Chapter Three: Demo Playtest, Day One, Rules, Scene Two

“The main stage of 'Delicious Death for Detectives' is the VR world of Puppet Hall, which links to the real world Megalodon Manor to form a double-layered enclosed space. The game will end at noon on the 24^th, two days from now...”

The end time was the same as that of the original demo.

Kurata continued “Let me start by explaining the rules of the game. First, the setup. The participants will be divided into three roles: 'Detective', 'Murderer', and 'Executioner'.”

Kamo, who already knew he was the Murderer, decided to keep that to himself and wait to see the enemy's hand first.

The first person to speak up was Fuwa. He gave a simple shrug of his large shoulders and said “Of the seven of us left, almost all of them are Detectives, right? There's only one Murderer and one Executioner?”

Kurata grinned.

“To properly define the roles, we could say that the Detectives' role is to unravel the events created by both Murderers and Executioners, and expose Murderers. Murderers are charged with committing crimes in the VR space and solving any events not of their own making, and exposing the identity of the Executioner. The Executioner is charged with misleading the other players and performing executions, with the goal of either wiping out all the Detectives or timing out the game. Detectives and Murderers are both part of the Detective Team despite their different goals. Only the Executioner is separate. They're on my side.”

Yuki hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Then... doesn't that mean that if any Detective or the Murderer completes their goal, the game is considered won?”

“Of course. As long as anyone on the Detective Team fulfills their victory condition, it will be judged that they've defeated me and my Executioner. In other words, everyone still alive at that time will be considered to have won.”

Hearing that just made Yuki even more confused.

Kamo understood his reaction.

Kurata had imprisoned Kamo and the others and taken hostages, so it wouldn't be strange if the rule was that only the one who actually fulfilled their own victory condition would be saved, and everyone else would be killed. That would further accelerate the division between Kamo and the others, and force them to seek the deaths of their fellow detectives.

However, the rules that Kurata had given instead seemed to favor the Detective Team.

...Why is she showing mercy on this point?

“Maybe some of you are thinking that these victory conditions are too lax?”

Kurata said exactly what Kamo had been thinking, and he couldn't help but respond “What do you mean?”

“Detective or Murderer, each of you can only give your answer once. Of course, your reasoning must be your own, and you can't collaborate with the other players. If there's even the slightest discrepancy between a given theory and the truth, then the player giving the theory will be judged a failure.”

“And... what happens when we fail?”

“Isn't failing to solve an incident the thing a detective should be most harshly shamed for? If you fail, of course it will cost people their lives. In a real investigation, an error in a detective's reasoning often leads to new sacrifices. Normally, the ones who suffer for your mistakes are others, but in this game, you'll be asked to bet your own lives.”

Seeing that Kamo and the others were speechless, Kurata took the chance to continue “Also, if the Detective/Murderer team fail to fulfill any of their victory conditions within the time limit, you'll all be killed on the spot. Because a detective who can't detect has no reason to exist.”

Munakata sighed and asked “How are you going to kill the losers? Are you going to use the poisoned needles in the watches?”

“How could I do such a thing!? The poisoned needles are only activated if someone violates the rules of the game. The failing player will become the next target of the Executioner.”

Kurata's fake, exaggerated tone made Munakata narrow his eyes.

“I see... If you lose, you'll become the victim of the Executioner's next crime.”

“Once a player fails in their reasoning, they are reduced to a puzzle to hinder the other players. Could there be a more perfect game in all the world?”

The sickening thought was enough to distort Kamo's expression. Michi also grimaced ironically as she spoke “Why do I get the feeling the Murderer is in a better position than the Detectives? At least they don't have to solve their own crimes.”

“Naturally, I've already taken that into account. Any Murderer must carry out the perfect crime they planned, and if that crime proves less than perfect, then... GAME OVER.”

Kurata tossed in this new rule without any pity and continued with cheer “Like I said earlier, as long as a Detective can give a complete answer, the victory condition will be declared and the game is over. But... If the Detective only solves an incident created by a Murderer, that would be bad! Because then the Murderer would be judged as a failure, unless the Detective was also able to solve the entire puzzle.”

Michi responded with a look of pity “Geez, but whether the Detective has actually solved the puzzle completely is something only the gods can know, right? So really, the only choice the Murderer has is to do everything in their power to escape the Detectives.”

“Exactly.”

“I see. But looking at who's gathered here, I'm afraid escaping will be easier said than done.”

Michi said this without showing the slightest hostility towards Kurata. In terms of attitude, she was the exact opposite of the emotional Azuma.

Michi's look had both the childishness of a middle school student and an air of sophistication. But those were both just performances she put on, they weren't necessarily what lay in her heart.

Either way, Kamo's position was even more complicated than Michi thought.

He had prepared two cases for the demo event.

To survive, he had to successfully execute them both. Kamo was confident neither case was easy, but that didn't mean he was willing to risk his life on them being unsolvable.

However, the Murderer role wasn't purely downsides.

Though it would probably mean sacrificing his life, he did have the option of surrendering. Maybe he'd even be able to slip secret hints to the other players without Kurata realizing.

“Now maybe someone among you is thinking 'Oh, maybe I can just turn myself in in the spirit of self-sacrifice, or leave hints for the Detectives'.”

Once again having his thoughts spoken back at him, Kamo felt cold sweat on his skin. It was like he was battling a demon that could see into his soul.

Kurata continued toying with them.

“As soon as the Murderer does anything I even suspect is an act of surrender, the poisoned needle will be activated on the spot. They'll be killed as soon as they tell the truth or give a single hint... But that's not enough. After all, the game would be wasted if one person was willing to sacrifice themselves.”

“Then... what will you do?” Yuki asked, his voice trembling.

“I want to make the punishment for turning yourself in even harsher, as well as for failing and getting caught. Once that happens, not only the Murderer themself, but also their hostages will die.”

...What the hell are you thinking!? 

Kamo wanted to roar that, but he desperately stopped himself.

Right now, Kamo had no choice but to desperately escape from the Detectives' pursuit. Not only that, but in order to save Rena and Yukina's lives, he had to identify the Executioner himself.

Kurata continued “Ah, but don't feel too bad for them now. If you don't give your answers, you'll have to die together once the time limit runs out. The only way to win this game is to risk your own lives while trampling over others with your reasoning.”

Fuwa viciously shouted “Are you trying to get us all killed!?”

“Heh. That is all I have to say about the rules.”

Kurata unilaterally ended the conversation. Kenzan threw out a new question.

“Can we assume that the only person who will be committing crimes in the real world is the Executioner?”

“Of course. All of the crimes that occur in the real world... are committed by the Executioner.”

“Can we trust you?”

“Just how many times do you want me to say it? As the Gamemaster, I won't lie.”

Azuma, who had been deep in thought, spoke up “Answer me one more question. You wouldn't do something to make us think that the seven of us are the only ones here, when in actuality, you've secretly arranged for outsiders to come in and commit the murders, would you?”

“I would never do something that would jeopardize the fairness of the game. While 'Delicious Death for Detectives' is in progress, both Puppet Hall and Megalodon Manor will be kept in a state of total isolation from the outside world, and there will be no characters, real or virtual, other than the seven of you entering. Are there any other questions?”

Kamo and the others looked at each other. No one said anything.

Kurata's sing-song voice came back over the speakers.

“Seven great detectives... If this were a novel, someone would probably ridicule this as a 'Case for Seven Detectives', right? Well, I'm not sure if any of you are really great detectives, but I'm afraid you were all the self-proclaimed super sleuths I could find. Consider this a chance for a get-together.”

Munakata glared at the speakers, not even trying to hide his annoyance.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing, it's just that... such a special event might well lead to a global crisis even I can't predict.”

***

“This is no joke, it really will cause a global crisis!”

Yuki lowered his voice in indignation. Kamo nodded in agreement after making sure the other five couldn't hear them.”

“Well... yeah.”

Kamo had once challenged the serial murder case of “The Deadly Tragedy of Shino” in order to save his wife and the entire Ryuuzen clan.

So far, he doesn't sound that different from any other amateur detective.

The difference was that Kamo had time traveled to the year 1960, and that the Tragedy of Shino was a crisis with the survival of mankind hanging in the balance.

If he hadn't lived through it himself, Kamo wouldn't have believed it. In fact, thanks to him solving the serial murder case, a major crisis was averted. Because of that incident, the “curse of the Ryuuzen clan” disappeared.

Kamo frowned and continued “If... If Rena, Yukina, and I also become victims of this incident, it's likely that crisis will return in another form.”

“Did I really guess correctly?”

Yuki's expression was also somber.

Kamo asked “Things are similar on your end, right?”

Five years ago, Yuki was involved in another serial murder case on Kakuriyo Island. Setting aside for the moment that his reason for going to the island was to avenge the death of his childhood friend... The issue here is that that case was also connected to an unprecedented crisis.

Thanks to Yuki solving both the murders and the secret of Kakuriyo Island, that crisis was solved.

“It would be equally bad if Ms. Mikumo and I were to die. Although, besides us, you, Mr. Kamo, and Rena also know the secret of Kakuriyo Island, but you're also caught up in this incident.”

That's right... Kurata's scheme didn't just threaten the lives of Kamo and the others, it also threatened to resurrect the two crises that Kamo and Yuki had risked their lives to stop.

Yuki's smile was tinged with self-loathing.

“Do you know the Ryuuzen family motto?”

“Well, Rena's said it several times. 'The world is full of unbelievable things, so the impossible will happen.' Right?”

“Looks like we're practicing the family motto again... Getting caught up in a death game at a gathering of great detectives.”

Saying that, Yuki closed his mouth and looked fixedly at Kamo.

Kamo could read in his eyes the message “Do you think this is really a coincidence?” The reason he didn't just say so was probably because he was concerned they may have been bugged.

Kamo stared at the floor, lost in thought.

After his return from Kakuriyo Island, Yuki had tried for a while to hide the truth about the serial murders that had occurred while he was there. But his explanation was too far-fetched, so Kamo and Rena had pursued the matter.

When he got the truth, Kamo was struck by a deep fear.

...Why does the Ryuuzen clan keep getting caught up in unusual events? Has the curse of the Ryuuzen clan actually disappeared?

Since that day, Kamo hadn't been able to stop asking himself that question.

There was only one person Kamo knew who could answer that question. The small hourglass flashed in his mind.

“Hora.”

He subconsciously said the name out loud.

Yuki's eyes widened, but he quickly showed a sad expression again.

“Yeah... I've never met him, but if he were here...”

Meister Hora was the world's greatest hacker.

Because of his abilities, Meister Hora had gradually become something akin to an urban legend, known as “The Hourglass of Miracles” that could grant any wish.

Kamo had met Hora – or rather, his hourglass pendant – six and a half years ago. Back then, Kamo and Hora had teamed up to intervene in a gruesome serial murder case, foiling an evil plot in the process.

If Hora had been there... If he'd had that hourglass in his hand, things would be completely different. With Hora's ability, it would have been easy to deactivate the smartwatches and prevent the poisoned needles from being activated.

But about six years ago, Hora left Kamo.

Since then, Kamo hadn't laid eyes on the hourglass pendant a single time, and the other man hadn't contacted him.

Kamo quickly shook his head.

“Sorry, I said something I shouldn't have... He's gone now.”

Before they'd realized it, Kamo and Yuki had been left as the only two people in the entrance hall. Since Kurata had given them orders to go back to their rooms, the others must have already complied,

“Let's go back to our rooms as well.”

Kamo told Yuki, but Yuki was still looking at Roppongi's corpse with a far away look in his eyes.

“Maybe... I'm not qualified to be a detective in the first place.”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“I also once dreamed of revenge, so I understand her thought process. What I wanted to do back then is essentially no different from what Kurata Chikage wants to do now.”

Despite his confusion, Kamo rapidly shook his head.

“No, that's not true.”

He couldn't tell if Yuki had even heard him. He just continued in a flat voice.

“Even now, I don't regret the time I spent longing for revenge. Back then, I couldn't think of anything but how I was going to make them suffer with my own two hands.”

“Yuki...”

Kamo didn't know what to say, and Yuki smiled sadly.

“Once a person has abandoned something in the name of revenge, they can never get it back. I've already been like that for a long time now. The axis of my head is twisted, so I wouldn't have hesitated to lie, distort the truth... and maybe I will again. I'm the sort of person who can fabricate evidence with a straight face. Someone like me isn't qualified to oppose her.”

Saying this, Yuki seemed to make up his mind.

“That's why... I'm going to give up my Detective role.”

Kamo froze, his brain refusing to comprehend the words he'd heard. While he processed Yuki's meaning, Yuki continued “I'm sorry... I'm not like you, Mr. Kamo. I can't do what you do.”

Leaving behind those words and their bitter aftertaste, Yuki disappeared down the hallway.

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