From Alice's future eyes, Yuan Shikai saw a hint of surprise, followed by an expression of understanding.
From Alice's present eyes, Yuan Shikai saw a trace of uncertain confusion.
Future Alice had already experienced something similar once before.
Present Alice, though she had guessed what had happened, did not understand why it had been activated.
Still, meticulous as she was, she guessed that Soujuurou had probably carelessly fed something to someone.
After all, the only person left who could wander freely around the mansion was that idiot.
Yet both Alices were the sort to enjoy a spectacle. They intended to pretend they knew nothing and wait for events to unfold.
From the expressions of the two Alices, Yuan Shikai confirmed that his guess was correct.
The obviously externally influenced weather put everyone in the mansion on guard.
Suddenly, cries of alarm and heart-rending sobs came from the kitchen.
Yuan Shikai understood. The first murder had begun.
When everyone rushed over, they found only a skinned corpse on the floor.
Beside the corpse, a Lesser Monster was weeping.
From another Lesser Monster's account, the corpse had belonged to a Kappa Monster.
It had been a kind-hearted Monster that had once helped rescue a drowning child.
After saving that child, it had scared the child unconscious with its appearance. It had felt guilty about it for a long time afterward.
Apart from being a little ugly, it had been good in every other respect.
Now, no one would have recognized this Lesser Monster as a Kappa.
A Kappa should have had a dish-like plate atop its head, a birdlike beak, a turtle shell on its back, webbed hands and feet, and green skin.
During Japan's Edo period, Kappa had been regarded as symbols of "bad Monsters" because their original appearance was too