Beyond the hospital lay the third zone of the [Fujika Middle School] dungeon.
At first glance, it appeared as a dilapidated urban sprawl—a chaotic mix of shanties, high-rise apartments, and traditional Japanese houses crammed together without logic. Roads abruptly shifted from four lanes to six, then to dirt paths, with no transitions between zones.
Walking through this distorted landscape, Takakai felt an uncanny sensation—as if treading through fragments of disparate memories.
The sound of weeping echoed from every building.
Missing person flyers—their images and text now faded—plastered walls, lampposts, and the ground.
A suffocating despair permeated the air, a coldness that seeped into the world itself.
And so, Takakai understood.
This place… and the reason why [Hirano Sousuke], the core obsession of this dungeon, could never rest.
"Takakai-san… this place…"
Miko's voice trembled. The girl beside him felt it too—the weight of this realm's anguish.
Her gaze pierced through walls, seeing the figures curled inside: those who had lost parents, children, lovers, friends. Their wounds never healed. Their grief never faded.
"We press on. Only by reaching the end can we see the full truth."
Takakai's eyes were fixed on the road's terminus.
He had assumed it would lead to Fujika Middle School—the origin point.
But as they advanced, the ruined school merely sat abandoned on a side path.
The main road, woven from countless intersecting routes, led instead to a gilded, imposing structure.
A courthouse.
"Sounds… lively in there?"
Kumami, at the forefront, spoke dryly.
Only three of them walked this path: Takakai, Miko, and Kumami.
Gotou #1 had stayed behind at the hospital's hidden door—their lifeline for returning.
[Hirohoto Mental Hospital] seemed invisible from the outside. Once they left, the building vanished from perception. Only when Gotou #1 opened the door from within could they find their way back.
Perhaps… because the victims and their families never knew of the hospital's existence. Their memories couldn't form a path to it—unless the hospital chose to reveal itself. And when it did…
That was when Fujii Hiroshi and his ilk struck.
Speaking of Fujii… how did he obtain Yoruoyama High's research data?
The notes in the hidden room had hinted at regret—[I trusted the wrong person], left unfinished.
Was that person from Takamagahara? Unlikely.
Then… KP?
Takakai recalled the shadowy figures from [Shirakawa Apartments] and [Nutty Putty Cave]. The self-styled "KP", who nudged tragedies toward greater ruin.
At Nutty Putty KP might've even borrowed Susan's body to call him the [Final Actor].
Tch. The [School Horror Tales] dungeon must have a KP too.
What role did they play here? The researcher who helped Alice break her limits? The passerby who encouraged Fujii's experiments? Whatever it was—nothing good.
Are KP and the Sacrifice Game collaborators? Master and servant? Hard to trace, harder to catch. But Fujii's research notes are a clue. I wonder if one's watching me right now…
The courthouse doors loomed before them.
A cacophony spilled from within—shouting, weeping, a vortex of emotions.
Miko turned abruptly, startled.
Behind them, figures had gathered. The remnants of victims' families, their silhouettes drawn to this place.
Takakai knew what awaited.
He pushed the door open.
His vision split.
He saw two trials.
Trial One:
Hirano Sousuke stood in the defendant's seat, handcuffed, expressionless.
Every gaze—judge, officers, lawyers, audience—burned with hatred.
[Death penalty!]
[Only death can atone for his sins!]
[This monster MUST DIE!!!]
The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Trial Two:
Alice's corpse lay on the defendant's bench, covered by a white cloth. The plaintiff's side was filled with silent figures.
The glares aimed at them were venomous.
[Slander!]
[No crime was committed!]
[How dare you accuse such a pure soul!]
The voices overlapped, the scenes interlaced.
[The defendant murdered Alice onstage—witnessed by hundreds. Guilty!]
[Alice merely touched the woman's neck seeking maternal warmth. The death was unrelated. Innocent!]
[He slaughtered fans while fleeing. Dozens testify. Guilty!]
[Midnight visits are normal for idols. The dismembered body in the sewer? Clearly the wife's doing. Innocent!]
[Premeditated massacre. Guilty!]
[Those plans in Alice's handwriting? Fabricated! Innocent!]
[Death sentence confirmed!]
[Acquittal confirmed!]
Cheers erupted for both verdicts.
Justice had been served.
Takakai wasn't surprised.
[Alice] had twisted reality long ago. This was inevitable.
Yet… the silent ones remained silent.
And Hirano's gaze never left them.
Step—
Takakai moved forward.
The courthouse was now empty, coated in dust. The visions had vanished—though for a moment, he thought he saw Fujii Hiroshi among the officers.
He walked to the defendant's stand.
Sat where Hirano once sat.
The weight of countless eyes pressed upon him.
The whispers. The fury.
And the one thing that had truly mattered to the man who sat here.
"I see… Your obsession was never about Alice."
Takakai exhaled.
"It was this all along."
At last, he understood.
And the task ahead—far harder than he'd imagined.