."
571
572"Is there really a bomb triggered to explode...?" (Krauss)
573
574"...It's probably true ...since the local shrine has really been blown up with explosives."
575
576
577"................."
578
579"Kumasawa, have you heard what will happen next...?" (Natsuhi)
580
581"......All I've heard is that it's a big show meant to surprise a certain person. ...Please let me off at that. ...I've also been threatened with my life if I say anything unnecesarry......"
582
583When Kumasawa meekly said this, she lowered her head very deeply.
584
585
586The buyouts from the giant pile of gold and the threat from the bomb.
587
588They really have... no way to resist.
589
590Is this all just a giant farce? ...Or is it the opening to some ghastly celebration of the of the golden witch's resurrection?
591
592
593Despite the ominous feeling they got from the thunder outside, Krauss and Natsuhi could only head to their respective rooms.
594
595
596But, in their bedrooms were the new scenarios, already delivered.
597
598By reading them they knew... tonight's farce will continue...
599
600
601
602The 5 invited into the study; Eva, Hideyoshi, Rudolf, Kyrie, and Rosa; stood firmly at attention like children called to ceremony.
603
604
605"...Master, I have brought 5 members of the family."
606
607"Good. Thank you, Genji."
608
609Everyone was surprised at hearing a female voice.
610
611A flash of lightning illuminated a woman's figure for an instant, which... was the very figure of the person whose portrait hung in the reception hall.
612
613"Ladies and gentlemen. You are visiting the glorious Ushiromiya family head, Beatrice-sama."
614
615So overwelmed by the sight of the witch, they forgot to even close their gaping mouths.
616
617
618Eva was the first to come to her senses.
619
620
621"......Wh......what kind of joke is this? Genji-san, what's the meaning of this?!"
622
623"H...hey I'm impressed... she really looks just like the witch of the portrait...... is that dress a custom order...?" (Hideyoshi)
624
625"Quiet, please. You are in the presense of the master. Please refrain from such murmuring."
626
627Being scolded to earnestly by Genji returned everyone to confusion.
628
629
630No, that's not right.
631
632It was because the more familar family head had causually appeared from the darkness.
633
634"The day that I return everything to my beloved witch has finally come.
635
636Tonight, I have turned over the ring and all the assets of the Ushiromiya family to her."
637
638Kinzo made the announcement in boistrously high spirits.
639
640
641Of course, Kinzo never really appeared.
642
643To those who already know that Kinzo has left this world, this illusion is nothing more than a farce.
644
645Because illusions are... an embleshiment of the result's cause.
646
647They are merely a creative production behind known results.
648
649The results are... that five people die in the study.
650
651And along with their miserable final moments comes its own new production.
652
653
654"Alright! So, there is a reason behind you all being gathered here tonight! Might there be someone who can figure it out? Kukkukku, you won't if I just ask you out of the blue like that... so I'll give you a hint: There's significance behind Krauss and Natsuhi not being called in. Oh, and don't count Genji, since he still has his uses."
655
656
657Suddenly declaring this, Beato had a mischievous smile creep upon her face.
658
659Of course there really was no way for any of them to answer such a question.
660
661Even Kinzo tilted his head.
662
663"...Beatrice. To have prepared a question that even I do not know the answer, is truly something astounding. Why? Why is it that you do not have Krauss and Natsuhi here to celebrate your resurrection?"
664
665"You haven't realize it, Kinzo? ... kukkukukukuku. I'll give another hint: It's something that was signalled by the grandfather clock in the entrance hall, just a little while ago.
666
667
668Getting more and more confused, the relatives muttered amongst themselves.
669
670They really had no idea what was happening.
671
672"Hmpf! To think Kinzo wouldn't realize either! I am disappointed, humans...! Fine, I shall tell you the answer. Let's see... how shall I do it this time?... The Seven Sisters lack manners... people are getting too accustomed to the Chiester Sisters... Gapp might be good... but actually... I think it's about time to call in a new guest!"
673
674
675Which new demon shall I call?
676
677Opening her grimoire she picks randomly from the 72 noble demons.
678
679...mm, causually flipping through the pages...
680
681the number that appears is 64.
682
683Who was number 64 again?
684
685
686Rank number 64. Flauros.
687
688Flauros. ...Yes, it has a nice ring to it. Let's go with this one.
689
690Alright, what kind of character design shall we do...
691
692Gapp and Ronove and everyone have an adult-like design, so this time I'd like try the opposite with a more child-like design.
693
694A killer with childlike innocence... or something...
695
696Maybe it could be expressed through character design. Let's look up more about Flauros.
697
698Flauros. Flau-chan. Yes, I like the sound of it.
699
700...What? Has the appearance of a Leopard?
701
702...Has the appearance of a man when taking human form?... Whaaat? A maaaaaan? A cute girl would be so much better.
703
704Ammended. Let's make her a cute girl with matching animal ears.
705
706Sakutarou had cute ears... something like his...
707
708Let's do a sketch.
709
710
711ScribbleScribbleScribble......
712
713
714...Omission...
715
716(I have no source for this part. Maybe it's a good excuse to actually buy the book)
717
718
719
720"Flauros. It has been a while. ...For you to acknowledge my summons, it means that you are not bound by contract to anyone.
721
722I am pleased. I welcome you as my ally."
723
724"Rank number 64 of the 72 Noble Demons, Flauros the Blazing, is here!" (Flauros)
725
726
727To human eyes, she probably looked like a girl still in middle school.
728
729However, she's one of the 72 Great Noble Demons, Flauros.
730
731With her terrible power she lays waste to her summoner's enemies. Her specialty is burning them to ash. Truly a demon among demons.
732
733
734"It was just some random summons but, it seems I got someone interesting. To imagine that my summoner was the great Lady Beatrice!
735
736Even though I'm here for business, it looks to be fun!"
737
738"Indeed. Once you were contracted to an enemy witch of mine... Your partner was quite a hassle."
739
740"Well, had no choice 'cause it was my job. So, what's the new gig?"
741
742"I command you to cooperate in my ceremony. The clock has already marked it's beginning! I command you to kill 6 people as sacrifices for the first twilight!!"
743
744"Kill six? Got it! Can I kill the 6 of 'em conveniently lined up right here?"
745
746
747"......fu ...fuhhahahahhahhahhahha! So that's what it is! Ah, so I'm also one of the unlucky ones...! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
748
749Kinzo finally understood the reason for which everyone was gathered in his study.
750
751In Beato's mind, the sacrifices of the first twilight had already been decided.
752
753
754"...Fa...Father... What... is the meaning of this...?"
755
756Eva timidly asked.
757
758But Kinzo just continued his mad laughter.
759
760"You're a bunch of unlucky guys! Sooooo, who shall I eat first!?"
761
762
763Flauros's two hands stretched to the floor.
764
765Her appearance was now not so much that of a human's, but of a ferocious leopard's.
766
767
768"Don't hate me. You guys didn't do anything wrong. If you're going to hate someone, hate that guy who trashed his promise for 6 long years."
769
770
771They all starred befuddled.
772
773Beato bent down into the sofa's shadow.
774
775And when she stood up again, she was holding in each of her two hands one from Kinzo's collection of sawed-off rifles.
776
777The relatives could only imagine the sight of her wearing a dress and holding antique guns... to be that of a proper lady holding something like a folding fan.
778
779
780Well, at least they couldn't imagine lead actually gushing from those muzzles.
781
782
783First, in Ushiromiya Kinzo's study shoot Eva, Hideyoshi, Rudolf, Kyrie, and Rosa dead.
784
785The door to Kinzo's study is thick, so the sounds of the guns won't be heard easily.
786
787Krauss and Natsuhi will already have been guided far enough away from the study by Kumasawa and won't hear the guns firing.
788
789The tools necesary for dealing with the corpses will already have been brought to the study.
790
791
792Flauros changes into the form of a giant leopard, and starts by swallowing Kinzo in one gulp.
793
794Swallowing him whole serves as an expanation for Kinzo not to leave a corpse.
795
796It might be good to leave something like some of cut-off scrap of Kinzo's rope behind in the room. (I dunno what this "rope" is about)
797
798Shocked by this, the relatives try to escape the room, but they can't because it's been magically sealed.
799
800
801...Omission...
802
803(I have no source for this part. Maybe it's a good excuse to actually buy the book)
804
805
806To abide by the above scenario, the bodies are distorted.
807
808So that bullet holes are not discovered, whole chunks of their bodies are destroyed.
809
810Flauros tears into their stomachs, pulls out the entrails and bites them off.
811
812This is also carefully reproduced.
813
814
815...Omission...
816
817(I have no source for this part. Maybe it's a good excuse to actually buy the book)
818
819
820Flauros's four legs return to the floor and she moans happily with a stretch, her entire body quivering in delight.
821
822Her body slowly glowing red, she burns brightly.
823
824"I am rank 64 of of the 72 Noble Demons, Flauros the Blazing!! I eat it all, burn it all, smash it all!! Maaan, I can't wait until it's my turn again!!"
825
826Her bright red light turns to white, and suddenly causes a giant explosion.
827
828The room splinters, and everything turns white with smoke and dust from the blast.
829
830The inside of the study was swallowed up by a torrent of blistering rain...
831
832Flaurous's explosion broke a gaping hole in the wall of the study.
833
834
835"My my, you didn't need to be so flashy. I wasn't planning to something like that, since the idea was that it's supposed to be a closed room murder. That kind of unfettered destruction of the wall is intolerable."
836
837"Nyahhihihihi! I did somethin' bad! I love destroyin' about as much as I love killin'! And I love incineratin' most of all!!"
838
839As she yells Flauros returns to leopord form and, leaving behind flaming footprints, jumps out into the storm-filled sky.
840
841From the giant hole in the wall she lands in the middle courtyard, kicking the walls and prancing about until she disappears into the jet black sky.
842
843It seems she just can't help herself after being separated from the physical world for so long.
844
845
846"I see. She's the kind that never bores. Kukkukkukku. But still, this is awful."
847
848The giant gaping hole, the wreckage and dust, and the storm blowing in all made the study quite a wreck.
849
850And of course... the sacrifices with their inards cruely strewn about.
851
852"Well, sometimes a bold first twilight like this has its own charm. Kukkukuku, hahahahahahahahahahaha...!!"
853
854
855Then, Krauss and Natsuhi are to be brought to the scene and made full witness to everything.
856
857So... it would probably be good to get them a bit dusted up.
858
859Something like having them do one roll on the floor of the trashed up study should do the trick.
860
861So after the murder of the first 6, Beato sneers "aren't you lucky?" at Krauss and Natsuhi who, since the seal has expired, manage flee out the door... or something.
862
863
864After that, Krauss and Natsuhi rush to call the police, but for some reason the call can't get through.
865
866The general outline is that they, in a panic, take the servants and rush to the guesthouse.
867
868But both Kanon and Shannon can't go together, so this part will have to be done carefully.
869
870A simple story would be... Natsuhi and Shannon go on ahead to the guesthouse while Krauss and Kanon went to get guns for self-defense but are a bit late coming back.
871
872Shannon enters the servants room with the terrified Kumasawa, slips out through the window, and meets up with Krauss.
873
874
875Then for a while everyone holes up in the guesthouse.
876
877The children of the killed parents will probably want to see the crime scene, or start planning revenge, or find some other reason to leave the guesthouse.
878
879If they're really persistant, they can go to the study.
880
881Once again it will be auto-locked, but it's not a problem since Genji has a key.
882
883When they see such a bizairre crime scene with a large hole in the wall, they will certainly accept that it couldn't possibly have been done by humans.
884
885
886It would also be interesting if there were a magic circle at the crime scene that wasn't there before.
887
888The magic circle could have been prepared several days earlier.
889
890All that's needed is for Krauss and Natsuhi to give false testimony that it wasn't there before.
891
892
893And to make it even more inexplicable, Krauss or Natsuhi will carry an envelope that makes a proclaimation about the crime... and it will be 'discovered' in a closed room situation.
894
895
896This is just an example but, something like having a room that was just confirmed locked with nothing unusual, but then when it's reentered there'll suddenly be a creepy letter there.
897
898It will be impossible to explain it by methods other than magic without doubting Krauss and Natsuhi.
899
900The first argument in the upper world can be held here.
901
902Without doubting Krauss and Natsuhi there is absolutely no way to see through it.
903
904
905Probably 'they' won't be able to think of anything outside of something having to do with the lock, or some kind of location-based trick based off a gap in or around the door or window.
906
907But if this is a closed room in the true meaning, there isn't some mysterious culprit hiding somewhere.
908
909If I note all these things in red, they'll just give up.
910
911They can only destroy 'false closed rooms'.
912
913So, if this room really is a closed room, they'll go as far as 'it's magnificent' and stop thinking.
914The 2nd Twilight and the first of Twilights 4-8
915
916Continuing from Beatrice's predictions on how 'they' (her audience) will approach the mystery of letters appearing in closed rooms.
917
918
919Certainly, in Carr's closed room taxonomies...
920
921there are listed many false closed rooms made to appear like true closed rooms. They provide enjoyment with tricks, and when thinking of how to entertain with mystery novels it's true that a tangibly identifiable "answer" which can be reasoned out is convenient. It's why we can say that there's no helping the vast majority of mysteries from overflowing with false closed rooms.
922
923(But incidentally this also makes for a limit on the thinking involved in the majority of closed rooms. Don't misunderstand, I'm not criticizing false closed rooms. What I am criticizing is a section of narrow-minded humans who, because they only know false closed rooms, think it's the one and only kind of closed room mystery.)
924
925
926However, we mustn't forget that in Carr's closed rooms taxonomies there are also descriptions of methods for murder in true closed rooms, too.
927
928
929In fact, if guaranteed a perfect closed room in red, it becomes easy to reason based on Holmes closed room taxonomies.
930
931
932According to Boucher, closed room murders can be explained with three categories.
933
934To make these categorizations extremely clear, I've written them below.
935
936
937Listed are: The crime was committed before the closed room was constructed, it was committed while the closed room was up, or it was committed after the closed room had been destroyed.
938
939It's only these 3 categories.
940
941
942If red truth says it's impossible to do it while the closed room was up, then it would be natural to think the crime was committed before the closed room's construction or after its destruction.
943
944
945If we are to use an incident of the sudden appearance of a letter as an example, then the letter was placed before the closed room, or after the closed room; it's just these 2 categories.
946
947
948With the former, you can doubt the person who confirmed it's absence when they locked the room.
949
950
951
952With the latter, you can doubt the person who discovered the letter.
953
954In other words, if you base your thinking by Boucher's closed room taxonomies, you can immediately suspect that someone in the Ushiromiya family is cooperating with the culprit.
955
956And it should be clear as day who is more suspicious between the children from the guesthouse who confirmed the closed room, and the lone survivors of the previous tragedy, Krauss and Natsuhi, who claimed to "have been witness to a demon summoned by a witch killing their relatives".
957
958
959For those who see this world as a mystery, they won't be caught by this kind of deception.
960
961Because to declare "I saw a witch, I saw magic, I saw demons" in this world is the same as confessing to being bought out to play a part in the culprit's ruse.
962
963
964What a simple and cheap mystery.
965
966Probably, for those people who love to read the mystery novels that I have boundless respect for, they'll see right through it with a big laugh.
967
968To witness demons, even with a brazen display of fantasy as "proof", is to mystery the height of satire; it will no doubt get laughs.
969
970
971Or so I think.
972
973
974About 1 in 1000 people might seriously believe that a witch summoned a demon.
975
976Only for that rare person can fantasy be sufficient for my world.
977
978
979Excuse the digression.
980
981So anyway, I will confuse the foregoing matter using the upper world, decorating it with the preface of an incomprehensible incident.
982
983
984The target of the upcoming Second Twilight will be Shannon.
985
986We'll have it so the women will go up to the guest house's second floor while Krauss and the male servants fortify the first floor.
987
988And so, Shannon and George can be together.
989
990George will probably attend to the frightened Shannon.
991
992These two 'close' ones will be the target of the Second Twilight.
993
994This time I will 'tear apart those who are close' with an abduction.
995
996
997After going to the servants' room on the first floor, Shannon will head to the bathroom.
998
999Naturally, George will come too.
1000
1001But of course he can't go inside the girls' bathroom.
1002
1003He'll wait at the entrance.
1004
1005This is not a single person bathroom, but a bathroom made for use in the guesthouse, designed large enough to serve several people at once.
1006
1007At this point Shannon will exit through the window in the back of the bathroom.
1008
1009Then, Kumasawa will enter.
1010
1011And she will lock the window Shannon escaped through.
1012
1013Then she'll scream to announce some kind of incident.
1014
1015
1016"Wh, what's wrong Kumasawa-san?! I'm going to open the door!!"
1017
1018George opens the door to the girls' bathroom.
1019
1020When he does, Kumasawa's face will be pale and she will be pointing to a stall, shaking.
1021
1022"Hi-ii, h-iiiii...!!!"
1023
1024"What happened...!!! Shannon! Shannon!!"
1025
1026Shannon went into the girls' bathroom before Kumasawa.
1027
1028Kumasawa's scream had conveyed only that something strange had happened to Shannon.
1029
1030Fearing the worst, George peered into the stall that Kumasawa was pointing at.
1031
1032There was... pasted thickly... in red...
1033
1034a creepy magic circle drawn on the wall in blood-like paint...
1035
1036
1037"Wh, what is this...!? Shannon! Where's Shannon!?"
1038
1039"I, I don't know...!"
1040
1041"That's impossible!! Shannon went in right before you, so why isn't she here!? Shannon!? Shannon!?!?"
1042
1043
1044There were 3 stalls, but all of them were empty.
1045
1046There was only one entrance.
1047
1048And since George had been there the whole time, right now Shannon should be somewhere in the bathroom.
1049
1050
1051It's hard for George to imagine, but she could have left through the window in the back.
1052
1053However, it's locked from the inside, and he can't understand why Shannon would need to crawl out a window in the first place.
1054
1055It makes no sense. This couldn't happen.
1056
1057Shannon suddenly disappeared and was exchanged for a creepy magic circle...!!
1058
1059"Geo, George-sama... um... there's one of the head's envelopes..."
1060
1061On the toilet in the stall with the magic circle... there was a mysterious envelope... just like the last tauntful envelope from the witch.
1062
1063
1064"It can't be... this is... this is...!!"
1065
1066George picks up the envelope and violently tears it open.
1067
1068Seeing only a single short sentence... as if assaulted by a wave of dizziness, George staggers into a wall, collapsing against it.
1069
1070
1071'At the Second Twilight tear apart those who are close'
1072
1073
1074Since I'd like to make Flauros the one responsible, I want to leave some Flauros-style evidence.
1075
1076Something like having the stall be hideously burned. Or having traces of an explosion from inside it.
1077
1078Once again they'll find weird evidence that they'll think clearly could not be produced by human means.
1079
1080
1081Regarding this, it could all be prepared with leisure before the incident.
1082
1083The only problem is the possibility that one of the female guests would come in to this bathroom beforehand.
1084
1085
1086For that, the day before the incident the bathroom on the first floor of the guesthouse could be 'out of order', so it would be necessary to instead use the bathrooms of the various bedrooms.
1087
1088This itself can also be interesting as foreshadowing for the trick.
1089
1090
1091Or if the flashy decorations were something that couldn't be noticed from the outside, having the stall's door closed would be all that's needed to keep guests from seeing them.
1092
1093Then later thinking back, they can realize that no one was supposed to be in stall during that time, and that door was closed.
1094
1095...So then, who closed that door?
1096
1097If they reason from "no one was supposed to be there", they should be able to figure out that the magic circle was prepared beforehand.
1098
1099I hope to have a lot of fun debating the Second Twilight.
1100
1101
1102It shouldn't be hard to suspect Shannon and Kumasawa here.
1103
1104We'll have a scenario where Natsuhi comes to this conclusion and accuses the servants.
1105
1106This is a mystery novel gimmick.
1107
1108I'll use the readers' expectations, that the reasoning coming from the other characters is usually wrong, against them.
1109
1110By having Natsuhi say something is "right", it will cause them to think it must not be so; it's a confusion technique.
1111
1112
1113So after that, Natsuhi and Krauss will level suspicion at the servants.
1114
1115Of course George and the others will object.
1116
1117They will insist that the servants are victims caught up in the same situation as everyone else.
1118
1119After the discourse between Krauss and the servants, the decision will be to hunker down in two separate groups: A relatives group and a servants group.
1120
1121
1122The relatives group will stay in the guesthouse and the servants group will go to the mansion.
1123
1124In the middle of all this, George will probably insist on looking outside for Shannon.
1125
1126He can look as much as he wants.
1127
1128He'll probably be quickly chilled to the bone in the thunderstorm, give up, and return to the guesthouse.
1129
1130
1131Following that, all the servants will have a meeting together in the mansion.
1132
1133They'll reaffirm what their next actions are.
1134
1135
1136The Forth~Eighth Twilights will be a closed room chain.
1137
1138The feature of closed room chains is that the corpses will be found in a chosen order.
1139
1140As long as the first closed room will be on the first floor and the others on the second floor or higher, or in places outside the mansion, I can control the flow of their investigation.
1141
1142
1143"Servants. Your turn has finally come."
1144
1145Beatrice gathered all the servants to the mansion's banquet hall to make this pronouncement.
1146
1147Genji's, Shannon's, and Kanon's expressions were calm, but Kumasawa's and Gohda's weren't.
1148
1149
1150"...Is it really going well? I'm worried..." (Kumasawa)
1151
1152"Since I've never done something like this, I'm not sure whether I'm enjoying myself or I'm nervous... haha... haha..."
1153
1154Gohda feigned laughter while trying to appear composed.
1155
1156They don't know.
1157
1158They don't even know that Eva and the others are really dead.
1159
1160
1161This is Beato's deception, made possible by her discovery of the gold.
1162
1163They believe the five victims were also paid off, and that they're just playing dead.
1164
1165
1166Excluding exceptions like Genji, most bribees are easier to manage if they aren't informed that they're involved with murder.
1167
1168It's case by case.
1169
1170
1171"Alright, now everyone move to your respective rooms. Playing dead can be surprisingly tiring, you know.
1172
1173Lie in a position that won't wear you out. Kukkukku!"
1174
1175
1176Kanon in the guestroom.
1177
1178Genji in on the 2nd floor, the VIP room.
1179
1180Kumasawa on the 2nd floor, Natsuhi's bedroom.
1181
1182Gohda on the 3rd floor, waiting room.
1183
1184Shannon in the Chapel.
1185
1186They all go to their respective murder scenes and do their make-up.
1187
1188From the Forth Twilight on they are all 'gouge and kill'.
1189
1190They are all to be gouged with some of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory.
1191
1192Everybody attends to their separate tasks in their separate rooms.
1193
1194Genji is composed. So are Shannon and Kanon. Gohda is nervous that his faking will be found out.
1195
1196Kumasawa is over that, and is starting to look forward to putting on the show.
1197
1198
1199"Wohhohohoho... I've played a lot of pranks, but this is the biggest one I've ever done."
1200
1201Kumasawa was chuckling in Natsuhi's room.
1202
1203
1204"Is everything ready, Kumasawa?"
1205
1206"Oh, Beatrice-sama. As a servant it just doesn't feel right to lie on madam's bed"
1207
1208"Lies. I know that while making it you've wanted to jump on it once or twice."
1209
1210"Wohhohohohoho. That is what Beatrice would say."
1211
1212"Okay, time to start the make-up. Lie down."
1213
1214"Alright..."
1215
1216Kumasawa takes off her shoes and starts to get on the bed.
1217
1218
1219"Hey, hey. Does a corpse go and take off her shoes? You should keep them on."
1220
1221"To get on madam's bed while wearing shoes feels like something really I shouldn't do. Hohohoho."
1222
1223Kumasawa climbs onto the bed with her shoes on.
1224
1225Beato was opening up her make-up bag.
1226
1227
1228"Have you found a comfortable position? You'll get tired from holding the same pose for a long time even if you are laying down."
1229
1230"Yes, I know. But this is for a hundred million yen. Wohhohohohoho."
1231
1232
1233Each of the servants is getting a hundred million yen.
1234
1235...In fact, it's already been sent.
1236
1237In a few days bank keycards should arrive at their homes.
1238
1239They won't be able to receive them, but their bereaved families can.
1240
1241It will be more than enough for their funeral costs......
1242
1243
1244"Something like this?"
1245
1246Kumasawa had been stirring restlessly, but it seems she finally found a comfortable pose.
1247
1248It really looked like she had been killed.
1249
1250"Good. That looks right. You definitely have a knack for fooling people."
1251
1252"Hohhohhohho. I couldn't possibly compare to Beatrice-sama and her grand show."
1253
1254
1255"I'm going to start the make-up. Hold still for a minute... no, actually you're already a corpse, so don't move for an even longer while."
1256
1257"Once Doctor Nanjo visits I'll be able to rest, right?"
1258
1259"Right. After Nanjo does his autopsy, the room will be sealed until the police arrive. When that happens, you'll be able to rest a bit.
1260
1261But you'll still be a corpse. You can't make any loud noises."
1262
1263"Yes, of course not... Sooo, I should hide this."
1264
1265
1266Kumasawa hides her half-read book and bag of smoked squid under the bedsheets.
1267
1268"My, aren't you well prepared? Careful not to relax toooo much. Don't forget that if for some reason the show is a failure, there will be no reward."
1269
1270"Of course. I'll be careful. Ohhohohohoho......"
1271
1272
1273During their light banter, Beatrice had pulled a stake from her tool bag.
1274
1275Kumasawa is to be gouged and killed with this stake.
1276
1277
1278"......Fuumu... Sorry but could you go face-down? The face-up pose just isn't working."
1279
1280"Face-down is it? I can do that but, I think it might be hard to breathe..."
1281
1282"Face-up I somehow easily sense that you're just sleeping. Could you just test laying face-down out for a minute? Just a test."
1283
1284"Is that so? Then I'll try it..."
1285
1286"Will it be difficult to hold that pose for a long time?"
1287
1288"For the time being I can manage somehow... Hohoho, I hope the autopsy comes soon."
1289
1290"I see, I see. Stay like that for now. I'm going to adjust your clothes a bit. Without the clothes set up right there's no realism."
1291
1292
1293Beato takes a tool from her bag.
1294
1295It's a twirled up, light extension cord.
1296
1297
1298"Sorry, I'm adjusting them now. Stay just like that."
1299
1300"Yes, yes."
1301
1302
1303She coiled the extension cord around Kumasawa's neck, cross-lacing it from behind.
1304
1305Once the leftover in each hand had gotten short, Beato flumped herself onto Kumasawa's back, straddling her.
1306
1307
1308Suddenly, Kumasawa's throat tightened.
1309
1310And she could neither breathe nor scream.
1311
1312That extension cord wrapped around her neck... was making a crackling sound... from strangling her.
1313
1314Kumasawa looked like she was doing the flutter kick in the pool, her heavier kicks occasionally pounding the bed.
1315
1316And straddling on top was Beato... in complete silence, as if she thought Kumasawa some kind of a bug or rodent, mercilessly wringing her neck.
1317
1318...The scene looked just as if a giant golden spider had captured some pitiful prey and was injecting it's poison.
1319
1320And along with that, the canopy bed must also appear to be made from this strange spider's silk.
1321
1322This web would sometimes suddenly quiver... from Kumasawa's feeble resistance.
1323
1324
1325And finally, Beato slowly got off of Kumasawa's back.
1326
1327Kumasawa didn't move a muscle...... she was dead.
1328
1329
1330"Sorry, Kumasawa. You're gouge is in the leg. To kill you by stabbing you there would be unnecessarily painful."
1331
1332Done with her strangling tool, Beato next grabbed her nearby rifle.
1333
1334And then aiming at Kumasawa's calf, she pulled the trigger.
1335
1336
1337The gunshot wasn't loud... it's not like the 'bang' sounds from TV or the movies.
1338
1339At most, it was as loud as uncorking a champagne bottle.
1340
1341But then a splot of blood flies, and there's blood oozing out of the discomforting hole as it's being fished into.
1342
1343She's picking out the bullet shot into the calf.
1344
1345Then she unceremoniously tosses it into a small vinyl bag she had in her larger tool bag.
1346
1347Already stored in that vinyl bag were several stained bullets......
1348
1349
1350"The placing for the Forth and Fifth Twilights can be taken care of with just a gun, but it get's more troublesome as the Twilights go on.
1351
1352Sooo... if the large Gohda isn't killed on the Forth or Fifth Twilight it will lead to problems."
1353
1354
1355Then, taking the stake... she puts the tip into the bloody, still-oozing hole in the calf.
1356
1357Using her body weight, she carefully presses it deeper.
1358
1359When she lets up, the stake is cleanly plunged into the calf. She was still a bit worried that it might fall out before it's discovered, but it should still be enough to sustain the idea of sacrifices being gouged with stakes.
1360
1361
1362And now Kumasawa, Gohda, and Genji have been killed.
1363
1364As for Kanon, who will be the first discovered, he can't die yet because he still has work to do.
1365
1366
1367He will take his time drawing magic circles on the doors of all the crime scenes.
1368
1369The chapel is far from the mansion, so it won't be searched first.
1370
1371There are 4 scenes to find in the mansion, but they'll have to break a window to get in since they're all locked.
1372
1373Other than the guest room, all the locations are on the 2nd floor or higher, so it's nearly certain that the first scene they'll set foot in will be the guest room.
1374
1375
1376In the guest room Kanon will be dead, and in his pocket a master key.
1377
1378And in the room will also be a letter from the witch that includes the key to the next room.
1379
1380The survivors will end up finding the corpses in following with the dictated route.
1381
1382
1383Under the pretense of preserving the room to hand over to the police, the crime scenes will be insulated from possible investigation.
1384
1385Natsuhi will restrain the children, and Doctor Nanjo and Krauss will be the only ones who go near the corpses.
1386
1387Jessica might want to run up to Kanon's corpse, so she'll require special attention.
1388
1389
1390Next the survivors will find Kanon.
1391Discovering the crime scenes
1392
1393"Kanon-kun! Kanon-kun!! UwaaaAaaaaaaAaaaa!!"
1394
1395"Jessica! Calm down!! Don't look! Don't come in!!" (Natsuhi)
1396
1397"...Un... believable... Damnit......"
1398
1399"With this... the suspicion that the servants might be culprits has been cleared up. ...Hasn't it, Natsuhi-obasan?"
1400
1401
1402George sends a cold glare at Natsuhi, who had suspected the servants and driven them from the guesthouse.
1403
1404
1405"How is it, Doctor Nanjo...?"
1406
1407"...I can't tell the exact cause, but I can tell he's dead... One thing certain is that this isn't the fatal wound."
1408
1409
1410There was an awful wound on Kanon's knee, and a bloodied stake on the floor.
1411
1412There's no doubt that the culprit pierced Kanon's knee.
1413
1414But, it's hard to think that stabbing a knee would lead to death.
1415
1416...He was probably killed another way, but Nanjo couldn't grasp what it was with a cursory examination.
1417
1418
1419"In any case, we should tread lightly at the crime scene, for the police.
1420
1421If we carelessly disturb it it could hinder their investigation." (Nanjo)
1422
1423"...I agree. We should probably not do anything more in this room...
1424
1425More importantly, I'm concerned about the key to the VIP room that was inside the envelope." (Krauss)
1426
1427"...I don't want to think about it... but the VIP room might also..."
1428
1429"............Let's go see."
1430
1431"...What is all this... If we hadn't driven them from the guesthouse......"
1432
1433Krauss hangs his head and pulls at his hair.
1434
1435"Sorry, Kanon... for not being able to trust you and the others... To be unable to trust in my subordinates... I have no right to stand above other people."
1436
1437
1438"Kanon-kun was staked in... the knee...?"
1439
1440"Kihihihihihi. It's the seventh twilight. Gouge the knee and kill."
1441
1442"......Which means... what about the forth, fifth, and sixth twilights? ...Doesn't it mean that at least 3 other people have already been killed...?"
1443
1444"Ca, calm down George-aniki... We still don't know that for sure..."
1445
1446"Kr, Krauss-ojisan, let's hurry to the VIP room!"
1447
1448"R..right. But just a minute. We can't leave the broken window this way. Let's close the shutter..."
1449
1450"Kanon-kun... Kanon-kun... ...Mom, can I at least... see his face one last time...?"
1451
1452"I understand how you feel... but we won't disturb the crime scene any further. ...We have to leave it as is to insure they find the culprit.
1453
1454So from now on just pray... for his happiness in the next world..."
1455
1456"UUuUUuuuu..............."
1457
1458
1459And so they all head to the 2nd floor VIP room.
1460
1461Then to Natsuhi's bedroom.
1462
1463Then to the 3rd floor waiting room.
1464
1465Meanwhile, Kanon quietly sneaks out of the guest room.
1466
1467He's got master keys, so he can just leave strait out the door and then lock it.
1468
1469Kanon's even got two master keys, so he can leave on behind in the guest room.
1470
1471Of course there is a concern that after the epitaph murders are complete, the crime scenes will all be investigated again.
1472
1473For that situation, so that Kanon's missing corpse won't create an inconsistency, the culprit will have to perform some action that takes Kanon's corpse away.
1474
1475Kanon's disappearing corpse can become the trigger for another mystery.
1476
1477
1478Kanon heads towards the chapel, and there rendezvous with Shannon.
1479
1480Then he gives his master key to Shannon.
1481
1482"...Thank you. How was the assignment?"
1483
1484"I was just sleeping. It was a lot easier than carrying sacks of fertilizer."
1485
1486"Good work, Kanon. With this, your role is over." (Beatrice)
1487
1488"...Thank you, Beatrice-sama. ...Bye, neesan. See you on the next game board."
1489
1490"OK, see you on the next game board."
1491
1492Beatrice waves her cane, and then Kanon's body sublimates into mist and disappears into her smoking pipe.
1493
1494
1495"Alright. So you are to decorate the last link of the closed room chain."
1496
1497"Yes, I shall."
1498
1499"I will grant you the forth twilight. It's a very merciful twilight."
1500
1501"Thank you very much."
1502
1503
1504Beato and Shannon enter the chapel.
1505
1506The gloomy, solemn chapel was engulfed in nothing but the sound of wind and rain.
1507
1508
1509"...Where would be good...?"
1510
1511"How about behind the altar?"
1512
1513"Understood."
1514
1515Between the stained glass and the altar in front of it there was a crevice no more than 20cm wide.
1516
1517The crevice was sufficiently deep.
1518
1519Shannon had in advance prepared a metal dumbbell tied to a rope.
1520
1521And then she carefully tested hanging and lowering the dumbbell into the crevice.
1522
1523It went in with no problems. The weight of the dumbbell was ideal.
1524
1525
1526"How is it? Any problems?"
1527
1528"No, it's fine. There are no problems."
1529
1530Then let's start the stake make-up. It's pretty hard to stain your stake with real blood, after all.
1531
1532She pulls some painting materials out of her bag.
1533
1534It's the exact same stuff used in movies and the like.
1535
1536And so she applied blood make-up to the end of the stake.
1537
1538
1539"A cinch. How are your preparations?"
1540
1541"Yes, I'm ready."
1542
1543Shannon tied a pistol to the end of the rope opposite to that of the dumbbell.
1544
1545And then she carefully lowered the dumbbell into the crevice between the altar and the stained glass window.
1546
1547
1548The middle of the rope was caught against the corner of the altar.
1549
1550Since the dumbbell was heavier than the pistol, as soon as she lets go, everything, gun and all, will be pulled into the crevice.
1551
1552
1553"Does it look like it'll fall in?"
1554
1555"Yes. There are no problems."
1556
1557"......Good."
1558
1559
1560Sannon hands the pistol tied to the rope to Beato.
1561
1562And Beato hands Shannon the fake-bloodied stake.
1563
1564Shannon gently presses the stake against her own forehead.
1565
1566Beato also puts the pistol to Shannon's forehead, aligning it with the stake.
1567
1568
1569"You have no regrets?"
1570
1571"...None. It is all as Beatrice-sama wills."
1572
1573"It's too bad. ...If someone had solved the mystery of the epitaph... you would have finished alive.
1574
1575"There's no way such an incomprehensible mystery could be solved. ...From the beginning it was a bet without any hope for success.
1576
1577"Yet I still bet. ...because if the miracle were granted, it would truly be magic."
1578
1579"......In this world of poison-filled humans, there is no magic nor miracles. ...Beatrice-sama, as the one true witch...
1580
1581...you are the only existence that can bring magic to this world."
1582
1583"That's right. ...I am the Golden Witch, Beatrice. Rest in peace. The next time you awaken, it will be in The Golden Land.
1584
1585Your beloved George will also be there."
1586
1587"...Thank you very much, Beatrice-sama..."
1588
1589
1590It was a weak sound but, inside the chapel where only wind and rain could be heard, there was a faint echo.
1591
1592And Shannon was tranquilly looking up at the ceiling... then she suddenly collapsed like a puppet that had lost its strings.
1593
1594Beato lets go of the pistol in her hand.
1595
1596And when she does, the pistol, pulled by the heavy dumbbell, is swiftly swallowed up by the darkness of the crevice, disappearing with a heavy metallic clank.
1597
1598
1599All that's left in front of the altar is Shannon's body with a bloody forehead, and, strewn on the floor beside her, a stake for gouging sacrifices.
1600
1601
1602"...Indeed. This way it looks as though the stake came out of her forehead when she fell."
1603
1604And with another wave of her cane golden butterflies took the shape of an envelope placed next to Shannon.
1605
1606Inside was entrusted the first key, the key to the guest room.
1607
1608And so the closed room chain is complete.
1609
1610The five people all with the their master keys and the keys to each successive room, were all locked up in their own closed rooms.
1611
1612With another wave of her cane, she leaves a letter inside the envelope.
1613
1614It says something about Kanon's corpse being borrowed as another sacrifice for the ceremony.
1615
1616
1617And so they'll rush back to the guest room.
1618
1619But at that time the guest room will have long been completely empty. They'll never be able to see the face of Kanon's corpse again.
1620
1621
1622"Okaay... with this, the epitaph murders are over. What d'you think, Battler? I hope you enjoy my mystery.
1623
1624...Kukkukukuku, hahhahhahahahahahahahaha!!!"
1625
1626
1627For the story concerning the disappearance of Kanon's body, I'll attribute it to the already summoned Flauros.
1628
1629Even after Kanon's death, his soul will battle against Beato and Flauros.
1630
1631But it will be useless and he'll lose, and what's more is his corpse will be swallowed up by Flauros. Something like that.
1632
1633
1634And with that, this game's epitaph serial murder incident comes to a close.
1635
1636All that's left is to rewrite it into a fantasy story with Flaurous as the culprit.
1637After-discussion between Dlanor and Beatrice
1638
1639"That's what it is at present. I will arrange it into a proper story format, but that's the really tough part....The displayed story and the undisplayed story. Matching them together as literature is truly an ordeal. It's like having to think up all the tricks, except I have to do even more."
1640
1641"...So by only letting the surface be read, your story reaches the height of EXTRAVAGANCE."
1642
1643"Indeed it does. I'm constantly painting both a fantasy story and a mystery story. Nevertheless, I only release the one story. It's like the extravagance of cutting out just a little bit of the best part of a cow and cooking it, and throwing out all the rest."
1644
1645"An extravagant COMPARISON. ...However, ...do you not have REGRETS?"
1646
1647"Regrets... you say?"
1648
1649
1650Dlanor had returned the bundled manuscript to Beato, and Beato had replied back as she was arranging it on the desk.
1651
1652
1653"......You paint twice the story, and then you only cook the surface HALF. Those who would know of the remaining half, so extravagantly discarded, would surely sing praise and astonishment at its taste and bold CUTS.
1654
1655"Sometimes there are such fellows."
1656
1657"You wrote that it was for 1 in 1000 people, but I think it's the OPPOSITE. Although you want all the other people beyond that 1 in 1000 to truly read your story, there is no doubt they won't be able to grasp the half that is stripped down and buried AWAY."
1658
1659"Kukkukukuku. But isn't that just fine? It's extravagant literature where only the surface is preserved as story. And is not casting aside all those readers beyond the 1 in 1000 itself so very delightfully extravagant?
1660
1661"......Are you happy with THAT? People paint stories to be READ. ......To paint a story not to be read by anyone, to cast it into darkness by one's own will, is beyond extravagance; it can even be thought to be FOOLISH.
1662
1663
1664"Kukkukku. But isn't that just fine? If things written so that the 999 of 1000 people can understand them can be called "civilization's" writings, then it would be most fitting if my story, written so that only 1 in 1000 can understand it, could be called an "oddity" writing. ......It's a story painted by a witch, so if it has an "odd" taste then should it not be called an "oddity" writing?"
1665
1666"......My duty is to, using the commandments, make that "odd" tale understandable to all PEOPLE.
1667
1668"Indeed. ...That's exactly why I don't want to entrust it to you."
1669
1670"However, I understand your REASONS. It can't be made so that the 999 people can understand it, but... at least I may be able to help you reach just one more PERSON."
1671
1672
1673"What do you mean by 'help'?"
1674
1675"I want to some day release this incomplete MANUSCRIPT."
1676
1677"So you intend to drag out from the trash can the uncooked guts I threw away?"
1678
1679"......You may... not be understood by ANYONE. However, I cannot think that that is your true DESIRE. You do not seek understanding from those 999 PEOPLE. However, you are still seeking understanding from 1 single INDIVIDUAL."
1680
1681"There is a possibility that not even that 1 person will appear. ......It's not just young girls in love who wish for someone to understand their inner heart. ......Even witches who have experienced over a thousand years want it."
1682
1683"The young girl tells of this using cryptic words, and awaits a single PRINCE......"
1684
1685
1686"Yes. Kukkukukuku. I, too, am one who has spent long years writing a very intricate story."
1687
1688"If the time comes that the prince does not appear... I shall serve as the guidepost that leads him to YOU."
1689
1690"......Knox's 10 commandments that guarantee that it's a mystery...? Kukkukuku, could a thing like that really guide him to me......?"
1691
1692"If it's not enough... I will release this incomplete manuscript to be the key to your WORLD."
1693
1694"What a disgraceful notion. Isn't it like a girl with no courage to confess having her friend do it for her?"
1695
1696"That, too, is a way love is REALIZED."
1697
1698"Fu......Kukkukukuku, hahhahahahahahahahahahaha. .......Very well. I'll shall allow you this manuscript."
1699
1700
1701Beato faces this way and, leaving a trail of smoke with it, taps the bundled manuscript with her pipe.
1702
1703When she does, the manuscript bundle whirls into into a cylindrical shape and a bottle blinks into existence around it, sealing it inside.
1704
1705She tosses it to Dlanor.
1706
1707
1708"Do with it as you please. Except I have just one condition."
1709
1710"......YES?"
1711
1712"As long as I have life, I shall not suffer that seal's removal."
1713
1714"......But then people who reach the truth by this manuscript cannot tell you of IT."
1715
1716"The only prince I await is the one who arrives without reading the manuscript. ......One cannot love a cat after tearing out its guts."
1717
1718
1719"............UNDERSTOOD. I will do as you WISH. You have my heartfelt prayer that this manuscript brings a visitor to your GRAVE."
1720
1721"I don't know... ......The great witches of the Sea of Kakera are truly quite cold. Even if we suppose there was a person who'd visit my grave, they'd probably just come to spit on it."
1722
1723"......If you painted a story that can be seen by those with love...... then you should love those witches in TURN. Because even the prince you seek will be unable to see it without love for YOU."
1724
1725"......Fu, ......fuffufufufu ......you've got me. You win. Alright, take that bottle with you. I'm not going to die just yet. I still have much story-writing to finish, after all."
1726
1727"Then I shall take my LEAVE. ......Lady Beatrice, be WELL. Please do not forget the many love-filled witches that wait for YOU."
1728
1729".........Yes, of course. I leave it to you and your parting gift. Ronove, the guest is taking her leave. See her to the door. Then get more tea for me... It's been a while, but I've a craving for sweet milk tea."
1730
1731"......Yes, milady."
1732
1733
1734Epilogue
1735
1736=====As a result of Lady Beatrice's death, I am releasing this incomplete tale in accordance with her will.
1737
1738In reading this work, I was reminded of her long years of sadness, and couldn't hold back my tears. But at the same time, I felt pity for her.
1739
1740Although she was searching for someone who had love, I am sad to say that ironically, her heart was filled with anger at those who did not. She once told me that it was fine if her story reached only one person in a thousand.
1741
1742However, that was wrong. Out of those thousand people, she wished her story would reach even one more person. If you asked her, she would surely laugh and deny it. But those were without question her true feelings.
1743
1744In the beginning, I was uncertain about releasing this manuscript. I thought that I should hide it, so as to preserve her mystery for the one-in-a-thousand savior she spoke so often about. But as I read and reread it... I began to realize that the manuscript was a message with no destination address.
1745
1746It was a wish that even she never realized she had. But now I understand it, and I think it should be granted. That is the reason I decided to release this incomplete manuscript.
1747
1748After you read this, it doesn't matter whether your feelings toward the woman named Beatrice are love or anger.
1749
1750But if you can, try to reach her feelings, buried in the deepest part of the story. She said that she wrote two stories and revealed one. However, that was also wrong. She wrote three stories and revealed one. By reading this incomplete manuscript, you will know two of those stories. I would like you to reach the third and final one with your own power. As another woman, I strongly wish that of those reading this work.
1751
1752Without love, it can't be seen.
1753
1754They are her words. But I shall repeat them.
1755
1756Love exists in everyone's hearts.
1757
1758Her true tragedy was that she couldn't see it.
1759
1760My deepest thanks go out to everyone who helped with the compilation of this book. Especially my assistant, アン ズー.
1761
1762-- Dlanor A. Knox=====