Chapter 231: The Final Problem (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: The Final Problem (6)
After days of sailing, we finally arrived in Switzerland from France. As soon as we disembarked, Adler led us toward a small village.
“Wow…”
“…It’s beautiful.”
The nearby valley was dotted with snow, creating a quaint, picturesque scene. Even Moran paused, her expression softening into something remarkably girlish. Well, since Moran was technically a young girl, perhaps that was the right word for it? She rarely showed that side of herself, so it was a refreshing change.
“…….”
Despite the scenery, Adler remained indifferent. Lately, he had been casting sharp, rapid glances at every passerby, scrutinizing their faces. It was as if he didn’t trust a soul.
“Hey, asshole. Is there really a need to be this on edge in such a tiny village?”
“…You should always be wary of assassins. You’d know that if you were a soldier.”
By the way, Adler and I had grown comfortable enough to speak informally with each other. We had agreed to be friends again after that night at the hotel a few days ago. It was an achievement even Holmes and the Professor hadn’t managed, though I wasn’t particularly proud of it. Every time Adler spoke informally, I felt a bit embarrassed—like I was getting a little hot under the collar.
But that wasn't the important part.
“What do you know about soldiers?”
“I was a sergeant… oops.”
“…A sergeant?”
That was news to me. It was hard to believe someone as frail as him had served in the army, but considering he had lived for centuries, I suppose it was plausible. Maybe he was a remnant from the Crusades for all I knew.
“You’ve done it all, haven’t you? Singer, actor, soldier…”
“Well, not real—huh?”
As I was speaking, Adler suddenly stopped in his tracks, breaking out into a profuse sweat.
“……!”
Moran, who had been shooting me displeased looks for the past few days, reacted the same way.
“Why are you both—?”
“Danger!!”
“…Huh?”
Before I could finish, Adler lunged, pulling me urgently into his arms.
—Boom…! Boom…!
A massive rock rolled past us a second later, propelled by terrifying momentum.
—Thump, thud…
“Ah, with this weather, I suppose things like that happen frequently.”
“”……..””
“So, you have to pay attention to your surroundings, not just people… Hey? Guys?”
I stammered, still trapped in Adler’s embrace. Suddenly, Moran shot me a look cold enough to freeze hell over before she began scaling the rock that had nearly crushed us. She surveyed the area keenly, searching for any hidden threats.
“I’m sorry, Master.”
“…It wasn’t a person, was it?”
“No, it definitely wasn’t. If it were, I would have noticed them first.”
“Then… it must be a monster.”
As I watched blankly, a chilling conversation ensued. A monster. Not only were we being hunted by people, but now a monster had joined our far-too-long list of pursuers. But would a monster really appear in such a quiet village? Most reported sightings had been in densely populated areas.
Could this be a sign of the global outbreak Adler had mentioned?
“…Don’t worry. I will protect you.”
As unease gnawed at me, Adler’s low voice vibrated against me. He was still holding me.
“I can settle this soon. So…”
“…Why the sudden formal speech?”
“Ah, right.”
I was a bit annoyed by the shift, so I pointed it out. Adler scratched his head awkwardly at the retort, then leaned close to my ear and whispered.
“…I will definitely protect you.”
“Uh.”
Tickled by his teasing voice, I twitched involuntarily. I cautiously interlocked my fingers with his and murmured, “Really? No matter what?”
“Of course.”
“Then…”
Seizing the moment, I finally blurted out the words.
“…What if I fall in love with you all over again?”
An eerie silence followed.
“Ah, wait. I take that back. Just… act like you didn’t hear anything, okay?”
“……”
“…I must be going crazy. Yep. You’re just right for a one-night stand. Right?”
In the heavy silence, Adler began to look at me with a strange gaze. I hurriedly tried to correct myself and started walking away.
“…I want to hear what you just said again.”
“What? That you’re only suitable for a one-night stand?”
“Before that.”
“Do you want me to admit I’m the biggest fool in the world for being tempted by London’s Casanova twice?”
“I didn’t say that.”
With uncanny stubbornness, Adler insisted on the topic.
“If you say it clearly one more time, I might just choose you…”
“No! No need!”
By this point, even I, as obtuse as I am, understood what Adler meant by me being the last piece of his puzzle.
“Seriously…”
“I said, noooo!!!”
I resisted desperately, but it was already too late. Contrary to Adler’s claim that they would soon fade, my eyes, reflected in a nearby stream, still held the golden tints that hadn't left for a week.
“You’re just a living dildo who’s only good for pleasure!”
“…That’s a bit much.”
.
.
.
We quickly left the small village, using it as a detour to avoid threats, and finally arrived at our original destination that night—the village of Meiringen.
Fortunately, we found an inn called the British Pavilion. The woman running it claimed to have worked in a London hotel in the past, allowing us to settle in comfortably.
“…Excuse me, miss.”
“Yes?”
I was sitting by the fireplace to warm myself while waiting for Adler, who had gone to the restroom, and Moran, who was out scouting.
“Surely you’re not thinking of going to the Reichenbach Falls?”
“That’s the plan.”
The woman at the counter, who had been watching us for some time, posed the question in a somewhat old-fashioned voice.
“Please, don’t go there.”
“Why?”
“Once a year, without fail, an accident occurs there.”
As I questioned her cautiously, the woman’s expression grew worried.
“According to experts, a large amount of abnormal mana stones are buried beneath the waterfall. It causes vertigo in non-mana users and magical overload in those who can use it.”
“…Is that so?”
“Even without that, it’s a dangerous place. It’s especially risky when the snow melts and the currents turn violent. You never know when a sudden torrent might sweep you off your feet and send you over the edge.”
Her ominous warning made me uneasy. Why on earth had Adler suggested coming to such a dangerous place?
“Why not stay inside and have a drink instead? Our inn has very good liquor.”
“…Liquor?”
Searching for something to soothe my sudden anxiety, I noticed the whiskey glass the owner offered. My eyes lit up immediately.
“That… might not be a bad idea.”
Having had almost no chance to drink during the long journey, the urge was overwhelming. A drink or two before Adler returned should be fine.
“Eh? Why does it taste so good?”
“It’s our special reserve.”
I finished the glass in one gulp. The liquor was far better than I expected.
“Ma’am… just one more bottle…”
“…I’m not your ma’am.”
By the time I came to my senses, I had emptied the entire bottle.
“I… hate… being… interrupted…”
“…Watson?”
I heard Adler’s voice, sounding somewhat panicked.
“You’re here… you damn handsome bastard…”
“…From the looks of it, you’ve been drinking.”
“There’s something… I’ve been wondering…”
I don’t recall it perfectly, but I probably asked him through a haze of intoxication.
“You… do you… like me…?”
“…Of course.”
Fueled by the alcohol, I finally voiced the thoughts I had been suppressing throughout the trip.
“…Me too.”
“……..”
“To hell with it… I love you, too…”
And so, I—the last puzzle piece in Adler’s grand scheme—was put in my rightful place, completing the picture.
“So…”
—Screech…!
At that exact moment, the door flew open.
“Is there a doctor!?”
“…Huh?”
A pale young girl stood at the entrance, crying out desperately.
“…I-Is it a patient?”
“Yes! About a kilometer from here… It’s a life-threatening situation! There’s no doctor nearby…”
It should have been suspicious that a young Swiss girl spoke such fluent English. But in my drunken state, I didn't have the clarity to care. I was moved only by her tearful face and my duty as a doctor.
“T-The address is here. Please, please, help…”
“…I’ll go right now.”
I would later realize that I would regret that decision for the rest of my life.
“I’ll be back soon… wait here…”
“…Yes.”
The one in the most dire straits wasn't some non-existent patient at a fake address, but the person standing right behind me.
.
.
.
—Click…
“……..”
As Rachel Watson staggered out of the inn and the door closed, an eerie silence settled over the room.
“…This is quite interesting.”
A familiar voice broke the silence.
“Is it okay to abandon a friend like that?”
“…It’s not abandonment. It’s more like a rescue, isn’t it?”
Professor Jane Moriarty shed her friendly innkeeper persona, returning to her usual cold, languid demeanor. She threw the question out with a sneer. Charlotte, who had also dropped her tearful act for a frosty expression, replied coldly.
“After all, an ordinary person like Watson couldn’t possibly survive a fight between you and me.”
“…No matter the outcome, I didn’t want her to feel responsible.”
“That’s quite a touching friendship…”
Professor Moriarty continued to sneer as she began gathering mana in her hand.
“Indeed.”
—Creeak…
“………”
Charlotte and the Professor both frowned as Inspector Gia Lestrade slowly opened the door from a back room.
“I didn’t expect you to be throwing such a surprise party.”
“Indeed. I thought you were completely left behind.”
“I always say—I never lose track of my target when I know who I should be chasing.”
A suffocating wave of killing intent flooded the inn, the sheer pressure threatening to bring the building down.
“Sorry, but I’m the same.”
“Me too.”
“I figured everyone would come at me like this.”
As if by prior agreement, the three women drew their weapons, ready for blood.
“…Excuse me.”
However, a small voice from the front drew their gazes just as they were about to clash.
“Catch me if you can.”
Isaac Adler stood at the entrance with a mischievous smile. Leaving those words behind, he dashed out into the snow.
—Swoosh…
Charlotte and Inspector Lestrade watched him for a moment with cold eyes before slowly heading toward the exit, not bothering to rush.
…It turned out just as you said.
Behind them, the Professor, wrapped in an inexplicable sense of anxiety, muttered to herself as she rose from her seat.
Will the final destination be Reichenbach Falls, after all…?
.
.
.
“…Hah, hah.”
[Quest: ‘Make Watson confess to you again’ has been completed.]
Having exhausted the last remnants of my mana, I managed to escape the inn. Dragging a body that felt like it might collapse at any moment, I headed toward the massive waterfall ahead.
Remaining Quests: 1
I felt overwhelmed with emotion.
Now, it’s time to solve the final problem. Time to settle this once and for all.