Urban Legend Detectives Case 5: Seven Wonders At School Vol.1

By Kyosuke Tsumiki

“What is happening this time? Murders again?!”
“Hey, do you know ‘the Seven Wonders at School’?”

The members of an urban legend-related website, titled “Strange Tales in the 21st Century”, come to know each other, and meet at an offline gathering. While they are talking about “the Seven Wonders at School”, an eerie letter is sent to them.

“Do not approach the Seven Wonders at School, no matter what. If someone learns of the secret, the one would suffer from a misfortune. Oh, blood! Blood! Blood! I can see blood. I can see the warm, vivid blood of the stupid who did not obey this warning. Let me repeat. Do not approach the Seven Wonders at School!”

Is this signaling the new beginning of the “Urban Legend Serial Murder Case”, the targets of which now include the members of the gathering?!

The secrets of the past cases intertwine, and the surprising truths are revealed, one after another.

Here is the first half of the longest episode of the “Urban Legend Detectives” series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387273867

Book preview

Urban Legend Detectives Case 5: Seven Wonders At School Vol.1

Urban Legend Detectives Case 5: Seven Wonders At School Vol.1

Originally written in Japanese by Kyosuke Tsumiki

Translated by Ryusui Seiryoin

Cover illustration by Maki Takeuchi

Cover design by Maki Takeuchi

Copyright © 2017 Kyosuke Tsumiki / The BBB: Breakthrough Bandwagon Books

All rights reserved.

ISBN978-1-387-27386-7

- -1 -

Professor Tanaami of Saitama Jyoto University was walking on a forest path in the afternoon sun streaming through the leaves of the trees. After getting off the train at Minami-shitara Station on Saitama Rapid Railway Line, he was heading for the house of Professor Hino.

Although it was still in a cool season of spring, the sweat stood on his forehead under his hair that was set with pomade. He already took off his conservative-looking jacket and had it under his arm.

... Really, Hino’s whim bothers me.

As always, though. Tanaami thought. He had been summoned suddenly by Professor Masashige Hino, his co-worker.

It had taken about two hours by Saitama Rapid Railway Line from Omiya Station to Minami-shitara Station, which was encased in a desolate atmosphere, in which a rather large supermarket stood out. Moreover, it would take almost an hour by foot from the station to Hino’s house, his destination.

... He is summoning me, with no prior notice. What the heck does he want this time?

Tanaami exhaled, stopped walking, and roughly wiped the sweat on his forehead with hand.

At the time, Assistant Professor Ukita, who also worked at Saitama Jyoto University and was heading for Hino’s house, had gotten off the train at Chikurin Station on the Tonegawa Line (departed from Kita-urawa Station). It was an unattended station with no stores or houses around it. His substantial hair parted at the side (in a seven-to-three ratio) and the blue jacket, which he was slackly wearing with the sleeves folded up, was waving to the wind along with the tree branches around him.

He adjusted the position of the bag that was hung from his shoulder.

... If my memory is correct, it would take about 30 minutes from this station to Professor Hino’s house.

He recalled the map inscribed in his brain, and confirmed it in his mind over and over again.

Although the train was crowded to a certain extent, Ukita was the only person who got off at the station. The destination for almost all other passengers was Nishi-tonegawa Station, the terminal of the line. It had a sakura-viewing spot famous among local people.

Usually, the Tonegawa Line had two trains in the early morning, one in the afternoon, one in the late evening, and the last one at night. But Ukita happened to know that one special train ran at the time of the day during the sakura season, and he had chosen to take the ride.

... Professor Tanaami would also come today. I must not miss the appointment time.

But if he takes a usual option, the route of walking from Minami-shitara Station to Hino’s house, it would be impossible for him to get there in time by leaving after the lecture at the university in the morning.

Ukita had the reason for which he could not skip the lecture. Definitely, he could never skip it, no matter what. Seeking for another transportation of this and that, Ukita happened to learn that the special train would run on the Tonegawa Line on that day.

By choosing to take it, he could reach Professor Hino’s house in time, even after he took his time with the lecture at the university. And now, he had just arrived at the station via the Tonegawa Line.

He checked the time on his wristwatch. Probably, I would be able to get there by the time Professor Tanaami arrives. Ukita made a sigh of relief in his mind.

It was when Tanaami had walked halfway to Hino’s house. He noticed a weird-looking person coming to him from the direction of Hino’s house. Seemingly, it was a male who was wearing a white, hooded parka. His face was hidden under the hood and not recognizable.

Cautiously, Tanaami slowed his walking pace. But, as if the figure did not see Tanaami, the one passed by him and walked away toward Minami-shitara Station without stopping.

... Who the heck is that guy? The one seemed to be walking from Hino’s house to Minami-shitara Station. While feeling a sense of incongruity in his mind, Tanaami hurried to Hino’s house.

When Ukita passed by a little the point where the road from Chikurin Station was joined with another path from Minami-shitara Station, he saw a back of a man past middle age.

Professor Tanaami.

Ukita spoke to him.

Oh, hey, Mr. Ukita.

Tanaami stopped and looked back.

Maybe, I guess you were on the same train, right? Of course, it is a rural station. It might be natural for us to get on the same train when we are going to the same place at the same time.

Ukita only gave back a slight smile. Professor Tanaami doesn’t seem to know a special train on the Tonegawa Line. He dared not to say that. He offered him words of comfort.

Sir, it’s about one hour walk from Minami-shitara Station to Professor Hino’s house, correct?

Tanaami showed a fed-up look.

Yeah. Since I have visited Hino’s house several times, I know the way. How about you, Mr. Ukita?

Umm, this is my first visit to Professor Hino. I am his disciple, but as you know, Professor Hino lives a life like a hermit.

Ukita, who graduated from Hino Seminar and once served as Hino’s assistant, smiled.

Oh, really. After walking a little more, Hino’s house will become visible. There, you can see it right after we turn at that corner.

The two of them walked through the forest path side by side, and finally reached the destination. The house of Masashige Hino, Professor at the Department of Folklore at Saitama Jyoto University. It was a plastered two-story building, which was quietly standing along a side road.

Ukita pushed a button on an intercom at the entrance with a gable roof. The two of them standing outside heard the light electronic sound ringing inside the house. But no response came, even though they were waiting for a while.

Tanaami leaned his head. Is he out now? But he knows we are scheduled to come here at this time. Are both Professor Hino and his wife not in the house ...? Tanaami makes a step ahead of Ukita, and held the doorknob. The door opened smoothly. Are they going out without locking the front door?

Hello. Professor Hino, it’s me, Tanaami.

He looked through the opening, and called out. There seemed to be no one in the house. Are they really going out?

We can do nothing outside. Mr. Ukita, although it is somewhat rude, let’s go inside and wait for them.

The two of them entered the house, walked through the corridor, and looked inside the living room, which Tanaami had visited several times. At the very moment, their bodies were frozen. The room was ravaged as if someone had ransacked, and a person was lying down on his stomach at the center of the room. The profile that was barely visible from the side was obviously that of Professor Hino.

Professor Hino! Sir, Mr. Hino!

Ukita hastily rushed to him, but there was no response. Professor Tanaami, who worked at the medical department and specialized in forensic medicine, regained his composure and examined the body. He touched Hino’s nose to check the breath, and put his own ear on Hino’s chest to try to catch the pulse.

No, he’s already gone.

Tanaami glanced at Ukita, and then resumed examining the body.

I assume, one hour or two have already passed since his death.

Tanaami uttered. Even Ukita could clearly recognize the graphically bold constriction furrow. Tanaami felt that there was something strange about the scene.

Where is the cord that was supposedly used for strangling Professor Hino? If someone has taken it away ...

Sir, you mean it is a murder?

Ukita frowned. Tanaami looked around the ransacked room again.

Anyway, it is a body of an unnatural death. We have to call the police immediately.

They went back to the corridor, rushed to a telephone, and picked up the receiver. But ... the line was dead. They looked at the telephone wire, and noticed that it was severed. Someone must have done so to cut off the contact with any