Chapter 284: Side Story: Isaac Adler's Final Farewell (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 284: Side Story: Isaac Adler's Final Farewell (4)
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
A horrific scream echoed through a space filled with nothing but flames and agony.
“So noisy. Same as always.”
And within that space, a new voice, one that hadn't been heard in a very long time, suddenly rang out.
“…What are you.”
A giant eyeball, writhing in the heart of the flames, opened at the sound of the voice and began to speak, its own voice cracking.
“Are you here to mock me again?”
Standing before the eyeball was none other than James Moriarty, running a hand through his grey hair with a deep frown.
“Last time, you took the form of a girl with sky-blue hair, but now you've finally revealed your hideous true form.”
“Shut up!”
“Haha, yes. A human form is certainly more convenient for getting around… but insisting on it even in a situation like this was a bit nauseating.”
As he stood there, muttering in a cynical tone reminiscent of his daughter, the eyeball glared at him, its eye wide with fury, and began to ask questions through the pain.
“Are you here to mock me again…?”
“No, I have news. If I didn't, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of forcing my way here while I'm sealed.”
James Moriarty glanced at the eyeball with a pathetic look before finally getting to the point.
“…I've pinpointed the location of the torso.”
“What? Where?”
“Earth.”
“Fuck! Why there of all places?”
The eyeball reacted violently, and James Moriarty let out a smirk, his response laced with scorn.
“Yes, I thought you’d react that way.”
His next words made the eyeball begin to turn bloodshot.
“Despite being the most pathetic part of us, you seized an opportunity to become the strongest, yet even you failed to invade that place.”
“……”
“It's also the last bastion and hope for all the worlds where supernatural abilities and gods exist.”
James Moriarty continued speaking as he watched the eyeball, then his expression hardened slightly as he scratched his head.
“The torso’s power is immense. It rivals yours at your peak.”
“…Hah, of course it does.”
“However, it seems to be doing something strange…”
And in the next moment.
“The internet? Broadcasting? Game guides? Things I can't possibly comprehend…”
“…Aaaaaaaargh!”
The eyeball, which had been holding back its pain, suddenly let out a scream and began to writhe uncontrollably.
“Pa-panties… A mountain of panties…”
“What nonsense are you spouting now.”
Moriarty frowned at the sight, then sighed and quickly continued.
“Anyway, listen carefully. This next part is important.”
“……”
“The parts we’ve found so far are the eye, which symbolizes you; the brain, which symbolizes me; and the torso, which is fooling around on Earth.”
At his words, the eyeball stared at him, its gaze filled with suspicion.
“…Once we find the location of the final piece, the heart, you too can escape this purgatory.”
The moment it heard those words, the giant eyeball’s pupil trembled.
“That’s right. The time has come for us to become a great being once more.”
“In that case…”
“However, the heart’s location is proving somewhat difficult to ascertain…”
As he spoke, the eyeball’s pupil grew larger and larger.
“…I’ve only determined that it’s in a world that has connections to singularities. I know nothing else.”
“……”
“But with my ability, pinpointing it is only a matter of time.”
James Moriarty paused, then a chilling smile spread across his face.
“A certain being has made contact with us.”
“What?”
“He’s called a cult leader of ‘Super-something,’ I believe. He's a fellow whose specialty is bewitching people with his words.”
Though the term was somewhat unfamiliar, he wore a look of genuine amusement.
“With my plan and his, we’re going to stir up some real fun very soon.”
“……”
“On Earth, a place you couldn't even touch.”
The eyeball was about to flare up again, but his next words left it speechless.
“So just stay there and suffer to your heart’s content.”
“Grk…”
“When that day comes, you’ll have to rejoin our side.”
Leaving behind words that could be taken as either encouragement or mockery, James Moriarty turned his back.
“Well then…”
But just as he was about to take a step.
A colossal stellar energy flew toward him, drawing a graceful arc through the air.
“…Kuh.”
Moriarty’s eyes widened in an instant as he summoned a grey aura to protect himself, but—
—the torrent of blue light mercilessly pierced his barrier, leaving a fatal wound on his chest before scattering beautifully in all directions.
“The star of the new era… too much for me to handle alone, I see.”
Immediately after, James Moriarty coughed up blood, his posture faltering slightly from the impact of the injury.
“But, you’re too slow.”
He opened a grey portal and stepped through it, evading someone who was just beginning to appear in the distance.
“I acknowledge your strength…”
“……”
“…But now that you've attained divinity, you must have many new restrictions.”
Before another trajectory of starlight could reach him, James Moriarty vanished into the portal, his presence disappearing in an instant.
“……”
Silence descended.
“Did he come from the world where my ancestor's friend resides?”
Eventually, someone walking through the space, now occupied only by the screaming eyeball, muttered in a low voice.
“What shall we do.”
And from beside him came a question from someone dressed in a black butler’s uniform.
“……”
The boy of starlight pondered for a moment before murmuring in a quiet voice.
“…I must convene the Dimensional Association.”
*
“Hmm…”
A few days had passed since James Moriarty’s final curse on the heroines had been reverted to its original state, thanks to the noble sacrifice (?) of the team leader, who had vanished without atoning for the sin of giving the game such a ridiculous name without my permission.
“My ear feels itchy for some reason…”
Sitting on the sofa in the safe house, which was no longer a place of terror, I scratched my inexplicably itchy ear and tilted my head in thought.
‘Is someone talking about me?’
The thought crossed my mind, but on second thought, the number of people who would speak ill of me could fill all of Europe. Not even the Professor or Charlotte Holmes could deduce who it was.
“…What is it, Adler?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
I let out a dry laugh at the thought, then hastily shook my head at the sound of the Professor’s voice from beside me.
“Anyway, I’m about to make a major announcement, so please listen carefully, everyone.”
I turned to face everyone I had met and formed bonds with in this world, who had gathered here after I contacted them in advance, and began to speak.
“So, what could our dear criminal possibly have to say that he’d summon all these people?”
“I’m not a criminal. Don’t I have human rights?”
“Still got a smart mouth. I don’t know what I see in you, quitting drugs just to raise a brat like this.”
First, there was Charlotte Holmes, who had naturally taken the seat to my left. She had recently returned to Baker Street and reopened her detective agency.
“…I should've fucked him one more time.”
Then there was Rachel Watson, who, despite having returned to normal, was muttering dangerous things with a regretful expression. Like in the original story, she had opened a clinic in the neighborhood and become its director.
“Hurry up and say it. I have official duties to attend to. Though, of course, I will be taking maternity leave later…”
Next was Gia Lestrade, who was urging me on while caressing her slightly bulging belly. Thanks to solving a string of cases (though most of the credit allegedly belonged to Charlotte), she had risen to the position of Police Commissioner.
“Huhu, for once, even I can’t predict what this is about…”
There was Mycrony Holmes, her eyes narrowed into slits behind her usual unreadable smile. For some reason, her chest seemed to have grown even more massive than before.
“Pant… pant…”
At my feet lay Miss Baskerville, panting with her tongue out. At this point, her behavior was enough to make one realize that acting like a bat isn't as easy as it looks.
“…We’re holding back Jill the Ripper and Lupin’s assault.”
“If you’re gonna say it, say it fast! I don’t know what kind of training they’ve been doing, but they’ve gotten crazy strong!”
“…This is beyond what I can handle with my demi-human strength.”
And then there were Moran, Princess Clay, and Silver Blaze, who were desperately radioing in from outside as they held off some unwelcome guests I couldn't possibly let in. They had returned to my side after a five-hour headstand punishment.
“Mmph, mmph…”
I had no idea who had picked up Lovecraft, who was still twitching inside a bag, and brought her in, but…
“I am…”
Anyway, I looked around at everyone, now back to normal (?) and gathered in one place, and opened my mouth.
“I'm going to leave this world!”
And then, for a moment, silence fell over the safe house.
“…Ah, actually, I’m just kidding!”
I watched their reactions for a moment, and sensing the rapidly chilling atmosphere, I hastily corrected myself.
“I’m going to do something similar, but it’s not a farewell, I promise!”
Still, I seemed to have gotten a little better at reading the room than I used to be. Hopefully, now that I’d finished, another disaster wouldn't break out.