Chapter 135: Release of "The Garden Of Sinners"(9)
In the movie, Kokutou, having learned about the killer from his uncle, increasingly suspects that it might be his classmate, Shiki. However, he is unwilling to accept this possibility.
Determined to find out the truth, he decides to visit Shiki's house.
On his way, he runs into an upperclassman and has a brief conversation before they part ways.
Traversing the dark forest under the cover of night, Kokutou cautiously makes his way through the mountain path.
Just as he is about to reach Shiki's house, he suddenly stops in his tracks, caught off guard.
The ground is unexpectedly covered in blood, and the air is thick with a pungent smell, causing the hairs on his body to stand on end.
Unable to stop himself, he continues forward, and soon, he sees a familiar figure.
Before the girl named Shiki Ryougi lies a corpse, blood gushing from it like a fountain.
"—!"
Kokutou collapses to his knees, his entire body trembling with an indescribable emotion.
From a distance, Shiki, who had been silently watching the corpse, slowly turns her gaze toward him. A ghostly smile spreads across her face.
"—!"
Witnessing this, Kokutou begins to vomit violently, expelling the contents of his stomach along with bile, tears welling up in his eyes.
Despite this, Shiki's smile remains unchanged, growing even more serene.
At that moment, Kokutou's consciousness abruptly fades.
The last thing he hears is a phrase, uncertain whether it's real or a memory:
"Be careful, Kokutou. A foreboding sense invites a foreboding reality."
...
Viewers everywhere watching the movie are left utterly stunned by this scene.
The explosive debates were immediate and intense.
"What the hell? Is Shiki Ryougi really a murderer?"
"Something feels off. That demeanor was way too creepy."
"Shiki's personality seems a bit twisted. How can she smile while looking at a corpse?"
"If Shiki really is a murderer, what exactly is this film trying to convey?"
"…"
The discussions reflected the audience's shared sentiment: if Shiki Ryougi was indeed a murderer, the tone of the movie would shift dramatically.
Viewers would find it hard to empathize with the protagonist, knowing she had such a dark past. After all, indiscriminate killing is something no normal person can accept. Few people would like a character who is a remorseless killer.
This debate was particularly fierce in front of the only alchemical television in the Imperial Capital.
Wilcliff, the Empire's knight commander, was the first to voice his anger:
"I can't accept this! If Lord Durin truly makes a murderer the protagonist, I will definitely…"
"Do what?"
The young knight Ryne tactfully asked.
Wilcliff, after a moment of frustration, finally said indignantly:
"I will strongly condemn him!"
He then slapped Ryne on the back, leaving him dazed and unable to react for a while. It was clear that Wilcliff understood Durin's current status, one he could not challenge, so he took out his frustration on his subordinate.
Meanwhile, General Wilhelm remained relatively calm. Having accepted the Headless Horseman, a killer of thousands, he could also accept a murderer as a protagonist, but he hoped Shiki was not a morally bankrupt killer.
Even the Headless Horseman's killings were not by his own volition. A deliberate, voluntary killer would be hard to justify or gain sympathy for. The backlash from the audience could be overwhelming, even for Durin.
"Let's hope for a twist later on," Wilhelm said.
…
From the taverns in Norsrick to the halls of the Imperial Mage Academy and the Imperial Capital, the debate raged on.
While nearly everyone was debating whether Shiki Ryougi was the killer, a heated discussion also erupted inside Edward's Tavern.
"I don't think Shiki Ryougi is the murderer," Helena was the first to raise her hand.
Confused, Zat asked, "Why? The clues are pretty clear. Shiki being present at the scenes repeatedly almost confirms she's the culprit."
Helena calmly replied, "Well, she's too pretty to be a murderer!"
"That's a terrible reason!" Zat exclaimed, exasperated.
Next to him, Laetitia, the lich, nodded thoughtfully and said, "There's a saying that a person's appearance reflects their heart. Although it's a pseudo-scientific notion, it can be applicable in certain contexts. Of course, you might think I'm talking nonsense, given that I'm probably the least qualified to say this."
"…"
Seeing Laetitia in a melancholic state, Durin decided not to speak, considering it might be related to her past life. He preferred not to bring it up unless she did so herself.
As people conversed, the movie continued to unfold.
…
Kokutou Mikiya was taken in by the police for being at the crime scene. After his uncle bailed him out, he started watching Shiki Ryougi's house every night, hoping to prove she wasn't the killer.
Their relationship at school reached a low point after Kokutou witnessed the crime scene. Nonetheless, during an accidental meeting, Kokutou invited Shiki for lunch.
"Shiki, want to have lunch together?"
On the rooftop, Kokutou said calmly, "Isn't your house incredibly big? When I visited, a butler came out to greet me. You could brag about that."
"Akitaka is my father's secretary."
"Oh."
"Kokutou, that night—"
"Let's not talk about it."
"Why not, Kokutou?"
Kokutou was puzzled by Shiki's tone, which resembled that of her other personality, but she quickly corrected herself, coughing before saying, "Explain why you didn't tell the police the truth."
"—Because I didn't see anything."
"You just happened to be there, and that's all I saw too. So, I decided to believe in you."
Kokutou smiled and continued, "Honestly, I'm not feeling great about it. I'm working on gaining more confidence in myself. Once I do, I'll have the courage to hear your side of the story. So, let's not talk about it for now."
Seeing Kokutou's determination, Shiki bit her lip tightly.
She clearly felt helpless in the face of this young man's persistence.
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