Everything was ready for the night.
　I used my father's name to gather everyone in the house in the conference room.
　The security guards and maids could not get in, so I asked them to wait outside.

I received a letter from Mr. Daryl asking us to gather here. ...... What can I do for you?

　I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

You said you found out who killed your father. ...... Do you think he's among them?

　Nerval, Hannibal's son, ponders.

"......

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

It's not a problem, Master Leão, we're not going to kill you. We're not going to kill you. Just stand tall.
"You're as quick-witted as ever, Nyarev. It could be a trap set by the humans. If that's the case, we'll have to clear a path for Master Luan.

　Nyarev and Gurv, his aides, are breathing hard.

In the event that you've got a lot more than one of these, you'll be able to get a lot more.

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

"Well, Miguel, the truth is that this kind of situation has happened before. Daryl did a great job of exposing the culprit and bringing him to justice--yes, I trust him.

　Gaelio nodded vigorously with a look of complete and utter trust.
　The culprit is among these seven people gathered here.
　I'm not sure if he's thinking he can't be found out, but he's come out of hiding.

Hey, when is this Daryl guy coming?
We're busy, too. ......

　Oh, no, things are getting a little crazy. I'd better get out of here.
　I was watching downstairs from upstairs and slowly emerged from behind the curtain.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the party.

　All eyes are on me.
　Now I'm wearing my father's armor, and my voice has been changed to my father's using Amira's magical transformer.
　In other words, I'm disguising myself as my father.
　The distance and the backlighting make it difficult to see him clearly.

"What are you doing here, Daryl?　You have some explaining to do!

　Miguel shouted in frustration.
　He seems to think I'm his father.
　I look around and then raise my voice.

"As I said in my letter. I have found out who killed Hannibal!

　Everyone buzzed at my words.

"How did you find Hannibal?
"How did you find Hannibal?" "Well, who the hell are you?

　I waited for the murmur to die down, then raised my right hand and pointed to a person.

"It was you who killed Sir Hannibal!

　All eyes were on the tip of my finger.
　The person I was pointing to as the murderer was Nerval Garland.
　Hannibal's own son.

　"What ?

"......!

　Nerval is upset and looks to his left and right.
　But he immediately glared back at me and spoke back.

"What nonsense!　There is no way I would kill my beloved father!　This is utterly ridiculous.
"Yes, it is!　What are you talking about, Mister Daryl?　What are you talking about?　You're not out of your mind, are you?

　It's not just Nerval, Miguel also raised his voice.

What?　What is it?　What's with all the human rivalry?
I'm not sure what to say. Humans are stupid after all. Master LeAnn.

　Nyarev and Gurv saw this and laughed hysterically.

"...... Keep quiet.

　But LeAnn kept her face expressionless.
　The two of them shut their mouths, as if to say, "Oh, no!

"That's enough!　Don't be so silly. ......

　I'm sorry, but even if it's appropriate, it's a joke.

I'm sorry, but I'm not kidding. I'm sorry to say, but I'm not kidding.
"Proof? ......?
Yes, I'd like to hear what you have to say.

　Miguel sniffed boringly at my words.

...... Hmm, okay. But if I say anything even a little bit crazy, ...... you know what I'm talking about, right?
"Of course I do.

　I nodded to Miguel's words and began to explain again.



Let's start with a recap. After dinner, we all went back to our rooms. I took a bath with my son and then went to a meeting of the guard. At that time, Hannibal went to the clock tower and the bell rang around eleven o'clock. The next morning Hannibal's body was found beneath the clock tower-- is that correct?
"Yes.

　Miguel nodded. The others listen in silence.

I thought there was something about the bell that rang that time, so I took Amira to check it out the other day. And I found something very strange. ...... Amira.
"Yes!　It's not a run ......, it's Daryl-sama!

　I snapped my fingers, and Amira, who had been waiting, delivered something to Miguel.
　It was a sheet of paper with the bell of the clock tower on it.

This is ...... a photo, I believe?　I've seen it in use in the Imperial City.
Yes, you know it well.

　Some of the magic tools that exist in the demon world have been passed on to brave men and women, and are also being made in human society.
　I'm not sure if you're familiar with it.
　It can output what it captures with its lens as a photograph.
　Basically, it is only used for souvenir photos, but it can be used as evidence in the event of an incident like this.
　I'm glad Amira has it.

It's one of my few hobbies to collect this kind of magical equipment. I'm glad she has it. You can see the scratches on the bell in the ...... photo.
Oh, yeah. ...... It would take a lot of force to scratch a steel bell like that. A beastman's claw, for example. ......
Hey!　Are you still talking like that?

　Nyarev barks at Miguel's reasoning.
　I'll answer for him.

No, it's not a beastman's claw. It's a thread. Of steel.
"A thread? ......?

　There's a commotion downstairs again.
　I continue.

"When I first saw the murder scene, I wondered. Hannibal's body was slashed horizontally. But the grass at his feet was cut vertically. This is a glaring contradiction. So I reversed my thinking. Hannibal's body wasn't sliced horizontally, it was sliced vertically.
What do you mean?
It means this. Amira.
Yes!

　Amira, who had been waiting for me, brought in a cart.
　On it was the bear doll that had been placed in the room.
　Amira crawls the string she brought with her to the doll's feet.
　Then she ran up the stairs and pulled the string from the second floor.

"Good ......!

　Amira pulled hard, and the string that was hanging on the ground became taut, and the bear doll was lifted into the air.
　The thread entangled in its neck and torso.
　This was the exact spot where Hannibal's body had been cut off.
　The people who saw it shouted with joy.

This is how it happened: ....... The killer somehow summoned Hannibal to the bottom of the clock tower and pulled a steel thread that was buried in the ground beforehand. With this method, it is possible to kill him without leaving the house. The wound on the bell may have been made at this time. The same is true for the grass that was cut vertically. Once I realized this, the rest was easy. I found this steel thread when I was searching the garbage dump.

　He took a bundle of steel thread from his pocket and threw it at Nerval's feet.
　Nerval stared at it, and then his mouth twisted in amusement.

"Huh, that's ridiculous. This steel thread is a musical instrument string. Some of the instruments in the house have been broken recently.
It's true that they're disguised as instrument strings. There were broken instruments all around, and the steel strings were cut short.
"......, that's enough. I will not tolerate any more insults. And even if I did hang your father with a steel thread, there is no proof that it was me!　As you can see from the picture, the wound is in the opposite direction of my room!
...... As you said, heading in the direction of the wound led me to Mizuha-san's room.
There!　That's exactly what I said!

　I'm sure you've seen this before," said Nerval.
　Mizha, on the other hand, paled.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had it.　I did not kill Hannibal. ......!


Yes, I know. She can't be the murderer. Because she was in a deep sleep that night. ...... Isn't that right?
Yes, yes!　It's a great way to get a good night's sleep.

　I'm sure you'll agree.

The cradle bed, the bedding that gives beastmen absolute peace of mind. And this is the weapon that killed Lord Hannibal.

　There was a loud buzz.
　This is the key to Hannibal's murder, I'm sorry, but I have to stuff it.
　After a pause, I continued.