Chapter 403

Akaso Kaze glanced at the landlady.

He had also seen the shrine at the village; it was said that if you put on a long-sleeved kimono and pray in the middle of the night, the Kimono Sleeve God would help you take revenge for grievances you could not avenge yourself.

Sure enough, it was all a charade. The killer went to such great lengths just to make people think about the curse of the Kimono Sleeve God, right?

Early the next morning, just as it was getting light, a senior police officer from the Yamagata Prefectural Police led a team to arrive, and forensic personnel quickly carried out on-site evidence collection.

"So, that means the time Shibasaki Asuka entered the open-air bathhouse was around 10:00 at night, and Anzai Ema walked into the shrine in the courtyard around 10:30."

59-year-old Assistant Inspector Mashiki summarized while comparing the inn's map: "They both died by the same divine sword, and later this murder weapon was found in the open-air bathhouse, right?"

"Also," the old policeman added, "only Miss Ema's footprints were left outside the shrine, and to get to the open-air bathhouse on the other side, one must also pass through the leisure lobby, but there were people in the leisure lobby at that time."

"This is terrible," Assistant Inspector Mashiki said with a headache, "Could both cases be locked-room murders?"

"Inspector Mashiki!" A policeman suddenly ran over from the shrine outside, whispered to Mashiki for a while, and then handed several evidence bags to Mashiki.

Akaso Kaze glanced at them; it seemed to be a note and an earring pendant.

Mashiki directly showed the earring pendant to everyone: "This is an earring found on Anzai Ema's body, but the other one is not at the scene."

"Ah," Editor Yasuda said in surprise, "This is a designer earring! One costs at least 200,000. Come to think of it, Harumi seems to have this type of earring too."

Fukatsu Harumi hurriedly explained: "That is correct, but because Ema was always unhappy whenever she saw it, I put it away."

"Is that so?"

Inspector Mashiki did not continue to ask, but discussed the situation at the scene with his subordinates.

"The long-sleeved kimonos and sashes at the scene were originally stored in the inn's storage room, but that storage room is usually not locked."

"Everyone," after talking for a while, Mashiki calmed down and turned to everyone,

"Now we need to confirm the whereabouts of everyone last night. First is Miss Akechi Eri, let's start with you. You seem to have entered the bathhouse around 9:30 and left around 10:00. Shibasaki Asuka entered the bathhouse after you."

"Yes," Akechi Eri, sitting upright on the sofa, nodded gently, "Later I returned to my room, and I even ran into Lord Akaso on the way."

"That is indeed the case," Akaso Kaze smiled slightly, "I ran into her after 10 o'clock; I was just about to go take a bath."

"Hmm, next is Miss Yasuda Yoriko." Inspector Mashiki turned to Editor Yasuda next to Akechi Eri, "You stayed here to organize the interview content until before 9:30, right?"

"Yes, I saw Eri at that time. Later, about 5 minutes passed, and Ema walked to the back door alone."

"That was around 10:30. Also, did you see anyone else walking toward the back door?"

"No, just Ema."

Akaso Kaze quietly watched Editor Yasuda and the others.

The reservation sign was for 10:00 to 11:00, and the door was also locked from the inside at that time.

Akaso Kaze and Fukatsu Harumi were soaking in the bath next door.

"Were Lord Akaso and Miss Harumi in the men's pool the whole time?" Inspector Mashiki continued to ask.

Akaso Kaze nodded.

Fukatsu Harumi blushed with embarrassment.

Inspector Mashiki stroked his chin and thought, "At this time, Miss Yoriko and Miss Eri were having a meeting here. What about Mr. Bandong?"

Bandong Kyoichi explained: "I arrived here to discuss things around 11:15, and later the landlady ran here to say that Asuka had been killed in the bathhouse."

"So the time connects," Mashiki nodded slightly, "Landlady, that Kimono Sleeve Hannya doll, you didn't see it the first time you went, and only discovered it the second time?"

"Yes!" the landlady confirmed, "When I hung the sign the first time, it was definitely not there. When the time was up, I went to remove the reservation sign and only then discovered the Kimono Sleeve Hannya doll. It was also cold, as if it had just been taken out of the snow!"

"But then again," the old policeman asked, "How did Miss Ema run to a place like the shrine alone?"

Mashiki smiled and took out an evidence bag: "This is what we found in Miss Ema's pocket. It says: 'Miss Ema, I have a secret I want to tell you. Tonight at 10:30, I will wait for you at the shrine in the courtyard. - Bandong.'"

"Nonsense!" Bandong Kyoichi's face changed drastically, "How could I have written such a letter?!"

"But the actual situation is that you don't seem to have an alibi before 11:15."

"This... I have no motive to murder Asuka and Miss Ema at all!"

"What you said is not wrong." Mashiki nodded and turned to Fukatsu Harumi.

"If we consider the motive, the only person with a motive for murder is Miss Harumi. Because she has always held a grudge against them, believing they caused the death of your senior, but she has an alibi."

Fukatsu Harumi looked at Akaso Kaze, feeling grateful in her heart.

She suddenly understood a little.

Akaso Kaze invited her to the reserved pool not only because he wanted her, but also to help her provide an alibi.

After the questioning, Editor Yasuda and the others returned to their rooms one after another.

"Miss Harumi," Akaso Kaze hugged Fukatsu Harumi and walked toward his room, asking as they walked: "You seem to care a lot about that senior, Suzuka."

"Yes," Fukatsu Harumi came back to her senses, "I lost both my parents when I was young, and my uncle and aunt raised me. Sakurako's parents also died in an accident when she was young, so she always took special care of me."

"So that's how it is."

Akaso Kaze nodded; no wonder Fukatsu Harumi would beg him to help Sakurako seek justice.

"Lord Akaso, is that not your curse?" Fukatsu Harumi asked carefully.

Akaso Kaze laughed.

He knew very well about this case.

Including the killer who murdered both Asuka and Ema.

"Do you want to know the truth?" Akaso Kaze asked.

Fukatsu Harumi bit her lip and nodded.

Akaso Kaze said: "Using the unique environment of the inn to design two seemingly perfect locked-room murder cases. Using the Kimono Sleeve God legend, using the inn's environment."

"All of this fully illustrates one point: if one hadn't stayed at the inn for a long time, and if one wasn't familiar enough with this place, one couldn't design such a precise crime."