Case File 01

The Case Files are booklets released with the Blu-Ray collections of the Umineko anime, published by NIS America. They feature translated TIPs and artwork from the booklets that came with the Umineko anime Gold Edition DVDs.

Case File 01 focuses on the subplots introduced in episodes 1-18.

Transcript[]

The Mystery of the Ushiromiyas[]

The entire family has gathered on Rokken Island for their yearly family meeting. Some family members, however. are deceased or could not appear fur other reasons. For example, Rudolf's first wife and Battler's mother, Asumu-she's supposed to have died six years ago, but is that really what happened?

Also, they never touch on the subject of who and where Maria's father is. It seems that Rosa told Maria that her dad had simply "gone on a business trip." And there is also mention of Ange—Rudolf and Kyrie's daughter and Battler's half-sister. Ange has always been frail, and a recent illness keeps her from attending the 1986 family meeting...but could she be involved in future events?

In addition, all the adults stand together against Krauss, who is suspected of embezzling funds from Kinzo's estate. Everyone is involved in their own respective business ventures, but they all share the same need for large amounts of funds as soon as possible, for various reasons.

Eva and Hideyoshi run a successful business, and an outside investor has begun buying up all their stock. So they need cash to buy back their stock and protect their livelihood. Rudolf needs to pay a large settlement to an American corporation in a copyright infringement case. Rosa's soft personality compelled her to enter into an unfavorable "joint and and several liability" agreement, and now she's forced to shoulder someone else's debt.

At the same time, however, Krauss's attempt to develop his resort hotel venture has been a failure, resulting in massive personal debt. The desire to find Kinzo's gold and keep it for themselves would seem to be a desire shared among each and every one of them.

The Mystery of the Epitaph's Riddle[]

Kinzo proclaims that whoever solves the mystery of the epitaph will receive his ten tons of gold, along with the Ushiromiya family estate...but is there really a solution to the riddle? What does Kinzo really want?

Everyone with any connection to the Ushiromiya family, from first-born Krauss all the way down to the servants, has tried to solve the epitaph's riddle at least once. But for all their efforts, the answer remains hidden.

One theory holds that it outlines the ritual needed to resurrect Beatrice, the supposed witch that Kinzo yearns to be reunited with. Will future events lead to a moment when a solution to the riddle is actually revealed? Only time will tell...

The Gold[]

Krauss had this gold ingot in his possession, and not even his wife Natsuhi knew about it. It's engraved with the family's crest, the One-Winged Eagle—does this mean Kinzo's hidden gold really does exist?

The Epitaph[]

In melancholy memory, the sweetfish river runs through my beloved birthplace. If you would seek the Golden Land, enter upon its path and seek the key.

Trace the river's descent, and soon shall you reach a village. Within the village, two shall speak; thereafter depart and scour the shore. Thereupon sleeps the key to the Golden Land.

Those who grasp the key and seek the Golden Land, follow these commandments.

In the first twilight; offer as sacrifice the six chosen by the key.

In the second twilight; all who remain, put asunder the two who would be as one.

In the third twilight; all who remain, bring glory to my hallowed name.

In the fourth twilight; pierce the head, and bring death.

In the fifth twilight; pierce the breast, and bring death.

In the sixth twilight; pierce the stomach, and bring death.

In the seventh twilight; pierce the knee, and bring death.

In the eighth twilight; pierce the leg, and bring death.

In the ninth twilight; the witch shaft resurrect, and none shall live.

In the tenth twilight; the journey shall end, and open unto the land of gold.

The witch shall bring glory to the wise, and bestow upon them four boons.

One is that all the gold of the Golden Land shall be delivered.

One is that the souls of the dead shall be resurrected.

One is that the love which was lost shall too be resurrected.

One is that the witch shall be given to eternal slumber.

Sleep now in peace, my most beloved witch Beatrice.

The Mystery of the First Twilight[]

"In the first twilight; offer as sacrifice the six chosen by the key."

And so, a terrible tragedy takes place. But this is just the beginning...

The six victims are Krauss, Rudolf, Kyrie, Rosa, Mr. Gohda, and Shannon. Were they killed in the storehouse itself? Or killed somewhere else and then their dead bodies dragged there later on? It's likely that the bloodstains in the dining hall belong to them.

Also, they were each found with their faces partially or completely destroyed, and all signs point to the mutilation occurring after death.

Why would the killer put on such a grotesque display for everyone to see? Those who remain must consider the possibility that the lack of faces means one of the bodies may have been switched...

The Mystery of Kinzo's Disappearance[]

Natsuhi last saw Kinzo the morning of October 5th, after which he suddenly disappeared. When considering the folded slip of paper Eva had wedged in the door, it would seem that the study door was never opened after Natsuhi had left that morning.

Of course, since Natsuhi has no eyewitness testimony to back up her claim, it's possible she made up the entire conversation between her and Kinzo. On the other hand, one has to wonder why Eva felt the need to shove a piece of paper into the doorframe in the first place. Was Eva just bluffing? Where does the truth reside?

The Mystery of the Second Twilight[]

"In the second twilight; all who remain, put asunder the two who would be as one."

Eva and Hideyoshi are found dead in their bedroom, each of their bodies revealing an unusual stake lodged in the forehead. According to Genji and Kanon, who were the first to discover the grisly scene, the door was locked and chained form the inside, making it a true "locked room" mystery.

Furthermore, during the brief time that Kanon left to go get something to cut the chain, a mysterious magic circle, similar to the one from the first night, appeared on the door... Who might have done it? How did they kill two people and escape the locked room?

The exact cause of death also remains a mystery. Were they really fatally wounded with the stakes, or were they perhaps shot, and the stakes inserted as a kind of demented decoration?

The existence of some sort of device that might shoot stakes seems unlikely, as no such item was found at the scene or anywhere else throughout the mansion.

The Mystery of the Fourth and Fifth Twilight[]

"In the fourth twilight; pierce the head, and bring death."

"In the fifth twilight; pierce the breast, and bring death."

Kanon was murdered in the boiler room, and Kinzo's charred corpse was found in the boiler itself with a stake jutting from its forehead. Were those golden butterflies that Kanon saw real, or just an illusion?

And what's the importance of Beatrice's portrait appearing for a split second? Kanon's body looked like it had been pierced with a stake, but this time the stake was found lying next to his body. This differs from the other murders, but whether that holds any significance is still unknown.

And as he faced his invisible enemy, Beatrice, just before he died he mentioned the "zero" on the roulette wheel—what did he mean by that? Could there have been some past connection between Kanon and Beatrice...?

The Mystery of the Sixth through Eighth Twilight[]

"In the sixth twilight; pierce the stomach, and bring death."

"In the seventh twilight; pierce the knee, and bring death."

"In the eighth twilight; pierce the leg, and bring death."

Natsuhi forced Maria, Genji, Ms. Kumasawa, and Dr. Nanjo to leave Kinzo's study, and later everyone from that group, except for Maria, was found dead in the parlor—they had each been pierced with stakes, in accordance with the epitaph.

Further, all three had their faces smashed in. Maria, who was found at the scene of the crime, insists she was facing the wall and singing the entire time, and so knows nothing. Important to note is that the phone lines were all down—how, then, did they become suddenly functional? Who made the phone call? And why was Maria left alive? Many questions still remain.

Even if we assume that Maria was involved in the murders and she made the call herself, we still have to wonder how Maria knew the study's extension, and how she was able to kill three full-grown adults.

Considering the previous murders, it becomes clear that to maintain the theory that these murders were not supernatural, they had to have been carried out by multiple people.

The Mystery of the Ninth Twilight[]

"In the ninth twilight; the witch shaft resurrect, and none shall live."

Just as October 5th is drawing to a close, Natsuhi reads the letter she found in the parlor, then sneaks out of the room alone. By the time Battler. Jessica, George, and Maria notice her absence and go after her, it's already too late.

They find her with a bullet hole in her forehead, the rifle still clutched in her hands. Battler and the others heard only a single gunshot, and they spot no suspicious figures—only Natsuhi's lifeless body lying on the floor.

It may very well have been suicide, but no autopsy was done, and the truth remains obscured. In addition, the letter that prompted Natsuhi to go off by herself is nowhere to be found, its contents forever a mystery.

The Mystery of the Tenth Twilight[]

"In the tenth twilight; the journey shall end, and open unto the land of gold."

The clock strikes midnight, and a swarm of golden butterflies appear. They swirl around Battler and the others, ensnaring them in a world of illusion. Is this the work of the witch, or some other kind of trick? Is there any significance to the time, 0:00? (Or perhaps 24:00?)

Dawn breaks, and when the seagulls cry—when the storm has dissipated and Rokken Island is peaceful once again—the police come and eventually depart, their investigation bearing no fruit. There's no trace of the four apparent survivors, and the police have little hope of ever finding them.

Then there's the mystery of the message in a bottle, reeled in by a local fisherman-the note details the two bizarre nights on the island and is signed, "Maria Ushiromiya." But the signature was never verified, so it's entirely possible that someone else (the real killer, perhaps?) simply forged it. But if that's true...to what purpose? What could they have in mind?

The Mystery of the Witches[]

In a world (seemingly) far removed from 1986 Rokken Island, Battler, his cousins. Shannon, and Kanon are all enjoying a little tea party when Beatrice suddenly appears. Who does this woman think she is to provoke Battler into solving these mysteries?

"The Golden Witch" was supposed to be a legend known only from Kinzo's stories and the servants' quiet whispers—nobody believed she actually existed. On the contrary, starting in Chapter II Beatrice reveals herself not only in this alternate world, but also in the current world of Rokken Island. She even goes so far as to hold conversations with Shannon and Kanon.

They act like old acquaintances, but what is the exact nature of their relationship? If we look at her as a human rather than a witch, it's possible that she has some connection to Kinzo's mistress—perhaps her daughter or granddaughter. Of course, we must still consider the possibility that she's simply one of the original eighteen in disguise.

What's more, a witch named Bernkastel decides to appear at the end of Episode 5. Beatrice addresses her as a "legendary witch" and acknowledges her superiority, which illustrates her prominent position within the witch hierarchy.

Informed readers may note her curious relationship with Rika Furude from the "Higurashi" case, but that doesn't appear to have any connection to these particular events.

The Mystery of the Eldest Son and His Wife[]

We come upon Krauss and Natsuhi talking about Kinzo in Episode 7. Krauss asks if their father will be a problem, and Natsuhi answers that he will not. She goes on to affirm that Genji and Dr. Nanjo are loyal to them, and she won't allow their greedy relatives to see Kinzo.

From their conversation, we can infer that Krauss and Natsuhi are hiding something from the other family members, and that Genji and Dr. Nanjo are cooperating with them. What reason could there be for Eva, Rudolf, and Rosa not to see their father?

Looking back, the only people we've seen actually meet with Kinzo up until now are members of the inheriting family-Natsuhi, Genji, and Dr. Nanjo (while not blood relatives, Genji and Dr. Nanjo are considered to "belong" to Krauss's family).

It's possible that the other servants have also spoken with him. None of the family members who came to the island have actually seen Kinzo for themselves. So what could Krauss have meant when he asked Ninsuhi about their father being a problem?

The Mystery of Beatrice, Rosa and Maria[]

Beatrice suddenly appears before Rosa and Maria in the rose garden. She proceeds to restore Maria's candy using her magic, then disappears alter handing Maria a letter to be read in front of everyone during dinner.

What really stands out during the first half of Chapter 11 is that, other than the servants, Rosa and Maria are the only ones to hold a conversation with Beatrice (you might also count Kyrie's brief run-in with her).

It's hard to imagine that Rosa and Maria would simply accept a letter, not open it, and blindly follow the orders of a woman that just materialized in front of them. Could Beatrice have some connection with Rosa that hasn't yet been revealed?

The Mystery of the First Twilight's Chapel[]

This relates to the first twilight murders which claimed the lives of six people—three of the Ushiromiya siblings and their husbands/wives. Considering how they acknowledged Beatrice as a witch in the previous scene (which appeared to be the night of day four), it seems likely they were killed and their bodies cut open and stuffed with food afterwards.

The deaths apparently took place during or after dinner—could the food have been poisoned? Beatrice (or the real killer disguised as Beatrice) was thought to have been the hostess. but perhaps the servants prepared the dinner and had a hand in the crime.
One more point may catch your eye—if you were paying attention to the scene preceding the murders, the youngest sibling, Rosa, was also present at the dinner. Why was she the lone survivor?

She must know something about what happened, so what reason could she have for not telling the others about the incident? It's no exaggeration to say that she's the most important material witness in Chapter II and holds the key to revealing the truth.

The Mystery of Kanon and the Seven Stakes of Purgatory[]

Beatrice finally begins her direct assault in Episode 8. Her summoning those demonic Goat Heads, which she calls her "witch's furniture," can be considered nothing but actual magic.

But even more surprising than that was—you guessed it—Kanon revealing his "blade" to take on the demons. After he defeats them with almost no effort, Beatrice responds by summoning Asmodeus and Satan of the Seven Stakes of Purgatory, referring to them as her "deluxe furniture." So we suddenly witness the story go through an incredible expansion—existential fantasy worlds reveal themselves within this world of mystery.

What meaning does this kind of "magic" hold in the overall story? Finding the answer is the single biggest theme and the key to unlocking the truth of the "Umineko" mystery. But of course that's much easier said than done.

The Mystery of Fake (?) Kanon[]

Another "Kanon" appears before the servants, who were exiled by Rosa to the servants' quarters in Episode 9, and kills Ms. Kumasawa and Dr. Nanjo. Who could this be? His eyes burn with a red hue just like the Goat Heads and Seven Sisters of Purgatory, so it's reasonable to assume he's another entity summoned by the witch Beatrice.

On the other hand, let's not lose focus on Rosa's allegation that the surviving servants may be working together to put forth a false claim about a "Fake Kanon." Either way, the meta-world appears, where meta-Battler and meta-Beatrice engage in a battle of wits and words.

But in this complex world, even if a witch appears before us and enchants us with her "magic," we need to he skeptical from the get-go or we'll never come to understand the mystery of the "Umineko" case. Simply believing what we see and hear plays right into the witch's hands.

At the same time, we need to consider who the story's "observer" really is. This will become an ever more important point as we take a look at future chapters.

The Mystery of Genji and Dr. Nanjo[]

Genji was able to keep calm even in the midst of the fake Kanon's attack, giving Shannon and Mr. Gohda proper instructions and even showing off his knife throwing abilities.

After serving his master for several decades, Genji has earned Kinzo's deepest regard. He may he the only one outside the Ushimmiya family (or perhaps even within the family) to be entrusted with its darkest secrets. He may also be the only one with any idea of who the true killer may be and what lies at the heart of this mystery.

He does not, however, actively take part in seeking out the killer or resolving the situation they've found themselves in.

The way he simply follows his master's commands and carries out his duty as head of the servant staff makes it seem like he's taking a long-term perspective, but could his calm demeanor signify something else...?

In addition to Genji, Dr. Nanjo also holds an important key to the story. As the only person in a position to properly examine dead bodies in each chapter (when he's not already dead himself), he's fully capable of falsifying information about the deceased if he so desires.

If he had some connection to the killer and wanted to lie about a given person's cause of death, nobody could realistically question him.

The Mystery of Beatrice's Red Words[]

Meta-world Beatrice unveils her "red words" in Episode 8—whenever she speaks the truth, her statement will materialize in red. Beatrice implements this rule herself in order to give Battler a fighting chance. For example, even if we were to question Dr. Nanjo's assertions regarding a cause of death (as discussed earlier), if Beatrice uses her red words to declare a person dead, it can be taken as fact that they really are dead.

But what we have to wonder is why Beatrice would create a rule that actually helps Battler. If this really is supposed to he a battle of wits to see if he can solve the mystery, then giving him hints is like tending the wound of an enemy.

Maybe she just wants to make sure they're on an even playing field, but her cruel behavior so far makes her seem like anything but a fan of fair play. Although she claims that this is all simply a way to torture Battler until he gives in, would it be assuming too much to think that maybe, somewhere deep within her heart, she actually wishes for Battler to solve the mystery and defeat her?

The Mystery of Multiple Beatrices[]

Beginning in Chapter II, two Beatrices exist in parallel—the Beatrice that appears on Rokken Island in the real world, and the meta-Beatrice that plays the game with meta-Battler in their meta-world. What kind of situational relationship could these two Beatrices share?

On top of that, even the Beatrice on Rokken Island appears wearing different outfits—sometimes in her dress, sometimes in her knee-high socks and short skirt. Can we consider all these Beatrices to be the same person? If not, there remains the possibility that several people are disguising themselves and switching places...

Furthermore, if what Genji and Dr. Nanjo said is true, there was once a woman named Beatrice who was (possibly) Kinzo's lover. However, that would have been several decades ago, so one would expect that particular Beatrice's age to differ noticeably from the Beatrice we see on Rokken Island in 1986. Regardless, it should he sufficient to reason that more than one "Beatrice" could exist (or did at some point). But logic alone isn't enough to discover the truth of this particular mystery.

The Mystery of the End of Chapter II[]

Shannon unleashed a mysterious power when she was attacked by Beatrice and the Goat Heads. The "Shannon Blade" and "Shannon Barrier"—where did those abilities come from? Shannon and Kanon both came from the same orphanage, and if the two of them really do possess some kind of superhuman power, their place of origin could hold some secrets of its own.

Battler, who officially surrendered, is brought to a witch's banquet in a most humiliating fashion—chained up, naked. and bound with a collar. He is apparently consumed by Kinzo and the Goat Heads, but what is the underlying meaning for such a feast?

Meanwhile. Rosa attempts to escape the island with Maria. However, Rosa was the one who denied each supernatural phenomenon, not having witnessed any for herself, in favor of the servant conspiracy theory. She should have no reason to want to go.

So why did she leave the safety of the
parlor and the mansion without any plan for escaping the island itself? Where, exactly, was she thinking of running off to? Perhaps Rosa discovered the true meaning behind Beatrice's implication of what "defeat" would mean for the people on the island if they were to run out of time.

The Mystery of the "Tea Party" and the "Other Tea Party"[]

The second half of Episode 11 highlights the "Tea Party" and the "Other Tea Party." At the Tea Party, Rosa, who tried to escape the island, is forced to suffer through Beatrice's torture and consume dish after disgusting dish. But why did Beatrice choose Rosa as her torture subject?

Also worth noting is that in this scene, Beatrice seems to know a great deal about Rosa and her siblings. Could it be that, like with Shannon and Kanon. Rosa and Beatrice have some kind of deeper relationship?

Furthermore, who is this new witch that suddenly appears in the Other Tea Party—this Lambdadelta? She seems to be an old acquaintance of Bernkastel's, at any rate. We know that in Greek. "Lambda" means 3 and "Delta" means 4, so putting them together gives you 3-4.

Informed readers may wonder if there's any sort of connection between her and Miyo Takano from the "Higurashi" case (in Japanese, "Miyo" can also be read as 3-4).

The Mystery of the Young Girl, "Beatrice"[]

Episode 12 marks the beginning of Chapter III, and the first thing we see is a young girl with a woman who teaches "magic" and calls herself Beatrice. Could this mean that the little girl who became that woman's apprentice and assumed the name "Beatrice" was actually the current Beatrice as a child?

If that's true, then who is this former "Beatrice" who taught the young girl her magic? And where does that initial scene take place? It has the same feel as the Ushiromiya family mansion or the guesthouse, but it seems to be a different building entirely. Before anything else, we have to consider whether what we saw ever really happened.

The Mystery of Head Furniture Ronove[]

We are soon introduced to another new character—Beatrice's "head furniture," her butler Ronove. According to Beatrice, and also medieval demonology texts, Ronove is the 27th ranking demon of hell and one of the 72 Pillars said to have sealed away King Solomon.

He holds the titles of Marquis and Great Earl within hell, and he's highly knowledgeable in rhetoric and language. From what we've seen of him so far, he doesn't appear to be a frightening demon; he fearlessly speaks his mind to his master, however, so he must hold a good deal of power himself.

When you consider that the Seven Sisters of Purgatory are the seven stakes personified, Ronove may exist as the embodiment of some type of object as well. Also worth noting is Genji's last name—Ronoue. One is Beatrice's "head furniture," the other is head servant to Kinzo. But whether these are significant similarities is still unknown at this point.

The Mystery of Beatrice and Kuwadorian[]

Rosa has a sudden recollection and relates to her siblings the story of how, when she was in middle school, she stumbled upon a mansion deep within the forest of Rokken Island and met a woman there named Beatrice. She had never told anyone about this until now, and it certainly comes as a shock to the rest of her family.

As Battler watches on from the meta-world, he asserts that the Beatrice that was on Rokken Island in 1967 is the nineteenth person and the real killer. But meta-Beatrice uses her red words to definitively refute his theory. Continuing on with the red words, she reveals that a human named Beatrice did live in the hidden mansion Kuwadorian in 1967, but then suffered an accidental death, just as Rosa witnessed.

So if all that's true, then who was that Beatrice? Judging by her appearance, she was in her late teens to early twenties, meaning she must have been born after the war. This seems to fit the timeline, if we were to assume that the "first" Beatrice met Kinzo during the war, gave him the ten tons of gold, died, and was then later reincarnated (setting aside the validity of the idea of reincarnation).

Following from this, the Beatrice from 1967 would become the "second" Beatrice, and the one appearing on Rokken Island in 1986, twenty years after that Beatrice's death, would be the "third" Beatrice. Not counting the meta-world, this would mean that three separate people in the real world have claimed to be Beatrice.

Is the relationship between them a magical one (e.g. reincarnation) or a physical one (e.g. mother-daughter, siblings)? Or is "Beatrice" something like a title, passed down through generations? If so, how would they go about doing something like that? The answer to this question would massively impact the theories of a human or supernatural killer.

The Mystery of the Witch Virgilia[]

The "former" Beatrice makes an astonishing entrance at the end of Episode 13. Revealing herself on Rokken Island in 1986, she engages in a dazzling magical battle against Beatrice, but is ultimately defeated (no evidence of their rose garden battle remains, however). She later appears in the meta-world, acting as Battler's counselor and giving him advice to combat Beatrice. So she appears to he "anti-Beatrice," for the time being at least.

Her name, Virgilia, is thought to have come from the poet Vergilius, better known as Virgil and notable for his appearance in the Divine Comedy, in which he serves as Dante's guide. However, her name may simply have been decided for convenience's sake and may hold no deeper meaning.

Also, Ms. Kumasawa became a victim in the first twilight, so we have no way of knowing whether she and Virgilia may in fact he one and the same.

Still, we can't deny the possibility that the relationship between Virgilia and Beatrice may be acting as a metaphor for the relationship between Ms. Kumasawa and Beatrice (or rather the person going by that name) in the real world.

The Mystery of Kinzo's Gold[]

In the closing scene of Episode 14, Eva finally manages to solve the riddle of the epitaph and uncover the mountain of gold in the basement. This is the moment when we're finally confronted with indisputable evidence of the existence of Kinzo's gold. But where on Rokken Island is the basement located?

The actual solving of the riddle wasn't explicitly shown so we don't have too many details, but it's likely that the entrance to the basement was hidden somehow, and the epitaph held the key to revealing that hidden entrance.

Going further, what we saw of the room with the gold revealed a bed and a dresser, making it a full living space. There was also a path going the other way. leading even further away from the room. If we assume that Kinzo had this room built for Beatrice, it may well exist underneath Kuwadorian, or even act as an underground passage leading to Kuwadorian.

The Mystery of the Birth of Eva-Beatrice[]

Beatrice and the other witches hold a coronation to celebrate Eva's discovery of the gold, and a new witch called Eva-Beatrice comes into being. But what exactly does this mean?

According to Ronove, she's the manifestation of an "inner presence" within Eva Ushiromiya. But could this point to a kind of multiple personality disorder? Or is the existence of Eva-Beatrice a kind of magic in and of itself, preventing it from interfering with the real world (in which an actual human killer exists)?

From the beginning, it was explained to and understood by all eighteen people that whoever solved the riddle and found the gold would become Kinzo's successor and inherit the full Ushiromiya estate. But when Eva discovered the gold, it was Beatrice, not Kinzo, who appeared before her.

And it was from her that Eva received the power and title of the Golden Witch. So at this point, in October of 1986, the woman known as Beatrice was in possession of the gold. In which case, was she overseeing the gold as Kinzo's proxy, or as his successor? Her standing with Kinzo would most certainly hinge on the answer to that question. It wouldn't be wrong, then, to say that she's deeply involved with the entire incident. In other words, she's yet another key to solving the "Umineko" mystery.

Moving on—Eva-Beatrice's first act as the new Golden Witch is to immediately find and kill Rosa and Maria. But why? If Eva-Beatrice is actually just Eva, and she killed Rosa, the obvious motive would be this: Eva originally promised to share the gold with Rosa, but then she changed her mind and decided to kill Rosa and her daughter to take them out of the picture.

This certainly holds considerable persuasive power. And yet...would someone as obviously intelligent as Eva do something so rash and then just leave the bodies where they would be easily discovered? It seems that there are more complicated circumstances at work behind this particular incident.

The Mystery of the Chiester Sisters[]

The Chiester Sisters are summoned by Eva-Beatrice, but their true master is said to be a certain "Pendragon" from Celtic mythology—so when someone other than their master summons them, that person must necessarily have a significant amount of magical power.

Accordingly, though, the sister's combined combat prowess is remarkably high. For example, they can use their golden bows to fire high-speed guided projectiles that can pierce through any defense, whether physical or magical.

The Seven Sisters of Purgatory may be considered furniture, but the Chiester Sisters are recognized as full-on weapons, and they're happy to show off just how powerful they are. And once again, because the Seven Sisters exist as the stakes made manifest, it's probably safe to assume that the Chiester Sisters represent some other object as well.

If that's true, they would likely embody a bow and arrow, or something along those lines. But their rabbit-like appearance and the meaning behind their numerical designations (410 and 45) could still use further consideration...

The Mystery of the Mansion Shootings[]

Episode 16 plays host to a truly stunning battle in which Rudolf, Kyrie, and Hideyoshi leave the safety of the guesthouse to raid the mansion in search of supplies and come under attack from Eva-Beatrice. Rudolf gives voice to the idea, but we would do well to note that it's actually Kyrie's idea from several scenes prior. The two of them are also responsible for suggesting that Hideyoshi go with them on the raid.

Although we can't be sure if they were expecting to be attacked by the witch herself, what would make Kyrie want to risk their personal safety in the first place? They weren't in any imminent danger at the time, so why head back to the mansion, where the killer would very likely be lying in wait? It seems she was extremely confident about something...

Also keep in mind that no letters or messages were found on or near any of their bodies—the same holds true for Rosa and Maria. There is a clear difference between these murders and the ones carried out during the first twilight—that "locked room" mystery implied an immense amount of planning and forethought.

If we maintain our "human killer" perspective, the murders that took place later on may have been unplanned or accidental... Either way, it would have been a spur-of-the-moment occurrence.

The Theory of Eva as the Real Killer[]

Episode 18 marks the end of Chapter III, but who's the real killer? If we consider only Chapter III for the moment—since Chapter I and II have different possibilities—and follow the "human killer" theory, Eva clearly garners the most suspicion.

The word-based warfare that unfolds between Battler and Eva-Beatrice in the meta-world practically destroys Eva's alibi. Through her diligent efforts (which could of course just be an act), even Beatrice contributes by uncovering a cigarette butt that reveals Kyrie's scheme and further strengthens the case against Eva.

In addition, the final few scenes heavily suggest that Eva was the only survivor of the Rokken Island slaughter, and as a result inherited leadership and all the assets of the Ushiromiya family. As has already been mentioned, if Eva was aware of the circumstances surrounding each incident, it's no surprise that she would be the only one to survive.

For example, when they discover the numbers written on the parlor door—07151129—Battler merely seems suspicious about it, but Eva actively takes note of the numbers for her own benefit. Is it possible that those numbers were somehow the key to escaping from Rokken Island?

However... Despite all the evidence pointing to Eva as the killer, the fact remains that her beloved family members, Hideyoshi and George, were also killed. In addition, the red words were used to proclaim that Eva had no part in Dr. Nanjo's death.

These two items together mean that even if Eva had a hand in what happened, it wouldn't explain every single incident. Perhaps it's still safe to assume that another perpetrator besides Eva was involved.

But this doesn't necessarily mean that she had an accomplice—it could be that someone else had a different plan in mind and was acting independent of Eva, or it could even be that they were each using each other to further their own goals. None of these possibilities can be ruled out.

Taking all of these factors into account, we can only consider the idea of Eva being the killer as a gray area that's exceedingly close to black.

Shannon and Kanon's "Resurrections"[]

During the final stages of Chapter III, there are two moments where magic is used for something other than murder—the resurrection of Shannon and the retrieval of Kanon's soul. Still, even these events are open to questioning.

First of all, the only person who could actually testify that Shannon returned is George, and because he was killed immediately after, there's no way to confirm whether it really happened. As for Kanon, Jessica never actually saw him—she only heard his voice. And because it was only his soul that appeared, not any physical form, he wasn't able to touch anything—not the door, and certainly not Jessica. So of course there wasn't any trace of him left behind. It's entirely possible that someone could have, for instance, imitated Kanon's voice to trick Jessica into thinking she was talking to him.

Going back a bit, Shannon and Kanon's deaths were meant to act as sacrifices for Beatrice's resurrection ceremony. By bringing them bock, would that have perhaps annulled their sacrifice and caused a problem for her? And was there maybe some reason that she chose to revive Shannon and Kanon and nobody else?

Beatrice's Apparent Reformation[]

Battler lays into Beatrice for all the cruel things she's done up till now, and as a result Beatrice begins using her magic to "make people happy" and acts as if she's changed her ways.

She uses her magic to bring back Shannon and Kanon, for example, and she also sacrifices herself during her battle with Eva-Beatrice by using the power of the red words to deny the existence of witches. But it's later revealed that it was all just an act meant to deceive Battler. Beatrice claims that because he's a human, she and Battler could never see eye-to-eye. But is that really how she feels deep down?

Looking back on all of Beatrice's actions, her haughty attitude was apparent from her very first appearance in Episode 5 (the tea party in Chapter I), but as she goes up against Battler in their game again and again during Chapter II and III, she seems to display a more humane, less witch-like part of herself. Then again, could that all have just been part of her master plan?

That being said, in Episode 18 when she reveals to Battler that it was all an act, it does seem that she may have hesitated slightly. So it's possible that it wasn't exactly her choice to deceive Battler in the first place. Chapter IV is set to shift focus on how this possible change will be reflected in the relationship between Beatrice and Battler.

Character Bios[]

Battler Ushiromiya[]

Rudolf and Asumu's son. Battler is at the center of the story, and spends his time trying to unravel the mystery of the murders, both within the world of Rokken Island and in the meta-world created by Beatrice. Also, while Kyrie's role as Battler's stepmother hasn't had any obvious negative effect on him, he does opt to call her "Kyrie" rather than "Mom."

Jessica Ushiromiya[]

Krauss and Natsuhi's daughter. Being forced to live on Rokken Island in the family residence, she harbors some resentment toward her situation. She's learned to cope, though, and comes to are deeply for those around her.

Maria Ushiromiya[]

Rosa's daughter. She's strangely educated on the topic of the Golden Witch Beatrice and the occult in general. She doesn't seem to understand the events taking place around her, and often goes off on wild-eyed rants about the twilights, the Golden Land, and other related topics.

George Ushiromiya[]

Eva and Hideyoshi's son. He's a kind, intelligent young man. His parents have high expectations of him, but all he cares about is being with his one true love. Regardless, as the oldest cousin, he lets his issues take a back seat to supporting and helping his younger cousins.

Shannon[]

A female servant working under Genji. She's very upbeat and optimistic, and despite her role as a servant she enjoys a casual, friendly relationship with George and the other cousins.

Kanon[]

A male servant working under Genji. Unlike Shannon, he's very distant and reluctant to open up to people. He sees the servants as less than human-mere "furniture" there to serve their masters.

Kinzo Ushiromiya[]

Wealthy patriarch of the Ushiromiya family. They say he made a deal with the Golden Witch Beatrice to build his fortune, and later became obsessed with wanting to see her one more time. He seems to despise his family, and may well have created the riddle of the epitaph to force them to fight over the family fortune.

Krauss Ushiromiya[]

Kinzo's oldest son. He's technically first in line to inherit control of the family fortune, but his siblings have consistently questioned his authority and ability. Krauss refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of Beatrice's claim, but seems powerless to stop events from unfolding.

Natsuhi Ushiromiya[]

Krauss's wife. She's deeply committed to maintaining the pride and honor of the Ushiromiya name, to the point that Kinzo would seem to prefer her over Krauss as the leader of the family. Her devotion also, however, causes strife with the other family members.

Eva Ushiromiya[]

Kinzo's eldest daughter. She's always had the desire to take control of the family, and this has caused years of conflict between her, Kinzo, and Krauss. She sees the epitaph as her chance to claim what is rightfully hers, and seems intent on seeing it through to the end.

Rudolf Ushiromiya[]

Kinzo's third child. He has little interest in family leadership, but he's eager to get his share of the family wealth in order to pay off the substantial court settlement from a case he recently lost. He exudes confidence, a trait which has clearly been passed down to his son, Battler.

Hideyoshi Ushiromiya[]

Eva's husband. Their relationship is one of genuine respect-he's tender toward her when she's feeling insecure or vulnerable, but he's also willing to call her out when she thinks she's wrong or out of hand.

Rosa Ushiromiya[]

Kinzo's youngest child. With no ope of ever taking charge of the Ushiromiya family, her main concern is gaining access to her inheritance to resolve her own financial troubles. She's a single mother who spends a lot of time away from home, which has had a lasting effect on her daughter.

Kyrie Ushiromiya[]

Rudolf's wife. Rudolf was originally married to another woman-Asumu, Battler's mother. Kyrie spent years tormented by jealousy, but after Asumu's death, Kyrie finally gained the object of her affection. She's also the one who taught Battler the concept of "turning the chessboard around."

Beatrice[]

The purported Golden Witch and source of all the family's wealth. She apparently gave Kinzo the gold he needed to build his family fortune, and has now returned to reclaim it all. Whether she really is a witch, or perhaps Kinzo's former lover, or his illegitimate child, or something else entirely, one thing we know for certain is that she is at the very heart of this entire mystery.

Genji Ronoue[]

Head servant to the Ushiromiya family. In addition to his general duties managing the island residence, he also acts as Kinzo's personal servant and tristed confidant. He seems unfazed by the murders, but whether that's due to his involvement or simply his iron will remains to be seen.

Terumasa Nanjo[]

Personal doctor for the Ushiromiya family. Due to Kinzo's long-term illness, he and Dr. Nanjo have spent a lot of time together and grown quite close. But despite the doctor's genial demeanor, one has to wonder just how much he knows that he might not be telling the others...

Chiyo Kumasawa[]

The family's top female servant. She's served the Ushiromiyas nearly as long as Genji, and knows nearly as much as he does about them. She seems to believe utterly in the existence of the witch Beatrice, and talks at length about her and the other "evil spirits" on the island.

Toshiro Gohda[]

The family's personal chef. He left a lucrative job at a five-star resort to serve the Ushiromiya family, and he seems to be caught utterly unprepared for what happens on Rokken Island.

The Seven Sisters of Purgatory[]

A group of servans who carry out the murders for each twilight. They each embody one of the seven deadly sins of Christianity, and they tend to carry out their murders according to their individual representation. They are ultimately seen transforming into sharp stakes, which pierce their targets to bring death.

Bernkastel[]

The Witch of Miracles. After having traveled through the fragments of time, Bernkastel appears in Beatrice's meta-world with a desire to become a specttor in her game. She appears to have a contentious past with the witch Lambdadelta, but the details of their relationship aren't totally clear.

Lambdadelta[]

The Witch of Certainty. She tracks Bernkastel to the meta-world and vows to ally herself against her. She also makes her way into the "real" world to act as Eva's sponsor so that Eva can become the next "Golden Witch Beatrice."

Virgilia[]

Former holder of the "Beatrice" title. She was the current Beatrice's magic teacher, but has returned to stand against Beatrice in her game. She offers her help to Battler and regularly gives him useful advice to counter Beatrice's moves.

Eva-Beatrice[]

A subconscious expression of Eva's personality and the newest Golden Witch. She's born when Eva discovers her father's hidden gold making her the official Ushiromiya successor. Beatrice then bestows her title of "Golden Witch Beatrice" onto Eva, giving birth to yet another powerful witch.

Chiester Sisters[]

Eva-Beatrice's powerful servants. When the Seven Sisters of Purgatory fail to meet Eva-Beatrice's expectations, she summons the Chiester Sisters. They favor a high-tech approach to combat, taking the form of highly stylized military types. Chiester 410 is confident and cunning, while Chiester 45 is much more reserved and skittish.