The Truth Behind the Curtain
Now that we've come this far...
It's hitting me that we're already almost at the training camp.
Indeed. I wondered how an entire year would pass, yet we're already past the halfway point.
Is this what people mean when they say something feels poignant?
With the training camp approaching, we went shopping together and finished gathering supplies.
Whatever had happened before, the Journey still had to continue.
I tried not to show my discomfort, and the Professor seemed to do the same.
Ah, there's something I nearly forgot.
Captain, please go ahead to the lab and wait for me.
Huh? What's the matter?
I just remembered that there's someone I need to meet briefly regarding the conference.
I'm only collecting some research materials, so it shouldn't take long.
The lab will be more cluttered than it was during your previous visits, but please bear with it.
Oh, so it's about your research.
Yes. I've been conducting my own investigation into the recent incidents.
In any case... I'll see you at the office.
As always, the Professor quickly disappeared from sight.
I had nothing else to do, so I decided to go ahead and wait as she'd asked.
...The scent of perfume.
They say scents leave a stronger impression on the memory than anything else.
When I returned to the lab, I caught the scent of the Professor's perfume.
And remembered the uncomfortable moments I'd shared with her.
For now... I'll forget about them.
Excuse me. Is anyone here?
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Excuse me. Is this the lab belonging to the one known as the Professor?
Uh... Yes, it is.
She's my Journey member.
Ah, I'd heard she was participating in the Journey... So you must be her Journey Captain.
Do you know where your member—the Professor—is right now?
What is this about?
We're here to ask her about the recent serial murders.
Items believed to belong to your Journey member were found at every scene.
We intended to ask her to accompany us voluntarily, but if she's away... that complicates matters.
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
Traces of the Professor had been found at every scene?
What if the culprit is someone who's been at every scene?
They say the culprit always returns to the scene. It happens all the time in mystery stories.
Something felt terribly wrong.
...My head hurts.
Are you all right, sir?
In any case, please contact the Town Guard or Public Security when your Journey member returns.
We haven't found anything that makes her a suspect, so please don't worry too much.
Take care.
The town guard left.
It was a relief that they hadn't found anything suspicious, but...
...Huh?
What's... that?
Something caught my eye just then.
The storage room door stood slightly ajar.
Inside, something on what looked like an easel was covered by a cloth.
I never realized... she had a room like this.
An easel stood alone in an otherwise ordinary storage room.
A white sheet concealed what appeared to be a notice board or canvas.
I swallowed hard and lifted the sheet.
Urgh...?!
Bartholomew Sholto, X
Wilhelm von Ormstein, X
Mary Sutherland, X
Charles McCarthy
Four photographs. Four names.
And three red X marks.
Beside the name Charles McCarthy, someone had written NEXT? in cursive.
Don't tell me these are all...
...Yes, Captain.
It's a list of victims.
I stopped breathing and turned around.
Standing before me was the Professor.
The fourth person, Charles McCarthy, is the most likely next victim.
...Actually, by now something may have already happened to him.
It seems this board will soon gain another X mark.
...No.
...Hmm?
You didn't do this.
Right, Professor?
...
Fufu. Oh dear.
I asked you to wait, yet you went out of your way to look at something you needn't have seen...
And now you're even branding me the culprit?
Professor!
Please leave.
Unfortunately... something urgent has arisen regarding the conference.
I felt that... it might already be too late to turn back.
It felt as though the curtain call for this play was drawing near.