"Next?" Bernkastel doesn't look like she notices Squitcher's absence. She doesn't press the issue, though, and the goats swarm Cirno within a few seconds. There are no remains. "You know, Ozaki, if you give up now, I may allow your vessel to remain intact. You'd make a much better piece than my last."

Last edited at 13/09/20(Fri)14:32:41

>>13337
"No thanks, I have my own game already planned out after all.
While I'm doing silly theories I guess I'll get this one out of my system.
The windows can be locked from the outside. One of them was locked like that. "

Last edited at 13/09/20(Fri)14:38:32

"The windows can not be locked from the outside. The doors can not be locked from the outside without a key."

>>13339
...The guesthouse was locked from the inside. They hid upstairs on the second floor.

"When your group entered, nobody was hiding inside of the guest house. Nobody could have escaped from the time your group broke the window to the time you entered."

Last edited at 13/09/20(Fri)14:57:51

>>13338
To continue from another theory; the windows can be locked from the inside normally since the red only refers to the outside.
The latches are not reliable, if you closed it hard enough it may lock on its own. In other words one of the entrances/exit has an auto-lock.
Alternatively the culprit forced their own version, say for example having something fall down on the latch after they closed the window.

"The latches are reliable. They won't close if the window is shut hard enough. None of the entrances were set up in a way that they would act as an autolock."

>>13343
"Alright, going back to my hiding theory; they were not actually hiding, but in plain sight. One of the victims locked the guesthouse from the inside.

Last edited at 13/09/21(Sat)12:17:59

"Six people were dead inside of the guesthouse before your group broke the guest house window. These people were Kyrie, Ange, Hideyoshi, Eva, Krauss, and Rosa."

>>13346
"And? Deny my theory."

"...None of the victims locked the guest house from the inside. Sorry for getting your hopes up."

>>13348
"No, you should have said "Don't worry its not that silly"

I'll try one last thing with this victim theory.
There was a seventh victim, or rather one of the six didn't actually die. I only met them today after all I may have mistook their faces.

"There was no seventh victim inside the guest house."

>>13348
Clarify that nobody created this closed room by locking the guesthouse from the inside.
Six people did die yes, but what if one of them didn't count as a victim but as an accomplice! They locked the guesthouse from the inside.

"None of the six who died locked the guest house from the inside."

>>13352
Instead of the doors it could have been just the lock,
One of the locking mechanisms was tampered with to work incorrectly. Like making it seem like a door was locked or something similar.

Last edited at 13/09/21(Sat)21:55:54

"None of the locking mechanisms were tampered with."

>After the window to the guest house shattered, nobody threw a key into the guest house

I really should have ask you to clarify this red back when I thought it was odd.
I consider the window breaking and the rock hitting it the same instance, but you probably didn't.

In other words my theory about the key being thrown into the room works. Rudolf threw the rock/key and then directly following it the window was smashed.

"...Someone threw the key at the exact time Rudolf threw the rock, whether this was Rudolf himself or someone else."

You can hear Bernkastel growl.

"You're not done, yet! Who did all of these things? Why?!

Who killed all of the victims of the epitaph murder?

Who kidnapped Battler?

Who left the letter in front of Eva's door?

Who left the letter in the parlor? Well?"

>>13356
"Hold on, you never responded to my blue for Kumasawa and Rudolf."

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)00:05:14

"It's like you said," Bernkastel says. "There's no mystery. No closed room. Red is pointless."

>>13358
"Fine then you cheeky witch. On another matter there was a few times during the game where it was being vague about time."

>Unfortunately, your filthy smoking habit makes it difficult for you to run long distances, so you have to stop every once in awhile.

"Sure, I didn't check my watch, but I'd like an estimate seeing how I was the one having to take the breaks."

"You were running around with your lungs about to collapse for exactly twelve minutes."

>>13360
"Alright one last thing. How long would it take to get from the mansion to the guesthouse?"

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)00:22:34

"The mansion and guest house were close together. Walking, it wouldn't take more than three minutes to get from one to the other. If you were running you could probably get there in under a minute."

Alright then lets start with those letters.

>I have taken the fool, Battler, away. He denied his family and everything that comes as a part of it, including the gold he found. I must warn each of you that I am a fickle witch. If you poke your heads around looking for him, I cannot guarantee the boy's safety. I deeply hope that you understand. -The Golden Witch, Beatrice."

Compared to the one the the parlor.

>I know where Battler Ushiromiya is. I also know that at least one of you has knowledge of where Kinzo Ushiromiya's gold is hidden. If you do not send at least one representative to retrieve the gold, I guarantee his safety no longer.

It is clear that the second one is a different person. They NOW know where Battler is, and they desire the gold. So are we then looking for two culprits? No, Beatrice only kidnapped Battler.

Shannon had clearly announced herself as Beatrice during the game. Along with that, I also saw her sneaking around the Guesthouse after everyone had been moved to the Mansion. Shannon is likely the one who kidnapped Battler.
Of course we determined that Battler wasn't really killed during that time but later, so we'll have to assume that this was unrelated to the actual crime and was done by Shannon for her own personal reasons. "Protecting the island and family" may be a good motive.

-

Now the other letter also requires the "who kill everyone" and 'why" to be answered.
My theory is that it was Ushiromiya Rudolf.

The logic is this, because Shannon kidnapped Battler, Rudolf got hystric. Along with the motive of "I need money", and the Ushiromiya's unrealistic hatred for one another, he threw away his inhibitions and murdered everyone. The food was probably drugged after Battler disappeared and that caused him to go about his business unseen. Kyrie and Ange had wounds that differed from the rest after all. Not to mention Ange was also lying on the bar instead of in a chair. As already explained in the howdunits he threw the rock with the key in order to create an illusion. He also faked his death at the end, I never checked the true wound after all.
Seeing how we got split up multiple times after that the rest explains itself really.

This is my theory!

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)13:54:05

"Shannon did not kidnap Battler. When she said that she did not know where Battler was, she was telling the truth.

Rudolf did not write either of the letters.

Rudolf wanted Ange, Kyrie, and Battler to live. The culprit did not kill anyone on accident. And yet there is only one culprit in this game. How do you explain the contradictions with your theory?! You can't."

>>13364
"Alright, It was Jessica then, she was also "Kinzo". Kanon was a metaphor for Battler. She kidnapped Battler after finding out he was alive and tried to get info on the gold. Natsuhi was the real murderer because she was in the marriage for the money the whole time. Jessica accomplice and Natsuhi culprit, because why not?

"Wrong. All of it.

Jessica was not Kinzo. Jessica did not kidnap Battler. Kanon was not a metaphor for Battler. Jessica didn't particularly care about the gold. Jessica did not write either of the letters. Natsuhi was not the culprit. She genuinely loved her husband and daughter. Natsuhi did not kidnap Battler. Natsuhi did not write either of the letters. Jessica was not an accomplice."

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)14:41:21

>>13364
"Anyway, enough joking around. You never denied Rudolf.

The first twilight could have been killed at random. Thus Rudolf just accepted it as the way it was after they were killed.

Bernkastel grimaces. She uses her last line of defense, weak as it may be.

"Kyrie and Ange had stab wounds in addition to the wound that killed them. Rudolf did not make these stab wounds. Your Rudolf culprit theory won't do you any good."

>>13368
"...Right, so since Rudolf didn't make those, and they were not the cause of death, then they don't disprove Rudolf is the culprit."

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)15:05:04

Bernkastel face turns to anguish. The world around both of you warps and /seacats/ dissappears from your sight.

"You...you insolent brat. You think you're incredibly clever. Fine, I'll admit it.Rudolf Ushiromiya is the culprit of this game.Is that what you wanted?"

>>13370
"Yeah pretty much."

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)15:14:28

"Keep laughing! That's right, laugh until you can't do it anymore--literally! Why don't we return to the gameboard?"

Bernkastel waves her hand and the world of the gameboard returns. You can feel the deep, stinging pain in your back returning.

"It will give me pleasure to watch you be destroyed. Your piece and you are interchangeably connected, you know. Once you die in the game, there won't be any more of you that I have to stand for. Isn't that wonderful?"

Bernkastel fades from sight.

The clocks of Rokkenjima spin once more.

You lay on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. You could only force your body to crawl, at best. Make sudden jerking motions if you really put your mind to it. But what's the point?

You hear a step of footsteps approach you. You strain your head.

Just as you thought. Rudolf stands above you, his gun pointed at your face. "Sorry about this, Ozaki-kun. If you're innocent, I'm sure God will make it right. And if you're guilty, [see you in Hell]. Any last requests?"

>>13373
"...was any of this premeditated?"

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)15:48:23

"My son...Battler. Someone took him from me. I wanted to take all of the adults to the guest house so that I could question them. I was sure that one of them had something to do with his being gone. I was never going to kill them! But Eva started fighting back, she was going to murder me on the spot! I had to defend myself. I accidentally shot her in the chest. It was lethal. Then the other three decided they would rush me. I barely had enough reflexes and distance to take them out as well! I was going to die if they got to me, then I would never find my son.

I mangled their chests to cover up the terrible thing that I had to do. Then, when I got back to my room...Kyrie...little Ange...they were bleeding out on my bed. Someone had attacked them, Ozaki! Even worse...they were still alive. Just laying there, bleeding, looking miserable. They were fatal wounds. Even if I had asked you for help, and I didn't trust you even then, it wouldn't have helped. I did what any loving husband and father would have, didn't I? I had to...had to...That's when I knew for sure that someone was after my family.

Battler was all that I had left. Then, after I ran away from George, I saw Genji in the shed, looking down at Battler. I'll admit my own fault here, Ozaki. I didn't consider the possibility that Genji had come across the rose garden by accident. I...I was in grief. I didn't want him hurting my son! I shot him in the back of the head then removed the bullet using some tools.

But Battler...he was badly injured. It looked like he was going to die as well! Ozaki-kun...I had to kill all of my family on the same fucking day! Do you have any idea what that's like?

Then the explosion happened and I forced everyone around me to come with me. I just wanted to question them, dammit! In the mansion, I found out that George and Shannon were faking their deaths. It was so obvious from up close. That made them suspicious, right? I killed them on the spot.

You tried to look in the window, so I shot a bullet to scare you off. It wasn't meant to actually hit you. Then Leon started shooting at me, and I had no other choice than to defend myself. I had no choice.

I led Natushi and Kumasawa away, then Natsuhi tried to run away, so I had to shoot her as well. Nobody understood! She's laying around here, somewhere. Kumasawa tried to disarm me from the back, so I hit her with the butt of my gun. She died, and I made her part of my act. Since everything that happened seemed to look like those epitaph murders, I played dead so that I could remain hidden after your group came.

...But it was only you, wasn't it? The stranger who came to Rokkenjima. The most suspicious one of us all. You may be innocent, but I have no way of knowing that. I'm truly sorry."

>>13375
"I see. So it was the mercy killing after all. I understand your strife. If its any excuse, I don't have any motive, but I guess that doesn't matter much to a bullet wound now does it?"

"Gold, working as an accomplice to someone, I don't care anymore, Ozaki-kun. I just don't. I have to do what I have to do. I did what I did because of love. If it's any consolation, I really did like you."

Rudolf puts his finger on the trigger.

...But a gunshot never comes. Instead, you hear the sound of some large object landing against Rudolf. You squint in the darkness. It's Natsuhi!

Natsuhi land on Rudolf and knocks his gun out of his hands. She picks it up, points it at him, and fires.

The bullet goes straight through Rudolf's skull.

Natsuhi looks at you. You can see that she's bleeding out strongly through the chest. Her wound...is probably fatal.

"Ozaki-san..." she says. "I'm so sorry... last night...I woke up and I saw Rudolf carrying a gun...he didn't see me...I got scared...my husband never came back...I wanted to threaten his family...collateral...but Ange-chan...she kept making so much noise...had to keep them quiet...All my fault...everything...Please...Jessica...I'm not a bad person."

Natsuhi stops talking and moving altogether. Your vision becomes blurred and the room wraps itself in darkness.

You open your eyes and daylight greets you. How? Shouldn't you be dead?

"'Ey, Ozaki! O-zak-i!" The boat captain is violently shaking you.

>>13377
>>13378
"Huh what? Kuwabata, why are you here?"

Kuwabata sits you up.

"It's kind of odd. I was waiting by the docks like I always do, then I saw what looks like a friggin' golden butterfly going this way. So I'm chasing it so I can sell it to a museum when it comes in this house through a broken window. I go inside and here you are, laying next to a bunch of dead rich people. Looks like something led me here. Maybe something's looking after you, kid. Or maybe I imagined it. I should probably tell you that I'm incredibly high right now."

You feel on your back. Somehow, the wound had turned from being a bullet hole to a small nick, as if you had been healed. Was something like that possible?

"Hey," the captain says. "Are there any other survivors? I really need to get paid."

>>13380
"There should be some solid gold bars lying around somewhere."

I check to see who the dead bodies are.

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)16:25:53

"Gold?" Ecstatic, the captain looks around for it.

You see Rudolf and Natsuhi in the same positions they had been in when you went to sleep. George and Shannon are still in the main hall as well. It doesn't seem like anything changed.

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)16:32:02

>>13382
I guess while he is looking around I'll make sure to remove the ammo from any guns nearby. I also look for anything else notable.

You remove all the ammo in Rudolf's gun.

"I can't find any gold!"

What happened to the survivors at the chapel?

>>13384
"Lets check the chapel."

I then go there.

You and Kawabata walk to the chapel.

"Geez, looks like you had a tough weekend. Don't worry, the same kind of things happens when my wife's side of the family comes over. Actually, I remember..."

You're not listening anymore. You can't help but think about the chapel. In a way, it's a bit like that cat-box theory. Without looking inside, the survivors are, in a way, both dead and alive at once.

Will you be able to talk to the survivors? Will Leon still be alive?

Will anyone still be alive? Will you be able to apologize, create reasons for your actions on that night? Will there be anyone left to hear them?

There's no point in thinking about it. You're standing in front of the chapel now. You don't hear anything while you stand in front of the door.

You knock.

Last edited at 13/09/22(Sun)17:22:51

????

"Well, was your experiment a success?"

"Of course," replies Bernkastel. "The two trial games have worked spectacularly. I've learned that there isn't a single competent detective among them."

"Very good. You're ready, then?"

"Yes. I'll be launching my final siege on /seacats/. And none shall survive."

THE END

To be continued in Concealment of the Golden Witch.