Chapter 24: I’ll Borrow Him for a Bit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: I’ll Borrow Him for a Bit
“Isaac Adler is mine to deal with.”
Charlotte’s delicate voice broke the silence that had permeated the room until now.
“To be precise—so that you don’t misunderstand—I mean that I will be solely responsible for taking him down.”
“Yes, and I’ll just borrow him from time to time.”
“I didn’t realize you were so dull that you couldn’t grasp the meaning of sole responsibility.”
“I’m beginning to wonder, Charlotte… what is the real problem here?”
For the first time, Mycrony tilted her head, offering a smile toward her lovely younger sister.
“You know very well that I dislike intervening. I prefer to simply observe, don’t I?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Then there will be no interference from my side regarding your detective work. Unless you specifically ask me to, I won’t interfere, I won’t offer advice, and I won’t influence the outside world, no matter what happens in the future.”
Seeing Charlotte’s eyebrows furrow further, a quiet smile played on Mycrony's lips.
“I just want to be bitten by a mosquito once a week.”
“…Sister.”
“You don’t love him; you just see him as an enemy that needs to be eradicated, right?”
When Charlotte didn’t respond, Mycrony quietly tilted her head to the other side.
“Shouldn’t you be thanking me, then?”
“What?”
“At this point, who else but I can provide him with the blood he requires without any complications?”
“…I can do it too.”
“Charlotte, if you periodically feed the blood of someone who still suffers from mana poisoning to a vampire, it might actually shorten their lifespan.”
Mycrony shook her head vigorously before adding her next point.
“You can’t just attack people in the night like in the old days. Since the founding of the Auguste Detective Academy, the quality of criminal investigations has been constantly improving.”
“………”
“That’s why I am your nemesis’s most stable blood bank, Charlotte.”
“But…”
“I’m actually making it more convenient for him to confront you, but it seems our lovely little sister doesn’t appreciate the gesture.”
Faced with a speechless Charlotte glaring at her with a chilling gaze, Mycrony flinched slightly and closed her eyes.
“…What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to recall the sensation from earlier.”
As she spoke, a faint blush crept onto her delicate face.
“…It doesn’t really work… as well as I expected.”
Mycrony’s expression seemed slightly dazed as she staggered to her feet.
“I’ll borrow him for a bit longer for now.”
“Wait a moment.”
Charlotte stepped forward, blocking Mycrony’s path.
“I want to make something clear.”
Even though Mycrony’s imposing figure loomed over her, Charlotte refused to be cowed and stood her ground.
“Don’t interfere in the story between him and me.”
“………”
“He is my destined nemesis, ordained for me by this world. He is both the fate that will undo my curse and the evil that I must vanquish.”
The eyes she had worked so hard to camouflage in a grey hue began to turn golden once more as she spoke.
“No one, under any circumstances, is allowed to come between us.”
“Oh my…”
“If he needs blood, I’ll purify mine and give it to him. So just back off.”
Spotting the faint black smoke emanating from Charlotte, Mycrony covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled.
“I had my doubts, but you’ve really fallen for him, haven’t you?”
“Think what you will. But I cannot allow your hidden, perverse desires to complicate my matters with him.”
“Hmm…”
“Our conversation is over. Adler and I will look for another hideout. Goodbye.”
“Well, if my little sister says so, what can I do?”
As Charlotte turned to leave with a flustered look, she froze at Mycrony’s words.
“What did you just say?”
“If my lovely little sister dislikes it, there’s nothing I can do, is there?”
Mycrony’s attitude shifted instantly, her face falling into a sullen pout.
“I’ll gracefully give in, like an adult.”
“………?”
“You can continue using the club as a hideout. There is no place in all of England as safe as this club.”
Confused by the sudden change in stance, Charlotte furrowed her brows.
“…What’s your game here?”
“Game? To think so poorly of your sister, who has devoted her life to looking after you… it’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
Mycrony put on a pitiful expression, looking as if she were on the verge of tears.
“…It’s because your attitude changed so suddenly.”
“The fact that you can’t even distinguish a simple tease from the sister you haven’t seen in so long… I’m genuinely hurt, Charlotte.”
“Fine, then.”
Charlotte, still eyeing Mycrony with suspicion, sighed at her playful tone and turned away.
“You should’ve just done that from the start.”
“Go call Adler. He’s waiting outside.”
At Mycrony’s request, Charlotte turned her head back once more.
“Shouldn’t we finish our conversation first?”
“…I have things to do as well.”
“No. As your sister, there are things I urgently need to ask your nemesis.”
Mycrony made a dismissive gesture, signaling there was no need for concern.
“It’ll be over quickly, so just wait a moment.”
A quiet smile played on her lips.
*
“Do I need to repeat what I did earlier?”
“Take a seat.”
As Adler entered the room, he sat down, feeling the tension from Mycrony’s altered demeanor.
“Isn’t Miss Holmes coming in?”
“I had questions I wanted to ask while my sister wasn’t around.”
Mycrony leaned in, her voice soft.
“What is your purpose?”
Adler scratched his head quietly, prompting Mycrony to press further.
“I know very well that you want to establish a small kingdom here in London…”
“……….”
“With that professor of yours—the one you have such a hard time getting along with due to her eccentric personality.”
Her discerning eyes narrowed.
“But what is your plan after that?”
“After… you say?”
“Will you expand your kingdom to encompass the whole of England, and then the world? Or perhaps you intend to enslave the people of London?”
As Mycrony leaned forward, Adler found himself faced with her looming presence and could only offer an uncomfortable expression.
“I’m not threatening you. It’s pure curiosity.”
“……..”
“From my seat here, I can see the entirety of the world’s inner workings… but for the life of me, I cannot comprehend why you are going to such lengths.”
“I see.”
“What, exactly, is the end goal of this peculiar journey of yours?”
Adler closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought as he searched for the answer.
“I wish…”
A moment later, a soft voice flowed from his lips.
“I wish to be defeated by Miss Charlotte Holmes.”
Upon hearing those words, Mycrony’s grey eyes began to shine in the dim room.
“I want to see a single girl bring down the massive empire that the professor has built.”
“Ahem…”
“I long to see her stand tall as the hope of London.”
To anyone familiar with her true nature, the look she was giving Adler would have been chilling. However, Adler continued, completely undeterred.
“I wish to witness the birth of an unparalleled hero whose legend persists for centuries to come.”
“………”
“That is all I truly desire.”
Having concluded his piece, Adler discreetly cleared his throat.
“Please keep this a secret from Miss Charlotte Holmes.”
Mycrony began to chuckle softly.
“You turned out to be a far more interesting variable than I expected.”
“…Is that so?”
“You are filled with anxiety and fear on the surface, yet you become a different person at crucial moments.”
“I tend to think on my feet. By the way, when exactly did you observe my 'usual' demeanor?”
“I thought perhaps your soul had changed, but apart from the black hair… the soul inside looks the same, doesn’t it?”
Adler, who had been responding calmly, frowned at that remark.
“…Since that damn design department copied me without permission.”
“Excuse me?”
“How did you come to know of such a thing?”
After murmuring to himself, Adler posed a question with a sly smile.
“The ability to see through everything, yet feeling no interest or thrill in any event. That is my curse.”
“…Another curse?”
“What are you muttering about?”
“It’s nothing.”
Adler straightened his posture.
“So, does that satisfy your curiosity regarding my purpose?”
“For an improvised response mixed with lies, it was somewhat convincing.”
“My words were sincere.”
“People tend to mix truth with their lies to make them feel sincere, yes.”
Mycrony’s eyes danced with amusement.
“…From what I can see, it looks like you might have a slight affection for the professor.”
“That’s unlikely.”
“If that reaction isn’t an act, then it seems my younger sister isn’t the only one unaware of their own feelings.”
“……..”
“Hehe… It truly is an intriguing love triangle.”
Suddenly, her smile faded, and she murmured in a cold voice,
“…Had my physical condition been slightly better, I would’ve loved to turn it into a square.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing.”
As if nothing had happened, she reverted to her usual affable smile. She reached under the table and pulled out a decorative object with a magnet attached.
“I’m just curious about the expression my younger sister will have when she hears what you said—right around the time everything comes to an end, of course.”
“…It seems recording without consent has become a trend these days.”
“Hehe.”
Adler watched her with a resigned expression before rising from his seat.
“I’ll be taking my leave now, Miss Mycrony. If you’ll allow it.”
“Just a moment.”
The change in her tone made him halt.
“…Give me a parting gift.”
“Pardon?”
Mycrony, who had maintained an overwhelming presence until now, whispered with a slightly flushed face.
“Give me a bite.”
Seeing Adler’s shocked expression, she averted her eyes and pointed to the clock.
“It’s not yet 1:05, is it?”
Silence filled the room.
“This time, please bite the front of my neck.”
“……….”
“Do it with the intent to kill—with all your might.”
Adler glanced briefly at the agents outside before turning back to her. Mycrony’s voice quivered with fervor.
“That area is densely packed with blood vessels; it’s too risky. Perhaps…”
Adler made a troubled face.
“The lower part lacks sensation due to the… flesh.”
At her words, he was momentarily lost for words. Avoiding Mycrony’s dark gaze, he suggested in a quiet tone,
“…Then, how about a bit lower?”
“You mean the belly?”
“No, on second thought, that was a foolish remark…”
Realizing his blunder, Adler tried to correct himself.
Swoosh—
However, before his eyes, Mycrony lifted her top, revealing a soft, pale patch of skin.
“Bite me.”
“………”
Beads of cold sweat began to form on Adler’s forehead.
*
A few minutes later.
“Sister, are you finished yet?”
“Huh?”
Charlotte, who had been lingering outside, suddenly swung the door open. Mycrony, sitting at the desk with a dazed expression, blinked rapidly.
“…What’s wrong?”
“You know big sister has had a weak heart since birth. If you barge in without warning, of course I’ll be startled.”
Charlotte tilted her head, scanning the room.
“Where’s Adler?”
“He went to the restroom.”
“I didn’t see him leave.”
“He must have used the back door, so you missed him.”
Sensing a suspicious atmosphere, Charlotte prepared to step further into the room, but Mycrony’s next words stopped her.
“Well, I’ll know for sure when I check for myself.”
Leaving that comment behind, Charlotte headed toward the restroom.
“……Phew.”
As Charlotte’s footsteps faded, a suppressed breath was released from under Mycrony’s desk.
“Are you satisfied now?”
From inside the desk's kneehole, Adler—who was kneeling and wiping away the trail of saliva from the spot he had bitten—looked up at Mycrony.
Rustle…
Staring down at him, Mycrony reached into her bodice and handed him something.
“What is this?”
“It’s my home address.”
“Pardon?”
Adler looked at the paper in shock.
“Isn’t this a state secret?”
“………”
“What if I lead my subordinates to raid your home?”
Mycrony replied with a playful glint in her eyes.
“I suppose I’d be captured by a cute vampire, feel the sharp bite he’d inflict on my neck, and die slowly.”
“……..”
“Come to think of it, that might not be such a bad way to go.”
She whispered softly to the puzzled Adler.
“Visit that address every week from now on.”
“Pardon?”
“You need a blood bank, don’t you?”
Her eyes were shining brighter than ever.
“And I need a personal Adler.”
Adler unconsciously swallowed and tried to muster a smile.
“…And if I refuse?”
“I have hundreds of ways to destroy you, Mr. Adler.”
She replied instantly to his teasing query.
“You can make the choice yourself, without me forcibly taking ownership of your body or your autonomy.”
Adler’s smile faded at the terrifyingly clear threat.
“Having awakened the eyes of a pitiful anhedonic who has been searching for stimulation her entire life, you should take responsibility, don’t you think?”
Mycrony tilted her head playfully.
“Didn’t you approach me with that intention from the very beginning?”
There was only one answer Adler could give.
“…I will see you in a week.”
“Take care.”
Thus concluded the breathtaking conversation between the titans of London’s light and shadows.
—Why are you coming out from there?
—Pardon?
—I suppose that is the restroom for Mr. Adler.
Charlotte, visible through the slightly ajar door, commented sharply while grabbing Adler’s sleeve. Mycrony’s lips began to quiver at the sight.
—It’s okay, let’s go.
“…I’m truly sorry, Charlotte.”
Once they were gone, Mycrony gently caressed the vivid bite marks on her abdomen, where an odd mix of fiery red and majestic golden mana radiated even now.
“Sister, I’ve realized something.”
Her expression was tinged with mischievous delight.
“Having a secret relationship is far more stimulating than one that’s out in the open.”
In her monotonous life, surrounded only by the affairs of England and her younger sister, an irresistible thrill had finally been etched.
“…I’ll borrow him for a bit; in secret, of course.”