Chapter 12 begins with classic horror films. ...

The mansion Matsuda Jinpei mentioned was quite a distance from the pub where the four of them were exchanging information.

The four of them first met in the afternoon, then spent a lot of time dealing with the murder case, and later went to a deserted and safe tavern to talk... Judging from the current time, if they were to drive to the mansion, it would be almost dark by the time they arrived.

Unfortunately, Matsuda Jinpei and his group only walked when they went out today, and they didn't drive. They can't just suddenly conjure up a car out of nowhere.

If they choose to take the tram and walk to the villa, it will ultimately take even longer.

There was no other way. Although the price of a taxi was really painful, the matter at hand was a matter of life and death, so they wanted to get to the mansion as soon as possible.

*******

The sky was getting dark.

The streetlights in the residential area had already lit up as the night deepened, and many unknown insects were attracted by the light and flew around in a chaotic swarm.

Yukimura Mio glanced deeply out the window, then forcefully slammed the curtains shut, shutting out the inky darkness of the night.

For some reason, she felt restless all day, as if something was watching her from the shadows.

Perhaps it's just psychological.

This was the only way Yukimura Mio could console herself.

Just a few days ago, she experienced a crisis where her home was broken into and she was strapped with a bomb. This morning, she even went to the Metropolitan Police Department to deal with the aftermath of the incident.

Although she did not suffer any real physical harm from beginning to end, the psychological damage was undeniable.

...That's terrifying.

Even now, when she recalls that scene, Yukimura Mio still feels lingering fear.

Perhaps for this reason, even though Yukimura Mio knew that the matter had been resolved, the culprit from that day had been arrested by the police, and the security of her house had been quickly upgraded, she still looked uneasy all day long. Even now, she still felt that her house was not safe at all, and a lingering sense of foreboding lingered in her heart.

I'll try to visit a nearby temple tomorrow when I have some free time... I really hope I can get out of this painful state soon.

With that thought in mind, Yukimura Mio left from the window.

With my mind so unsettled, even if I go to bed early because I feel exhausted, I'll probably just toss and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep, and might even start overthinking, making my mood even worse.

How about reading some comics to relax?

This has always been her hobby. When reading comics, Yukimura Mio becomes completely immersed in them, which allows her to temporarily forget the anxiety that reality brings her.

So... what should we watch? Should we revisit our favorite works, or read some new ones?

Ah! I remember now. A while ago, she ran into a middle school girl. After learning that she liked reading comics, the girl gave her a comic book, saying something like, "The content is so disappointing it's hopeless," and "Since you like comics, I'll let you take a look." She then shoved the comic book into her hand and got on her bus and left before she could even react.

As a result, she was so busy with other things that she didn't have time to read comics at all, and then she was kidnapped... To this day, she still hasn't actually read the comic book that she brought home in a daze.

Now that she finally has some time, she might as well take a look! The so-called "content is so disappointing it's despairing"... to be honest, she's really curious about this kind of evaluation!

Yukimura Mio quickly found the manga she had been keeping lying around.

"The author, Eiichiro Saiyama? I've never heard of that name before. Is he a newcomer? I wonder what kind of despair this manga will depict... Is it a tragedy?"

Thinking this, Yukimura Mio left the study with the book and went to the bedroom. Then she leaned lazily against the headboard and turned a page.

...

A few minutes later.

"...So this is what despair is like."

After making this remark, Yukimura Mio fell silent.

The art style is practically a sketchbook, and the plot is just average and unoriginal... If we had to find a redeeming quality in this comic, it would probably be that "the corpses are drawn incredibly realistically."

However, on the other hand, aside from the well-drawn corpses, this comic book is simply—

"This is rubbish," Yukimura Mio couldn't help but mutter a complaint.

The next second, the bedroom light suddenly went out.

*******

Is nobody home?

The view inside the glass windows was completely blocked by the curtains, but even so, the group led by Matsuda Jinpei could still easily tell that the rooms inside—at least the rooms with the windows they could see—were not lit.

Matsuda Jinpei, with his astonishingly quick action, was the first to reach out and press the doorbell.

Then... or rather, as expected, they didn't receive any response.

Is there no one here... or is it...?

Just as various thoughts and plans for their next move were forming in their minds, a woman's scream suddenly pierced the sky.

"Aaaaaaaahh ...

The sound was like the howl of a trapped beast facing death; anyone who heard it would have no doubt about the extent of her inner collapse and despair.

The sound seemed to be coming from the second floor of the villa.

Now that things have come to this, no one will consider the foolish question of whether it's wrong to force your way in without permission.

Before Oma Kokichi could take out his little gadget and say "I'll pick the lock," Matsuda Jinpei, who was originally standing at the front to lead the way and knock on the door, had already pushed it open... no, the door wasn't locked at all?

This is the unfolding scene of a classic horror movie.

The house was dimly lit, with heavy curtains blocking out almost all the light from outside. Only the open door behind them provided a faint sliver of moonlight.

There was a row of light switches in the entryway. Although it was unclear which light each switch corresponded to, Matsuda Jinpei quickly pressed the switch as he headed straight for the second floor where the screams were coming from.

There was no response. Matsuda Jinpei clicked his tongue, quickly took out his phone, and, using the light, swiftly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Despite his petite stature, Ohma Kokichi didn't seem like the type to excel in physical strength, but he was surprisingly fast when he actually moved. He followed closely behind Matsuda Jinpei, with Tsukino and Chiya close behind.

Tsukino and Chiya stepped up the stairs. The "thump thump thump" sound of the three of them running up the stairs was particularly clear in the quiet and dark house.

In this already tense moment, Tsukino and Chiya kept moving their feet, but their thoughts habitually wandered far away.

—If there were anyone else hiding in the room at this time, they would have noticed the arrival of the three of them long ago.

However, there was no other way; now was not a good time to hide. After all, the homeowner's fate was currently unknown... In any case, "human life" was always the priority in any action.

One step, two steps, three steps.

They were moving very fast and were about to reach the second floor.

Then, from inside the mansion where only footsteps could be heard, a loud bang suddenly came again.

The sound came from the first floor, from a place they had just arrived at not long ago.

If nothing unexpected happens, the sound just now was probably the front door in the entryway that was originally open being suddenly closed.

Tsukino and Chiya realized this, but he didn't turn around.

A note from the author:

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Classic horror movie plot unfolds: an unlocked door that closes automatically after you enter, lights that suddenly won't turn on.

I haven't forgotten about Hagiwara, he's not here right now [covering face and peeking]