A Place to Return to

I agree that this black book is the most likely cause behind the doppelganger incidents.

It doesn't really feel that way.

Not necessarily before any warning signs, but if something has the potential to become a disaster...

Us Observers are usually the first ones to act based on the observed data.

We never observed any indicators pointing toward a disaster in Candle Square.

Candle Square has never experienced anything close to a disaster before though, right? Haha.

And that's probably thanks to the excellent Master Maid keeping things under control.

All I'm doing is carrying on the work established by the former Master Maid.

My instincts are usually right. Occasionally in the most inconvenient ways possible.

Of course, I'm still taking this matter seriously.

I'm merely speculating that this isn't a disaster-level threat. The situation is still unusual.

We'll take this black book and examine it ourselves. Sound good?

*Sigh*... Damn it.

We'll move out at once. Get the team ready.

Could you keep the book safe until I return?

Sorry for barging in like this.

If anything, we're the ones who owe you our gratitude.

As requested, I'll make sure the book remains sealed as it is.

...Alright. Let's move out.

They practically bolted out of here. They looked terrified.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to ask for details...

It looks like the investigation will be delayed until they come back.

So that's the black book, huh.

That's about as pitch-black as a book can get.

I tried to open it again before Ms. Roberta arrived, but it still wouldn't budge.

We'd make much faster progress if only we knew what's written inside.

...Wait.

This can't be...

Since then, it's been stored in my office vault.

It's sealed with a spell from the Rhys family.

The seal isn't that old either. Less than five years old, I'd say.

So that creepy book was the source of it all.

It's a sealing method unique to the Rhys family.

It's designed so only the caster can break it. Think of it like a lock.

Assuming the book's owner and caster are the same person, then this book might belong to someone from the Rhys family.

But when Ms. Carnelia disappeared, no such book was found among her possessions.

If this belongs to her, why would it appear only now? What could be written inside?

This book is likely the key to everything that's happening.

We don't even know what's written inside.

Considering the risks, it would be better to open it with Orbital Search Team 3 present—

She literally showed up right in front of us.

Which means we should find out why she showed up that way.

And if there's a reason, don't you want to know what made her like that?

More than anyone else. But...

I felt the same way before I left for Aganon.

I wanted nothing more than to see my dear sister again...

At the same time, I was... afraid.

I don't care if this book doesn't belong to Carnelia.

Now that I know my family's involved, I'm not going to sit around doing nothing.

Even if you tell me not to, I'm doing it. So there's no use trying to stop—

I can't let my personal feelings keep me from handling an important matter.

And, I truly want to know...

...as for who Ms. Carnelia truly was.

Please, Bell.

Here it goes.

I should be able to break the seal in no time.

...Huh? What?

What is going on—

Gah...!

Ugh, errgh...!

What the...?! Some kind of weird force, I...

Claire, watch out!

Claire! Listen carefully! This book—

...Bell...

Bell?!

What just happened? Where's Bell?

Just what in the world is—

...Ms. Carnelia?