Not a detective

Page 121

The island is roughly oval-shaped with its east and west sides facing each other, while the village is located more to the west. He has now run to the east side. The total area of ​​the island is about five hectares, which means that the village only occupies one-fifth of the area. However, such a small island would not even have a name on a world map, let alone a dot. Moreover, it is surrounded by the sea and there is no path leading to the mainland.

Besides the village area, the surrounding area is a tropical jungle inhabited by wild animals such as monkeys, pythons, and crocodiles in the streams, making it a very primitive place.

The outermost edge is the beach. Asakawa Riku looked around from every corner but didn't see any passing ships or airplanes flying overhead.

But just in case, he left an "SOS" mark on the beach, hoping for a miracle.

There were no humans in these external areas, as Asakawa Riku could assure him. He even actively sensed the underground buildings and breathing, because he always felt that there seemed to be a "basement" in the previous incidents, so he learned to pay more attention to whether there were any fortresses or facilities underground. But unfortunately, there was nothing underground this time, and no one was hiding inside.

Therefore, the entire island is a "secret room," a "closed area," a "locked-up villa in a snowstorm," which, by its very nature, isolates it from external interference and influence.

The mastermind behind the brainwashing could only be among those villagers.

Of course, there is another possibility: the mastermind's brainwashing ability does not actually need to be released at close range. He can brainwash people remotely. In this case, the mastermind does not need to stay on this island. He can operate remotely from a cruise ship beyond the horizon or even from Tokyo.

However, this possibility is too far beyond imagination. If that's the case, Asakawa Riku is powerless to do anything about it. If we don't rule out this possibility, then there's no point in thinking about it.

Let's think about it this way for now.

Riku Asakawa nodded, took one last look at the boundless blue ocean, and turned to return to Akashiya Village.

Summer of the Crimson Stingray: Chapter Fourteen - Festival

When Asakawa Riku returned to Akashiya Village, his clothes were almost dry.

After his activity, he felt refreshed instead of tired. Although he hadn't obtained any information, he was in good condition, which was a good sign.

He re-entered the village, but this time the villagers didn't surround him with enthusiasm. They seemed busy and had no time to pay attention to him, an outsider.

The village was very different from when he left a few hours earlier. Red flags were erected everywhere, long and thin, like dragons swimming in the sky.

But Riku Asakawa could guess that it was probably a symbolic totem of the red stingray, a red fish, a god of the sea, and also an object of worship for the villagers.

So that's how it is. It's already dusk, and the setting sun is about to sink below the horizon. The village, bathed in its warm brown glow, seems to have acquired an extraordinary mysterious atmosphere.

It was almost evening; they should be preparing for the Red Stingray Festival.

Besides these flags fluttering in the wind, many stalls have also been set up in the open space in the center of the village, stalls in the literal sense.

Asakawa Riku saw food stalls selling fried noodles and candied apples, as well as game stalls for catching goldfish and ring toss. He was stunned for a moment. It was just like a school festival or a summer festival on the street. Seeing such a scene in this primitive village made him feel disoriented. He wondered if such a place had the conditions to do these things.

He took a closer look and found that the fried noodles and apple candy were made with ingredients available on the island, making them feel like incongruous imitations. The games had also been changed to conform to the village customs and traditions. The goldfish to catch had been replaced with small fish fry, and the ring toss game used rings made of grass and wood. But these were all modern games, weren't they?

Riku Asakawa guessed that although the students had been brainwashed, they still had subconscious modern knowledge in their memories and instinctively believed that this was what a "festival" was like, which is why it turned out this way.

It seems that brainwashing is not a panacea; it can still cause contradictions, errors, and flaws in some areas where memory is insufficient.

If it weren't for the fact that guns and balloons couldn't be replicated, Asakawa Riku would really think they would even make a balloon-shooting booth; it's just too absurd.

How do I buy these?

He casually struck up a conversation with a classmate who had prepared a stall.

"Buy?" His classmate clearly didn't understand what he meant. "Honorable guest, if you want it, just take it yourself. Tonight is an important holiday, as long as everyone is happy, that's all that matters."

It seems that the concepts of "currency" and "purchase" do not exist in this primitive village; at most, only basic "exchange" exists.

On the night of the Stingray Festival, these rules cease to exist; all the stalls are for revelry and fun, with no other meaning.

Having figured this out, Asakawa Riku stopped chatting and, of course, didn't eat any of the snacks from the stall.

He was worried that there might be something wrong with the food in the village, such as the "brainwashing" being caused by some element in the food. Although his poison resistance was already very high, since his last mishap, he had learned to be in awe of unknown poisons and dared not try them casually.

With his physique, missing a meal or two wouldn't put a strain on his body. If he was really hungry, he'd rather hunt wild animals in the jungle, roast them, and eat them.

Just as he had been drinking water from the stream, he didn't dare drink the well water in the village.

At this moment, in Akashiya Village, the people were filled with excitement on the eve of the festival, and everyone's face was beaming with joy. Asakawa Riku mingled among them, observing secretly.

He was silently taking stock of each of the students who had been brainwashed.

While searching for the missing "captain and crew," Asakawa Riku inadvertently discovered another problem—

It seems that not only they disappeared, but also an important figure.

That's Hoshimi Kohane.

Where has she gone?

Asakawa Riku remembered that when he first entered the village, he didn't seem to see her. There were all the second-year high school students here, more than 180 people, so why was she the only one missing?

To make sure he hadn't missed anything, Asakawa Riku deliberately circled the village several times, repeatedly checking the items to confirm.

Xingyu is definitely not in the village, nor is she among this group of people!

In fact, he should have noticed it long ago, such as why the village chief here is not one of those adults, teachers or elders, but Kato Mio.

If the village chief must be a student, then why isn't it Hoshimi Kohaku, the class chief of Class 2A, but Kato Mio, the class chief of Class 2B?

I don't recognize all the class leaders from the other classes, but intuitively, this kind of thing should happen to Class A first.

But Xingyu wasn't there; she had completely vanished, just like the crew members.

There are two possibilities:

1. Xingyu is the mastermind behind the brainwashing, but if that's the case, where is she hiding? Asakawa Riku has confirmed that there's nowhere on the island to hide someone.

2. Xingyu was shipwrecked and perished like the other crew members. But if that's the case, why did all the other students survive while she was the only one who died?

Asakawa Riku didn't want to believe either of these possibilities; he hoped the girl would have a better ending.

But that's the reality. People who weren't there are highly suspicious. If she wasn't dead, she and the crew members would have to be classified as "suspects."

As I strolled through the village, lost in thought, the sky grew completely dark before I knew it.

When Asakawa Riku noticed, the sky above his head was already shrouded in stars.

He looked up and saw a starry sky that was just as beautiful as the night before. Every twinkle was clearly visible, and the entire field of vision was spectacular. Although he was not stargazing at sea, he could achieve a similar effect by looking up from the island. Unlike in the city, where you can only see skyscrapers, this was a rare experience that he would never forget.

But despite the similar scene, Asakawa Riku couldn't recapture the feeling from last night. He knew exactly why: the people around him were different, and the circumstances were different.

Such a simple change can evoke completely different feelings...

He truly felt that he was worried about Hoshimi Koyu, that blonde girl dancing in the moonlight, that girl with the sweet smile.

Asakawa Riku didn't know where she had gone, and could only hope that she was alright. If they could look up at the same starry sky at this moment, that would be even better.

"Everyone!"

At this moment, surrounded by the six elders, village chief Kato Mio, holding a cane, walked step by step up to the high platform in the center of the village.

Her high-pitched, clear voice was very distinct even in the night. The surroundings fell silent instantly, and the villagers, as if receiving some kind of signal, all looked over.

"—The Crimson Ray Festival shall now officially begin!"

Summer of the Crimson Stingray: Chapter Fifteen Ritual

"Even though I've devoured everything, I still feel hungry."

Village chief Kato Mio began to chant.

Her voice was melodious and gentle, singing a tune in the night sky. Her pronunciation sounded like ancient Japanese in a different language, and it took Asakawa Riku quite a bit of effort to understand her.

But at least he could understand it, and compared to the male protagonist who was experiencing the "ritual" for the first time, he seemed to have the advantage.

"The gap is only wide enough for one person to pass through, while you are soaring through the air."

The village chief took the lead, and starting with the second sentence, the six elders surrounding him also spoke at the same time.

Their voices overlapped perfectly, like a finely tuned instrument. Asakawa Riku was certain that the school's music curriculum wouldn't teach anything like that.

It seems this is also part of the brainwashing process; the content of the ritual is instilled into memory.

"Whenever I look up, I always think of you."

The third line suddenly transformed into a grand ensemble.

Even the villagers around Asakawa Riku spoke with deep emotion, and the resonance made every lyric seem to tremble.

"To conceal his hunched posture, he simply lay prone on the ground."

As the fourth line was being recited on the stage, the village chief, Kato, suddenly plummeted and collapsed to the ground.

She lay prone on all fours, a position that should have been ugly and awkward, but because of her extremely devout expression, it didn't feel funny, but rather strange and unsettling.

Especially when everyone lies down together.

In that instant, not only the elders on the platform, but also all the villagers around them did the same thing: they lay down on the ground and remained motionless.

"Drink up all the jealousy, love, hatred, and words in one gulp."

"Because I wanted to explore the meaning within that swollen body."

So that's how it is. This is what the book says: imitating the movements of fish swimming in the sea, or more accurately, imitating the movements of the deity "Red Ray".

This story tells the legend of a god returning to his divine position from confusion—

"Transform into the sea."

"The sunlight is dazzling, and the shimmering, transparent seaside is like my skin."

"It's not just sadness."

"I swallowed the sand, and closed my eyes—"

They continued the ceremony, singing unknown songs as they crawled on the ground, completely unconcerned about getting mud and filth on their bodies.

This fanatical attitude of faith made Asakawa Riku feel a deep sense of alienation. Now, he was the only one standing here looking down, and he felt out of place.

And this unease was soon confirmed.

His incongruity was noticed.

Village chief Kato Mio suddenly interrupted the ceremony. She stood up, pointed to the conspicuous figure among the prostrate crowd, and said to Asakawa Riku, who was standing still:

"This person did not undergo the ceremony."

Behind her glasses lurked an angry and hateful gaze.

"...Is it too late to start now?" Asakawa Riku smiled awkwardly, spreading his hands out as if to wave them around casually.

Of course, it was impossible for him to lie on the ground and undergo that bizarre brainwashing ritual, and besides, he wouldn't be able to learn those movements and songs in a short time.

However, this flippant gesture seemed to provoke even greater anger.

"This person is disrespecting Lord Red Ray!"

"As expected, misfortune will befall outsiders! He is the embodiment of evil!"

"...Get him out!"

"Get out! Outsider!"

"The Red Stingray Festival is a sacred ritual. Anyone who interferes with the ritual must die to appease the gods' anger! Otherwise, it will bring disaster to the village!"

The ceremony ended, and the villagers who had stood up clenched their fists and moved closer. Asakawa Riku instantly sensed a lot of genuine killing intent.

Seeing his former classmates with their ferocious, angry expressions and bloodshot eyes, completely transformed into fanatical cultists, he immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Calm down—"

Before he could finish speaking, Asakawa Riku's instinct made him tilt his head to the side.

The wind howled past, like something blasting a rocket past my ears, and before I knew it, my cheeks were covered in a warm spray.

……and many more.

...What has passed?

Asakawa Riku turned his head in astonishment and saw the harpoon that was halfway into the ground.

It seems to have been projected by someone in the crowd.

But the speed and roar of that attack were no less than that of a bullet or cannonball. Asakawa Riku almost couldn't dodge it, or rather... he really didn't dodge it completely.

Blood trickled down my cheek; there was a cut, not deep, but the pain was undeniably real.

With such incredible speed and power, how could Asakawa Riku's defenses be breached by a simple harpoon?

Since the time of Nekomata, how many monsters have appeared? All sorts of cats and dogs have come to run rampant!

Although he has a good temper, he is not someone to be trifled with.

"Are you Aquaman? And what about the trident?"