Chapter 31: Hope of London
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: Hope of London
“It was you.”
In the basement, where a heavy silence had long since settled, Charlotte Holmes’s youthful voice echoed, low and subdued.
“You planned all of this.”
The black mana surrounding Charlotte swirled anxiously as she spoke.
“You put Adler in danger, brainwashed Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner from the shadows, and orchestrated this entire incident.”
“………”
“It’s all your doing, isn’t it, Jane Moriarty?”
At those words, a small smile played on Moriarty’s lips. It was the same vacant smile she always wore, utterly devoid of emotion. However, to Charlotte, that silent curve of the lips felt like a mockery—a taunt directed solely at her.
“I’m turning you over to the police.”
Charlotte’s clenched fists trembled. She muttered the words and began approaching Moriarty with powerful, determined strides.
“On what charges?”
“The attempted murder of Isaac Adler. The brainwashing of Lady Roylott. And finally, the attempted murder of Helen Stoner as well.”
Upon hearing the accusations, Moriarty’s eyes grew even colder.
“Holmes, frankly speaking, I don’t understand how you managed to get a perfect score on the entrance exam for the August Detective Academy.”
A genuine smirk now graced her lips as she looked down at Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner, who lay sprawled on the floor.
“Did you forge your results?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“It seems the one talking nonsense isn’t me, but you.”
Charlotte stopped right in front of Professor Moriarty, halted by the sheer conviction in the woman's voice.
“I simply came to this mansion to find my assistant, who had been absent from work without leave. I just happened to witness Helen Stoner committing a crime and subdued her in good faith.”
“………”
“Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner—this is a domestic affair between a mother and daughter. Isaac Adler and I were merely caught up in it. That is the beginning and the end of this story.”
“Fuck…!”
After listening to Moriarty’s cold logic, Charlotte spat out a curse.
“What exactly is the problem here?”
“For a mere domestic drama, the scheming behind this case is far too elaborate. It’s as if someone skilled had their hands in it. Someone like you…”
“If you analyze the diary and psychological assessment of the unconscious Helen Stoner, you will find it was a premeditated crime of her own making.”
“The signs of tampering are abundantly clear. And they were left that way deliberately.”
Moriarty, who had been listening with a smile, showed a faint hint of irritation for a fleeting moment.
“Someone clearly intervened to revise a creative but doomed-to-fail scheme into something functional. It’s as if they were… consulting on the crime.”
“…You’ve gone overboard with your delusions, little girl,” Moriarty whispered, the smirk returning.
“Delusions? Don’t make me laugh. It seems I’ve struck a nerve by telling the truth—”
“Then you must have evidence to prove that truth, right?”
Moriarty’s question was laced with blatant mockery. Charlotte couldn’t muster a response; she closed her mouth, silenced.
“What’s the matter, Charlotte Holmes? Don’t tell me you’ve been running your mouth without a shred of evidence to back up your claims?”
“……..”
“If you have it, why not present it now? Evidence that I was even remotely involved in this case.”
Of course, there was no evidence. Or rather, there had been… but it had already been erased.
“…………”
Helen Stoner’s eyes were vacant. She had lost consciousness after being strangled by the very collar Lady Roylott owned. Even if she regained consciousness, her brain had been deprived of oxygen for so long that she would likely never recover her full mental faculties.
“…Ugh.”
Lady Roylott was gradually coming to, but she was clearly under the influence of Helen Stoner’s brainwashing. Even if she regained her senses, she wouldn’t remember what had happened—and there was certainly no way to establish a connection to Professor Moriarty, who had never been directly involved.
“…Let go of Adler.”
Knowing the reality of the situation better than anyone, Charlotte finally spoke, her eyes closed in defeat.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to get a testimony from him. That you orchestrated all of this…”
“Ha… haha~”
Professor Moriarty finally burst into laughter, unable to contain herself.
“Ahahahahaha…!”
Her laughter echoed powerfully through the basement.
“You really are lost in your delusions.”
Stopping abruptly, Moriarty spoke again while stroking Adler, who had been nestled quietly in her arms this entire time.
“I am the one who saved Isaac Adler from danger.”
She stared intently at Charlotte.
“Is that simple fact so difficult for you to grasp?”
“Get your filthy hands off him.”
The fire in Charlotte’s eyes reignited. She glared at Moriarty’s hands caressing Adler with such intensity it felt as though she wanted nothing more than to kill the woman on the spot.
“If someone who didn’t love me touched me like that, it would give me the chills…”
“…Hmm.”
The professor’s lips curled upward at that interesting reaction.
“So that’s enough! Hand him over while I’m asking nicely—”
Swish…
Professor Moriarty quietly flipped her long hair back. She locked eyes with Adler and leaned in close.
“…………”
The next moment, their tongues softly intertwined.
“…Stop it.”
Her face turning pallid, Charlotte watched the agonizing scene unfold, her voice a creeping murmur.
“………..”
They didn't stop. With eyes closed, their tongues remained entangled in a steamy exchange of fluids.
“Stop it.”
Staring as if she’d lost her very soul, Charlotte stumbled forward, reaching a hand toward Adler.
Zzz…
“Ah!”
However, the grayish mana filling his body sparked, violently rejecting her advance.
Drip…
Charlotte was forced back. Jane Moriarty pulled her head away, a viscous silver thread of saliva stretching between them.
“Mm…”
Moriarty looked at her assistant, the line of saliva still connecting their mouths. She tilted her head and inserted her tongue back into his mouth.
“Enough….”
As the act continued unceasingly, choked-up sounds began to escape Charlotte.
Groooan…
With her head bowed in defeat, Charlotte was engulfed in black, smoky flames. The corners of Professor Moriarty’s mouth lifted.
“…Do you understand now?”
Finally pulling away from Adler, she wiped the corner of her lips with her sleeve and whispered in a subdued voice.
“This is no place for a meddling child to interfere…”
“……….”
“Our relationship, I mean.”
With a victorious smile, she turned to leave the room.
“…Did that woman named Watson go to call the police?” Moriarty glanced back and muttered to her assistant. “You should get going as well. It’ll be problematic if the police find you here…”
“Professor.”
Adler, who had remained still even as Moriarty moved toward the exit, spoke in a soft voice.
“I’ll follow you in a moment.”
“Why?”
“Don’t we have to clean up the crime scene?”
Adler’s gaze was fixed on Charlotte, who remained enveloped in a thick coating of smoky black mana.
“…Understood.”
Moriarty watched him with a furrowed brow for a moment before smiling and nodding.
“Then, I leave it to you.”
Given that her mana was implanted within him, there was no way that arrogant girl could interfere with Adler.
No, she should be worrying about her own safety first.
Moriarty didn’t truly see the girl as a competitor. However, for some reason, the idea that Charlotte might give up on approaching her assistant made her feel inexplicably light.
…Anyway.
As she walked away with a cheerful smile, she savored the lingering taste of Adler in her mouth. Her expression shifted slightly to one of disappointment.
The notion that a kiss is sweet was a lie.
Despite the thought, a slight blush colored her cheeks.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
.
.
.
.
.
“….Umm.”
How much time had passed?
“…….?”
Lifting her heavy eyelids, Charlotte looked around with a dazed expression.
“Where am I…”
The last thing she remembered was the smoky black mana, like gaseous flames, engulfing her body. Then, she had been swept away by a flood of emotions more intense than anything she had ever experienced. She had lost control instantly, falling unconscious within the flames of her own rampaging mana.
What happened?
At the very least, her life—or everything around her—should have been consumed by the surge. Yet, she was fine.
Why?
“You seem to have woken up.”
“Ah.”
Her questions were answered the moment she saw the familiar man’s twinkling eyes.
“You were in great danger. You almost lost control.”
Adler held her hands in his, a quiet smile on his face.
“When did you awaken your mana? It was quite a surprising sight.”
Looking at his clothes, which were torn to shreds, and the black scars marring his skin, it was clear he had saved her once again.
“…I’ve failed.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve failed as a detective.”
Staring blankly at him, Charlotte murmured while lowering her head.
“By the time I realized everything, it was already too late.”
“……….”
“Even worse, instead of helping you, I ended up causing you more harm.”
She lifted her head, her gaze lifeless.
“Mr. Adler.”
Her voice was equally hollow.
“I’m not qualified to solve your riddles and mysteries.”
“What are you talking about?”
Instead of agreeing, Adler began to encourage her.
“You’ve done far better than I expected.”
“I don’t need your sympathy. I—”
“Not only did you expose Professor Moriarty’s schemes, but you also forced her to get directly involved in the case, did you not?”
“………”
“I am certain that her involvement will be recorded.”
His hand began to gently stroke Charlotte’s disheveled hair.
“It might be a minor record…”
“………”
“But for her, a woman who has never been implicated in a case and has remained flawless until now, this is the very first stain on her record.”
At his warm touch, Charlotte began to stare at him blankly.
“As these records accumulate, who do you think will eventually win?”
Adler gave her a gentle, warm smile.
“In that sense, Ms. Holmes, this case is your victory.”
After staring at his smile for a long time, Charlotte slowly spoke.
“What are you thinking?”
“Hm?”
“Why are you… so kind to me?”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“You are my enemy; it should be normal for me to be an annoyance to you, just as I am to the professor. Yet you’ve helped me so many times…”
“That’s because I love you.”
“Lies.”
Suddenly, her voice turned icy cold.
“The one you love is Jane Moriarty, isn’t it?”
“…Ms. Holmes.”
“I saw it with my own eyes. You couldn’t even push her away…”
For a moment, a sharp, sinister look appeared in her eyes, making Adler break into a cold sweat. He lowered his eyes and spoke in a subdued tone.
“…Of course I can’t push her away.”
“What?”
“I can’t defy her.”
His face turned solemn.
“No, it’s impossible for anyone in London to defy her.”
“…I know many powerful people.”
“Even if the entire Queen’s Knights came for her, they could vanish with a single gesture from the professor.”
Adler shook his head. Charlotte, seeing his pitiful state, felt a surge of maternal instinct and allowed the sharpness of her gaze to soften.
“There is no one in this world who can stand against her.”
His voice echoed firmly through the room.
“…Until now, that’s what I believed.”
Just as Charlotte began to sag at his words, a gentle smile appeared on Adler’s lips, and he tightened his grip on her hand.
“A moment ago, however, I changed my mind.”
Adler moved her hand to his chest.
“Check the mana within my body.”
Caught off guard, Charlotte placed her hand on his chest. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“This is…”
“It’s your mana.”
Just a moment ago, his body had been filled with Professor Moriarty’s murky, grayish mana.
“Since I was holding back your rampaging mana with my entire body, it started mixing in.”
However, things were different now.
“Now, half of my body belongs to the professor, and the other half has become yours.”
Just as he said, the professor’s grey mana and Charlotte’s black mana were perfectly divided, coloring the inside of Adler’s body.
“Wait, if this continues, your body won’t be able to—”
“Charlotte Holmes.”
Staring at the two types of mana fiercely fighting for dominance inside him, Charlotte looked at Adler, her face turning even paler.
“There really is no one but you.”
Adler cut her off and stepped closer.
"You are the true nemesis of Professor Moriarty."
“…What?”
"Because the only mana that can stand equal to hers is yours."
Adler’s warmth began to seep into her.
"The only one who can topple Professor Moriarty's kingdom and pull her down from her throne is you."
Gently holding Charlotte in his arms, Adler tilted his head and whispered softly in her ear.
"You are the hope of London."
The moment she heard those words, her breath hitched.
“So, hang in there.”
Adler gave her a slight smile and patted her back.
“I’ll be coming with the next riddle soon.”
“………”
“And after that, I will create many wicked and dreadful incidents for you.”
Adler, who now had her full, undivided attention, whispered to her once more.
“Please be reborn as the being I have envisioned.”
His pupils had inexplicably turned a shade of grey, shining in the darkness.
"I love you, Ms. Holmes."
Of course, to Charlotte Holmes, it was perfectly clear to whom that dirty grey mana in Adler’s eyes belonged.
.
.
.
.
.
“Then… take care.”
Leaving those words behind, I stood up. Focusing on my mana, I rubbed my bloodshot eyes and headed toward the exit.
The result is better than expected.
Though the incident arose from my own misunderstanding and foolishness, the outcome was favorable. Charlotte Holmes, who was only supposed to awaken her mana in the final stages of the story, had successfully done so in the early stages instead.
If she continued to hone her power, she might actually be able to stand toe-to-toe with the final boss—Moriarty—fairly soon.
– Probability of ??? — 15% → 0%
With the neutralization of Lady Roylott and Helen Stoner, that suspicious probability had also vanished. The fact that the canon event—The Adventure of the Speckled Band—which could have endangered the world due to the game developers' logical inconsistencies, had concluded successfully was an added bonus.
…Well, time to find out why the erosion rate suddenly increased.
What remained was to ascertain the cause of the increased erosion before the police arrived.
Wait, how am I going to explain my current state to the professor?
Swish…
“…….?”
As I hurried toward the exit, breaking into a cold sweat at the thought of explaining my dual-mana body to Moriarty, I sensed a chilling presence behind me.
“Uh?”
The moment I turned around, the world began to spin.
“………?”
In the blink of an eye, I was pinned to the basement floor.
“What…?”
“Bartitsu¹.”
As I lay there dazed, unable to make sense of the situation, a low, toneless voice came from above me.
“It’s a Japanese martial art; my specialty, if you will.”
“…Ms. Holmes?”
Charlotte Holmes was straddling me, pinning both of my arms down.
“What are you doing…?”
As I looked up at her in bewilderment, a message suddenly appeared before my eyes.
Warning!
– Probability of ??? — 0% → 20%
“Take a guess.”
Behind the message, the look in Charlotte Holmes’s eyes was becoming increasingly murky with each passing second.
“You like riddles, don’t you?”
What on earth—!?
Footnotes