"Well, following the same idea culprit-san could have used a mechanical trap to kill the one who closed the door.
If that doesn't work and assuming suicide or accidents are not allowed then maybe culprit-san killed both of them from the outside with the open window, Jessica stay inside and close the window before dying."

>>2312
"Traps, suicide, and accidental deaths are not allowed. The culprit did not kill them through an open window."

"Well, that does make sense. How about this?
The culprit shoot them from the outside of the room, using a hole in the door, a wall or maybe the roof/floor".

"There is no extra holes anywhere in the room."

"Extra? What do you mean with extra Shannon-san?
Either there was some way to put the barrel of the gun inside of the room or the culprit damaged the room from the outside allowing for a bullet to enter it."

>>2316
"That's... not the case!"

Shannon seemed to grow slightly upset. She seems to be getting nervous you might just be getting close to the answer.

"The culprit did not damage the room.

"Well then I got that part.
The culprit shoot them from outside of the room.
But how? Well maybe be shoot from a ventilation, or he did remove a part of the door or the window to get the barrel inside of the room."

>>2318
"Congratulations Anon, you got it. I can't deny your theory because it is the truth."

Maria, Jessica and Battler all congratulate you. It seems they are going to take a small break before playing again. Now is your chance to either talk to them or leave before getting roped into another game.

anon thanks Shannon for the game and then he decides to talk with Jessica.
"Hello there, Jessica-san. Are you still dead?~"

>>2332
Jessica laughs at the joke.

"Yep, I'm a zombie."

"Jessica knock it off." Battler tells her grabbing her lightly by the red hair band in her hair.

"Sorry, about that." Jessica laughs as she pulls away from Battler. "Is there something you wanted?"

"Nothing in particular, it's just than the mood is more pleasant here.
Are you guys fans of mystery books?"

>>2334
"Well I for one am not going to let some stupid letter freak me out."

Battler laughs. "Yep no reason to get so messed up over a stupid letter."

Shannon also laughs. "Yes that is just what the prankster wants. There is no reason to be upset over a prank. So we decided to play a game, since there is no reason to be worried.

"That prank was kinda nasty, but as you said there's no need to worry about it.
Anyways you usually play this kind of games? I used to read mystery novels in the past, but I was never really good."

>>2336
"Well mysteries aren't exactly my thing, but I have read some books before. Maria likes logic puzzles. Battler and Shannon on the other hand love this kind of stuff, so we decided to play around for a little while, before we did something else."

anon enjoys the mood for a while, he talks a bit with everyone, but then he remember he has something to ask
"Actually Jessica-san, there's something I would like to ask you" anon whispers
"Would you mind talking a bit with me in private?"

>>2338
"Nope that's fine, let's talk in the other room though."

Jessica excuses herself and heads into the hallway and into another room.

anon follows Jessica to the other room and then he asks
"I'm sorry to bother you Jessica-san, but there's something than has been bugging me.
Or is someone missing in this conference? I mean do Eva-san and Hideyoshu-san have a son or daugther? "

>>2340
"You must be referring to George. Well.... That is a little complicated. Well it kind of started 6 years ago I think. Battler and George had a falling out. I don't know all the details, but I know part of it has to do with Shannon. They both liked her. But she liked Battler so that is why she is with him now. Though they haven't made the relationship public yet.

Well I think George kind of figured out Shannon liked Battler and that is part of the reason he stopped coming to the conferences. But it might have something to do with their big falling out too, or maybe even something else."

"I'm sorry, I guess I don't really know much."

"So, this is the fifth time George-san doesn't come to the family conference? That's sad, but I should say he has been kind enough to don't reveal their relationship. Thank god I didn't ask that in front of them.
Also, I have another question. Aside from the female servant who got injured, there are any other servant working in this mansion who isn't present today?"

"No that is incorrect. This will be George's 4th time. And he came by himself one time shortly after the last time he showed up at the conference."

"Aside from her, there are 7 other servants who are not here today."

"I see, and did you had any chance to talk with him that time?"

>>2344
Jessica shakes her head.

"Nope sorry. I'm afraid I did not."

"That's sad, then that was the last time you see him? It's sad to don't be able to meet with your family."

>>2346
"...I suppose it is. But lets just say George didn't leave on the best note."

Jessica lets out a sigh.

"After all this time, I've forgiven him, but I don't know about anyone else."

"Holding anger won't help anyone."

anon notices this is a serious matter, but his curiosity is bigger than his shyness.
"... he didn't leave on the best note? He did something bad before leaving?"

>>2348
"Sort of. I don't really want to go into details that isn't right, not without those involved permission. But I will tell you the reason I was made at him. Because I felt he was being a complete selfish jerk. I told him to leave and not come or try to talk to any of us again."

Jessica closed her eyes a frown appears on her face.

"So it might be my fault that George actually left the family..."

"... I'm sorry Jessica, from the short time I have spend here I know for sure you are a kind person.
Considering the situation George-san maybe it was better to give some time to everyone. But w
Who knows maybe you guys could repair your relationship in a future."

>>2350
"Thanks but I don't really think I am..."

Jessica's voice drops real low.

"Do you think Eva Oba-san hates me? The last few times she has been her she has treated me ice cold."

"Eva seems like a strict mother, and she doesn't seem to get along with any of his direct family very well. I don't think she really hates you, but she probably is sad to don't be able to come with his son.
Anyways you did not start this problem Jessica, this would have happened one way or another, and if what George did was wrong, well it was natural for you to get upset.

One cannot change past, but that's why you can't let the past trap you."

Jessica looks down at the ground.

"I suppose that is possible. But it seems that way though.
it seems like she is always trying to mess up my family in someway now.
She seems to always try and insult me or make me look bad.
So it really feels like she hates me."

Jessica seems to be thinking about something.

"Even if I didn't start the problem I should try to fix it right?
I wonder if the method I tried to fix the problem was the right way.
Maybe I should have tried something else. Maybe I could have fixed everything."

"I tell you something Anon that I haven't told anyone else. When George
was around the last confrence I hated him. Well maybe that isn't right.
I hated how he was acting. It was like he changed from 1 year to the next."

Jessica seems to mull over things a little.

"You're right. I can't change the past. And I also can't fix everything.
I can try all I want, but the fact is I might not have been able to change
the outcome no matter what I did. I realize that now. Thank you."

Jessica smiles slightly.

"Is that all? If it is we should probably go back with the others."

"It was probably hard to talk about it, I thank you too.
And yeah, let's go back before they get the wrong idea"

>>2361
You and Jessica both leave the dinning area and head back in the lounge.

Upon entering you see Shannon hanging up the phone.

"Genji says it is almost time for dinner, everyone is supposed to head to the dinning room."

The cousins and Shannon get ready to leave the guesthouse.

anon also prepare to return to mansion, but then he feel the need to ask something to the cousins.
"This was quite fun and I thank you for that. But there's something I can't get out of my head.
If the whole family get kicked from the mansion, What do you plan to do now? I already asked Shannon-san but I'm still worried for you.
I already graduated from the Fukuin house so I could get another job, but the servants working here seem to have a long time working for the Ushiromiya."

>>2363
"Well, it doesn't really effect me all that much. As far as what I'm going to do." Battler answered glancing over at Shannon.

Shannon blushed and ignored your question completely.

"Maria go to school. Uu-"

Jessica glanced down. "I don't know... I don't know what my family is going to do. We don't have a place to stay anymore. I'll probably have to get a job some place for the time being to help my family out."

anon answer to each one of the cousins
First one is Battler
"I hope everything goes fine for you two~"
Then Maria
"I'm sure you will do fine Maria-chan, please support and love your mother all time"
And finally, Jessica
"Getting a job? hoh I'm sure your mother will oppose against that, but hey now you won't be locked in this island all the time"
anon will return to mansion as soon as the others are ready.

>>2365
Battler's cheeks turned slightly red. "U-u-u-uh-uh-yeah." He stammered. Shannon giggled at this.

"Maria love Mama. Uu~! Maria will stay by Mama's side, never let Mama out of sight kihihihihi~"

"Well it isn't like we really have a choice. We are almost completely broke. Mom might have to get a job even."

After you finish talking, you head back to the main house with everyone. Quickly you get separated from the cousins as it is time for them to get ready to eat, and time for you to help out.

You are very busy helping Gohda and Kumasawa in both the kitchen and helping Shannon get rooms ready for everyone.

Shannon suggests to you that it would be faster if each of you did the rooms by yourselves, instead of together.

Realizing the amount of rooms you need to get ready, you agree to this, and you don't see Shannon again.

After finally finishing the last room you get hear the telephone ring in the room you're in. It is Genji telling you it is time for everyone to eat.

You enter the nearest bathroom to wash your hands, closing the door behind you. Right as you close the door something slips by the cracks, however it goes unnoticed by you.

___________________________________________

Anon closed the door to the bathroom as he did that. A small golden butterfly and a strange white creature passed just trough the cracks heading out of the room and into the hallway.

~~~Meta World~~~

The witch smirks as she laughs. She reaches forward and moves one of the pieces, before removing one of the pawns.

"It is your move now. Well almost~"

A strange sound echoed through the room. A cold wind blows through the room.

"Well what do we have here?" A new voice spoke.

You turn around and see someone standing behind you. It is Bernkastel: the Witch of Miracles.

"A game, one that I didn't know about. Hmmm." Bernkastel stops and looks at the board. "I see." She turns and looks are you a sly smile appears on her face. "I'll assist you in this game."

She snaps her finger and inside her hand appears three coins. She hands the coins over to you.

"These coins might allow a miracle to happen." Bernkastel giggles. "Though I'll assist you in other ways as well."

"So Miracle vs Certainty." It was the voice of another new person.

In a flash another person appeared in the room this time it was Lambdadelta: The Witch of Certainty, and she appeared behind Mira.

"Miracle vs Certainty, I wonder who will win~"

Bernkastel let out an amused giggle. "This is getting more and more interesting. Let's continue shall we."
______________________________________

~~~Gameboard~~~

You are inside the bathroom you just finished washing your hands.

"The witch of Bernkastel right? You don't have the best reputation around here, but that's given for a witch. If you plan to aid me I don't mind. If the witch of certainty is helping my opponent I will need it"

_______________________________

anon return to the mansion, as Genji asked him

>>2368
Will a miracle happen. I wonder~

__________________________________________

You enter the hallway of the main house. You see and hear no one.

"If you plan to help me I will ask you one thing.
Keep a keen eye on the pieces, I'm sure the GM can't blur vision as she can with mine"

____________________________________
anon keeps walking toward the dinning hall.

>>2370
I see.
_________________________________________
You enter the dining room. You notice almost everyone is present in the dining room. It seems however 5 people are missing. Natsuhi, Jessica, Battler, Rosa, Kumasawa, you don't see them in the room.

It seems that while the food is placed in front of everyone, no one is allowed to eat until everyone else shows up.

Minutes pass by. After 40 minutes everyone starts to get a little restless. Gohda starts complaining about how the food is cold now.

The ticking of the clock on the wall was beginning to unnerve everyone. What had happened to the five currently missing people.

The room began to fill with whispers of everyone questioning each other on what happened to the 5 people.

The clock instantly killed all conversation as it chimed. A little girl being chased by a wolf ran out of the first door on the clock. She ran around the track in a circle before entering the second door. The wolf however stopped at the center of the circle. And howled once for each hour.

1st Howl. 2nd Howl. 3rd Howl. 4th Howl. 5th Howl. 6th Howl. 7th Howl. It was now 7PM.

Eva frowned. "That is one thing I'm not sorry to see go. That clock. I'll be glad when I get to forget about it. And that story about the wolves and then the witch. It just brings up bad memories."

Rudolf also frowned. "That clock is just full of bad memories. Why is it even still up?"

Krauss let out a sigh. "You know how much father liked that clock. So Natsuhi and I decided we wouldn't take it down."

The dining room went silent it seems everyone was deep in thought, and then.

Howl!

The clock was starting up again.

"What is going on?!" Eva shouted it has only been 30 minutes."

"It must be broken." Rudolf chuckled.

The girl and the wolf came out again. But when the wolf stopped everyone's eyes widened. Around the wolf's neck was a master key.

"What the hell!" Eva screamed.

"What-what-what is going on." Shannon cried out.

"How did? How did something like that happen?" Rudolf said confused. "How did the wolf reappear with the key?"

Genji went over and stopped the clock. He reset the time to 7PM forcing the wolf to come out again, sure enough it still had the key around it's neck. Genji took the key off its neck and then set the clock to the proper time.

"It appears to be Kumasawa's master key." Genji told everyone.

"Kihihihihi~" Maria laughed. "You are all wondering, how that was possible. But what you just witness was magic. Maria can tell that wolf in that clock was cursed with a magic spell. It happened a long time ago. Kihihihi~"

"How do you know about that?!" Eva screamed losing her composure. She quickly realized her outburst and calmed down and apologized.

It seems this clock has a story behind it. It might be valuable to learn. Or we can try and find the 5 victims. Or something completely different. Your choice.

anon ask to Shannon
"Shannon-san, aren't you worried for Battler-kun? Do you have any idea of where he could be?"

>>2372
Shannon fidgets nervously. "Yes I'm very worried. I hope. I hope. I hope."

Tears started to form in Shannon's eyes. "I hope nothing happened to him. I'm afraid I don't know where he went. The last time I saw him was when we split up with the cousins upon entering the main house."

anon try to comfort Shannon, but she seem quite sad. Then he walks toward Genji.
"Genji-san, Do you have any idea of where is Kumasawa-san? When was the last time you see her?"

>>2375
"Just before it was time to eat, Kumasawa received a telephone call. She told me she was going to take it in the servants quarters. That is the last time I saw her."

"Thank you Genji-san"
And then anon ask to Maria
"Maria-chan, when was the last time you see Mama?"

>>2377
"At lunch, kihihihihi~"

anon thanks Maria for her complex answer and then he ask Krauss.
"Krauss-sama, I'm a bit worried, Do you have any idea of where could be Natsuhi-sama?"

>>2379
Krauss looks down at the floor. "I'm afraid I don't. Natsuhi said she wanted to be alone in her room shortly after lunch."

"I see. Krauss-sama do you mind if I search for them? I'll tell them to come here if I get to find someone"

Second Thread