Kogan no Mouten 1

For imangascans

I haven't translated any mystery series before, so it's cool to have this opportunity~ The series felt a little like Death Note to me, mostly because of the characters, I think. I like the villain, he seems so awesomely evil. XD

Also, thank you to WorldCon for agreeing to work with me on this! :D

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1.

Otaro: Pleased to meet you, my name is Otaro Okonogi. // I am an assistant inspector working for division one of the search team.

--

Otaro: I’ll get straight to the point. // On the 3rd of August / the drowned body of a man was found in the lake.

--

Otaro: The perpetrator of this crime is Akihito Ashikuni, manager of the boarding house. // He faked the victim’s footprints and controlled the incident, planning the perfect crime.

Text: A mistake in the perfect crime?

Otaro: However, he made six mistakes in executing the crime.

2.

Otaro: Can you find out // what those mistakes were?

Text 1: Chapter 1 - Plan

Text 2: Find the mistakes the perpetrator made!

3.

Text 1: A classic mystery begins serialisation!

Text 2: Kogan no Mouten (The Lakeside Blind Spot)

Text 3: Otaro Okonogi’s Incident Register

Text 4:
Original work & General Editor: Tennosuke Shouyado
Artist: Seri Hayama

4.

[No text]

5.

Box 1: A few hours before

Box 2:
2nd of August, 3.53pm
Ayabuchitei Boarding House

[SFX] slam

Box 3:
Ayabuchitei Manager
Akihito Ashikuni

6.

Akihiko: It’s beautiful…

Box 1: Kagami Lake

Box 2: I live here as the manager of Ayabuchitei and I never get tired of seeing this scene everyday.

Box 3: This scenery is special to me.

7.

Kids: Sensei! // That’s amazing, sensei! / This is the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful lake!

In panel: Ahaha

Box 1:
Uota Sports Club Instructor
Urara Uyama

Box 2: My parents have passed away now, but I came here when I was young.

8.

Text 1: These children are like me. They’re creating new memories at Kagami Lake and learning to love nature.

Text 2: I want this lake to stay as it is for the sake of children now and in the future.

Text 3: But for that to happen

Text 4: There is a man who cannot be allowed to live.

Box:
Inuzuka Resort Chief
Isaku Inuzuka

9.

Box 1: 7 years ago, Lake Kagami was on the verge of dying.

Box 2: The water was stagnated with oil and the lakeside became a mountain of rubbish.

Box 3: Abandoned cranes were damaged by being turned upside down and / many creatures were killed by the gasoline that poured out.

Box 4: Overnight, a mountain of industrial waste formed in the shallows.

10.

Box 1: Lake Kagami had been called the “mirror like lake”

Akihiko: …..

Box 2: but now it was ridiculed and called the “black lake”.

Box 3: The company responsible for the illegal dumping was ordered to deal with it, but they went bankrupt before the environment could recover.

Box 4: The public office gave up managing the lake because of its location.

Text: The lake was abandoned…

11.

Box 1: Using the team of people I formed at university, I appealed to many organisations regarding the terrible disaster at the lake.

Box 2: But what I got back was…

Akihiko: Damn it!

Man: Ashikuni…it was no good again?

12.

Akihiko: Everyone talks about the law and the money involved… // Well, that is natural…

Man: Hey, Ashikuni… // Isn’t it about time you gave up too?

Box 1: It’s no good, whoever I rely on.

Box 2: All I can do is save the lake by myself.

13.

Akihiko: I’ll try, even if I have to do it myself! // I’ll even give my life for it!

Text:
Everything is for Lake Kagami…
To get the beautiful lake back…

Box 1: There was no way that a single person could do anything about the lake that the public organisations had given up on.

Box 2: The money I was pouring into it all dried up.

14.

Box 1: I was in massive debt

Box 2: and that was my limit.

Akihiko: Mom… / Dad…

Isaku: Are you Ashikuni-kun?

15.

Text 1: The one who offered their hand to me that time

Text 2: was Inuzuka.

16.

Isaku: I’m from Inuzuka Resort Development…

Paper:
Inuzuka Resort Development Corporation
Representative Director
Isaku Inuzuka

Akihiko: It can’t be…a resort, here?

Isaku: Don’t misunderstand… // Up until now, I’ve used nature to make money. / Now that I’m nearing sixty, I’ve realised my mistake. // Even I have a kind heart.

17.

Isaku: That’s why I’m going to help you.

Akihiko: Thank you!

Text: The situation changed completely.

Box 1: He bought up the land surrounding Lake Kagami and removed everything that had been dumped at the lakeside.

Box 2: He replaced the dirty mud and requested help from the university to research a way of improving the water quality.

Box 3: Then, in the fourth spring…

[SFX] splash

18.

Text 1: Lake Kagami

Text 2: came back to life.

19.

Isaku: Ashikuni-kun / Lake Kagami is more beautiful than you think. // Keeping it to ourselves is unforgivable. // What do you think of the plan?

Akihiko: Inuzuka-san…it’s true that your assistance was a great help to me… / But that was so that the lake could be preserved beautifully for future generations… // You didn’t do it as a foundation for developing a resort, did you?

20.

Isaku: Hmm / I see you’re against it. // Then I have no choice. // I am the named owner of this land, I won’t allow any complaints. // I’ll build a hotel on my land, / using my money.

21.

Akihiko: Inuzuka-san!

Isaku: I thought you’d cooperate… / That’s unfortunate.

Akihiko: He… // A hotel?! Go build one! // If there are more people, there’ll be people who carelessly throw trash away… // And Lake Kagami will go back to how it was…

22.

Text 1: I won’t let you do that…

Text 2: I’ll kill anyone who pollutes the lake!

23.

Text 1: After that, I thought up a detailed plan.

Text 2: I would carry the plan out tonight.

Text 3: One of the keys to the plan is that it will rain tonight.

Text 4: The rain will naturally wash away fingerprints and footprints.

Box 1: The police may wonder whether it is an accident or murder,

Box 2: but I’ll use Inuzuka’s drinking problem to make it look like an accident…

24.

Text 1: One more thing is footprints…

Text 2: Since I thought up this plan, I’ve memorised and practiced Inuzuka’s way of walking.

Text 3: Now, my imitation is practically perfect.

Text 4: It was lucky that the car broke down yesterday and is leaking gasoline.

Text 5: The gasoline mixed with the dirt should leave a clear footprint.

Akihiko: Will it raise suspicion if the evidence is too obvious…?

25.

Text 1: No, it’ll be fine…

Text 2: Police are attracted to easy information.

Text 3: I’m sure they’ll come to the conclusion that Inuzuka’s death was an accident.

Box 1: What will be trouble is what society will think. They’ll probably make a fuss over articles discussing a company president’s suspicious death.

Box 2: Rumours lead to further rumours…I might spend days feeling their cold stares.

26.

Text 1: Even if that isn’t the case, will I be able to stand it?

Text 2: Will I be able to take a human’s life with my own hands and act as if nothing happened?

Text 3: I’m sure it won’t be easy…

Text 4: But, even so…

Text 5: Only he…Inuzuka…

Text 6: can’t be allowed to live…

Text 7: That’s right.

27.

Text 1: If it’s going to protect the lake, then I’m not afraid of losing anything.

Text 2: I’ll do anything.

Text 3: I’m sure I’ll succeed…I’ve checked the plan again and again.

Text 4: I’ve even simulated all the responses the police could make.

Text 5: There aren’t any loopholes…

Urara: What are you thinking about with such a scary look on your face?

28.

Akihiko: Ah… / It’s you, Uyama-san… // You surprised me.

Urara: Ahaha… / Sorry for disturbing you while you were thinking… // Could it be / that you’re worried about something?

Akihiko: No, I was just thinking about the evening preparations. / Inuzuka-san’s coming over today, you see.

Urara: Inuzuka-san…I’m sure he’s that guy in the red canoe…

Akihiko: Yes

29.

Urara: Well, about that… // For some reason… / I don’t really like him…

Akihiko: Please don’t say that kind of thing. He’s my benefactor and I feel indebted to him.

Urara: Really?

Akihiko: It was Inuzuka-san who helped me save the lake and spoke to the sports club about jobs.

30.

Akihiko: Anyway, how are the kids doing? It’s quite cold today.

Kids: It’s a fish! // Where?

Urara: [Ahaha] They don’t seem to mind that. All they normally do is swimming practice, so it’s probably new to them.

---

Urara: It’s not just that. // This lake is really beautiful, it feels good just looking at it. / That’s probably what they’re excited about. // It’s thanks to you that the lake was able to be like this.

31.

Akihiko: By the way, Uyama-san…was there something you wanted?

Urara: Ah, sorry. Hmm…I’m going to clear up soon, so could you help me?

Akihiko: …Of course.

Box 1: When the clay-like dirt all over Lake Kagami gets wet it becomes really slippery.

Box 2: To prevent anyone accidentally falling over because of the mud, a brick path was built.

Box 3: The path only leads to two places, from Ayabuchitei to the pier and from the pier to the storehouse.

Box 4: If you walk all around the lake, you won’t find another surface like it.

Diagram:

[the top, largest building] Ayabuchitei

[the square building nearby] Storehouse

[rectangular shape] Pier

[inside the circle] Lake Kagami

[left side] Tamano River

[bottom] Kiyomi River

32.

Text 1: However, as a result, these two paths form one part of the plan.

Text 2: Tonight’s rain won’t just erase any proof, it’ll make the lakeside wet, providing definite conditions for footprints to be left.

Text 3: Using this will create a “secret room” at the lake.

Box 1: The only pier at Lake Kagami is 3 metres wide and 20 metres long.

Box 2: It has a roof, so even if it rains, the canoes don’t get wet.

33.

Text 1: Only Inuzuka’s footprints will be on the pier, and he’ll climb into the canoe.

Text 2: Then he’ll sink in the south western part of the lake.

Akihiko: If Inuzuka’s footprints are the only ones on the pier, then the police can be lead to reason that he was the only one who used a canoe. / Then if my footprints aren’t on the pier, they’ll reason that I couldn’t have been in the south western part of the lake. / Combining those two deductions… // There’s no way I’ll be suspected!

34.

Urara: Okay…we’re going to clean up now! Is that okay? / Make sure to do what you’re told!

Akihiko: The canoes are heavy, so put them away without overdoing it! You can just leave the nearest ones out here. There weren’t used, so there’s no need to dry them. // And…

---

Akihiko: There’s a pool of gasoline on the side of the path leading to the storehouse. // You’ll get dirty if you fall in it, so be careful.

Box 1: I don’t care which canoe is used in tonight’s plan.

Box 2: However, a few canoes have to be left out, otherwise Inuzuka taking a canoe and drowning would seem unnatural.

35.

Akihiko: There’s no way Inuzuka could carry a canoe alone if he was drunk… // Well…

Kid: Shall I help carry it too?

Akihiko: Stay back a little… / The water will splash, you see.

36.

Kids: Wow! // But you’re all wet, mister!

Akihiko: Haha! It’s okay, even if they get wet, these clothes will dry soon!

37.

Text 1: There’s not one dry spot…

Text 2: So all unnecessary footprints should have disappeared…

Text 3: No one stepped in the gasoline either…

Text 4: I poured a little gasoline out, adding to what had already leaked from the car.

Text 5: It’s more than enough.

38.

Text 1: There are stones spread all over the storehouse floor.

Text 2: This floor will also play a part in the crime.

Text 3: There won’t be any footprints left on these round pebbles.

Text 4: They’re so uneven, that distinguishing the footprints would be impossible.

Urara: That really helped, thanks a lot.

39.

Akihiko: It’s okay, this is part of my job too. // Will there be any more groups coming after this?

Urara: No, there shouldn’t be any more today. // I was thinking of taking it easy and riding on a canoe after this.

[SFX] shut

Urara: If you don’t have any work, let’s go together.

40.

Akihiko: Uyama-san…you’ll be here next week, won’t you?

Urara: Yes, it’ll be a different class though. / Do you remember the energetic boys from last year? // The boys who started trying to throw the paddles, remember?

Akihiko: Ah, those kids.

Urara: Everyone’s excited, saying they’ll beat you in a canoe race this year!

Akihiko: I’m looking forward to that! / Ah…

41.

Akihiko: Excuse me…

Boy: Ah…

42.

Akihiko: The beautiful lake…

Boy: Uh…

43.

Akihiko: Sorry I kept you waiting.

Urara: I’m… / sorry. // I gave that to him before we got here.

Akihiko: I told him he had to make sure to throw trash away… // But he’s just a kid, so it can’t be helped. // I’m sorry… // I’m probably being too sensitive about it.

44.

Akihiko: I don’t want to see Lake Kagami get dirty. // That’s why even this small paper wrapper bothers me. / It’s an illness… // But… // I think the reason people can watch the lake get dirty is because their hearts are unclean too. / You can’t pretend not to notice even a little trash.

45.

Box: All the preparations are complete…

46.

Text 1: It’s a perfect plan.

Text 2: I’ll definitely make it succeed

Text 3: for Lake Kagami!

Text 4: He’s got the perfect plan, but…