Chapter 664
Everyone present was speechless.
"How could such a thing be...?"
Fujino murmured unconsciously.
In detective novels, it's not exactly a novel plot where the deceased becomes a victim due to an accident.
But--
Is it possible that in a case with "only" three victims, two were manslaughter?
Shirou sighed, "Ah, it would certainly be impossible in an ordinary murder case, but don't forget—"
This murder was an unnatural, supernatural act.
Including Aoko, who was poisoned, none of the victims were killed in front of the murderer.
The murderer chose to remotely control the killings in order to create an alibi, which resulted in two failed attempts.
It wasn't until the third time that he finally succeeded in killing his target.
Shirou continued his explanation.
"In the first case, Rin died from being burned to death, which must have meant that some kind of Magecraft mechanism was set up in the Guest Room beforehand."
The murderer mistook Rin's back for Aoko and activated the mechanism the moment she entered the Guest Room.
As a result, Rin was burned alive in the Guest Room as a scapegoat.
"As for the second case, the Azaka were murdered in a locked room from the inside."
The murderer undoubtedly committed the crime remotely, likely using some kind of cruel, primitive witchcraft.
This type of technique requires first creating an image of the victim in one's mind.
As a result, the spell was successfully activated, but the person killed was not Miss Aoko, but Azaka, who was very similar to her in both appearance and temperament.
They might have really been sisters in a past life, otherwise there's no way to explain why they ended up like this.
I imagine the murderer himself must have been speechless. The curse was clearly aimed at Aoko, yet Azaka was the one who got killed.
"Finally, the third case—the killer finally got his wish and successfully killed his original target, Aoko."
Fujino felt a wave of dizziness.
Shirou's reasoning is far too far-fetched.
However, given the existence of Magecraft murders, even the most absurd scenarios are possible.
According to Shirou, as long as the most crucial motive (Whydunt) can be proven.
"So, darling, who do you ultimately think is the real culprit? Is it the eighth person hiding in this mansion?"
She stared intently at her husband as she spoke.
If the killer's target was Aoko from the beginning, then a surprising fact emerges—
Of everyone present, none could be the murderer.
Aoko arrived at Amamiya Residence the evening before last to stay overnight.
Before this, she had never been in contact with anyone in this family, so it was impossible for her to be hated.
The only ones who were somewhat similar (literally) were Azaka and Rin, who were harmed because of her.
Of the remaining people, who else could be the murderer?
Face-to-face questioning --
Shirou didn't look at his wives, but instead turned to look at the man examining the body.
"Miss Touko, you've been secretly searching through Miss Aoko's body since just now. Have you found anything?"
"..."
The Amamiya Residence's doctor, Touko Aozaki, stopped performing the autopsy on Aoko.
She forced a charming smile, "Oh dear, Mr. Shirou, I don't understand what you're talking about."
I was merely following your orders to examine Aoko's body and investigate what kind of poison she had been given...
"This isn't what you're looking for, is it?"
With that, Shirou tossed a white card onto the tatami mat.
"That is..."
That was the identification document, or driver's license, that Shirou found on Aoko before everyone arrived.
Then,
The first line of the driver's license clearly showed the deceased, Aoko's, full name.
"Aoko Aozaki".
"It's Aozaki...!?"
Shiki looked surprised, and Fujino's eyes widened.
"Aozaki" is not a very common surname, what a coincidence!
There was another woman in the house with the same surname, "Aozaki".
"Miss Touko... you..."
Shirou looked down at Touko Aozaki from his high vantage point and spoke, word by word.
I was surprised too.
Even though you two have absolutely nothing in common, you act like you're meeting for the first time.
It would be more convincing to say that Rin or Azaka is Aoko's sister, but...
Miss Touko, you and Miss Aoko are actually sisters, aren't you?
The biggest problem with Shirou's reasoning is that, as the only true target, Aoko was not known to the others beforehand and had no reason to be killed.
But if Aoko is someone's sister, then that's a different story.
Blood ties can be proof of affection, but they can also be a cause of hatred.
Such inside information can be easily discovered with a little investigation afterward.
"..."
Was Touko Aozaki's slightly trembling, head bowed, a cold laugh playing on her lips?
After a few seconds, she looked up and took off her glasses.
This action marked a sudden shift in the atmosphere surrounding Touko Aozaki.
The original lazy and friendly older sister vibe has vanished, replaced by a cold and sharp aura that seems to freeze the surrounding air.
"Your reasoning is all correct! You're really amazing, Shirou... Isn't being a detective a more suitable profession for you than being a businessman?"
This statement can be seen as a confession admitting guilt.
Touko Aozaki took a cigarette from her shirt pocket, lit it, and began to puff away.
"I never expected that idiot... Aoko would come to Shirou and show off her reasoning, leaving me no time to deal with the evidence."
What an incurable, stupid little sister! She's about to die and she's still dragging others down... Ha!
But we can't blame her entirely. If it were either of us...
"If I hadn't chosen to remain single and had married a man sooner, you probably wouldn't have noticed anything amiss because of my surname."
Neither Touko nor Aoko got married, so they retained their original surnames instead of taking their husbands' surnames.
Otherwise, Shirou wouldn't have been able to confirm that they were sisters.
"It just means we won't get caught red-handed," Shirou said.
Touko said, "That's enough. A detective novel is meaningless if the murderer can't be identified on the spot, isn't it?"
"That's true, but... Miss Touko."
Shirou and Touko Aozaki looked at each other, then Shirou slowly said:
"Actually, when I first happened to see your conversation, I had a vague feeling that you might be sisters."
"... ah?"
Touko Aozaki looked stunned.
After all, she and Aoko had been said to look like sisters since they were little.
But she quickly showed a relieved expression.
"Speaking of which, Shirou, you've always been very perceptive."
She's usually oblivious to romantic feelings, but she's incredibly perceptive in these kinds of situations.
No wonder he could have four wives and still maintain a harmonious harem...
She listed the top 5 most common lines spoken by criminals in mystery novels when they confess to famous detectives.
"Sigh, I shouldn't have killed someone in front of you."
Shirou asked curiously, "You and your sister must have a very bad relationship, right?"
How did you convince Aoko to pretend to be a stranger with you in front of everyone?
"It's not that our relationship is bad, it's that it's so bad that we want to kill each other."
The reason I pretended to be a stranger is because that idiot has always loved playing pranks on people, and I took advantage of that.
"I see, even in this aspect, she's quite similar to Rin and Azaka."
Shirou murmured, "So, it's all over now."
"Yes, it's all over now..."
I never expected to fail here. I thought I could finally reach the World End this time.
Has he already adapted after only "Act Two"? Shirou.
Even though I've already sealed your power, you still manage to hinder me in this way...
Since that's the case, although it's somewhat forced—I'll steer the story towards a total annihilation ending.
As Touko Aozaki muttered to herself, she reached for the first-aid kit beside her.
"Honestly, blame yourself for not following the story's progression."
"... Don't move!!"
Fujino sensed something was wrong and immediately stepped between her husband and Touko Aozaki.
"Distort it...!"
A merciless, Mystic Eyes of Distortion; a high-dimensional attack invisible to the naked eye.
A red and green spiral appeared out of nowhere, forming a distortion that defies the Physical Laws.
Touko Aozaki's forearm was instantly twisted to pieces, but it was too late--
Pandora's box had been opened long before that.
Emerging from the medical kit were indescribable monsters, beyond the comprehension of human intelligence.
Fujino couldn't help but recall a conversation she had with Touko Aozaki about horror movies in the past.
For someone to feel fear, three conditions are required.
First, the monster must not speak.
Second, the monster must be of unknown origin.
Third, if monsters weren't immortal, then there would be no point in discussing them.
Just as Touko Aozaki envisioned, the monster's tentacles spread and proliferated throughout the room.
Fujino tried to tear the monster's limbs apart with her Mystic Eyes, but no matter how much she tried to destroy them, the monster could regenerate instantly.
"Ugh...!"
She felt dizzy from overusing her eyes.