Challenge To The Reader

Now, I trust that my wise readers have already discerned the truth behind this incident. However, I would like to take the liberty of formally issuing a challenge to you all.

The content of the challenge is simple:

“Who is the culprit?”

For this particular case, you do not need to prove it with absolute physical evidence. To be more precise, I would like you to answer the following:

“How was the crime committed, and who is the individual with a rational motive to have carried it out?”

This case takes place under extremely unique circumstances, involving a complex web of the various characters’ ulterior motives. Therefore, you do not need to deduce every single detail of the incident. Please focus your reasoning on the points mentioned above.

Naturally, all the necessary clues have already appeared within the story thus far. I sincerely hope you will provide a brilliant answer and solve this case.

To ensure this challenge remains fair, the following premises are provided for your deduction:

-In this story, the protagonist, Van, is a “reliable narrator.” This means he is not hallucinating, he does not have a split personality, and he is not the culprit.

-The culprit is someone whose name appears in the character introductions. In other words, “The Shadow does not exist.”

-The “crimes” in question refer to the murders of Brad, Mora, Hunt, and Kijiitsu. You do not need to concern yourself with other incidents.

-As is a natural conclusion given the development of the story, the fact that a character died during the narrative does not prove their innocence.

-No advanced technology beyond what has been described or mentioned in the story is used.

-The culprit does not use any special abilities or skills that have not been described or mentioned. This applies to Holy Relics as well; no undescribed relic powers are utilized.

-Unless described or mentioned otherwise, the physical laws of the story’s world follow those of the real world.

-Magic in this world is subject to the limitations described or mentioned; it is not omnipotent.

-Deducing the motive is not strictly necessary, though it may serve as a hint in identifying the culprit.

-The beginning scene of this arc serves as a hint.

-A type of narrative trick (unreliable presentation) exists.