Chapter 31: Hope of London

"It was you."

In the basement, where silence had lingered for a long time already, Charlotte Holmes' youthful voice echoed in a subdued manner.

"You planned all of this."

The black mana surrounding Charlotte was anxiously swirling as she spoke.

"You put Adler in danger, even brainwashed Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner from behind the scenes, and prepared the ploy for this incident."

"...…."

"It's all your doing, isn't it Jane Moriarty."

Hearing those words, a small smile cracked on Moriarty's lips.

The same vacant smile she always wore, devoid of any emotions whatsoever.

However, in Charlotte's eyes right now, that wordless smile appeared almost like a mockery— a mockery directed solely at her.

"I'm going to turn you over to the police."

Charlotte, whose clenched fists had been trembling at the sight, muttered and approached Moriarty with powerful strides.

"On what charges?"

"The charges of being an accomplice in the attempted murder of Isaac Adler. Brainwashing Lady Roylott. And finally, the attempted murder of Helen Stoner as well."

Upon hearing those accusations, Moriarty's eyes grew even colder.

"Holmes, frankly speaking, I don't understand how you managed to get a perfect score on the entrance test for the August Detective Academy."

Now wearing a genuine smirk on her lips, she looked down at Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner who were sprawled on the floor.

"Did you manipulate your scores?"

"Stop talking nonsense."

"It seems the one talking nonsense isn't me, but you."

Approaching right in front of Professor Moriarty, Charlotte stopped upon hearing those words uttered with conviction.

"I simply came to this mansion to find my assistant who had been unreasonably absent from his work. I just happened to witness Helen Stoner committing a crime and subdued her in good faith."

"...…"

"Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner, a household affair between the pair of mother and daughter. Isaac Adler and I just got entangled in that affair. That's the whole story behind this incident."

"Fuck…!"

After quietly listening to Moriarty's words, Charlotte spat out a curse.

"What exactly is the problem here?"

"For a mere domestic drama, the scheming behind this case is just too elaborate and intricate. Almost as though someone skilled dipped their hands into it. Someone like you…"

"If you analyze the diary and psychological assessment of Helen Stoner, who is currently unconscious, it could very well be a premeditated crime, however."

"Signs of someone's tampering are also abundantly clear. And deliberately so at that."

Moriarty, who had been listening to her words with a smile, momentarily showed a faint hint of irritation on her face.

"Someone clearly intervened from behind to thoroughly revise a creative but doomed-to-fail scheme for the crime. Almost as if they were consulting the crime…"

"…You've gone overboard with your delusions, little girl."

Then, once again, she whispered with a faint smirk on her lips.

"Delusions? Don't make me laugh. Seems like you're just stung by hearing the truth…"

"Then you must have evidence to prove that truth, right?"

Hearing Moriarty's question laced with blatant hints of mockery and laughter, Charlotte couldn't muster a response and closed her mouth quietly.

"What's the matter, Charlotte Holmes? Don't tell me you've been blabbering your mouth without any evidence to back up your claims?"

"....."

"If not, why not present it now? Evidence that I was even remotely involved in this case."

Of course, there was no evidence.

Well, actually, there was… but it had been erased already.

"..."

Helen Stoner's eyes were vacant, having lost consciousness already due to her neck being strangled by the collar that Lady Roylott had owned.

Even if she were to regain consciousness, her brain deprived of oxygen for an extended period would likely not recover to normal levels of awareness.

"…Ugh."

Lady Roylott, who was gradually regaining consciousness, was clearly under the influence of Helen Stoner's brainwashing.

Therefore, even if she fully regained her senses, not only would she be unable to remember what had just happened… but it was also clear that there would be no way to establish any connection with Professor Moriarty— being someone who was never deeply involved in the first place.

"…Let go of Adler."

Knowing this fact better than anyone, Charlotte, who had been tightly sealing her lips, finally spoke with her eyes closed, defeated by the woman before her.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm going to get a testimony from him. That you orchestrated all of this…"

"Ha… haha~"

Then, Professor Moriarty, as if she could not contain herself any longer, burst into laughter.

"Ahahahahaha…"

Her laughter powerfully echoed through the basement for a while.

"It seems that you're too far gone into your delusions."

Suddenly stopping her laughter, Professor Moriarty spoke again while stroking Adler who had been quietly nestled in her arms all this while.

"It's me who saved Isaac Adler from danger."

Saying that, she glanced intently at Charlotte.

"Is that simple fact so difficult to understand for you?"

"Would you remove your filthy hands from him?"

The fire in Charlotte's eyes reignited while glaring at Moriarty, who was caressing Adler with her hands, with such intensity that it felt like there was nothing she wanted to do more than to kill the woman in front of her right there and then.

"If someone who doesn't even love me were to caress me, then I would get the chills…"

"…Hmm."

The professor eventually lifted the corner of her lips after watching that interesting response

"So enough of that! Hand him over when I'm asking nicely…"

– Swish…

Just then, Professor Moriarty quietly flipped her long hair back and gently locked eyes with Adler, leaning in closer to him.

"..."

The next moment, their tongues softly intertwined.

"…Stop it."

With a pallid expression, Charlotte watched the heart-wrenching scene unfold and murmured in a creeping voice.

"...….."

However, with their eyes closed and their tongues entangled in a steamy exchange of bodily fluids, they did not stop their intimate act.

"Stop it."

While staring as if she'd lost her very soul, Charlotte stumbled and reached out her hand toward Adler.

– Zzz…

"Ah."

However, the greyish mana filling his body sparked up and rejected her advance.

– Drip…

As a result, Charlotte involuntarily stepped back and Jane Moriarty pulled her head back, stretching the viscous saliva line once more.

"Mm…"

Moriarity looked at her assistant, keeping the stretched line of saliva connecting their mouths, and tilted her head again before inserting her tongue back into his mouth.

"Enough…."

As this act continued unceasingly for a long while, the choked-up sounds from Charlotte began to reverberate through the basement.

– Groooan…

With her head bowed in defeat, Charlotte was engulfed in black smokey flames, and the corners of Professor Moriarty's mouth quietly lifted up.

"…Do you understand now?"

Finally removing her tongue from Adler's mouth, she wiped the corners of her lips with her sleeve and whispered in a subdued voice.

"This is no place for a meddling child to interfere…"

"...…."

"Our relationship, I mean."

Saying that, she wore a victorious smile as she headed out of the room.

"…Did a woman named Watson go to call the police?"

Then, Professor Moriarty glanced back and muttered to her assistant.

"You should get going as well. It'll be problematic if the police arrive…"

"Professor."

Adler, who had remained in his seat even as Moriarty went out, spoke to her in a soft voice.

"I'll follow you in a little while."

"Why?"

"Don't we have to clean up the crime scene?"

Adler's gaze was still directed at Charlotte, who remained enveloped in a viscous coating of smokey black mana.

"…Understood."

After briefly watching him with a furrowed brow, she soon smiled and nodded her head.

"Then, I leave it to you."

Given that her mana was implanted within him, there was no way that arrogant girl could interfere with Adler.

'No, she should be worrying about her own safety first.'

She didn't particularly see her as a competitor. However, for some odd reason, the idea that the girl might be retiring from approaching her assistant made her feel inexplicably light.

'…Anyway.'

As she moved with a cheerful smile on her face, she savored Adler's lingering taste in her mouth then muttered internally… her smiling face morphing into one of slight disappointment.

'The notion that a kiss is sweet was a lie.'

Despite these thoughts and her expression, a slight blush could be seen on her cheeks.

'Well, it doesn't matter.'

.

.

.

.

.

"….Umm."

How much time had passed?

"....?"

Lifting her heavy eyelids, Charlotte looked around with a dazed expression.

"Where am I…"

The last thing she remembered was the smokey black mana, akin to gaseous flames, engulfing her whole body.

Soon after, she was swept away by a flood of enormous emotions that she had never experienced before in her life. She lost control in an instant and was left with no choice but to lose consciousness, engulfed in the flames of smokey black mana.

'What happened?'

It was a situation where, at the very least, her life, or perhaps even everything surrounding her could have been consumed by her rampaging mana.

Yet, she was fine now.

Why?

"You seem to have woken up."

"Ah."

Her questions were immediately answered the moment she saw the familiar man's twinkling eyes before her.

"You were in great danger. You could have lost control there."

Adler held her hands in his own and said this with a quiet smile on his face.

"When did you awaken your mana? It was quite a surprising sight."

Looking at his clothes, torn to shreds already, and the black scars covering his skin, it was clear that he had saved her once again.

"…I'm disqualified."

"Pardon?"

"I'm disqualified as a detective."

Staring blankly at him, Charlotte murmured while lowering her head.

"By the time I realized everything, it was already too late."

"...…."

"Even worse, instead of helping you, I ended up causing you more harm."

Then, she quietly lifted her head and looked at him with a lifeless gaze.

"Mr. Adler."

And from her mouth, an equally lifeless voice escaped.

"I'm not qualified to solve your riddles and mysteries."

"What are you talking about?"

However, Adler began to encourage her instead.

"You've done far better than I expected."

"I don't need your sympathy. I…"

"Not only did you completely expose Professor Moriarty's schemes, but you also forced her to get directly involved in the case, did you not?"

"...…"

"I am sure that her involvement in the case will be recorded."

His hand began to gently stroke Charlotte's disheveled hair.

"It might merely be a minor record…"

"...…"

"But for her, who has never been implicated in any case before and has remained flawless throughout, this is the very first record of her implication and involvement."

At his warm touch, Charlotte started to blankly stare at Adler.

"As these records accumulate, who do you think will eventually win in the end?"

Looking at Charlotte, Adler gave a gentle smile, filled with warmth.

"In that sense, this case is your victory, Ms. Holmes."

After blankly staring at his smile for a long while, Charlotte slowly opened her mouth.

"What are you thinking?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you… so kind to me?"

Her voice trembled ever so slightly as she uttered the words.

"You are my enemy; it should be normal for me to be an annoyance to you like I am to the professor. You've helped me so many times…"

"That's because I love you."

"Lies."

Suddenly, her voice turned icy cold.

"The one you love is Jane Moriarty, isn't it?"

"…Ms. Holmes."

"I saw it with my own eyes. You couldn't shake her off…"

For a moment, a sharp and sinister look appeared in her eyes, making Adler momentarily break into a cold sweat. Soon, he lowered his eyes and began to speak in a subdued tone.

"…Of course, I can't shake her off."

"What?"

"I can't defy her."

Simultaneously, his face turned solemn.

"No, it's impossible for anyone in London to defy her."

"…I know many people."

"Even if the entire Knights Order of the Queen comes for her, they could vanish with a single gesture from the professor."

Adler shook his head in response to Charlotte's words, who had no choice but to sheathe the sharpness of her gaze at the pitiful sight, invoking a sense of maternal instinct, shown by Adler.

"There is no one in this world who can stand against her."

Then, a firm voice echoed throughout the room.

"…Until now, that's what I believed."

Just as Charlotte began to sag at his words, a gentle smile appeared on Adler's lips, and he tightened his grip on her hand.

"A moment ago, however, I changed my mind."

Then, Adler moved her hand to his chest.

"Check the mana within my body."

Caught off guard, Charlotte placed her hand on his chest and her eyes widened in disbelief.

"This is…"

"It's your mana."

Just a moment ago, his body had been filled with Professor Moriarty's murky greyish mana.

"Since I was holding back your mana, which had gone berserk, with my entire body, it started mixing in."

However, things were different now.

"Now, half of my body is the professor's, and the other half has become yours."

Just as he said, the professor's grey mana and Charlotte's black mana were perfectly divided in half, coloring the inside of Adler's body.

"Wait, if this continues, your body won't be able to…"

"Charlotte Holmes."

Staring at the two types of mana fiercely fighting for dominance inside his body, Charlotte looked at Adler with an even more pallid expression than before.

"There really is no one but you."

But Adler, cutting off Charlotte's words stepped closer to her.

"You are the very nemesis of Professor Moriarty."

"…What?"

"Because the only mana that can stand equal to hers is yours."

Moments later, Adler's warm body temperature began to seep into her own.

"The only one who can topple Professor Moriarty's kingdom and pull her down from her throne is you."

Adler, gently holding Charlotte in his arms, tilted his head and whispered softly in her ear.

"You are the hope of London."

The moment she heard those words, her breath came to a halt.

"So, hang in there."

Adler, looking at Charlotte gave her a slight smile and patted her back.

"I'll be coming with the next riddle soon."

"...…"

"And after that, I will create many wicked and dreadful incidents for you."

Then, Adler, who had by then caught her full attention, whispered softly to her once more.

"Please be reborn as the being I have envisioned."

His pupils had inexplicably turned into a shade of grey, shining as they did in the darkness.

"I love you, Ms. Holmes."

Of course, to Charlotte Holmes, it was all but clear just to whom that dirty grey mana – which Adler's eyes now bore – belonged.

.

.

.

.

.

"Then… take care."

After leaving those words behind, I stood up from my seat. Focusing on my mana, I gently rubbed my bloodshot eyes and began to head outside.

'The result is better than expected.'

Though the incident arose due to my misunderstanding and foolishness, the outcome had been quite favorable for me.

Charlotte Holmes, who was only supposed to awaken her mana in the very last stages of the story, had successfully enacted the feat in the early stages instead.

If she continued to hone her mana, she might even be able to stand toe-to-toe with the final boss— Moriarty pretty soon.

[– Probability of ??? — 15% → 0%]

And with the neutralization of Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner, this suspicious probability had also disappeared.

The fact that the canon event— The Secret of the Speckled Band case, which could have endangered the world due to the logical inconsistencies incorporated by the game developers, had somehow successfully come to its conclusion was an added bonus.

'…Well, time to find out why the erosion rate suddenly increased.'

What remained now was to ascertain the cause of the increased erosion rate before the police arrived here.

'Wait, but how should I explain my current circumstance to the professor?'

– Swish…

"....?"

As I was about to hurriedly move outside, breaking into a cold sweat due to the sudden thought of explaining the current state of my body to the professor, I began to sense a chilling presence from behind.

"Uh?"

The moment I turned around to see what it was, the world started to spin around me.

"...…?"

In the blink of an eye, I was lying on the basement floor.

"What…?"

"Bartitsu¹.."

As I wore a dazed expression, unable to make sense of the situation, a bass-less voice came from above me.

"It's a Japanese martial art; my specialty, if you will."

"…Ms. Holmes?"

Charlotte Holmes was straddling me, holding both of my arms down.

"What are you doing right now…?"

As I looked up at her with a bewildered expression, a message suddenly appeared before my eyes.

[Warning!

– Probability of ??? — 0% → 20%]

"Take a guess."

Behind that message, the look in Charlotte Holmes' eyes was becoming increasingly murky with each passing second.

"You like riddles, don't you?"

'Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?'

KarmaN: ¹Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defense method originally developed in England in 1898–1902, combining elements of boxing, jujitsu, cane fighting, and French kickboxing.