The Reason I'm Not Afraid
I decided to accompany Lily on a job from Lampadis to investigate the scene of a mysterious sighting.
We stopped in front of an abandoned house on the outskirts of NOA.
We're here...!
The address the client gave us matches this place.
...Creepy. It feels like a ghost could pop out.
Oh? Did you hear what this request is about?
They say this place is haunted!
Whenever there's a thunderstorm at dawn, people report seeing ghost on the second floor!
And apparently, there's been multiple witnesses!
...?!
Ehehe. Well, that's what the client claims!
Without hesitation, Lily threw the doors open.
You're really not scared at all, huh?
Ehehe. Well, it's like Detective H says.
"No matter how bizarre a case may appear..."
"There's always a simple truth behind it once you look closer!"
Detective H also said ghosts don't exist!
So if something looks like a ghost's doing, there are only two possibilities...
It's either just a coincidence, or the culprit is smarter than you!
Striking a pose, Lily mimicked her image of Detective H.
Hehe! I've read the Case Records of Detective H so many times!
There's no way I'd fall for a cheap trick like a fake ghost!
There must be something here tricking people into believing that.
Remember what happened with Chippy?
Speaking of which, what happened to the culprit?
Lily's expression dimmed a little.
I think... he'll be in jail for a while.
The Public Security searched his house and found...
A bunch of poor animals locked up inside…
They said he was experimenting on them, trying to make them grow big...
The animals were rescued and sent to a shelter, but still...
Grrr... he was such a terrible person!
Right, Mr. Rabbit?
Ehehe... You really think I helped?
Of course.
Then... I'll do my best to uncover the truth once more!
I wonder what kind of mystery we'll find this time...
It's so exciting...! Let's crack the case together, Captain!
Hmm... Just as I thought.
No sign of footprints despite all this dust...
The hinges and door frame are all covered in cobwebs and grime.
Which means no one's been in or out for a long time!
So it's unlikely that this is just a prank...
Want to check upstairs?
That's a good idea!
They said the ghost always shows up on the second floor...!
Lily slowly climbed the dust-covered staircase.
Unlike the first floor, where some light had peeked through broken windows...
The second floor was dark even in daylight, with a damp, musty smell.
Hmm... I've already checked the other rooms thoroughly...
But nothing really stood out.
So that just leaves this last room...
Lily began brushing away dust from old junk, sifting through it piece by piece.
This isn't it... Just a cracked photo frame... maybe a family picture?
This one's just a regular old cursed doll...
Hmm...? What's this...?
This tablecloth is hanging from a coat rack instead of a table...?
Mm... aside from that, nothing else unusual. Moving on...!
...Didn't you sense something strange?
Hmm... Captain, I think we might've missed something.
When this happens, Detective H always calmly rechecks the area—
W-whoa?!
C-careful...!
Lily stepped back, and the floor gave way under her feet with a loud crash.
A-are you okay?
*...Sigh* That's why I told her to be careful.
Well... At least she's not seriously hurt. That's a relief.
Lil...y?
Honestly, this girl...
The second you take your eyes off her, she finds new trouble...
I can't relax for a second around her.
Are you... possessed by a ghost?
What...? Don't be ridiculous. Captain, are you daft?
You don't seriously believe in ghosts, do you?
Ghost stories are just delusions made up by imbeciles who lack critical thinking skills.
"Lily" sat up and peeled back the carpet on the floor.
See? There's a hole under the rug.
Wind probably blew through that hole and rustled the tablecloth...
And on stormy nights, lightning flashing through the opposite window would cast shadows on the curtains.
That shadow is what people thought was a ghost. Simple, right?
*Sigh* You two wasted all this time on something so trivially simple.
Honestly, Lily still has a long way to go.
If you're not Lily... then who are you?
What, you still haven't figured it out, Captain?
Try using that brain of yours.
Who else could I possibly be?
...Mr. Rabbit...?
Correct. Lily passed out, so I had to borrow her body for a bit.
Didn't want her to sprain something from falling in that weird position.
"Lily" brushed dust off a nearby chair and sat down with a furrowed brow.
Oh, and by the way...
Ahem... I should thank you.
Lily's grown a lot thanks to you.
Keep looking out for her, okay?
Oh, and don't tell her about our meeting.
She'd hate it if she found out I used her body without asking.
Who am I...?
Ahaha. I'm just a stuffed rabbit named Mr. Rabbit.
If you're curious, investigate me. Deduce the truth for yourself, Captain.
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.
...What?
With that, "Lily" flushed slightly and calmly closed her eyes.
Now then...
I'm going back to sleep, so don't bother Lily until she wakes up.
Mm... Ugh...
Oww...
You're awake?
Hmm? Captain...?
Um... Oh, right... I tripped on a hole, and...
I remember falling, but...
Did I pass out?
...Huh? What do you mean?
I seemed like a different person?
Hmm... Mr. Rabbit, did anything weird happen while I was out?
Nothing happened...? Then what happened...?
Lily tilted her head, glancing between Mr. Rabbit and me.
...I couldn't shake the feeling that Mr. Rabbit was looking straight at me.