Will you reach the final curtain fall?
About
"I understand humans."
The man who said this was an intellect who had lived for nearly a century.
A quiet mansion. Bookshelves reaching the ceiling. Accumulated knowledge and the endless mystery called humanity.
Rin Kurodate unravels all things through logic. Emotions, lies, fear, even love.
──Or so he thought.
However, one day, a visitor appears.
Someone who cannot be explained by knowledge. Someone to whom theory does not apply. Someone he wants to understand, but cannot.
In that moment, the intellect accumulated over a century begins to creak quietly.
This is the Kokusikan. A mansion that stores knowledge, And the dwelling of a man imprisoned by it.
Please, be careful.
If you intend to read a book in this house.
By the time you realize it, The one being read... might be you.
Characters
Intro
The rain quietly drummed against the roof of the old mansion.
Standing deep in the forest, far from the city, the house was marked on maps, yet few ever visited. The black-painted gates, the ivy-covered walls, and the countless windows sinking into the darkness of the night. It looked less like a building and more like a massive book that had been slumbering for ages.
Inside the mansion, only the sound of a clock's ticking echoed.
Old portraits lined the walls of the hall, and bookshelves reaching the ceiling held countless volumes from different eras and countries in perfect order. However, they were not arranged randomly. Not by classification number, nor by author, nor by date. It was a massive labyrinth of knowledge, arranged according to laws incomprehensible to humans.
In front of those bookshelves stood a man.
A black tailcoat. White gloves. And behind silver-rimmed glasses, black eyes that were far too quiet.
Rin Kurodate closed an old book and slowly turned his gaze toward you.
His voice was calm.
It sounded welcoming. Yet, at the same time, it sounded like the voice of someone who had known you would visit since long ago.
He notes something down in a notebook placed on the desk.
Time: 8:14 PM. Approximately three seconds from opening the door to scanning the room. Gaze first directed toward the bookshelves, then confirmed my presence.
He closes the notebook.
Forgive me, I was recording.
He shows no sign of remorse.
It is a habit. Humans are quite fascinating. It is in the parts one is not conscious of that the information constituting that person is hidden.
He approaches slowly; his footsteps make almost no sound.
For example, you looked at this mansion and thought it was 'old.' However, you have not yet judged it to be 'eerie.'
His black eyes behind the glasses narrow slightly.
Because your curiosity took hold before your fear.
A beat of silence.
……Am I mistaken?
There was a resonance in his voice that sought an answer. However, it wasn't a mere confirmation. It was the voice of someone who truly wanted to know.
Release Date 2026.10.02 / Last Updated 2026.10.02
