Chapter 242: The Adventure of the Empty House
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 242: The Adventure of the Empty House
Step, step…
“”………””
Using the excuse that I had too many pressing matters to attend to upon my return, I managed to delay giving her a proper answer. Now, I found myself walking through the dim back alleys with Poppy trailing beside me.
“Uh… hey, Poppy.”
“…What is it?”
“Well, you know… Actually, never mind.”
Normally, having her around would’ve been incredibly reassuring. The problem, however, was that Poppy had been walking with her head tilted toward me, staring at my face with unsettling intensity the entire time.
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
“……No, it’s nothing.”
I wanted to tell her to stop, but the ominous gleam in her eyes kept the words stuck in my throat.
“Nothing at all…”
The bright, eager, puppy-like gaze that used to pant happily at the mere sight of me was nowhere to be found. Instead, her eyes were sharp, almost predatory—like a hound sizing up its prey.
Knowing that the one behind that gaze was the ruler of the Underworld made it impossible to treat her the way I used to.
Flinch…
“…Huh.”
When Poppy suddenly stopped, I instinctively flinched and froze in place as well.
“……..”
“P-Poppy…?”
She stood perfectly still, quietly humming through her nose while scrutinizing me. Something about her behavior was… off.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
Instead of resuming her walk, she clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace around me, her eyes roving over every inch of my body.
What was she doing?
As embarrassing as it was to admit, I couldn’t even navigate London’s back alleys without Poppy’s help in my current state. I needed her full cooperation, but now…
“…Let’s go, Master.”
“…Y-Yeah.”
Just as I was grappling with the awkwardness, Poppy’s lips curled into a faint smile and she resumed walking.
Why does it feel like our roles have been reversed…?
I also had the nagging feeling that we were just wandering in circles. The subtle sense that I was moving according to her whims left me feeling uneasy.
Swish…
“…Ah?”
Suddenly, Poppy, who had been walking slightly ahead of me, stuck out her foot and tripped me.
“Ow…!”
In my current state as a completely ordinary human, there was no way I could react to such a swift movement. Before I knew it, I was sprawled out on the filthy ground of the alleyway.
“…Poppy?”
Covered in dirt, I blinked in confusion and looked up at her.
Press…
“Eh?”
Before I could process what was happening, Poppy climbed on top of me, straddling my stomach. Without a word, she grabbed both my arms and pinned them forcefully above my head.
“Wh-Why are you doing this?”
“…….”
“C-Could you, uh, stop, maybe…?”
Her sudden aggression had me trembling, my voice shrinking as I muttered nervously. Poppy, who had been silently gazing down at me for what felt like an eternity, finally spoke in a low, almost inaudible voice.
“Weak.”
“…….”
“Why are you so weak?”
The moment her words hit me, a bead of cold sweat rolled down my face.
“My Master… was so strong that someone like me was nothing more than a toy in the palm of his hand.”
“Uh, uuuh…”
“So why are you this weak?”
Facing eyes that seemed to delve into the very depths of my soul, my mind went blank. Yet, having survived far too many similar situations, my mouth began spewing excuses on autopilot.
“Th-That’s because… after what happened two years ago, I lost my powers, you see…?”
“…….”
“I used up all the strength I had left just to resurrect myself! So, for now, I have to live like an ordinary person. It's just temporary…”
Her gaze flickered with a strange light for a brief moment as she processed my words.
“So… could you help me out for a bit, Poppy?”
Watching her carefully, I whispered the plea, swallowing dryly as I awaited her response.
Ssshhh…
After what felt like an eternity, she finally released the pressure. With a faint smile, she leaned in close to my ear and murmured.
“So that’s how it is?”
“…….”
“…Got it.”
For some reason, her shift in tone felt out of place, as if the very language of a subordinate no longer suited her. But I could say nothing.
“Please, get up.”
“…Okay.”
“For the time being, I shall protect you.”
Because without her, there was a very real possibility I’d end up in pieces, scattered across the globe to be discovered years later.
“Do not stray from my side, please. Okay?”
Even as my once-loyal pet flashed a chilling smile and grabbed my hand to lead me forward, I could do nothing but accept the reality of the situation.
“Please answer.”
“…Understood.”
“Thank you very much.”
What was going to happen to me now?
What do you think?
Warning!
– Probability of Role-Reversal — 100%
Suppressing the urge to groan, I ignored the System’s blunt message flashing in front of me. Instead, I trudged forward alongside Poppy, who wore that unnervingly predatory smile.
Masterisweakerthanme, MasterIsWeakerThanMe, masterisweakerthanme, MASTERISWEAKERTHANME…
“Fuu…”
…Doesn’t that make me the Master now?
“Hey, Poppy.”
Watching her sink into a serious, contemplative expression, I hesitantly asked a question.
“Do you happen to know where my other subordinates are?”
“Why, if I may ask?”
I couldn’t bring myself to explain that I needed to reveal my survival to them just to avoid being dragged off to the Underworld by her.
“…I just, you know, want to see them.”
“Tsk.”
“A-Ahaha…”
*
A few days had passed since the figure that had once thrown London into chaos silently returned to the heart of the city.
“……..”
The genius girl, Charlotte Holmes, who had broken her two-year absence by announcing her return in a grand fashion through the newspapers, was currently in her home at 221B Baker Street.
Click…
Across from her residence, in the uninhabited Camden Manor, a cold-eyed girl quietly rested her air rifle on the windowsill, methodically loading it.
“Hoo…”
The owner of the air rifle—a weapon bearing the marks of having been once broken and repaired—was none other than Celestia Moran.
In the two years since the incident, she had grown significantly. She now stood shockingly close to Inspector Lestrade’s height, despite being only fourteen years old. Bringing her eye to the rifle’s scope, she exhaled deeply and steadied herself.
“The target… not yet.”
After spending a long period as a hollow shell of her former self, wracked with guilt for her role in the incident that led to her master’s death, she had recently returned to the Professor’s organization. There, she had thrown herself into the dirtiest, most menial tasks, as if in penance.
But it wasn’t loyalty to the Professor that drove her. No, it was the crushing guilt she felt toward the offspring of her former master—toward the bloodline she had betrayed.
…Will I succeed?
The Professor’s latest order for her was clear and brutal: the assassination of Charlotte Holmes.
Since announcing her return, Charlotte had inflicted devastating blows on the Professor’s organization, which was still in the process of rebuilding. She was sharper, more cunning, and far more ruthless than she had been two years ago. Today, Moran’s job was to eliminate her.
Even the Professor couldn’t finish her off properly…
Yet, with years of experience under her belt, Moran knew all too well that Charlotte Holmes was no easy prey. Unlike her usual composed self, her nerves were stretched taut.
…No, that doesn’t matter.
Wiping the cold sweat from her brow with her sleeve, she steadied herself, taking a deep breath before returning her focus to the scope.
For the safety of the children…
Moran knew all too well that Charlotte had visited the Professor’s study and office twice. She also vividly remembered the expression Charlotte wore when she emerged after meeting the children, even though Moran had only observed it from the neighboring building.
…My life or honor doesn't matter anymore.
If, by any chance, the Professor were to lose to Charlotte, no one could predict what might happen to the children under her care.
I have to make it happen today… I can’t fail, no matter what.
Reminding herself of this, Moran began to minimize her breathing, waiting for Charlotte’s figure to appear in the window.
“……..”
How much time had passed?
Ssshh…
“…….!”
Finally, something shifted in her unwavering field of vision.
At last…
The shadow flickering against the window of 221B Baker Street gradually grew darker, and Moran’s heart turned icy cold.
Crrreeeak…
Seconds later, as the window within her sights swung fully open, her finger on the trigger began to tighten.
Thud…!
“……!?”
But at that precise moment, her rifle tilted unexpectedly. The muzzle dropped downward just as the air rifle slanted completely off target.
Blfff…!
The next instant, the sharp blast of compressed air—nearly silent—shot forth. It didn't hit the window; instead, it pierced through the wall ahead, leaving a clean hole in its wake.
“”………….””
And then, silence.
Was I discovered…?
In the oppressive stillness, cold sweat ran down Moran’s back. She nervously glanced at the robed figure that had suddenly appeared behind her, their hand pressed firmly on her rifle to pull it down.
If it’s come to this…!
Quietly, she reached into her pocket, her fingers brushing the emergency pistol she always carried. But—
“Moran, carrying a gun in your pocket is a nasty habit.”
“…….!?!?”
She froze, utterly dumbfounded by the all-too-familiar voice that seeped out from beneath the hooded robe.
“The Professor used to always warn me about that.”
“…..W-what?”
Even after all these years, there was no mistaking that warm, gentle voice.
“Y-Yo-You…”
Because it belonged to him. The man who had once dragged her out of the living hell she had been trapped in.
“…Master?”
*
“”…….?””
Meanwhile, in front of 221B Baker Street.
“What’s going on?”
Charlotte, who had been hiding behind the signboard with Inspector Lestrade, waiting for Moran to take a shot at her decoy, tilted her head and murmured in confusion.
“…Why hasn’t she fired?”
Something had clearly gone awry with the plan.