6
“Please open the door, Ms. Yumeyomi. It isn't healthy to go so long without eating.”
Sakyo knocked on the door with “Seventh” engraved on its surface.
“Sakyo's right. There are still two more days until the police arrive. You need to get something in your stomach. Come out now.”
Kuruma called out to the door, but there was no response from within. Yuma looked down at his watch. It was almost 6:30.
Left alone in the main kitchen by Tsukiyo, Yuma had no choice but to return to the game room and spend time talking to Sakyo and Kuruma. He could have gone back to the Fourth room, but he didn't know how long he'd last without something to distract him from the guilt of what he'd done to Kozushima.
After about two and a half hours of skillfully avoiding discussing the case, Sakaizumi and Madoka brought plates of dinner into the game room. The table was covered in dishes that looked like they'd been brought from a hotel buffet, with cod meunière, lamb chops, stir-fried vegetables, and paella. Tsukiyo chose that moment to return to the game room.
After all the dishes had been set out, Madoka left, saying “I'll go get Mr. Kagami and Ms. Yumeyomi.” But that was easier said than done. Kagami came down soon afterwards, but no matter how many times she called Yumeyomi, she didn't respond.
Leaving behind Kagami, who had declared “I'm hungry, so I'll just go ahead” and started eating, and Sakaizumi, who didn't want the food he'd worked so hard on to go unattended, everyone else went up to the Seventh room.
“Ms. Yumeyomi, what's wrong?” Madoka asked, anxiety creeping into her voice.
“She's probably just asleep. She must be exhausted after everything that's happened.”
Sakyo sounded like he was trying to convince himself. Tsukiyo placed a finger to her lips.
“Hmm. Is Ms. Yumeyomi even still alive?”
The air froze. Sakyo's face turned pale.
“No matter how deep asleep you are, if someone bangs on your door that loudly, I think most people would wake up. So it's possible...”
“What do you mean, 'it's possible'!? Don't say things like that!”
Tsukiyo stood completely unfazed before Sakyo's scream.
“Why not? Two people have already been murdered, and we've been deprived of any means of descending the mountain and trapped in the Tower. Under the circumstances, if someone goes to their room and doesn't respond now matter how many times you call their name through the door, you must consider the possibility that they've died.”
“But even so...”
“Like I said earlier, in a closed circle mystery story, locking yourself alone in your room is a death flag. The person in question is almost always found murdered in their room.”
“This isn't a mystery story, it's real life. You're being very inappropriate.”
Sakyo's argument was unassailably correct. However, in that bizarre tower, the concept of “correctness” lost all meaning. Yuma looked at the heavy door with “Seventh” carved on its lustrous black surface.
Yumeyomi's body may have lain beyond that door...
“Setting aside whether or not it's insensitive, we do need to confirm that Ms. Yumeyomi is safe. If she was murdered, we need to investigate as soon as possible. So let's break down this door and-”
“I'm not dead!”
A shriek echoed through the door, drowning out Tsukiyo.
Oh, thank goodness, she's still alive. As Yuma and the others sighed in relief, Tsukiyo brought her face up to the door.
“Oh, you're safe. That's good.”
“What's so good about it? How insincere. You thought it would have been better if I'd been killed.”
“I didn't think that. I just thought that if you had been murdered, it would have been better to immediately confirm it and begin the investigation.”
Whether Tsukiyo was naive or deliberately provoking her, she said one irritating thing after another. Yuma could practically see the vein bulging on Yumeyomi's forehead through the door.
Maybe she was naive, Yuma thought. Though they'd only met two days ago, it was clear to him that Aoi Tsukiyo valued “being a great detective” more than anything else in her life. That was why, despite being imprisoned in that warped Glass Tower and faced with horrific crimes, she showed no signs of fear and gleefully carried out the investigation, saying and doing inappropriate things all the while.
To Tsukiyo, “being a great detective” was more important than common sense, morality, or even her own life.
Why was Tsukiyo so obsessed with being a great detective? What had happened in her life to leave her with such a lopsided moral code?
Yuma stared at Tsukiyo's profile as she continued to speak with Yumeyomi through the door.
“Anyway, you know I'm alive now, right? Then get out of here.”
“We can't do that, Ms. Yumeyomi. As Mr. Kuruma said earlier, if you don't eat until the day after tomorrow, you'll collapse. Come on, let's all go to the game room together.”
“Absolutely not. I'm not leaving this room.”
Yumeyomi's tone brooked no disagreement.
“Then I'll bring you food and drink, so can you at least eat in your room?”
Madoka offered the timid suggestion, but was met with another angry “No!”
“I'm not opening the door. If I unlock it, the killer might force their way in.”
“Yumeyomi, please think rationally. There are five people outside your door right now. Even if the killer is one of us, they wouldn't strike under these circumstances.”
Kuruma tried to reason with her.
“Don't give me that. You could all be the culprit. You all conspired together to kill Mr. Kozushima and that butler, and now you're targeting me, aren't you? Aren't you!?”
Kuruma gave a deep sigh at Yumeyomi's paranoid claim. Tsukiyo stepped forward in his place.
“There are mystery novels where everyone is the culprit, but they're rare in mansion in the snow stories like this. Of course, the most famous 'everybody dunit' story is the greatest masterpiece of the last century, M-”
“I don't care about novels!”
Everyone except Tsukiyo nodded at the perfectly reasonable objection.
“My apologies. I got off topic talking about a work I like.”
Tsukiyo shrugged. She regretted that she'd gotten excited, but apparently not very much.
“However, I can prove that we aren't all working together to try and kill you, Ms. Yumeyomi.”
“...How?”
“It's simple. If we were all accomplices and planning to kill Ms. Yumeyomi, there would be no need to go to all this trouble to persuade you. All we'd need to do is go to the underground storeroom, open the safe with the keys Yuma and Mr. Kuruma have, and take out the master key. Then we could open the door and it would be five on one. We could easily kill you, Ms. Yumeyomi.”
Tsukiyo gave the dangerous explanation in a light, breezy tone.
“So the fact that we're bothering to talk to you right now is proof that we aren't all the culprit. If you understand that, please come out. If you don't, I'll just keep standing here talking at you. That would be unpleasant, wouldn't it?”
Yuma thought it most certainly would. After a few seconds, the sound of the lock being undone rang out. The door opened, and Yumeyomi, frowning with distrust, peeked her head out.
“I'm glad you understand. Well, I'm hungry, so let's get back to the game room.”
Tsukiyo gently slipped her toes between the door and the frame. However, Yumeyomi didn't come out of the room.
“What's the matter, Ms. Yumeyomi? You understand not everyone here is a murderer. So please, come out without fear. You won't be attacked anytime soon.”
“...You don't know that. Maybe someone other than you will attack.”
“Someone other than us?”
Tsukiyo asked suspiciously, and Yumeyomi's eyes shot open as she said
“That's right! I've been saying it from the beginning! Something is lurking within the Tower. Something dangerous.”
“You mean you think someone we don't know is hiding somewhere, and they're the one who killed Kozushima and Oita?” Kuruma asked.
Yumeyomi ruffled her hair.
“I suppose an ordinary person wouldn't realize it. But as a psychic, I can tell. I can sense the presence of a dangerous being. A being that is watching us all, waiting for its opportunity to strike and steal away all our lives.”
Yumeyomi glared at Yuma and the others.
“You all are lucky, being so insensitive. But a chosen person like me must sense that being's presence at all times, even alone in my room, and live with the fear.”
Under the effects of extreme stress, Yumeyomi continued to ramble on about her delusional beliefs.
But that was only natural. Yuma looked at Yumeyomi as she yelled with her bloodshot eyes and felt nothing. They were trapped in the Glass Tower where a terrible incident had occurred, with no contact with the outside world. It wasn't surprising someone had been pushed to their breaking point.
The others, who had managed to hold on to sanity so far, might have reacted the same way as Yumeyomi with the right trigger. Even he, the one who had given Kozushima the poison pill, was on the verge of panic at the incomprehensible situation he found himself in.
If there was anyone there who could be said to be immune to fear... Yuma turned to Tsukiyo. As usual, she looked like she was enjoying herself.
“If you can sense its presence even in a locked room, then isn't it the same not being in a locked room? Come on, let's go.”
Tsukiyo grabbed Yumeyomi by the arm and forcibly pulled her out of the room.
“Hey, stop. Stop it, that hurts! I get it, I just have to leave the room, right? Just let go.”
Whether she'd been convinced or just given up, Yumeyomi left the room, took out her key, and locked the door.
“Well then, to dinner!”
Tsukiyo lead the way down the stairs. Yuma and the others followed her with heavy steps.
“Are you okay, Ms. Yumeyomi?”
Hearing Madoka's voice from behind, Yuma stopped and turned around. He saw Madoka touching the arm of Yumeyomi, who was trembling at the back of the group.
“No, I'm not okay! You heard it, didn't you? Footsteps, chasing us from behind!”
“No, I didn't hear them...”
“What are you saying!? There's someone behind us!”
“Yumeyomi, Kagami and Sakaizumi are in the game room, and everyone else in the Tower is right here. There can't be anyone else here.”
Kuruma said that, but Yumeyomi shook her head, like a child throwing a tantrum.
“There's someone there, I know it!”
Yumeyomi pointed to the top of the spiral staircase. Kuruma sighed. At that moment, Tsukiyo, who had been leading the pack, put a hand on Yuma's shoulder.
“Well, we can go check if there's anyone there. Come on, Yuma.”
Before Yuma could reply, Tsukiyo passed everyone on the stairs and started climbing. Yuma hurried to follow her.
Tsukiyo's long legs brought her up the stairs two at a time. Yuma pushed himself not to lose sight of her.
They passed doors engraved “Seventh”, “Sixth”, “Fifth”, “Fourth”, “Third”, “Second”, “First”, and finally reached the staircase to the display room.
“There wasn't anyone on the stairs. All that's left is this display room.”
Tsukiyo took a key engraved “Fifth” from the inside pocket of her suit, inserted into the keyhole, and unlocked the heavy, rusty door. Stepping into the glass cone of the display room once again, Yuma took a look around. He doubted Yumeyomi was right about there being someone lurking there, stalking them like prey, but he didn't know what was going on. It was best to be cautious.
The display room had many blind spots due to the amount of objects in the Kozushima Collection crammed into the tight space. Yuma and Tsukiyo made eye contact, then split up to search the room.
A bookshelf lined with rare first edition copies of foreign mystery novels, a cabinet filled with props used in different mystery movies, and a desk once owned by a famous author. Enduring the cold, Yuma carefully examined the shadows between them. But there was no sign of anyone lurking there.
As he peered under the Peugeot 403 used in the filming of Columbo, Yuma muttered to himself “Of course there isn't.” At that moment, he sensed a presence behind him.
Someone behind him!? Yuma turned around from his crouched position so quickly that he lost his balance and fell on his behind.
“What are you doing?”
Tsukiyo looked down at him with wide eyes.
“Don't sneak up on people like that! It's obvious I'd be surprised!”
“Sorry, sorry. I have to follow suspects as a great detective, so I've gotten in the habit of constantly suppressing the sounds of my footsteps.”
Tsukiyo laughed out loud, demonstrating no signs of regret.
“As expected, there isn't anyone here. Well, cases featuring hidden murderers have their own appeal, but for a closed circle story like this, it's more interesting if the real culprit is among the main cast.”
“...People have died.”
Yuma's voice was filled with irritation. Tsukiyo was calling murders “interesting”.
“Oh, what's wrong Yuma? You sound annoyed.”
Tsukiyo asked, genuinely confused.
It was a waste of time expecting common sense from the great detective who had several screws loose. Not that Yuma had any right to criticize anyone else for insensitivity Not after he'd given Kozushima that capsule. Yuma, once again feeling the weight of the cross he carried, shook his head helplessly.
“Whatever. Just remember, we're in reality. We aren't characters in a mystery novel.”
“I wonder about that.”
Yuma frowned at Tsukiyo's sing-song remark.
“What are you saying?”
“Metamysteries aren't uncommon in modern literature. Maybe we are characters in a honkaku mystery set in a creepy mansion and just don't realize it. Including me and you, Yuma.”
“Are you serious?”
Never mind, Yuma was absolutely allowed to question this great detective's sanity.
“Well, who know? Anyway, let's head back down and meet up with the others. We'll freeze if we stay up here much longer. Maybe if we tell her we didn't find anyone, Ms. Yumeyomi will calm down a bit.”
Tsukiyo walked back to the stairwell with light steps.
Yuma and Tsukiyo descended the stairs and told the rest of the group that no one was there, but as expected, Yumeyomi didn't calm down. “You just didn't notice!” “Someone was definitely there!” she kept yelling, but perhaps she was hungry after all, as she immediately made her way to the game room.
When they returned to the game room, Kagami was sitting on the sofa, shoveling paella into his mouth.
“Oh, you were able to get Ms. Yumeyomi to come down. I'm glad. I put all my effort into making this food, so I want everyone to be able to taste it.”
Sakaizumi sounded unnaturally cheerful. It was clear from the look on his face that he was desperately trying to forget the terrible situation they were in. The effect made him look a bit clownish.
“...Yes. I apologize that, due to the dining room currently being unusable, we were forced to serve you this buffet-style meal, but please, enjoy. I will be serving drinks and other services in place of Mr. Oita.”
In contrast, Madoka's voice was full of gloom. Her face was pale and she never raised her eyes. Seeing her force herself to carry out her duties as a maid in that state was painful.
“What are you saying?”
Tsukiyo asked suddenly.
“Think of our situation. The distinction between guest and host doesn't matter anymore. We're all in the same boat. And I think Ms. Tomoe and Mr. Sakaizumi, who have been working so hard, have earned the highest priority. So you two eat first. We can wait.”
“No, we couldn't...” Madoka said, eyes wandering at the unexpected turn.
“There's no need to be shy. I'll serve you myself. One moment.”
Tsukiyo grabbed two plates and skillfully arranged the food on them.
“Here you are.”
Tsukiyo handed the plates to Sakaizumi and Madoka.
“Is it really okay? Well, I'll take you up on that, then.”
Seeing Sakaizumi readily accept, Madoka timidly extended a hand.
“Here you go. It's delicious, I promise.”
Even though she hadn't made it and hadn't tasted any, Tsukiyo gave a cheery recommendation.
“Everyone, please eat. ...Excuse me.”
Madoka ran to the corner of the room as if fleeing and slowly began to eat. Seeing her, Tsukiyo clapped her hands together and said “Let's eat, too.”
Maybe everyone had gotten used to Tsukiyo's constant strange behavior, as they all nodded and formed a line without comment. They had no appetite, but everyone knew that they needed to fill their stomachs soon or they'd collapse. Yuma joined at the end of the line.
Without a word, everyone gathered around the couches. While most of the group ate with troubled looks on their faces, Tsukiyo alone cheerily spoke to Sakaizumi, asking him things like “How did you make this? It's delicious.”
As he chewed his paella, Yuma took a look at the grandfather clock from the corner of his eye. It was almost 7:00 P.M.
In two days, the road that had been blocked by the avalanche would be cleared and the police would arrive. If they did a proper investigation, they would immediately realize that his sister was a motive. The police would surely question him as the prime suspect of Kozushima's murder. Would he be able to endure that?
Besides, if a multibillionaire scientist expected to win the Nobel Prize was murdered in a building as bizarre as the Glass Tower, the media would surely be all over it. They would undoubtedly swarm his sister's house and subject her to a social lynching in the name of “investigative journalism”. No matter what, he had to avoid that.
Yuma turned his eyes on Tsukiyo, who had finished her first dish and gone to get more food.
Just how close was the great detective to the truth? Had partnering with her been the right decision? Just as doubts were beginning to creep in, Tsukiyo returned to her spot with a new plate of food and spoke up.
“Everyone, since this is such a special meal, why don't we talk about something? It would be a waste to let such delicious food be eaten in silence.”
“When you say talk... what exactly do you mean?”
Tsukiyo gave the puzzled Kuruma an answer full of cheer.
“The incidents that have happened in this tower, of course.”
Several people grimaced. Yumeyomi, who had been eating on the couch, shriek in a high-pitched voice
“Enough! Why are you dredging that up now? I wanted to forget those horrible incidents. People are dead! They've been murdered! I don't care if you want to be some great detective, but don't drag other people into your sick games!”
“Sick games?”
The smile instantly vanished from Tsukiyo's face.
“You think my investigations are just a hobby?”
“W-What? You mean it isn't?”
Yumeyomi tensed under the gaze of Tsukiyo, whose face was as blank and expressionless as a Noh mask.
“Being a great detective isn't a hobby. It's what I strive towards, even if it costs me everything else in my life.”
Tsukiyo spoke without any intonation. The sight of such a normally cheerful face devoid of emotion was terrifying. Before they'd realized, everyone in the room was trapped in her gaze.
“You said people had died. That's true. It's precisely because people are dead that you need a great detective. This is a difficult case, too difficult for the police to solve. If we leave things be, the culprit will escape. Solve the case, expose the truth, and punish the culprit. That is the mission of a great detective. But in the situation we're in now, there are things more important than clearing the victims' grievances.”
“What are you talking about? What important things?”
“Avoiding the creation of new victims. I told you yesterday, in closed circle cases like this, the case usually doesn't end with only one or two bodies. The longer we delay in uncovering the truth, the higher the risk more lives will be lost. And everyone here is a potential next victim. Including myself, naturally.”
Yumeyomi was left speechless at the sound of such a horrible revelation delivered in such a flat voice. Everyone else was struck equally dumb. Even Yuma, the one who'd poisoned Kozushima.
He'd thought he had two more days to find the culprit behind Oita's murder. But perhaps the situation wouldn't allow for such long-term plans.
If the one who'd killed Oita knew he was the one who'd killed Kozushima, they would probably try to frame him for the murder of Oita. He had expected that much. But the killer didn't need Yuma alive for that plan. Dead men tell no tales. That would obviously be more convenient for the killer. Thoughts swirled in Yuma's head.
He'd assumed he was the hunter. But perhaps within the Glass Tower, he was nothing more than the middle step on the chain of predation, prey fleeing from the apex predator.
He couldn't know when he would be killed. Not until he exposed the identity of the killer.
Confronted with that fact they had all turned blind eyes to, everyone fell silent. Tsukiyo placed her food on the table and heartily clapped her hands together. A satisfying smack echoed through the game room, breaking the spell cast over the others.
“So, in order to ensure everyone's safety, we must identify and arrest the culprit as quickly as possible. In order to do that, I need you all to provide me with any information you have. Please, do cooperate.”
Before they knew it, Tsukiyo's carefree smile had returned.
“But... Even if you say that, what should we talk about?” Kuruma asked nervously.
“There's no need to think about it too hard. Major clues are often found in casual conversation. That's how it is in mystery stories. All you have to do is casually chat about the case while enjoying your meals.”
“Well, go ahead.”
Tsukiyo urged, but nobody said anything.
“Is it too hard to go so suddenly? Alright then, I'll start. Ms. Tomoe.”
Madoka, having been called on out of nowhere, shrank back and said “Y-Yes?”
“Do you know what Mr. Kozushima was planning to announce last night?”
“No, I don't know anything. The master never told me about it.”
“I see. Actually, Mr. Kozushima did tell one person about the contents of the announcement: Yuma.”
Suddenly, all eyes were on him. Yuma recoiled.
“No, he didn't say anything specific. Mr. Kozushima just told me a bit the other day while I was giving him his check up.”
He had actually heard the story from Kozushima just before giving him the capsule. If he wasn't careful, that information could lead to him being suspected.
“So? What did Kozushima say?”
Kagami immediately started questioning him. There was a hint of doubt in his eyes that made sweat trickle down Yuma's forehead.
“Apparently, he had come into possession of a valuable unpublished manuscript. A manuscript that would completely overturn the history of mystery novels.”
Tsukiyo answered on Yuma's behalf. Kagami frowned and said
“A manuscript?”
“Yes. My theory is that it may have been written before the publication of The Murders in the Rue Morgue!”
Tsukiyo spoke loudly with shining eyes. But the reaction of the room was lukewarm. Yuma, Kuruma, and Sakyo, the ones who could appreciate the manuscript's value, had already been told, and the others, not being mystery fans, couldn't comprehend what an amazing find that would be and looked skeptical.
“I don't get it. Would that be worth anything?”
“Would it be worth anything!?”
Tsukiyo glared at him.
“Of course it would! It would be the most valuable thing in the world! No treasure in existence would be worth as much as that manuscript!”
“Calm down. We can see how valuable it would be to mystery buffs.”
“It's not just mystery buffs! It's a treasure for all humanity. Don't you understand what a valuable cultural artifact it is!?”
“That doesn't matter. What's important is that for a certain type of person, that unpublished manuscript is something they would want to obtain at all costs... Maybe even if the cost was a person's life.”
Kagami lowered his voice. Tsukiyo, who had been leaning forward and red-faced, straightened up. They both smirked as one. Tsukiyo and Kagami, smiling dangerously, looked to Yuma like a pair of wild animals trying to threaten each other into submission.
“If that's how you have to understand it, then fine, Mr. Kagami. But as long as I have you, may I ask you to share your story as well?”
“Me? What do you want to hear from me, O great detective?”
Kagami scrunched up his face and glared at Tsukiyo. Tsukiyo met his eyes, which had no doubt put the fear of God into countless criminals, without blinking.
“I want to hear about the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident, of course.”
“You heard about that from the editor earlier, didn't you?”
Kagami pointed at Sakyo.
“Mr. Kagami, you're a police detective. Moreover, you're a detective from the Nagano Prefectural Police's First Investigation Division, who were in charge of the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident's investigation. You know far more about that case than Mr. Sakyo, don't you?”
Tsukiyo narrowed her eyes provocatively and said
“Or... could it be that you actually weren't a detective thirteen years ago, and therefore couldn't have been involved in the investigation? In that case, I'm sorry, but you couldn't tell me anything I didn't already hear from Mr. Sakyo.”
“Oi, don't underestimate me.” Kagami sneered. “It's true that thirteen years ago was before I joined the Prefectural Police's First Division. But I was still attached to the investigation as a part of the local police.”
“Wonderful! So, please tell me everything.”
“...Why should I? You're just a normal person.”
“I am not a normal person. I am a great detective.”
Kagami clicked his tongue at Tsukiyo's completely serious answer.
“You're a normal person. I wouldn't ordinarily leak information on an investigation.”
“Ordinarily?”
Tsukiyo walked right up to Kagami and looked him in the eyes.
“Two locked room murders have been committed, and we're trapped in a bizarre Glass Tower with no way to get down the mountain. What part of this situation is ordinary?”
“Don't be a pedant.”
“I'm just stating facts. Since we don't know their motive, we have no way of knowing how many people the culprit is planning to kill. In the worst case scenario, they may be after all of our lives. Just like in that masterpiece that towers brilliantly over all of mystery.”
Mumbling something terrifying under her breath, Tsukiyo narrowed her eyes.
“Which is why, as I've already explained to you, we need to uncover the culprit's identity as soon as possible. To that end, the information you possess as part of the official investigation is extremely important. So, Mr. Kagami, would you please tell me what you know? In as much detail as possible, if you would.”
Though her words were polite, Tsukiyo's tone was that of someone who wasn't asking. Kagami hesitated.
“Kagami, I'm asking you, too. Considering the circumstances, can you help Ms. Aoi?”
Kuruma's urging was the final push. Kagami gave a dramatic sigh, leaned his weight back on the couch, and asked
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything you know about the murders on Mt. Chogatake.”
“Even if you ask me that, it's pretty much exactly like the editor said. The owner of the guesthouse picked victims who wouldn't be missed if they disappeared and killed them. The only problem is the identity of the culprit, Fuyuki Daisuke.”
“His identity?”
Sakyo asked.
“If I recall correctly, Fuyuki Daisuke was from Nagano Prefecture. After graduating high school, he was employed as a factory worker in Tokyo, but when he was thirty years old, the company went bankrupt. His job history between then and when he became the owner of the guesthouse a few years later is unknown.”
“You're right up until he left the factory. What happened after that isn't exactly a matter of Fuyuki Daisuke's career.”
“What do you mean?”
Sakyo's brows furrowed.
“As soon as the incident became public knowledge, we learned that there was a man in Tokyo who called himself Fuyuki Daisuke.”
“Fuyuki was alive!? Why didn't you arrest him?”
“Calm down. The man was definitely Fuyuki. But he wasn't the culprit of the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident. By thirteen years ago, he was already dead.”
“...Dead?”
“After losing his job in the factory, the real Fuyuki Daisuke was left homeless in Tokyo. In the winter of fifteen years ago, he froze to death in an alleyway.”
“Then who was killing women in the guesthouse?”
“I don't know. But apparently, Fuyuki sold his identity for food money not long after becoming homeless.”
“You can do that!?”
Yuma was surprised, but Kagami gave a sarcastic huff.
“You're naive, doc. There isn't a thing in this world that can't be sold. If you buy someone else's government ID, you can do all sorts of things while impersonating them. Then, if things go poorly and the heat gets to you, you can just toss the ID. Criminals love them.”
“Do things... like murder?”
Kagami responded to Yuma's question by silently raising the corners of his lips.
“So then, who was the man who called himself Fuyuki Daisuke?”
When Tsukiyo asked, Kagami shrugged.
“I don't know. But he only opened his guesthouse on weekends and during the winter season. He was probably a good citizen with a nine-to-five most of the time. But he couldn't control the monster he kept inside him, so he became Fuyuki Daisuke to look for prey.”
“You don't know? Didn't you try to find out?”
Sakyo admonished him.
“What could we do? We didn't find out about the real Fuyuki until after the suspect died, the papers were sent to the prosecutor's office, and investigation headquarters was disbanded. You in the media didn't question the suspect's death, so after a month, nobody cared about the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident anymore.”
Having been implicated, Sakyo found himself at a loss for words.
“Is the culprit actually dead?”
Tsukiyo mumbled to herself with a hand over her mouth, and Kagami glared at her and asked
“What?”
“Perhaps the culprit who called himself Fuyuki Daisuke is still alive, and after his crimes came to light, he reverted to his true identity and resumed a normal life.”
“That's impossible. The avalanche was massive, and judging from the footprints, there's no doubt that the culprit was caught in it. There's no way he could be alive.”
“But his body was never found, right? In that case, it isn't impossible, is it? By the way, what did 'Fuyuki Daisuke' look like?”
“We don't know. Apparently, he always wore a medical mask and thick-rimmed glasses. Everyone who'd stayed at the guest house said they couldn't tell how old he was.”
“He must have lied about his age to anyone who asked. In other words, nobody knows who Fuyuki Daisuke really was.”
Tsukiyo's thin lips formed into a bewitching smile. At that moment, Yumeyomi got to her feet.
“It's him! He must have survived and is hiding in the Tower!”
“What are you talking about?”
Kagami frowned.
“I've been saying it from the beginning. Someone is hiding in this tower, and he's targeting us!”
“Hey, hey, you aren't telling me that 'Fuyuki Daisuke' survived and is actually hiding in this Tower and killed Kozushima and the butler, are you? Have you lost it?”
Yumeyomi tried to argue with Kagami's ridicule. But before he could, Tsukiyo spoke up.
“It's possible that 'Fuyuki Daisuke' is hiding here in the Glass Tower.”
“Really? You think that? Are great detectives on the same intellectual level as this fraudster? How could he have killed two people without being seen when we were all moving freely around the Tower? And without eating? When does he use the toilet? A murderer who'd been surviving in the wintry mountains for thirteen years suddenly appears and begins killing people. This isn't a mystery story, it's a slasher movie.”
“I never said we didn't see him. We may have already met 'Fuyuki Daisuke'.”
Everyone looked puzzled by her riddle. After a few seconds of piecing it together, people started to understand the terrifying meaning behind Tsukiyo's words, and their expressions warped.
“You mean 'Fuyuki Daisuke' is one of us!?”
Yuma raised his voice, and Tsukiyo nodded with satisfaction and said
“As expected of my Watson. The possibility can't be denied. Though we don't know if he's the culprit or a victim.”
Yuma started. For a moment, he'd wondered if 'Fuyuki Daisuke' was the one who'd murdered Oita. But conversely, there was also the possibility that it was either Kozushima or Oita, who had been killed.
Someone close to one of the victims of the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident killed 'Fuyuki Daisuke' in revenge, and left 'SPIRITED AWAY FROM CHOGATAKE' written in blood at the scene. It was conceivable. Having been bombarded with so much information so quickly, everyone remained in perplexed silence while Tsukiyo turned back to Kagami.
“So, Mr. Kagami, please give me the next piece of information.”
“Next information?”
“Yes, that's right. What you just told us about was the incident from thirteen years ago. But that isn't the only thing called the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident. There is also the more recent disappearance of a climber. And you were in contact with Mr. Kozushima investigating it. Now, tell us about the more recent Chogatake Spiriting Away incident.”
Kagami crossed his arms with a grim expression and grumbled. It was understandable that he would be hesitant to tell a civilian about a case that was still under investigation.
“It's for the safety of everyone here. The police's job is to protect and serve, isn't it?”
In response to Tsukiyo's final argument, Kagami waved a hand dismissively and said
“I get it. I just need to talk, right? The victim... or rather, the missing person, is an office lady named Mashu Shinju. Last winter, she and her fiance climbed Mt. Chogatake together, not long before they were scheduled to be married.”
“The two of them went alone to a mountain in winter?”
“Yeah, that's right,” Kagami spat. “Apparently, her fiance was some sort of amateur mountaineer, and he forced her to go with him. I don't know what was wrong with his head, challenging the Hida Mountains in the middle of winter.”
“So, they underestimated the winter mountains...”
“As you'd expect, they got lost. When they didn't come back down the mountain when they were scheduled to, the family filed a missing persons report, and a search party found the fiance's body, dead of a fall. But Mashu Shinju hasn't been found.”
“Her fiance fell to death, and not knowing what else to do, she tried to go back down the mountain and got lost.”
“Probably,” Kagami said with a stern expression. “Once the search parties got large enough, they found some of Mashu Shinju's equipment in the forest, far off the descent trail. But in the end, they never found the woman herself... alive or dead.”
“People straying from the trail and getting lost in the forest doesn't usually result in a police investigation.”
“I told you before, her family raised a fuss. Mashu Shinju's mother started saying that her daughter didn't just get lost, but that someone had kidnapped her.”
“That seems like a bit of a leap. Why did her mother think that?”
“It's all this editor's fault.”
Kagami jerked his chin at the editor in question. Sakyo pointed at himself and said “Huh? Me?”
“What do you mean 'Huh?' Last year, your magazine ran that feature on the Chogatake Spiriting Away incident, didn't it? In it, you wrote that Fuyuki Daisuke was still alive, and that anyone who disappeared in that area may have become his victim. How do you intend to take responsibility for publishing an article full of nonsense like that?”
“Even if you ask me that...”
Sakyo shrank back.
“Mashu Shinju's mother read your magazine and got it in her head that her daughter was kidnapped and being held somewhere by a serial killer. Well, she probably just convinced herself of that because she couldn't accept that her little girl was already gone. But her mother also had connections with the prefectural police, so I had to investigate.”
“I understand that much. But why did you contact Mr. Kozushima as part of your investigation? You've visited the Glass Tower several times and even stayed here overnight more than once. And you and he became close enough that he invited you to this event.”
Tsukiyo's question was quiet. Kagami waved a hand at her.
“Because Kozushima's the only one who lives on the mountain. And judging from where her equipment was found, it looks like Mashu Shinju was headed towards the Glass Tower. Even though it's a waste of time, I had to at least look like I was investigating seriously.”
“Was it really necessary to come here so many times just to appear busy?”
“That's exactly why I came so many times,” Kagami said with a grin. “Kozushima's a mystery freak, so he treated me, a real detective, very well. He always asked me to tell him about cases. All I had to do was talk about what I'd already done, and in exchange, I could eat restaurant-quality food and drink like a fish. In the decade since my wife ran off, I'd been living on nothin' but microwave meals, so I appreciated the change. Moreover, Mr. Kozushima's a well-connected man who's spent a lot of money on the area. It never hurts to make connections.”
“You're telling me the reason you made such frequent visits to the Glass Tower is for your own benefit, and that you did nothing to investigate the disappearance of that office lady?”
“Yeah. There a problem with that? I'm a detective, but I was forced to investigate some dumb broad getting herself lost. I deserve some payment for putting up with that, don't I?”
Kagami showed no signs of remorse.
“Did she really just get lost?”
Tsukiyo's murmur wiped the smirk off of Kagami's face in an instant.
“What?”
“Well, at the scene of Mr. Oita's murder, the words 'SPIRTED AWAY FROM CHOGATAKE' were written in large, bold letters. And in the victim's blood, at that. It isn't that big a stretch to think that office lady's disappearance is somehow connected to this case.”
“You've been runnin' your mouth for a while now. First the motive was that unpublished manuscript, now Fuyuki Daisuke is in this Tower.”
“First, make a list of possibilities, then carefully consider them all to find which is the truth. We still can't rule out the possibility that office lady's disappearance is key to the solution.”
“You think her disappearance has anything to do with what's going on in this Tower right now?”
“Yes...” Tsukiyo brought a hand to her temple. “How about this? That office lady didn't die outside in the cold, but was kidnapped by Mr. Kozushima or Mr. Oita and murdered. Someone discovered that and approached Mr. Kozushima looking for revenge, and got close enough to him to get invited to this event. Then, they put in motion a plan to take revenge on those related to the office lady's murder. It's possible that Mr. Kozushima or Mr. Oita was the serial killer from thirteen years ago, 'Fuyuki Daisuke'. They could no longer act as 'Fuyuki Daisuke' to kill women, so instead, they kidnapped mountaineers and-”
Tsukiyo was interrupted by a loud noise. When Yuma turned around, he saw shards of shattered porcelain scattered at Madoka's feet.
“I'm sorry... My hand slipped...”
Madoka's face was as pale as a corpse, her voice was worn and ragged, and even from a distance, Yuma could see how hard her hands were trembling as she squatted down and reached for the shards of the plate.
“Don't touch them with your bare hands, Madoka. I'll clean this up, so you go rest.”
Sakaizumi called out quickly, but Madoka appeared not to hear him and touched a large shard. A moment later, she pulled her hand away. Her trembling hand had caused her to cut a finger on the broken plate.
“See? I told you. Madoka, what's wrong? You're turning blue. I'll take care of everything, so you go back to your room and rest. Is that alright, everyone?”
Kuruma nodded and said “Yes, of course.”
“If everyone insists... Um, Mr. Sakaizumi, I'm sorry, but may I rest until tomorrow?”
Madoka's eyes were watery.
“I don't mind, but will you be okay? Do you want me to come with you?”
“No! Stay away from me!”
Madoka suddenly let out a loud voice that was unimaginable from her petite body. Sakaizumi stood in shock. Madoka immediately started, and bowed at a full ninety degree angle, showing everyone the crown of her head.
“I'm truly sorry to have gotten so upset. I'm not feeling well, so I'll be returning to my room now.”
Madoka spoke quickly, then turned on her heel and left the game room. As everyone sat frozen at the unexpected development, Kagami suddenly stood up and shouted
“Wait a minute!”
“What's wrong, Kagami?”
When Kuruma asked, Kagami pointed to the door Madoka had gone through.
“We can't just let that maid leave. She knows something. That's the only reason she would have gotten so upset and run away. We need to drag her back here and pump her for information.”
“But she isn't feeling well, and your questions are so... violent...”
“What are you, stupid? We're in a dangerous situation, so we need to catch the culprit right away. I'll go get her, so the rest of you stay here and keep eating.”
With that, Kagami ran from the game room. Unable to keep up with everything that had happened, Yuma just watched him leave, plate still in hand.
“Well, Kagami does have a point. Shall we wait here as he said?”
Yuma, Sakyo, Sakaizumi, and Yumeyomi all nodded at Kuruma. Tsukiyo was the only one who ate, though. After about five minutes, Kagami returned, alone.
“I was too late. The maid's locked herself in her room.”
Kagami dropped himself back on the sofa with a thump and looked at Tsukiyo, mouth full of lamb.
“So, great detective, what's next? You have more to say?”
Tsukiyo tried to swallow, but it got stuck in her throat. After pounding her chest several times, she grabbed a glass of water off the table and chugged.
“Well,” she began, “We've been able to get some new information, so let's call it a day. I want to think carefully over everything we know and how it interacts with what we just learned.”
“Do whatever you want, as long as I don't have to participate in your detective games.”
“Wait a moment! What are you going to do tonight?”
Sakyo asked, flustered as Kagami stood up. Kagami frowned.
“Tonight?”
“Yes. What if the culprit plans to strike again tonight?”
“What's the matter? Think you're the next to die?”
Kagami teased him, and Sakyo grimaced.
“No, that's not it! But there is a chance the culprit is killing indiscriminately. In that case, wouldn't it be better for us to all stay together?”
“You want me to spend a night with the likes of you? Sorry. If the culprit comes after me, that'd be for the best. I can kick his ass and it'll all be over. So I'm headin' back to my room.”
“The murderer could be one of you! I'm also going back to my room.”
Kagami and Yumeyomi left the game room, leaving everyone else to exchange looks.
“Well, what should the rest of us do? I was planning to stay here a bit longer.”
When Kuruma spoke, Sakaizumi pointed at the table, still covered in food.
“For now, I'm going to clean up the plates.”
Perhaps because Madoka had yelled at him, his voice was quiet and gloomy.
Yuma said “In that case, I'll help.” Sakaizumi scratched his head.
“Is that okay? Then I guess I'll ask for your help. Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“I'm going to stay with Mr. Kuruma for a while longer.”
Sakyo turned his eyes to Tsukiyo and asked “What about you, Ms. Aoi?”
“I'm going back to my room. Like Mr. Sakyo said, it's safest for us to all spend the night together, but with three of us already back in their rooms, there isn't much point. I think it's more dangerous to spend the night in a small group in a room anyone can access.”
“Perhaps Ms. Aoi is right. Well, let's all head back to our rooms in a little while.”
Kuruma shrugged. No one argued.
“Yuma.”
Tsukiyo whispered to Yuma as he began clearing the dishes off the table.
“I'll come to your room first thing tomorrow morning to discuss the case. Make sure you get a good night's sleep.”
Tsukiyo tapped Yuma on the shoulder and made her way to the entrance.