Chapter 2 (c)

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Erika: "I think it is obvious at this point that there is some kind of odd fake cult that spread among the students of this school, and that the ringleader chose the old P.E. shed as his, or more likely her, base of operations."

Satsukawa: "And that ringleader is most likely Maaya Teramoto, right?"

Erika: "So it seems. But what's important is that this ringleader somehow managed to create a climate of terror about her or rather about what she represents. According to Meito Oda, Teramoto is constantly targeting female students to 'convert' to her beliefs, and there's enough evidence to conclude that they're brought to that shed to witness whatever strange rituals or magic shows they perform in there."

Satsukawa: "You seem to think that a whole deal of persons entered that place."

Erika: "Look at the facts. You've found a lot of different fingerprints and DNA samples. I suppose most of those are hairs, right?"

Satsukawa: "Yeah... for the most part..."

Erika: "This is probably something that has been going on for at least one year. I don't expect all and everyone to leave traces that remained for that long. Sixteen persons is already quite a lot."

Satsukawa: "But what are they doing exactly there?"

Erika: "Who knows? We heard a strange story about demonic curses and students that died long ago. I suppose they're told all the particulars during those gatherings and then they're taught strange things about Pazuzu and how you should never enrage him or something."

Satsukawa: "Bu how could that scare them so much?"

Erika: "Oh, there's probably something more than that. I believe our ringleader has several tricks up her sleeve. Maybe she even summons Pazuzu in front of their very eyes!"

Satsukawa: "You mean... for real?!"

Erika: "No, silly! Do you really think that demons actually exist?"

Satsukawa: "I just wanted to make sure you weren't implying they do... I mean... you said you killed demons before..."

Erika: "Oh that... there's actually a pretty logic explanation. How would you kill something that doesn't exist?"

Satsukawa: "Uh... you can't?"

Erika: "Wrong! To kill something that doesn't exist you just need to break whatever is the delusion that keeps it alive in the minds of humans. Have you ever heard about Nietzsche? He claimed that God himself died, and that we humans killed him."

Satsukawa: "Well, so... it's just metaphorically speaking..."

Erika: "Just metaphorically speaking... You have no idea how strong and dangerous metaphors can be. With the right 'metaphors' you can shape society as you see fit and you can bend entire nations to your will. Do not underestimate what lies in the world 'beyond', it holds more power than any physical weapon can grant."

Satsukawa: "The world... beyond?"

Rokudou: "The 'meta' suffix in 'metaphor' and 'metaphysics' is a word of Greek origins that means 'beyond'. I think that's what milady is referring to."

Satsukawa: "I'm not sure I'm quite grasping all these philosophical concepts. I'm a pretty materialistic man in the end."

Erika: "You'd be surprised if I'd show you how very little of what you consider 'material' is actually so. And aren't you the one who claimed it's logic to wonder whether the supernatural exists or not?"

Satsukawa: "Well..."

Erika: "Nevermind, we're pointlessly digressing! We were talking about our mystical ringleader and how she created a fictional world, a metaworld, that she uses to control the whole school."

Satsukawa: "But... for what purpose?"

Erika: "Since when power isn't a worthy goal in itself? I don't think there's any need to imagine a deeper reason."

Satsukawa: "I can understand why someone would want to be the leader of a nation, but the shady ruler of a bunch of students?"

Erika: "People are naturally attracted by power, no matter how little and trivial it is. Even if it's power on the weakest person of the world, or on little helpless animals, there are still pitiful persons that pursue it. What our ringleader managed to create is not a small feat and this could be just a testing ground. We're talking about someone who's most probably just a high school student. Today a hundred schoolmates, tomorrow a cult with followers in the order of ten thousands."

Satsukawa: "Can something as ridiculous as the curse of an ancient demon really have such success among people?"

Erika: "Oh, trust me, I've seen worse."

Satsukawa: "Anyway, why the abandoned P.E. shed? There's already an occultism club, why not there?"

Erika: "I think there might be a few reasons for that. One could be because that place doesn't officially belong to anyone, so it's hard to connect it to a precise person. Another reason could be that more space was needed, or more freedom. It's a club in the end, there's a limit to what the teacher that supervises it would accept; that demonic statue and that magic circle, for example. I bet they put up a harmless facade in their club and brought the most controversial stuff to the shed. There might be even more reasons, but I guess these suffice."

Satsukawa: "And so we get to that door and that latch."

Erika: "Precisely. They didn't want people to enter inside without their authorization, so they devised a method to shut the door from outside, and it's a method that stinks of stage magic."

Satsukawa: "You're suggesting they wanted to give the impression that they used magic in order to close and open that door?"

Erika: "Possibly. Or maybe they're telling that someone or something is always inside the shed, and the fact that the door is locked by a latch from the inside should be enough to prove it."

Satsukawa: "Scary... but then this has nothing to do with the murder of Hitomi Gotsuji."

Erika: "I have no doubt at this point that this trick wasn't devised for the purpose of creating a closed room murder scenario. It previously existed and it was conveniently used by our killer, but I have no idea what exactly he or she wanted to achieve with that."

Satsukawa: "Well... maybe to put the blame on Pazuzu?"

Erika: "But that's absolutely pointless! Only a complete idiot would..."

Satsukawa: "Well... I agree, but..."

Rokudou: "Is there a problem, milady?"

Erika: "No, nothing... I was just thinking... I guess this case isn't that simple after all, there are probably complicating factors."

Satsukawa: "Wait... I just realized... If what you're telling me is true... then what kind of trick they used to open the door from outside?"

Erika: "Finally you understand! Didn't I tell you before that the real trick is not how to close it, but how to open it?"

Satsukawa: "Maybe they still used strings pulling them from the crack on the opposite side."

Erika: "I don't think they used strings at all."

Satsukawa: "What? How can you be so sure?"

Erika: "It's not practical, they probably had to do this several times, for months. They also wouldn't leave strings around risking that people would spot them thus destroying the illusion."

Satsukawa: "Then there was some kind of mechanism..."

Erika: "Nobody found any kind of mechanism, right? The latch is a completely normal latch, even Dlanor confirmed that."

Satsukawa: "Maybe there are holes in the door..."

Erika: "There are no such holes, I confirmed it."

Satsukawa: "Then they used a magnet!"

Erika: "Please, what kind of giant magnet would they need? That door is about four centimeters thick and the latch is quite heavy. And before you say electromagnet, we confirmed that there are no working power plugs around there."

Satsukawa: "Then... with a metal wire of sort..."

Erika: "Oooh? How exactly would they use a metal wire? Please explain! *giggle*"

Satsukawa: "Well they... uh... damn! I give up!"

Erika: "Just what I thought!"

Satsukawa: "But I still don't understand what gives you such confidence that this trick even exists, and that they regularly made use of it to close the door."

Erika: "What really begs a question, Satsukawa-san, is how it is possible that you're still oblivious to the most obvious inconsistency regarding that latch."

Satsukawa: "What? What do you mean?"

Erika: "Because if you had realized the obvious, and I'm sure you hadn't, you wouldn't bother me with such inane questions."

Satsukawa: "Did you ever considered the fact that people don't like it when you make them feel stupid?"

Erika: "But that's precisely why it's so funny, Satsukawa-san! Ha ha ha ha!"

Satsukawa: "Nevermind... Could you just please illuminate this fool from the height of your supreme genius, milady?"

Erika: "As much as I enjoy this delightful display of scorn and sarcasm, I fear that I must deny your request."

Satsukawa: "Why?"

Erika: "Because I prefer to wait for the best possible moment to make you realize how incredibly blind you are."

Rokudou: "Hu hu hu hu."

Satsukawa: "Rokudou-san! This is no laughing matter!"

Rokudou: "I beg your pardon, Satsukawa-san, it's not my fault if I never cease to be amused and enthralled by the lovely remarks of my mistress, hu hu hu hu!"

Satsukawa: "Damn, you're both devils!"

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