Chapter 105: Terminal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: Terminal
“Hmm?”
Jane Moriarty slowly drifted back to consciousness, her senses returning one by one as she began to take in her surroundings. The first thing she registered was a crowd—an innumerable, swarming mass of people, far too many to count at a single glance.
“It’s suffocating.”
As her eyes swept over the scene, the thought was unavoidable.
Since childhood, Jane had always preferred the sanctity of her own space. To be precise, she favored environments she controlled, far removed from the bustling noise of gossip and the prying eyes of the public.
This reclusive habit had only deepened over the years as she aged and took her first steps down the tumultuous path of crime. Gradually, she had become more and more reluctant to reveal herself to the world.
These days, she was perfectly content just sitting quietly in her trusty armchair, sipping sweet milk tea and swaying gently to the rhythm of her own thoughts. Not even the most luxurious holiday resort could compare to the simple peace of her study.
“Why am I here?”
She saw no reason to be in a place like this. She wanted to return to the comfort of her domain immediately—ideally to a spot filled with warm milk tea and an endless supply of sugar packets.
“…Did I come out for a walk with Adler?”
However, her wishful thinking vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
She vividly remembered Isaac Adler telling her repeatedly that she lacked exercise. Recently, he had even gone so far as to insist they form a habit of walking together.
Could it be that she had been unwittingly led out for a stroll by him?
If that were the case, she was somewhat willing to indulge the activity. Lately, the place where she felt most comfortable wasn’t her attic with its blankets and tea; it was wherever Isaac Adler happened to be.
“…Adler.”
“………”
Professor Moriarty called out to her assistant, her voice carrying its usual trace of a smile. However, she soon tilted her head in confusion.
“Adler?”
For some reason, the response that usually came within seconds was nowhere to be heard. In fact, she couldn’t even sense his presence nearby.
“Where are you, Isaac Adler…?”
Her voice trailed off, turning grave as she took a few tentative steps forward.
“It’s time to fulfill our duties now that the case is over…”
But after just a few steps, her complexion turned ashen.
“…The case.”
A sudden, throbbing headache surged through her mind, and memories of the moments before she lost consciousness came rushing back.
“Ah…”
The mysterious fog, the ominous figure lurking within, the suffocating murderous intent that had overwhelmed both her and Adler… and finally, the silver bullet fired from that shimmering gun.
Throb—
Silently rubbing her chest where the phantom pain seemed to revive, she looked around again and muttered in a low voice.
“…Is this… hell?”
She was certain she had died. Yet, if there were so many people around her, were they all in the same situation? Trapped in this unknown place together?
“…..?”
The professor, pale and trembling, scrutinized the crowd. Suddenly, her train of thought came to a screeching halt, her eyes widening into saucers.
“…Charlotte Holmes?”
The woman’s face was several shades paler than usual, with dark circles stretching down to her nose—as if she had relapsed into her drug habits. She wore an ill-fitting suit instead of her signature black coat.
There was no mistaking it. The person before her was Charlotte Holmes.
“…Did she get involved in the case and die, too?”
The professor tilted her head for a moment, but then a toothy grin spread across her face. She allowed herself to enjoy the irony.
Though she should have been appalled to have died alongside a woman she loathed to her very core, the professor was strangely quick to accept this fate. It almost felt as if… as if they were destined to go out together.
“Miss Holmes, you—”
“…Jane Moriarty.”
Before Jane could finish her sentence, Charlotte’s expression twisted violently. She turned her head, her eyes locking onto the professor.
“You… You dare…”
“…….?”
“With what nerve…!”
A cracked, broken voice spilled from Charlotte’s lips, leaving the professor utterly bewildered.
“With what nerve did you come here, you fucking bitch?!”
For the first time, Charlotte completely lost her composure, hurling a barrage of curses at Professor Moriarty without a shred of restraint.
“I don’t know what this is about, but calm down—”
“You vile, wretched bitch… If it weren’t for you… If it weren’t for that case…!”
The professor stepped back in shock as Charlotte raged like a mad dog. Yet, the detective exuded an aura so pitiful and broken that no one dared to criticize her for the outburst.
“If it weren’t for you… he wouldn’t have ended up like this…!”
“What are you talking about…?”
“It should have been you who died at the waterfall!”
Despite the people around Charlotte trying to restrain her, her screams continued unabashed.
“Jane Moriarty, it was you! It’s all because of you!”
As her voice finally failed her, endless tears streamed from her hollow eyes, and she slumped forward, head bowed.
““………..””
The cold, piercing gazes of the surrounding crowd began to nail Jane to the spot. Beads of cold sweat formed on the professor’s forehead.
“…This place.”
It was only now, as the crowd shifted to stop Charlotte, that Jane finally understood where she was.
“The cathedral…”
She recognized the faces in the crowd, all dressed in somber, dark formal attire. She saw the giant cross that Adler so despised.
Step, thud…
The professor staggered forward, utter disbelief radiating from her eyes.
“…It can’t be.”
Through the gaps in the overwhelming crowd, the sight of a coffin entered her vision, filling her mind with an ominous, sinking sensation.
“It can’t be… It just can’t…”
Trying her best to ignore the crushing weight in her chest, she reached the edge of the casket.
“I just saved Isaac Adler…” she muttered to herself, her face as white as a sheet as she peered inside. “I just…”
And there he was. Isaac Adler lay peacefully inside the coffin, his eyes tightly shut.
“…saved him.”
At the harrowing sight, the professor’s words dissolved into a faint murmur. Her body began to tremble violently.
“It’s because of you…”
“If it hadn’t been for you…”
“If only you hadn’t decided to kill Adler for mere entertainment that day…”
From behind her, voices filled with resentment and hatred began to rise in a chorus.
“…We would have never had to face… The Final Problem.”
“That’s…”
Amidst the chaos of blame, Charlotte’s voice cut through the clearest. Professor Moriarty turned her head, desperately trying to formulate an excuse, but her body refused to respond.
“Save him…”
“Save Isaac Adler…”
“SAVE HIM…!”
As she stood frozen before the coffin, a pair of cold hands suddenly grasped her shoulders.
“Professor.”
“…….!”
“Are you alright?”
A warm voice emerged—not from the crowd, but from inside the coffin.
“Adler…!”
To her shock, Adler had opened his eyes. He was looking up at her from the silk lining with a faint, weary smile.
“Let’s get out of here. Something doesn’t feel right about this place, no matter how I look at it.”
“Understood, my beloved professor.”
Moriarty stared blankly at him for a moment before urgently grabbing his hand, her voice desperate. Adler merely tilted his head, observing her.
“…But why was I killed?”
As he spoke, a single tear of blood fell from his eye. His voice was colder than frigid ice.
“…..Gasp!”
Professor Moriarty, soaked from head to toe in sweat, bolted upright, her eyes snapping open.
“Haa, haa…”
She instinctively clenched her fists, her eyes darting around the room.
“Where is this…?”
This time, she wasn't in a cathedral. She was wearing a hospital gown, lying in a bed surrounded by the sterile, familiar sights of a medical ward.
“You’re finally awake.”
“…….”
“I’m not even sure how many days it’s been. I was worried the elixir had been faulty since you wouldn’t wake up, but I’m relieved now…”
And there, sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed, was the face she longed to see.
Swish…
With an uncharacteristic look of wariness, the professor reached out, her hands trembling as she gently stroked his cheek.
“What are you doing?”
“Is it really you, Isaac Adler?”
“…Is there a fake Isaac Adler running around somewhere that I’m unaware of?”
At the professor’s uncharacteristically foolish question, Adler couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It’s so strange…”
“What is?”
“I was certain I had died…”
The professor murmured in a dazed voice. Adler reached out, gently stroking her hair as he whispered.
“You did. But I brought you back to life.”
“………”
“It’s a breach of contract to die without your assistant's permission, you know.”
Jane stared at him blankly for a moment before suddenly bursting into a fit of laughter.
“What happened to the case…?”
“I took care of the aftermath this time. I’ve thoroughly erased your tracks, so you can rest easy.”
“…I want you to hold me, but I’m feeling so sleepy.”
“That’s because I administered a sedative earlier. It’s better for your recovery to sleep than to force yourself to stay awake.”
Her eyelids began to flutter. She murmured in a low whisper, her head drooping.
“Then… hold me for a moment before I fall back asleep…”
“Now you’re just being spoiled.”
“Maybe it’s because I was shot, but my chest feels so cold…”
At her voice—which had regained its usual composure, laced with a hint of mischief—Adler sighed softly and leaned in.
“…Ugh.”
“……….?”
Adler pulled the professor into his arms and claimed her lips in a deep, forceful kiss.
““……….””
Silence enveloped the hospital room, broken only by their rhythmic breathing.
“Puhah.”
For the first time, Professor Moriarty was the one being led rather than the one leading. Her cheeks burned as she gazed at Adler. He, meanwhile, leaned in to lick away the trail of saliva connecting their lips, making her face flush even deeper.
“You’ve finally made me acknowledge you.”
Days had passed since the incident, but his right eye was still dyed in her signature shade of gray.
“I love you, Professor.”
The professor watched him silently for a long time before responding in a soft, heartfelt voice. With those words, the lingering unease from her nightmare finally vanished.
“…I love you too.”
Having delivered her confession, her eyes drifted shut once more.
.
.
.
.
.
Despite the heavy drowsiness from the medication, Professor Jane Moriarty kept her gaze fixed on me until she finally succumbed to a deep slumber.
“…Aren’t you going to come in?”
After stroking her hair for a long time, I finally spoke up once I was certain she was asleep.
“It seemed like you were enjoying your private time, so I didn’t wish to intrude.”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“You really are a foolish sod, aren’t you?”
Rachel Watson, draped in her white doctor’s coat, stepped into the room.
“Saving the most dangerous person in London at the cost of your own life…”
“Watson.”
I cut her off, asking the only question that mattered now.
“…How much longer do I have?”
She hesitated, sighing as she gauged my expression.
“I told you not to push yourself, but you’ve overworked your body to the point of no return. Even life-sustaining treatment is impossible now.”
“I see.”
“I suggest you settle your affairs before this time next year.”
I was now a terminal patient, living on borrowed time. Yet, I found I didn't harbor a single shred of regret.
“What are you going to do now?”
“…Haha.”
After all, it was a small price to pay for bringing back the person I loved.
.
.
.
.
.
“By the way, is there someone outside?”
“Yes?”
I suddenly sensed a sharp, murderous aura radiating from the hallway. Had Charlotte Holmes or Gia Lestrade already finished testifying at Dr. Frankenstein’s trial and returned?
“…Now that you mention it, there’s been a little girl with light-blue hair holding a cat doll sitting quietly in the hallway for a few hours now.”
Ah…