Clap, clap, clap.
　Out-of-place applause rang out in the common room.

'Awesome!　I never thought I'd get to the truth before the Detectives solved the mystery!
...Mr. Iris?

　
　Apparently the applause was directed at me.

'That guy's a douchebag,'
'It usually ends up with sorcerers killing each other in disbelief. This time it was quite fun. I have to thank you for that, brother.

　Iris, who seemed to be dripping with disturbing words in rapid succession, pinched the hem of both skirts and bowed gracefully.

'This time. 'What do you mean by that!　You're not...!
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm actually a wise man!　It's not a punchline.

　As soon as the enraged loli hag is controlled, Iris begins to talk about it in a good manner while twirling her index finger around.

''I'm a proper candidate too! But I'm not looking for a legacy anymore, so I'm an ex-candidate. To tell the truth, I came to the mansion a lot longer than you guys did. Just like my brother said, the forest is a singularity where sorcerers come from all ages. However, there is a span of time, and every week or so, candidates come and die mysterious deaths in the forest. That's why I summoned an expert detective from another world to investigate.

　British Dandy the Detectives remained vacant-eyed and did not open their mouths.
　I just stared in silence as my husband huffed and seeded out.

'This guy is awesome!　He told me that anyone who tried to leave the forest to find out what really happened to me would be killed, just like he did. It's how I survived and made me the oldest of the candidates. I had to reset my detective's memory over and over again to account for all the murders in the house. This was a lot of fun and this whole frenzy was a lot of fun!

　With a truly joyful tone, Iris' magic swells up.
　And at the same time. I feel dizzy and unable to support my wobbly body, I fall down.
　Out of the corner of my eye, Lori hag and Anna are also down.

'So hey, I'm sorry, but I have to make you forget about the secret of your heritage. We'll have to wait for the next game!　Can you sleep for a while while I switch my mind?　Oh, it's okay. We're not trying to kill you. Well, I'm sure you guys will try to find your inheritance now that you've lost your memory of the incident.

　Iris sneered, looking forward to seeing what kind of end she would meet.
　He followed the bad-taste gothic woman down on the floor with only his eyeballs.

'I see. So that's what the hint was all about then. So you knew everything from the beginning.
... Wow. Isn't it amazing that you can still be conscious after being subjected to my magic?
I'm afraid of you. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. I'm not sure if it's magic in this world.　It's about the same if you ask me, but well, big deal anyway.
'Ehehe. But it's only a matter of time, brother. Since the magic resistance (resist) is failing, sooner or later you will fall asleep. You're not supposed to be able to lift a finger, are you?
'Indeed. I can barely move my eyes and mouth.

　I've been trying for a while now, but my body is not moving at all. I'm just fighting the urge to fall asleep.

You're f*cked. I'm totally off-guard. You've got one. So, yeah, I'll let you know what's good for you.
What?

　Iris narrowed her eyes with interest.
　There was a spare light in her eyes that assured her of absolute superiority.

I have several collections of divine eyes and magical eyes. I've got one of them called the 'quantum eye'. It's a magic eye that allows you to see the future, which is the unobserved uncertainty of the future.
'The magic eye?　The future?　Did you hit your head really hard, big brother?　I've never heard of anything like that before.
It's not just the future vision this thing brings.

　I ignored Iris and continued on with my story.

I don't understand the reasoning behind it, but my wife says it's like the magic eye that allows you to build a virtual universe and experience the future world. You can see the future without having to pay more money because there is no divergence of branching parallel worlds caused by normal future vision, so it's a magical eye that is meant for me.
'What's that? I mean, if you really have the power to see the future, why didn't you avoid this situation?

　Iris laughs with amusement as she stomps on my head with her heel.

That's the problem. That's the problem. Why do you think I'm in this misery when I can see the future?
'Of course it's because this story is bullshit,'
Boo. Too bad. Good answer is 'cause I'm watching you. I'm in the middle of something. I'm in. I am. The time we're talking is the future I'm seeing. The fact that you are looking down at me like this is just a simulation built in the virtual universe in the demon's eye.
'Huh?　I have no idea what you're talking about...


　At my apparent provocation, Iris still twisted her face in a sullen manner.

'I wouldn't want to hear that from you crawling around!　And besides, he's not my puppet!　Enough, I'm boring you. I'm going to wipe the memory right off.
Memories ... oh yeah, I got an idea. I'm going to take you to the 'real past' as a special treat. Including the memories of the virtual universe (here), of course. Now, here's another problem. "Why couldn't the invincible Ryouji Sakahagi fail to resist the magic of a little shit like you?
I can see you have a death wish. Fine, I'll give you what you want!

　The countless vacuum waves that Iris released tore my body into pieces.
　Just like that fat guy, they cut my body parts into pieces and scattered them on the floor.

'It died so easily. What was that all about? Hey, Detectives?
It's just a crazy, incomprehensible story, you know?

　The Detectives, who had been silent until then, opened their mouths. He couldn't seem to speak until the summoner spoke to him.
　Iris stretched wide.

'Well. We need to erase the memories of the other two as soon as possible. The other thing we need to do is to get rid of this dead guy from our minds. Oh, and of course I'll play with your memories too. You know that, don't you?
It's all right. I don't disagree with you. But don't you think it's a little early to be celebrating, don't you?
Huh?　What are you talking about?
Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you woke me up.

　Iris's head swiveled around to look at me.
　Astonishment appeared on her face.

''Why, why?''
How can you live with your head on your shoulders, huh?　That's because, of course, I'm immortal.

　He grinned at Iris and started to reveal the seed.

'The quantum eye has a weakness. It can't replicate my virtual body at full specs. I'm just barely able to bring the 'Summon and Pledge' and 'Elixir of Immortality', the forced equipment I got from the f*cking gods, with me to the virtual universe. Moreover, basic abilities that have nothing to do with cheats, and of course, magic resistance, are also reduced to the same level as normal people. Frankly speaking, it's useless in battle, and since the oath is cancelled when it's fulfilled during observation, you can't even use it to prepare for the next different world to be summoned. Ah, that's the correct answer to the problem just now.

　By the way, being able to breathe and talk with only a raw neck is also included in the immortality cheat, so it's pointless to rush in with that kind of common sense under an umbrella.

But if it's a mystery-like situation like this one, you can enjoy the case with no risk while feeling like a helpless human being, so I used it. I found it much more interesting than I thought it would be. You've been speaking like a true culprit, and we've been able to find out what's going on. You have nothing to say about it.
"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!　Who the hell are you?!
It's a passing otherworldly tripper. Remember that.

　The moment I said my name, the world fell apart.





　When I open my eyes, I see a horrific scene.
　It's the scene where the dismembered body of a fat man was found.

'What happened!'

　Running into the room was the giant man in the common room.
　A little behind him is a witch, Iris, and an English dandy. Walking in gracefully is a handsome sorcerer. A much later and out of breath loli hag.
　There is no sign of the pale sorcerer. He's probably in the basement by now.

"The fat guy from earlier was killed. Do you want to see it?

　I asked the arriving faces to check out the room just as they did in the virtual universe.

''This is........''

　The giant man wrinkled his brow and made a difficult face.

'Oh my, that's amazing.'

　The witch was the one who reacted swiftly.
　This area is almost the same as the simulation.

''What the hell happened here........''
What?　What is it?

　In addition to the loli hag, Iris was also stunned.
　Though their reasons for both of them were quite different.

''The ones who aren't here are Mr. Rufois and Mr. Karon. Mr. Kalon remained in the common room, so if it's not the mansion's people or homunculus that's dying there, it must be Mr. Rufois or his followers, nah.
'What?　That Rufois........dead.......?

　The lolly hag was aghast when she heard about the British Dandy.
　Even Iris looked at the scene with a soul-draining look on her face.

'Ladies and gentlemen, what has happened to you?'

　Teene, the homunculus maid, appears behind everyone.

'What's the matter with you, sir?　Rufois is dead!
Your Lordship? I apologize for the discomfort I have caused you all. I apologize to you all. My condolences to the deceased.

　Teene replies to Lolita's protests with a completely emotionless formulaic phrase.
　So finally.

'What-what-what!　What the hell is going on here!

　Iris shouted to the side, getting everyone's attention.

'Why!　Why are you guys still alive?　I thought they were all dead!　You, you, you, and you!　They're all dead!　So why are you back from the dead!
Because it's what's real.

　With a snap, I snapped my fingers and the time around us stopped.
　In the midst of it all, only me and Iris were moving.

'I told you.　That place and time are the future that I see now. And that you yourself are just a simulation that I observed.
No.... this is a dream!
'Well, it's the first time I've ever given the memory of a virtual universe as a gift to someone other than myself, but it's quite an interesting reaction.
You!

　Delirious Iris unleashed her sleep magic again.
　But of course, that kind of thing couldn't break through my magic resistance.

''No way...''

　Iris is blindsided by her own magic power that popped.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

This is what reality is all about. You're going to have to at least control space, time and the law of cause and effect if you're going to compete with me.

　Comforting myself with a little joke, I walked through the time-stopped people and approached my position to look down at Iris.

"...Are you going to kill me?
I mean, she was murdered. He had every right to.
'Wait!　I'm just a kid!　Are you saying you can kill a child?
'All the sorcerers in the house are over 18, so it's not a problem, you know...'

　When I broke the spell on Iris, she turned into a wrinkled old woman in no time at all.

''Ahhhhhh!　My youth!
You see what I'm talking about? You're not f*cking with me.
'Wait, wait, wait, wait!　Will you join hands with me?　The two of us could escape from the wise men's forest!
'Like the little guy who was desperately trying to disguise his despair at being stuck in the woods with observations of a murderous game?　I don't want to give up. And most importantly....

　I shifted my gaze to the British Dandy.
　His voice naturally cooled as he continued.

You have violated my most hated taboo of enslaving 'us' and trampled on my dignity. There's no room for extenuating circumstances whatsoever.
"Duh!
We'll do it all anyway.

　He roughly grabs Iris, who is trying to cling to a bit of hope, and erases her memory of the wise man's legacy.
　He also activated his quantum eye to construct a virtual universe limited to the wise man's forest, and threw the soul of this Iris into that one's Iris.
　It's a fictional world where he keeps searching for the sage's legacy and then dies and rewinds, and tries to escape and dies and rewinds repeatedly. Every time he dies, the only thing he remembers is that the wise man's legacy is a trap, but the memory of his death and the fear he felt when he died are in an endless loop.
　Eventually Iris will fall into madness, wear out her soul and die a true death.
　It's many times more redeeming than Eva's Eternal Yondereloup.
　What a merciful man I am.

'Well,'

　I'll transfer my memories in the virtual universe to the British Dandy as well, and then I'll lift the time suspension.

'Mr. Toris, this is...'

　The British Dandy glances at the old woman who has fallen white eyed.

'Do you want to guess what happened to this guy?'
'No, let's not. It's probably beyond human reason, you know.

　From the side, Iris' body looks like it's fainting, but it's just a shell with no more substance.
　The British Dandy seemed to understand that this was not to be understood.

'At any rate, I seem to have been freed, and I suppose I should thank you, you know.
You don't have to do that.
'Well, Mr Torliss. As I'm sure you understand, I can't say I've gotten to the bottom of what I just deduced.
'....Oh, I knew it. That's why you went out of your way to interrupt me by calling it a booby trap.

　In fact, that was not the theory I was going to present at the time.

I thought it would bring you guys to your feet.
That's what I'm talking about. I mean, really? You must have been having a meltdown.
That is her elementary mistake in overconfidently believing in her own magic.

　The English dandy took a notebook from his pocket.

'I'm writing down everything that happened before she wiped my memory from my mind. I was ordered not to speak, but I wasn't told not to write, so...'
'I see!　But from what I can tell, I'm surprised you have such a thing as a notebook.
'I usually keep it all in my head, you know. It wasn't that way. Now--

　The British Dandy gives me another look as he pulls out his pipe.

'You've already arrived at the truth, haven't you?
Yeah, I'm fine. I get it right. It's a pretty outlandish truth, and there's no tricks or shit. I know it's the kind of punchline that mystery fans would kill to hear.

　I scratched my head and the English dandy chuckled.

'Remember,' he said, 'that is the truth. When you've ruled out all impossibilities, no matter how bizarre what's left, it's the truth.
"...sure. I mean, what are you going to do now?
"There's nothing to be done about it. I'm just going back to where I belong. The covenant that bound me is gone.

　The detective's body began to glow.
　The detective didn't care about that and sucked on his pipe.

'If there is ever a time when you need my help, call out to me. I'll help you.

　The glow seems to have increased to a new level, and then the detective disappears.
　A card fell in the spot where he had been. He picked it up, with an illustration that looked exactly like him.

'SSR Rarity?　I see, your husband this time was from a shaggy background.

　After all, he was not a real person to begin with.
　It could have been a real person who was summoned from an earth-type world created by some creator god (fan). So he was summoned from a genuine, fictional, virtual world (game).

Now, let's see. Let's clean up the mess.

　After politely putting the cards away and putting everyone but Lori's old lady and Anna into the sealing beads, I started moving time again.