If I might ask you to refrain from alcohol...
The bottle has been my friend as long as you have.
Kinzo-san...
The reason you appear to be doing well is because of the medicine.
However, if you keep drinking such strong spirits...
Nanjo!
Tell me honestly.
How long do I have left to live?
Practically speaking, I would recommend that you write a will at this point.
You mean, instructions on how to devour my corpse and scatter its bones?
That's not it. A will is something where you leave your wishes behind.
My wishes, you say?
What nonsense!
I, Kinzo Ushiromiya...!
I, who built up this fortune and prestige, will disappear just as wishes do!
That is the contract I have made with the witch.
But still, I am reluctant.
If you decide to leave one, you would do well to write it down.
Otherwise, if something were to happen to you, the ones left behind will decide for you!
It's useless, useless, useless!
I have no need for a will or whatnot! If I had time to write such things...
Then I'd rather see it one more time! I want to see Beatrice's smiling face!
Oh, Beatrice! I am fully prepared to return all that you gave me, all that I have!
Just show me your smile one more time!
Kinzo-san!
Appear before me once more and grant me your smile!
If you wish, snatch my life away by your own hands!
I cannot let myself die until I've seen your smile one last time!
Beatrice! I offer up my life to you!
I'm begging you, Beatrice!
Il giudizio finale sta per essere emesso
The final judgement is about to be delivered
Nessuno può emendarsi dal peccato che scorre nelle vene
Nobody can escape the sin that flows in their veins
Uminari no shirabe ni kurokumo wa sora e tsudou
The dark clouds gather to the tune of the rumbling sea
Arashi wo yobu kaze wa takaraka ni
The winds of the tempest begin to ring
Nazomeku kotonoha ni majotachi wa fukumiwarau
The enigmatic words make the witches chuckle
Ibitsu na yoru no utage wa kurikaesu
While the banquet of this irregular night repeats
(Sperare)
(This hope)
Naraku e to ochita
Falling towards hell
(è peccato)
(Is it a sin?)
Kiniro no chou wa
So many sins
Ikutsu no tsumi ni hane wo nurashite yuku no
Endlessly cling to the wings of the gold butterflies
Nakanaide
Don't cry
Torawareta gensou wo kowashi
Break through the illusion entrapping you
Ichidokiri no shuuen wo ageyou
Just once, rise above your demise
Hatasenai yakusoku wa mune no oku kogetsuite
Hold on to the unfulfilled promises within your heart
Akaku akaku hazeteku yo, nee
As they burst open in deep, deep red!
Tu sei senza peccato?
Are you without sin?
Quanto sarà pesante il mio castigo?
How heavy is my punishment?
Ti accorgi delle voci senza voce?
Are you aware of that which has no voice?
Ti accorgi dei tuoi peccati?
Are you aware of your own sins?
Ienai kizuguchi wa kurenai no bara no you ni
This open wound is like a crimson rose
Nikushimi yadoru kokoro ni hana hiraku
Blooming amidst the hatred lodged in my heart
(Serbare il segreto)
(Continue hiding secrets)
Tsubasa ubawareta
With its wing snatched away
(è peccato?)
(Is it a sin?)
katahane no tori wa
Who does this one-winged bird
saigo no toki ni dare no namae wo yobu no?
call out to in its final moments?
Nakanaide
Don't cry
Torawareta gensou wo kowashi
Break through the illusion trapping you
Ichidokiri no shuuen wo ageyou
Just once, rise above your demise
Hatasenai yakusoku wa mune no oku kogetsuite
The promises unfulfilled sear deep within my chest
Akaku akaku hazeteku yo, nee
As they burst open in deep, deep red!
Impossibile arrivare al vero segreto se non ci si accorge di tutto l'amore
It is impossible to get to the real secret if you do not realize all of the love
Umineko
When They Cry
October 4, 1986 (Sat)
10:00 AM
Rokkenjima, in the Izu Islands.
After he amassed a vast amount of fortune in a single generation, my old man bought that island.
On this island, we hold our annual family conference.
Outside of this conference, the family members rarely get to see each other.
There's only one goal here.
How should we divide the inheritance from the Ushiromiya family head, Kinzo Ushiromiya?
Now that Kinzo's death is approaching, how our fortune will be distributed should be decided at this year's conference.
But... that has nothing to do with us grandchildren.
However, the clouds of darkness that pursued us all drew closer, slowly swallowing the island whole...
...and we were all none the wiser...
Aaah! Stop, stop!
Stop it, I'm falling! I'm falling into the ocean!
My, are you okay?
You're a man, so keep it together!
Third in rank, Eva Ushiromiya and her husband, Hideyoshi Ushiromiya.
But, Auntie Eva! This boat goes too quick!
Really? I find the breeze refreshing!
Why don't you swim your ass down to the island instead?
Shut up, you old bastard!
Fourth in rank, Rudolf Ushiromiya and his wife, Kyrie Ushiromiya.
Hey, you better hold on tight!
Fifth in rank, Rosa Ushiromiya.
That doesn't matter! I'm gonna fall! I'm gonna fall!
Uu, uu! Fall, fall, fall!
Hey, Maria!
Where's the rubber float?! Give me a life jacket, damn it!
It's only been six years since I last used a boat, when did they become so crazy fast?!
I had the captain bring the speed down, okay?
Eva Ushiromiya's son, George Ushiromiya.
It's been six years and you've even grown into this giant, how pathetic!
Jessica! I wonder how much of an adult you became. Let me find out!
Show me those breasts!
Daughter of the head, Jessica Ushiromiya.
Screwball!
Jessica... you grew up so much in six years...
Uu... are you frustrated?
Yeah, I'm frustrated. Thank you for noticing, Maria.
Rosa Ushiromiya's daughter, Maria Ushiromiya.
Speaking of which, you've grown up quite a lot too, Maria!
Alright, I'll give our princess a little lift!
Hey, that's dangerous—!
Yes, as far as this story is concerned, the grandchildren weren't yet cogs in the machine.
And yet, they were the axis of a giant cog... a faraway cog that controlled everything else.
Battler, uu-uu!
Uu-uu!
Rudolf Ushiromiya's son, Battler Ushiromiya.
At the island for the first time in six years.
Maria, don't become like Jessica.
You're gonna grow up to be a sweet young lady, promise?
Uu-uu! I promise!
It finally feels like all the cousins are together now that you're here, Battler-kun.
With Battler Ushiromiya's return, it'll be a family conference with almost all the relatives in one place.
Soon, the boat shall arrive... at the fated island.
Uu, Battler, I can see the island! I can see the island!
Hey, you're right! Back at the resort after six years... time for an adventure!
I wish I could leave soon enough too.
Just be patient until you get into college.
At present, those who live on Rokkenjima are Jessica and her parents...
Second in rank, Krauss Ushiromiya and his wife, Natsuhi Ushiromiya.
The patriarch of the Ushiromiya family, Kinzo Ushiromiya, and a few servants live there as well.
Rokkenjima...
Once they arrive there, everything shall begin. Everything.
Uu, gone.
Oh, did you lose something?
Uu-uu, gone, gone, gone!
Up on that crag, there used to be a shrine, right?
Wow, you remembered that?
That's right, I think it was there last year.
Gone, gone, uu-uu-uu!
Quiet down, Maria.
It must've been washed away by the waves.
Not at all, Battler-sama.
Granny Kumasawa!
Ushiromiya family servant, Kumasawa Chiyo.
One night, a large flash of lightning struck and destroyed the shrine, or so they say...
This must be a sign of misfortune. All the fishermen whisper so.
A sign of misfortune. Misfortune. Misfortune.
Stop that, Maria!
After all, on Rokkenjima, long ago—
Kumasawa-san!
Let's drop this story.
Uu. Misfortune... is coming. Uu.
Welcome back.
I was growing worried since it was becoming late.
That's sweet of you! All because Mr. Useless here got scared.
Shut up, damn it!
Battler, it's the first time you've met Gohda-san, right?
I have been working for the Ushiromiya head house since the year before last.
Ushiromiya family servant, Toshiro Gohda.
Gohda-san's a pro at reception!
If ya ever get tired of this place, call me anytime, 'kay?
You honour me with such words.
Well then, everyone, let's proceed to the guesthouse.
Battler, is something wrong?
Hmm, that must be why I felt like something was missing...
I can't hear the sound of the seagulls.
The seagulls?
That's right, they're always so lively, but I don't see any today.
Uu, why are the seagulls gone?
Maybe the seagulls are having a conference somewhere too?
The weather's supposed to get worse tonight.
Maybe they hurried back to their nests.
Let's go.
A twisting path led us into the dim forest.
Before long, we saw garden-style stone steps.
From here on, I have some fond memories. Go up these, and...
It's as beautiful as ever this year!
It's amazing every time I see it.
Come over here, Maria-chan. The roses on this side are magnificent.
Uu? George-oniichan, only this rose is strange...
Oh no, it's all dried up!
Uu. It's sad.
Then, Maria-chan, we'll just take care of this rose until we leave.
Hey, that's pretty cute!
Uu, cute!
Oh! If it ain't Kanon-kun!
Battler-sama, allow me to introduce you.
He is one of the servants who—
Ushiromiya family servant, Kanon.
What are you doing, Kanon-san?!
My apologies.
Are you alright?
Milady, you will dirty your garments!
I'll take care of everything, so...
Don't you worry! I may not look it, but I've got it where it counts!
It's quite heavy, isn't it? Kanon-kun, don't worry about it.
This is the first time you've met him, right, Battler?
He's Kanon-kun, one of our servants.
Yo, nice to meet you!
I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.
Can't you be a bit more sociable?
No. Because we... are furniture.
Furniture?
Umm, you see! Kanon-kun's shy! So, uh...
Hey, brats! It's time to get going!
Oh, right. Later, Kanon-kun.
See ya.
Even I...
Guesthouse, Cousins' Room 11:50 AM
As an aside, Jessica-chan, how is Grandfather doing?
They say he's got only three months left, but he's as still as spry as ever.
That sure is something!
Hey, don't talk about the elderly like that. You should be more respectful.
He's cooped up in his study again, not like he's gonna hear us.
Does that mean he's still pursuing that 'hobby' of his?
As long as he doesn't stink up the place again, I really don't care.
Uu, stink?
That's right, our grandfather had a slightly strange hobby.
And that... was black magic!
I'm not sure when he got into it, but his room is filled with weird books and items...
To be honest, everyone finds it creepy so they don't want to go near him.
Well, once he dies, it's the adults' job to squabble all over his inheritance. And as for us...
Hey! Let's talk about something more fun!
Yeah!
You're right.
That's right! Hey, George, you're over 20 now, right, bro?
How is it? Thinking of marriage and stuff?
Marriage?!
Huh, what's the deal, bro?!
Bro!
Maria, too!
Jessica, stop laughing!
Excuse me! Preparations for lunch have been made at the main house.
Oh, what perfect timing.
What's so perfect?
Perfect timing for lunch, right?!
Come on in!
Yes, please excuse me.
Uu, Shannon, Shannon!
Ushiromiya family servant, Shannon.
It's been a long time, Battler-sama.
Woah, it's Shannon-chan! You've become quite the babe!
How kind of you to say so.
By the way, Kanon, whom we met earlier, is Shannon's little brother.
Did he do something impolite?
Hehe, he was just being unsociable as always.
I'm sorry!
He's at that age, we don't mind! And also...
...speaking of being of age...
Eh?
Shannon-chan, you're bursting with charm!
You dumbass!
Busty squad! Prepare to attack!
Look out!
Huh?
Hey, hey, that's the part where you're supposed to beat me up!
This is just my way of communicating where I make myself the butt of the joke!
C'mon, hurry up and give me a counterattack, a counterattack!
If it keeps going, I'll be seriously lucky— no no no no!
I'm gonna be in huge trouble!
S-stop right there!
Thanks, Jessica.
The hell are you thanking me for?!
You too, Shannon, just kick his ass!
I couldn't do such a thing to a guest! We're furniture, after all...
In that case, it's an order.
Next time Battler-kun tries to touch you, go ahead and slap him, okay?
Yes, understood. Battler-sama, please excuse me.
Hehe, totally!
In today's midday news, a large-scale typhoon will occur from 6 PM tonight and last throughout the night...
A typhoon?
Doesn't seem like it's here yet. Think there'll be a storm?
Uu, storm?
After we leave the guesthouse, we pass through the rose garden and head to the main house.
Main House
Rose Garden
Guesthouse
It's an old building, but it's ridiculously huge!
Even with the servants included, there's barely ten people staying here.
What a waste.
All the parents await you at the dining hall.
Hell yeah, food! Time to stuff our faces, Maria!
Uu, stuff our faces!
Shut up! Don't listen to him.
Ouch!
What's that?
It's...
I see, this wasn't up yet six years ago. That's—
Beatrice.
Beatrice?
Yes. Rokkenjima's witch, Beatrice-sama's portrait.
Witch?
Battler, perhaps you've heard of Rokkenjima's legend of the witch?
That was my first meeting with the witch.
Third Floor, Outside Study 12:20 PM
Father! It's the day of the annual family conference!
Everyone has gathered downstairs, so please—
Be quiet! Take away those who would dare try to drag me out of this study!
Slaughter them and toss them into the witch's hearth!
Call for Genji! Prepare my demonic absinthe!
My voice will no longer reach him.
Genji, take care of him.
As you command.
Ushiromiya family servant, Genji Ronoue.
Master. It is Genji.
Genji! Are you by yourself?
Yes. I am here alone.
I'll have the usual.
Yes.
Forgive me, my friend.
My pleasure.
You have served me quite well until this day.
You're all I need.
That is more praise than I deserve.
Compared to that, how incompetent my offspring are, who lie in wait for my inheritance to fall their way!
Yes, I'm well aware, my friend. This is all Beatrice's curse!
Master!
And so, I have decided.
I cannot spend the dimmed remainder of my life wallowing in sloth!
If I have a coin to bet left in this body of mine, I shall entrust it to the demons' roulette!
And I shall await a miracle!
Ah, Beatrice! Please show me your lovely smile once more!
All I wish is to see your smiling face!
Parlor
12:30 PM
Now then, the man of the hour is Battler-kun, who's come back after so long away!
Make yourself comfortable.
Really, I can hardly recognise you after six years!
Is that right?
All you did was eat like a pig!
Jessica, mind your language.
Haha, you're quite the spartan, Natsuhi-san!
Works fine for me!
Well, appearance isn't everything in a man.
Battler-kun, regarding your entrance exams this year—
Kyrie-san, let's drop that talk!
Our daughter has her entrance exams as well. Please do carry on in that regard.
Battler...
Both of us would rather not be cornered with all this exam talk.
Who's that person? He's not a relative, right?
Oh, that's—
Kinzo Ushiromiya's doctor, Terumasa Nanjo.
I see. Because grandfather's life is part of the discussion, too.
Uu! Battler, this is tasty!
Yeah, they're all pretty good, huh? Everything's sublime, even the appetizers!
I am honoured by your praise.
Eh? You made this, Gohda-san?
Gohda once worked at a well-renowned hotel.
I put special effort into making the dessert as well. Please, do enjoy yourselves!
I'm so envious of y'all who get to live here!
Uu, this is so sour! Is this the wrong one?
Oh, there are two different colored sauces! Lemme try.
Wow, that's sour! Shannon-chan, what's in the sauce?
Umm, that's—
Uh, sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to...
My, my, that's no good, Shannon-chan!
Serving the guests something of dubious origins!
That's, um—
Shannon!
Speak up louder. You're being rude in front of our guests.
Sis! Natsuhi-neesan! You gotta stop bullying her!
The true origin of that sauce...
...is squeezed mackerel juice!
Mackerel?!
Uu, mackerels are so sour!
Maria, those are vinegared mackerels!
Kumasawa-san, Maria's gonna take that seriously!
You're quite the kidder as always, granny!
My apologies!
If you're curious about the sauce... Gohda-san will explain it to you now!
Very well then, allow me to introduce today's dessert!
On this fine day, I took notice of how you all were captivated by the rose garden...
Umm...
Thank you very much!
I haven't done anything to be thanked for!
Don't worry about it. You did nothing wrong, sister.
Kanon-kun!
The mistress and Eva-sama can go to hell!
Don't say such things—
Especially that Gohda!
He's the one who did the cooking and the only one who knew about the ingredients.
Even so, he deliberately didn't back you up, and embarrassed you in front of them...
It's okay. As long as you understand me, Kanon-kun, I feel better about myself.
Shannon-sama, Kanon-sama... how heartrending.
Gohda-san is jealous of the two of them,
who are younger and still allowed to wear the eagle...
What are you doing?
Genji-sama! It's nothing. Everyone has finished the meal.
I see, then prepare the tea.
The conference is starting.
Parlor
1:00 PM
Where are the kids?
They went to play on the beach. Kids will be kids, I guess.
Even I don't entirely feel like an adult myself sometimes...
That's quite the pathetic thing to say as a mother of one.
Quite so. Then how about we indulge in an intellectual discussion, as adults should?
An "intellectual discussion", you say?
Isn't it obvious?
The head's inheritance.
The family head is currently in good health—
Even so, he's at a stage where anything might happen to him, isn't that right?
I see.
It seems as though everyone's concern is about Father's condition.
Dr. Nanjo?
Under normal circumstances, I'd immediately suggest he begin writing a will, but...
He won't listen?
That's right. I can't really see him as an ailing man who only has three months left.
Perhaps it's a bit too early to discuss his inheritance?
Father's assets aren't something you can divide neatly like a birthday cake.
What an interesting analogy!
Yes, it's important to discuss how best to stick the knife in, wouldn't you say?
I fail to understand how you all can argue over this while the head is still alive and well.
This is a necessary discussion! The Ushiromiya house's wealth is vast.
Quite different from the likes of your own family's wealth!
Give it a rest, Eva... Natsuhi-san, excuse her, won't ya?
I will only be interrupting from now on, I'll take my leave.
Thank you, Dr. Nanjo.
To sum it up, you all want to say the same thing.
Father's lifespan is running short, and thus...
...you want to quickly enter into a practical conference concerning the distribution of the inheritance.
Why so impatient, I wonder?
Impatient?
It looks like you guys want to cut my slice for me as well!
Isn't that right, Rosa?
It's not that we're impatient, but we siblings should come to an agreement, right?
Is that really how you feel? It's not like you like these two.
Rosa is one of us siblings, right?
She gets her slice of the inheritance just like we do.
I see.
Besides, Father's bound to kick the bucket far sooner than later.
If anything, brother, you are far too relaxed if you ask me.
It's almost like you don't want to talk inheritance at all.
What are you trying to say?
Well, dear brother, I hear these are very good times nowadays.
That's right. Ever since last year, the value of the yen has seen an unprecedent rise!
Well said. Yes, Japan will soon see an unprecedented boom.
The largest in the business world, just like when Father revived the Ushiromiya family.
The people of Japan have gotten into in a frenzy trying to realize vast economic growth
and become the most prosperous people in the world, glorifying the spring of our society.
Private spending has increased, and institutions which can profit from that can make easy money in this day and age.
Yer right, it really is somethin' just as you say, Krauss-niisan!
Brother, you can read into the next decade of history.
That keen sense likely came from Father... incredible.
However, unlike Father, your predictions have been a little off sometimes, wouldn't you say?
What are you all trying to say?
We've already said it clearly, haven't we?
Brother dear, that plan about constructing resorts in these parts, starting with this island...
It's been in the talks for a couple of years now, hasn't it?
Oh yes. It's all going quite smoothly.
Hey, brother...
Let's quit bluffing amongst us siblings, yeah?
Brother dear, even though you have foresight, you have no talent in business, don't you?
How impertinent! To think that you would slander my husband in such a way!
Please stop, Natsuhi. You'll make your headache worse.
We're sorry, but we also investigated this. You've encountered failure after failure.
And you lost a lot of money along the way too!
My husband's business is none of your concern!
Oh, but it is! Rokkenjima doesn't belong to my bro. It belongs to dad.
And after putting on a front all this time, just where did you get all your funds from?
Oh, isn't this an interesting story?
Dear! How long do you plan to ignore these abusive remarks?!
Let me say it directly. My bro's been diverting Father's private funds for his own business.
There is almost no doubt.
This isn't diverting funds. It's embezzlement!
A proper crime that can be criminally prosecuted!
And more than anything, it's a betrayal towards our father!
Such impudence! Saying that he's betraying the head isn't something that can be easily overlooked!
Leave this place immediately! All right?! Get out!
Hey, Natsuhi-neesan. Just whom do you think you're speaking to?
To the younger sister of my husband!
As the one in charge of the main family's kitchen, I cannot overlook any more of this!
In charge of the kitchen?
Shut up, you lowly maid!
Eva...
How ridiculous. You're the one who should get out!
You're telling me, Eva Ushiromiya...
...third-ranked in the family and the one allowed to stand left of the head...
you're telling me to leave?!
Know your place!
And just where are you permitted to wear the One-Winged Eagle on your clothes?
You're nothing but a borrowed womb to birth the next successor to the Ushiromiya family!
Don't forget your standing, you lowly servant!
Natsuhi, take your leave.
But these people are trampling underfoot our efforts to protect the glory of the Ushiromiya family!
Don't make me repeat myself.
Please go and cool your head.
Apologies, do forgive my wife.
Now, let us continue the conversation.
Mistress?
It's nothing!
How heartrending, Mistress.
The Ushiromiya family holds blood in high regard.
The bride who marries into the family is considered an outsider and not allowed to wear the crest!
If only Jessica-sama, the next in line to be the successor, had been born earlier,
then Eva-sama, who bore George-sama first, couldn't have taken advantage of that!
Why... Why is it always me?!
As for the enormous inheritance of the Ushiromiya family, grandfather told us relatives the story. It would go like this:
I was an almighty sorcerer!
Through a demonic summoning ritual, I encountered the Golden Witch, Beatrice!
In exchange for my soul, I received ten tons of gold and brought glory and prosperity to the Ushiromiya Family!
Isn't it insane?
Two years ago, he commissioned a portrait of Beatrice, and a stone monument by it.
There, he left an epitaph hinting at the gold's location.
It went like...
"Behold the sweetfish river running through my beloved hometown.
You who seek the Golden Land, follow its path downstream in search of the key."
Sounds fun, like a treasure hunt, right? Gold and witches!
A heart-pounding tale, like one you'd dream about!
Yes. If only it had been just a dream...
7.5 billion?!
Yup. The ten tons of gold dad has hidden is worth around 20 billion yen in cash.
If we split it evenly amongst us four, it's 5 billion per head.
But since you're the eldest, how about we give you 12.5 billion?
Your generosity brings me to tears. And what do you want in return?
We'll forget your embezzlement, and leave the investigation of Father's assets to you, brother.
What do you say?
How old are you? Don't tell me you still believe the gold exists.
Naturally, I don't believe in the witch, but the gold is a different story.
What a wonderful fairy tale. However!
As collateral for this illusionary inheritance, you want me to empty-handedly pay up 7.5 billion?
Listen to the whole story first, won'tcha? We only came to consult you!
Hoh, consult me?
I'll cut to the chase. When Father dies, the dividends will be paid out along with the distribution of the inheritance.
However, as a deposit, 10% of our portions will be paid to us immediately.
The payment must be made before March of next year.
Whaddya say? Sounds like your perfect chance to regain the trust for Father's assets!
Normally, we'd hope to receive the 7.5 billion right now, all at once.
But out of concern for you, we're willing to compromise.
Out of concern for me? Investigate Father's assets? Receive 7.5 billion?!
How convenient for you all!
It's an easy choice.
Not a bad deal, is it?
I have a question.
Let's say we find the gold. What would we do then?
As long as we get our fair share, whether the gold exists doesn't matter to us one bit.
Then on one condition:
In the situation arises where any of you siblings happen to find the gold, you must swiftly turn it over to me.
Of course! You have our word!
What a lucrative deal!
I must say, my estrangement from you all truly pained me more than you can imagine.
I'll gladly accept this agreement, then!
Rejoice, Rosa! We have a deal!
You're acting unreasonably forward. What's gotten into you, Brother?
How cold! You think I have an ulterior motive?
I assure you, I certainly do not. Much like all of you.
So that's that, then? Right, brother, sign here.
However!
In order for me to sign that, there's one modification I'd like to make.
Stop it, it's already been settled!
I'll sign, of course.
I promise you, your share of the gold, the 7.5 billion...
will be transferred to you as part of Father's inheritance, no questions asked!
That said! There is simply one point I simply must insist you all concede on.
Concede what?
The 10% deposit from the 7.5 billion.
It's as you say! With my failing business ventures, I have no hopes of earning 7 billion in half-a-year's time.
That can't be true!
I shall liquidate everything once the time for the inheritance comes.
All I ask is that you remove the condition regarding the deposit. Do that, and you'll have my signature.
Krauss-niisan, that 10% is nothin' more than a number to measure your sincerity.
Frankly, you got no room to negotiate! We're givin' you a huge offer here!
Why are you guys in such a rush?
Rosa, won't you explain it to me?
That's—! I'm—!
We're only asking if you're going to sign or not.
Forget about making any negotations or shady moves.
...Oh? You say I have no room to negotiate?
No, no! We were just—
Hideyoshi-san! I hear your company has been doing well for itself recently.
My husband's business has nothing to do with this!
Really?
It's quite unfortunate you've neglected your stockholders, then.
Before you realized it, some bad-natured fellows
had bought up a considerable amount of your company's stock, hadn't they?
What're ya talking about?
Rudolf too, it's been troublesome lately, right?
American trials are so emotional in their judgments.
Didn't your lawyer advise you that it would be more economical to settle?
What's he talking about?
Ah... it's just a bit of trouble with work. Nothing to worry about.
Right, nothing at all!
There's nothing in the world money can't buy! It can even settle the broken bonds between siblings!
Isn't that right, Rosa!?
M-me?
You've always been an earnest, noble little sister.
Alas, your softhearted nature was your ruin, wasn't it?!
I wouldn't think one should agree to become a co-signer so lightly!
That's none of your business!
Right! None of my business.
This is not some pleasant chat over tea!
You, all of you, desperately need a lot... a lot of money right now!
Brother...
I would love nothing more than to help my dearest siblings with their financial troubles in their time of need.
But I have absolutely nothing to offer!
It can't be! Father's gold is—
Ah, that's right! If only we could find Father's gold right here and now!
How unfortunate, how unfortunate for everyone!
How absolutely devastatingly unfortunate!
What do you say? With all of us gathered here tonight, why don't we solve the riddle of Beatrice's epitaph over drinks?
With the four of us combined, there's no riddle we can't solve!
After that, they all took a break, and are now discussing the epitaph for the gold.
Mm. Good work.
Yes, Master.
I'd heard Battler returned to us after six years.
Perfect. The more the merrier.
Will the miracle be fulfilled first? Or will those fools expose the gold first?
What a show this will be!
"Behold the sweetfish river running through my beloved hometown."
"You who seek the Golden Land, follow its path downstream in search of the key."
"As you travel down it, you will see a village."
"In the village, look for the shore the two will tell you of."
"There sleeps the key to the Golden Land."
His beloved hometown, huh...
Rokkenjima Beach
3:00 PM
Grandfather's old hometown would be Odawara, right?
In Odawara, there's also the Hayakawa river.
Oh, there's that part — "the sweetfish river running through it"!
If you follow the Hayakawa river, you'll reach Odawara Castle.
"In the village, look for the shore the two will tell you of."
If you go north from Odawara Castle, there's a place called Sogakishi.
We figured out that much last year.
Oh, that means that in that Sogakishi place, the key to the Golden Land sleeps!
That'd be kind of anticlimactic, huh.
That's right. Sogakishi is pretty large.
The "two will tell you of" part is also still quite mysterious.
Right, that's all we got for the first five lines, then.
But, what comes afterwards...
It gets a lot darker.
"On the first twilight, offer the six chosen by the key as sacrifices."
"On the second twilight, those who remain shall tear apart the two who are close."
"On the third twilight, those who remain shall praise my noble name."
"On the fourth twilight, gouge the head and kill."
"On the fifth twilight, gouge the chest and kill."
"On the sixth twilight, gouge the stomach and kill."
"On the seventh twilight, gouge the knee and kill."
"On the eighth twilight, gouge the leg and... kill."
No matter how many times I hear it, it always creeps me out...
Up through the eighth twilight, at least eleven people are killed.
"On the ninth twilight, the witch shall revive, and none shall be left alive."
"On the tenth twilight, the journey shall end, and you shall reach the capital where the gold dwells."
In the end, everyone dies.
That's... the last part is also weird.
"The witch shall praise the wise and bestow four treasures."
"One shall be all the gold from the Golden Land."
"One shall be the resurrection of all the dead souls."
"One shall be the resurrection of the love that was lost."
"One shall be to put the witch to sleep for all time."
She gets so exhausted she goes to sleep. Sure is a busy witch!
That's right. In the first place, there is no such thing as a witch in this world.
That's right.
The witch exists.
Maria?
Uu! Why doesn't Battler believe?! The witch can do anything! She can kill and revive the dead!
Hey hey hey!
Maria-chan wants to become a witch in the future, right?
Uu...
Maria seriously believes in witches.
Oh...
Maria-sama, there's a ghost story about Beatrice-sama passed down amongst the servants.
Ghost story?
Doors and windows that should've been locked are opened.
Things that should be in one place are gone.
All those weird things seems to happen because the witch visits and plays pranks.
See, she exists! Beatrice exists!
But there's nothing to be afraid of, right?
If you pay your respects, nothing bad will happen to you.
However, being disrespectful is dangerous, right?
Indeed. I'd heard that in the past, those who had incurred Beatrice-sama's wrath had fallen off stairs and broken their backs.
Battler and Jessica have incurred her wrath!
Ahh, it's my bad! Beatrice-sama, I apologize!
Me too, I'm sorry!
Maria-chan, do you have any charm that could help Battler-kun and Jessica-chan avoid the witch's wrath?
Uu!
Is that... a scorpion?
The scorpion has the power to block magic!
If you hang it on your doorknobs, evil beings won't get in!
Thank you, Maria.
The wind's picked up.
We'd better get back to the guesthouse.
Shannon, you can carry on without us. You have work, right?
Well then, I will go ahead. I had a pleasant time with you.
This wind might do in all the roses by the end of tonight.
Maria's rose will tear apart?
Oh! The one you marked, right? Alright, let's go save Maria's rose!
Uu!
Last one there's a rotten egg!
Battler, watch out!
It was definitely around here.
What's wrong, Maria?
Uu, Maria's rose is here, it's right here.
But, there's nothing here. If we—
Uu! It's here! Maria's rose is here! Search for it, uu!
Hey, Maria...
Not here, not here, not here! Uu-uu!
My, my, what happened, everyone?
Mama!
Mama! Mama! Come help look for Maria's rose too, uu!
Maria's rose?
We found an unhealthy rose around here this morning and marked it.
Uu! It was here! Uu-uu!
Did you mistake this place for somewhere else? Stop saying 'uu-uu'.
Mama won't believe and search with me!
I did believe you and I am searching with you!
Enough with that 'uu-uu'!
But it is here! It is here but it isn't! Uu-uu-uu!
Then someone must have pulled it out!
Anyways, stop saying that 'uu-uu'!
Who pulled out Maria's rose, who did? Give it back, give it back!
Stop saying 'uu-uu'!
Maria's rose!
Didn't I tell you to stop that?!
That's why! People in your class! Treat you like an idiot!
Aunt Rosa, even if she is your daughter, you shouldn't be violent like that!
Don't you think it's weird, Battler-kun? Her manner of talking!
Huh?
She's still in elementary school. It's cute.
Cute?
Saying 'uu-uu' is cute?! Don't be ridiculous!
Maria's nine years old!
Because she says strange things like this, do you know what the kids in her class call her as they bully her?!
She hasn't even made a single friend yet!
Don't irresponsibly say it's cute and turn your eyes away from the reality of it!
I told you to stop that!
Stop that right now!
This is Aunt Rosa's family problem. Let's get back to the guesthouse.
Jessica-chan.
Maria's rose!
If that's how you're going to be, search all you want by yourself!
I'll search! I'll search for it by myself!
Do whatever you want!
Maria's rose...
Maria's rose!
You're quite late, Beatrice!
Well then, let us begin this banquet of miracles of ours.
The key of fate will obey the demons' roulette and choose the sacrifices.
First...
I shall return the headship of the Ushiromiya family to you.
Accept it!
And once you are reborn, I shall be the one at your side!
So come, Beatrice! Welcome to this banquet of mine!
In exchange for everything I've created, show me a miracle just this once!
Beatrice!
Heavy rain will be seen across the region.
Looks like we won't be able to get back home by tomorrow.
Guesthouse
6:00 PM
It's Kanon.
Oh, Kanon-kun? Come on in!
The preparations for the meal are finished. Please come to the mansion.
At last!
You came to get us in this heavy rain!
What's wrong?
Is Maria-sama not with you all?
Ah... uh...
Didn't she return to the mansion with Auntie Rosa?
Rosa-sama was taking a nap, so I thought that she was here with you.
Don't tell me...
Maria! Maria!
Maria!
Hey, Maria!
Maria!
Maria-sama!
Battler!
Aunt Rosa!
Where is Maria?! Isn't she with you?!
No, we haven't seen her after we left!
Maria is straightforward to a fault!
If she was ordered to find something that didn't exist, she would look forever and ever!
But it's been over an hour!
That's the kind of child Maria is!
I knew that better than anyone, but I let my emotions get to me! What have I done?!
Either way, let's find Mari now...
Maria!
You've gotta be kidding me, not in this insane rain... are you really...?!
Maria?
Maria!
Mama?
I'm happy, I'm so happy!
Uu... can't find Maria's rose.
Mama will help you look for it later, so let's stop for today, okay?
Uu... stop?
I'm sorry...
I'm sorry I'm such a bad mama.
That's a relief. So you had an umbrella.
Uu, Maria didn't have an umbrella, someone lent it.
I see, so we should be grateful to that person, right?
Uu, Beatrice!
Huh?
She gave me this letter too!
Uu!
Main House 6:30 PM
Where did you pick that up?
That envelope is Kinzo-san's...!
Dr. Nanjo, don't say things based on your own assumptions.
Show me that for a second!
Uu! No way, Maria will read it! Maria's a messenger!
That sort of dubious letter is not even worth reading!
Why not? We can decide for ourselves after seeing it.
Father and the others were afraid...
that this might be some unfavorable announcement regarding Grandfather's inheritance.
"Welcome to Rokkenjima. I am Beatrice, and I serve Kinzo-sama as the Alchemic Advisor for this house."
"I have been serving him as stipulated by a long-lasting contract."
"However, this very day, that contract has been pronounced terminated by Kinzo-sama."
"In consequence, from this day on, please acknowledge my resignation as Alchemic Advisor for this house."
"And now, there is one part of the contract which must be explained to you all."
"I, Beatrice, lent Kinzo a vast quantity of gold under certain terms."
"One of them is that all of the gold must be returned upon the contract's termination."
"And as interest, I shall receive everything of the Ushiromiya Family."
Ridiculous, such a thing can't be—!
Be quiet!
"However, Kinzo-sama has appended a special clause for you all to have a chance to preserve your wealth and honor."
"If that special clause is fulfilled, I shall lose my rights to the gold and the interest for all eternity."
A special clause?
"Special clause: Should someone discover the hidden gold, Beatrice shall renounce all rights to its recovery for all time."
"If even one of you fulfills the special clause, I will give back everything, even the interest I already took."
"Furthermore, I have taken possession of the symbol of the inheritance, the head's ring of the Ushiromiya Family."
"I ask you to please confirm this by the wax seal."
It is unthinkable that Father would relinquish his ring!
Also, as the agent to the head, I have knowledge of all assets! There is no gold or anything of the sort!
In other words, there are assets you were not aware of, Krauss-niisan?
Beatrice's hidden gold!
That's impossible!
"And so, I humbly ask that you thoroughly enjoy your battle of wits with Kinzo-sama."
I see. In other words, family ranking doesn't matter!
"I sincerely pray for this night to be both intellectual and elegant."
This is going to be a head-on gold rush!
"Beatrice the Golden."
Father, I know you can hear me! Please respond!
What is the meaning of that letter?!
What kind of an unfair contract is that?! Father!
Father!
Father, answer me!
Father!
What shall we do?
Leave them be.
Beatrice.
You've started your game already, I see.
Genji.
Sir.
You are the servant who has served me the longest, and my dear friend.
I offer you my gratitude.
If luck permits it, I shall see you again in the Golden Land.
May everything proceed according to your will, my master.
Come, Beatrice. There is no shortage of coins to be wagered.
Once again, I shall show you the power of what they call miracles!
Parlor
10:00 PM
Battler-kun, how are our parents?
They're having a friendly little family-only meeting. Guess they're going for overtime, late into the night.
And Maria-chan?
She's still crying in front of that portrait.
She was hounded with questions by our crazy-eyed parents after all.
"Jeez, witches don't exist. Who was it you actually met?!", they said.
Poor thing.
Seriously, everything's become a filthy mess.
It's all because of this goddamned letter!
The rain's still falling pretty heavily.
Kyrie-san, how's it going over there, eh?
I would gladly take my leave like you did, Battler-kun, if I could.
Thank you very much.
I'm going to check on Maria.
Ah, me too—
I'll be okay by myself.
You finally managed to sneak out, after all.
He sure is a capable young man.
Well, our gene pool was totally different, so...
There you go again with talk like that.
So are you all still making a fuss over this Beatrice person?
Yes. The four siblings had always been piling up secret agreements regarding the inheritance.
Now some unknown fifth person has appeared. So it's not a peaceful situation for them anymore.
So, basically... Beatrice is sorta like a saboteur sent by Grandfather?
Hey, Battler-kun. Do you think this someone named Beatrice actually exists?
Huh?
Right now, on Rokkenjima there are only us eighteen. So do you think a nineteenth person really exists?
What do you mean?
Exactly what I said.
At the very least, the one who gave Maria-chan the umbrella was on this island when it had started to rain,
And currently, we're not in a position to summon any boats. In other words...
That person... is still here on this island?
And none of us have seen them. But is such a thing plausible?
So, what you're saying is... a nineteenth person doesn't exist on this island?
Sure, I can't deny that a nineteenth person is staying here for some reason.
But, if we turned the chessboard around, we can determine that it's probably not the case.
"Turning around the chessboard" — one of Kyrie-san's favourite phrases.
By turning the board over you can see everything from your opponent's standpoint.
See? Let's assume a nineteenth person called Beatrice actually exists.
It means she managed to stealthily arrive on this island, without being seen by anyone, and hid herself all this time.
If so, why did she bother to appear before Maria-chan and give her the letter?
Well, like she said, she wanted to make Maria her 'messenger', maybe?
Is a messenger necessary?
If Beatrice wanted to prove her existence, she only needed to make a bold entrance before us all.
Yet she chose a vague method of appearing before a little girl and gave an indistinct impression of herself.
Ambiguous, contradictory.
This is where we turn the chessboard around.
If they wanted to remain hidden, they wouldn't reveal their existence.
If they wanted to reveal themselves, they would appear openly! Meaning...
Beatrice is one of the eighteen.
It can't be...
Among us...
Just saying. You might not like the inheritance talk, but doesn't this rich western mansion mystery situation seem exciting?
You're so tough. Guess you're the only one who can tame that old bastard of a dad I have, Kyrie-san.
You can count on me. I'm quite good at that.
What's this, were you two badmouthing me again?
What happened to your chummy little conference?
We decided to take a break to cool our heads a little. I see an all-nighter coming.
Is the almighty Lord Rudolf dead on his feet?
Ah, shut up.
Still, this rain is wild!
Natsuhi-neesan said she made arrangements for us to stay at the mansion. What do we do?
We can consider that once we're finished here, yes?
Sounds about right. And you, Battler?
I'm heading back to the guesthouse with the cousins.
I see.
You guys won't be going to bed soon, right?
Not likely.
What's with you?
Perhaps, once the conference is over, and you're still awake...
I want to have a little talk, as family.
Talk?
I'll tell you later, so don't ask now.
Don't look so freaked out, damn it.
I'm the one freaking out over here.
I mean, like...
You're creeping us out here, dad! If you want just family, we're here already, see?
I might... be killed tonight.
The heck are you talking about? This isn't like you at all!
I agree. What's with you all of a sudden?
I think I'll go wash my face. Don't follow me.
What the hell? Did he lose his marbles because of this weird letter?
Well, let's turn the chessboard around to find out Rudolf-san's feelings.
His feelings?
Most likely, he wants to talk about something, but doesn't have the courage.
So he's saying, "Chase after me, talk to me, and ask me about it".
Are you sure that sort of reason works?!
Romance novels can have more complex mysteries than mystery novels, is what I'm saying.
Is that how it is?
I'll stay alongside that big spoiled brat. That's my duty as his partner.
Thanks.
What?
I'm glad I talked to you. I feel less depressed now.
I'm glad. Communication is important.
The reason I'd severed ties with the Ushiromiya Family for six years...
was that dad's remarriage to Kyrie-san was the ultimate betrayal towards my late mother.
But Kyrie-san accepted me after all that, and still sticks by that old bastard.
We're family, huh?
There's no need to heed the words of some dubious person calling themselves Beatrice!
There's no disputing that you're the successor, dear!
Dear!
Enter. I have something to show you.
That's...!
It's a gold ingot of incredible purity.
That crest... the One-Winged Eagle...
Yes. In other words, Father's "Legend of the Gold" is real.
Why did you hide it from me until now? Am I that untrustworthy?
There was no reason to tell you.
Me being your wife isn't enough of a reason?!
Calm yourself. You always let your anger get the better of you.
I have endured this treatment day after day ever since I married into the Ushiromiya family, and this is what I get?!
I only considered what is best for you.
Go rest. Your headache will get worse.
This is between us siblings. It's none of your business.
I won't lose... I won't...
What... should I even live for?
Mom... what's wrong?
Father is—
I'm sorry.
I have a terrible headache. Please leave me be.
Did you take any medicine?
Thank you for your concern. I'm fine.
Mom.
I actually got this charm today. I hear it's a mystical ward.
You could hang this over your doorknob and see if it helps!
I don't need it for anything, so you should have it.
Thank you. I'll take good care of it.
Make sure not to stay up too late, either.
Yeah.
Jessica!
Don't scare me like that!
Shhh!
Maria fell asleep?
She probably grew tired from all the crying.
George-kun, thank you for your help.
Don't worry about it. We're going to the guest house soon, so we can take Maria with us.
Really? Our discussion here won't be over anytime soon, so it'll be a big help.
Leave it to us!
Shut up already! Shhh!
My bad.
Thank you. Shannon-chan, the rain's awful outside, so please escort everyone to the guest house.
As you wish.
Bro, I'm tired too, can I also get a piggyback ride?
Shut up!
Hold yourself up!
Maria...
I'm so sorry...
Guesthouse, Servant's Room
Genji-sama, is the change in shifts tonight because...
Of the letter, yes.
It was Krauss-sama's order.
You two siblings, Kumasawa, and I are to stay in the guesthouse.
Only Gohda has the midnight shift at the main house.
Because we've been awarded the One-Winged Eagle, we've always been shunned as the Master's underlings.
It's a given that they want to keep us away from the main house.
There's no need for unnecessary speculation.
We only need to carry out the duties given to us.
Sister, if pretending to be human will only bring you hurt...
why would you bother to pretend in the first place?
Guesthouse, Cousins' Room
I put Maria in the next room over.
Ah, thanks. Huh, where's George?
How dull you are, Battler-kun!
Huh?
Here, lemme tell you.
What is it?
Huh? What?!
Shut up!
Not the straight right punch you got from uncle!
Rose Garden, Gazebo
Shall we take some shelter from the rain here?
Yes.
I heard there were some shift changes.
Yes, tonight I'll be with you all at the guesthouse.
I see. I'm sure we'll all be up late tonight, so come to our room with Kanon-kun if you want to take a break.
Thank you very much.
I'm glad you came. Actually, I was lying when I said I forgot something at the main house...
It was a lie?!
Yeah. I wanted to speak to you.
Oh... Um, er...
What terrible rain. I'm glad I foresaw it and cleared my schedule for Monday.
As expected from one who will make a company prosperous in the future, you are quite conscientious.
It sure is challenging. I finally understand how much my dad had to toil away.
You truly do look up to your father, George-sama. I'm envious.
Sorry.
Oh no, I didn't mean it that way.
As you are already aware, George-sama...
Kanon-kun and I are from the Gospel House, a private orphanage owned by the Master.
But to be chosen as servants for the House of Ushiromiya is the highest honor for graduates there.
The One-Winged Eagle granted by the Master, the name "Shannon"...
and the ten years I've served here, are all my pride and joy.
Ten years, huh? You should have enough money saved up to live as a member of society by now.
Yes. But I have nowhere to go apart from this mansion.
But that's not your whole life, is it?
What?
So far, you've been living life within the shell known as "Shannon".
And you've mistaken that to be something that'll last forever.
George-sama—
We spoke about that before, the promise about when it's only the two of us.
I can't make that promise.
I am furniture, after all.
Then it's an order. Since it's the two of us.
Then... George-san.
Yes, that's good, Sayo-chan.
I like you better this way.
I want to walk by your side, so break open your shell!
And so...
I want you to accept this.
Something that expensive... I can't accept it!
In that case...
This is also an order.
Sayo, please accept this ring.
And, this part isn't an order.
If you put it on your finger, put it on whichever finger you want.
I want it to be your own choice.
Understood.
Thank you.
Shall we return to the guesthouse?
Ah, uh... sorry, I...
I remembered something I have to do at the main house!
Got it. I'll be waiting at the guesthouse.
Yes.
What a relief...
Main House 11:00 PM
George-san...
Shannon-san! I thought you were on duty at the guesthouse.
Um...
Genji-sama told me to help you, Gohda-san!
That's quite helpful. I was about to make the rounds to check if everything is locked up.
In that case, I'll be on standby until...
I know, Shannon-san! You can take over the patrol!
I'll stay in the servant's room awaiting the family's orders.
Um...
I'll be counting on you.
I suppose I have something to cheer me up.
George-san... sorry to make you wait up for me.
Hell yeah, I won!
Can't believe you got me there!
Guesthouse
11:59 PM
Oh man, look at the time!
Never a dull moment with you around, Battler.
Hell of a natural for your first day in six years.
It's sure been one packed first day, huh.
On the first twilight,
offer the six chosen by the key as sacrifices.
Battler? What's wrong?
Bet you're thinking something dirty again.
Bingo!
Dumbass!
It begins.
October 5 (Sun)
6:00 AM
I suppose talk of the inheritance will continue today...
I haven't slept this soundly in a while. I'll have to thank Jessica.
Yes?
Good morning.
My apologies for waking you so early.
Genji. What is it?
The telephones have been out of order due to the lightning last night.
Then we cannot use the phone until the typhoon passes?
Correct. Furthermore...
Gohda is nowhere to be seen.
He's gone? Then what about breakfast?
Unprepared.
What?! He must still be asleep.
Find someone to wake him up at on—
What is this?!
I also noticed this as I came to call you.
Disgusting. Must be a vulgar joke by one of the guests.
Clean all traces of it later!
Understood.
Parlor
Mistress!
Have you found Gohda yet?
It's not only Gohda.
Krauss-sama, Rudolf-sama, his wife, and Rosa-sama are missing as well.
What?
We've even searched the guesthouse. Perhaps they've moved their discussion somewhere else.
That leaves Father's study, then.
I'll go check.
I'll go.
A guest like you cannot be allowed inside uninvited.
That so? Then would you kindly convince Father to come down with you?
Surely it would be no trouble for you as the proud wife of his inheritor, yes?
Eva...
Mistress.
Please take this.
It's...
The key to the study which only I hold.
Thank you, Genji.
Father! Father!
Did I wake you?
How did you come in here?
I deeply apologize.
I asked Genji-san to lend me his key to the study.
Hoh. My friend saw this as warranted?
Yes. We are about to prepare for breakfast.
We would be greatly honored if you could join u—
I refuse to eat beside vultures!
Do not bother me!
I understand. That is unfortunate.
Natsuhi.
You have been with the Ushiromiya family for many years.
Yes.
Do you ever long for your previous family?
I...
It appears she still hasn't borne a child!
Don't forget your standing, you lowly servant!
This is between us siblings. It's none of your business.
I am Natsuhi Ushiromiya! My only home is the Ushiromiyas!
If Krauss were the woman, and you the husband...
No, I'm not to say.
Father...
I am still your daughter, blood or not!
I'll see the honor and glory of the Ushiromiya family protected until my last breath!
You have no right to wear the One-Winged Eagle!
However, I've no doubt the One-Winged Eagle is engraved within your heart.
Thus, you are unmistakably my descendant by blood, and a worthy heir to the Ushiromiya glory.
You hold no obligation to listen to any who sneer at the lack of wing on your garments.
Father!
Only those who hold the eagle in their heart can be my true blood relatives.
Understood!
Oh? Couldn't convince him after all?
He said he is uninterested in observing such a vile discussion.
How interesting! Especially hearing it from someone without the Eagle like you.
What a pity.
What?
I'm beginning to understand why Father grieves so.
Excuse me?!
You lowly servant!
Parlor 8:00 AM
Genji informed us all about the old bastard's disappearance.
Did they all leave in the middle of this typhoon?!
And if they did, why would they go some place where they wouldn't be found?
"I will probably be killed tonight."
They're still missing?!
My deepest apologies.
That's enough, then. I'll go prepare tea.
Ah...
What is it? Is there something else?
Yes. While I haven't been able to find them...
What's on your mind, Kanon-kun?
Truth be told, something odd happened at the rose garden storehouse.
What do you mean by 'odd'?
I don't know how to explain it... Please, come with me.
Uu! Battler, stay and watch TV with us!
Oh, sure!
What is this vulgar graffiti?!
How long has this been here?
Nothing was here before the rainfall!
We should do something before anyone else sees it.
There are painting tools inside. We should use those for now.
Huh?
What's going on?
We're going to see what's up. You coming, Maria?
Uu! Maria will watch TV!
All right, sit tight and wait for us.
Uu! Ahahaha!
It felt like the wind was getting stronger with every step.
I was filled with uneasiness at every turn, and before I knew it...
I could smell the faint scent of iron dust mixed... with something else.
Stop! Don't come any closer!
George! Get everyone back to the house! Quickly!
What kind of sick joke is this?!
Dad! Dad!
They've got no faces...
They've all got no faces!
I'd seen this kind of scene
all too often.
In manga, TV,
anime, and movies,
I'd seen it over
and over again.
Aaaaah, but that,
that suit,
it's that old bastard's,
isn't it?
Then that's Uncle Krauss.
And Kyrie-san.
And Aunt Rosa.
NnggaaaAAAAA
AAAAAGGGGHHH!!!
Judging by the state of rigor mortis, six hours or more have passed since death.
I cannot say for certain, but looking at their external wounds, it is highly likely they were mutilated after death.
You mean to say the culprit did all this after killin' them?
Battler...
You asshole...
Sure, I always thought you were going to hell!
But you weren't this bad, right?
Kyrie-san...
Without you, how am I gonna...!
Battler-kun!
Aunt Rosa, Uncle Krauss, and Gohda-san...
There's no reason for you to suffer all this too!
Battler-kun!
Bro!
Dad...
Are there only... five bodies?
There's six.
So... the one lying next to you would be...
...Shannon, right?
Yeah.
Can I see her?
George!
How did Shannon look the last time ya saw her?
She wore a beautiful smile.
She did? Then I'm sure she would rather you remember her by that smile!
Dad! Please...
Could you check something for me?
What is it?
On her finger... does she have a ring?
Yeah, she does.
Tell me... which finger is it on?
George, you couldn't have...!
Eva! That doesn't matter now!
She's wearing it on her left hand, on her ring finger.
I'm sure the man who gave it to her was also very happy.
Thank you...
Dad!
My first family conference in six years.
My first time on Rokkenjima in six years.
It was a plot more wicked than I could ever imagine.
But it's alright. Everything will be alright.
All of this will come to a close.
With the end of the typhoon, when the seagulls return tomorrow morning, it'll be over...
...when the seagulls cry.
Umineko When They Cry.
Parlor 8:45 AM
Have you locked the shutter to the gardening shed?
As you requested, I replaced the padlock with a new one.
What's that for?
When we arrived there, the shutter was locked.
In other words, it means the culprit had locked it.
You mean the shutter only had one key?!
Yes. It was carefully stored in the servants' room.
So, the culprit took the key from the servants' room and thoughtfully put it back in its original place?
Anyway, I'll go to Father's room.
Genji, please contact the police.
Understood. The phones are still inoperable, so I shall use the radio.
Allow me to accompany you. Since Krauss-niisan is now gone, I'm the next in rank.
Do as you see fit.
M-m-mistress!
What's the matter?
When I went to the dining room...
There's blood in the dining room!
Stop screwing with me!
Milady, you shouldn't be here much longer.
That's right. George! Take care of her.
Jessica-chan, I...
A great deal of time seems to have passed, but this is a lot of blood.
It is likely that Krauss and the others were killed here.
When Eva and I left, it was after midnight. So it was a while after that, huh?
In any case, let us lock this room up until the police arrive.
Parlor 9:00 AM
Last night... I proposed to Shannon.
Huh?
I gave her the ring and told her to wear it on any finger she liked as her reply.
Shannon's been asking me for advice for years now.
She sucked at lying, so it was obvious that she was talking about you, George-niisan.
She'd ask if it was okay to act friendly despite her status... and about what stuff guys liked.
Is that so?
Everyone has their own sense of values, but...
Being proposed to can be the highest point of someone's life.
So I'm sure. Last night, Shannon was...
happier than she'd ever been her entire life!
It's all my fault!
If I hadn't given her that ring, Shannon wouldn't have been—!
Bro!
You know that's not true!
So don't cry anymore than you have!
Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!
I won't forgive the bastard who killed them all!
I'll definitely find them and tear them limb from limb!
Uu, Jessica-oneechan, did somebody die?
Yeah, they're dead! Everyone! My dad and Battler's parents!
Gohda and Shannon! Even your mother!
Jessica!
Maria... please listen.
Your mom has... passed away.
Uu... Mama died?
I know it's sad, but stay strong—
How many people died?
Huh?
Six people! Six!
Uu, then it can't be helped.
What's that supposed to mean?
After all, those people were...
What is the meaning of this?!
I don't know the reason, but it's safe to say it's out of order.
What's the use of an emergency radio if we can't use it at a time like this?!
My deepest apologies. The boat is set to arrive tomorrow morning, so we could borrow their communication equipment.
Don't we have any boats on this island?!
Krauss-sama's boat is currently undergoing repairs.
Even if it was here, look at this weather...
What kinda screwy situation is this?! Six people are dead!
Wait a minute!
Are you saying we can't escape this island, or even call for help?
Huh? Then that means...
We're not the only ones who can't leave the island. The culprit who killed six people...
...they're still here, too, on this island.
That's right, let's ask Father for instructions! And then—
He wasn't there.
The room was completely empty.
Are you implying the Master has left the study?!
I'm quite surprised myself.
The study has everything from a place to sleep to a washroom.
The Master leaving the study is unthinkable... unless something of great significance took place.
After that, we went over the circumstances of our current situation.
Six people were found murdered in cold blood.
There was no way to contact the outside world, and furthermore, Grandfather was missing.
There was no doubt these were all related to the underlying incident.
We shall be on the lookout for Father and ensure that all the doors and windows are shut.
All of you, please refrain from leaving this room.
Well then, let's all stick together and watch TV or somethin'.
They ain't got no good programs on Sunday mornin', huh?
Wanna watch good programs, wanna, wanna!
Maria didn't show much emotion despite how her mother had been murdered.
Is this how detached one can be at the age of nine?
What's the matter? You look so grim.
Oh, it's nothing really!
You know, Battler-kun, I wonder how the culprit managed to carry them all to the storehouse.
Good point.
And the shutter had been locked.
When Kanon-kun returned the key to the servants' room, I went to take a look, but...
The wall was packed with keys. I don't think that a novice would know which key went where.
In other words, the culprit was quite familiar with the interior of the servants' room.
There's one more thing.
There was more than one culprit, and they must have been well-armed.
That can't be!
It has to be! They attacked all six at the dining hall in one go, killed them...
carried their bodies all the way to the storehouse, and then there was that horrible graffiti and the makeup on their faces.
Can someone really pull off something so time-consuming on their own?
Someone capable of retrieving the key, and multiple people at that...
Don't tell me, the servants—?!
Don't say it so loudly!
If that's true, then they won't allow us to return alive, yes?
Yeah.
Well, I'm just saying it's a possibility. There could be an additional mastermind behind them.
Mastermind?
Incidentally, we're in the middle of an inheritance dispute.
Someone may find brother and the others' deaths to be an advantage, yes?
Aunt Eva's reasoning was orthodox in a sense.
Anybody would be inclined to doubt the servants in this situation, I fear.
That's exactly why, if we turned the chessboard around, there's no way the servants could be the culprits!
If it really were the case, they wouldn't hide the bodies somewhere that would cast suspicion on them.
In other words, was this an elaborate scheme to make us suspect the servants?
In terms of advantage, the one who gains the most from this is...
That would be me, yes?
I'm the one who would gain the most from these murders. Isn't that so?
No, um...
The inheritance would have been divided amongst the four siblings. But now, I'm the only one who remains.
The entire fortune of the Ushiromiya Family will be mine!
To put it like Uncle Hideyoshi would, "that ain't funny!"
I'm sure I'll be under suspicion anyway, no? My alibi for last night is weak too.
Wanna tell me about how it went?
As you all already know, Battler-kun, the inheritance discussion continued late into the night.
But my husband and I left sometime after the stroke of midnight and took rest at the guesthouse.
Can somebody other than Uncle Hideyoshi prove that?
When we arrived at the guesthouse, Genji-san greeted us. However...
If the servants are all in on it according to the theory, this wouldn't prove anything.
Indeed.
Similar to how it's easy to suspect the servants. it's just as easy to suspect Aunt Eva as well.
I don't understand. The more I flip the chessboard, my reasoning is...
Is it really getting closer to the truth?
Hmm, that looks about right.
Ah, yes. Also, there were strange letters all over.
Uu...
Maria-chan, do you have any idea?
That's right, Maria knows a lot when it comes to the occult.
Maria-chan...
Maria?
Can't you tell just by looking?
Huh?
This is the seventh magic circle of the sun. The writings are in Hebrew.
It's from Psalms in the Old Testament, verses 16 and 17 of the 116th Psalm.
Amazing...
And, what does it have to do with the bodies of those six?
Here, I'll read it for you.
"O Lord, thou hast loosed my bonds."
"I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."
Get it?
I got nothing...
Are you saying they were sacrifices? All six of them?!
Are you freaking kidding me?!
Are you telling me witches exist, and this is all the witch's doing?!
Dad, I'm so scared!
Battler! Are you seriously flipping out over this ridiculous occult movie?
But...
Okay then, why do they make such supernatural stuff into movies?
It's because they don't exist!
You can't find them anywhere on this planet, so they make them because there's no other way you'll see them!
Listen, Battler-kun. In chess and shogi, the closer you move towards the endgame, the more limited your moves become.
That means, you become the most predictable when you're cornered and have no other moves available.
That's when you turn the chessboard around!
That's right. This is the human world!
And now, since I'm being cornered, this is when I have to turn the chessboard around!
When the culprit carried out the crime, they knew that the island was engulfed by the typhoon!
In other words, they had no intention of escaping from the beginning!
"And so, I humbly ask that you thoroughly enjoy your battle of wits with Kinzo-sama."
Isn't that interesting?! This was a contest of wits between us and the witch all along!
Then until the typhoon's over, why don't we enjoy the hell out of it?!
Oh, it's Natsuhi. What about Father?
Mom...
Sorry if I startled you. I brought this to be prepared for the worst.
Isn't that Kinzo-san's gun?
We couldn't find Father.
I carefully checked all the doors and windows throughout the mansion, but it's best that we all remain together.
You're right! I'd feel more at ease if we kept an eye on each other.
What is that supposed to mean?
Nothing, really.
I merely agreed with your opinion, Natsuhi-neesan.
Truly a suffocating atmosphere.
But if we denied the existence of witches...
Kinzo Ushiromiya
Genji Ronoue
George Ushiromiya
Battler Ushiromiya
Jessica Ushiromiya
Terumasa Nanjo
Kanon
Eva Ushiromiya
Hideyoshi Ushiromiya
Chiyo Kumasawa
Maria Ushiromiya
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
Krauss Ushiromiya
Toshiro Gohda
Kyrie Ushiromiya
The culprit is definitely here, among us.
Kitchen 1:00 PM
To think that Shannon-chan's actually dead... I still can't believe it!
If all she wanted was a sacrifice, there were plenty of others!
It was simply bad luck. Forget about it for now.
Genji-sama.
You said that the door to the mistress's room was stained with something like blood, right?
Yes.
Almost as though someone with blood-stained fingers had tried to scratch through the door.
Could that have been Beatrice-sama?
Oh, how frightening!
Why was the mistress not chosen as a sacrifice?
If she had been chosen, Shannon wouldn't have had to die!
Kanon!
Fascinating conversation you've got going on here.
Battler-sama...
Just what exactly do you guys know? Who the hell is this Beatrice?!
Beatrice-sama is a witch who dwells in Rokkenjima.
Oh, that fairy tale, huh?
No, Battler-sama. Beatrice-sama actually exists.
Huh?
She gave the Master a vast amount of gold and served him longer than any servant here.
Wait a minute!
Are you saying she's real?
She exists.
She's here, somewhere on this island, right?!
Yes. I believe she is here.
That's a vague way to say it!
Even if you wish to see her face, Beatrice-sama has no form!
Huh?
Therefore, unless Beatrice-sama wishes it...
common people like us cannot see her form.
Hold on—
I have heard...
that the portrait shows what Beatrice-sama looked like back when she had a human form.
Beatrice-sama sometimes changes her form into glittering butterflies and shows herself.
I said wait!
Are you guys for real?
Battler-sama!
Such language may be unwise.
Don't you understand? Beatrice-sama has already arrived here.
Maria...
I guess you can't see her, Battler. Your wavelengths don't match.
Wavelengths?
Poor Beatrice. Even though she exists right there.
Nobody's there!
Stop it!
Beatrice is the great witch of gold who has lived for a thousand years.
But she can't show her form to humans not of her wavelength, nor talk to them.
So she truly despises it when people like you,
who were born without a fragment of magic ability or sense, deny her existence!
You're lucky, Battler. Thanks to the charm I gave you yesterday, you're still alive.
If you didn't have that, you would have been one of the sacrifices by now!
Battler-sama?
It's useless...
It's all useless!
I thought I put the charm you gave me yesterday in my pocket. But looks like I dropped it somewhere!
So that charm isn't the reason I'm alive right now.
Wavelengths? Magic sense?! Too bad, but I don't believe in old wives' tales like that!
Whether to believe or not is my decision!
Well, that's just fine, isn't it?
Eventually, she'll become visible to all of you humans.
What witch?
Soon, Beatrice will...
No way I'll surrender...
...come back to life!
...to such fantasies!
Parlor 1:30 PM
Maria's tone of speech which seemed like an alter ego... It was too creepy to dismiss as delusions and playing make-believe.
But, if even that is a tactic of the culprit calling themselves Beatrice...
Let's spin around the chessboard!
Battler-kun. What did you want to talk about with just us?
On this island, there's a tendency to consider unexplainable things as the work of the witch, right?
Yeah. Well, those stories have been passed down amongst the servants for a long time.
Then, supposing there is an invisible nineteenth person known as the witch Beatrice,
If they wanted to assert their existence, there should've been a more ideal time to do that...
Kinzo Ushiromiya
Genji Ronoue
George Ushiromiya
Battler Ushiromiya
Jessica Ushiromiya
Terumasa Nanjo
Kanon
Eva Ushiromiya
Hideyoshi Ushiromiya
Chiyo Kumasawa
Maria Ushiromiya
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
What do you mean?
The crime took place between midnight and early morning, right?
There were people having discussions late into the night, people on night shifts,
and even people who returned to their rooms and slept.
Every damn one of them had vague alibis, so it's enough to suspect the crime was an inside job.
That's true. By committing the crime then, it's obvious that one of the eighteen would be suspected.
And in spite of that, they took the name of the witch and handed Maria the letter to reveal their existence?
Wait up! Are you saying that one of us is trying to make it look like a nineteenth person called Beatrice exists?
Yeah. When the letter arrived last night, the plot had already begun.
You're just jumping to conclusions!
Huh?
What is it, George?
While listening to Battler-kun's theory, I just realized something disturbing.
Disturbing?
Remember what was in the letter? Beatrice said she was going to "collect interest".
And she said the interest was "everything of the Ushiromiya Family".
Yeah.
Grandfather was granted the gold, and the Ushiromiya house prospered.
In other words, everything that was created using the gold is the interest?!
Woah, woah. That's pretty scary for a joke.
You mean everything of the Ushiromiya family refers to... everyone related to Grandfather by blood?!
If that's what it implies, then...
...the crimes will continue!
Kinzo Ushiromiya
Genji Ronoue
George Ushiromiya
Battler Ushiromiya
Jessica Ushiromiya
Terumasa Nanjo
Kanon
Eva Ushiromiya
Hideyoshi Ushiromiya
Chiyo Kumasawa
Maria Ushiromiya
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
The interest collection isn't over yet!
Then why would they go to all this trouble?! Isn't it easier to just kill everyone in their sleep?!
Because of the special clause. If someone solved the riddle of the gold, the right to the interest would be lost.
And recall what the last part of the letter said. It urged everyone to try and solve the riddle of Grandfather's gold.
Kinzo Ushiromiya
Genji Ronoue
George Ushiromiya
Battler Ushiromiya
Jessica Ushiromiya
Terumasa Nanjo
Kanon
Eva Ushiromiya
Hideyoshi Ushiromiya
Chiyo Kumasawa
Maria Ushiromiya
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
I see. So the culprit's saying, "Try and solve this riddle if you can!"
Kinzo Ushiromiya
Genji Ronoue
George Ushiromiya
Battler Ushiromiya
Jessica Ushiromiya
Terumasa Nanjo
Kanon
Eva Ushiromiya
Hideyoshi Ushiromiya
Chiyo Kumasawa
Maria Ushiromiya
Natsuhi Ushiromiya
And if we dawdle around like this, they're gonna keep collecting the interest!
Parlor
2:00 PM
Fair enough. If we think of it that way, that crazy letter makes sense.
Setting aside who it was that gave Maria-chan the letter, I mean.
Uu! Beatrice exists!
The hidden gold doesn't exist!
But if the culprit, who believes it does, wants to make us solve the epitaph's riddle and then steal it, that makes some sense.
If so, then why kill those most highly ranked in the Ushiromiya family first?
How about this idea? All of this could be a way of threatening Grandfather.
Huh?
As in, it's a message to him that if he doesn't reveal the gold's location, then his relatives will die one by one.
But Grandfather himself is missing right now, you know?!
Yeah, so my current theory now is that Grandfather has been kidnapped and taken captive.
How could that be?!
Speaking of which, when did Father disappear in the first place?
Who's the last one who saw Father?
Probably me. I have the key to the study.
Here, Genji.
Hey, Genji-san. Father's study only has a single autolock door, with no way in or out except for that key, right?
Yes. The only other way to unlock the door is to press a button on the desktop inside the study,
and the keys which only the Master and I possess, one for each of us.
And the windows?
There are windows, but since the study is on the third floor,
and there aren't any stairs or the like, there's no way to enter or exit.
And are there any hidden doors?
None that I am aware of.
Aunt Eva?
That's sufficient!
Now, I'll tell you all what I'm getting at.
The last person to see Father was Natsuhi-neesan, right? At the time, I ran into her just as she was coming out of his study.
And the next time she went to the study was after the bodies of my brother and the others were found.
The both of us confimed Father's disappearance together.
Yes.
By the way, Natsuhi. When we entered the study, you picked up some trash, right? A folded receipt.
Yes, here it is.
Now, this really was just a whim, okay? It's not like I foresaw this or wanted to set a trap for you or anything!
Mother, what's going—
Actually, I had stuck this receipt in the door to the study, immediately after Natsuhi left the study this morning!
So are you saying that, until Aunt Natsuhi picked that receipt up...
No one had opened that door?
That's right, if Father hasn't used the door, I wonder how he left?
That's something I want to know myself!
Besides Natsuhi-neesan, who else confirmed Father was in the study?
Last night, I played chess with Kinzo-san.
After that, us servants served him dinner.
Shannon and I were together.
Most of these testimonies pertain only to last night.
But nobody can prove that Natsuhi-neesan spoke to Father this morning.
Wait a moment, are you saying Aunt Natsuhi is lying about meeting Grandfather this morning?
Don't screw around! There's no reason to lie about that under these circumstances!
Even if there's no reason, there's surely something to be gained!
Huh...?
You see it sometimes in mystery novels, don't you?
Confusing the time of death, by pretending you were with everyone else when it happened, to create an alibi.
Wait a second, what you're saying is...!
It's not like we wanna suspect ya. Natsuhi-san, just prove to us that yer innocent.
You who married into this family, have no right to wear the One-Winged Eagle, the crest of the Ushiromiyas!
Prove my innocence, you say?
However, I've no doubt the One-Winged Eagle is engraved within your heart.
This morning, I definitely met Father! And he told me to engrave the One-Winged Eagle within my heart!
Will you deny even those words of his?! That alone, I won't ever let you deny!
Oh? Perhaps Father's body won't even turn up at this rate.
Normally, one has to be missing for seven years before they're officially dead.
During that time, the family's assets are all in your hands!
Huh?
What a clever way to extend Father's waning life another seven years and keep all of his wealth for yourself!
I cannot let that stand. What do you think you're saying to the wife and agent of Krauss, successor to the head?!
What's this? Why don't you try and shoot me if you want to?!
Mistress, please calm yourself!
Mom, we know you aren't lying! So please, just—!
Then I want her to explain! How did Father disappear from the room?!
There's nothing to be explained and there's no need to!
Then I'll take my reasoning further!
Natsuhi-neesan, you pushed Father down from the third story window into the courtyard!
Why you...!
Mistress, please!
After that, when you went to check the doors and windows, you took Father's corpse from the courtyard, and hid it!
That was probably when you took measures to fake the time of death, right?!
Eva-sama!
Why me?! Why must I, Natsuhi Ushiromiya, be insulted like this?!
Yeah. Guess they've said everything they wanted to now, huh?
It's useless, it's all useless.
Aunt Eva.
What is it, Battler?
That sort of half-baked checkmate will get you about a grade of 65 at best. Extra lessons in detention for you!
Oh my. Well, how would you break through a door sealed by a receipt, and make Father disappear?
Other than by my theory?!
Then, let's flip over the chessboard!
The door had the receipt stuck in it, so it was unusable. The only window was confirmed to be locked!
At that point, the study really was a closed room.
But as long as you remove the seal created by the receipt you can use the door, right?
Now, let's suppose Grandfather was hiding under the bed. And you two just assumed he went missing and went downstairs!
At that time, the receipt was already gone! That meant Grandfather was able to break the closed room!
What on earth?! Why would Father do something like that?! That's just absurd!
Oh, it's totally absurd alright!
But it still shows there's a chance that Aunt Natsuhi is being falsely accused!
And the thing that I like least is your argument.
How you keep pressuring Aunt Natsuhi to explain it.
And then claiming that if she doesn't, she must be guilty!
If you're gonna act like that, then Aunt Eva... explain this!
Explain how you and Uncle Hideyoshi didn't kill Dad and the others before returning to your room, right here and now!
That's...
That's right, Aunt Eva! Weren't you the last person to see Dad and the rest?!
Mother, I also think that your reasoning was a little overeager. All of us here are suspects.
Hold on for a moment! Our great father, crawling under his bed?
You call that nonsense an explanation?!
Then you explain yourself first, Aunt Eva!
Jessica!
Your inhaler, quickly!
Milady!
When is the boat gonna come tomorrow to get us?
At 9:30. The phones are down so I can't get a confirmation, though.
Once the boat gets here, the police are gonna solve everything for us.
There's no point in us incompetent folks harassing each other trying to find the culprit.
But Battler-kun, don't you want to find who the culprit is as soon as possible—
Yes, I want to find out!
But even so...
Whether it's Aunt Eva or Aunt Natsuhi...
I...
I don't want to suspect any of the eighteen people.
Battler...
That's right...
Everyone... let's relax a bit.
Eva-san...
It's probably for the best that Natsuhi-neesan and I stay separate from now, yes?
Where will you go?
I'll be at one of the guest rooms you prepared for us in the mansion yesterday, sister.
There should be a bath and a toilet there, as well as a lock and a chain to secure the door.
Do as you please. But make sure to be cautious.
Thank you, sister. Also, it's none of your business!
Genji, Kanon. Escort them to the guest room.
We'll be fine. I hate shady escorts!
Call us once it's time for dinner.
I understand.
George, come along.
I will...
stay here with everyone.
George, the culprit is in this room!
If I leave this room...
it means I suspect one of my own relatives.
I feel the same as Battler-kun.
Bro...
George is already an adult, let it go.
If it's gonna be like this... I want to believe it's a nineteeth person.
Uu?
Bringing Grandfather outside without opening the doors or windows must be a piece of cake for Beatrice, right?
That's right. Locking a door is useless against a witch!
The witch is amazing.
Tell her, if she feels like committing another crime, to do it in a way that no human could...
...and make me believe that a witch exists!
Alright. If I meet her, I'll tell her.
Let's stop thinking already.
Even if I don't reason anything out, it'll all be over tomorrow.
Even if we don't do anything at all.
That's right...
...when the seagulls cry.
Guest Room
7:00 PM
We bring you today's news.
The typhoon currently seen across the Kanto region...
Really does feel more relaxing with just your immediate family.
Everyone else should just shut themselves up in the other guest rooms too.
Natsuhi-neesan's being bossy saying no one should leave the parlor! No one can talk back to her.
Natsuhi-san's doin' her best! You didn't need to go that far with the receipt!
Come on. If I hadn't said it there, there wouldn't have been another chance!
Guess so.
Hey, dear...
Mm?
Do you ever regret getting married to me?
Where's that comin' from?
I've always hated Krauss-niisan.
He was always bragging about how he was the successor to the head. So I wanted to get back at him.
His child would be the next in line. But Natsuhi-neesan didn't get pregnant even after six years of marriage!
I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance!
Eva Ushiromiya.
If you can birth a successor to the head before anyone else, wouldn't you be able to succeed the Ushiromiya headship?
Huh?
That would be the best way to get revenge against Krauss!
And dear, you said you didn't care about your last name after marriage too.
And then, George was born and I raised him strictly to make him the successor!
But...
...that was exactly why...
I couldn't forgive him being in love with the likes of a servant girl!
There's a part of me that's glad that Shannon-chan is dead!
I'm the absolute worst!
I see.
The desire to get back at Krauss-niisan has controlled so much of my life!
That's not all!
I even got you and George involved, and made you cater to my fantasies!
Don't blame yerself so much!
I lost my relatives in the war.
So when you talked about how I should marry into your house, I was so happy that I got to have more family again!
So ya see, In this life I've led with you, not a single thing has been wasted!
It's really been a fun life up to today.
I'm so glad that I could be with you.
I see! How 'bout it, Eva? Around New Year's, do you want to go spend some time in the Maldives?
Just us, no one else. A continuation of when we were newlyweds!
I don't want all that!
I want to go... right now.
Genji-san, I'm so afraid.
I feel like we're all just pieces on a gameboard set up by Kinzo-san...
...so I'm really scared for what may happen tonight...
Eva-sama, Hideyoshi-sama. Dinner has been prepared.
Are they sleeping?
Genji-sama, that's...!
Without a doubt, that's the Master's...
Or could it be that the sender is...!
Eva-sama! Please respond! It is Genji!
Genji-sama!?
Please forgive our intrusion. We're coming in!
The chain!
The lights are on.
...went abroad in the second half of the year. Eitaka's influence was also...
I don't sense anyone's presence.
I'll bring Dr. Nanjo and the mistress. Kanon, you cut the chain.
Take Kumasawa with you! You must not act alone.
Understood!
It's weird... something about that room is weird, I have to hurry.
Quick, I can't waste a second. I have to get that door open! Or maybe, it's already...
Wait for me, Kanon! What is—
No way...
It hasn't even been five minutes since Genji-sama and I left. Why is such a thing...?
Who would do something like this?!
Eva-sama!
Eva-san!
Hideyoshi-sama is over here too!
No signs of postmortem lividity or rigor mortis. It likely hasn't been more than one hour since they passed.
How could this be?!
Anyways, lock this room up, hurry! We can't let George-kun and...!
Dad! Mom!
Don't! You must not come here!
Who did it... who did such a thing?!
I'll kill them, I'll kill them!
Battler!
Uu, don't cry, don't cry.
It's useless...
It's all useless!
The witch probably thinks she's cornered us about now, huh?!
But I'll turn it around on her!
I won't cry tears of regret anymore! I won't wait for the morning to come!
Before tonight's over, I'll grab you by your collar!
Corridor 8:00 PM
We shall lock this room up until the police arrives. Let's review this letter from the culprit at the parlor.
Uu... it stinks.
Oh?
What the hell is this?!
What is this? Smells like there's something awful burning!
Just where is it coming from?
I shall go check the kitchen! I'm sure I turned the gas off!
Kanon, go with Kumasawa.
Take something from the furnishings with you to use as self defense.
Yes.
We shall hurry to the parlor. Genji, please ventilate this place.
Understood.
George. Mind if we talk for a bit?
If it's about finding the culprit, then sure.
The chain was set from the inside in Aunt Eva's room.
Yet, Mom and Dad were murdered inside the room.
Did they commit the crime without entering?
That would be tough. Aunt Eva was killed on her bed, and Uncle Hideyoshi was killed in the bath.
They were both in blind spots from the entrance. Aiming at them from a crack in the door is impossible.
Damn it. It's all useless.
Uu, satisfied?
Huh?
Battler, since you didn't want to doubt anyone here... you pleaded with Beatrice.
She did something that was completely impossible for humans to make you believe in witches! But you're still so selfish!
Ow!
Battler-kun?
Thanks a bunch for granting my wish! Then tell me this!
That creepy graffiti we saw on the door, was that a magic circle too?!
Uu!
That's the first magic circle of the moon.
What is that magic circle for? What does it mean?
The words are from the Old Testament, Psalms 107, verse 16.
The benefit is that it can open any sort of unopenable door!
Beato is trying to provoke you! She's saying there's no other way to open this door except for magic!
Sounds great, I'll accept that challenge!
Uu!
Maria-chan. Things like witches and demons don't exist in this world.
I don't know if the person that killed my parents is an acquaintance or a stranger.
But either way, it was definitely a human!
It's useless.
It's all useless!
The stench isn't coming from the kitchen, but from this way.
Is there something wrong with the underground boiler room again?
What was that sound?!
No one else should be here besides us!
It can't be!
What do we do? There are two doors to the boiler room! One from inside the mansion and one from the courtyard.
If they escape into the courtyard, they'll get away!
They're the one who murdered Shannon!
You mustn't go ahead on your own!
Boiler Room
You're there, aren't you?
I won't be led astray by your words ever again!
In roulette, you bet on a number or the colors red or black, vying for a payoff.
If you bet on something low risk, your payoff is low. The higher the risk, the higher the payoff.
The Master called succeeding despite an astronomical risk a 'miracle'...
...and called the payoff gained from it 'magic'!
But you forgot something. Roulette has a pocket that is neither black nor red.
Something that'll sweep away all the coins you've bet... a special pocket called 'zero'!
I'd set my heart on one thing.
I decided that if Shannon were to be killed and I was left alive,
I'd sacrifice myself and destroy this roulette of yours!
I'm not furniture anymore. I'm the zero on your roulette!
Wait another thousand years for a new summoner back in hell, Beatrice!
Kanon-san!
Someone help!
This was the source of the stench?!
What a godawful smell! Where does this path go?!
Kanon-san...
Someone help!
Damn you... I won't let everything go your way!
Hey, Kanon!
Genji! Call Dr. Nanjo!
Got it!
Kanon! Stay with us, damn it!
Who's hiding there?! If you don't come out, I'll shoot without mercy!
Auntie, where does that door lead to?!
To the courtyard!
Kanon-kun?
Kanon-kun!
Like hell I'd let you get away!
Battler-kun!
Damn it...
Damn it, damn it!
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Battler-kun! It's dangerous to be on your own!
Why...
Aah..
Why did they kill them?
Why kill them...
Why do they kill them...
Why...
I'll protect you. I'll definitely protect all of you!
As a mother, and the representative of the Ushiromiya family!
That stake that was gouged into Kanon-kun's chest... looked just like the ones that took Aunt Eva and her husband's life.
Right now, Dr. Nanjo's giving him first aid,
but with that much blood loss, he'll probably...
And then...
This was the source of that unearthly stench. It was found burning inside the incinerator.
Just who the hell is that?! And this stake...!
I believe that it is most likely the Master.
But, is there any proof that this really is Grandfather?
Please have a look at the feet. There are six toes on each foot.
Huh?
Since long ago, polydactyly was common in the Ushiromiya family. The ones with it were praised for their wisdom.
And so ever since Father was born, he was regarded as the Ushiromiya family's greatest hope!
Judging by how he doesn't possess the head's ring, it would mean that the letter from last night was the truth.
How mortifying this must have been for him!
This room is also a crime scene now. Let us securely lock it up and return upstairs.
Genji-san, is the boiler room usually locked up?
Yes, it is.
In other words, we should consider the culprit to have a master key or the like.
And back then, judging by how none of us could have attacked Kanon...
...can we be sure a nineteenth person exists after all?
No! Again, spin around the chessboard one more time!
The more convinced we become, the clearer it gets that a nineteenth person can't exist!
The suspects have now been narrowed to just eight people!
Hey, wait a moment.
Just now, I suspected whether Grandfather's corpse was the real thing or not!
Wouldn't the same logic apply to the other bodies I saw too?
That first time, if those corpses we saw back then were fakes...
...if one of those six had actually faked their death and hidden themselves...!
It's batshit insane...
...but it's not impossible!
Isn't that right?!
She's almost here.
Beatrice.
Outside Servants' Room
8:30 PM
Battler, where's the culprit?
I'm sorry. They got away.
What about Kanon-kun?
My deepest apologies.
Without proper facilities, I couldn't do much about such a fatal wound...
Don't apologize. Thank you for giving it your all.
Kanon-kun!
Wait a sec, you and Kanon-kun—
If only I hadn't let Kanon-san go by himself...!
Don't worry yourself over it.
He foolishly jumped ahead by himself and paid the price for it.
How could you say it like that?! Kanon-kun saw the culprit, and even stood up to them!
If Kumasawa-san had gone with him, the culprit might have hesitated and chosen to run away!
My deepest apologies...
Jessica...
It's okay, Jessica. You'll be able to meet Kanon again soon.
Beatrice will resurrect the dead, and even love that has been lost. So I'm sure—
Again with the Beatrice!
So just where is she right now?
I'll find her and tear her apart! Tell me!
You know who the culprit is! Tell me, damn it!
Milady, please stop!
Let go of me! Maria knows the culprit and she's hiding it!
Hey, Jessica!
You guys all think she's suspicious too, right?!
People are dying because of you, Maria!
Jessica! Quiet down!
Now is not the time for discord. As we saw, the culprit can enter and leave the mansion at will.
We ought to think of where we can barricade ourselves in for tonight.
I agree.
But just where should we go?
Genji-san.
It's safe to assume the culprit has a master key, yeah?
It's likely. There are multiple keys.
Then, is there some place you can't enter with a master key?
There's just one place you cannot enter, even with the servants' keys.
I see! Kinzo-san's study!
Genji-san, how many keys do you have for that room?
There are two. One of them is with me.
The other was held by the Master himself,
but just now, from the corpse in the boiler room...
Indeed, the study has a sink, a bathroom and even a refrigerator.
Then it's settled. We'll all go there.
Things are getting interesting, huh.
Huh?
If the culprit wanted to attack us, they'd have to use the same trick they used on Grandfather.
This is a great opportunity.
What do you mean?
The culprit is making it look like they're a witch. If they really were a witch, they should just show us some magic!
But, since they're not doing that...
...it means they can't use magic.
Exactly. This time, they should show us if they can!
But...
Yeah?
Never mind.
I understood what George was about to say.
If Aunt Eva's theory was right,
it meant that Aunt Natsuhi was the culprit all along,
and we were barricading ourselves in with her.
But...
I don't want to suspect any of us!
It's all useless.
When it seems like the witch is one of us eighteen...
...you want to believe in witches.
And when I almost feel like believing it's a witch...!
...you want to find a culprit amongst the eighteen!
I keep turning the chessboard over and over...
...but right and wrong just keep spinning round and round!
Does this mean all my thinking so far hasn't even taken me a single step forward?!
Third Floor, Outside Study
Uu. What an incredible door. Beatrice probably can't open this door.
What does that mean?
This design... it's just like what Maria gave us.
The fifth magic circle of Mars is a strong magic repellent.
This door would be quite troublesome.
Isn't that comforting.
If witches really do exist, does this barricade have any meaning at all?
Will we really be able to leave safely in the morning?
Kinzo's Study
8:45 PM
So this is Grandfather's...
We weren't able to see this match through after all, Kinzo-san.
Thinking back, I often felt like both wisdom and madness co-existed within you.
Especially when it came to Beatrice-sama, he would seem like an entirely different person.
That's right. Mom, there was a letter in front of Aunt Eva's room, right?
I still haven't opened it.
How unpleasant. They must be trying to provoke us.
"Praise my name."
Pisses me off.
Either way, since the envelope is identical to the one from last night, it's safe to assume that letter was also from the culprit.
So, the witch is saying they're Grandfather's oldest confidant, right?
Why don't you tell us already? Just who exactly is Beatrice?
Genji-san...
For a long time, I made a point of ignoring this topic. Genji...
Is Beatrice... Father's mistress?
You mean she was his lover?!
Maybe. When Grandmother was still alive, she strongly suspected it.
I heard that the construction of the mansion was completed in 1952.
That would mean Beatrice was in a relationship with Father for over thirty years.
Could that mistress from over thirty years ago, or maybe a relative or hidden child, hold a grudge or be planning revenge?
Finally starting to sound like a standard western mansion mystery, huh.
And what is this Beatrice doing now?! Where is she?!
I have heard that she passed away before the mansion was completed.
Huh? She's dead?!
Yes. The Master mourned for her most grievously.
And all this time, he has devoted himself to finding a way to bring Beatrice-sama back from the dead.
So, that's why he turned to black magic?
Just once, when the Master was very drunk,
he spoke of Beatrice-sama to me.
It was a deep, deep love, enough to make a woman like me jealous.
From a young age, he was propped up as the head who would revive the family,
and his marriage to his late wife was a political decision forced on him by the elders.
So Beatrice was...
...someone Grandfather met after pursuing a life forced on him.
His first true love?
Beatrice! Beatrice!
Beatrice!
What can I do to see you again?
I want to see your smile one more time.
I want to see it before me...
Beatrice!
I think I understand now.
If there was a way to bring back Shannon with black magic, I would start right away.
Me too. I get it.
It's alright. Beatrice is going to revive soon.
I believe you for now.
Is there any story about a child between Beatrice and Grandfather?
I have not heard of anything like that.
If there was, he surely would have given them all of his affection.
Speaking of children, I've heard of a rumor that goes like this.
You know how Grandfather heavily supports an orphanage called the Gospel House?
He hires a lot of kids from there as servants, like Shannon and Kanon-kun.
But all of them are young, so people say they're sacrifices for his black magic rituals!
Sacrifices?
Battler?
Goddamn it! Everything's been written here in the epitaph since the beginning!
Huh?
Six people died in the beginning! And the magic circle mentioned the offering of sacrifices!
That's...!
That's right. Aunt Eva and Uncle were isolated from the rest and were 'the two who are close'!
So they were killed and 'torn apart'! Then they sent a letter to us survivors!
The next one was Grandfather, whose head was gouged!
Kanon-kun didn't run into the culprit by coincidence. Someone lured him, planning to gouge him in the chest from the start!
Then If the culprit is following the epitaph... does that mean three more people have to die?!
Yeah, and then on the ninth twilight...
"The witch revives."
This was never about where the gold was hidden!
It was a ceremony to revive the dead that required a lot of lives, and these were the instructions!
I see, usually there aren't enough people on the island. So this family conference was...!
...a once-in-a-year chance to gather enough people!
That's right. That's why Grandfather chose this day to carry out the ceremony.
To reduce the chance that he himself was selected!
But for the ninth twilight, it says something more!
Even if we go past the eighth twilight, everyone is killed.
Doesn't this mean the ceremony would kill Grandfather himself no matter what?!
That's okay, though. At the tenth twilight, we finally arrive at the Golden Land.
The witch shall revive the souls of all the dead. Even the love that was lost!
Grandfather wasn't afraid of something like death. We're all no different!
No way...
Don't screw with me! The dead don't come back to life!
The Golden Land just refers to the afterlife, it means we're all gonna reunite there, right?!
Wait a minute!
Does that mean that Grandfather, who went insane with love and has a waning lifespan...
...is committing a massive forced group suicide?!
Commoners such as myself cannot hope to understand.
Even me... Do you think I would be on this island today if I knew?!
All we can say is... even if this was all planned by Father, a different person is carrying it out.
I don't understand! With the first letter, Beatrice announced she was going to collect the interest,
and said if we solved the epitaph, she would abandon her rights to the interest as part of a special clause!
But why? Why is she so fixated on having us solve the epitaph?!
I don't get it. Grandfather's intentions or the culprit's goal... I don't get any of it!
Look!
It's another letter from Beatrice.
That's... since when...
Everyone stay back! Back against the wall!
Mistress!
What is happening?!
Battler-kun, open and read the letter!
On it!
"Are you enjoying the riddle of Kinzo-sama's epitaph? As you are all probably aware, you have very little time remaining."
"Please abandon any naive hopes of escaping after the storm passes."
"This game can only end with my victory or yours. When time runs out, I will win by default. There will be no ties."
Just before I went to read the epitaph, I was standing in front of this table.
By that time, Jessica, George-kun, and Battler-kun weren't near it.
That can only mean one thing! Either you or one of the servants placed that letter here!
That's too much, Mistress!
No kidding! if it's Kumasawa-san, she could've killed Kanon-kun!
You're mistaken! You're mistaken, Milady!
Natsuhi-san, please calm down—
Maria-chan too!
By this point, I can't exclude you from suspicion just because you're young!
Answer me, who gave you the letter yesterday?
The answer won't change no matter how many times you ask. It was the thousand-year old witch, Beatrice!
Are you making a fool of us, you little—!
Stop it, Jessica! Maria, too, don't provoke her!
Beatrice exists!
You just can't see her!
Silence! You are making this situation unpleasant and causing a commotion!
What will you do? Will you shoot Maria?
I don't mind. Soon the door to the golden land will open, and everyone's souls will return!
Death is nothing to be afraid of anymore!
Don't do it, Aunt Natsuhi!
Even the culprit must be scared of tomorrow!
Tomorrow the police will come! So please don't shoot!
How!? How can you stay so calm right now, George-niisan?!
One of these four might be the one who killed everyone, even—
I also want to kill the culprit!
But I'll leave the judgement of crimes to the law!
I feel the same way as George. If you shoot now, it's just...
It's all useless!
Then I'll declare it as Natsuhi Ushiromiya, representative of the Ushiromiya Family!
There are no witches here. I won't let anyone lay a finger on my daughter and the others!
That's my duty as a mother and a representative to the family!
I understand. We shall leave this room.
Dr. Nanjo...
I understand Natsuhi-san's feelings...
What do you say, Genji-san? How about we continue our chess match at the parlor?
Yes.
I don't want to! You're throwing us to the wolves!
Mistress, please! Don't send me to my death!
It's alright.
Beatrice is kind to those who respect her, right?
Yes.
Very well. I shall leave both the keys to this room,
and the keys to the mansion I carry, with you.
Please bear with me for tonight.
Once the police arrive tomorrow morning, I'll apologize and make up for my rudeness.
I consider this too as part of my repayment to the Master.
Please, do not worry over it.
That's how it has to be.
Uu, I forgive you!
If possible, stay safe.
Everyone, have a good night.
Maria!
Keep this with you. It repels magic, right?
Uu, I thought you lost it.
Back then, I was kinda annoyed, so I was just bluffing. No way I'd lose your precious charm, right?
Is this really the right thing to do?
Oh, there's one more page.
What the hell is this?!
Kinzo's Study
11:35 PM
Battler, aren't you sleeping?
You should rest while someone else stays awake.
You go ahead and sleep first, I wanna look this up.
That magic circle you saw?
Give it a rest already.
If you keep doing that, you'll start getting obsessed with all this weird stuff.
Don't worry. Maria already told me I have zero spiritual talent.
Were we too cruel to Maria and the others?
If she's actually innocent, and ends up getting murdered by the culprit...!
I understand your feelings.
However, Maria-chan was in close contact with the culprit and continued to talk as if siding with them.
There was no other choice.
Damn it, why does Maria keep saying shit like that?
I think it's probably because of Aunt Rosa.
What?
Maria-chan's father disappeared a long time ago.
I think Auntie considered remarrying, but maybe she felt shackled by Maria's existence.
There were times when she became really hostile to Maria, huh.
Because Auntie didn't like her, she tried her best to grow to like her.
That emotional rejection must have left some deep scars on Maria-chan's young heart.
Then she picked up this occult hobby from somewhere, and immersed herself in it to fill the holes in her heart.
The notebook she showed us was full of all those fun-looking scribbles.
It might be too late to ask now, but maybe throwing out Maria-chan and the rest...
...was the wrong thing to do.
Hey, Aunt Natsuhi...
Yes?
Back then, if Jessica had been behind you, too, would you have chased her out with them?
It's not like I'm condemning that! In fact, I'm grateful.
And thinking about how Jessica has a great mom.
That's why...
Maybe I just want you to be a mother to Maria too.
Mom, maybe it's really better to be with Maria and the rest!
None of us is the culprit.
That's why—
In order to protect Jessica...
I will become a demon if I must.
I found it... that magic circle.
What's written about it?
Hey, hey, this can't be real...
Huh?
This magic circle's name is "the third magic circle of Mars". It stands for "discord".
It agitates internal divisions and causes the enemy to bring about their own downfall.
So, this letter was a trap?!
The culprit was after just one thing!
They wanted to spread seeds of doubt inside this impregnable room, and use us to throw the sacrificial sheep out!
Mom, what can we do?! The other four are in danger!
Aunt Natsuhi!
Even though the line's supposed to be dead...
Perhaps, it's Genji...
Hello?
Singing?
Hello, it's me! Answer me!
It's Maria's voice!
Hey! Maria! Maria!
Dammit!
What's happening?
It's probably a trap, and Maria's in trouble!
I will go. All of you stay here!
No! If the goal of that call was to split us up, we shouldn't leave anyone behind.
We're all going together!
At that time, I thought. Maybe we were going through the same motions which led to Grandfather's disappearance.
We had been lured out, even though we had barricaded ourselves in a safe space.
But now, we were stepping into an uncertain situation where anything could happen.
At this point, were we just dancing to the culprit's tune?
Outside Parlor, 11:50 PM
Maria's voice!
I'll open the door. Be on your guard.
For those stakes that were gouged into Mom and Dad to have penetrated their skulls,
they must have some contraption which shoots them at us like icepicks!
Ready, Battler-kun?
Is it too late to say I'm not?
On three! One, two...!
That's...
Don't look!
Maria! Hey!
Stop singing!
Hey! Maria! Can you hear me, Maria?!
Uu!
What happened to them? Who did that?!
Uu! Beatrice!
Don't screw with me!
Stop it, Battler-kun!
Maria-chan, you saw the culprit, right? Who was it?!
Beatrice!
Then! When Beatrice came here, Genji-san and the others were still alive, right?!
Uu. We all came into the parlor and sat down.
Genji-san locked the door, but the witch turned into butterflies and came in through the crack in the door!
Stop fucking with me. What the hell are you saying?!
You can't believe it, can you? That's why I didn't want to tell you.
And then?! After Beatrice appeared, what happened to everyone?!
Beatrice told us.
She said Grandfather's study was protected by a powerful force and she couldn't enter.
So she'd select three sacrifices from the four people in the parlor.
But then, Beatrice said Maria wouldn't be sacrificed! Why do you think that was?
It was because Battler gave Maria the scorpion charm.
Because of that, Beatrice couldn't do anything to me.
No way...
Then she said, "Face the wall and sing a song for me."
So I was singing the whole time. And then all of you came here.
Are you asking us to believe that?!
Do you think we're stupid?!
Then who will you suspect this time? Will you try and kill me?
Killing me won't stop Beatrice from existing. And now, the eighth twilight is over, and Beatrice will revive!
I've had enough of that shit!
As if witches could exist.
I won't accept that!
Quit it, Battler! It wasn't Maria who killed them!
Wait, Aunt Natsuhi's gone!
Mom? Where'd she go?
Just now, she left by herself, reading a letter.
A letter? There was another one?!
Mom!
Main Hall, 11:55 PM
I am Natsuhi Ushiromiya, the Ushiromiya family representative!
Show yourself! Golden Witch, Beatrice!
So you've finally appeared. I can barely believe something like you exists.
But that's not the issue here!
Both I, bearing the title of representative to the Ushiromiya family,
and you, the one who claims to succeed the head of the Ushiromiya family, are here right now.
Come, let us settle this! Which of us will truly succeed the Ushiromiya Family?
Will it be I, Natsuhi Ushiromiya, or you?!
Allow me to accept your request for a duel!
There was a single blast of gunfire.
The testament came from Aunt Natsuhi's rifle.
Meaning...
Mom!
Why?! Why?!?!
Damn it all, don't fuck with me!
With this, the ritual is all over, right?
Congratulations, Beatrice!
Shut up!
I'll make it out alive! I'm definitely getting out of this alive!
It's all over. Look at the clock.
The day's...
Over?
No way...
Come!
But this is...!
Right here!
This is the human world!
Please take me away!
Someone like you can't be here!
Beatrice!
Who are you?!
Try moving even a finger! I'll pump you full of lead, damn it!
Who am I?
Don't you know that already?
And now...
It's time.
"The witch shall revive, and none shall be left alive."
I praise the wise, and will bestow four treasures.
One shall be gold.
One shall be the resurrection of all the dead souls.
One shall be the resurrection of the love that was lost.
One shall be... my eternal sleep.
I will make you acknowledge me.
Drop dead!
I won't believe in witches!
The storm passed,
and the clouds that had shrouded the island cleared away.
Just as someone had wished, the seagulls returned to the harbour once again
and let their lively cries be heard.
Afterwards, an on-site inspection was conducted by the police.
The corpses of the children, thought to have survived until the very end, were never found.
However, due to the body parts that were discovered and the gruesome nature of the scene...
the survival of any of the eighteen seemed hopelessly dim.
Many years later, a strange wine bottle that had drifted on the waves was pulled out by a fisherman.
Inside it was a thin, tightly rolled notebook fragment.
That was the story of the mysterious two days starting October 4, 1986.
That incident came to be called the "Mysterious Rokkenjima Mass Murders".
Among the interested, the name "Legend of the Witch Serial Killings" began to spread.
However, the wine bottle did not tell the full truth.
The name of the author was:
Maria Ushiromiya.
"By the time you have read this, I will probably be dead."
"Though there may or may not be a corpse."
"You who have read this, please find out the truth."
"That is my only wish."
Is this ending really fine with you?
Who was the one that killed me?
Battler-kun, you're the only one who can avenge our deaths!
It was an accident! An accident!
Back when we were murdered, can you prove everyone's alibi?
I'm the culprit, Battler-kun. Don't forget that.
I killed Beatrice!
What's the problem? All of the crimes are the work of the witch.
We servants are the culprits.
It's impossible for the culprit to be a human.
This crime is the work of Beatrice-sama!
Please don't kill me! I have a sick grandkid!
Everything is the work of the witch!
I am the culprit.
The culprit is Natsuhi.
Stop!
I won't believe in witches!
In that case, the killer has to be someone who survived to the end.
Uu, if there's no witch, one of us has to be the culprit.
Battler, don't lose.
There's no way the culprit is within our family!
Battler-san, you refuse to give up on the human culprit.
Isn't that why you returned here?
Now, let's rewind.
As many times as it takes to reach the ending Battler-san desires.
Endlessly...
You say none among these eighteen committed the crime?
If so, then it must have been murder by magic, committed by me, a witch!
What witch? What magic?
I won't give in. I'll definitely catch you and prove that you don't exist!
This tale is a mystery if you resist it, and a fantasy if you submit!
Interesting, is it not?! Why don't you make that decision for yourself?!
Bring it on!
Winner
Golden Witch, Beatrice
When the seagulls cried
None were left alive