"Damn it, the explosion must've fried the switch. How do I get out now…?"
I stood beside my burning car, at a loss. The exit was sealed, escape impossible. Jack's corpse lay nearby, and Eveline's been acting weird, but at least I'm not alone. Stuck with Jack's body, though? No way I'm going out like that!
『Maybe look for something to break the door?』
"Good idea…"
At Eveline's suggestion, I rummaged through the shelves. I found handgun ammo matching the deputy's pistol, plus an herb and first-aid fluid. I crafted another healing item. What's with this place? Is this some secret family recipe for instant meds? But no sign of the item Zoe mentioned to open the door. I figured something that bizarre would stand out.
"No drill in the garage or anything…?"
『Wait, do you have a drill in your garage? Planning to go full Gurren Lagann?』
"Nah, I don't."
『Just 'cause this house is full of weirdos doesn't mean they've got one. Let's not assume.』
Her logic shut me up. Damn, ever since I got here, my brain's been glitching.
『I'll check for another way out.』
"Countin' on you."
Eveline floated off, gliding through the garage door with a whoosh. She's way too used to this ghost thing. How long's she been at it?
『I'm Eveline, ta-da!』
"Whoa, you startled me!"
Killing time by spinning the pocketknife to get a feel for it, I nearly fell back when Eveline swooped down from above, landing like a superhero. Iron Man fan, huh?
"Find anything?"
『Mm.』
Without a word, she pointed up. A ladder hung from the ceiling. Blind spot, nice.
"But I can't reach it…"
『What's in your hand? Or are you blind?』
"Who's blind? …Oh."
I fired the handgun at the latch, dropping the ladder, then tucked the gun in my waistband and climbed.
『There's a hole up here leading to the garage entrance.』
"You're seriously handy."
『Well, I'm used to it. No giant granny types around, so it's easy-peasy.』
"Giant granny? Marguerite's that big?"
『Oh, no, my bad—different thing. Hey, isn't that it?』
She pointed at a photo frame with a headless golden horse statue attached. I grabbed it, checking the back—screwed on tight. Beastman plate, maybe? I shoved aside the shelf it was displayed on, which doubled as a wall, and dropped down to the garage entrance, just as Eveline said.
"Here we go."
『Sprained your ankle?』
"Nah, this height's fine… What's that, a reference?"
『Dunno the original, but a nerdy systems engineer like you would totally twist an ankle jumping that, right?』
"Leave me alone."
I grumbled at Eveline's jab and moved down the now Jack-free hallway. Marguerite and Lucas were still out there, but I could probably take them if it came to it—no need to worry.
"So this leads to the hall… Huh, this beastman plate makes a centaur with the other one."
『They kept it up there, but how'd they even move it around?』
"You don't know?"
『Never seen it.』
"You're a ghost bound to this place and you don't know?"
『Bound?! Who's a bound ghost?!』
"Then why stick around?"
『Ugh…』
As I slotted the beastman plate into the gimmick door, watching its intricate mechanism click, Eveline faltered at my question. Something she can't say, huh?
『Um, I'm… well, you know?』
"Forget it. You're on my side, right?"
『Huh? Yeah, totally! I'm your ally, Ethan, believe me!』
"Then we're good. No need to spill."
『Ethan… you're like a real hero.』
"I'm no hero. Just a guy who hurt his own wife—not exactly husband material."
『That's not…!』
Eveline started to protest, but the door finished opening, revealing the hall. We exchanged a nod, and I cautiously stepped in, gun raised. It was quiet. Empty. And huge. Finding clues here would be a pain.
"Huh? What's this creepy toy… 'Shoot me!'?"
『Oh, I put that there. …Bad taste?』
"N-no, it's… unique?"
『You don't have to sugarcoat it…』
The eerie doll was apparently Eveline's doing (pre-death?). She slumped, visibly bummed, as I dragged her toward the front door. It was locked, and a quick check showed a Cerberus carving missing its headpiece.
"No way, now I need three dog heads…?"
『Looks like it. Bad taste and inconvenient.』
"Tell me about it."
A phone rang on a nearby desk. Not wanting Marguerite or Lucas to hear, I grabbed it fast. Eveline floated to the other side, eavesdropping. It was Zoe.
≪"Did Daddy rough you up?"≫
"Your dad?"
I glanced at Eveline, who nodded vigorously. Tell me sooner. Not that it changes much.
≪"He was, once. Not anymore."≫
"…Sorry, but he's dead."
I caught a hint of sadness in Zoe's voice and apologized. She must still care, despite everything. Then, unexpectedly, she laughed.
≪"Heh, you might just pull this off."≫
"Huh? Pull what off? I did kill him—showered him in sparks, broke his neck with a shovel, ran him over, crushed his head with a steel beam, blew him up, burned him, and shot his head off. He's done."
『Yikes.』
≪"…You're tougher than I thought."≫
I laid out Jack's gruesome end, figuring it was only fair. Eveline gawked, horrified, and Zoe's voice seemed to pull back. What gives?
≪"…Whatever. I've got something for you to do, but I can't say now. You might need a key, but just get out of that house."≫
"The key's that missing Cerberus head, right?"
≪"…Sorry, Dad had some weirdo architect, Trevor, remodel the place. It's full of bizarre traps, so watch out."≫
"Got it. I'll figure it out."
≪"I'll call again."≫
Zoe hung up. Eveline had mentioned the weird traps too. I shot her a look, and she blushed.
『W-what? Just now noticing how cute I am?』
"Yeah, you're cute, but I meant the traps."
『C-cute?! Uh, yeah, this way!』
Steam practically shot from her red face as she floated off, guiding me. At a corner of the hall was a trap that defied explanation.
"What… is this?"
『No idea, really.』
I could only nod at Eveline's exasperated tone. A plain platform, lit by a spotlight. But up close, it was a meticulously adjusted clear acrylic stand, practically begging for something to be placed on it. Across from it, a wall featured a white-outlined painting of an eagle soaring with spread wings.
"What's with this painting? Custom-made?"
『The effort to make no shadow feels so extra…』
"So what do I do?"
『Like I said before, shadow art.』
"What?"
『Shad-ow art. S-h-a-d-o-w.』
"For real?"
Got it. If I understand this, I've already lost.
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