Sherlock Holmes - 2
"Soo.... that's how I ended up with the title of Chief Mage...."
"Yes! I heard you loud and clear! Haha! So that's the story!"
"Hehe...."
Milli Cleang's tale of "How I Became Chief Mage" dragged on for a full hour. If this were turned into a novel, it'd be something on the scale of Les Misérables. It was that pointlessly detailed.
And I was certain of one thing: I absolutely could not let this woman talk for too long.
"Hearing Your Excellency's story has convinced me you'll be perfect for the consultation I have in mind!"
"Right.... and also, I...."
"Let's start with the manuscript first!"
Seeing her about to launch into another ramble, I quickly handed over the work. Once she read it, I figured I could somehow get her to cooperate.
Sherlock Holmes
A Study in Scarlet
Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet. The monumental first encounter between Watson and Sherlock Holmes.
There are countless iconic lines symbolizing Sherlock, and the series is packed with famous maxims on deduction. But the very first line Sherlock delivers to Watson in this story reveals more about the man himself than any profound axiom ever could.
"You've just come from Afghanistan."
The scene where Sherlock instantly deduces that Watson, the army surgeon from Afghanistan, is exactly who he is the moment he lays eyes on him. Of course, in my plagiarized "translation," the location and analysis were slightly altered. But the basic structure remained the same.
Mystery novels posed their challenges, but localizing Sherlock Holmes had been attempted countless times even in my previous life, so I remembered at least the minimal guidelines.
Milli Cleang snatched the manuscript and flipped through the pages at breakneck speed—really fast. So fast I wondered if she was actually reading. Whoosh.
Reaching the final page, she beamed and shouted,
"This is a mess...!"
"You've already finished it all?"
"Yeees.... I read fast.... But it's so sloppy...?"
"Yes, yes. That's why I need your consultation...."
"But it's so logically sound...."
"Pardon?"
"I don't think it even needs fixing...?"
.
.
.
Milli Cleang, who claimed no fixes were needed, suddenly launched into a lecture on magic. Her speech was still slow, the info dump excessive, but incredibly easy to grasp.
"Simply put... magic is ultimately the recreation of 'events that have already happened'.... It's the crystallization of possibilities... In the end, when we use magic, everything flows in a rational direction.... Like how the mage tower's teleport gates only connect to certain linked points.... Of course, ancient magic like in the Conan Saga is a bit different...."
"I see."
"There are a few nitpicky bits, though...? But it's plenty fun as is—do we really need to tweak it...? That's how this A Study in Scarlet feels.... But—"
Milli Cleang grinned bashfully and continued,
"—this isn't the end, right...? It's a serial novel...."
"Yes."
"As expected.... Then, I should read all the upcoming installments and compare them... That way I can give proper advice...."
"Ah."
It wasn't a tough request. She'd end up reading everything anyway if she took the consultation gig. I suspected she just wanted an excuse to binge-read the novels—but hey, I could overlook a little mischief like that.
In exchange....
"Showing the next installment is no problem, but first, could the Chief Mage show me something in return?"
"Like what...?"
"Magic. I want to see 'real' magic from a real mage."
I'd seen plenty of mass-produced magic tools from factories or stage effects from "magic troupes." But the mystique of magic conjured directly by a mage was impossible to resist.
"Nothing impressive.... Hmm...."
After pondering, Milli Cleang poured cold water from a pitcher into an empty teapot on the table. She sprinkled in a few tea leaves.
Then gripped the handle.
"Huh...?"
The water in the teapot began bubbling furiously. White steam rose from the surface, and the leaves steeped, turning the clear water a deep red.
"This is the best I can do on the spot...!"
"Uh, a boiling water spell?"
"A bit different...?"
The mage poured from the teapot into my cup. I hesitated, then took a sip.
And was surprised.
"The tea's gone cold?"
"It was never hot to begin with.... It boiled while staying lukewarm.... It's recreating the 'possibility' that was already in the pot—the water boiling and the tea leaves dissolving into it.... We can induce change, but not create something from nothing...."
"But aren't magic troupe illusions 'creating' illusions?"
"Light scattering, refraction, mental confusion... All happening in real time at a microscopic level, right there.... Ultimately, if it's possible with magic, it has to be 'possible' even without magic...."
Hmm. A tricky concept, but I got that magic wasn't the omnipotent mystery I'd imagined.
"Hehe, you just thought, 'That's not so impressive,' didn't you...?"
"No, not at all."
"If you want big-scale magic, visit the tower sometime.... I could show you how tiny possibilities can destroy the world...."
"Like the butterfly effect?"
"What's that...?"
Ah, no "butterfly effect" in this world. I explained the concept simply.
Milli Cleang nodded approvingly.
"First time hearing it, but... intriguing possibility. Might even be feasible...?"
"I see."
Not a big deal. Boiling water magic could power steam engines or turbines, but I'm no engineer.
What mattered now was whether Sherlock Holmes—and detective novels—could work in this world.
And Milli Cleang's answer was "yes."
Then we could publish Sherlock Holmes.
"Thanks for the insight. I'll fetch the other manuscripts right away."
"Hehehe...."
If it could be published, then publish it. That was all I wanted.
.
.
.
"Why does Holmes die here...?"
"Good question.... Why do you think?"
"Hmm, is this Professor James Moriarty a mage...?"
"Pardon?"
"Spreading chaos to expand 'possibilities' is a black mage tower tactic.... And being a 'crime consultant'...? If he avoided mentions until then to narrow the 'possibility' of crime being referenced.... It could work...."
"Oh, really?"
.
.
.
With Milli Cleang's consultation secured, serialization of the Sherlock Holmes series began.
Half and Half
New work from Herodotus, author of 'Conan Saga' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo'!
Meet detective consultant 'Sherlock Holmes' now in 'Half and Half'!
Thanks to the record-breaking success of The Count of Monte Cristo, reactions were electric. A new work from the author who'd obliterated the line between high and low culture with sheer entertainment value.
Anyone into novels read Half and Half.
"I-I can't wait for the next part! What happens?! Wasn't Arthur Shapen-tier the culprit?!"
"Of course not! So who is?!"
In an instant, everyone was hooked on this "detective novel" called Sherlock Holmes.
In terms of capturing human curiosity and interest, detective novels were the alpha and omega of all genres. Suspense, thrillers, twists, foreshadowing—these plot structures permeated every subculture genre from my past life.
Hero stories, action, thrillers, crime—all endlessly influenced.
And Sherlock Holmes was the genre-defining masterpiece classic.
Put simply, no entertainment novel could draw more attention than Sherlock Holmes.
"Get me the next chapter now!"
"It hasn't come out yet!"
"Then we'll storm the publisher and take it!"
"That... actually sounds good?"
The frenzy sometimes turned violent—
"Eek! Whitelock Detective Agency!"
"This publisher is under security contract with Whitelock Detective Agency. Unauthorized approach may result in 'somewhat aggressive' suppression. Proceed with caution."
—but Half and Half had hired Whitelock Detective Agency for promotion and protection. Their detectives, dressed in deerstalker hats, cape coats, and pipes—straight out of Sherlock Holmes—guarded the publisher.
It looked like a cosplay convention for Sherlock fans.
"Please, just give us the next Sherlock Holmes!"
"Take my money for Half and Half! Now hand over the next Sherlock Holmes!"
What a mess.