prof | Let's Play Umineko Chiru, Episode 8 Scene 12: The Second Game Master

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BGM: Birth of New Witch

The human and spirit halves of the party are gradually beginning to mingle. Hideyoshi, Siesta 00, Rosa and Sakutaro debate theories of effective leadership.

As Leviathan follows Kyrie around, Gohda struggles to retain his catering pride in the face of Ronove.

In another corner, Nanjo and Will discuss the limitations of Van Dine's twenty rules.

Rudolf, Belphegor and Krauss coach Cornelia in how to climb the ranks in an organization.

Satan intervenes before Siesta 410 can fill Natsuhi's head with any more questionable ideas.

While Beato, Asmodeus and Maria chat about the nature of love, Kanon and Siesta 45 commiserate about servant problems. Jessica disagrees, saying he's got to find his own path in life.

Amidst the chaos, Battler calls for Shannon.

Battler wants to check on Ange, but the door is locked.

Especially strange, considering that none of them locked the door.

Out at the parlor, Battler knocks on the door. There is no reply.

Of course, he finds nobody inside. Just an open window.

As Game Master, Battler should know everything that's happening on the board.

Why doesn't he know where Ange is?

A crash of thunder and a flicker of the lights interrupts the chatter in the main hall.

BGM: 599 Million Ruins

Bern's gaze drifts around the silent crowd, landing on Will and Lion.

Her interest wanes quickly. Where is the host? Why is nobody welcoming her to the party?

Why's everyone so quiet? It's a party, right? Make some noise.

Battler complied and showed her where he was. Now it's her turn to show him where Ange went.

But how could he not know? Could there be a second Game Master on this board?

Bern's admission of the situation doubles as an admission that she knows where Ange is.

Ange is Bern's hostage, so that she can get Battler and Beatrice to agree to one thing: A challenge to a new game.

Bern doesn't continue, but Battler understands what she's trying to say regardless.

BGM: Grey Empty Smile

They can't refuse, as long as Ange is being held prisoner. Lambdadelta will act as observer.

Bernkastel swears it. If Battler and Beatrice win, she will give back Ange.

On some level, Battler had always known that he'd end up facing Bernkastel as an opponent, even from before he knew her name.

Battler has another request of Bernkastel: Save Erika from oblivion, and invite her here.

Even now, Battler bears Bern little ill will. She took Ange as hostage, but only because it was the only way she could convince herself to step onto the stage.

Bernkastel sends a cat to fetch Erika from the deepest corner of oblivion. It might take a while for her to arrive.

And that's about as much sentimentality as Bernkastel can handle.

No, this isn't the right setting for the final duel.

The usual place, then.

BGM: Hikari

Of course. I worked hard on this game, and I'm pretty proud of it.

So, Bern will be the Game Master, and Battler and Beato will be the players? The usual game, where Bern creates a murder tale, and the players have to reconstruct it with human tricks?

I'm interested to see what sort of scenario Lady Bernkastel develops.

We'll explain things with the blue truth, and you'll knock those down with the red truth. Are we all right with those rules?

My game will be a simpler one. It's just a quiz of guessing the culprit. I don't feel like trading red and blue with you.

Oh? What kind of game will that be? Would you mind letting me have a look at it first?

That's right. This is a game about humans.

What a surprise. The game Bern's created to combat Beato's fantasy... is a genuine mystery.

Please explain.

It's extremely simple. You'll watch the tale Bern has prepared for you. There are several rules to it, but if you follow them as you read it through, it'll lead to you a Single Truth... in other words, an answer.

So... it's an ordinary mystery novel?

I see... in that case, there's no need for combat between red and blue truth.

I've even cut out the motive and the tricks. There's only one question I'm asking you.

Yeah. No cheap tricks. Just a stoically simple game.

This is a genuine duel...

As the observer, I'll say this: This game is made to be solvable. In other words, I guarantee that it's a suitable setting for your duel. Bern, I know I keep on saying this, but are you really sure? Battler and Beato's relationship started because they both loved mystery. I agree it's a pretty tricky scenario, but I'm not sure it'll be enough to stop these two...

It my best tale can't stop them, then what comes will come.

The important thing is that Lady Bernkastel put everything she had into this game.

You're right. Will that be enough to stump us? That's what this simple game is about. Thanks, Lambda. Thanks to you, we know that this duel will be a fair fight.

You're welcome. I'm happy, too. It'll be an honor to witness Bern fighting this precious fight.

I am also honored to have you as an opponent.

Same here. I underestimated you, and I did it without even stepping into the battlefield. Just thinking about it makes me want to vomit. So, let me fight.

Yes. Show us what you've got.

If I win, I'll be able to look down on you for real this time. And if I lose, I'll surely be reminded of that emotion I know I've forgotten.

Indeed.

Bernkastel. Whether you win or lose, I'll promise you one thing.

What's that?

Will you be the Reader, Bern? Or shall I do that?

I don't need a reader.

Huh?

A Reader miko can use her own voice to embellish or distort the tale. Even if there was no cheap trickery in my game, by having a Reader, any amount of trickery would be added.

Yes, that is true. That's another of the Game Master's privileges.

I want to have a straightforward duel with you, so I don't need a reader. You can read this tale with your own eyes and ears.

Are you sure?! That means you've lost almost all of your advantages!

Got it. You don't need a Reader. We'll read the tale ourselves.

If there is no reader, doesn't that mean there will be absolutely no falsehoods contained in the narrated text?