Let's Play Umineko Chiru, Episode 6 Scene 24: The Second Trial

[prof]

<< | ^^ | >>






BGM: Kina no Kaori

This is a victory for love! That, we shall extol!
We'll only extol that after we've passed your trial and someone has been given the miracle of magic.
I agree. We've all passed the first trial. What's next? I won't hold back anymore... I'll do whatever it takes.
...Yes. We won't lose.
We won't lose, either.
Yeah. And of course, the same goes for Battler's group.
Of course. I doubt anyone here is so naive that they hope to win by having the others forfeit.
Right. Anyone weak enough to drop out would have no right to be here right now.



So, what's the next trial? Don't tell me you still haven't decided...
Well, we thought at least some of you would drop out.
We didn't think that you all would remain. This is a happy miraculous miscalculation due to love!
Shut up. So? Are we going to play musical chairs or something to make sure someone drops out?



We've decided to have this trial eliminate one group no matter what!
This trial is the second twilight of the epitaph:



...I don't understand.
Zepar, Furfur... what sort of trial is this? Do you mean we're going to kill each other?
That'd settle things quickly.
Though it's not exactly civilized.
Love is carnivorous.
...We can't all just find happiness together... can we?
This is what they call a zero sum game. It's an economic word, but maybe you've heard of it?
N... No, my apologies...
It's where victory and losses all cancel out to end up with zero. In order for someone to win, someone else must be forced to lose. It's the ruthless way of this world.
Heh... If only everyone could be happy. There's no way an idea world like that could exist.



That is the Golden Land!
The Golden Land? What are you talking about?
...That's right. If you reach the Golden Land, all love will be satisfied. However, like heaven and hell, that's not a place in this world.
I wouldn't want that. Love has meaning because we find it in this world. I could never support a sad lovers' double suicide, where they are only united after death. I'll stick to my love in this life. I won't lose to anyone.
George...



We're straying from the point. Let's hear about the second trial now.
Right. What're you trying to make us do with this 'tear apart the two who are close' thing?



The second trial involves killing one of the six!
Of course, any lover with their partner killed is disqualified. In short, one gorup of lovers must fail during this trial!
You say 'kill' so simply. What are we supposed to do?
You can just fight to the death...
...or you can decide by a lottery of some sort.
Like hell we'd choose by drawing lots. Let's have a fair and square duel.
...Though if we do that, I imagine that Battler, the Game Master, and Beatrice, who is the Golden Witch, will have a substantial advantage.
Ah, well, I wonder about that...
Don't worry! For this trial, we have made everyone's powers equal.
Even the Game Master, Lord BATTLER, is taking this trial on an even footing with everyone else.
In that case... it's fair...
Is it completely and purely on even footing?



It's perfectly even--
--so it'll probably take some time before it's settled.
So, is the trick to attack when you're in a superior position?
Duels that take time are, of course, wonderful!
Why would anyone leave it up to luck? Of course we want to fight in a situation to our advantage.
In that case... a three-way struggle? Won't that mean we're stuck?



If any two teams fight, the third team could intervene and defeat one of their rival teams easily. Therefore, it's never wise to begin an attack.



That won't work. If we do that, everyone will just defend instead of fighting proactively. All they need to do is wait for someone to lose before they do.
No one will move, and nothing will be resolved...
Since there's this arithmetical situation where we all have the same strength... it's almost like a puzzle.
True. It would have been an interesting duel if our strengths were unknown. However, since we've been told that we're perfectly even, this duel is no different than rock, paper, scissors.
In that case, why not use rock, paper, scissors to decide it?
Are you crazy?! I'm not gonna do that! Even if someone does lose there's no way they'd accept their loss!
If they don't accept it, then they will be attacked by the four winners. In a world where all are equal, the losers will have no chance of surviving...
True. Well, now. Is rock, paper, scissors actually the most reasonable way to settle this?
It is extremely reasonable. However, if you ask me whether I'd be reckless enough to entrust my fate to a random number generator, the answer is no.







October 5th, 1986, 2:22 AM
21 hours, 38 minutes remaining



Everything that Erika told to Rudolf and Hideyoshi, she now tells to Krauss.



Kinzo hasn't left the study, and the phones are down. There's no contact with him.

The Game Master didn't make Kinzo's death a major theme for this game, so the point isn't pressed.



Two rooms, not one, is the barricade plan. Erika's idea is to put all the most potentially dangerous people - Genji, Gohda, and Kanon - in one isolated group, with Rudolf and Hideyoshi keeping a close eye on them with the rifles.



Those five will be in the cousins' room. The other seven will be in the next room over.

The only thing that complicates the plan is that Jessica insists on being in the same room as Krauss. That makes it an even six and six.





In these conditions, they must hold out until the storm ends...

---

A man who's lost his cool is no different from an emotional dog. If you treat them properly, it's easy to control them.
The detective's authority is the same as magic. You can't do anything that's impossible for you. So, Erika was only acknowledged as such because she already had that much talent.
Magic is not something that is given to lazy or powerless humans.
Right. On the contrary, people who can hide their great efforts are the ones we call witches. But Erika, why did you split them into two rooms? I'd thought you were going to gather everyone into one room.
I would have if I had the detective's authority. This is a move to preserve my right to investigate at will.
Ah... is that it? I see, not bad.



How is that related to splitting everyone into two rooms?
That's because she'll be able to trick them with it. Watch.
Yes. That's the only reason I split them into two rooms.

---

Kanon feels like this would be a good time to stay by Jessica's side, but it's not easy under the glares of the gun-wielding fathers.

The servants know full well that they're under suspicion.



Hideyoshi explains the situation to Kumasawa and Nanjo as George and Shannon stick close together.



He launches into another one of his probably-made-up stories. If nothing else, it brings a little normalcy.



Hideyoshi immediately comes to the conclusion that Erika's found a hole in someone's testimony. She does nothing to dissuade him of this fact.



Erika promises to return to this room once the sun rises. Everyone has the supplies they need to last a full 48 hours. There's no need for anyone else to leave.





The door closes.

The detective is free.




<< | ^^ | >>