Chapter 8[แก้ไข]
Part 1[แก้ไข]
---CANARIA foster home. 5/5 17:38.
After picking up all the pieces of the will and last testament that were scattered everywhere, Izayoi used his foot to tip the chair and its contents, the 'man in a tailcoat', who had been sleeping all this time beside the window, to the ground.
"WUAH YO!"
"Woah what Woah! How long are you planning to sleep, you fake lawyer?"
Izayoi accused the 'man in a tailcoat' with impatience creeping into his voice.
The man clambered back up, albeit unhappily, and brushed the dust off his black bowler hat before replacing it once more onto his head.
Following that, he tilted his head. "Well then, what's your business? Have you already completed the game?"
"No. There's still a critical portion that I've not figured out yet."
"……Oh? That means you have already got most of your conjecture down?"
The rim of the monocle was aglow with a radiance.
Allowing the man to inspect the 600 pages of the will and last testament that he had tracked down, Izayoi offered the answer to the riddle.
"The riddle was 'be to find the non-existent 'me' and 'you' and hand it over to the entrance---!'
"Firstly, it would be impossible to hand over an item that did not exist and I can only presume that it is a metaphor to describe something that exists---As for the item that is described by the metaphor? The answer is hidden in the previous stanza."
The [Host] is the 'me who doesn't exist',
The opponent who accepts the challenge is also the 'me who doesn't exist',
The challenge requirement is also me.
"The only line that is different from the other two is that it doesn't deny its own existence. So if I replace the phrase 'Challenge requirement' for 'last testament and will', then the only recount that wasn't mentioned in the will and last testament that did not talk about 'me' and 'you'---would be the incident where we had gone to observe the battlefield. And hence, that would be the answer for the riddle of 'the 'me' and 'you' who doesn't exist'."
"Oh ho……That's the correct answer, Izayoi-chan."
Besides clapping his hands, the 'man in a tailcoat' showed no sign of wanting to do anything further.
Narrowing his eyes, Izayoi tried to intimidate the man.
"……Aren't you the 'entrance'?"
"Me? That's a really interesting conjecture. So would you please not mind explaining it to me?" 'Man in a tailcoat' was full of smiles.
Izayoi checked his watch to confirm the time.
The time now was already 17:40. Though it wasn't the time to give explanations, he did not have any other options.
"……The following conjecture that I have is pocketed with doubts even to me. The words If I were to take it literally, the words of 'bringing everyone with me' that was written in the will and last testament would mean that she intends to bring all the others to the World of the Dead."
"Nn. Nn. Then?"
"In other words, the entrance that the last testament and will had described would be the entrance to the World of the Dead……and that is my guess……"
It was rare but this time, Izayoi faltered at his words.
The 'man in a tailcoat' touched his chin. Apparently finding Izayoi's words interesting, he started to chuckle.
"Hahaha, in other words, you believe that I'm the guide to the Country of the Dead?"
"No……I think you are not that sort of minor character."
"And what do you mean?"
The man nudged his bowler hat on his head a little as he leaned closer to Izayoi.
Izayoi opened his mouth to continue, not before heightening his guard and suspicions.
"---In South America, there's a religion that reveres a god who's always said to wear a swallowtail coat, a black bowler hat and the god is said to be in charge of life and death."
"……Oh?"
"The name of that god is [Baron Croix][1], it is said that the god who wears a swallowtail coat stands between life and death at the 'Crossroads that extends without end' where the human realm and the world of gods intersect……and this Death god also seems to have borrowed the power from the side of 'Life' to obtain omniscience."
Izayoi looked at the 'man in a tailcoat' straight in the eye. Those very eyes that had an eye behind a monocle.
If those eyes of his were really able know every single living thing in this world, then he would be able to make some changes to the will and change the contents.
However, the man who was named 'Baron Croix' by Izayoi seems to shake his head in lament.
"I see. That sure is a very interesting conjecture. But you, the person who said your conjecture seem to be in doubt."
"……"
"Oh? Looks like you are more doubtful than I had thought. Judging from your character, I had thought that you would be more excited and happy……Oh well, not that it matters. I will just answer the two doubts you have. Firstly, about that will. It was not tampered by me. That will is truly written by Canaria with her own hand."
"……and the other doubt?"
The 'man in a tailcoat' crooked his mouth into a smile.
"---That's the correct answer. I'm Baron Croix, also known as one of the Loa[2] who governs the route to [Guniee][3]."
Getting to his feet in a slow fashion, the swallowtail coat shook with his movements. And at that very moment, the presence of the 'man in a tailcoat' suddenly expanded.
Izayoi backed a step and another to pull away from that 'man in a tailcoat'--- [Baron Croix].
"……Ha! I see! Looks like you weren't just putting on an act of bravado."
"Of course not. But somehow you still seem to be in doubt until now?"
"Nope, there's no such thing……I did want to insist on thinking otherwise but now that I'm facing you, it would probably be futile to continue being stubborn."
Izayoi might have shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner but cold sweat was still dripping down his back.
Noting Izayoi's response, 'Baron Croix' seemed to be very disappointed as he drooped his shoulders.
"……I see. No wonder Canaria was worried.