Despite the situation, Aion couldn't help but feel calmer. In the end, his mistake hadn't cost him, and he was relieved.
Aion grimaced and pushed down any sudden thoughts, turning toward Aria and saying, "I'm going to look for Esme."
"Eh? You plan to?" Aria was surprised, but she nodded and said, "I take it you want me to inform the young master?"
"Yeah, Alphonse should know what I'm doing. Since he's taken on the burden of this case, I may as well help out a little."
Aria smiled brightly and said, "Understood! Although, I'm sure he would prefer it if he were the one in charge of that."
"I'm sure," Aion said, turning to rush off.
"Wait," Aira spoke up.
Aion stopped and looked at Aira, who had a determined look on her face; her eyes seemed to sparkle with some sort of burning motive.
"Sir, I'd like to accompany you."
"Huh?"
"Aira, are you sure? It could be dangerous and you—"
"Sister," Aira interrupted, causing Aria to flinch. "I'll be fine. I'm sure Mr. Belial can handle anything that happens."
"You sure have a lot of confidence in Aion…and yet you still call him 'Sir' and 'Mr. Belial.'"
"Is there a problem with that?"
Aria's mouth fell open, and she went speechless.
Of course, Aion was also very surprised. Aira was far more confident than usual. It was to an almost eerie extent.
"Aira, you're much more outspoken today," Aion commented.
"Huh? Oh, well…the situation demands it…" Aira's expression returned to her usual demure self, like the person before hadn't even existed. "It's just…Mr. Belial…your behavior toward me is…inspiring…"
Aira shyly looked into Aion's eyes, and he responded with a smile. "Well I'm glad."
Aira nodded and said, "Then if you don't mind, let's go."
Aion brought his hand to his throat and rubbed it a bit before turning and saying, "Yeah…let's go…"
Aria looked back and forth between the two of them and sighed before leaving to inform Alphonse, who was busy being bombarded by a bunch of people.
Aion and Aira quickly left undetected, and Aion started searching the rooms, hoping to find any signs of Esme.
Because Aion was practically running through the Manor, Aira lagged behind, breathing heavily.
Eventually she stopped and had to sputter out, "S-sir! I…I don't think…I don't think this is going anywhere…!"
"Look, there is a chance we can find Esme before she gets murdered."
"Murdered?" Esme asked, incredulous at the suggestion.
"Is it that crazy? She's missing, and the culprit's motive at this point is shrouded in mystery, so we can't take any chances."
"I mean, so far both of the victims have been nobles, right? What motive would there be for Esme? She's different from the rest of the victims so far. I mean…she's a commoner…"
"So far," Aion repeated. "Just because something is the case right now doesn't mean it'll continue being the case. This night is already a disaster. I'd rather not follow such weak inductions."
"But…doesn't it seem logical?"
"Okay, let's stop for a moment and say that I'm right for argument's sake. Your induction claims that I am wrong, but if I am right, Esme is at risk. While on the other hand, if you are right, Esme is not in danger. Based on the two scenarios, we should go under the junction that I am right about this until we receive more information."
"...I guess…"
"Look, we're already wasting time with this stupid argument," Aion complained as he looked into another room.
"How about calling for her?" Aira asked.
"...I guess we could…"
Aion wasn't the biggest fan of the idea himself, but making a convincing enough argument was out of the question. It was entirely based on a narrow set of circumstances resulting in a single situation. And considering the fact that everyone was still back in the game room, Aion, Aira, and Esme should be the only ones with access to the rest of the Manor right now. If someone were to leave the game room, they could be exposed later as a primary suspect if Esme winds up dead.
So he was probably being paranoid. That's the conclusion he came to, and the two began calling for Esme to no avail.
Eventually, they reached the four rooms at the southern end of the second floor, the location she was murdered at initially. Aion opened the doors one by one until the same one as last time didn't budge.
Aion's fist around the knob tightened and his complexion paled.
"Sir?" Aira asked.
"...It's locked…"
"Allow me, sir," Aira said as she brought out the keys to unlock the door.
Click!
The resounding noise only served to quicken Aion's heart rate as Aira opened the door.
The inside of the room looked normal enough. It was just a normal room.
Just a perfectly mundane room…
No, that's a lie.
As much as Aion wanted to believe that was the case, the sound of metal clinking together rang out as Aira dropped her keys, returning Aion to this cold reality.
On the floor, exactly as last time, Esme was on the floor with a knife in her back. Blood pooled over the place of her demise, making the scene much more alive.
Aion rushed into the room and quickly checked Esme's pulse: nothing.
Esme was dead. She died with a knife in the back once again.
And to make things worse—
"How is this room locked down?" Aira voiced the terrible reality. Her face was pale as she looked around, hoping to find some evidence contrary to what she said. But alas, she found no such thing.
Aion rose, checked the window, the bathroom, and everything just like last time in complete silence.
Aira had voiced several things, but the noise didn't register as anything intelligent in Aion's mind. It was like white noise.
Finally, Aira, presumably, couldn't take anymore and forcefully grabbed Aion, her eyes filled to the brim with fear.
"Ah…" Aion let out a small noise, realizing he had drifted away.
"Sir…I…no…uh…I-I…" Aira stumbled all over the place, failing to find something to say.
"Esme was killed with a stab to the back," Aion started saying, which only made Aira's face tighten into confusion.
Aion bent down next to the body and pointed to the knife. "That wound, it looks like it goes quite deep…"
"Huh?"
"Perhaps she really did lock herself up to ensure the killer didn't get to her…" Aion mused.
"Ah, yeah, of course, that must be it!" Aira readily agreed.
Despite those words, her eyes shook. When it came to the first two murders, Aira hadn't reacted all that much, but when it came to Esme, she reacted. Furthermore, Aira didn't seem that distressed in the initial loop.
But I wasn't there when the body was first discovered…Aion thought.
Ultimately, he had no way of verifying how Aira reacted to Esme's death initially.
If she had acted as he thought she did, what explained the sudden change in this loop?
Looking at the situation of the initial loop, Pride had created a situation exactly like this. However, despite the time that has passed, Pride hasn't initiated a letter of challenge like he did in the original loop.
Or was it because Aion hadn't investigated the front door? Perhaps the letter had been slipped under after everyone checked, and it was just laying there waiting to be read. Connecting that to the original question plaguing him, why has Aira changed how she acts?
Then Aion was hit with a realization; he bit his lip, and a bit of blood dripped down. Aira noticed and panicked, asking what was wrong, but Aion wasn't concerned about that.
How could he be?
After all, if he was trying to figure out Aira's behavior, did that not mean he was suspecting her?
That maybe it tied into these murders in some way?
"Hehe…" Aion laughed a little.
"...Sir…?" Aira's voice was small, like a scared child.
Aion's eyes shifted to Aira, which caused her to flinch slightly.
"Sorry, but we have something to check," Aion said.
"What do we need to check?"
"The entrance," Aion said matter of factly.
He marched out of the room, leaving Esme's unfortunate corpse behind, and soon reached the front door by descending the stairs.
The entrance hall looked the same. Nothing stood out except for the portrait of Lunalis and her Elegy.
But what made Aion's heart sink was the fact that there wasn't a letter.
Why had Pride not sent one? It didn't make sense.
First off, this entire night has been vastly different from the first loop's night. No power outage, different order of kills; for the most part it has been a different methodology too.
Secondly, why had Esme's death been the same? What made her special?
Or was it a coincidence? Was he perhaps trying to attribute a pattern that didn't actually exist?
So far, the victims have been the same, just different methodology and order. So does that mean the differences were merely caused by him?
But why would the killed not use a power outage? It would be one thing to change the order of the kills because perhaps he might've changed the locations of each individual right before 7:00. And thus, the order in and of itself mattered not.
But then, once again, why not use a power outage? What could Aion's changes have possibly done to make that move not be used?
Additionally, there is another key difference: Alphonse.
Alphonse didn't create a sense of fanaticism in everybody this go around. Aion still didn't know Alphonse's original motive to do that; it had only been a nuisance that enraged Aion because of his desecration of divinity. No, it was definitely more than just that, but Aion shook that thought off quickly.
Quickly he needed to get back to the others. He needed Alphonse to know. And he needed to confirm the situation there. Maybe then he could sort out the facts; after all, more information could limit the pool of possibilities. Pride was messing with him, and Aion clenched his teeth in response.
Yes, Aion Belial could most definitely do it.
Aion Belial was intelligent enough.
Aion Belial had the heart needed for it.
Aion Belial had the resolve to end it.
So, clenching his fists, he said, "Aira, let's go. We've confirmed everything we need to."
Aira's eyes widened and she asked, "Sir, do you have an idea in mind?"
"Maybe, maybe not. But I am sure I can offer something to Alphonse that no one else can."
"..." Aira stared in silence for a couple of seconds before nodding, and so the two set off back to the others.
* * *
When Aion and Aira returned, chaos was still in effect. William's wife, Odelia, and Juno were crying over his body while Alphonse was being pressured by several other nobles.
"You think that helps the situation!?" Samuel's father had grabbed Alphonse by his collar and yelled in his face, his face growing red from the anger.
"You've put us in danger!" Sophia screamed as she trembled from fear. "How could we—"
"Everyone, silence!" Sebastian spoke for Alphonse, but it didn't work.
In fact, it only seemed to rile them up more.
"A mere servant dare speak to us this way!"
"You're not the head, so stay out of this!"
Several more were voiced by a few of the younger servants along with the remaining nobles.
"That's enough!" A loud, commanding voice split the air, and an imposing figure made his way to the epicenter.
That person was the Magnatium head, Alphonse's father.
"Mr. Magnatium…" Samuel's father said quietly.
"Do you not see this pathetic behavior unbecoming of us elites? I shudder to think that you people are tasked with maintaining order in this town!"
The remaining noblemen all averted their gaze under the intense pressure that he was issuing.
"Father, there was no need to interfere. I had it under control," Alphonse said.
"Under control? Ha! Don't make me laugh. A situation like this isn't something you're fully prepared for, clearly. I let you reign for a bit, and you let this happen? You disappoint me."
Alphonse's head fell, and he said no more.
"Now listen well! It appears we have a filthy traitor in our midst! So, I will take charge!"
The people seemed to calm down. It seemed like they put a lot of trust into the Magnatium head.
"Aira," Aion whispered.
"Hm?"
"I want you to get Alphonse with me alone, or with Aria and you. You two are fine since you already know something is wrong with Esme."
"I understand." Aira nodded and snuck off to Aria.
Now Aion needed to figure out how to break the news to Alphonse. He wasn't so cruel to just tell him flat out. Aion knew it was painful to lose someone you cared about, so he wanted to at least attempt to have some tact.
"Aion?" Sam's voice halted Aion's thoughts, and he looked over, almost startled. "Where have you been? You just disappeared after William died. I was so worried!"
Sam's expression seemed fragile, like if Aion keeled over and died right then, he would shatter.
"I was—" Aion stopped himself.
Sam didn't like Aion being involved with the case, so he couldn't tell him that he was investigating.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked.
"Ah, nothing, I just needed help finding something so I asked Aira to escort me," Aion lied.
"..."
"But we're back! So there's no need to worry. I mean, I can't possibly work anything more out on the case, so you don't have to worry about that either!"
"..."
"So really, after I finish one last thing, you, Aira, and I can all just escape from this until we can escape. Sounds good, right?"
"..."
"Sam?"
"Aion, do you take me for an idiot?"
"Huh?"
"You're…investigating it, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Sam clenched his teeth and yelled, "Do you really think I don't know!?"
"Sam, it really isn't—"
"No, it is exactly that! You and Aira went searching for Esme, right!?"
At this point several people started whispering and staring.
"Sam, this really isn't—"
"This really isn't what!? You investigated Esme's disappearance because you thought she might be in danger, am I right!?"
At this point, Alphonse, Aria, and Aira arrived at the scene, all staring at Sam and Aion. Juno had even stopped crying and looked over at them.
"Sam, I—yeah, fine, I did. But—"
"See! You—you went behind my back and did something so stupid!"
"Woah woah woah! It was something that the faster we did, the better! I mean, I was planning on doing it on my own but Aira—"
"On your own!? Do you have any idea of how reckless that was!? Do you not even care for your own life!?"
"No, that's not—"
"Then why!? Why do you keep trying to get into this? Didn't you say you were going to let Alphonse handle it!? So why do you keep getting involved!? I mean, I just don't understand!"
"I just…"
"You just what!? Just explain already!"
"You keep interrupting me…" Aion said, averting his eyes.
Sam's eyes shook and he said, "Yeah…I guess I am…but Aion, you didn't come back with Esme, and I overheard what you said to Aira."
Aion's heart sank. He noticed the realization start dawning on everyone one by one for what that meant, especially because Aion's face said it all.
"Esme…is dead…?" The first person to actually voice it, though, wasn't Alphonse, but rather Juno as she rose unsteadily.
"..." Aion bit down hard onto his lip, not wanting to actually say it.
So much for the bravado he had coming here.
Juno's head fell and she started mumbling something, and soon she started teetering over to one of the exits.
And soon the rest of the guests and servants reacted in various ways.
With Alphonse falling to his hands and knees.
"Juno!" Odelia rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Juno, what are you doing?"
"Mama…" Juno slowly turned toward Odelia.
Odelia seemed to grimace at the way Juno referred to her, probably because of how improper it was, but she pushed that aside and asked, "Juno?"
"I'm going to the library to be alone…"
"What do you mean?"
"Hey Aion! Stop getting distracted!" Sam practically growled. "It's stuff like this that gets you so involved with this whole case."
"Sam, you agreed to allow me to run my ideas into the ground…"
"I didn't agree to you getting involved in this whole mess!"
"Sam, if I can solve the case, I can fulfill my promise…"
"I dragged you into this mess! How do you think it makes me feel knowing you'll be involved in all of this!? And even beyond that, you're trying to keep me in the dark! Acting and lying in front of me, doesn't that tell you that this isn't okay!?"
"..."
"So please! Aion, just stop it already, I beg you! It's clear that whoever this killer is doesn't care about social status, so you're in danger like the rest of us. What could you possibly gain from earning the killer's ire?"
"Sam…I…"
"Mr. Astra," Aira's voice snapped Aion's head to its side as he saw Aira standing next to him. "I mean no offense when I say this, but Mr. Belial working this case is for the better."
"For the better? Aira, what are you talking about? Do you not care if Aion is in danger? Or is he just another person you serve with no personal feelings attached? You servants are all the same!"
"Ah…" Aira looked hurt by Sam's words, but she didn't protest.
"Sam, how could you say that!?" Aion looked livid, causing Sam to flinch.
"How can she care if she's encouraging you to put yourself in danger!?" Sam snapped back.
"That doesn't mean you have to put her down like that! Look, I'm nearing my rope's end with this case already, so you needn't worry anymore. If you must know, my conversation with Alphonse was intended to try and tell him more kindly that Esme had died, but no, you had to make it a whole scene!"
Sam's lips tightened and he looked like he was on the brink of tearing up.
"Sam, I understand your concerns. And I understand that you don't want me involved. Hell, I even forgive you for the situation you've put me in. So please, let me do this for you," Aion implored Sam.
Sam teared up and Aion turned away, ready to march into whatever came next.