In the following pages, translation by ChatGPT.
Title: “The Banquet of Ephemeral Sheep”
Author: Honobu Yonezawa
I found every story fascinating!
Warning: Spoilers ahead!
Each story carried a slightly dark atmosphere, didn’t it? While I love tales involving everyday mysteries and detectives unraveling them, these darker narratives are also quite appealing! And the twist endings in each story were immensely enjoyable!
“In Misfortune among Kin”
The idea that something dreadful could happen while one is asleep is terrifying. To kill someone just to avoid staying overnight… and even a beloved servant at that. If staying overnight was that undesirable, one could have simply refused… However, for Fūko, the lack of a choice and going to the extent of murder suggests her values align more with “attending overnight out of obligation > committing murder”. Considering her willingness to kill, Fūko’s future seems ominous…
“The Sinner of the Northern Mansion”
Sōtarō knew! The detail about Amari wearing purple gloves… it was a hint towards them eventually turning red. “A murderer bears red hands.” What a well-crafted story. And there were more clues left behind! The painting of the siblings in the main house had hair mixed in with it, perhaps deliberately… Will Eiko realize the significance of Amari’s painting? If she doesn’t, seeing as she looks at Amari’s painting, she might be killed to keep her silent…
“Secrets of the Mountain Villa”
I thought “keeping one’s mouth shut” implied murder, but it was bribery! And here I was, thinking the strange meat was Ochi’s… It was all a mislead! The lengths gone to deceive guests for their visit bordered on madness.
“The Honor of Tamano Isuzu”
Did Isuzu act unknowingly or deliberately? While she was following her father’s orders, did she develop a bond with Sumika after spending time together? Was it really her father’s orders that initiated their friendship? The cold manner in which she was dismissed might have been a strategy to prevent any suspicion of their relationship. Despite being unable to cook, Isuzu, once recognized by the grandmother, being relegated to merely burning trash seems odd… The disappearance of the poisoned wine also raises questions. The fact that Isuzu brought it and explained its significance could mean she swapped places with someone else to save Sumika’s life. And then she used the poisoned wine on the grandmother… Is my empathy for Sumika and Isuzu clouding my judgment?
“The Banquet of Ephemeral Sheep”
The term “Amurustan sheep”… terrifying. Upon looking it up, I discovered it referred to human flesh… Did Maruie’s father know? It doesn’t seem like it… It’s a relief her father refused the dish at the banquet… Otherwise, it would have meant witnessing the barbaric act of lips being torn from a person… Gruesome…
I thought the Babel Club was a sinister presence in each story, but that wasn’t the case! It was destroyed not directly by Natsu, but by Maruie’s manipulation. And then, it was revived by someone else. Why was the memoir left behind? It feels like a confession of guilt… According to the reader, the handwriting became more orderly partway through, as if conscious of the reader. Did Maruie want someone to read her memoir out of a guilty conscience? Instead of leaving a memoir, couldn’t she have gone to the police? But perhaps there was no evidence… Still, the disappearance of the Babel Club members during the retreat would have been known by their families, if not by the public. If the memoir were made public, it would likely cause a media stir, potentially aiding an investigation. Or maybe, Maruie didn’t care whether the truth came out or not? By revealing the story of the Amurustan sheep and the hunting ground, she probably sought revenge. Perhaps she wanted someone to know she had achieved her vengeance and didn’t mind if it became known? Or maybe she became apathetic after accomplishing her revenge? Hard to say…
Aha! “Inshitemiru” by Honobu Yonezawa means “to indulge in”! It took reading an explanation by Shomei Chigai to realize it. According to Kotobank:
“Inshite Miru (to indulge)”
- To overdo, to immerse excessively in something like “indulge in wine and women” or “indulge in reading.”
- To act indecently.
Since there were no indecent acts in “Inshitemiru,” it must refer to the first definition: to overdo, to immerse excessively. But in what? Given the closed circle, the prepared Indian dolls, and the murder weapon’s message appealing to mystery enthusiasts, perhaps it’s an indulgence in mystery itself?
Yonezawa’s works are invariably intriguing!