Aragi entered the room. The room where they were already waiting for him. Not "met", not "greeted", waiting. And that says a lot about the mood.
— Where were you?
— Taking a walk… around different corners of the mansion.
To be honest, it didn't sound very convincing. But who has the right to accuse anyone of implausibility now?
— Since we're all here, — someone's voice shot out, like a countdown to the inevitable. — I suppose it's time to discuss what happened… after the murder.
Gerudo's murder. As expected, they had returned to this topic. A topic I couldn't escape from, even if I wanted to. Even if I died. I needed to come up with something. Anything. Even a ghost of a possibility to clear Enua of this curse of suspicion.
— Then let's begin. Aragi, you remember the writings on the wall… those left after Gerudo's death?
Ah… right. I completely forgot. Forgot about those red scribbles, written in his blood. A creepy font, written with the most convincing ink in the world. But if we're talking about them now… it means it's not directly about Enua. Though it's too early to relax.
— Yes, — I nodded. — At the time, I was too shocked. Death… you know… knocks the memory out. I rushed to you, to report what happened. And the writings, they just… slipped my mind.
— Then we decided to postpone this topic. After all, catching the killer is more important, — Yahweh responded. — Good thing Cheryl and Morgana reminded us of it when they went to clean the kitchen.
— The problem is, we can't decipher them. No one knows what language they're written in.
— Even the servants don't know. We thought they might give a clue… but no. A complete zero.
— In the end… the writings remain untranslated. And Enua, as you know, is avoiding us as if we're already a verdict. Which, however, isn't far from the truth.
— Still… this could be the key. To the real killer. The writings are a clue. Even if in an unknown language, still a clue.
— So… you've decided to stop pushing the Enua theory?
— Not at all. He remains under suspicion until he proves otherwise. And he has, let's be honest, little time. It will be decided before the second murder.
— Second? — my body twitched slightly. — What do you mean?
— Consider it a reprieve. We are waiting for the second twilight. If we assume there will be a new murder every night… we have little time.
«So, they'll leave him until the next murder. If he doesn't prove his innocence by then… they'll just cross him out».
— I hope you understand, — Kamiki's voice sounded, as if from afar, though they were standing nearby. — We know you're in this with him. You want to cover for him. Therefore… you have this time too. Use it.
— Alright, — Hov exhaled. — Let's return to the writings. There were four, right?
— Four lines. Each of several words. In a row. One after another.
— It's just that we have no idea how to translate them. No one knows this language.
— The library, — burst out of me.
— There's a library here?
— I only found out about it recently. It's on the second floor, right side, at the very end. I think the answer might be there.
— And you're only saying this now?! Why were you silent?
— Because the entrance is locked. Gerudo had the key. There are no copies.
— Damn. So it's locked.
— Then… let's break in? Or just break it down. Two, three of us, the door won't hold.
— The problem is different. It's not just a door. Five meters high. Sturdy, as if magic itself is holding it.
— Five meters?! In a library?! What kind of mockery is this?
— It holds grimoires, — Morgana suddenly cut into the conversation.
Like a knife into fabric. Silently. Sharply. Without permission.
— There are thousands of grimoires there. Some of them… can grant power beyond understanding. Limitless.
— So, it's that serious… Then there's only one option left: find Gerudo's keys.
— But even Cheryl and I don't know where he kept them. According to him, the keys were given to him by the first master of the mansion. The one Ryujin trusted above all.
— Even entrusted the library. All his knowledge, collected over a lifetime.
— So, we need to search. Everything. The entire mansion. I suggest we split up.
The search began. Everyone rushed to search the mansion. Everyone, except fear. It remained. It always remains.
Gerudo's room. The logical first choice. If I were a key, I'd hide with myself too.
It was me and Morgana there. Morgana, by the way, agreed to help. Which, generally speaking, doesn't seem uncommon.
— We've been searching for half an hour already, — Morgana snorted. — Nothing. Maybe he hid them somewhere else?
— Maybe… — I muttered. — We've turned everything upside down. No result.
— Then let's go tell the others. They're probably hoping we'll find the key first.
The message was short: no key. The room is empty.
Everyone gathered in the living room. Again.
— Are you sure you searched everything?
— Absolutely. The room is tiny. Zero hiding places. We even went over it a second time.
— I see… Other rooms are empty too. Then… where?
— We're also time-limited. Night is approaching. Splitting up again is suicide.
«Enua's name wasn't mentioned… but it was in Kamiki's words. Between the lines. Between the phrases. In every "we".»
«While they haven't decided what to do… I have one chance left».
— Allow me… — I stepped forward. — I am ready to prove Enua's alibi. Right now!
— You… really have proof?
Everyone froze. Even the air.
— Yes. It's all about the writings.
— The writings?
— Think about it. Why would the killer leave writings in the victim's blood in a language no one understands? Not us, not the servants.
— So, you're denying his guilt… just because you don't understand the language? Seriously?
«Of course. The first one to attack me is you. Naturally».
— You can't know what languages he might know. Don't forget who he is. The Creator of civilizations. He could know a language beyond understanding.
— He's right. Enua could have created his own language. And used it. That's just like him, to confuse us.
— And yet… what's the point? He himself knew suspicion would fall on him. It would be too obvious.
— Any of us could have invented a language. That doesn't make Enua unique. On the contrary, it makes the suspicions too convenient.
— That would be fine, but he has no alibi. We already proved that. He's the only one who left his room. Did you forget that?
— Accept it, Aragi. You want to help a friend — that's commendable. But you have no real proof.
— It's for the best. Yours and ours. The sooner we remove him, the fewer losses.
«As expected. No one is listening to me. Kamiki especially. He's ready to refute my every word».
— Why are you so sure it's not the witch?! She herself said the goal of the game is to defeat her by any means necessary!
— That's exactly what the killer is using. Victory "by any means" doesn't equal teamwork.
— It means every man for himself. The strongest survives. Which means eliminating competitors.
— Do you understand where I'm going with this?
Kamiki stepped closer. Leaned towards my ear. A smile, unchanged. A smile that even shadows hide from.
— The goal is not to kill the witch. It's to survive until the seventh twilight. And get… a wish.
— One. Only one. And it will go to only one person. Do you understand now?
— You pathetic piece of shit.
Agh-hah-ghah-hah-agh-hah!
Laughter. Arms spread wide. A mad gaze at the ceiling.
— By the end of the sixth day, only one will remain. One! Whether you want it or not! No matter what you've imagined about "teamwork"!
— That's why we need to get rid of the killer faster. Before he strikes again!
— And if he kills again… what then, Aragi? Will you try to cover for him too? Or… are you his accomplice?
And then they were interrupted.
— Sorry to interrupt, — Morgana, with Cheryl beside her. — We found the key to the library.