This is the Hifuu Detective Agency: Case 8 - Subterranean Animism

by That-which-isn't

The 8th book in the Hifuu Detective Agency series. Events have been set in motion that are slowly raising the pressure in Gensokyo. When a mastermind's scheme threatens to boil over to the surface, threatening to release a stream of vengeful spirits into Gensokyo, it falls to Renko and Merry to get to the literal bottom of things, as the Hifuu Club descends into Former Hell.

39. Challenge

[A Challenge to the Reader]

And so, once again, we've come to the end of a lengthy list of questions and to your role in this mystery, dear reader. Will you pit your imagination against the great detective's? If you wish to, I advise you to once again consider the question I asked at the very beginning of this book: 'For whom did Renko's deductions provide an unexpected answer?'

Let your mind run wild and see what kind of theories you can come up with to connect some or all of the seemingly disparate events of this case. However, if any of you find that you can truly match her delusions of grandeur on your first try, you should give serious consideration to seeking the help of a professional counsellor.

For those of you who, like me, have not even the faintest glimmer of a theory at this point or for those whose minds are too full of countless possibilities to settle on any one definite idea, let me give you a little hint:

The story of the disciples of Byakuren Hijiri has little to do with the events of this Incident. It is not completely unrelated, of course, or I wouldn't have included in this book, but you can safely ignore them and the question of the unidentified youkai associated with them when trying to understand how all of the other events are connected.

The only other hint I can give you is to remind you once again that in Gensokyo perception has power. Many of the previous casebooks were stories in which, according to my partner at least, someone attempted to change some aspect of the nature of Gensokyo or some element within it by affecting public perception. This story is no different in that regard, though I can't tell you who is trying to change what beliefs or to what end, of course.

As it is, I feel that I may, perhaps, already have given out too many clues. Knowing the conclusion that Renko came to already as I do, it is difficult for me to guess just what level of deduction you might be able to pull from these stories that I have written. If you manage to come up with anything at all, then you're doing better than I was at this point. I can assure you, however, that having talked with Renko extensively after the fact, all of the facts and elements which lead her to her solution are found within this text as well. All that is lacking to reach to the same distant shores of fantasy as you will find Renko on is the will to throw common sense to the side and that one spark of genius or madness that so uniquely animates her.

And so, I ask you once again, dear reader. Will you pit your fantasies against those of Renko Usami? If the answer is yes, then you need only answer this question:

What is the true nature of the Vengeful Spirit Incident?