Chapter 41: The Case of Silver Blaze (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: The Case of Silver Blaze (3)
Taking on the Silver Blaze case had been easier than expected, but one major hurdle remained: finding a place to hide her.
Professor Moriarty’s office was out of the question; too many people cycled through it daily. Hiding her in a random hotel was equally risky, as Holmes could barge in at any moment.
“You can stay here until the case is resolved.”
“Here?”
After much discussion with the professor, the temporary residence chosen for her was none other than my dormitory room.
Student rooms guaranteed absolute privacy, and the academy itself was practically an autonomous zone where outsiders couldn't set foot. It was, quite literally, the perfect hideout.
“…Is it truly alright for me to stay in a place like this?”
“Hmm?”
As I deactivated the invisibility magic concealing her and opened the door, a trembling voice came from beside me.
“It’s… it’s far too luxurious, isn’t it?”
“………”
“You don’t need to go to such lengths for me. I feel so burdened I might actually die if I stay in a place like this…”
“Where on earth have you been staying all this time?”
Seeing her fearful reaction, I asked the question in a low, soft voice. The answer that came back was truly staggering.
“The stables.”
“Excuse me? What did you just say?”
“All the Demi-Human horses stay in the stables. It’s quite unsanitary, but it’s a bit better if you sleep on a pile of hay bales.”
It was unbelievable. The dwelling for Demi-Humans—who were no different from humans—was a stable.
Was Rachel Watson’s claim about the abolition of interspecies slavery even accurate at this point?
Although I had thoroughly examined this world, I hadn't looked into the darker, more granular details of the setting. It was embarrassing. Perhaps, due to my own insistence on historical accuracy during the creation process, the grim conditions of that era had been reflected too vividly in this world.
I began to feel a surge of guilt.
“Come in.”
“Ah—!”
As Silver Blaze tried to shrink back, I grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room.
Click.
As I swiftly shut the door, a heavy silence settled between us.
“Please, make yourself comfortable.”
“Ah, um…?”
When I guided the dazed Silver Blaze to sit on my bed, her tail and animal ears stiffened, twitching nervously.
Rustle, rustle…
She poked the soft mattress with her fingers, looking at me with profound unease.
“…I, I can sleep on the floor, you know.”
How had she been treated until now for her self-esteem to be this shattered? This was no different from slavery.
“It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
“No! You—you really don’t need to…”
“Then shall we share the bed?”
“………”
Desperate to get her to actually use the bed, I asked a question that caused Silver Blaze’s face to turn a brilliant crimson.
“…Thank you.”
She finally relented, quietly pulling the blanket up to cover half of her face.
Twitch, twitch…
‘…She’s adorable.’
Seeing her ears perk up involuntarily reminded me of a character from a mobile game I used to play before falling into this world. A faint smile touched my lips.
“Go ahead and take a bath in the bathroom over there.”
“Can I… can I really wash without permission?!”
“Of course. Wear my clothes for now. I’m not sure if they’ll fit, but…”
“No, I can’t. I might make them smell.”
“Don’t worry about that. By the way, have you eaten? If you’re hungry, let me know. I’ll get you whatever you want.”
My attempts to treat her with basic decency only made her eyes roll in panic as she broke out in a cold sweat.
Because she had been treated so harshly as a slave, even things that were normal for people of this era felt like an overwhelming burden to her. I felt less like a host and more like someone who had purchased an abused slave and was now desperately trying to nurse her back to health.
“…Carrots.”
“Pardon?”
As I scratched my head, pondering the odd dynamic, Silver Blaze whispered from beneath the blanket in a muffled voice.
“I want to eat… as many carrots as I can…”
Her flushed red ears quivered above the edge of the blanket.
“Just wait a moment.”
I couldn't stand it any longer. Damn it, she was too pitiful.
.
.
.
.
.
A short while later.
“Ah…”
“Eat as much as you’d like, Ms. Blaze.”
Silver Blaze stared blankly, mouth agape, at the enormous mountain of carrots piled on the plate before her.
“………”
“…Is it too much?”
Observing her stunned reaction, Isaac Adler looked at her with a worried expression.
Rustle…
Silver Blaze cautiously picked up a carrot from the top of the pile.
“Ms. Blaze?”
After taking a single bite, she began to shiver.
“It’s delicious…”
Tears welled in her eyes as she murmured.
“Munch, munch… Mm…”
And so began Silver Blaze’s carrot feast.
“Uuughh…”
Clutching carrots in both hands, she ate with frantic speed. Suddenly, she clutched her chest with a pained expression.
“Here, have some water.”
“Th-thank you… Gulp…”
Adler quietly handed her a glass of water and watched as she drank it down.
“Phew…”
“Didn’t they feed you at the racetrack?” he asked cautiously, watching her catch her breath as her tail drooped.
“…They did,” she replied, her eyes turning somber. “Based on performance, of course.”
“………”
“If we performed poorly, we got the whip instead of carrots.” She then scratched her head, forced a bright smile. “But I always performed well, so I received quite a lot. I could even share them with the others who didn't get any. Hehe…”
Adler watched her in silence.
“…This is the first time I’ve ever had carrots of this quality. And to eat my fill… thank you.”
“Will you be saving the rest?”
“If… if it’s alright, I want to share them with my friends…”
As Silver Blaze’s tail and ears drooped while she gauged his reaction, Adler was momentarily at a loss for words. He reached toward the carrots and began casting preservation magic on them.
“Are… are you taking them back?”
“………”
“I’m—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made such a selfish request…”
“What exactly happened that day?”
Misinterpreting his silence as anger, Silver Blaze apologized fearfully, only to stiffen at the sudden question.
“…It was a day like any other,” she began, her hands shaking as she closed her eyes. “I was confined in the punishment room, being whipped by Mr. Straker.”
“Why?”
“Because I made a mistake in the previous race and nearly finished in second place. The owner of the racetrack, Colonel Rose, doesn’t tolerate such mistakes.”
Adler’s brows furrowed, but Silver Blaze continued as if describing a mundane chore.
“After a long session in the punishment room, Mr. Straker left for a late dinner, and I began preparing for the race.”
“While your body was covered in wounds?”
“If you apply the medicine in the waiting room, you can hide the marks. Although… it doesn’t actually heal anything.”
Only then did Adler realize why the old scars remained on her body. His expression darkened further.
“After finishing my preparations, I went into the corridor and ran into Mr. Straker, who had returned from his meal. It was… a peculiar encounter.”
“Why peculiar?”
“Because no matter how much I had failed before, Mr. Straker always stopped the punishment before a race. He didn't want it to affect my performance. But this time, when he returned, he didn't stop. He continued.”
“So you’re saying that instead of letting you race, he continued the punishment?”
“Yes. And it was far more severe than usual…”
Silver Blaze’s body trembled uncontrollably at the memory.
“He whipped me in places he never touched before. My legs… even my face…”
Adler’s eyes drifted to the scars on her thighs and forehead.
“I endured it. I tried to stand my ground. But then, Mr. Straker pulled out something… a small knife.”
“…A knife?”
“It was tiny; I couldn't see it clearly. But his footsteps as he approached felt so… menacing…”
Tears began to pool in her eyes.
“Before I knew it, I pushed him with all my might… He hit his head against the metal behind him and died instantly.”
“………”
A heavy silence filled the room.
“…By any chance, did Mr. Straker seem ‘off’ to you?”
“The whipping started the moment we met, so I don’t remember well… but it was several times more ruthless and brutal than usual.”
Adler tilted his head, deep in thought. “Do you remember what was served for dinner that evening?”
“…It was curry. It’s a special meal served before important races. When it’s on the menu, even the staff eat it together.”
“I see…”
Upon hearing her testimony, the corners of Adler’s mouth slowly rose.
“One last question. Was the race that day important?”
“…A record number of tickets had been sold. It was one of the biggest events ever. They had been promoting it for months. It was a major event race with many prominent players—including me.”
“Thank you for your answer.”
Rising from his seat, Adler spoke with a broad smile.
“There’s good news, Ms. Blaze.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems we can turn this case around.”
Silver Blaze’s eyes widened at the unexpected hope.
“Perhaps we can even deal a blow to the atmosphere of discrimination against Demi-Humans.”
“………”
“At the very least, we can create an opportunity for the divided Demi-Human factions to unite.” Isaac Adler continued, smiling confidently. “If you cooperate, that is.”
“I… I’ll cooperate!”
She stood up eagerly, ready to follow him.
“But…” She paused, her voice trailing off. “Is the price truly just… me? Just one person?”
She spoke as if she couldn't believe his terms.
“This is something countless Demi-Humans have prayed for for a long time. And you’re saying you’ll grant it just for me offering myself to you?”
Isaac Adler let out a faint, chilling smile.
“I don’t understand. It doesn’t seem fair. If you aren’t a kind person, why would you go to these lengths for me and my race…?”
“This is a devil’s bargain, Ms. Blaze.”
His gaze turned cold.
“If this task is successful, you will become a subordinate to both me and the professor.”
“………”
“To be honest, I see no difference between this and the slavery you so desperately want to escape. You are essentially handing your free will over to me.”
He stepped closer.
“It’s not just that. The Demi-Human races in England, with you as their representative, will gain the power of unity—and will then be gradually absorbed into our organization.”
“So…”
“After that, you’ll join us in overturning London and helping establish the professor’s criminal empire. It will be a wicked, grueling journey.”
Silver Blaze listened quietly, gazing intently at Adler.
“I’m merely using you for these purposes. There is no such thing as a selfless good deed in this world. Do you understand now, Ms. Blaze?”
Adler smirked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You’ve already fallen into a quagmire from which there is no escape.”
.
.
.
.
.
“…Well then, have a good day. I’ll be off to execute the plan.”
Having finished his speech, Isaac Adler gently patted her shoulder and turned toward the door.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“I have a question.”
Staring blankly at his retreating figure, Silver Blaze found herself asking, “…Do you really not smell anything from me?”
Adler paused, then burst into laughter.
Swish…
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Adler leaned in, bringing his face close to her neck.
“W-wh-what are you doing? Mr. Adler?”
As his breath brushed against her neck and collarbone, Silver Blaze, who had been hiding her tail between her legs, trembled in surprise.
“…There’s definitely a scent.”
After what felt like an eternity, Adler lifted his head. Silver Blaze had her eyes squeezed shut.
“Ah…” she whispered, bowing her head in shame.
“It’s just the scent of a soft, warm human, though.”
Adler’s unexpectedly tender voice resonated within her.
“Don’t believe every harsh word humans throw at you, Ms. Blaze.”
Silver Blaze lifted her head blankly. Adler stroked her hair gently, whispering with a devilish smile.
“Because soon, you’ll be the one looking down on them.”
Silence returned to the room.
“…Hug me.”
“Pardon?”
Adler, who had been about to leave, turned back to see Silver Blaze clutching his sleeve.
“Please… hug me.”
“………?”
Though taken aback by the sudden request, Adler embraced her.
“As much as you want.”
Upon hearing those casual words, Silver Blaze’s thoughts began to settle.
‘He’s different from those cold humans…’
If she could feel this warmth in the future… if the other Demi-Humans who came under him were treated the same way she was…
‘I realize now. Even without doing anything, a devil can be this warm.’
She decided that a life of being used by Isaac Adler might not be so bad after all.
‘…Then I must stand with the devil.’
At that moment, the pure woman who had been the idol of the Demi-Humans began to be tainted with Isaac Adler’s golden hue.
[Silver Blaze pledges her loyalty to you.]
“…Why all of a sudden?”
“Hmm?”
The system message appeared before Adler’s eyes. Her gaze, now tinted with a faint hint of gold, was proof enough of the truth.