Chapter 661
The group arrived at the Guest Room the crime occurred.
As soon as she opened the door, Shi understood why her husband had that gloomy expression.
The scene can only be described as horrific.
Not only Rin's corpse, but the entire room was like that.
The room was pitch black, not because the lights weren't on, but because it had been burned.
Ryougi Shiki inevitably evokes the image of a white canvas blackened with charcoal.
In the past, one of the girls' schools she briefly attended was also completely burned down.
Fujino said to Shiki, "Although the whole body is charred and it's hard to recognize the face, this is definitely Rin herself."
The master has already confirmed it... If he's certain, then it can't be wrong."
Was Shirou the one who identified the body?
Shiki looked towards the center of the room, which had been burned to ashes, where the remains of Rin Tohsaka (her former surname) lay.
Her body was completely charred, and there was a thin layer of black residue where she had likely fallen.
Everyone silently observed the room's condition, even Aoko from outside was diligently investigating, as if declaring that she would never let the arsonist get away... the clues the murderer left in this room.
Azaka Kokutou (former surname) said, "Although the cause of death is unknown, judging from the traces left after the fire, it should have occurred between 6 PM and 8 PM."
"Isn't it premature to conclude that the cause of death was a fire?"
"That's right, she might have died before the fire."
For example, it's possible to be beaten with a blunt object, stabbed with a sharp object, or burned to death after drinking poison.
"Well, it's too early to draw conclusions. Touko, could you please perform an autopsy?"
"Spare me, that's not my area of expertise."
Touko Aozaki's expertise seems to be in neurology and neurosurgery, so asking her to examine corpses is indeed asking too much of her.
"We really can't determine the method of murder. Burned to this state, even an autopsy would be no different from dissecting a frog."
... But I think we can still identify the murderer. Don't you agree, Azaka?"
Asagami Fujino smiled sweetly and glanced at Azaka Kokutou (her former surname).
"Wait... what do you mean? Are you doubting me, Fujino!?"
"I'm just stating a situation that everyone understands. Although we can't confirm the exact time of Rin's death, we can confirm the time of the fire."
Between 6 PM and 8 PM... you're the only one without an alibi, right?
"Varied...!"
The Azaka blushed.
She never expected Fujino to identify her at this moment.
She and Fujino already knew each other before she married into the Amamiya Residence.
They used to attend the same boarding school for girls; both Azaka and Fujino transferred there for high school.
In that school that uses a direct progression system from elementary school, students like them who only enter high school are very rare, and that's how they met.
Azaka and Fujino would occasionally go out together on holidays, and it was through her that she met her current husband after graduation.
"Anyone can do arson, right? It's not the same as murder."
Creating a timed fire using mechanisms or similar devices isn't difficult at all!
It's not a detective novel.
Fujino disagreed, but Shiki thought that what Azaka said made a lot of sense.
Unlike murder, even preschool children can set fires.
In this situation, an alibi is completely meaningless.
"If I had to say, Fujino, you're the most suspicious one, the one who discovered the body first!"
"... Ugh."
Asagami Fujino's (former surname) cheeks were slightly pale.
Azaka Kokutou (his former surname) showed no sign of letting her off the hook, pressing his advantage:
"Could you explain why you came to the Guest Room area, Fujino?"
"I just smelled something burning."
"What a coincidence! By the way... is it because your eyesight is poor that your nose is so sensitive?"
"It has nothing to do with your eyes!"
Fujino's eyes were injured in an accident in the past, and her vision is much worse than that of ordinary people. The Azaka precisely touched her sore spot.
When close friends start blaming and mocking each other, the ugly scene is unbearable to watch.
"Stop arguing!"
With a shout from the man of the house, the women stopped arguing, and the room instantly fell silent.
"What should we do next?" Aoko asked.
Due to the unprecedented torrential rains, Fuyuki City's telecommunications system collapsed.
Unable to make phone calls, they couldn't contact the outside world; even if they went out to call the police, they had to wait until the rain stopped.
"Given the current situation, we can only try to get through tonight and wait until the rain subsides tomorrow morning before going out to seek help."
"Yes, I agree. But what about the murderer? Should all suspects be punished?"
"Punishment... does it mean tying someone up with ropes and locking them up or something?"
"Hey, that's murder! Being tied up and left unattended like this is just waiting for someone else to kill me! Do you want me to become the second victim?!"
Azaka is a fan of detective novels, and her words were spot on.
"However, this is the best way to control the situation, so you might as well accept your fate. Tying you up will allow us all to sleep peacefully."
Fujino's tone was merciless; her friendship with Azaka had broken down.
"Stop saying the Azaka were the murderer."
"But sir...!"
"Ultimately, there's no evidence to prove Rin was murdered; it might just have been an accident."
"Darling, do you really think so?" Shi sneered.
Shirou didn't reply, but looked at Fujino beside him and said, "If Fujino is worried, she can stay in my room tonight, is that alright?"
Touko Aozaki said, "Hmm, I think this is a good idea."
Everyone, please lock your room doors tonight. No matter who knocks, do not open the door.
In the end, Fujino and Azaka reluctantly agreed to the plan.
And so the group parted ways.
Everyone returned to their rooms and locked the doors from the inside.
And so, the group spent a sleepless night accompanied by the sound of the torrential rain.
The torrential rain showed no signs of abating the next morning.
It is said that some houses in Miyama Town have been flooded.
The Amamiya Residence was spared disaster because their house was built on a slope and their drainage system had only been renovated a few years ago.
The torrential rain wasn't the worst thing; what was worse was—
New victims have emerged.
Azaka Kokutou (her former surname) died in her room.
In the morning, since the Azaka hadn't arrived in the living room, everyone decided to go to her room to check on her.
The room Azaka was locked from the inside.
If the Azaka died inside, it would be the perfect locked-room murder—this thought flashed through everyone's minds.
When the door to the Japanese-style room was flung open and the scene inside was revealed, everyone involuntarily covered their mouths, forcibly suppressing the disgust welling up in their chests.
A cutting-edge artwork is displayed in the room.
It was a human body with its hands, feet, and torso twisted into a spiral shape.
It was an object named Azaka Kokutou (old name), with only its head—its face unmarked, maintaining its upright appearance from life, and its lower body twisted and gnarled like a withered tree, drained of blood.
"Azaka... how could this be...?"
A hoarse voice came from the deceased's husband.
What must he be feeling right now, having lost two wives in a single day?
"Oh dear, this is terrible."
Aoko responded with a nonchalant, indifferent tone.
She was merely a stranger who happened to be staying at the Amamiya Residence because of the torrential rain, and had only spoken to the deceased once or twice, so no one could force her to remain solemn.
"Touko."
Shi turned to look at the family doctor, who shrugged. "Do you think an autopsy is still necessary?"
The scene before us is not the work of humankind.
Regardless of whether the Azaka had boxed in her youth, wringing a human body like a towel is something even the world's strongest man couldn't do.
The surreal nature of the death rendered even the ultimate mystery of the "locked room" detective novel meaningless.
This is undoubtedly a supernatural murder.
"That's too cruel..."
Shirou stepped forward, attempting to put Azaka twisted, spiraling corpse back in its place.
The exterior was already in that state, so the bones and internal organs inside must have long been broken apart as well.
It took him half an hour to barely make the remains of the Azaka begin to resemble a human.
"... I will definitely find the murderer and avenge you."
Shirou laid his wife's body flat and covered her with a sheet.
He had just stood up when he noticed Fujino leaning against the wall, her face pale.
"Fujino...? Are you feeling unwell?"
"... Hmm, the smell here is too strong... Excuse me, sir, I'd like to go back to my room first."
Asagami Fujino (her former surname) staggered out of the room filled with Azaka.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't it a bit inappropriate to Independent Action after a series of murders?"
Aoko shouted from behind, but Fujino didn't turn around.
The time is 9:00 AM.
Ryougi Shiki (her former surname) was drinking green tea that Shirou had brewed in his room.
"But surprisingly, a series of murders actually occurred."
"It might be a bit inappropriate for me to say this, but isn't it a bit too impulsive, darling?"
What are you trying to say?
Shirou frowned slightly, only to see Shiki gently pick up her teacup and give him a mischievous smile.
"I might be the murderer who killed Rin and Azaka."
"You actually invited me to your room so we could be alone together? That's incredibly rude of you."