What was Cut Down?
Tokisaki Kurumi’s Testimony
Let me see. After meeting with the Dominions, I returned to my room. In addition to Hibiki-san, there was also Yui-san who saw my face and greeted me before leaving the room. I was so tired that I immediately went to sleep without talking to Hibiki-san.
Dreams……I didn’t have any.
A while after opening my closed eyelids, it was morning the next time I noticed. No, even though it was morning, it was still night time in the Seventh Region Netzach.
Then, after being shaken up by Hibiki-san, I used a triangle sleeper hold. No, I got up gracefully.
After saying good-bye to Yuri-san, we were planning on leaving the Seventh Region Netzach. So we asked Yui-san to take us to Yuri-san’s room.
And then???the corpse was found. That’s about it.
Higoromo Hibiki’s Testimony
Well, Kurumi-san went out to the meeting. I had nothing to do, so I went to go talk to Yui-san.
Um, Yui-san was trying to cover her legs by pulling on her skirt. But I told her that gesture would be more stimulating eroticism instead.
……Ahem, anyway. While we were talking like this, Kurumi-san returned and Yui-san also left at around the same time.
Kurumi-san looked tired, so I went to bed right away. Then, because I woke up earlier, I tried waking up Kurumi-san. But after shaking her, she used a triangle sleeper hold on me. Don’t you think that was too much?
Well anyway, somehow Kurumi-san was able to wake up and we went to go drink some coffee.
Then, I decided to go greet Yuri-san with Kurumi-san, so we called upon Yui-san. Yes, of course it was the same special model Yui-san that I had spent all of yesterday chatting with.
Yui-san knocked on Yuri-san’s door, but there was no reply.
Yui-san twisted her neck and called out into Yuri-san’s room, but there was still no reply.
For a moment, Yui-san stared into the open space and opened her mouth. She whispered out
“strange” as she opened the door to the room.
Lock? Lock……there wasn’t a lock. Or at the very least, Yui-san opened the door effortlessly.
After opening, Yuri-san……was found dead.
Sagakure Yui’s Testimony
……Yes. I did chat with Hibiki-san. The conversation with Hibiki-san was mainly just gossiping.
I remember there were lots of topics related to Tokisaki-san. Although she asked a few questions about my older sister……about Yuri-sama, it was a question that I couldn’t answer.
It was very late when Kurumi-san returned, and I left the room around the same time. Kurumi looked very tired and decided to hurry up and go to bed.
Afterwards, just in case, I went to Yuri-sama’s room. After knocking, there was a response telling me to enter standby mode and return back to my room.
Shortly before the scheduled wake-up time, I was called upon by Hibiki-san. I accepted her request to give her greetings to Yuri-sama.
I went to Yuri-sama’s room and knocked on the door as usual.
There was no response or feeling of a presence inside. Considering the night before, I was about to take a break, but then I asked about Yuri-sama from every mass produced Yui model present in the mansion.
Since yesterday, there were no records of Yuri-sama leaving her room. I had a bad feeling as I opened the door.
……Yes, although I had forgotten at the time, the door was supposed to have been locked. But even if it was locked, I can pry the door open, so the results wouldn’t have differed.
Sagakure Yuri……I found my sister’s corpse.
Although the body was lying on bed as if still asleep, the room was covered in blood. So at the time, it was already possible to judge that this was death rather than a serious injury.
Kurumi-san immediately fired her gun at the ceiling of the hallway. Presumably, this was to alert the other Dominions of this anomaly.
Unsurprisingly, Oka-san and Maya-san rushed over immediately. Ariadne-san looked quite sleepy as she was the last one to arrive. But the time arrived was almost the same for all three of them. The time difference was at most five minutes.
……Soon afterwards, the body disappeared.
Miyafuji Oka’s Testimony
My testimony or whatever. We went to sleep after the exchange with Tokisaki Kurumi. I heard the sound of a gun and jumped out of my bed to confirm what happened and hurried to the source of the noise. Yukishiro Maya was trailing behind me while Ariadne was following behind at a slower pace.
The tragedy of the room was of course seen with my own eyes. I also confirmed the corpse.
It disappeared afterwards……
Tokisaki Kurumi really made a fine play. Thanks to her, I was able to see Sagakure Yuri’s disappearance with my own eyes.
The other thing to talk about……no, never mind.
Yukishiro Maya’s Testimony
I’m basically the same as Miyafuji Oka.
……In response, let me make my own observations. Sagakure Yuri disappeared at 7:32 pm.
There is a time lag of about ten seconds to ten minutes from data so far of when a Quasi-Spirit is killed before annihilation.
Conversely, with ten minutes at most, everyone only has the alibi of being ‘asleep’. So everyone is a suspect.
So, when confronted with the question of “who killed Sagakure Yuri?”, everyone would have the same response.
The answer said would be??I don’t know.
Something doesn’t feel……right. The crime scene looks a little too terrible. In that case, the sounds of a battle would have woken us up……
I think we should first check if the rooms are soundproof.
Ariadne Foxlot’s Testimony
I don’t have anything particular to say.
Only, is it a possible suicide? Although the motivation is unknown, was it because she was so depressed that she wanted to die?
Also??why she didn’t participate in the discussion about the White Queen yesterday is also a mystery. Even physical discomfort isn’t enough of a reason not to participate.
There are many mysteries.
What exactly happened?
The expressions of Kurumi and everyone else gathered in the reception hall were all rigid.
Regardless, she was dead. The corpse disappeared and at the same time the traces of blood were also wiped away, but no matter how one phrased it, Sagakure Yuri was dead.
Moreover, there wasn’t any doubt this was definitely murder.
“So, staying just here is pointless. What are you all going to do?”
Kurumi opened her mouth to speak. Looking back at this attitude, Oka’s gave a complication expression while staring back at her.
“……Of course, I’m not just going to stay here. It’s necessary to find the culprit.”
“Yui-san, are you okay now?”
Yui, who remained frozen after being overwhelmed, straightened her back slightly and nodded after her name was called out by Kurumi.
“Yes.”
“What sort of security does this building provide against intruders?”
“……Including my mass produced models, I regularly patrol and use equipment like motion sensors. Additionally, the floor that measures the weight of each Quasi-Spirit has confirmed that there were no changes. From last night to this morning, there were no intruders inside this building.”
As if to confirm this, Yui projected the data into the air.
Evidence of intruders??none.
Unknown errors or noise in sensors??none.
Yui sharply glanced at Kurumi, Hibiki, and the other Dominions.
“In other words, one of you killed Sagakure Yuri.”
Not surprisingly, a commotion was incited amongst everyone.
The first person to object that statement was Miyafuji Oka.
“Please wait. That may not necessarily be the case. Did one of the Yuis break down and kill your master in an accident?”
“……We cannot go against Sagakure Yuri. Since the creation of the mechanical doll, our sister has taken meticulous care managing that.”
“But??”
“Miyafuji Oka. Don’t say any more. If it was an accident, they would have reported it. We can only assume that the criminal did so with malicious intent.”
Yukishiro Maya interjected.
“So then, who is the culprit?”
“This has to be investigated. There are quite the foreign elements in the mansion today.”
Maya stared at Kurumi. Feeling the intent behind that gaze, Kurumi lightly smiled back.
“Ara, ara. You’re talking as if I am the criminal.”
“You, or you guys.”
“Eh, me!?”
Hibiki jumped and pointed at herself.
“……I agree. If you had used your <King Killing> to replace a Sagakure Yui, wouldn’t it have been not be suspicious to enter that room?”
Hearing what Oka had said, Hibiki furiously shook her head.
“Impossible, it’s completely impossible for me to have done it! My <King Killing> needs a face to steal from! I would need to take it from someone else!”
“??Um. May I say something?”
Sagakure Yui glared at Hibiki.
“Wh-what is it?”
“I have just confirmed one thing. One of my mass-produced units is currently missing. I am currently searching now.”
“Eh……”
Everyone turned to Hibiki with a surprised look. Kurumi’s smile disappeared while looking at the entrance.
“Ehhhh, so it means something like this? Hibiki-chan stole the face of a mass-produced Yui-chan and went to Yuri-chan’s room looking for an opportunity to kill her……”
“Impossible, that’s impossible! Don’t look at me like that; I’m just a poor, fragile little girl!
Fighting against a Dominion is impossible for me!”
“……Um. Actually, Yuri-sama’s fighting ability is no different from an ordinary non-combative Quasi-Spirit. There’s basically no defense if she lifted her Astral Dress before going to asleep.”
Hearing Yui’s words, Hibiki, who had a twitching smile, soon realized the seriousness of the matter. Everyone here didn’t have an alibi and the one with the greatest chance of committing the crime was herself.
“W-Wait a minute……”
“Stand right there and don’t move, Higoromo Hibiki.”
Maya took a step forward.
“Hibiki-san, over here.”
Kurumi called to her. Ariadne didn’t move, but Oka and Maya were standing together. The atmosphere grew tense. Both sides had faces that looked irreconcilable to each other.
At this point, Ariadne stepped in.
“Well, well. It’s still too early to draw conclusions now. If just talking about possibilities, both I and Maya-chan won’t be exempt. Oka-chan……hmm, if she has the ability to conceal herself.
Moreover??”
Ariadne glanced as if trying to provoke Kurumi.
“Isn’t ten minutes sufficient enough for Kurumi-chan as well?”
“I was planning on leaving the Seventh Region Netzach right away. Shouldn’t I lack a motive to kill Yuri-san?”
“That’s it.”
Ariadne pointed at Kurumi as if identifying the culprit.
“For example, if Yuri-chan went back on the promise this morning, wouldn’t you have a motive for killing her?”
“That’s a pointless guess. I won’t accept this speculation.”
Hibiki noticed.
Already, everyone was at the brink. Soon there will be no choice but to fight and kill each other.
But, Hibiki pointed out the one thing that everyone had forgotten.
“Um, I think there is a bigger suspect.”
Those words were destructive enough to deter everyone from fighting. Everyone’s gazes concentrated on Hibiki.
“That Queen, the White Queen. Can’t that person infiltrate everywhere? Wouldn’t that Queen be the only person who could kill a Dominion without any signs of presence?”
“……But, in this situation she has no reason to kill Sagakure Yuri. We also don’t have a reason??”
“There is one. Because I am here. Hmm, considering her thought process, she must be trying to stir internal strife. Once that happens, I won’t be able to retreat, and wouldn’t at least two people on your side be killed?”
“That’s on the premise that you’ll win. You don’t even know my ability??”
“I don’t know, but I will still win.”
Kurumi replied while straightening out her chest. Oka couldn’t help but remain silent. But in any case, everyone’s thoughts were diverted from immediate conflict at least for the time being.
“Certainly, if we all fall here, there’s no doubt that the White Queen would be the happiest one.
However, it isn’t necessarily her who has done this.”
“What do you mean?”
“……She has the power to lure people into a false love, remember? If that’s the case, there’s the high possibility that someone under that power is the murder.”
“Ah??”
Hibiki covered her mouth.
Certainly, as Maya had said, this would be the safer option for the White Queen.
“Also……if everyone is convinced with my guess, I have one proposal.”
“Proposal?”
“Let Tokisaki Kurumi do the investigation. Let her investigate who killed Sagakure Yuri.”
After hearing Maya’s proposal, both Oka and Ariadne blinked unexpectedly.
“……Can you trust me?”
“It is you who told us what the White Queen is capable of. Logically, if you were on the Queen’s side, there’s no point in revealing her abilities. Moreover, you have given the most reasonable understanding of the White Queen’s actions so far.”
“Hmm……no way to refute that.”
Ariadne muttered to herself.
“Please hold on. I have no intention of pretending to be a detective……”
At the very moment she saw where this conversation was heading, Kurumi wanted to refuse.
“I agree with that opinion.”
No one was present, but a familiar voice was echoing from the ceiling.
“That voice just now was……!?”
“I am the emergency deputy Dominion of the Seventh Region Netzach, AI = Yuri. A system in this building that automatically activates after the death of Sagakure Yuri.”
“Yuri……sama……?”
“Hearing the conversation of everyone after the death. Judging that the emergency is ongoing, this mansion will be closed off. Transferring authority of mass produced type Yui models to Yuri.
To solve this situation, Tokisaki Kurumi is appointed as first-class system administrator. Please solve the mystery of Sagakure Yuri’s death.”
“……Yui-san?”
Yui shook her head in surprise.
“I-I didn’t know……about this, Yuri-sama never told this……to me…… Authority of the massed produced types……transferred……?”
As Hibiki turned her head around, several murmurs were heard.
The mass produced Yui models all gathered at the entrance door. Countless inorganic eyes were watching them.
“Yuri-san, I want to ask a question. What happens if I intend to reject the detective role and try to forcefully breakthrough?”
“The only energy source for the mass-produced models is a Nitro Dress. 103 mass produced Yui models are currently active. If exploded simultaneously, regardless of what happens to Tokisaki Kurumi, there is a 99% chance of at least Higoromo Hibiki dying in the process.”
“Gya! Being blown away in the crossfire would be awful!”
“……”
“??I cannot tell lies like a Quasi-Spirit. If Tokisaki Kurumi intends to flee, I will detonate them all.”
“Looks like you’re serious, this AI……”
Then, Kurumi considered it for a while. She didn’t feel getting involved in the matter of Sagakure Yuri was too good. But just like Yukishiro Maya had said, the possibility of the White Queen intervening likely meant that this wouldn’t go off without a hitch.
“Yes, yes. I understand. I will solve this case.”
“Thank you. Then, I hope that everyone will stay in this mansion and not leave. Of course, that won’t restrict everyone’s freedom in here.”
With that said, Yuri’s voice suddenly disappeared.
“Um, I don’t want to say this. But your older sister seems to have had a strange thought process.”
Hearing what Hibiki had said, Yui wondered what facial expression would be good in response.
“Well, everyone. There should be no complaints, right? I will solve this case. Let me investigate, interrogate, identify the culprit, and hang her up indiscriminately.”
“……Are we also suspects?”
“I’m not satisfied, but it can’t be helped.”
“??Stop it, both of you. Yuri is right. Here is where we need to have Kurumi-san search for the culprit.”
All three of them had a different response. Hibiki nervously observed the three Dominion facing Kurumi.
Yukishiro Maya??she had an unconvinced, but understandable look. Although she hated being treated as a suspect, she wasn’t hostile.
Ariadne Foxlot??she made no secret of her discomfort. But on the other hand, she gave a sort of sarcastic smile that felt ambiguous for both allies and enemies.
Miyafuji Oka??she still looked a bit uncomfortable even though she expressed her understanding.
On the other side, the special model Sagakure Yui had a look that combined both confusion and sorrow.
Sadness……that was something Hibiki could be easily understood. Sagakure Yuri dying was something that even a doll could feel sorrowful about. Perhaps the confusion was due to not being able to keep up with the turbulence of this situation.
Well, it was difficult even for herself to keep following these circumstances.
What sort of development would lead to an AI Yuri threatening to bomb them if they didn’t solve the mystery?
“……Maybe it’s better to take it one step at a time……”
Hibiki quietly whispered to herself.
“It really feels a bit shameful to say this. But if the White Queen is involved in this incident, we cannot turn back. Now then??first of all, Yui-san.”
“Y-Yes!”
“I want to investigate the room. After investigating, I want to check up on the video feed from the surveillance cameras. Now then, Yukishiro-san.”
“?”
“? What? Ah, before you used an Unsigned Angel to prevent cheating. Please use that.”
“……What do you mean?”
“Monitor us for wrongdoing. And above else, make us pledge we have not committed any crime.
Is that okay?”
After briefly considering it over, Maya nodded her head.
“Break the seal??The Fourth Book <Light Law Apostles>. I declare that I will not take any action to disrupt the Sagakure Yuri murder case. If I break this vow, my cheeks will be cut by a blade.”
A pair of chains from the golden scales bound Maya to the vow.
“??Oath accepted. Cheek will be torn if you take an action to impede the investigation.”
“……Now, I’d like to start the investigation……but there’s one more thing I want to say before that.”
Maya looked surprised as she pointed at Kurumi.
“What’s with that look?”
Kurumi’s Astral Dress had changed form. What she was wearing today wasn’t her usual black and Elegant <Elohim> or even the bunny girl outfit. It was a deerstalker cap and a brown trench coat. That’s right; it was a cosplay of the world’s greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes.
“It’s all about the proper mindset, the mindset.”
“I also want to change my clothes, but what should I wear for a Mr. Watson cosplay? I wonder if Mrs. Hudson would be better instead.”
“Hibiki-san, please do that, along with the speckled band.”
“That wouldn’t be even human anymore!?”
“……Is it really going to be okay……”
Anyway, the investigation had begun.
“Then let’s make a quick search of the room……but isn’t that right?”
“There’s nothing here.”
There was nothing in Sagakure Yuri’s room besides a bed and a table (accompanied by a single chair). Both of them were stunned at the simplicity of the room compared to where they had spent the night. Of course, all of the bloodstains had disappeared and there was no evidence of her being here.
“Yuri-sama……just went back to sleep here.”
“But it’s true that she died here. Unless that was an illusion. ……Hibiki-san, do you remember the scene at that time?”
“Ah, yes. Of course, I remember. I remember that it was here……she was sleeping just like this.”
Hibiki said while lying on the bed.
“There was blood everywhere. Was she killed here, or was she killed elsewhere and it was deliberately sprinkled here? Hmm, it’s a mystery.”
“If she died elsewhere, wouldn’t the blood have disappeared on the spot?”
“There’s the possibility of immediately transferring into this room after killing. Well, then the question becomes why it was necessary to do that, and??”
Kurumi picked up the pillow on the bed.
“Now then. The Tenth Bullet <Yud>.”
A shadowy bullet passed through the pillow and Kurumi’s head. Sure enough, even though it was the second time seeing this, Maya watched attentively without changing expression.
The memories of the pillow were being reproduced right before Kurumi’s eyes. The memories burned into Kurumi’s mind just like a roll of analog film.
Of course, most of the memories were useless and therefore skipped. Just as Yui had said, this was always a place used for sleeping. At the very least, she needed to focus on the memories of last night.
However??
A sudden chill, a silhouette was looking at the pillow. A huge eyeball, there was an object moving at a tremendous speed. Like something out of a horror movie, a monster gave a deadly stare.
“????! The Fourth Bullet <Dalet>.”
Immediately, Kurumi fired another shadowy bullet at herself. Hibiki, who was laying down, and Maya hurriedly rushed over to Kurumi.
“Kurumi-san!?”
“……Invaded and contaminated (cracks), to make a fool out of me.”
“What happened?”
Kurumi looked at the pillow with some dread.
“The criminal predicted that I would try to read the memory of the pillow and prepared a trap for me. It seems to have been intended to destroy my mind.”
“……That means.”
“This culprit knows about my ability quite well.”
Out of all of <Zafkiel>’s abilities, the Tenth Bullet <Yud> was the most suitable for searching for the murderer. If the murderer’s weapon was left at the scene of the crime, she just needed to shot at it to read its memory. No, just shooting the remnants of the crime scene ought to be enough.
“……Can the Tenth Bullet <Yud> still be used?”
After hesitating for a bit, Kurumi shook her head.
“It can’t be used anymore. It was truly a moment of life or death just a moment ago and I may not be so fortunate next time. We’ll need to use another method to find the culprit.”
“By the way, what did you see?”
“Something beyond description. The problems of having movement take precedence over form.
If Hibiki-san saw it, she would have died after vomiting out all of her bodily fluids.”
“That’ll be a horrible way to go out……”
“??So then, what’s next?”
“Of course, it must be through interviews. Hibiki-san, everyone including us must give their testimonies. Only though??”
Kurumi sighed while staring at the vacant room.
“I hope that this culprit can be defeated logically. Well, that sounds unlikely.”
And so, everyone gave their testimony.
Hibiki looked at everyone’s recorded testimony while scratching her head.
“Hmm……this is impossible to have been done without using an Unsigned Angel.”
“That’s right.”
Looking at the memo from behind Hibiki, Kurumi also agreed. Generally speaking, the time it takes for a Quasi-Spirit to die and then disappear is very brief. The shortest time meant immediately after death while the longest was around 10 minutes. Moreover, it was confirmed that she was at least alive seven hours ago last night.
The main issue came from the surveillance camera.
“No one has entered her room since seven hours ago. It was me and Kurumi-san who entered the room last??”
“Ten minutes ago someone killed her using an Unsigned Angel and then secretly left the room……”
“That’s very reasonable as speculation. It is indeed possible to say that if it can be done. But even so.”
“Yes, yes. It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense at all. Why did this person choose to kill her in this situation? Even if it was to stir internal conflict, the risks are too great.”
“While we certainly were about to fight against each other, wasn’t it also possible that the situation would go the complete opposite direction? Um.”
Going by the flow of the conversation, at that moment there was no chance of fighting against each other when they were finally thinking about taking down the White Queen.
“Maya-san, I have a question. At the time of the conversation, did you feel any intentions guiding it?”
Hearing Kurumi’s question, Maya went to immediately reject the notion.
“Absolutely not, please look at this.”
In order to let Kurumi see it clearly, Maya projected the conversation of when Sagakure Yuri was killed into the air.
“You, Ariadne, I, and Oka, almost all of us were speaking under the drive of emotion and reason.
There was only one point of unnatural guidance. That was what Higoromo Hibiki said at the end.
But her goal was to calm us down, so that point can be ignored.”
Phrasing it like that, Kurumi could also understand. Speech exchanged during communication was not the same as speech intended for guidance. During a natural conversation, deliberate guidance always leads to artificial emotions and expressions.
Kurumi had carefully observed everyone’s face at that moment. There was nothing artificial, everything felt natural.
“……Hmm, indeed……”
“That means sure enough it must be the ability of an Unsigned Angel. Isn’t that within the realm of possibilities with Maya-san’s Unsigned Angel?”
“Even if there was??oops, that’s no good. In order to not hinder the investigation, I suppose I have to tell you. ……I have ten books in total. Each number corresponds to the foundation and underlying Spirit genus of each region.”
“So something like the Ninth Book can manipulate sound, is that right?”
Maya nodded just like a drinking bird toy.
“Hmm. That’s about right. Able to use all of the Quasi-Spirit powers in a well-balanced manner, that is me.”
“Isn’t that the same as being jack-of-all trades and master of none?”
“…………Can be used in a balanced manner…………”
“Hey, Maya-san’s mood is plummeting! Kurumi-san! That’s the sort of truth you shouldn’t say in front of a person!”
“Way to twist the knife further, Hibiki-san.”
For a period of time after that, Maya kept muttering, “I am well-balanced……” to herself.
“So Oka-san, what is the ability of your Unsigned Angel?”
“Hate me all you like for not speaking, but I’m using my right to remain silent!”
Miyafuji Oka said that while trying to sound intimidating. While that may have been her intention, Kurumi felt it was a little cute.
“Well, that’s excusable.”
Hibiki shrugged while saying that.
“So then, let me change the question. Is it possible for you to kill Sagakure Yuri without our knowledge?”
“That’s??”
Oka hesitated on answering. Kurumi quickly picked up on that from her awkward expression.
“So it is possible then?”
“……It depends on the method. But if it were me……the corpse would have become something different altogether……”
“Something different?”
Faced with Kurumi’s question, Oka waved her hand.
“The main thing is that……it would have been more grotesque than what you saw.”
“Hmm, so it was done, then the shape of the corpse would have been different. Thank you for you answer, Miyafuji-san.”
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes, of course I believe you.”
Kurumi had already discovered that Miyafuji Oka was not the best at lying. She couldn’t say for sure, but it may have been a little too difficult to consider her to be the criminal.
“Ariadne-san, you??”
“Hmm……isn’t it impossible?”
Before Kurumi could finish, Ariadne had already given the answer. It could be even said that she was the most suspicious candidate.
“……Can you do it?”
“If it is just killing. After all, I can control body temperature even through the wall.”
“Hmm. Generally speaking, humans will die if their body temperature exceeds 50 degrees. There should be no difference between Quasi-Spirits and humans on that point. Of course, it’s another matter if an Astral Dress is equipped, but the limits of the human body shouldn’t change.”
Even if there is an Astral Dress that could withstand thousands of degrees, if not worn then the person would still die on the spot once body temperature exceeded 50 degrees.
“Yes. Basically people would already lose consciousness at around 43 degrees, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“In other words, you think Ariadne-san is the culprit?”
“Hmm……what do you think, Kurumi-chan?”
“Whether you can’t or won’t do it are two completely separate concepts. And there is one more problem remaining. Regardless of suffering from a surprise attack, it’s impossible to not run into some level of resistance. Not to mention with both sides being Dominions, shouldn’t you have a certain understanding of each other’s abilities?”
“Well. Even if I were to try and kill Yuri-chan with my abilities, I would run into resistance first.
The Yuri-chan’s Astral Dress is so durable that it would take around five seconds (if worn), and that would give her enough time to plan countermeasures.”
Ariadne said that in one second for becoming aware of the attack, in two seconds for recognizing the attacker, in three seconds to think up of a countermeasure, and the remaining two seconds are enough to put a fight.
“But if it’s through the wall, the precision won’t be particularly accurate. So it’s difficult to say.”
“Oka-san said something similar. While theoretically possible, there also some sort of shortcoming. Incidentally, it’s impossible for me. Even passages created from the shadows can’t be used to pass through walls.”
Kurumi had innocently lied. Actually she could pass through walls by manipulating the shadows.
But she wasn’t stupid enough to say that on the occasion where she was still under suspicion.
Although Hibiki looked like she wanted to say something, Kurumi winked at her to keep quiet.
“That means everyone is equally suspicious, with everyone having some means that can be played, which can then lead to being implicated. Ah, but I am the exception.”
“Wouldn’t you have the power to do so if you used <King Killing>?”
“Ah, Kurumi-san is being too ill-tempered. Didn’t I say it before? I won’t be myself anymore if I completely steal someone else’s power. I’ll become the person that I plundered.”
“You can’t revert back?”
“I don’t think a miracle will happen for a second time.”
Once, there was a miracle in the Tenth Region Malkuth. But they had mutual consent then. One person abandoned what was seized and returned it. The other no longer despaired and accepted what was returned.
After all, what was needed is mutual understanding.
Without this, Higoromo Hibiki was just a weak and helpless Quasi-Spirit.
“Hibiki-san is not weak at all. She has to be very strong. For example??”
“Don’t say gorilla!”
“……Actually, I wanted to say orangutan.”
“You wanted to say gorilla, but switched it at the last moment after I caught on!”
“No, no. There’s absolutely no such thing.”
Seeing Kurumi doing as she pleased and Hibiki flying into a rage, Ariadne looked on at both of them with keen interest.
Likely noticing her gentle gaze, Kurumi coughed a few times.
“Anyway, thank you Ariadne-san. That only leaves three more people.”
“Three? One of them is Sagakure Yui-chan, right? Who are the other two?”
“The mass produced Yui-san models and??Yuri-san. Those two are obviously important as well.”
The special model Yui blinked her eyes.
Sagakure Yui was a mechanical doll made by Sagakure Yuri.
And the special models even surprisingly had emotions. But on the contrary, she didn’t even have any taboo code. Like a Quasi-Spirit that couldn’t disobey, she had to follow her master’s orders.
“Live freely. That’s enough.”
That’s what Yuri first said to her after she opened her eyes.
But for a mechanical doll, living freely was an incomprehensible concept. So at the time, she probably questioned the other special model Yui??and got this answer.
Their role was just this.
Seeing it like that, Yui understood.
In general, they were important assets and weapons for the Seventh Region Netzach.
In order for the Seventh Region Netzach to survive, they had to undertake the task of information gathering.
There was not distaste, fatigue, or exhaustion.
There was only the slight fear when death arrived. And even this fear gradually faded through constant synchronization.
Yuri said that she loved Yui.
She loved both the mass produced and first class models.
The surrounding Quasi-Spirits considered her to be a little broken and strange siscon, but Yui didn’t think so.
It wasn’t just a little, but she was completely broken.
It would just take one example for a person to understand. She had missed her little sister so much, that I reappeared in this world as a mechanical doll.
While that certainly wasn’t ethnically correct, it was still logically sounded. She was trying to fill up the feeling of sadness in her heart with comfort.
However, she mass produced Sagakure Yui.
Separating them in first class and mass produced types, she let them play out their missions. And let that consume them. That sort of thing??in any case was already a complete logical failure.
Despite having already lost her little sister, she let even the one filling the roles of that sister continually die.
Dozens of special class models have been produced and most of them have died in their missions.
Some of them were killed by the White Queen’s minions, while others never returned back from the killing games in Malkuth.
In the case of the mass produced models, they often died without any trouble. Breaking apart, sometimes that happened when intervening between conflicts of different Quasi-Spirits. In other times, they died simply because of accidents.
Death, death, death??as her little sister, Sagakure Yuri died over and over again.
That’s why Sagakure Yui felt it was strange. However, she seemed to be the only one to recognize this. The other Sagakure Yui, regardless of type, naturally believed that a “so-called little sister should be like this”.
Is there something wrong with me?
Even when she saw the corpse, she was shocked rather than sad. Was that because she was a mechanical doll?
She wanted to cry.
She thought that she would cry. But the tears wouldn’t spill and there was no stagnation in her testimony. Even wanting to catch the culprit came only from a sense of duty.
I am a shallow existence that wouldn’t be sad even if my sister dies.
That was what Sagakure Yui vaguely thought. Even the mass produced Yui models that couldn’t feel sad wouldn’t have a reason to feel sad anymore.
Rather, it was as if she felt a sense of relief.
Bishop found it to be a little difficult.
Cause discord or assassinate. Certainly, there had been such a plan.
However, as long as Tokisaki Kurumi was here, there was a need to concentrate on the investigation. There was a desire to uncover both her strengths and weaknesses.
……With the White Queen’s “replacement” for the first time in a while, they had changed their strategical approach. Instead of actively promoting an invasion, the concept was now focused on infiltration.
Originally, she had come to the Seventh Region Netzach to discuss information about the White Queen.
Because when it comes to Tokisaki Kurumi, it must be in the Seventh Region Netzach.
Unsurprisingly, she came to the casino……but as expected, she was very alert.
Lurking in the shadows, another person (Cistus) was prepared for any attack.
In the first place, it was impossible to bring their army into the Seventh Region Netzach.
Therefore, this contact should have at least been done in a robust manner.
Obviously, that should have been the case.
“What happened……?”
Someone has killed Sagakure Yuri.
This led to a conflict between the Dominions and Tokisaki Kurumi, which then led to a situation where she would investigate all of them as a detective.
Although she wasn’t the culprit, she was also a servant of the White Queen.
If examined, this may become revealed. This disguise may be seen through.
The envoy of the White Queen, the noblest out of the three messengers??Bishop.
Tokisaki Kurumi was an existence that even the White Queen couldn’t kill.
She was by herself and it was certain that the other Dominions would also be participating in this conflict.
They weren’t opponents that she could beat.
That being said, it was impossible to just run away now. Not only would she be mistaken as Sagakure Yuri’s killer, but her identity as Bishop may also be exposed during the escape.
Right now, the White Queen’s army was scattered everywhere. The Dominions were being led by the nose. Even half of the Fifth Region Gevurah was already under the control of the White Queen.
This was all thanks to the information she’s provided as well as the passageways she’s created.
She wasn’t afraid to die.
If she was afraid of death, she wouldn’t be the White Queen’s subordinate. It was the same for Rook or Knight.
Death was not scary. There were countless alternatives for herself.
However??Bishop understood as one of the three executives. Some of these replacements were hopeless and useless.
And she wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything.
Fighting and then losing, a meaningless death with what meager resistance she could offer.
……That thought alone was terrifying.
The White Queen only remembered useful pieces. But if she wasn’t useful??it was impossible for the White Queen to remember a piece that couldn’t do anything. It should be like this. Why would you remember someone who did nothing?
I have to be useful.
I must be useful.
But??what should be done for that??
Ah, her head was confused. She couldn’t even concentrate thinking at all. Even the memory of joyfully serving the Queen was becoming murky. What should I do, what should I do……
“??You are the Queen’s subordinate.”
There was a voice coming from the ceiling.
“……!”
Holding a weapon??gazing at the ceiling.
“Please calm down. The Queen’s subordinate, I am not an enemy.”
Just now, what did this person say?
“If I am really against you, I would have informed Tokisaki Kurumi by now. However, she is still focused on the investigation. If you still have doubts, go out and see for yourself.”
Not an enemy?
Bishop was left bewildered. Of course, the White Queen often did things without telling them.
But, but??
“I have inherited Sagakure Yuri’s last wish as an AI. As such, I have concluded that it is best to work with you for this.”
Sagakure Yuri’s last wish? Bishop frowned while holding her suspicion.
“In order to fulfill that last wish, there is one thing that must be done. I hope you can make Tokisaki Kurumi??”
I want you to get rid of her. She had asked.
Bishop froze. What was she saying? Kill Tokisaki Kurumi in this situation?
“Of course, I will cooperate. I am in charge of the control system for this entire mansion. So make a plan, and you and I will be accomplices from here on out.”
Those words were certainly persuasive. Of course, there must be an ulterior motive for this. But attacking Tokisaki Kurumi was also an irresistible temptation.
And most importantly, Bishop had no choice.
She had already been threatened. If she was starting to doubt her own identity, Tokisaki Kurumi and the other Dominions would no doubt come to the same conclusion after investigating. If exposed as Bishop, everything would end regardless if she wasn’t the culprit. And something useless wouldn’t be remembered……!
I accept.
Bishop made that declaration in humiliation.
Sagakure Yuri was killed. A simple fact, but it was one that created complexity in countless ways. She was a Dominion and the mansion was under her close surveillance with many other Dominions present. And most importantly??
“I’m here, what’s the matter.”
“……Has our existences here also help contribute to this complexity?”
“Yes, yes. Now then??”
Kurumi suddenly closed her mouth, grabbing Hibiki’s arm and throwing her into the shadows without any questions.
“Fugya!?”
Besides that wailing noise, Kurumi gracefully fell into the bottom of the shadow.
“One more thing, that AI Yuri is suspicious.”
“……Did you enter the shadows just to avoid that AI?”
“Yes. If her voice can be heard from the ceiling, doesn’t that mean she can hear every voice within the mansion? Considering the number of surveillance cameras, it’s natural to assume being spied on in the rooms.”
“But isn’t it more suspicious to hide in the shadows……”
“It’s better than being eavesdropped on. Well, first of all, this is strange.”
“Do you mean all three of them are suspicious?”
“If it is suspicion, we are both the same. Rather, why doesn’t this AI point out the culprit in the first place?”
“That’s??”
It was because of starting up after her death.
“Isn’t the story of starting up after death strange? What is that AI for anyway?’
“Eh. No, now that you mention it!”
“……The three Dominions are indeed suspicious. But the most suspicious person is undoubtedly Sagakure Yuri. I even wonder if she’s really dead.”
“A camouflaged suicide……?”
Certainly, Hibiki also agreed to this. That was the most questionable thing.
“Yuri-san chose a sham death in order to achieve some sort of goal. That’s why we became witnesses. ……Early in the morning, I wanted to say good-bye and found the corpse. Even in the Neighboring World, that sort of thing seems too unreasonable to be a mere accident.”
“Maybe. If it wasn’t an accident, was it intended for us to see?”
“I think so.”
Hearing Kurumi’s words caused them to reevaluate the situation again. ……Kurumi and Hibiki wanted to say good-bye before leaving the Seventh Region Netzach. That sort of thing was completely predictable. But what wasn’t clear was when they would do so.
They may have said their good-byes over breakfast (or dinner in the case of the Seventh Region Netzach) or perhaps they would have waited out in the hallway rather than going directly to her room.
Nevertheless, she died at the very moment where Kurumi and Hibiki could testify that she died.
The timing was too good.
“……If that’s the case, then Yuri-san became Yuri through a fake suicide?
“But that also leaves us the question of why she made us the detectives.”
“Indeed, it is a contradiction to lock up the mansion and appoint us to solve the murder.”
Was she convinced that Kurumi and Hibiki would never reach the truth?
No, then she won’t have pushed the detective role onto them otherwise.
“……Ah, I’m thinking up an endless loop. What should we do Kurumi-san?”
The moment they reached a truth, there was an opposing fact about that truth.
Who was the culprit and the truth of how the walls in the room were overcome.
Even if that person wasn’t the culprit, it was still a fact that she made Kurumi and Hibiki act as detectives.
“Then there’s only one thing to do. Delve into the facts. To do that??”
Kurumi glanced at Hibiki.
Hibiki tightly gripped her fist to showcase her motivation……but this time she couldn’t be helpful.
After being identified as an assistant, she could escape playing the part of the clueless helper. In any case, there was one more person now added. Even if she (Yuri) might be standing opposite to them now……
“Whether or not we can trust her……alright, we’ll need to talk to her.”
Sitting across from the table, Sagakure Yui felt a burning sensation travel up her face. Was she had maybe considered an alert look??or perhaps it was viewed as a hostile one.
“……Um……uh…...”
Yui felt her words grow more incoherent as her eyes tried to glance away.
“I’m sorry to ask this of you so suddenly, Yui-san. Can you assist me in my investigation?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Yui-san is a mechanical doll, correct?”
“……Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m a little puzzled, but what is the difference between you and an ordinary Quasi-Spirit.”
“I’m not the same. My blood is artificial and I have no sense of pain. And above all else we can synchronize with the mass produced and first class types.”
“Synchronize?”
“That is to say, the experiences and memories obtained by each model can be shared with each other.”
“Ah, I see. So that’s why you’re so rich in emotions.”
“……Yes.”
Was she really rich in emotions? That was something that even she didn’t fully understand about herself. But even though it felt a little out of place, Tokisaki Kurumi had asked if she was “rich in emotions”.
“Then let me ask you right now. Do you have a method or motive for killing your older sister Sagakure Yuri?”
“No. My Unsigned Angel <Shichih?giy?jiya> can only temporarily seal the senses of the target.
It is impossible for me to kill Yuri-sama in an instant.”
“Is that also the same for the mass produced Yui models?”
“No. Their weapons don’t have the abilities of my Unsigned Angel.”
“They…… Do you feel yourself different from the mass produced Yuis?”
It felt as if time had stopped.
That question was a burden that Yui had always carried.
“I……”
“Well. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. You feel distressed about their affairs.
Understanding that is enough.”
“What are you??”
Kurumi ignored Yui’s question. She stared at Yui??while Yui looked back at her eyes.
Yui felt as if she heard a ticking sound coming from the clock on her pupil.
“……So this is my last question. Do you want to know the truth?”
“……I want to know. No matter how cruel it is.”
Kurumi suddenly laughed and snapped her fingers.
“?”
It was the feeling of being swallowed as something grabbed her ankle. There wasn’t even enough time to scream or swing her weapon as she was helplessly pulled into the shadows.
“Who!”
“Wait, wait! Yui-san, it’s me Higoromo Hibiki!”
As Yui was preparing for pain, Hibiki lifted up her arms and shouted.
“Hibiki-san……?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry to have scared you. Usually I’m on the opposite end as well, so even I wanted to do it once to someone else……”
“That’s a frightening reason to scare such an adorable girl. By the way, Hibiki-san isn’t cute, so there are no problems there.”
“That’s saying too much! …...So, Yui-san, are you okay now?”
“I have a request.”
“A request?”
“Actually. ??????????”
As Yui was still confused, Kurumi softly whispered into her ear. Yui’s eyes widened upon hearing the request.
“That would be????”
Wouldn’t that be a betrayal of her older sister?
“Do you think so?”
“……Yes.”
Although hesitant, Yui still replied. Regardless of her personal distrust, Yuri was very responsible as the Dominion of the Seventh Region Netzach. She couldn’t imagine a betrayal.
On the other hand, Kurumi’s findings were also very convincing. Indeed, the theory that the other Dominions were the culprit felt like something was wrong. And she did feel that Yuri was hiding something.
“This is not betrayal. To believe in her, you must confirm it for yourself.”
Those words broke her psychological defense.
Sagakure Yui wanted to believe in Sagakure Yuri as well as the AI Yuri. So this was not betrayal.
She had already convinced herself of that.
“??I understand. I’ll go fetch those two now.”
As Yui disappeared, Hibiki asked Kurumi.
“Is Yui-san going to be okay?”
“That person, while a mechanical doll, is rich in emotions. So I do think she will easily accept this status quo…….yes, yes. That’s more than I expected.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tokisaki Kurumi (me) has a single goal. In order to achieve that, we are not afraid of death.
However, for them??that is to say for Sagakure Yui’s mass produced models, they don’t even have a sense of purpose. ……There is a robot with the same face as herself. If that were the case for Hibiki-san, how would you feel?”
“Hmm……uhh……to be honest, I would feel a little sick.”
A clone was fine enough. For example, with Cistus, she had her own thoughts and personality despite having the same face as Kurumi-san. She could even talk about Kurumi’s charms all night with a different Hibiki. However, it would be a different story if that clone was a mass produced robot.
Hibiki felt that would be??terrible.
“The mass produced Yui-san has been treated quite roughly. How could she do that to something with the same face as her sister? That is my question. And during our discussion, I learned that the first class Yui-san also had the same question.”
“Ah, I see. So that’s why you think it is fine.”
“Of course, it is also a gamble. But doesn’t that somehow feel suitable for the Seventh Region Netzach?”
Ufufu, Kurumi softly laughed.
Hibiki held her breath as her body felt a little chilly.
This has always been the case since arriving at this mansion.
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