As we slowly came to our senses after the appalling spectacle that had just unfolded before our eyes, Ryo began a meticulous inspection of the surroundings. His inscrutable face betrayed no emotion, as if he were conducting a secret investigation in the shadows.
All the while, a voice rose among us, bringing our thoughts back to the final moments of those who had just perished.
"Say. Is it true what he said? Like one of us orchestrated all this?"
"Are you kidding me? Who would do such a thing!"
"That's nonsense, he just said that because he got caught up in the emotions and didn't want to die."
A lively debate ensued, with everyone trying to defend themselves and shift the blame onto other shoulders. Voices rose in a confused tumult, expressing both fear and anger at this inextricable situation. Some argued vehemently that none of us could have been cruel enough to plan such atrocities, while others remained silent, lost in their own tormented thoughts.
As the arguments criss-crossed in a whirlwind of words, desperate to dispel the veil of uncertainty that enveloped the scene, Ryo chose this moment to intervene in this verbal battle.
His voice, icy and implacable, pierced the ambient tumult as he unveiled a disturbing revelation.
"After checking, I can confirm it. Food was deliberately placed on the ground that had been subjected to the explosion."
His words, laden with brutal truth, sounded like a thunderclap in the midst of the heated debate, casting a harsh light on the circumstances of the incident.
The impact of his words was immediate and devastating. A shockwave rippled through the assembly, fueling the flames of the debate that had already reached its climax.
"That means... That it's definitely the work of one of us."
Faces contorted with surprise and suspicion, each turning to his companions with a mixture of distrust and disbelief. Accusations flew, stares hardened, and chaos intensified as the true import of this revelation began to sink into everyone's mind.
As tensions continued to rise, the already electric atmosphere was suddenly torn apart by one person's insulting shout at another.
"You're nothing but trash anyway! Since the dawn of time you've always brought us trouble!"
"But... I meant well."
The poisonous words, laden with anger and resentment, split the air like sharp blades, further disturbing the precarious calm that reigned in the assembly.
But what followed was far more appalling. A survivor, visibly affected by the insults, suddenly froze, his gaze reflecting unspeakable terror as a mysterious notice appeared before his eyes. No one could read its contents, but the terror that seized him as he read it was palpable. A gleam of dread lit up his dilated eyes, revealing the ominous portent contained in the message. Death, merciless and inevitable, was at his doorstep.
"What? This... It can't be! Help..."
Before he could react, a bolt of red lightning tore through the silence, the relentless detonator of impending tragedy. The victim's head was blown off in an explosion of macabre violence, spattering blood and flesh into the air already tainted with tension and terror. A collective scream of horror escaped the lips of the witnesses, freezing everyone in a state of shock and disbelief at the unspeakable horror that had just unfolded before their eyes. Red blood splattered all around, adding a macabre layer to a scene already tinged with horror.
"What happened? Why did he die?"
"Hano, did you kill him?!"
"But... But no, I swear, I didn't even touch him!"
The oppressive silence that followed was broken by Kaisho's intervention. His voice echoed through the fright-filled air, drawing the attention of the bewildered crowd.
"Wait!"
Kaisho spoke confidently, his words resonating with clarity despite the palpable tension.
"When we first learned about the HP bar, I noticed this characteristic... "
He then explained the discovery he had just made concerning the life bar, the mysterious mechanism that governed their existence in this unforgiving world.
"It's called 'Sensitivity'. At first I didn't really know what it was, but now, after the tragedy that has just unfolded before our eyes, I'm convinced... You can also lose a life point if you're emotionally affected by something!"
The puzzled gazes of the assembly landed on Kaisho, absorbing his words with an attention mingled with incredulity. The revelation of this new facet of the life bar caused a wave of shock and bewilderment among those present, realizing that even emotions could be fatal in this unforgiving universe.
"So, that means if I insult you," said one person, looking at his friend.
Kaisho's announcement opened a breach in the fragile balance that remained among the participants. Some, aware of the shortcoming of having increased fragility, seemed already to be hatching devious plans to exploit this new vulnerability in others. Their sly smiles betrayed their intentions, revealing a dark, ruthless side to their nature.
Faced with this growing threat, Ishikawa wisely intervened, seeking to ease tensions and bring spirits together.
"Stop! Those who think they can't resist it, cover your ears!"
He invited the most vulnerable to protect themselves by plugging their ears, a proposal imbued with common sense and solidarity.
"Instead of giving in to panic or engaging in infighting, we'd do better to look together for solutions to this new reality"
Kaisho nodded in agreement, recognizing the need for a collective approach to this emerging threat.
"I agree with you, if we go on like this we'll all die. Besides..."
In a designating gesture, he pointed to one person in particular, implicitly emphasizing his crucial role in resolving this dilemma. All eyes converged on the designated person, awaiting his or her action or contribution to the quest for solutions.
"There's only one person who can do this, and that's you Bun!"
Everything froze around me as stares converged, heavy and accusatory. The weight of their judgment fell on my shoulders, already hunched with anxiety, and I began to tremble under the suffocating pressure. The scrutinizing gazes seemed to penetrate to the very depths of my being, revealing my deepest fears and darkest doubts.
"Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Look, is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "Is it him?" "No, him!" "Is it him?" "Is it him?"
Kaisho advanced with conviction, drawing accusations against me that echoed in the crowd's tense silence.
"Remember that Bun. He was the one who told us about the life point bar, who knew how to cook those monsters he handed me, I'm even sure he anticipated the clue. And to top it all off... He solved the riddle first!"
He recounted my past actions, pointing out my alleged efforts to rally Ishikawa to my cause.
"I also saw him arguing with poor Ishikawa. He tried to win him over, but Ishikawa valiantly refused his ideas."
His words pounded the air, creating an atmosphere charged with hostility and distrust.
"Really?"
"So he had it all planned..."
The theory I'd propagated about the potentially dangerous terrain was now turned against me, transformed into proof of my presumed guilt.
Threatening murmurs arose among the members of the assembly, fueled by suspicion and concern. The burning stares became more insistent, and I felt myself overcome by a wave of panic. The veiled threats that escaped the lips of some sounded like ominous warnings, testifying to the growing hostility towards me.
"That guy's an asshole"
"Can you believe he tried to kill us!"
"How can his teammates hang out with a person like that."
Amid the tumult of accusations and threats, Saé bravely stood up to defend my honor.
"You misunderstand, Bun isn't like that! If he wanted to, he could have said nothing about the hit point bar, but he did it to help you."
Her words echoed through the surrounding chaos, trying to dispel the clouds of suspicion gathering around me. She asserted forcefully that I was not the kind of person to be accused, appealing to the reason and compassion of the other participants.
As the tension reached its peak, an unexpected figure made his entrance.
"Good. We're going to solve this problem my way."
"Who is this guy? Where did he come from?"
"My name is Yuguchi Kokan, I was a judge before this world fell into ruin. If you don't mind, I can take over this Bun's judgment."
His authority and apparent calm brought a touch of order to the chaos that reigned, offering a glimmer of hope in the turmoil.
All eyes were now on Yuguchi Kokan, awaiting his decision. His intervention marked the beginning of a process of clarification and justice, designed to reveal the truth behind the accusations against me.