The bloody scene in the Deep Forest was unknown to the others.
After searching for some time, not only did they fail to find Ikeda Chikako, they discovered even worse news.
—The suspension bridge leading to the villa had been cut down.
When they panicked and tried to call the police, they realized there was no signal here, and the telephone line had also been severed.
Cut off from the outside world, the atmosphere in the villa abruptly grew tense.
As the host, Suzuki Ayako could only force herself to stay composed.
She found a box of playing cards and suggested they find something to do. Once they made it until dawn, they could cross the Back Mountain and borrow a phone from the residents on the other side.
Takahashi Ryoichi, however, did not join the card game.
He glanced upstairs nervously and picked up the toolbox. "I'll go fix the broken window on the second floor first—if the Bandaged Man slips in through there again, things will get troublesome."
"Okay. Then I'll leave it to you." Suzuki Ayako sighed in relief. Fortunately, Takahashi Ryoichi was good at repairs. Otherwise, even if they stayed awake, no one would be able to rest easy tonight.
Jiang Xia turned and thoughtfully watched Takahashi Ryoichi's retreating back.
At some point, a fresh Shikigami had clung to the calf of the helpful Takahashi.
"..."
Jiang Xia instinctively touched the collapsible baton in his pocket.
The second-floor balcony was one long stretch connecting several rooms.
Takahashi Ryoichi pretended to repair the window, but was actually secretly setting up a mechanism on the balcony.
—First, he took Ikeda Chikako's head from inside his clothes and fixed it onto an Inflatable Doll shaped like the Bandaged Man.
At a glance, it looked as though Ikeda