Section 14: Tristan END

...The culprit's only mistake was failing to realize that I was the real detective all along.

And that culprit...is you!

Cut! Good work, everyone.

I'm sorry for stealing your thunder, Tristan...

Not at all... You saved me from a dire predicament.

Hehe... You were my wise, reserved, newly anointed knight with hidden eyes... I may not be Bartholomew, but you've made me very happy nonetheless...

I'm sorry to have been so much trouble for you. I wish I could have been more insightful.

Still, I promise to repay the debt I now owe you. I hope you will call on me the next time you decide to indict Sir Lancelot...

Um, we don't usually go around indicting people for no reason... Not even Lancelot...

I am still vexed about losing my part in the middle of filming! To think that I, Pharaoh Ozymandias, would be reduced to sitting around watching from behind the scenes!

Still, I will admit that this experience has been fairly enjoyable in spite of that.

And since I have been entrusted with other grand events, I suppose I can let the rest of you have the glory in this Singularity.

If you should ever make it to my tomb someday, I will throw you a feast for the ages!

Thank you, Pharaoh Ozymandias. That sounds wonderful!

So now we just check the dailies and see if there's anything we need to reshoot, right?

'Course, I doubt there'll be any reshoots now. Your performance was just that great, missy.

Thank you, Arash.

...All right, I guess you win this one.

But I'm not losing next time, got it? You can count on that, dammit!

I know. I'm looking forward to it.

Indeed, this came out better than I imagined. I think even my queen will be pleased with it.

I'm honored to hear you say so, Salieri.

Great work today, Mash. You really outdid yourself with that performance.

I heartily agree.

Thank you... You're both much too kind.

Oh, how's Murasaki doing? Is she all right?

She's still out cold at the moment, but it should only be a matter of time until she wakes up.

I just hope she does so before we are forced to depart this Singularity.

If anyone would like to join me in paying her a visit, raise your hand!

I'll catch up later.

Is something bothering you, Mash? You seem somewhat restless...

I do?

What about you, Tristan? Is there something else you wanted to do here?

...That almost sounds as though you want me to go away, Mash.

!

So I was right.

Is this what you were looking for?

？！

Then you still haven't realized the truth, Master?

The one behind all of this was none other than your faithful Demi-Servant, Mash!

？！

It's quite clear if you look at the whole case without bias.

The detective character was an outsider lacking a proper backstory. One wrong move, and they could have ended up completely superfluous.

This is why trying to click with the story and build a natural rapport with the other characters was not easy.

And if it was difficult for the detective to stand out, it was even more so for the detective's assistant.

... (Special Description: Mash nodding along eagerly)

(No, no, Mash! You're supposed to sneer wickedly there! Come on, just like I showed you!)

Y-yes! That is correct!

I didn't want to be relegated to the sidelines. I'm Senpai's main Servant, you know!

So when I learned that Murasaki had typecast me as nothing more than a young Servant, with no intention of letting me stand out...

...I mixed the medicine I got from Paracelsus that I'd been saving for just the right occasion into her drink!

(Brava! Your halting delivery makes it seem that much more real!)

I see. So you knew that Murasaki had gone to Paracelsus to get medicine herself.

That's why you thought you could get away with sneaking in your own...

That's right... And it worked. She took it and never suspected a thing.

And when she did...I knew I had won.

Unfortunately for you, your scheme had a major flaw.

You presented the wrapping paper you yourself threw away as evidence, claiming it was proof that Murasaki had taken the medicine of her own accord.

The only problem is that the paper you threw in the trash can didn't have her fingerprints on it.

Furthermore, there was every possibility that your fingerprints were all over it.

Once you realized your oversight, you knew you had to get rid of the evidence.

With Murasaki out of the picture, I was certain I could manipulate you and do whatever I wanted.

And indeed, that's exactly what happened...

Your only mistake, Mash, was failing to realize that my clownish incompetence was merely an act!

？！

Hey! I didn't ask for commentary, I'm being serious here.

...You're right. I underestimated you, Tristan the Great Sleeping Detective. You beat me fair and square.

I'm prepared to accept whatever punishment you deem fit...

Punishment? I think you misunderstood me.

All you did was give Murasaki some medicine to help her feel better.

And when she ended up collapsing, you rallied us all together in her stead and saw this movie through to the end.

Why can't we just leave it at that?

Huh? But, that's not what

As wiser people than I have said, Mash: hate the sin, love the sinner.

Tristan... Thank you...

This has been a fun opportunity. If we do this again, I would love to bring Great Detective Tristan back!

？！

Tristan!