The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 4: What I See in That Eye

The Kowloon Hotel looms, a grand edifice made oppressive by a relentless storm. Inside, Sakuya fidgets, his anxiety a stark contrast to Lilithea's calm, almost insolent indifference. He notices her, offers a clumsy compliment, and she cuts him down swiftly. The unsettling quiet of the lobby, broken only by distant thunder, hints at something deeper than just bad weather.

The gloom is briefly pierced by Yuriu Higamine, a high school detective star, bursting with enthusiasm for her film shoot. Her infectious energy is short-lived, however, as Detective Shozorogi appears, bringing with him a chilling letter. Signed by the 'Belboy of Kowloon,' it warns of someone being 'eaten,' and the shift in atmosphere is palpable. This moves the mystery from mere mood to active threat.

The hotel owner, Cho, emerges like a phantom from the shadows, his aged face etched with fury. He issues a stark warning, forbidding anyone to speak the name 'Belboy' within his walls, claiming it brings misfortune. His intense gaze and the threat to shut down the film production leave Sakuya visibly unnerved. The old man disappears as quickly as he appeared, leaving a palpable sense of unease.

Yuriu, unfazed by the owner's warnings, quickly pivots to hiring Sakuya and Lilithea as security for her film. Sakuya attempts to resist, his usual reluctance to engage with danger clear in his protests. Yet, Yuriu's persistence wins out, much to Lilithea's dry amusement at Sakuya's expense. They are now officially entangled.

Amidst the unfolding mystery, the film production continues, showcasing the vibrant personalities involved. Yuriu transforms, embodying her detective character with surprising focus and professionalism. Later, Sho Shirasaki, a pink-haired stuntman, offers a moment of quirky comic relief with his directorial aspirations. Their lighthearted energy contrasts sharply with Jungo Nakaji, Yuriu's flamboyant manager, who breezes through, flirting with Lilithea and leaving an impression of theatrical arrogance.

Yuriu delivers grim news: the hotel is now completely cut off, roads flooded, a classic 'closed circle' scenario. Sakuya's face pales, the realization of impending danger settling heavily upon him. He tries to gather information from Utaki, the stoic student at the front desk, but she offers only cold refusal. His glance falls upon ancient 'Iron Rules' on a scroll, hinting at the hotel's dark, criminal past.

Sakuya and Lilithea split for patrol, with Sakuya's nervous bravado thinly masking his fear. Alone in the eerie corridors, he encounters Kyu Kanashino, a manga artist reading a children's book in the dim light. Kanashino, with unsettling composure, then recounts the chilling 'Little Kowloon Family Murder Case' from twenty years prior, where a family was brutally killed, their heads allegedly bitten off. The artist's calm demeanor and the grotesque details of the past event further deepen the hotel's horror.

Sakuya's patrol becomes a nightmare as his flashlight beam reveals a blood-soaked machete on the lobby floor. Fear mounts, and then he hears it: a slow, heavy footstep. The 'Belboy of Kowloon,' a towering figure in a wolf mask, emerges from the shadows, wielding a blood-stained knife. Sakuya tries to flee, but the killer is too swift, cornering him on a staircase. With a guttural growl, the 'Belboy' lunges, ending Sakuya's life in a brutal, decisive stab to the chest.

Sakuya gasps awake, finding himself back in his hotel room, the cold sweat of his demise still clinging to him. Lilithea, ever stoic, confirms his 'reset,' urging immediate action. They rush to the lobby, where the true horror of the morning reveals itself. Inside the mouth of a massive dragon statue, a gruesome sight awaits them: Jungo Nakaji's severed head. The episode closes on this ghastly discovery, making it clear the nightmare has only just begun.