Chapter 15: Time for the Next Question

(5 hours later)

Group 1 student: Any luck?

Group 2 student: Nope.

Group 1 student: We have searched every place possible.

Group 2 student: I am so tired from all this running.

Group 1 student: But we have to keep searching.

The groups split up again. They continue their search. Group 2 finds a question in the computer lab.

Mysterious voice: Congratulations! You have found the next question. You have 30 minutes to find the answer. The answer to the question will be the password to open the computer.

Student 1: 'After you go through a fall, I will take over. All life will stall, or at least grow slower. What am I?'

Student 2: What kind of question is that?

Mr. Jinta: Hmm, after you go through a fall, I take over. What is that?

Student 3: Does it mean, like, when we fall from somewhere?

Student 2: Then death will take over!

Student 1: Guys, stop it! We should focus on this question now.

Mr. Jinta: I think fall refers to autumn in this question.

Student 2: But how does fall refer to autumn?

Student 1: It means autumn because fall is another word for autumn.

Student 3: So that means after you go through autumn, something comes.

Mr. Jinta: And that 'something' causes life to stall or at least grow slower.

Student 1: WINTER!" The answer is winter!

Student 3: How is it winter?

Student 1: After fall, winter comes, and because of winter, the vegetation, which is referred to as life, stops or grows slower.

Mr. Jinta: That makes sense. Quick, type in the answer!

They finally unlock the computer, only to find a picture of a dead Manami tied to a wall, with hungry rats feeding on her skin, eating her up bit by bit.

Mysterious voice: You have succeeded in finding the answer, but you have taken more than the allocated time. I expect more from elite students. Aren't you supposed to be smart? But unfortunately, those who pass are not necessarily smart, am I right?

Sol: What does he mean by that? We studied hard to get into this competition.

Tanjiro: Not all of us studied hard, you know. I think he means that some have cheated. But how does he know?

Both of them start wondering if the killer is in any way related to the school, but they come back to reality upon hearing Mr. Jinta's voice.