Chapter 182: The Korean Interpreter (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 182: The Korean Interpreter (6)
"W-What’s wrong?"
The shocking contents of the messages sent Isaac Adler into a cold sweat. Seeing him panic, the girl tied to the chair asked him a question, her voice trembling with fear.
"Oh, it’s nothing."
Her voice finally snapped Adler out of his daze. He regained his composure, turned on his heel to face her, and responded.
"It’s just… I felt a sudden chill for some reason."
"…….."
Adler muttered the words with a hint of resignation. The bound woman watched him with a suspicious gaze before eventually bowing her head.
"Thank you for helping me. But…"
"……?"
"The help you have provided up to this point is enough."
With her eyes cast down, she began to murmur, a sense of gloom exuding from her very soul.
"After all, I am a captive. Even if I somehow manage to escape this place by a miracle, there is no way I can leave this strange, unfamiliar land."
"………."
"So, it would be better for you to give up on me. Abandon the idea as soon as possible."
Hearing her plea, Adler stared at the frail woman with a vacant expression.
"Hey…"
"And, to be honest… I cannot trust you."
As he was about to speak, the woman cut him off.
"It is true that you helped me yesterday and today, and I am grateful for that. I also understand that you are of mixed heritage, both British and Joseon… However, that does not mean I can fully trust you."
"Why not?"
"How do I know if your kindness isn't just a ploy to win my favor and lower my guard? For that reason, I can no longer accept your goodwill."
"Umm…"
Hearing her reasoning, Adler scratched his head.
"This is problematic…"
"W-What do you mean, problematic?"
Swish—
"… Huh?"
Still full of suspicion, she watched as Adler approached her and leaned his head forward.
"Wha—What are you…!"
With their faces close enough to feel each other’s breath, he stared into her eyes and stroked her cheek. Her eyes widened, and she raised her voice in a panic.
"How dare you touch a woman’s body so recklessly! What is this madness?"
"Are you truly offended by such a trivial action after enduring horrific torture?"
"A-At least they didn't caress me with that look in their eyes! Just as I thought… a pervert of the worst kind… Are you finally showing your true colors?"
As her face turned crimson, Adler lowered his hand with a bitter smile.
"Yes."
"… What did you just say?"
"I said I’m finally showing my true colors."
He began to whisper in a low voice as he lightly touched the crimson brand etched onto her lower abdomen.
"We share the same blood, so I genuinely wish to save you if I can. But I am under orders, and I must find the location of those documents."
"……."
"So, are you prepared for what’s to come?"
As he fidgeted with his hands and leaned in, the woman swallowed hard, her face paling with horror.
"… J-Just kill me already."
"Oof, why such a violent reaction?"
"Stop groping me before you say that, you lecher!"
"I’m just checking your body for wounds before I start. It would be too cruel to jab at existing injuries."
"That is an incredibly lame excuse! Just go die already!"
As Adler lifted her shirt, the woman twisted her body and spat venomously at him. A sigh escaped his lips before he muttered to himself.
"It seems you’ve been a bookworm all your life… how did you end up like this?"
"St-Stop, no more… Uh?"
"There are wounds everywhere…"
Adler clicked his tongue at the numerous scars and bruises covering her shoulders and chest. He turned back to the woman, who was shouting at him with a flushed face.
"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?"
"Ah, why would I tell you that, huh?"
"…….."
"Ah, alright, I’ll tell you!"
She spoke defiantly, but as Adler silently moved his hand lower, she squeezed her eyes shut and hurriedly opened her mouth.
"All you need to know is that I am almost of age…"
"… Huh."
As she answered with a sullen expression, Adler quickly pulled his hands away, a blank look washing over his face.
"Then… are you twenty?"
"Ah, not yet…"
"Nineteen, then?"
"……."
Instead of answering, the young woman—no, the girl—deeply bowed her head.
"… I almost did something I could never take back."
"D-Don't stroke my head like that! Isn't it just as shameful whether you stroke my body or my head?"
"Then, is it perhaps because of your age that they didn't sexually harass you?"
Relieved that they hadn't crossed that line, Isaac Adler continued to pet the growling girl’s head as he posed the question.
"… Even so, I passed the civil service exam two years ago. I am a legitimate adult and an official of Joseon—no, the Empire of Korea."
The girl shook her head in response.
"You’re more impressive than I thought. Could there be another reason, then?"
"Probably because of those despicable Japanese…"
She gritted her teeth as she recalled an incident from a few days ago.
"When I was still dazed from the sudden attack, I overheard a bit of the conversation between the two men and their client."
"Is that so?"
"He had an interpreter with him, and I’m sure he was speaking Japanese. He ordered them to only use pain, as he would 'take me with him' afterward…"
"Hmm…"
Hearing her reply, Adler’s expression grew exceptionally somber.
"Has your curiosity been satisfied? Then please leave. And for the love of God, stop stroking my head!"
"…….."
"Lastly, let me make it clear that I have no intention of telling anyone the location of the documents. Whatever you do to me will be futile…"
As she was about to finish her sentence with trembling eyes—
Whoosh—
"…..!?"
Quietly rummaging through his coat, Isaac Adler suddenly pulled something out and held it in front of her.
"Ah…"
Startled, the girl jerked her head back as an elongated object was thrust toward her. Soon, however, her gaze focused intently on the item.
"Before coming here today, I bought this bread from the largest bakery in London."
"…….."
"It’s still warm, so you should eat it before it cools down."
Gently stroking her head again, Adler whispered in a soothing tone.
"… Uh."
Initially, the girl firmly shut her mouth, stubbornly refusing his offer. However, it didn't take long for her resolve to waver.
"There’s syrup insi—no, actually, it’s filled with honey."
Gulp…
Having been subjected to torture and starved for the past fifteen days, the warm bread was an irresistible temptation.
"I’m not asking about the location of the documents, nor am I trying to win you over."
"…….."
"This is merely a small mercy for your starving self."
"Don’t… need it."
Yet, she desperately turned her head away, resisting her instincts.
"I’ve already had my fill of pity."
"……."
"And for all I know, that bread might be laced with a confession potion or magic. So…"
"Oh, come on."
"Uh?"
Sighing, Adler reached out with his other hand and grasped her chin.
"Open your mouth."
"Uh? Uhmp!?"
Holding the bread, Adler forcefully stuffed it into her mouth.
"Chew."
"………"
"If you don't chew, I’m going to chew it myself and feed it to you mouth-to-mouth like a mother bird. Surely, it’s better if you do it yourself, right?"
Immediately after he uttered those horrific words with a bright smile, the girl—with eyes as sharp and fierce as an enraged cat’s—began silently chewing the bread.
Chew, chew…
A brief silence followed.
"… Ugh."
"Ah, are you alright?"
As she continued to chew, tears began welling up in her eyes. Adler muttered in confusion.
"I placed a digestion spell on it, so it shouldn't be a problem even on an empty stomach…"
"Ugh, ugh…"
"Perhaps it’s stuck in your throat? Here, have some milk as well…"
As Adler reached into his coat to pull out a carton of milk, he paused upon seeing the expression on her face.
"Uh, uh…"
Tears streamed down the cheeks of the girl, her mouth still stuffed with bread.
"… Drink."
"………."
"It’s delicious…"
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, the girl began to cry out loud, finally acting her age.
"If I die like this… I won’t be able to taste delicious things anymore, right…?"
"…….."
"No… I don’t want to die so miserably…"
"… Then, why don't you tell me where the documents are?"
Adler looked at her with pity and made the suggestion. However, the girl shook her head and replied through her sobs.
"But… but I hate the idea of losing my country even more!"
"………"
"So please, just stop… Please…"
Her sobs echoed in the room for a long time.
"… Oh dear, that was a failure."
Adler, wearing an awkward expression, muttered under his breath as he listened to her cry.
[A devil who fails to tempt must instead grant a wish.]
"… Wh-Whot did yo sai?"
"There’s nothing to be done about it. Yes."
Ignoring the still-sniffling girl’s question, he stepped backward.
Tsundere.
"Shut your mouth."
I don't have a mouth, though?
"….. Tch."
.
.
.
.
.
That evening, at 221B Baker Street.
"Holmes, was there no case today…?"
Having just returned to the boarding house from the hospital, Watson entered their home with a puzzled expression.
"Hello zere."
"………."
"I am but a leg-u-lar inter-ple-ter specializinge in Asian languages."
A man, excessively disguised even to Watson’s untrained eyes, was presenting a request to Charlotte in an utterly ridiculous manner.
"Today, I have come to entluste a case to the gleat detective, Challotte Holmes."
"… What the hell are you doing?"
Charlotte questioned him coldly, resting her chin on her hand as he enthusiastically gestured.
"… Do you know I, yes?"
After a long, awkward silence, the man noticed her cues and spoke again.
"Well, I… I am meeting Miss Holmes for ze filste time today…"
"……."
"It would seem you mighte have mestakene I for someone else, yes…?"
Even Watson, who usually loathed the person hidden under that heavy disguise, felt a sudden surge of pity for the man.