Chapter 265: Side Story: The Adventures of Isaac Adler (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 265: Side Story: The Adventures of Isaac Adler (3)
Whoosh—
“Strange… I’m certain I got the proportions right.”
My plan to swiftly regain my strength and break back into the academy had gone up in smoke. Now, London was suffocating under the tense atmosphere of impending war.
Every single one of her agents—save for the ever-loyal Moran, who had been instrumental in my escape, and the inexplicably tagging-along Princess Clay and Silver Blaze—would now be hunting me down.
In short, I needed to get on a ship and flee Britain, no matter the cost.
“This… is going to be a real problem.”
The cool breeze from Dover Harbor brushed against my face, but my head only felt hotter with every passing second.
France was out of the question; that conniving thief Lupin was lurking there, waiting for the perfect chance to turn the tables. The German Empire was equally unappealing, as it was soon to be engulfed in chaos.
Heading toward the Italian Peninsula or Russia wasn’t much better, considering the Professor’s influence had already spiderwebbed across the entirety of Europe.
Even if I managed to avoid the Professor herself, my infamy was enough to attract countless factions who would jump at the chance to kidnap the suddenly resurfaced Isaac Adler.
But doubling back to London for a counterattack? That would be nothing short of suicide.
“Ugh…”
No matter how much I racked my brain, no brilliant solution presented itself. If I’d known things would turn out like this, I should’ve seduced the Queen in advance…
…Wait, a queen?
Now that I thought about it, there was a way. Why hadn’t I considered this before?
“If she still has feelings for me… it could serve as the perfect temporary refuge. But…”
“Master.”
“…Ack!”
As I was mulling over this unexpectedly brilliant idea, Moran, who had been silently carrying my belongings, suddenly jabbed me in the side.
Damn it. After years of enduring all kinds of "discipline," my body had become far too sensitive to even the slightest touch.
“Hngh… ah… ngh…”
“Are you alright?”
“…Y-Yeah. But why did you call me?”
Not wanting to show any weakness in front of Moran—my final and only remaining hope—I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay composed. Moran simply pointed into the distance and whispered.
“Shall I shoot them?”
Her words sent an instant chill down my spine.
“…They’re already here? So the Professor didn’t trust us from the start, huh.”
“Grrrr…”
As expected, both Princess Clay and Silver Blaze were already on high alert, their predatory senses sharpened.
Could the Professor have tracked us all the way here already? If that were the case, escape was a pipe dream.
“Let me shoot, Master.”
“…Even if you shoot, do you think you can hit me?”
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the voice that echoed through the foggy harbor didn’t belong to the Professor.
“Someone like you? One shot is more than enough.”
“The brat who couldn’t even squeak in my presence has certainly grown bold.”
With her characteristically cold, matter-of-fact tone, the figure who emerged from the fog was none other than Gia Lestrade.
“…Ah, how unfortunate. It seems certain parts of you haven't grown at all, though.”
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Before Lestrade could even finish her snide remark, Moran’s gun spat fire, unleashing a flurry of shots.
For someone like Moran, who usually preferred to conserve her mana and optimize her energy for precision sniping, the sheer volume of fire was telling. Clearly, Lestrade’s taunt had struck a nerve.
“You fucking bitch…”
‘Though, to be fair… she is still a kid.’
Moran had shot up in height over the years, now matching my own, and her appearance had matured significantly. But for some reason, her chest hadn’t developed at all, which made her a constant target of mockery whenever they saw her.
Honestly, why were they all so desperate to antagonize Moran? She’s still just a child.
…Wait, how old is Moran now?
That thought hit me suddenly. As I tried to piece together the current year and calculate her age, a dizzying wave of vertigo overwhelmed me.
Come to think of it, what year was it? How old was Moran? And how many years had actually passed since I returned to this world?
“Ugh…”
“…Are you alright?”
Hearing me groan, Moran, who was still firing rapidly, asked in a low, concerned voice.
“Your skills have improved, but it's nothing I can’t handle!” Lestrade shouted back.
“Tch…”
I wanted to ask Moran what year it was, but judging by the situation, it clearly wasn’t the time for a history lesson.
No matter how competent Moran and the other two were, Gia Lestrade was officially recognized as one of the strongest individuals in the world's lore. While an older, more experienced Moran might have reached the pinnacle of power herself, that didn’t make Lestrade any less formidable.
And wasn’t her ability something absurd like the nullification of all supernatural powers?
If she decided to block our path to the ship, it would lead to a catastrophe—one where the Professor would eventually arrive with reinforcements.
In that case, the only way to overcome this is…
It seemed there was only one option left.
…But is this really the right move?
Normally, I’d have sobered up from the alcohol within five minutes. Something about the mix today seemed a little off. No, it must just be in my head. It had been so long since I’d had a drink that my tolerance must have plummeted.
Click—
Thinking that, I pulled a flask from my coat. This time, I carefully calculated the dose before taking a measured sip.
“…Hah.”
“……?”
For a moment, I thought I heard a strange chuckle escape Moran’s lips, but it was probably just my imagination.
*
The moment news broke that Adler had finally broken the “agreement” and staged his escape, Gia Lestrade had made a solemn vow.
Before the women of London—who had only just regained their peace, safety, and virtue—could fall back into despair, she would bring him back.
For her, who had gone so far as to marry that brazen scoundrel for the sake of public welfare, it was the only natural course of action.
Of course, her decision wasn’t influenced in the slightest by personal feelings—like not wanting the child currently growing within her to be raised without a father. No, this was purely for the greater good.
“My, my, Gia.”
“…Urgh.”
“Isn’t that temper of yours a bit too fiery?”
However, that noble resolve was being tested today for perhaps the first time in her life.
“I think you’re at your most beautiful when you smile.”
“S-Shut up… you bastard.”
“Though I’ll admit, you’re adorable even when you’re angry.”
“I said shut it!”
Adler had dismissed his guards. Now, fully returned to the infuriating rogue she knew all too well, he had begun flirting shamelessly the moment he drank something from his flask.
“Do you think I’ll fall for that again?”
Lestrade, however, was not easily swayed.
“You already married me once, made me yours, and then divorced me just like that! You left me with nothing but… pathetic, pitiful excuses!”
Though his smile and silver tongue had once captivated the hearts of women across Europe, Lestrade’s own heart had been thoroughly trampled—even if she claimed it was all for the greater good.
“Yes, I once vowed to dedicate my entire life to you. But what could I do? Circumstances were… less than ideal.”
“What?”
Lestrade’s words faltered as Adler, in his typical audacious manner, met her accusations with shameless nonchalance.
“You know, despite meeting countless women in my life…”
“Oh, don’t even start—!”
“…You were the first and only one I ever married.”
Adler didn’t miss a beat, taking full advantage of her hesitation.
“Am I wrong? Even with Holmes, even with the Professor herself—I never married them, did I?”
“……”
“I had genuinely made up my mind to settle down with you.”
It was a statement that would have caused Rachel Watson—who was likely currently cleaning her ears at the hospital built with the dowry she’d saved to marry the scoundrel—to faint on the spot.
But regardless of the absurdity, the words themselves were technically true. Lestrade’s breathing began to slow.
“But in the end, you betrayed me.”
“Yes, it was due to unavoidable external pressures. I deeply regret it. That’s why I’m trying so hard to set everything right now.”
“Your words flow as smoothly as ever.”
“So, won’t you lend me your strength?”
“Go to hell.”
Lestrade’s expression remained icy.
“If you help me…”
“I’d sooner trust a stray dog on the street than you…”
“…I’ll tell you my true name.”
Adler closed the distance before she realized it. He held her shoulder, his voice a low, intimate whisper. For a moment, the frost in Lestrade’s expression wavered.
“You already know why the Professor, who has conquered all of Europe, and Charlotte’s fight hasn’t reached its conclusion yet, don’t you?”
“That’s…”
“It’s because Charlotte is the only one who knows my true name.”
And that was the truth.
Through his pact with the System, Adler had regained the full powers of an Archdevil, enough to directly challenge not only Professor Moriarty but the infamous James Moriarty himself. The only thing holding him back was Charlotte Holmes, who held his singular weakness—his true name.
With her father sealed away, the current strongest force in existence, Professor Jane Moriarty, had no choice but to enter into a grand pact with Charlotte Holmes and the other delegates, sharing control over Adler as a focal point.
“I’ll offer you my true name—something even the great Professor doesn’t know.”
“……”
“So please, just this once, help me.”
It was an offer so monumental that even Lestrade, who prided herself on her unwavering commitment to the law, couldn’t help but falter.
“T-Then…”
“Hmm?”
“What about the marriage?”
Lestrade, who had been staring blankly at him, finally managed to ask in a small, hesitant voice. Adler let out a soft, amused chuckle.
“What are you even saying?”
Carefully, he pulled her into an embrace, leaning in close to whisper against her ear.
“You’ve always been my only wife.”
The police baton in Lestrade’s hand, which had been deftly deflecting Moran’s mana-infused bullets just moments ago, slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor.
“…Honestly, I’ve been thinking lately that Adler is just pitiful.”
“Yeah. I should’ve just kept my mouth shut and stuck to ravishing him.”
The mutterings of Princess Clay and Silver Blaze drifted in from the background, but it was already too late—the matter had been decided.
*
“…What?”
A few hours later.
“What did you just say?”
The Queen of Bohemia, seemingly weary from the ongoing preparations for the royal wedding—or perhaps burdened by some other melancholy—held her teacup as she stared wistfully out the window. It was then that an unbelievable report reached her ears.
“That boy is coming to me?”
The news was this: Isaac Adler was heading for the Austro-Hungarian Empire.