TTRIA 56

At the very moment the solid public opinion was slightly shaken, Gray’s young head of the house, Wayne, found the real culprit. No, to be precise, the real culprit, unable to bear the guilt, confessed to the head of the house himself.

He was the young servant who had been watching the teacher’s sleepwalking, Eddie Brooks, who had left the mansion in the middle of the night leaving behind a single letter, only to return again.

Eddie confessed.

He had held great dissatisfaction with the instruction to watch the young teacher’s sleepwalking. Furthermore, he had been jealous of Jeff. The heart that had changed from jealousy to hatred was revealed in his attitude, and the children keenly noticed Eddie’s hostility. Daniel, in particular, took Eddie’s attitude as a weakness and began to torment him cunningly.

Eddie, who was sick and tired of everything, eventually left the mansion. However, unable to find a proper job, he secretly returned to the mansion on the day of Eden, when the mansion’s charity event was being held.

Hiding in the forest until late at night, he witnessed Jeff passing through the forest. And he also discovered Daniel, who had been watching Jeff. Eddie approached Daniel and persuaded him.

“Let’s go find the teacher. It won’t be scary if we go together.”

Then, when the tired child started to whine, Eddie turned his steps toward the stable. Daniel fell asleep on a warm pile of hay. And he was strangled to death by Eddie. Eddie threw the child’s body into the forest lake.

Afterward, taking advantage of the mansion’s busyness on the night of the banquet, he hid a rope in Jeff’s room. The already messy room wouldn’t look strange at all even if he brought a rope into it.

Daniel’s body was discovered sooner than expected, and Jeff’s fleeing appearance was confirmed by a servant’s testimony. Eddie took advantage of the mansion’s chaos to reveal himself. When he requested to return, hoping for the head of the house’s recognition, Wayne accepted. And the mansion’s gaze naturally turned toward Eddie.

Because it was Eddie who had watched Jeff Lowell, who had disappeared in conjunction with Daniel’s sudden death, from the closest distance. He demonized Jeff and gave weight to the accusation.

Finally, Jeff returned. However, he resisted, denying the charges to the end. Eddie began to grow more and more anxious. He had to search for a way to definitively bring Jeff down, and in the end, he committed an act he should not have. The terrible act of digging up a grave and defiling a corpse. After that, he bribed the guard and intentionally made Jeff go there.

Nevertheless, Jeff held on to the end. And at the sight of him gradually dying, the servants’ public opinion was shaken. They began to send suspicious glances toward Eddie.

“Is he really a bad person? He seems to be so unfairly treated.”

In the end, unable to withstand the pressure, Eddie turned himself in to Wayne. His face was stained with regret as he hoped for leniency, but Wayne firmly drew the line. He was immediately arrested and was scheduled to be hanged soon.

Jeff, who had regained consciousness, let out a hollow laugh at the situation that had been overturned in an instant. The sight of Wayne, delivering the news with an angelic face, was nauseating. What kind of whim had suddenly brought all the circumstances to an end?

Furthermore, Eddie Brooks of all people. He had clearly witnessed him writhing in pain on the mansion’s underground stage, and he killed Daniel? It was nonsensical.

The real culprit is definitely someone else. But Wayne instigated Eddie to confess. Why did Eddie make a false confession, knowing full well he would be hanged? Moreover, hadn’t he suffered in that place?

Jeff was confused. It seemed Superintendent Neil was the same. Neil, who came to see Jeff, still did not withdraw his suspicious gaze.

“Even if Eddie Brooks is the one who killed Daniel Ward, I still cannot withdraw my suspicion of you. The evidence that you emotionally abused the child is certain.”

Daniel’s memo. The handwriting, in which fear of the teacher and the content that he seemed like he would kill him were written, was definitely the child’s. Therefore, Neil stared at Jeff, unable to shake off his suspicious look.

“Why did you go to Daniel’s grave that night? Fine. Let’s say I understand that you went to the grave after being fooled by Eddie’s trick. You were that child’s teacher, and perhaps you wanted to mourn. But why did you touch the corpse? That is not normal. A normal person would not do such a thing.”

“……”

Jeff, who was receiving the contorted expression, slowly opened his mouth.

“…There was something in his mouth.”

“What did you say?”

“In his… in the corpse’s mouth, I saw a dead mantis….”

Neil, at a loss for words, stared at Jeff’s mouth with a confused gaze.

“It was definitely a dead mantis, but it suddenly moved, so.”

It was as if that was some kind of clue.

“I reached out my hand without realizing it. I thought I had to check.”

“…Are you telling me to believe that right now?”

“Did you, Superintendent, check his corpse in detail at that time?”

Neil’s expression hardened. Jeff, who inferred the answer from his reaction, added.

“Don’t conclude that my words are false without even having checked. I definitely saw that, and I am just telling you exactly as it is now.”

“Ha.”

Grind. Neil, who had clenched his teeth, roughly ran his hand through his hair. He had certainly made a wrong judgment at that time. Obsessed with the thought that Jeff Lowell was harming the corpse, he had considered it his top priority to pull him out first. He had briefly glanced at the state of the corpse, but it was true that he had not checked it properly. However, after that, when he had checked again for the cleanup, he had not seen anything like a mantis corpse.

“Do you think the fact that you saw a single mantis is a convincing reason to have touched the corpse?”

“It would probably be difficult.”

Pfft. Jeff let out a weak laugh. Neil, who was looking at him with a complicated expression, asked.

“What kind of child was Daniel?”

At that, Jeff raised his head and looked at Neil. It was a question he had received several times, but this time he gave a different answer.

“He was cunning because he was clever, and uninhibited because he was pure.”

“……”

“He was a creepy child.”

It was a short and firm statement. Neil chewed on those words. The evaluation of Daniel that the servants used to utter came to mind. A cunning child. Those words naturally connected with Jeff’s assertion.

“How much were you involved in the child’s funeral, Superintendent?”

At the sudden question, Neil’s brow furrowed.

“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“When I checked the corpse that day, the condition was so pristine. The decay was abnormally slow. Even though several months had already passed.”

“Because it was embalmed.”

At Neil’s answer, Jeff nodded his head and continued to speak.

“But since it was a corpse from strangulation, it wouldn’t have been excessively damaged. Why was such extensive embalming necessary?”

“Because it was the head of the house’s wish.”

Jeff’s expression hardened. After a short silence, he asked back in a low voice.

“It was the head of the house’s wish, you say.”

“Yes. He said it was a pity to keep the child’s body indefinitely while the suspect was on the run. The autopsy confirmed strangulation, and all necessary records had been collected, so the funeral was conducted according to the guardian’s wishes. I also agreed with his wish to say goodbye to the child in his whole form.”

“So you’re saying that’s why it was embalmed.”

“That’s right.”

“But Superintendent. The corpse was excessively pristine. That means it was overly embalmed. Why did it have to be done like that?”

“That is….”

Neil’s expression wavered subtly. Frowning, he hesitated for a moment before finally opening his mouth.

“I failed to check that it was treated to that extent.”

“I see.”

Swallowing a sigh for a moment, Jeff calmly continued his questions.

“When the investigation was first conducted, were you also the one who confirmed Daniel’s corpse, Superintendent?”

“Yes.”

“Was his nasal cavity swollen then, too?”

At those words, Neil’s expression sank. After moving his lips for a moment, he let out an irritated sigh and nodded his head.

“Yes.”

“It was concluded that Daniel definitely died from strangulation, wasn’t it? Were there any signs of violence before that?”

“According to the coroner, he said it swelled up from bumping his nose while resisting.”

“Are you sure about that? Is that really what is stated in the autopsy report?”

“Yes. It’s written like that in the autopsy record. But….”

Neil’s words trailed off. In the sunken silence, he frowned. Jeff opened his mouth, recalling the pale face of Daniel he had seen that day.

“At the time you first checked, was there any bleeding, fracture, or contusion around the corpse’s nasal cavity?”

“……”

Neil looked uncomfortable. Jeff could tell instinctively. That he was hiding something.

“You have another opinion, don’t you? You definitely know something, Superintendent. Why are you hiding it?”

“…The autopsy is not my jurisdiction. The professional coroner was certain that it was damage from external impact. I had to accept that opinion.”

“But you couldn’t have been convinced.”

At those words, Neil finally nodded his head.

“Yes. Honestly, it’s suspicious. Because it… it looked like it had occurred from the inside, not the outside. The mucous membrane was definitely torn. As if pressure was applied from the inside….”

“In that case, what do you think about the possibility that the coroner was bribed by Gray?”

“……”

Neil could not say anything. Instead of an answer, only a complicatedly entangled silence lingered. Just as he was about to open his mouth.

Knock knock—

The door opened along with the sound of a knock. Wayne revealed himself inside the room.

“Oh dear, Superintendent Warden was here as well.”

“…Head of the house.”

Wayne, who had been smiling gently at Neil, slowly turned his head toward Jeff.

“How is your body, Jeff?”

“Thanks to you.”

It was a reluctant answer, but Wayne nodded lightly as if he didn’t mind at all.

“It seems you were talking with the Superintendent. Have the misunderstandings been cleared up?”

Neil glanced at Jeff.

“Yes, they have.”

“That’s a relief. I can finally feel a little at ease.”

Wayne gave a smile of relief and looked back at Jeff.

“More importantly, Jeff. I have good news.”

“What….”

“The remaining two children have returned to the mansion.”

The fingertips of Jeff’s hand, which was clutching the blanket, trembled minutely. Wayne added, maintaining a smile without a single flaw.

“The children said they missed you very much, teacher. Since all misunderstandings have been cleared up, if it’s alright with you, Jeff, how about showing your face even for a moment?”

“……”

What is he plotting? Jeff looked at Wayne’s face without a word. The face that met his gaze with sparkling blue eyes was so smooth that it was difficult to guess his inner thoughts. Jeff suppressed a sigh and nodded his head.

“I understand.”

“Good. The children will be happy. I will tell them to prepare soon. And there is something I want to discuss with you at length, Jeff….”

Wayne, who trailed off his words, looked back at Neil.

“If your conversation is over, would you mind leaving, Superintendent Warden?”

“…I will do so.”

Neil obediently nodded his head and picked up the coat he had hung on the chair.

“It seems my role here is over.”

Neil, who lightly raised the corners of his mouth, approached Jeff while putting on his coat.

“Mr. Lowell.”

He held out his hand.

“You have been through a lot. And I am sorry.”

“……”

Jeff looked at Neil for a moment before taking his hand. In that moment, something was pushed into his palm. It was the feel of a minutely folded piece of paper. Jeff, who had paused for a moment, quickly curled his hand into a fist. Neil, as if nothing had happened, released his hand and said.

“I was lacking in many ways, but I hope you will take good care of your health.”

Soon, he calmly turned his body and bowed his head to Wayne.

“I will be on my way, head of the house.”

“You’ve worked hard, Superintendent Warden.”

Wayne smiled leisurely. Neil left the room just like that, and Wayne’s gaze returned to Jeff. Just before his blue gaze returned to him, Jeff pushed the paper he was holding in his hand into the gap of his bandage. Soon, he composed his expression and stared at Wayne.

Once they were finally alone, Wayne’s expression relaxed considerably. You disgusting human. Jeff, who swallowed his nausea, opened his mouth.

“What is it you wish to discuss?”

“You’re not going to ask?”

Wayne asked with a playful smile. Jeff, who had frowned, glared at Wayne.

“Why did you close the investigation?”

“Because it wasn’t very fun anymore.”

Wayne smiled brightly. In that smile, there was no hesitation, no human empathy.

“You see, you should have shown a broken and suffering appearance. Why did you endure so well and make the situation not fun?”

“Ha!”

You crazy bastard. Wayne’s real face, with the mask thrown off, was far uglier than he had imagined. Jeff felt anger boiling up inside him. That emotion grew even stronger the moment he faced Wayne’s despicable smile.

“Did you kill Daniel for just one bit of fun? Why? That child was the one you chose!”

“Is there a rule that says I can’t kill him just because I chose him?”

“What did you say?”

“It was just because that seemed like it would be the most fun.”

The words flowed out so lightly. As if swallowing a sip of water, completely nonchalantly.

“If I look closely, you really have a lot of… useless thoughts. Of course, that’s the fun part.”

“……”

Fun. That word struck Jeff’s mind. For the mere reason that it seemed fun, Wayne had killed Daniel. Even though it was a ‘bug’, that being in the form of a young child. He strangled him to death for just fun?

Jeff looked down at Wayne’s shadow. It was the shadow of an ordinary person. There was no sharp form, no countless dangling legs. It was just in the shape of a single human. But the being before his eyes was a being that could not be called human.

A monster. The real monster was right here in front of him.

“You’re crazy. …You’re not in your right mind.”

“Is that so.”

Wayne, who smirked, leaned his upper body and came closer in a flash.

“So you hate it?”

He whispered, with a soft smile.

“It’s the same face as Cecil, but do you hate me? Jeff?”

In that moment, Jeff’s reason snapped. His left hand instinctively grabbed Wayne’s collar. He was trembling to his fingertips with anger.

“Shut up, don’t you dare say that name!”

An agitated voice burst out. Wayne quietly curled the corners of his mouth up and whispered to him.

“Why? Was that child yours? I don’t think so. The ownership of that child should be with me.”

“Cecil is not an object!”

A cracked shout filled the room. Toward Jeff, who was glaring at him while panting, Wayne whispered impassively like an emotionless doll.

“No. It is my object. Given to me from birth, my object that I created myself.”

Jeff’s vision turned red. Jeff, who had roughly pulled his collar, threw Wayne onto the bed. Without giving him a moment to breathe, he gripped his neck with both hands.

“Kugh…!”

Wayne’s breath came out in a thin wisp, as if it would be cut off. However, he did not even struggle. Rather, he twisted the corners of his mouth and smiled.

“I find you quite interesting.”

Even in the pain close to suffocation, his voice was soft and low. Wayne’s blue eyes stared straight into Jeff’s face.

“Appearing by that child’s side, perhaps it was fate.”

“Shut up!”

Jeff gritted his teeth and put strength into his fingertips. His neck was pressed deeper, but Wayne did not stop.

“Because thanks to you, I can accomplish much more.”

With a face whose capillaries had burst, he uttered the words to the end. The reason of Jeff, who was glaring at the face with prominent veins, wavered precariously. But he barely managed to loosen the strength in his grip. He took off his hands as if shaking off something dirty, panting with ragged breaths.

Wayne took a rough breath with his freed throat. The sound of coughing echoed in the room, but he still did not lose his smile. He opened his mouth, his gaze firmly fixed, never having left him once.

“You cannot escape from this mansion.”

Jeff glared at Wayne without a word.

“Give up and open your heart, Jeff.”

Wayne, who slowly raised his body, leisurely stroked his neck. He whispered softly while stroking the red marks left on his neck.

“Stay here, and you must find out the question you have been searching for so desperately.”

Those words dug into Jeff’s heart as if to squeeze it.

“So survive here somehow, Jeff.”

“……”

“Because the test is not over yet.”

That day, after Wayne had left like that, Jeff was once again gripped by a fever. It was because he had experienced excessive tension and emotion with a body that was not fully healed. His body sank heavily as if it had lost its will, and Jeff once again passed the time, crossing between consciousness and unconsciousness.

During that time, the mansion was peaceful, as if nothing had happened. The servants who had suspected Jeff were consistently kind as if they had never done so, the restrictions on his movements were gone, and the guard no longer appeared.

When he had barely regained the strength to move, Jeff finally met the two children remaining in the mansion.

Milla and Benjamin.

“Teacher.”

They had grown more than he remembered.