We got involved in a serial killings.
The village that became a hermetic room due to the snow storm.
A serial killer that imitated the legendary Snow Demon.
I'm sure he's among us!
Snow Demon Legend Murder Case - File 2
Akashi-san...
I went to get something from the car,
then I saw something from the snowman.
I poked the snow and I saw...
This is... dry weed? It's pasture.
It's used to feed cows and horses.
Akashi was killed in the stable?
Or did he suicide?
Because he was panic that someone knows that he killed Kano...
If that's the case, he must have left a note nearby before he died.
No.
He's definitely not the one who killed Kano Rie.
If you see from his frozen body here,
he was dead for more than 12 hours.
The time now is 12.10.
That means he was dead before Kano was killed.
It was the Snow Demon.
The Snow Demon is here...
It's the Snow Demon.
It's the Snow Demon...
I want to know your alibi when Kano was killed yesterday,
at 2.02 mid night.
Alright.
I was so tired so I headed back to room and slept right away.
It's true!
I was reading the script for my next task in my room.
Because I'll become the leading actor.
That's why I was on my way to the annex.
Next will be Himuro-san.
Please tell him to come in.
Hajime-chan, are you suspecting anything?
Didn't the killer wreck the camera because he noticed the camera was on?
He was wearing the snow demon mask to cover himself.
Why did he need to wreck the camera after the crime?
That's right.
From the way he wrecked the camera,
he knew that he was recorded by the camera.
Further more, I doubt his action...
It looks like he discovered something and stopped for a moment.
Perhaps he discovered the camera?
Did you figure it out?
Wee-wee! I can't think if I hold back.
Come on.
I'm sorry, Himuro-san.
I was in a hurry, so...
That was fast.
Miyuki, why did Himuro-san dressed up in such a way?
With the mask and the sunglasess on.
You didn't know? It was an accident.
The aircraft accident happened 10 years ago.
Several people were miraculously saved from the plane.
And Himuro-san was one of them.
I seem to have heard of that.
He was severely burned, that's why he dressed up like that.
That is one of the reasons. However, he doesn't like to socialize.
Himuro-san attracted much attention since young because of his talent,
therefore he hates to socialize.
He never appear at any public places.
And he refuse to publish any of his photos in the magazines.
He won't liaise with the art dealers directly too.
Only a few know how Himuro-san looks.
Because of that,
I was surprised to see a self-portrait by Himuro-san himself.
He has beautiful eyes, he sure looks pretty.
Miyuki, that's it!
Where?
It's not that.
When Kano Rie was killed, everybody went to the annex.
I found something was not right at the corridor.
You did mention that.
It was the self-portrait.
The portrait was replaced by other painting.
The self-portrait that you mentioned,
is it this one?
Yes, that's it.
After the Snow Demon killer killed Kano Rie,
He must have took away Himuro's self portrait
because he reckoned it can be sold at a costly price.
No.
So...
The self-portrait was not seen at any other places.
Kyo, stop!
There's nothing there.
The window at the end of the hallway,
That's...
It's the wildfire.
Wildfire?
The wildfire claimed by the villagers.
He was actually right.
Perhaps it was just some light.
Anyway, let's go and have a look.
I have so much things to validate. But...
Before we go...
What's wrong? I don't know.
I'm going to pee!
It was originally the self-portrait by Himuro-san.
I found it strange back then.
It was because of this paint.
Because the self-portrait is smaller than this.
I see.
Way to go, Kindaichi! It's nothing actually.
I'm sure the wildfire was there.
That is... the Back Glacier.
That said,
it was the same direction as what reflected on the hallway window.
The canyon becomes narrow here.
The distant from here to other side is around 5 meter.
Is it possible to get down there?
That's too dangerous.
You'll be dead if you fall from here.
We can tie this to banister.
Kyo!
Ossan, let's go! Okay!
I've made it clear before, I'm not your subordinate.
The current is faster than I thought.
Help!
What are you doing? I really can't stand you.
What is this young idol thinking?
That's why woman is a two-faced creature.
I came down purposely to help you guys!
Sorry.
It's okay, don't worry.
Hajime-chan!
What are you doing?
Hajime-chan, get serious now!
I'm being serious now.
Miyuki is jealous.
Hajime-chan, stop drawling. Make it quick and come up faster!
Geez, she's just jealous.
What's that?
It's just a rope.
We found it! We found it! Kindaichi! This is great!
This is the trump to overthrow the alibis during Kano's murder.
It takes only 5 minutes to reach annexe.
Officer.
How do you retrieve the rope then?
Both ends are tied to the banister, aren't they?
Well...
The killer drove there to remove it after the crime.
That's easy.
First, make a big circle using the rope,
then later you can cut it at any point to retrieve it.
I see.
That's right, I was going to say that.
Ossan, however...
Your conversations were surely low-grade. What?
Officer Akechi.
Well... I...
We just found a great evidence.
I have some important information too. Please come over.
Okay.
Kindaichi, what about you?
Don't you want to know the real features of the Snow Demon?
After the conversation with Kindaichi,
I'm interested on the disappeared paint too.
In fact, I found the paint is not harmony.
I felt something's not right with it.
So I kept looking at this paint, and finally I figured out.
It's a mirror. Mirror?
Officer Akechi, what do you mean by that?
I see...
The paint was according to the reflection on the mirror.
That's why we found it strange.
Brilliant, Kindaichi.
Officer, I...
Come in.
Officer Akechi, you have a fax.
Finally.
Thank you. I've been waiting for this.
I checked with the headquarters regarding the aircraft accident happened
on Himuro-san 10 years ago.
It has something to do with that accident?
Just like what I thought.
Have a look at this.
They are...
It's the cameraman Akashi and director Hiruta.
That is Kano Rie. Wait a minute.
This means...
Oh no!
Officer Akechi!
Geez, what's going on here?
If Akechi's reasoning is true,
the next target would be...
This is...
We are late.
Why... Why did Hiruta get killed?
Officer Akechi, this is...
Kenmochi, please gather everyone at the living room.
Officer, is it really okay to excuse Himuro from this?
Because Himuro is not in the villa.
I saw him in the studio...
No, Himuro Isen was a faker.
No way!
How could that be?
Officer?
The hint was in that missing self-portrait.
The shirt buttons in the portrait was on a reverse position.
Normally, the male shirt buttons are from right to left.
That said, the reflection on the mirror showed that he was a right-hander.
But the real Himuro Isen was... A left-hander.
Yes.
But the one who appeared right in front of us...
Oh yeah, I got his autograph before.
Yeah, he was using the right hand to sign.
Furthermore, when Kano Rie was killed,
he didn't have an alibi.
No!
He saw his reflection on the window,
and bethought of the secret of the self-portrait.
What about the motive?
What was his motive?
The real Himuro Isen died in an aircraft accident 10 years ago.
Hiruta and the others who went to cover were aware of that.
So they thought of finding a stand-in for Himuro Isen.
They planned to get hold of Himuro's paints and make money from them.
But, why did the stand-in killed his partners?
Perhaps there was a faction, that always happen.
That was why,
Hiruta and Akashi were so rich but yet they didn't work very hard.
Let's ask the person himself for the rest of the story.
Is that alright, Kindaichi?
Akechi-san.
When did you start to find Himuro Isen suspicious?
When I saw him and asked about his paints, he was not interested at all.
I started to get doubtful since then.
So you've noticed that hint at the beginning.
Well, we need not to compete for this one.
Himuro-san, please open the door.
There's no response.
I have no choice.
Let's bump the door!
He's dead.
Officer.
That one...
Is it the key for this room?
But if the door is locked from inside,
Perhaps it was a suicide.
There are signs of medicines.
Officer Akechi.
A letter left by him?
Sorry that I've created troubles to everyone.
I was the killer for all three murders happened in this villa.
My real name is Mizunuma.
I used to be a dresser,
and worked with Hiruta and the others.
Yes, that was prior to the awful accident 10 years ago.
One day, the four of us, Akashi, Hiruta and I,
as well as Kano who was still unknown to public,
happened to be at a minshuku near to the scene for other news coverage.
So we arrived at the scene with cavalier attitude.
That was the beginning of the story.
Isn't this Himuro Isen?
I forgot who came up with that idea,
he suggested us to imitate Himuro Isen,
to get hold of his fortune and shared it among ourselves.
And we decided to have me, who looked most alike to imitate Himuro.
Then, we buried the real Himuro in the hurst nearby.
I happened to know the skills in face-painting,
so I created the burn scars on my face,
put on the wig and sunglasses, and pretended I am Himuro Isen.
To avoid the eyes and ears, I moved into Himuro's villa.
I divided the money earn from the paints with them.
Sometimes I'll remove the makeup and splurged around.
Enjoyed a double life.
But, one day I thought of why couldn't I pocketed the money myself?
So, I directed this murder drama.
It's the Snow Demon costume.
And he knew he couldn't make it any further.
To kill myself, I sit on the painting chair that I've never sat before.
I hold the paintbrush that I've never held before.
Mizunuma Takau.
Kenmochi, please contact the pointsman headquarters now.
Okay.
Hajime-chan.
Why are you still here?
But, the killer committed suicide. Everything has ended.
No, the mystery behind the wildfire is yet to be solved.
Perhaps that was the spotlight or something else.
That's just my instinct.
I feel that the wildfire is the key to this incident.
Hajime-chan, no matter how you investigate you'll still get nothing.
Let's get going now.
This box is...
Scissors.
What's wrong with you, Hajime-chan?
This one, Miyuki.
What are you doing?
Ossan!
I want to have a look at Kano's crime scene before the pointsman arrive.
Stop playing with that scissors.
However, you still want to check on the crime scene.
It's snowing pretty heavily. I barely see the road.
Well, use this.
Idiot!
The water will turn into ice in such a cold weather!
Are you listening to me, Kindaichi! We could've died!
I see.
Ossan, I finally figured out how did the Snow Demon made up his alibi.
What did you say?
The mystery is solved.
I see. I finally figured out the truth behind the wildfire!
The pasture held in Akashi's hand,
the rope left at the bottom of valley,
they are all related!
Akechi, your reasoning is used by the murderer.
The mystery is solved now!
Next time in Kindaichi Case File.
Snow Demon Legend Murder Case - File 3
Can you solve this mystery?
The killer is among them!