Not a detective

Page 217

She suddenly stopped.

The girl just stared straight at me:

"(Pseudonym)...You already know the truth, right?"

"……What did you say?"

"You already know who the real culprit is, but you're deliberately putting on an act in front of me. Is it a white lie...? Are you afraid I'll continue searching for the truth, so you're misleading my thinking..."

"I……"

"Thank you. But I don't want to be protected anymore..."

Then she turned and left.

The investigation came to an abrupt end before it even began.

Nue's Summer: Chapter Eleven - A Letter to Readers Seeking Help

Interlude (Part 3)

Would it seem too abrupt and abrupt to end the matter here, leaving people scratching their heads in frustration?

I'm also worried about this, but it's based on a true story. No matter how much it's embellished, it can't change history. This is the reality I've witnessed firsthand.

I have now recounted the entire incident that occurred three years ago.

The investigation was over before it even began. This brief alliance, like the last one, lasted only a moment before crumbling and dissipating.

Why did I leave Nue?

I can't really explain how I felt at that time. Maybe it was the unique vulnerability and pride of adolescence. When complex emotions run high, impulsive actions can lead to irreversible mistakes.

At that moment, I realized that I could no longer stay by his side, so I fled in a panic.

Therefore, the previous chapter, "Chapter 8," can also be called "Chapter of Farewell," meaning "Chapter of Parting," and is also the final chapter of the story.

Okay, it's a lame joke.

In short, we never saw each other again after that.

To be precise, it lasted for about three years until we finally reunited not long ago.

We tacitly avoided mentioning "that incident," or perhaps we both knew that it would hurt us again, in any case.

He even acted as if he was meeting me for the first time, or maybe he really forgot me—it's hard to say…

Of course, please forgive me, readers, for I cannot say where I reunited with Nue, just as I used (pseudonym) and cannot reveal his true identity.

However, this element has no impact on the reasoning case, so please rest assured.

His refusal to mention the incident only fueled my curiosity. I tried to subtly hint at it to him several times, but he seemed to have completely forgotten it and remained silent.

So humans are really strange creatures. I was the one who ran away back then, but after I came back, I still couldn't let go of that past event.

What is the truth behind that case?

Who is the real culprit?

I wonder if you, the readers, have already reached your conclusion by now.

Regarding this, I would like to add some additional details, as a way to fill in the gaps in the investigation—

The police did not conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, but in reality, the investigation was halted and taken over by a higher-level agency. As for the name of that agency, I'd better not mention it for the sake of this book's publication. That agency gave the incident high priority and conducted a meticulous investigation, but in reality, it was largely futile. An excerpt follows:

[1. Regarding the number of people at the scene: After the special enforcement officer from the bureau reconstructed the scene, he used his special abilities to measure it and confirmed that only two humans were present at the crime scene that day. No signals such as possession by monsters or fluctuations in superpowers were found. However, during the second verification the next day, the number was found to have decreased to "1", and then during the third verification, it returned to "3". It seems that each measurement fluctuates between 1, 2, and 3, as if the observation was interfered with, making it impossible to determine whether a third person was present.]

As for the general eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen three people, when questioned later, they were found to give inconsistent and incoherent answers regarding the number of people, but tests showed they were not lying. Furthermore, their mental instability wouldn't be limited to a number between one and three. Amnesia was even prevalent, including among our investigators… This remains the biggest unsolved mystery plaguing this case.

[2. Regarding the assessment of ability: We have always set the observation level of "Faceless Man/Nue" as S, which is first-tier. However, due to the destructive power, performance and influence shown in this incident, we may have to raise his danger level and consider setting a higher RANK above S, that is, the level that a single exorcist expert may not be able to handle on his own. Avoid direct contact unless necessary, avoid direct conflict as much as possible, maintain a friendly and isolated environment, and in case of emergency, require the executor to be assembled and at least two exorcist experts to lead the team.]

As for the mysterious culprit behind the "Faceless Man/Nue" incident, there are absolutely no clues. The overwhelming power and higher-dimensional influence it displayed in battle overshadow any current research on monsters and superpowers. We have to admit that there are still too many unexplored areas in this world, thus classifying it as the only EX Extra-Level.

3. Regarding the preservation of case files: During the investigation of this case, we were also surprised to discover that the aforementioned written records could not be preserved normally, no matter what. The text written on paper began to fade after 24 hours; whether handwritten or printed, the ink would gradually disappear, becoming unrecognizable. After 48 hours, all written records would completely disappear, turning back into blank paper. After 72 hours, those who had contact with the individuals experienced memory loss…

Initially, we had to rely on a relay-style method of preservation, passed on the information verbally. However, the Risk and Compliance Department questioned whether this would affect the mental well-being of the operators. Therefore, we had to adopt a special preservation method, entrusting the Deputy Director (pseudonym) to seal the case file in virtual space, hoping it would be safely preserved. ...This case is too bizarre.

Will this supplementary information help your reasoning, or is it just some silly, made-up setting I made up?

Of course, I have used up all the materials at hand and reconstructed the entire incident according to the original facts. Even if I describe the investigation process in more detail, I cannot provide any new information or clues. So let's consider this a final summary. To my shame, I believe that I am no longer able to solve this case on my own.

So writing this novel is also a way for me to comprehensively review this case, to see if I can recall it in the form of a novel, and to come up with some inspiration and explanation.

Unfortunately, the more I wrote, the more confused I became. I deeply felt that I could not solve this mystery by myself alone.

So, this is also a hope for the readers. Do you all understand what really happened in that alley on that day?

I would like to ask for your help here.

Some readers may see this chapter as a "challenge to the reader," which is fine, because I am certain that all the elements needed for the reasoning are in the preceding text.

Of course, I can also help you rule out one thing: perhaps some people, upon seeing the narrative narrated in the first person, will suspect the classic narrative trick of "I = the real culprit".

I can guarantee that what I wrote in the previous "Chapter Seven"—"I am absolutely not the culprit, and I could not possibly be the real culprit. Nue is also absolutely not the culprit, and he could not possibly be the real culprit"—is absolutely true, so true that it can even be written in scarlet. To doubt in this direction is completely wrong and futile.

That's settled then.

I eagerly await your letters.

Nue Summer: Nue Summer AFTER1

"Sorry I'm late today, senior~"

With her usual smile, Asuji pushed open the door with a cheerful air.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Asakawa Riku standing in the middle of the room, holding a manuscript with a serious expression.

The smile vanished instantly, but not completely; it remained frozen in a subtle way.

"what……"

"I'm sorry, I peeked at your manuscript."

Asakawa Riku looked up at her, his eyes calm, yet seemingly containing complex emotions.

"I didn't expect you to find it again. It seems it shouldn't have been left here. Since we've already seen it... why don't we finish reading it?"

Everyone knows how unbearable it is to be interrupted halfway through a mystery novel, but Asukai Shi was not angry at all. Instead, she gestured for him to continue reading: "It's not too late to talk about it later."

"I've finished reading it."

Riku Asakawa said.

His finger flipped to the last page, and it turned out that "Interlude (Part Three)" was actually the last page, while the following pages were blank, unwritten.

"Putting a 'challenge to the readers' on the last page, presenting it as a mystery novel without revealing the truth? You really have the guts to do that? Aren't you afraid of being confronted by readers?"

"Hehe... I also think it's a bit too outrageous, so I'm hesitating whether to send it out or not."

Asu stuck out her tongue, but her grinning face showed no sign of remorse.

Yes, this guy didn't reveal the truth in the book, but left it entirely to the reader to figure out, which is simply incomprehensible madness in a typical mystery novel.

It's easy to imagine that if someone bought this book, got hooked, and turned to the last page only to find it completely blank.

Forget about "sending a letter," they'd probably just walk straight to the editorial office with a knife.

"You'd better not send it out."

“I know.” Asu nods. “That’s why I left it here. I’m going to forget about it completely.”

The two exchanged a glance, as if they had already reached a tacit understanding.

"Because of this incident—"

"—It is indeed based on a true story."

The girl smiled: "Senior, Asakawa Riku, Nue, it seems you've finally remembered."

“We met once when we were young… I think it was the earliest time I ever met you.”

Asakawa Riku covered his head and sighed, "But I have completely lost my memory."

He neatly folded the manuscript papers, placed them solemnly on the table, and then sat down.

The two sat down at the same time, with Shimi Asuai sitting across from them. They looked at each other as they usually did during club activities, except today the directions were reversed.

"This matter is clearly very important to me, I can't forget it. This is the last mission I carried out as the Faceless Man, and it was also the first time I met you, the first time I saw the strange and incredible side of this world, and it's something I've always been pursuing. I was defeated by an unimaginably powerful enemy, and I vowed to investigate it thoroughly. All of this is important."

Asakawa Riku sighed again: "But I have completely lost my memory."

Before turning to this page of the manuscript, he couldn't find a single related memory. It was right there in his mind, but it was as if it had been blocked and ignored.

So, how did he graduate from being a Faceless Man? Why did he suddenly want to be a normal high school student after high school?

These life-altering turning points could be erased silently... This shows that the mastermind behind it is no ordinary force.

"I thought I'd changed so much that you wouldn't recognize me, senior~"

However, Asukai Shi on the other side still spoke in a very relaxed tone.

"You have indeed changed a lot."

Asakawa Riku did not deny it.

If they met three years ago, then she must have been the first girl Asakawa Riku met.

At that time, he was still a junior high school student, not to mention Chizuko and Suetsuki, who came later. His encounter with Uta Asukai was even earlier.

That brief friendship, though it came and went quickly, left a deep impression on Asakawa Riku's youthful memories; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was the budding of feelings.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were childhood sweethearts.

“I don’t want to forget you either, but it seems like some kind of compulsive force has erased all my memories of that time.”

He said frankly.

"I see." Asu nods, seemingly unsurprised.

That makes sense, after all, they were people who went through that incident together, so they shouldn't be surprised by the existence of supernatural powers:

"But it's okay, we have a chance to reunite now, isn't that great?"

The girl said with a grin, reaching out to retrieve the manuscript paper from the other side of the table.

Is it really that good?

Asakawa Riku directly pressed down on her hand.

Asukai Shi was taken aback. She didn't struggle, but instead raised her head, her beautiful and clear eyes looking at Asakawa Riku:

"Is it not good?"

"What's so good about it?"

"Fortunately, I can play and have fun here without any worries. I don't need to think too much. I just need to come to the club activities after school every day."

Asukai Shi smiled and said, "It's good that I can meet you again, become friends again, and have new opportunities to spend time together, isn't that great?"

Now I understand why I felt familiar when I first saw her.

I also understand why she would go to any lengths, even resorting to underhanded tactics, to get into the mystery club.

It turns out that all of this was part of her plan, all for this "long-awaited reunion".

But Asakawa Riku didn't seem to appreciate it.

His face held no smile, nor any anger, but rather a quiet sadness. He held Asu's hand, looked at her, and asked:

"But how long will this summer last? Hundreds of days, how many months have passed? How many years could that be converted into? Why is everything around us stuck in this summer of our senior year? Why is time not moving? We go to school and come home every day, chat and play at the mystery club, and then go home. How long will this repetition continue?"

No wonder I subconsciously felt that this summer had lasted a long time, and that summer vacation, the college entrance examination, and graduation would never come.

Asukai Shi wasn't embarrassed by being exposed; she just blinked.

"Senior, your power is getting stronger and stronger... Even if you haven't seen this manuscript, it's only a matter of time before you see through it."

She leaned closer, her pale knees resting on the table, and like a kitten, she reached out her other hand and patted Asakawa Riku's head.

"But isn't it better to just forget it? Why must we remember some bad memories? Why must we dig up some cruel truths? Only by knowing nothing can we find happiness. Now we finally have endless time to spend together, isn't that wonderful? I want to stay classmates with you forever..."

Her hands, though small, were warm. Despite being a young girl, her face, illuminated by the setting sun, resembled that of a gentle older sister or mother.

The fox's shadow vanished, as if it were drowning in it, completely forgetting everything, wishing it could continue living such a carefree and joyful life...