In/Spectre (2020) s01e07 Episode Script
Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady
1
The victim's face and head were
smashed in by a blunt object.
It was so bad that we couldn't identify
his face or match any dental records,
but we're certain that the victim
is Sergeant Terada Tokunosuke.
We're unsure why Detective Terada
went to an abandoned gas station
by himself in the middle of the night.
On his cellphone, we found some
personal conversations via messages
exchanged between the two of you.
The estimated time of death is today,
September 4th, between 2:00 and 3:00 AM.
Where were you at that hour,
and what were you doing?
I was at home alone.
The body of a man thought
to be an officer of the
Makurazaka City Police
Makurazaka City Police Department
was discovered around 6:00 AM.
It was reported that a body
with the face smashed in
was found at an abandoned gas
station along the freeway
You okay?
Sir
Yes, I'm all right.
Terada seemed really happy lately
because he was hitting it off with you.
There's a very high chance he was killed
due to a grudge incurred on the job.
Just like yourself, the other police
officers are being questioned, as well.
The members of the Makurazaka Police
Department are the ones being questioned.
By the way, Yumihara-kun,
is it true that Terada-kun was
investigating Steel Lady Nanase?
Yes. He asked me about that during
my interrogation, so I mentioned it then.
They seemed to know about it
Wait, did that get out to the media?
No, it hasn't.
But there are people who
are tying the incident
with Terada to Steel Lady Nanase,
since his face was smashed in and it
happened in the middle of the night.
Apparently, that's making people
believe it was Steel Lady Nanase.
Talk about a sick joke.
Yes. It's quite irresponsible
Making up rumors about
someone's death like that.
I can't believe Terada, of all people,
was beaten to death.
What could've possibly happened?
If only
If only I'd been more reliable
I should've warned him better.
This isn't your fault, Yumihara-kun.
But I
Of course there's no trace of a fight,
or of him struggling, or of the suspect
Because Terada-san was killed
by Steel Lady Nanase.
I think I was too cold toward Terada-san.
After all, I just recently
learned his first name.
That's not your fault.
Terada hated that name.
He said it was too old-fashioned and meek.
He hated it when people called him by it.
Most people didn't know it.
The police won't be able to
capture the real culprit
Neither Steel Lady Nanase
nor the hundreds of thousands
of fantasies that created her.
The case will likely go unsolved.
The only ones who can defeat that monster
are those who know the truth
and have the power to do so.
Inbox\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h
Iwanaga Kotoko
(No Subject)
I need information on the case.
Come to room 2011 at Makurazaka Hotel
Right after the news this morning,
the internet went wild with the
story that Steel Lady Nanase
had finally committed a murder.
Even some of the people on
TV are saying this death
is connected with Nanase Karin's.
This went national instantly.
The number of posts has
multiplied exponentially.
I'm tired.
When was the last time it rained?
The hospital's bench is so comfortable.
It's so quiet, yet so freeing.
I want to fall asleep there as I listen
to the sound of the falling rain.
It'd be even better if
Kuro-senpai was by my side.
Iwanaga.
Rest a little.
Here. Keep your blood sugar up.
It's a bit meh. It's just sweet
enough to make me hungry.
That's what you say after eating
high-quality chocolates?
Says the person who's staying at the
same hotel as me and got a separate room.
Aren't you supposed to be my boyfriend?
I wanted you to get actual sleep.
How about you don't let me sleep?
Going to bed early and waking up
early is the key to good health.
Did an immortal just try
to talk to me about health?
What?
No, it's nothing.
How are things going with the wiki?
Well, things have definitely taken a
turn since the incident this morning.
Most of the comments believe that this
is the work of Steel Lady Nanase.
Terada Tokunosuke
If you search for the victim's name,
you can see that he was even
an Olympic candidate in judo.
Terada Tokunosuke
Someone like him being beaten to
death with no signs of a struggle
sounds so unnatural that it's
easy to think it's the work
of Steel Lady Nanase.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:35 ID.ijhajhar21aj
A victim of the ghost's rage?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:36 ID.hjiaeoakag
Get too close and you'll get a steel beam to your face
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:36 ID.klmjojng62
Someone finally died
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:37 ID.nqmhq
So she only appears in Makurazaka City? Exorcise her already
There are guesses and rumors
concerning Detective Terada's death,
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:37 ID.nqmhq
So she only appears in Makurazaka City? Exorcise her already
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:38 ID.h65ulf
Nanase Karin probably didn't like how the police handled her case if a cop was the first to die
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:42 ID.dabtanA
Did she have a grudge against them for ruling her death an accident when it wasn't?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:58 ID.nmsknh
If someone has Nanase Karin's CDs or photobooks, I'd appreciate it
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:59 ID.mveggl
Her CDs and photobooks are selling really high on auction sites right now
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:00 ID.syy7a
I don't care if she's a ghost. Let me touch Nanase Karin's boobs
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:02 ID.nmskrih
I feel like the steel beam would kill me before she even swings it
as well as people going on
about Nanase Karin's boobs.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:02 ID.mvesdega
Bring it on
Her chest was definitely bouncy.
You touched them?!
Did you squeeze them when
you were holding on to her?!
Like I even had a chance to at the time.
You definitely could have if
you chose a future where you did!
You had every opportunity!
If I cared about big boobs,
I wouldn't have dated you or Saki-san.
But you may have longed
for something different
Just once in your life,
you might've wanted to touch
those chosen mounds of fat
Can you actually swear to
Amaterasu-sama that you didn't
have such evil thoughts cross your mind?!
What are you even trying to get at?
I mean, it's hard to dismiss
Steel Lady Nanase as just a rumor.
People are now believing
it was a ghost even more.
We're not just talking about now.
Ever since the rumors of Steel
Lady Nanase started to spread,
the idea that this was all
done by a ghost has broadened
and been widely received.
The scales are tipping
too far toward one side.
I'm going to be blunt about this, Senpai.
What?
Rikka-san is highly involved with this case.
Actually, she's at its core.
I know
I can't defend her knowing
that someone has died.
Sorry I'm late.
Are you all right, Saki-san?
Yes, I'm fine.
So there's no doubt
that Steel Lady Nanase is responsible
for Terada-san's death?
Correct.
An ayakashi who saw the incident
came to see me this morning,
and he gave me an eyewitness account.
I see.
This may be a stupid question,
but is Terada-san going to become
a ghost and wander this world?
It's not as though everyone
who dies becomes a ghost.
They're better off if they
don't end up wandering.
Right. It was a stupid question.
Regardless, this most likely isn't good.
Correct.
We would've been better off if the
culprit wasn't Steel Lady Nanase.
The victim's face was
smashed in? Could it be
While people were stirring
over the fact that
this could've been a murder
by Steel Lady Nanase
Wait, it was just a normal murder?
If that had spread, this would've
been confirmed as a rumor
and toned down.
At the same time, the threat
of Steel Lady Nanase
would've weakened, and her popularity
would've begun to wane.
Then we could use Kuro-senpai's ability
to find us a favorable future
and destroy Steel Lady Nanase.
When I heard what had happened
to Detective Terada,
to be honest, I was hoping
things would turn out this way.
The one behind his death is Steel Lady Nanase.
If the police are pursuing
this as a murder,
they'll need to get more
consistent information,
making things more difficult.
But the bigger problem is the fact that Steel
Lady Nanase has instantly become more violent.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
Since she has now actually
committed a murder,
the rumored Steel Lady Nanase is now
something more violent that pursues
her victims until they're dead.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
At this rate, there will
be another victim tonight.
Huh?!
Worst-case scenario, it might
not be just one or two.
There could be multiple victims.
No, that can't be
This is now being talked about nationally.
The fantasies are expanding
in an extreme way,
causing the monster to grow instantly.
Research teams from TV shows trying to
verify information on Steel Lady Nanase
4th
IRL Meeting
Let's Discuss
Steel Lady Nanase
Occult
Members Only
and occult fanatics may
even head into the city.
If any of those groups happen
to run into Steel Lady Nanase,
they'll all be slaughtered.
A lot of places have security cameras.
If they capture footage and it
ends up being leaked nationally,
more people will learn
of Steel Lady Nanase,
making her existence even stronger.
Logical fiction may be
rendered futile against her.
What can we do, then?
If that happens,
people will still wish for the
existence of Steel Lady Nanase?
They probably won't wish for it.
But at that point, there'll
be too many people who fear
Steel Lady Nanase as a ghost.
Despite denying her existence,
they'll also be praying
that she doesn't hurt them.
I'm not sure what kind of power
that ghost is about to get.
This is messed up
Has truth always been so paper thin
that it can be ripped apart so easily?
I wouldn't say paper thin, but it's
true that it can be ripped apart.
And that's exactly why someone
has to protect that truth.
Tonight will decide everything.
We have to defeat
Steel Lady Nanase tonight.
Tonight will decide everything?
But there's no time at all!
Saki-san,
I need information.
In order to fabricate logical fiction
to take Steel Lady Nanase down,
I will need the truth at all times.
Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady
So there were no traces of drugs or
alcohol in Detective Terada's body.
Correct. They didn't find out
anything from his body.
Thanks.
It's just sounding more and
more like Nanase Karin's death.
I mean, the media isn't saying
anything about drugs or alcohol.
And on the Internet,
they seem to be amused by the fact
that he was killed in a normal fashion.
Because that seems more
like Steel Lady Nanase?
Yes. Because they'd have no
way to fight against a ghost.
They all agree that they'd
just helplessly be killed.
But if this wasn't the work of a ghost,
how did they beat Detective
Terada to death without a struggle?
Having to explain that is
going to be a bit difficult.
But in order to defeat Steel Lady Nanase,
we need a culprit other than her.
The fictional culprit can
be more than one person,
and they don't have to
commit the same crime.
We can also make it seem like the
previous incidents were unrelated, right?
But then we'd have to explain why
the culprit wanted to make it seem
like their crimes were
akin to Steel Lady Nanase's.
Detective Terada's death has nothing
to do with Steel Lady Nanase.
It just so happened that
someone who had a grudge
against Detective Terada killed him,
but the way he died just seemed like
how Steel Lady Nanase would've killed him.
How about that explanation?
That way, even if they can't
narrow down who might've done it,
if we can give an explanation
that seems similar,
we can distance ourselves
from Steel Lady Nanase.
Then we just need to explain
the motive behind the attack.
That should allow us to give other
explanations as to what happened.
Going by the law of
"Divide each difficulty
into as many parts as is feasible
and necessary to resolve it,"
it seems feasible, but it's likely
impossible to completely cut her off.
People seek dreams in their stories
and hope that reality is similar.
The interpretation of an
indicent as coincidental
is more disappointing than the
interpretation that it was fate.
If this was a real incident,
and we had the data and
deduction skills we need,
we could've tracked down the truth by now.
But what she's trying to do is conceal the truth
and create a truth with a
culprit that doesn't even exist.
We basically want people to believe,
"Of course. That's totally possible."
Do not cross this bridge
So it's not deduction that
people are looking for here.
They want something else.
What to do
Yes. This isn't about deductions.
Then I'll just go down the middle!
Which is it?
This isn't good!
Even if we're able to explain
everything rationally,
the mere existence of Steel Lady Nanase
as an explanation for this
case is surprisingly effective.
Making this explanation simple,
logical, and convincing
is far more difficult than one would imagine.
Up until yesterday, people were wondering
who was behind these random attacks.
Culprit
What was their motive?
If we create fake versions of these
two and it gains enough traction,
we'd be able to make
Steel Lady Nanase disappear.
But now, we have a number of things
we're going to have to make up.
First, why did these
countless attempted attacks
by someone who is supposedly
Steel Lady Nanase happen?
Second, who actually
perpetrated these incidents?
Third, why was Detective Terada killed
in a way that made it look like
Steel Lady Nanase did it?
Fourth, why was Detective Terada
killed with no resistance?
Fifth, who actually
killed Detective Terada?
But solving this won't be enough.
We have to make these lies work for us.
Arrest
Without having the person we make
into the suspect get arrested.
False charges
Without greatly harming
an actual existing person.
And we need to make sure that a lot
of people agree with this explanation.
If we can manage all of these things,
will we be able to make
Steel Lady Nanase disappear?
Even though we have an advantage
with Kuro-kun's abilities,
this is still a very difficult situation.
Iwanaga.
If one solution isn't enough,
why not stack up several?
It's not like Steel Lady Nanase
was born yesterday.
There must've been trial and error
until she was actually
able to commit the murder.
Rumors were spread, the site was created,
and posts gained attention,
making this popular.
They must've used various methods to
make sure her popularity didn't fade.
Otherwise, a monster of the
imagination shouldn't have
been able to manifest in
such short order in this age.
We're not limited to one solution.
You said so yourself earlier.
Divide each difficulty.
We can take steps to make the reality,
the hundreds of thousands of fantasies,
all closer to the solution
you want to create.
Until then, I'll continue to determine
the future that's going to happen.
But if that happens, you'll die several times.
You did say yesterday that
you intended to do that.
I did, didn't I?
She's been breaking down all the
information since yesterday,
trying to figure out how we can use it
and what truths we can make into lies.
What's uncertain? What's certain?
She must've tried many
things over and over.
Taking the misshapen blocks
that exist in reality and
determining how to create a past
that doesn't exist in reality
Rather than seeking the truth,
creating a ridiculous and ludicrous fiction.
That's about to be completed.
Yes, that's sweet.
You got this?
Yes.
I've come up with four solutions.
And now, I'm going to use them
to round out a truth that I want.
I will defeat Steel Lady Nanase
tonight, no matter what.
I'm going to sleep for a bit.
Please wake me up right before 9:00.
Until then, if there's word of
Steel Lady Nanase appearing,
at that point
Let's have some food ready for
Iwanaga when she wakes up.
We should probably eat something, too.
Right.
We've ordered the yokai and monsters
around the city to contact us
if they see Steel Lady Nanase.
If we hear anything,
I'll head to the scene
and stop Steel Lady Nanase
from going anywhere else.
I can fight all night if needed
so I can stop Steel Lady Nanase and make
sure there aren't any more victims.
What if Steel Lady Nanase escapes?
We'll use our intel to find
her again, and I'll stop her.
That seems troublesome.
But it's the best way.
And if we hear from any of them,
I'd like you to help me to the scene.
I've procured a rental car.
I'm sorry to involve you in all
of this, but can I count on you?
I also don't want to see any more victims.
Besides, I need to get over this already.
Has it been a while
since you started going out with her?
It's been around two and
a half years since we met.
So right after we broke up?
Iwanaga started talking to me in May,
but it's not like we started
dating immediately.
I had no intention of going out with her.
It's not like I have any right to complain,
but I believe you.
I mean, she's the exact opposite of your type.
Yes, you're exactly right.
And yet, you two seem to
be doing perfectly fine.
I think it's good.
You shouldn't keep chasing
after Rikka-san, anyway.
Why did you bring up Rikka-san's name?
Because your type is 100% Rikka-san.
Sakuragawa Rikka.
Kuro-kun's cousin who's
three years older than him.
I'd heard rumors that she'd passed,
but while Kuro-kun and I were dating,
she was a long-term patient
at a university hospital.
Homei University
She's hospitalized for routine tests?
For three years?
Yes, well, a lot happened.
I didn't go that often in high school,
but since the hospital is
close to the university,
I get to go visit her more often now.
Then will you introduce
me to her sometime?
Sure, of course.
Sakuragawa Rikka-sama
She was a beautiful woman
with pale skin and a frail body.
To Be Continued
Preview
Steel Lady Nanase is gradually
steeling her existence.
Who is this Sakuragawa Rikka who's
controlling the future from the shadows?
Next time, "She Who Spins Fiction."
The victim's face and head were
smashed in by a blunt object.
It was so bad that we couldn't identify
his face or match any dental records,
but we're certain that the victim
is Sergeant Terada Tokunosuke.
We're unsure why Detective Terada
went to an abandoned gas station
by himself in the middle of the night.
On his cellphone, we found some
personal conversations via messages
exchanged between the two of you.
The estimated time of death is today,
September 4th, between 2:00 and 3:00 AM.
Where were you at that hour,
and what were you doing?
I was at home alone.
The body of a man thought
to be an officer of the
Makurazaka City Police
Makurazaka City Police Department
was discovered around 6:00 AM.
It was reported that a body
with the face smashed in
was found at an abandoned gas
station along the freeway
You okay?
Sir
Yes, I'm all right.
Terada seemed really happy lately
because he was hitting it off with you.
There's a very high chance he was killed
due to a grudge incurred on the job.
Just like yourself, the other police
officers are being questioned, as well.
The members of the Makurazaka Police
Department are the ones being questioned.
By the way, Yumihara-kun,
is it true that Terada-kun was
investigating Steel Lady Nanase?
Yes. He asked me about that during
my interrogation, so I mentioned it then.
They seemed to know about it
Wait, did that get out to the media?
No, it hasn't.
But there are people who
are tying the incident
with Terada to Steel Lady Nanase,
since his face was smashed in and it
happened in the middle of the night.
Apparently, that's making people
believe it was Steel Lady Nanase.
Talk about a sick joke.
Yes. It's quite irresponsible
Making up rumors about
someone's death like that.
I can't believe Terada, of all people,
was beaten to death.
What could've possibly happened?
If only
If only I'd been more reliable
I should've warned him better.
This isn't your fault, Yumihara-kun.
But I
Of course there's no trace of a fight,
or of him struggling, or of the suspect
Because Terada-san was killed
by Steel Lady Nanase.
I think I was too cold toward Terada-san.
After all, I just recently
learned his first name.
That's not your fault.
Terada hated that name.
He said it was too old-fashioned and meek.
He hated it when people called him by it.
Most people didn't know it.
The police won't be able to
capture the real culprit
Neither Steel Lady Nanase
nor the hundreds of thousands
of fantasies that created her.
The case will likely go unsolved.
The only ones who can defeat that monster
are those who know the truth
and have the power to do so.
Inbox\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h
Iwanaga Kotoko
(No Subject)
I need information on the case.
Come to room 2011 at Makurazaka Hotel
Right after the news this morning,
the internet went wild with the
story that Steel Lady Nanase
had finally committed a murder.
Even some of the people on
TV are saying this death
is connected with Nanase Karin's.
This went national instantly.
The number of posts has
multiplied exponentially.
I'm tired.
When was the last time it rained?
The hospital's bench is so comfortable.
It's so quiet, yet so freeing.
I want to fall asleep there as I listen
to the sound of the falling rain.
It'd be even better if
Kuro-senpai was by my side.
Iwanaga.
Rest a little.
Here. Keep your blood sugar up.
It's a bit meh. It's just sweet
enough to make me hungry.
That's what you say after eating
high-quality chocolates?
Says the person who's staying at the
same hotel as me and got a separate room.
Aren't you supposed to be my boyfriend?
I wanted you to get actual sleep.
How about you don't let me sleep?
Going to bed early and waking up
early is the key to good health.
Did an immortal just try
to talk to me about health?
What?
No, it's nothing.
How are things going with the wiki?
Well, things have definitely taken a
turn since the incident this morning.
Most of the comments believe that this
is the work of Steel Lady Nanase.
Terada Tokunosuke
If you search for the victim's name,
you can see that he was even
an Olympic candidate in judo.
Terada Tokunosuke
Someone like him being beaten to
death with no signs of a struggle
sounds so unnatural that it's
easy to think it's the work
of Steel Lady Nanase.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:35 ID.ijhajhar21aj
A victim of the ghost's rage?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:36 ID.hjiaeoakag
Get too close and you'll get a steel beam to your face
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:36 ID.klmjojng62
Someone finally died
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:37 ID.nqmhq
So she only appears in Makurazaka City? Exorcise her already
There are guesses and rumors
concerning Detective Terada's death,
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:37 ID.nqmhq
So she only appears in Makurazaka City? Exorcise her already
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:38 ID.h65ulf
Nanase Karin probably didn't like how the police handled her case if a cop was the first to die
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:42 ID.dabtanA
Did she have a grudge against them for ruling her death an accident when it wasn't?
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:58 ID.nmsknh
If someone has Nanase Karin's CDs or photobooks, I'd appreciate it
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:59 ID.mveggl
Her CDs and photobooks are selling really high on auction sites right now
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:00 ID.syy7a
I don't care if she's a ghost. Let me touch Nanase Karin's boobs
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:02 ID.nmskrih
I feel like the steel beam would kill me before she even swings it
as well as people going on
about Nanase Karin's boobs.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 18:02 ID.mvesdega
Bring it on
Her chest was definitely bouncy.
You touched them?!
Did you squeeze them when
you were holding on to her?!
Like I even had a chance to at the time.
You definitely could have if
you chose a future where you did!
You had every opportunity!
If I cared about big boobs,
I wouldn't have dated you or Saki-san.
But you may have longed
for something different
Just once in your life,
you might've wanted to touch
those chosen mounds of fat
Can you actually swear to
Amaterasu-sama that you didn't
have such evil thoughts cross your mind?!
What are you even trying to get at?
I mean, it's hard to dismiss
Steel Lady Nanase as just a rumor.
People are now believing
it was a ghost even more.
We're not just talking about now.
Ever since the rumors of Steel
Lady Nanase started to spread,
the idea that this was all
done by a ghost has broadened
and been widely received.
The scales are tipping
too far toward one side.
I'm going to be blunt about this, Senpai.
What?
Rikka-san is highly involved with this case.
Actually, she's at its core.
I know
I can't defend her knowing
that someone has died.
Sorry I'm late.
Are you all right, Saki-san?
Yes, I'm fine.
So there's no doubt
that Steel Lady Nanase is responsible
for Terada-san's death?
Correct.
An ayakashi who saw the incident
came to see me this morning,
and he gave me an eyewitness account.
I see.
This may be a stupid question,
but is Terada-san going to become
a ghost and wander this world?
It's not as though everyone
who dies becomes a ghost.
They're better off if they
don't end up wandering.
Right. It was a stupid question.
Regardless, this most likely isn't good.
Correct.
We would've been better off if the
culprit wasn't Steel Lady Nanase.
The victim's face was
smashed in? Could it be
While people were stirring
over the fact that
this could've been a murder
by Steel Lady Nanase
Wait, it was just a normal murder?
If that had spread, this would've
been confirmed as a rumor
and toned down.
At the same time, the threat
of Steel Lady Nanase
would've weakened, and her popularity
would've begun to wane.
Then we could use Kuro-senpai's ability
to find us a favorable future
and destroy Steel Lady Nanase.
When I heard what had happened
to Detective Terada,
to be honest, I was hoping
things would turn out this way.
The one behind his death is Steel Lady Nanase.
If the police are pursuing
this as a murder,
they'll need to get more
consistent information,
making things more difficult.
But the bigger problem is the fact that Steel
Lady Nanase has instantly become more violent.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
Since she has now actually
committed a murder,
the rumored Steel Lady Nanase is now
something more violent that pursues
her victims until they're dead.
Name: Anonymous 09/04 17:45 ID.syy7s
I guess if you run into Steel Lady Nanase, she'll chase you forever
At this rate, there will
be another victim tonight.
Huh?!
Worst-case scenario, it might
not be just one or two.
There could be multiple victims.
No, that can't be
This is now being talked about nationally.
The fantasies are expanding
in an extreme way,
causing the monster to grow instantly.
Research teams from TV shows trying to
verify information on Steel Lady Nanase
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and occult fanatics may
even head into the city.
If any of those groups happen
to run into Steel Lady Nanase,
they'll all be slaughtered.
A lot of places have security cameras.
If they capture footage and it
ends up being leaked nationally,
more people will learn
of Steel Lady Nanase,
making her existence even stronger.
Logical fiction may be
rendered futile against her.
What can we do, then?
If that happens,
people will still wish for the
existence of Steel Lady Nanase?
They probably won't wish for it.
But at that point, there'll
be too many people who fear
Steel Lady Nanase as a ghost.
Despite denying her existence,
they'll also be praying
that she doesn't hurt them.
I'm not sure what kind of power
that ghost is about to get.
This is messed up
Has truth always been so paper thin
that it can be ripped apart so easily?
I wouldn't say paper thin, but it's
true that it can be ripped apart.
And that's exactly why someone
has to protect that truth.
Tonight will decide everything.
We have to defeat
Steel Lady Nanase tonight.
Tonight will decide everything?
But there's no time at all!
Saki-san,
I need information.
In order to fabricate logical fiction
to take Steel Lady Nanase down,
I will need the truth at all times.
Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady
So there were no traces of drugs or
alcohol in Detective Terada's body.
Correct. They didn't find out
anything from his body.
Thanks.
It's just sounding more and
more like Nanase Karin's death.
I mean, the media isn't saying
anything about drugs or alcohol.
And on the Internet,
they seem to be amused by the fact
that he was killed in a normal fashion.
Because that seems more
like Steel Lady Nanase?
Yes. Because they'd have no
way to fight against a ghost.
They all agree that they'd
just helplessly be killed.
But if this wasn't the work of a ghost,
how did they beat Detective
Terada to death without a struggle?
Having to explain that is
going to be a bit difficult.
But in order to defeat Steel Lady Nanase,
we need a culprit other than her.
The fictional culprit can
be more than one person,
and they don't have to
commit the same crime.
We can also make it seem like the
previous incidents were unrelated, right?
But then we'd have to explain why
the culprit wanted to make it seem
like their crimes were
akin to Steel Lady Nanase's.
Detective Terada's death has nothing
to do with Steel Lady Nanase.
It just so happened that
someone who had a grudge
against Detective Terada killed him,
but the way he died just seemed like
how Steel Lady Nanase would've killed him.
How about that explanation?
That way, even if they can't
narrow down who might've done it,
if we can give an explanation
that seems similar,
we can distance ourselves
from Steel Lady Nanase.
Then we just need to explain
the motive behind the attack.
That should allow us to give other
explanations as to what happened.
Going by the law of
"Divide each difficulty
into as many parts as is feasible
and necessary to resolve it,"
it seems feasible, but it's likely
impossible to completely cut her off.
People seek dreams in their stories
and hope that reality is similar.
The interpretation of an
indicent as coincidental
is more disappointing than the
interpretation that it was fate.
If this was a real incident,
and we had the data and
deduction skills we need,
we could've tracked down the truth by now.
But what she's trying to do is conceal the truth
and create a truth with a
culprit that doesn't even exist.
We basically want people to believe,
"Of course. That's totally possible."
Do not cross this bridge
So it's not deduction that
people are looking for here.
They want something else.
What to do
Yes. This isn't about deductions.
Then I'll just go down the middle!
Which is it?
This isn't good!
Even if we're able to explain
everything rationally,
the mere existence of Steel Lady Nanase
as an explanation for this
case is surprisingly effective.
Making this explanation simple,
logical, and convincing
is far more difficult than one would imagine.
Up until yesterday, people were wondering
who was behind these random attacks.
Culprit
What was their motive?
If we create fake versions of these
two and it gains enough traction,
we'd be able to make
Steel Lady Nanase disappear.
But now, we have a number of things
we're going to have to make up.
First, why did these
countless attempted attacks
by someone who is supposedly
Steel Lady Nanase happen?
Second, who actually
perpetrated these incidents?
Third, why was Detective Terada killed
in a way that made it look like
Steel Lady Nanase did it?
Fourth, why was Detective Terada
killed with no resistance?
Fifth, who actually
killed Detective Terada?
But solving this won't be enough.
We have to make these lies work for us.
Arrest
Without having the person we make
into the suspect get arrested.
False charges
Without greatly harming
an actual existing person.
And we need to make sure that a lot
of people agree with this explanation.
If we can manage all of these things,
will we be able to make
Steel Lady Nanase disappear?
Even though we have an advantage
with Kuro-kun's abilities,
this is still a very difficult situation.
Iwanaga.
If one solution isn't enough,
why not stack up several?
It's not like Steel Lady Nanase
was born yesterday.
There must've been trial and error
until she was actually
able to commit the murder.
Rumors were spread, the site was created,
and posts gained attention,
making this popular.
They must've used various methods to
make sure her popularity didn't fade.
Otherwise, a monster of the
imagination shouldn't have
been able to manifest in
such short order in this age.
We're not limited to one solution.
You said so yourself earlier.
Divide each difficulty.
We can take steps to make the reality,
the hundreds of thousands of fantasies,
all closer to the solution
you want to create.
Until then, I'll continue to determine
the future that's going to happen.
But if that happens, you'll die several times.
You did say yesterday that
you intended to do that.
I did, didn't I?
She's been breaking down all the
information since yesterday,
trying to figure out how we can use it
and what truths we can make into lies.
What's uncertain? What's certain?
She must've tried many
things over and over.
Taking the misshapen blocks
that exist in reality and
determining how to create a past
that doesn't exist in reality
Rather than seeking the truth,
creating a ridiculous and ludicrous fiction.
That's about to be completed.
Yes, that's sweet.
You got this?
Yes.
I've come up with four solutions.
And now, I'm going to use them
to round out a truth that I want.
I will defeat Steel Lady Nanase
tonight, no matter what.
I'm going to sleep for a bit.
Please wake me up right before 9:00.
Until then, if there's word of
Steel Lady Nanase appearing,
at that point
Let's have some food ready for
Iwanaga when she wakes up.
We should probably eat something, too.
Right.
We've ordered the yokai and monsters
around the city to contact us
if they see Steel Lady Nanase.
If we hear anything,
I'll head to the scene
and stop Steel Lady Nanase
from going anywhere else.
I can fight all night if needed
so I can stop Steel Lady Nanase and make
sure there aren't any more victims.
What if Steel Lady Nanase escapes?
We'll use our intel to find
her again, and I'll stop her.
That seems troublesome.
But it's the best way.
And if we hear from any of them,
I'd like you to help me to the scene.
I've procured a rental car.
I'm sorry to involve you in all
of this, but can I count on you?
I also don't want to see any more victims.
Besides, I need to get over this already.
Has it been a while
since you started going out with her?
It's been around two and
a half years since we met.
So right after we broke up?
Iwanaga started talking to me in May,
but it's not like we started
dating immediately.
I had no intention of going out with her.
It's not like I have any right to complain,
but I believe you.
I mean, she's the exact opposite of your type.
Yes, you're exactly right.
And yet, you two seem to
be doing perfectly fine.
I think it's good.
You shouldn't keep chasing
after Rikka-san, anyway.
Why did you bring up Rikka-san's name?
Because your type is 100% Rikka-san.
Sakuragawa Rikka.
Kuro-kun's cousin who's
three years older than him.
I'd heard rumors that she'd passed,
but while Kuro-kun and I were dating,
she was a long-term patient
at a university hospital.
Homei University
She's hospitalized for routine tests?
For three years?
Yes, well, a lot happened.
I didn't go that often in high school,
but since the hospital is
close to the university,
I get to go visit her more often now.
Then will you introduce
me to her sometime?
Sure, of course.
Sakuragawa Rikka-sama
She was a beautiful woman
with pale skin and a frail body.
To Be Continued
Preview
Steel Lady Nanase is gradually
steeling her existence.
Who is this Sakuragawa Rikka who's
controlling the future from the shadows?
Next time, "She Who Spins Fiction."