prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 1 Scene 9: The Letter

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Ronoue Genji

The leader of the servants who work for the Ushiromiya family. He has served Kinzo longer than any other, and has formed a strong bond of trust with the old man.

Since he serves Kinzo directly, Krauss and Natsuhi suspect him of being Kinzo's spy.

If nobody gave Maria that umbrella, then Beatrice may be here.

Genji, however, urges Kanon not to inform Kinzo. If Beatrice has truly returned, she will meet Kinzo herself.

During the day, Kinzo rules Rokkenjima.

But day has passed.

The weather and events of the day have left a gloomy atmosphere hovering over the dinner table.

For the adults, the gloom is amplified by the afternoon's dealings. A rift has formed between Krauss and the others.

Kyrie and Hideyoshi try to break the foreboding cloud, but they're clearly avoiding talking about something.

Battler picks up on this, but joins in regardless. It's probably best not to worry about it.

Maria is the only one who isn't feeling a bit grim. How could she be? She got to meet Beatrice, right?

She takes something out of her handbag.

It's a letter, emblazoned with the One-Winged Eagle's emblem. The wax seal is unbroken, and is imprinted with Kinzo's personal seal, kept on the ring he wears at all times.

This envelope is only for private use by Kinzo himself.

In other words, it contains a message from the head of the house.

As for where Maria got it...

I don't think anyone can be surprised that it's from Beatrice.

Maria opens the envelope, as instructed.

Krauss and Rudolf argue that the seal isn't absolute proof. Anyone from the family could have made a false seal and used it to impersonate him.

So, we can't be sure.

Whoever gave her the umbrella, also gave her the envelope. In other words, we have no idea where it came from.

In accordance with Beatrice's wishes, Maria reads the letter.

BGM: Fishy Aroma

The family is not pleased.

Krauss continues to insist that the gold doesn't exist. Everyone else is furiously trying to get Kinzo to explain himself.

Their protests, however, fall on deaf ears. Kinzo has no interest in speaking with his family.

The demon's roulette has begun to spin. Where will it land?

Be it a miracle or a massacre, something incredible will befall Rokkenjima tonight.

October 4th, 1986, 10:00 PM

The adults are furious. Maria is being interrogated, to no avail.

The endless bickering about money is leaving a sour taste for the younger generation. Jessica, at least, is starting to understand why grandfather didn't care to show himself to the family.

She was the only one of them who still respected her parents, it would seem. She sulks out of the parlor, wanting to be left alone.

To Maria, the announcement from Beatrice was a happy event. No doubt, she's even more upset by the parents' reactions.

Kyrie's siding with Battler regarding the gross-ass nature of the argument, but she can't leave. Rudolf needs her support.

There's no agreement on whether the "witch" is one of the family, or an outsider.

Whoever Beatrice is, her addition to the proceedings has thrown everything into chaos.

Here it is, the big question. One that will be revisited many times:

How many people are on Rokkenjima tonight?

If there are 19, then an extra person has been sneaking around this whole time, without ever being caught by anyone else.

If there are 18, then Beatrice is one of the people of the mansion.

Battler isn't so quick to deny the possibility of a 19th person. It's a Devil's Proof: It's easy to prove that something exists, but impossible to prove that it doesn't exist.

Turning over the chessboard. Battler's secret weapon, inherited from Kyrie.

When you're trying to figure out your next move, turn the board around, and consider it from your opponent's viewpoint.

So then, if a 19th person does exist...

...why would they appear to Maria in the first place?

If they were hiding, they would want to continue to hide. But they had appeared before Maria. Why? If they wanted to send a message to the siblings, they could have easily done so by mail, before the meeting even began.

Beatrice wanted to create the impression that a 19th person was on the island. However, she didn't show herself publicly, instead doing something as ambiguous as using Maria as a messenger.

In short: Somebody wants everyone to believe that there are 19 people on the island.

So Kyrie, at least, believes that there are 18 people, not 19.

There is, however, one person who knows for sure.

But the answer is locked up inside her heart.

It seems that the long debate has finally ended. Or at least, it's on hold for now. It'll probably go all night.

Despite the weather, it sounds like the kids will be going back to the guest house.

Not to sleep, of course. After this, they'll be up talking all night.

Rudolf has something to talk to Battler about. He wants to talk to Kyrie about it first. It sounds like something important.

This sort of thing is very unusual for him. Battler forces him to go ahead and spit it out.

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