To unravel the mysteries surrounding Tsumori Takuro, Inoue Yoshino, and Inoue Hiiro, we investigated the room further.

As a result, there were a few things we learned.

First was the weekly magazine article in the scrapbook we found initially.

The continuation of that article wrote about the connection between Hikarinomiya City and a certain cult, and concluded with the speculation that Kaisei kyou might be involved in the shooting death of Inoue Yoshino.

And on the newspaper clipping pasted on the next page, there was an article stating that a certain reporter had gone missing.

I think it was probably the reporter who wrote the first article.

Were they killed because they touched upon Kaisei kyou? And that weekly magazine suspended publication less than a year later.

Inoue Yoshino said she had been investigating Kaisei kyou while she was alive.

And as can be seen from Kaisei kyou's involvement in the shooting incident and the elimination of the reporter, it is highly likely this crime was committed to silence Inoue Yoshino, who was sniffing around Kaisei kyou.

Next, about a letter addressed to Tsumori Takuro stored in another file.

The sender was Inoue Hiiro.

It seems there had been interactions between Tsumori Takuro, the director of Hikarinomiya Fantasy Land, and Inoue Hiiro, the younger sister of the incident's victim, for the six years following the incident.

Tsumori Takuro, perhaps heartbroken that an incident occurred at the amusement park he managed, had apparently gotten along well with her whole family.

Perhaps as a result of that, Inoue Hiiro had come to hold such a favorable image of the amusement park that she said, "I want to work at the amusement park in the future. I want to aim to be the director."

Also, it seems Tsumori Takuro had been personally pursuing the truth behind the shooting incident, for which the culprit had not yet been found.

The first scrapbook was made during the process of that investigation.

Other files and notebooks contained clipped footage from security cameras on that day, the state of the waiting room for the Casts wearing mascot costumes, and the results of interviews with staff and guests who were near the scene.

For six years, while working, Tsumori seemed to have dedicated a considerable amount of time to this investigation.

The strength of his tenacity and regret was conveyed through the many documents left behind.

"Even with all this investigation, he only managed to find out that the culprit was a female believer living in Hikarinomiya City."

"However, the fact that he was killed in the same manner as Inoue Yoshino... is there no possibility it was the same culprit?"

"I can't say for sure just because he was shot in the stomach with a gun. But, if it's a Kaisei kyou believer, there's a high chance they're inside the school building."

"If so, the people involved at the time might be gathered on this floor."

For now, we finished investigating this room with this.

I didn't know what Akabane san's goal was when he asked me, but if he knew about this room—he probably wanted to convey to us the contradiction of Inoue Yoshino's existence.

◇◇◇

Before returning to the restaurant, we stopped by the staff room.

Looking at the list of second-year students there, we found a photo of Inoue Hiiro.

With bobbed hair and a quiet demeanor, she looked like a perfectly ordinary student.

Petite and fair-skinned—in short, she gave off an aura that she would get along with the indoorsy Ushizawa san.

But it seems she is in a different class from Ushizawa san.

That's probably why the two of them were acting separately.

"What do you intend to do, Erika?"

Nemusia asked at the exact moment I closed the roster after accomplishing our goal.

I cast my eyes down and thought for a bit.

"What should I do, I wonder."

Naturally, Inoue Yoshino shouldn't think that she is dead.

However, the current situation is clearly abnormal.

There is a possibility that her existence itself is a trap set by Kaigyo.

Like, without any warning, she suddenly turns into a monster and attacks us.

Or, the moment we tell her "You are dead," her form crumbles and she turns into a monster.

"Telling her doesn't necessarily mean anything good will come of it."

"Even so, we cannot just leave it be. A dead person is moving around, you know?"

"Yeah... you're right. What do you think, Nemusia? Do you think Inoue san will be shocked?"

"Of course she will be shocked. However, I do not think she will be as depressed as you think."

"You don't think she'll be depressed?"

"I think she is quite a strong woman. Even though many died and more than half of the survivors were taken away, she is acting bravely. Even if she gets slightly depressed, I think she will recover quickly."

If it were a normal matter, I would think so too.

But just this once, the content is what it is.

Just how much of that truth can Inoue san actually withstand?

◇◇◇

Returning to the restaurant, Nemusia and I called Inoue san and Akabane san into the break room.

Voices wouldn't reach the hall from here.

I still have doubts within myself, but—this is a world six years later; I think sooner or later Inoue san would notice the discrepancies herself.

No, she might have already noticed a long time ago.

With six years having passed, the shape of smartphones has changed, and she could tell by the dates on remaining newspapers.

That's why I decided to tell her everything.

"Regarding the search for the director that Akabane san requested, there was a corpse left in the office."

"...I see."

Akabane san showed a reaction as if he already knew.

"You mentioned going to the school earlier, were you looking for the director?"

"I'm sorry for lying. But I'll explain the reason later."

"So there's a proper reason. I'll wait then."

It's completely reasonable for Inoue san to harbor doubts.

Would she truly accept it once I explained the reason? Right now, my palms were sweating from nervousness.

"The reason I asked you to find the director is—because I saw him bleeding."

Akabane san spoke as if making a confession.

"When monsters suddenly appeared, I was guiding panicked guests, and I saw the director collapsed in front of the office. It looked like he couldn't move on his own. However, I also needed to run from the monsters, and I couldn't save him... It was the same as six years ago. If only I had treated his wounds sooner, I might have been able to save his life."

"So you knew from the start that Tsumori was dead."

"I'm sorry for hiding it, but I couldn't bring myself to ask you to go find a corpse. But I was surprised he was inside the office. He managed to move on his own, huh."

I see, Tsumori san was outside.

If so, he grasped that clover when he moved.

Does that mean Inoue Hiiro was in that place?

"Akabane san, you wanted to show us what was inside, didn't you."

"What is 'that' you're talking about?"

"An article saying Inoue san was killed six years ago."

At my words, Inoue san tilted her head with an "Eh?"

There, I said it.

She will surely be hurt, but right now I have no choice but to push through and tell her everything.

"Six years ago, an incident occurred at this amusement park where a woman was killed by a mascot costume holding a gun. The victim at that time—was Inoue Yoshino."

"What are you saying, Erika chan. I'm alive. I'm right here like this!"

"But it's the truth. Akabane san knew that, so he's been wondering about it this whole time."

"Yeah, I also knew our director was on good terms with the victim's little sister. I did consider the possibility that you were a different person with the exact same first and last name, but..."

Even so, the characteristics match way too perfectly.

However, she is the only person who can fight monsters and enemies; I couldn't say something weird and risk her abandoning us.

"I... died six years ago? I don't have... any memory of that... I came to play at the amusement park with Hiiro, and then..."

Inoue san froze right after saying "and then."

Her memory must be cut off there.

"Why... I remember up to the point the mascot costume approached me. No, wait, I feel like I heard Hiiro's scream..."

"Inoue, you had a faint suspicion, did you not."

"..."

"She is somewhat upset, but not as panicked as I thought. It is likely a reaction because, somewhere in her head, she was aware of the abnormality of her current self."

At Nemusia's sharp observation, Inoue san was at a loss for words.

After a brief silence, she muttered softly.

"...I did think it was strange. Various things, various places, have changed."

Well, of course she would.

The clothes are different, and so are the amusement park facilities.

With six years having passed, the scenery should have changed drastically.

"But, because it suddenly merged with the school and weird things kept happening, I thought it was because of that! I mean, I would never imagine—that I'm already dead. Then, what am I right now? Why am I here?"

"I don't know. However... the magic we obtained can even bring people back to life if the conditions are met. I can't say it's absolutely impossible for you to come back to life, Inoue san."

"So, now that I've been brought back to life, am I just a normal human being?"

"That's..."

"Erika chan, if you know even a little, please tell me. It's okay, I won't blame you no matter what it is."

Even if she says that, right now I'm only forming hypotheses; it's not like I accurately grasp the situation.

"This is just one hypothesis. I want you to listen to it with that understanding."

That's why I prefaced it like that. Unless she accepted that, no matter how much she pleaded, I didn't feel like speaking irresponsibly.

"I understand, I don't mind."

"I believe the reason the 2nd floor of the school building and Hikarinomiya Fantasy Land merged is related to Inoue Hiiro's trauma."

Even though I'm the one saying it, there is a fatal contradiction here.

It's a problem of the timeline.

I believe that at the point the school building and the amusement park merged, Inoue Hiiro was a "normal human."

In other words, she doesn't have the power to merge those two locations.

I feel like another will—for example, someone with a strong emotional attachment to this Hikarinomiya Fantasy Land—is involved.

However, this doesn't serve as proof that Hiiro san is uninvolved.

This is also just one possibility.

But since talking about it would make things complicated, for now, I decided to proceed with the conversation focusing on Inoue Hiiro.

"The Casts and Hole Men are born from the memories of Hiiro san, who witnessed her older sister die right in front of her. That's what I think."

"In other words, Hiiro is here?"

"She might not be in human form, though."

"No way..."

"If Hiiro san was chosen as the master of this floor, it would make sense that she has enough power to resurrect her older sister. But in that case, you wouldn't be human either, Inoue san—you would be an existence infinitely close to a monster."

Akabane san was surprised by those words and stepped back slightly.

Perhaps shocked by that, Inoue san looked down and tightly clenched her fists.

"Moreover, we've actually seen entities like that. Changing into monsters after death—probably, monsters merely wearing human skin."

"Right, I see. If I'm the same kind as the ones who kidnapped everyone, it makes sense."

"However—there are many parts of this that don't add up."

"You don't need to comfort me."

"I'm not comforting you. If the monster gave power to Ooki and Suguro to protect itself, I'd understand. But you are the exact opposite, Inoue san. You are here to help living people. The floor master we encountered on the 1st floor was in a similar position to Hiiro san, but he had his reason stolen by Kaigyo and tried to kill even his precious people. The situation is too different from back then. That's why, right now, I cannot give a clear answer as to what you are, Inoue san."

When I finished speaking, the kitchen fell dead silent.

I want this silence to stop; it's making my stomach ache.

But Inoue san stayed silent for a while, and Nemusia and Akabane san just quietly watched her—so, unable to bear it, I opened my mouth again.

"Inoue san, can I ask you one thing?"

"I don't... mind, but."

"Is there any secret that you know, but Hiiro san absolutely doesn't? It doesn't even have to be a secret. Anything that Hiiro san doesn't know."

She looked at me and gave a bitter smile.

Why are you asking such a thing now—that kind of expression.

Nemusia's gaze was also cold.

But I think it's quite important.

"Let's see... That I secretly kiss Hiiro's forehead while she's sleeping, maybe?"

"There's a chance she noticed that."

"You think so...?"

"Something else she absolutely wouldn't know. Like something that happened at your workplace."

"I keep a photo of Hiiro on my desk."

"Has Hiiro san ever seen it?"

"No, but... what is this? I don't understand why you're asking these things."

Inoue san's doubt is completely justified.

But the fact that she knows those facts that only "Inoue Yoshino" would know is—unnatural.

"The hypothesis I mentioned earlier. I said you might have been born from Inoue Hiiro, who became a monster. But if so, you should only possess the memories that Hiiro san knows."

"Certainly, if she was born from her little sister, it would be impossible to supplement memories that do not exist."

"What does that mean? Then, what state am I in?"

"I'm sorry, I really still don't know. That's why I was hesitating whether to tell you or not..."

"Right... Erika chan did say that at the beginning."

"But, I think the 'human' named Inoue Yoshino is undoubtedly right here. I don't know how you came back to life or how your body is constructed, but the consciousness dwelling there undoubtedly belongs to the person herself."

Even I think it's a forceful follow-up.

But it's not like I'm lying.

It's easy to definitively declare that she's a Kaigyo Gangrene created by Inoue Hiiro, but there are too many contradictions for that to be the case.

Inoue san pursed her lips, making a weird "Mmmm" sound while agonizing over it.

After observing her state for a while, she suddenly slapped both her cheeks with her hands with a smack.

"Yup... I have ab-so-lutely no idea!"

Then she spoke loudly, as if she had cast off her doubts.

"Erika chan explained various things, but my head can't comprehend it. In short, I died and came back to life. Hiiro is waiting for help somewhere. I just have to think of it like that, right?"

I feel like she skipped way too much, but I guess this is better than her staying depressed forever.

"That... might be fine."

"Being positive is a good thing."

"If anything, I'm lucky to have been brought back to life. Oh, right. If I died six years ago, that means Hiiro is sixteen, right. Do you have a photo or something?"

"I did take a picture of the one in the staff room, just in case."

"Show me, show me. Ahh, so cuuuuute! She's grown up while still retaining her innocence, maybe she looks a bit like me now! Haaaah, I want to see her sooon!"

At the sudden shift in enthusiasm, I instinctively recoiled.

Akabane san also asked me in a small voice, looking surprised.

"Is this really okay?"

"Inoue san is an ally. She saved you too, Akabane san, isn't that enough?"

Naturally, I don't feel any hostility or murderous intent from Inoue san, and for now, there are no signs of her turning into a monster.

If so, there should be no need to forcibly reduce our fighting strength.

Hearing my answer, Akabane san still looked anxious, but seemed to have accepted Inoue san's existence.

On top of that, he speaks.

"I personally think this is a ridiculous story, but there's a rumor that a ghost appears in this amusement park."

"Oh, is it an old rumor?"

"No, it's from about five years ago. That's why people often said it might be the ghost of the victim from that incident."

A ghost wandering the amusement park.

Did he think that in this world devoured by Kaigyo, she obtained a physical form—something like that?

Ghosts are ridiculous.

But I know that souls exist.

I thought it wasn't an impossible hypothesis.

At the very least, it provides an explanation for why she could talk about secrets that only Inoue Yoshino could possibly know.

Inoue san was intently staring at the smartphone screen, sometimes rubbing her cheek against it, or sniffing it even though it was pointless.

Nemusia observed her with eyes like she was looking at a rare animal.

But suddenly, her brow furrowed, and her gaze turned towards the door.

"Erika, did you not hear a scream?"

"No, I didn't."

But positionally, Nemusia is closer to the door.

I decided to check outside just in case.

Then I noticed the hall was strangely noisy.

When I hurried back, there—stood a "Cast" wearing the Rabi Rabi chan mascot costume.

"Why is a Cast inside the barrier!?"

Several people had collapsed around it, large holes opened in their faces.

Furthermore, some had already begun acting as Hole Men, spewing the mucus coming out of their holes onto other evacuees.

I tried to step forward to save them, but their faces had already begun to melt into mush.

It was already too late.

Once that happens, their faces completely disappear, leaving a hole, and they have no choice but to become Hole Men—I had heard that from Inoue san.

"No way, everyone died!? Even though they finally managed to survive..."

Inoue san dropped to her knees upon seeing the tragic scene.

Nemusia and Akabane san hurriedly supported her, but the shock was massive.

Even so, no matter if the door was closed, it was way too quiet.

No loud screams were raised, and by the time we noticed, everything was already over.

And the combined number of Casts and Hole Men exactly matched the number of evacuees who were supposed to be in this place.

The answer derived from this is—

"The humans turned into Casts."

As long as the barrier is there, there is absolutely no way monsters could enter from the outside.

There weren't any humans whose bodies were beginning to rot like zombies either.

Currently, this phenomenon can only be thought of as "Abiogenesis".

However, there must be some reason.

If we uncover that, could we find a way to permanently defeat those mascot costumes that continue to regenerate infinitely?