Chapters 271 – 254 a Challenge to Readers

[Astrological Murder Case], A work published by Soji Shimada in 1980, is a novel that is the starting point of a new full-scale mystery novel that puts everything on the line with a twist and a trick.

First, starting from the beginning, ‘Heikichi’s Notes’ clouds the readers’ judgment with a shocking tirade.

The madness of a man who collects the body parts of his six daughters to resurrect the alchemy demon ‘Azot’.

As the story goes, the bodies of the six daughters of the Umezawa family are discovered throughout Japan, shocking Japan.

The first body discovered with the area below the knees cut off.

The second body was found with its buttocks cut off, and the third body was found with its head cut off.

The fourth body was found with its chest cut off and the fifth body was found with its thighs cut off.

Finally, the sixth body was found with its abdomen cut off.

The six sisters of the family were cut into pieces and murdered… The circumstances of the incident alone were shocking.

What’s even more shocking is.

The person who wrote the above note, Heikichi Umezawa, was already dead at the time they were presumed to have been murdered.

The other characters in the memoir all had alibis that were inadequate to carry out the mission of madness on his behalf.

So who is the culprit who actually cut up and murdered the six daughters?

And what is the intention and trick of the real criminal who inherited that madness and committed murder?

[Astrological Murder Case] ​​Contains the activities of the famous detective ‘Mitarai’ who takes on the challenge of ‘Umezawa-Astrological Murder’, Japan’s greatest mystery that remains unsolved even after 40 years.

“We bring the novels that impressed each other the most, play the role of detectives from those works, and have fun giving mystery quizzes to other detectives. That was the purpose of the mystery club trip we went on. In order to create an atmosphere similar to the cliché closed circle, we rented a mountain cabin where each room could be shared.”

The novel Mitarai chose on that trip was [The Astrological Murder Case].

The reason Mitarai brought that novel was because it was the most famous novel as a new authentic novel,

When recommending mystery novels to Ara, one of the most popular topics was fair play between author and reader.

This is because it was a novel in which [A challenge to the reader] Appeared twice, asserting that since all fair information was given, one could definitely come up with a complete deduction.

‘Challenge… ‘It comes up twice?’

‘Okay. It’s a very famous trick, so it’s impossible for people in our club to not know it, but since you’re young, I thought you could try it with no base. Have you never read [Boy Detective Kim Jeon-il]?’

Even though I was like this, I skipped a grade and even went to the same university. I wonder if they are ignoring me because I am young.

Ara puffed out her cheeks as if responding to the mischievous expression on her face.

‘I only heard of the name because it was an old comic book. But why?’

‘One of the most popular episodes that came out there almost copied the trick from [The Astrological Murder Case]. There was also a theft dispute with the actual author. So, even among club members who haven’t read this book, there are quite a few people who read the comic first and know this trick.’

However, since there was no such information, Mitarai asserted that Ara would be able to have a fair fight by reading [The Astrology Murder Case].

‘Once you learn the trick of [Astrological Murder], It has such an impact that you can never forget it. Moreover, in the play, explicit hints presented by the author continue to appear.’

Mitarai blinked one of her eyes as she said that.

‘But the most interesting thing is that unless there is a change in thinking, we cannot even get close to the core of the problem. The problem I give you on this trip is this. ‘Ara, will you be able to find out the truth?’

Ara smiled confidently at Mitarai’s provocation.

‘There is no prize?’

‘Award? What prize?’

‘If you’re that confident, there shouldn’t be a proper reward when you solve a difficult problem.’

‘Wow~. You said you wanted to follow me so much, so I even bowed my head to convince your parents. What more do you want?’

‘… ‘Chii.’

‘Well, okay. There’s nothing worth giving since it’s just food and drinks to eat late at night. If you can guess the key trick of this piece, I will grant you one wish.’

‘Really? Isn’t this the end of just cowardly listening? You mean it really will come true?’

‘… In that regard, there really is no such thing as a child, right? Detectives don’t say anything in places like this. ‘Try to roll her gray matter brain cells tightly!’

‘… Hehe. ‘You’d better look forward.’

Although the reward for solving her problems was tempting, she was actually happy enough with just this time with him.

But I was also curious about his reaction when he answered the question correctly.

Ara decided to use the time she spent on her trip to come up with a solution that would satisfy him.

However.

Ara’s wish did not come true.

This is because her first murder occurred before she could enjoy the pleasure of her trip.

Isolated mountain cabin. Cut off contact with the outside world.

The crack of doubt that appeared in the laughing and chatting mystery novel club,

The atmosphere, which should have been cordial, quickly cooled.

‘… What is this? Uh, why is my head… ? Mercator. It lives up to its name, doesn’t it? Huh? Now, this is a joke, right? Right?’

‘Shit. It’s really murder. Do not be ridiculous! Uh, why… !’

‘Calm down! Don’t touch anything! ‘Don’t you know that site preservation is the most important thing?’

‘Excuse me… ‘What’s going on?’

‘Ah, you can’t look at Ara!’

‘… !’

Ara’s ability to remember anything she witnessed with her own eyes would have provided significant evidence to the remaining members of her group.
After witnessing the cruel scene of her severed head and corpse, Ara closed her mouth.
Without her excellent memory, Ara was just an ordinary girl.

Ara’s unrequited love, who goes by the nickname ‘Kiyoshi Mitarai’, pretended to be a detective and tried to use her brain to figure out the trick, but it was not enough.
Cross-checking alibis and comparing evidence were useless in a secret murder that seemed to have been performed by magic by crossing a locked door.

The murders, which felt like being possessed by a ghost, did not stop with the first victim.

The tragedy that followed seemed to ridicule the vain deductions of aspiring Holmes detectives who had read dozens of mystery novels, saying they were of no use.

The fourth day, when everyone’s hearts were devastated by the murders that occurred one after another.

Ara found Mitarai struggling with her neck hanging.

Amid the creaking sound and the acrid smell of blood, Ara finally regretted it.

If only she hadn’t been scared and had the courage to tell the truth about what she saw.
I could not have foolishly watched precious people die.

‘Ah, not yet… Still, the answer to the novel shown by Mitarai… I couldn’t even tell you… !’

At the scene of an unprecedented murder case where there is no murderer, only victims who have their throats cut or hanged.

Ara cried loudly.

“At the time of discovery, Mitarai had not yet died.”

Probably part of a remote killing to create an alibi.

The type of her trick is unknown, but Mitarai, who was dying with her neck hanging, was later found to have committed suicide.

The killer’s intentions are clear. Maybe… She must have been thinking of taking on the role of the perpetrator who committed suicide because she couldn’t overcome the guilt of the serial murders.

When Ara found him, there was no one left around her who could help her.

No, it was difficult to take anyone. There were only a few people left, and if they even brought in the real culprit, the situation would only get worse.

That’s why Ara wanted to save him even with her own strength.

I couldn’t stop the murders that have occurred so far, but I want to save the man who is dying in front of my eyes.

Definitely.

But.

I couldn’t do that.

And that.

Considering Ara’s situation at the time, it was something that could not be helped.

“… “Ara’s height was too short.”

Ara cried at Joo-hyuk’s words and nodded.

The height of Ara, who is just a child who skipped a grade.

It’s just big enough to look straight at the soles of his feet hanging from the ceiling.

Even though I tried to pick up a chair that was rolling around and stretched out my helper, I couldn’t reach the knot that was hanging high enough to hang an adult man.

That’s what she hoped for.

She wished she had been a little older, if only she had been a little taller like other college students.

He could have saved Holmes, who was in danger right in front of him.

“If I couldn’t become Holmes, I should have at least become a great Watson, but I couldn’t do that. All I could do was stamp my feet and watch as Holmes was dying before my eyes.”

At that time.

Something whispered in her ear.

Even for Holmes, who values ​​logic and reason,

The devil’s whispers that do not suit even Watson, his reliable helper.

‘… There is a way to save the person you cherish.’

‘… ‘Eh?’

With that guy’s appearance.

The new real mystery has been turned into a special setting mystery.

‘Who, who is it!’

‘Me? Me… What do you mean? First…’

A copy of the [Astrology Murder Case] ​​Book found at Ara’s feet.

Now, the book, covered in the blood of the dead, has turned over on its own even though no one has touched it.

And because of that.

The devil’s [Name] Has been decided.

‘Azot… Should I leave it as is?’

Ara chased the sky with trembling eyes.

‘Azot… ?’

‘Well… I gave him the power to complete the revenge story as he wanted. He cut his own throat and mixed in with the victims. What are we going to do? Were you planning on making a perfect crime? Under… Anyway, I’m in trouble because I don’t have a body to receive the Philosopher’s Stone.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘If you wish, I have the power to make what happened here never happen. And… If you want, you have the power to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.’

The devil continued to whisper.

‘… So cooperate, kid.’