mm

Mrs Bride's time of death was late yesterday evening, after the maid had locked the door.

The manor is heavily guarded, surrounded by the lake on three sides, with high walls between the water and the manor.

It is simply impossible for an outsider to break in unnoticed.

Therefore...

The killer is right here, among us!

R-Really, Miss Metis?

There's a killer among us? That can't be!

Poppycock! Ridiculous!

I take it that you've found the evidence to implicate the killer?

Huh? Er, well...

Ahem, o-of course I have!

First, according to the maid's testimony, an Originium ornament that was supposed to be in the bedroom went missing after the incident.

The victim's injuries indicate that this was likely the weapon!

You don't mean to say whoever is carrying the weapon is the killer, do you?

I doubt anyone would carry something like that on their person.

Quiet while I'm deducing!

Of course, that's not the only thing! Here's the second point: The scene of the crime is very messy, with a large amount of blood on the victim's face and hands.

Madam Bride suffered a large number of wounds on her body, in addition to the fatal wound on her head. Do you understand what this means, Miss Heidi?

It means... there was a struggle between the killer and the victim?

Exactly! A bloody one too!

At that distance, it was inevitable that the killer would have gotten blood on them!

Therefore, whoever has got blood on them must be the killer!

How's that!

What a load of rubbish! No one here's got any blood on them!

Huh? B-But...

How could that be? It's impossible... one of us must be the killer!

Just how stupid are you?

W-Why are you stooping to insults? What have I done to you?

It's not an insult, it's the truth.

I wasn't expecting much out of your first case, but that deduction's got more holes than a sieve.

I'm afraid... so.

See, Anna's with me.

Et tu, Istina?!

After what I've just heard, it is inevitable.

The logic is sound, in a vacuum, but there's no way that a killer would appear wearing blood-soaked clothes. They would try to destroy any evidence.

Anyone with a brain would.

I guess... that makes sense.

The killer wasn't dumb enough to walk around covered in blood, and the witnesses were sure they didn't see anyone bloodied in the manor.

I had taken this into account, of course. Therefore—

You checked all our belongings. There were no bloody clothes!

Enough of this farce, Miss Metis Geraldine!

T-That can't be! I must have missed it...

The results are here for all of us to see, Miss Metis.

Not a one of us is holding anything suspicious.

Isn't it time to hand this case over to the police? We really must be going.

Yes, too much time has been wasted here already.

Wait! Just give me a little bit longer!

I'll find the clues and catch the killer! I swear it!

Please, just a little more time...

Er...

Well... what do you think, Miss Heidi?

I would beg your patience for just a little longer.

Miss Heidi! Thank you so much...

Do you really believe the killer is among us, Miss Heidi?

I have every faith in your character, and that of everyone else present. Which is why we should allow our detective here to prove our collective innocence.

What would people outside say if we left now and the police were unable to solve the case?

The rumor mill may not be so rational.

I suppose you're right.

Very well, if you say so.

And I want to see what this self-proclaimed detective can do!

W-Who are you calling self-proclaimed?!

I mean, sure, it's the first time I've faced a case like this... but I'll solve it!

That piece of Gloompincer dung...

Don't let it get to you, Miss Metis, we all believe in you.

Thank you, Mr. Hull!

Hm?

Mr Hull, you have a mismatched jacket and necktie.

I-Is that so? How embarrassing. The maid must have brought me the wrong jacket.

Anyway, I won't take up any more of your time. I look forward to good news.

Alright, snap out of it.

Sir William might have been a little brusque, but he was reasonably cooperative.

Do you suspect him to be the killer?

Not really...

I've identified a more likely suspect.

Setting that aside for a moment... any updates on what I asked, Miss Heidi?

I didn't find anything in the rooms. No clues regarding the killer at all. You, the client, are the only one I can trust!

You have the honor of being my first assistant ever!

It's an honor. I suppose.

But did you consider the possibility that the client could be the killer?

What? O-Of course, I've considered it!

I haven't let my guard down, just because you had an alibi!

It's a trick that detectives use to get suspects to let their guard down... yes, that's it!

Hehe. Well then, I'd better work harder to clear my name.

Would you like to hear my report?

Yes, straight away!

What did you find? Did anyone sneak into the kitchen or use the fireplace? Or perhaps somewhere else a fire could be lit?

As far as I can tell, no.

The kitchens were being watched by the servants and they didn't see anyone. No sign of fires being lit in the fireplaces in the rooms. Nothing was destroyed by fire.

So, no clues at all?

How could this be...?

The killer would not keep such a clue with them. They would try to destroy it at the first opportunity. Fire would be the safest way to do so.

Could it be... Originium Arts?

A skilled caster could destroy evidence by conjuring flames out of nothing. That would make it impossible to find a clue.

Or not... it was an Originium ornament. Those things don't burn so easily. There must be some trace.

But we've searched the entire manor.

And there was nothing.

How am I supposed to solve this case if I can't even find the murder weapon?

(Is this too much for me to crack?)

Are you giving up?

O-Of course I'm not giving up!