Chapter 223: The Valley of Fear (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: The Valley of Fear (6)
“Ugh…”
As I hoisted myself up, my mind still clouded and hazy, the scene before me was as bizarre as it could get.
“Heugh…”
- Twitch, twitch…
The gang members I had been with for the past few days were all sprawled across the floor, twitching rhythmically.
What on earth had happened here? Had we been attacked?
“Ugh…”
“Gah, that startled me.”
As I glanced around, my mind struggling to comprehend the carnage, a sudden movement right in front of me made me jump. I stared at the source of the sound.
“This… it’s finally…”
- Brrrrr…
“…..???”
It was only then that I discovered the leader of the Scowrers. She was naked under an overturned blanket, her body still convulsing violently.
…What is going on?
I tried to dredge up my memories, but my head throbbed with a sharp pain that made it difficult to even think. I remembered up to the point of readjusting my disguise in the room…
“Ah.”
As I racked my brain, a cold sweat began to bead on my forehead.
Right. While I was adjusting my disguise, the gang members had unintentionally burst through the door and caught me in my male form. And then…
I was so nervous that I drank the water sitting in front of me.
My thoughts hit a realization, and I turned my gaze toward a desk a little further away. Finally, the pieces clicked into place.
…That wasn’t water, was it?
What I had downed wasn't water, but an inhumanely potent whiskey. Since the gang had lent me the room, they probably hadn't cleared away their alcohol. It seemed I had blacked out immediately after drinking it.
The question is, what happened while I was out…
- Swoosh…
As I scratched my head, wondering what could have possibly occurred during my blackout—
“M-Mr… Adler.”
The leader beside me, who had been twitching until now, quietly lifted her head and began muttering in a low, shaky voice.
“Sorry for… messing around…”
“……?”
What did she mean by ‘messing around’?
“I won’t fight back anymore… so please stop thrusting…”
What on earth was she talking about? In a group of tough women like this, I’d likely be the one on the receiving end, not the other way around. I should be the one being dominated, not dominating others, but…
“I-I’ll even beg. Yes, I’ll beg right now…”
Somehow, the leader—her abs now clearly visible—was assuming a posture of total submission, like a beaten dog.
“I understand, so please, just put on some clothes.”
“…Earlier, you said females should stay undressed. That we are only good for showing off our bodies.”
“Haaa…”
“Huuuu.”
As the headache that had been slightly improving began to flare up again, I exhaled deeply and draped the blanket over her.
“”……….””
“…Oh dear.”
Suddenly, I felt a stir from the side. When I turned my gaze, an even more bizarre scene unfolded.
It wasn't just the members collapsed on the floor. Every single member of the Scowrers, including the officers, was kneeling before me, their faces flushed deep red.
What the hell was happening?
“Yo-You defeated the boss…”
“Th-The position of leader goes to the strongest…”
“You’re the boss now…”
As I tilted my head in confusion, the member with disheveled hair at the front and another with bite marks on her neck and shoulders whispered in barely audible voices.
“This is insane.”
Had I really subdued all these women in a drunken stupor and become their gang leader? Is this really okay?
“Uh, um… so…”
Still unable to distinguish whether this was a dream or reality, I scratched my head for a while. Finally, noticing the uneasy, expectant glances of the members, I opened my mouth.
“If I’m the boss… then you’ll listen to my commands…?”
“Of course.”
“Good, then…”
Though I still couldn't fully wrap my head around the situation, if this wasn't a dream, it was a golden opportunity.
“The Scowrers will be disbanded as of today.”
As I murmured those words, the temperature in the room plummeted.
“What did you just say?”
“Disband…?”
“That can’t be…”
As the kneeling women began to murmur with chilling expressions, a shiver ran down my spine.
“Please.”
“Huuuu.”
“Say something. You’re the leader, aren’t you?”
In desperation, I poked the belly of the former leader, who was still huddled under the blanket in a puppy-like posture, and made my request.
“These guys… just fuck them all…”
“This is crazy.”
At her completely abnormal response, I clutched my head.
How am I supposed to deal with all of them? Fuck.
If I were still drunk, maybe I could have managed, but what was I supposed to do now that I was sober? In this state, trying to handle these rough, muscled women would surely end with me being beaten black and blue.
“Well… there’s no other choice.”
According to the Pinkerton Detective Agency’s request, I had to neutralize this organization. The only remaining method was clear.
“Everyone, pack your bags.”
“”………?””
“You are all immigrating to Britain today.”
These women could be integrated into Moriarty’s forces without a problem. This was what you’d call disposing of the excess.
I’m sorry, Professor.
But they would make fine soldiers for your kingdom, Professor, so please understand.
*
[Congratulations, you have completed a quest.]
[Raising the danger level of the Organization to its maximum is deemed a success.]
[It was one of the toughest missions, but you managed to pull it off… somehow…]
“…Oh.”
As the gang members began busily packing, I stepped out into the courtyard for a breath of fresh air. A message from Miss System appeared before me.
[There really is not much time left for us. Our time together is coming to an end.]
“…Are you sad?”
[Do you want to be discarded right before the end? Please moderate yourself before I am forced to do that.]
I whispered to her, a faint smile tugging at my lips, but I was met with an immediate, harsh response.
[You were just a tool for expanding the probability of this world from the beginning.]
“Wow.”
[It wouldn't matter even if you disappeared now.]
However, contrary to her cold words, the last sentence was written in the smallest font I had ever seen the system use.
- Spin…
Noticing that I’d seen it, Miss System rolled the window away from me before I could say another word. Well, whatever… that’s that.
“…….?”
[Since you’ve cleared a particularly difficult mission, I’ll reward you.]
Miss System, still hiding her "face," sent a message from behind and made an unexpected suggestion.
“A reward…?”
[Why, don't you want it?]
“No… I’m just curious why you’re giving me a reward now when there are still a few quests left.”
I was momentarily perplexed, my head tilting to the side.
“…Perhaps this is your way of giving me a parting gift?”
With a doubtful expression, I asked the question and slowly began to trace the system window with my fingers.
[…Tell me what reward you want.]
“Oh, so it’s true.”
[Just tell me.]
Surprisingly, Miss System didn't deny it. She simply urged me with a bold font.
“Um… then…”
Well, considering it wasn't a bad opportunity, I decided to ask for the wish I had been longing for all this time.
“Please give me a drug that can extend life.”
[That’s not possible.]
“I mean a drug so effective that even someone on their last legs could easily live to be a hundred.”
[I told you, it’s not possible.]
As expected, Miss System firmly refused.
“Even if I set a condition that it won’t work on me, but on someone else?”
[That’s…]
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
After my continued insistence, she seemed to contemplate for a moment.
[What do you intend to use it for?]
Almost persuaded, she finally threw that question at me.
“Well, you see…”
Since Miss System was the only entity I could fully disclose my plan to, I shared my thoughts without leaving anything out.
[Idiot.]
With that single word, Miss System vanished from my sight.
“Definitely a tsundere.”
Despite her words, a white pill had been placed in my hand.
- Swoosh…
Smiling briefly, I carefully tucked it into my breast pocket.
“Is everything finished?”
“…What exactly did you do in there?”
A smile tugged at my lips when I spotted Lupin waving her hands and Watson, wearing a look of pure disgust, approaching from the distance.
“Nothing much, really.”
“No, I heard all sorts of moaning, and a few women even came up to me complaining of stomach cramps…”
“Well, let’s get moving.”
It was time to dash toward the final stage of the plan.
“Adler, where do you think you’re going?”
“Huh?”
“You’re supposed to go to the Castle of Cagliostro with me, remember? Isn’t it a breach of contract if you don’t?”
Of course, to do that…
“We need to get out of here safely first, right?”
“Huh?”
I would first have to escape the pursuit of the women who were hot on my heels. The mana they had infused within me was kicking up a storm as they drew closer and closer.
*
A few days later, at the Diogenes Club in London.
“…Haaa.”
As usual, Mycrony Holmes was sprawled on the sofa, reading the newspaper with a bored expression. She began to mutter, breaking the club’s rule of silence for only the second time in its entire existence.
“Look at this…”
The letter that had just been delivered was reflected in her eyes. It included the presumed address of the sender’s hideout.
Come play with me.
- Your Vampire.
Considering the postscript and the small vampire doodle next to it, it was quite clear who had sent it.
“…He’s just begging to be stolen at this point.”