This year we were prepared to respond rapidly.
For that reason, we were able to immediately begin the investigation of the crime scene.
The victim was none other than the wife of the younger brother of the Hojou Couple.
She was an exceptional suitable target for the Fourth Year’s Oyashiro-sama’s Curse.
Her reputation among her neighbors was awful.
Even after the incident, everyone mouthed off that she deserved the curse that came to her.
……I had a general idea who the culprit is.
Most likely, …it was Hojou Satoshi. That simple looking boy.
He had the motive.
The victim relentlessly harassed his sister.
This was no doubt a retaliatory crime to that.
Furthermore, during the inspection of the crime scene, his conduct was somewhat frantic, yet at strange times he was too far composed if he was truly unrelated to the crime. …My intuition born from my extensive police work taught me, that 8 or 9 out of 10 that he is the one.
Although there is no conclusive evidence that points to him, …if I bring him in for voluntary questioning, and shake him up a bit, I have a feeling he will confess to the crime.
“For the victim to suffer a flurry of blows like this, the culprit must have received some spilled blood on himself as well. If we can find that then his clothing will be decisive.”
“Well, unless the guy is a total idiot he probably disposed of it by now. After he confesses to the crime, if we can find the place where he threw his clothes, the prosecution will have to give in.”
As an independent incident, it was awfully crude.
……If Hojou Satoshi comes clean then that will be the end of it.
Everyone but myself thought that.
……But, if you look at this incident as part of the Chain of Bizarre Deaths, this case will not be closed.
Behind this incident, deep within the village, the Gosanke, …or possibly just the Sonozaki Family must be directly involved.
If they are the ones pulling the strings, there is no doubt they have instigated Hojou Satoshi into committing this crime.
………But, if this was the case, then Hojou Satoshi would be someone who knew too much about them.
The Sonozaki must persistently remain hidden behind their black curtain.
Will they simply discard him if he could be the key to connecting the crime to them…?
Knowing Hojou Satoshi is a loving brother, they set him up to kill his Aunt as the Fourth Year’s Curse…
After that, ……if they erase Hojou Satoshi who connects this crime to them…
…………Hojou Satoshi isn’t just a simple criminal. …He could be nothing more than a sucker who was set up.
And later, …my suspicion was confirmed. ……He suddenly disappeared.
It was a puzzling how he disappeared.
He didn’t run because he was afraid that his crime came to light.
……A different criminal appeared as the culprit for this case.
He was already in custody for a different crime, furthermore the crazy bastard died later in his detention cell.
He confessed to information that only the culprit would have known.
Therefore, he was the culprit.
Moreover, since he had already died, the investigation was closed.
And then Hojou Satoshi vanishes days after the Watanagashi.
………It was obvious that someone didn’t want Hojou Satoshi to be connected to this incident.
My superiors put pressure to close the investigation, and made the Hojou Satoshi Missing Person situation as a separate incident handing over the case to a different department.
For this investigation to be concluded with such impatience, greatly resembles the same a trick used two years ago with the Hojou Couple Falling Accident which was forcefully denied the probability of a committed crime, conclusively high-handed as an accident.
………How could I not suspect that this was the work of “someone” who can pressure my superiors in the Police Department?
Ironically, ……the only people who can put this pressure on the police department in the neighboring Hinamizawa area is none other than the Sonozaki Family.
…They may have believed they hid their tails well, but instead this has more than anything distinctively fashioned their track.
From my informant, Sonozaki Oryou had referenced the Fourth Year’s Curse at the family meeting, hinting at being the one behind it all.
……This allusion will not serve as any evidence, but at any rate, there was no mistake that Sonozaki Oryou is leading the ones behind it all…
I know that they’re the one who did in the Old Man. Then why, why can’t I grab their tail…!
Even now, the principal offender is still on the loose no where to be found, after all he is being sheltered by the Sonozaki Family somewhere.
……If I can capture him, then I can find the Old Man’s missing right arm.
I can return his arm to his grave, …and make the principal offender and the mastermind bow down in before his grave…
……Although, just like how Hojou Satoshi disappeared, it is likely the principle offender has already been erased as well.
Most likely he has been killed by now, and buried in a place never to be found. Even so, that will be fine. ………I will drag that hag who ordered the Old Man to be killed, and slam her forehead on the ground before his grave. Definitely… I swear……!
Now that the Oyashiro-sama’s Curse can be counted to its Fourth Year, …the premature speculations of next year’s Fifth has already started floating around.
Regardless of the solid preparations that I made, I could not effectively stop the Fourth Year.
It is certain now, that it is too late to wait for it to happen.
…Before something happens, I have to bring to light the inner workings of the village…
Also, ……I have to, by all possible means, settle this by next year.
This is because …I will be retiring.
My mother has strongly requested to return to her homeland in Hokkaido, and from long while back, she has asked to move back there when I retire.
I feel that this is the last filial piety I could serve, and agreed to move back to Hokkaido with her upon my retirement.
……That is why, next year will be my last chance I have to avenge the Old Man’s death.
It is a crime that has gone on for four years now. …I’m afraid that perhaps it will occur for a fifth.
As a result of the Chain of Bizarre Deaths, the village has henceforth been tightly knitted together since the Dam War.
…It is because betrayers will be punished under the name of the Curse which has been promptly portrayed.
……To the masterminds, this is enough reason to motivate this Chain of Bizarre Deaths.
Rumor has it; the reason that the Aunt was Cursed was because of her infidelity for not participating in the Watanagashi.
For this reason, there are villagers who began to believe if they do not participate in next year’s festival, they also could become the target of the Curse. ………No doubt next year’s festival will be extravagant.
Certainly, it will occur again next year.
The Hinamizawa Chain of Bizarre Deaths. In other words, the Oyashiro-sama’s Curse.
……Therefore, for sure, absolutely. I will avenge the Old Man……