Vyn "Medieval Suspense"/Rewards

Story Summary

This story takes place in Year 1. Vyn is not yet in a relationship with the MC.

The main character attends a "true crime" live-action detective event with Vyn. After changing into medieval-themed costumes, the game begins, and the MC discovers she's the only one who wasn't given a script and character background, since her character - the Lady Viscount - is meant to have amnesia. She's introduced to the case: The mansion's owner, the old Duke, was killed after last night's banquet. She also meets the five other players: the victim's adopted son and heir, played by Vyn, the Young Duke; the MC's character's father, the Viscount; the Duchess; the Butler; and the Doctor. Vyn takes control of the unruly group of players and directs them to start investigating. As everyone splits off to search the suspects' rooms, Vyn and the MC leave together to search the crime scene.

On their way to the victim's study, Vyn reveals that the MC was found unconscious next to the victim before being carried back to her room by Vyn. Upon arrival, they note the room is filled with lilies, and there's a magic circle of alchemical sigils painted around the body, as well as occult symbols of the elements. Vyn notes that the death was not fully investigated because the Vatican's investigator feared the involvement of black magict. Vyn and the MC's examination of the body (a mannequin) reveals the likely cause of death is a small stab wound near the heart. The two split up and search the suspects' rooms; the MC finds that Vyn has been researching anatomy despite attending a monastery school in an era with strong taboos on the subject.

With the time limit on the first investigation period having run out, Vyn leads the others in a discussion of what evidence has been found so far; while no one is eliminated as a suspect, the MC is deemed most suspicious, with the Doctor player producing a black knife that he'd removed from the body that's reliably determined to have belonged to the MC. Vyn counters by producing the Doctor's alchemy notebook, which includes the magic circle drawn under the body, before going on to point out suspicious clues and motives found in each of the others' rooms. Deadlocked, all but the Doctor agree to let the MC serve as a detective due to the impartiality granted by her amnesia.

New areas are opened for investigation, and once they are alone, the MC confronts Vyn about his research; Vyn gives an impassioned speech against the church that the MC notes seem like his real-life feelings rather than just his character's. Vyn and the MC ask the Doctor for more information about alchemy, but the Doctor's high opinions of the practice sparks an intense disagreement between him and Vyn.

A scream is heard from another part of the mansion; the Viscount and Duchess run to the MC, stating the scene ahead is "way too scary" and begging her to investigate for them. Vyn leads her to a secret dungeon containing chains, alchemical sigils, and gruesome messages on the walls.

Back in the Duke's study, a diary is found revealing the Duke had once been in love with a nun but was forced to leave her due to her vows, which she was later burned alive for having violated. The Duke became obsessed with resurrecting her, marrying common women who looked like his old lover and using them as sacrifices in rituals, a process which Vyn had been forced to grow up around. The diary also reveals that the MC looks just like the Duke's old lover, implying that she's the child of the Duke and the nun and that her birth was the reason her mother was killed. The MC draws the conclusion that the Duke was going to sacrifice the MC in another ritual, and that she must have murdered him in self-defense.

Breaking character, the MC tells Vyn to accuse her at the trial and that she doesn't mind letting him win with his great acting skills; Vyn reveals that he's not acting and that his real-life background is fairly similar to his character's. Observing her distress about whether to lie at the trial, Vyn offers her another option: since the victim was evil and the murder was justified, Vyn will help the MC pin the crime on the Doctor and win the game. However, during the discussion, the MC sees a lily pattern under his brooch which, as the divine flower of the Vatican, doesn't fit with his hatred of the church. This alters her assessment of the evidence gathered so far; she refuses his invitation and leaves Vyn alone in the study. At the trial, the MC accuses Vyn of murdering the Duke by contact poison of the ritual items.

As the trial continues, the MC backs up her accusation by noting the knife is supposed to be silver and has blackened due to contact with the poison that was already in the Duke's body when he was stabbed. When Vyn questions what motive he could have had for the murder, the MC reveals that she's realized the two of them were lovers prior to her amnesia, having gotten to know each other while Vyn attended the monastery school, and that Vyn killed the old Duke to protect her from becoming a sacrifice. Vyn is arrested and confesses, and the game ends as the host announces the other five characters' unhappy but mostly peaceful fates and sends the players on their way.

After dinner and a walk, Vyn and the MC discuss the ending of the game; Vyn reveals that there was an alternate ending written where the Young Duke and Lady Viscount got a happy ending if the invitation to pin the crime on the Doctor had been accepted. Vyn asks how she feels about this ending; either choice sees the MC state that people can't be allowed to get away with their crimes.

Illustrations

"Crime Scene"This was the "crime scene" in the game of "Real Crime." Lying in a magic circle of blood, the fake body, covered up by a black sheet, was surrounded by sacrificial offerings representing the four basic elements: wind, fire, water, and earth.

Embroidered ScarfIn the game of "Real Crime," the only "clue" found on Vyn's character: the embroidered pattern on his scarf symbolizing something that his character hated. It became the irrefutable evidence that proved his identity.

Silver BladeThis was the "murder weapon" in the game of "Real Crime." This silver blade with a dark hilt was a stark contrast to the blood stains on it.

Video Call

Video Call		Vyn: Medieval Suspense (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Vyn: I hope I did not bother you for calling you this suddenly.

Vyn: Glad to hear. A student of mine gave me two tickets for an escape room game. Would you be interested?

Vyn: Again? Right. The tickets for the Love Street's one hundred year anniversary were also gifts from my students.

Vyn: You did great that time. Everyone was amazed that you won the first time.

Vyn: No need to be modest. The credit is all yours. You led everyone to victory.

Vyn: Me? My losing a game meant you winning so much more. It is worth it.

Vyn: A good actor...? What do you mean?

Vyn: So you do not believe that I am willing to lose the game for you...

Vyn: Wanting you to win is genuine. My performance during the game is also genuine... to a certain degree.

Vyn: Thank you for your compliments. But it was not all acting.

Vyn: Maybe it was because there are many similarities between the character and myself...

Vyn: Would you be more interested in knowing more about me if I said that?

Vyn: You do not need to answer me now... I can wait.

Vyn: So, may I invite you to join me in the escape room?

Vyn: Great. I look forward to finding out the truth about the story with you.

Story Locations

Stellis Long Beach
Castle Corridor

Stellis Long Beach
Waiting Room

Stellis Long Beach
Courtroom

Stellis Long Beach
Duke's Study

Stellis Long Beach
Victorian District Street

Story Characters

Vyn Richter

Vyn Richter

Doctor Player

Viscount Player