Ch.194Chapter 194 – Battle for Possession (3)

“…Hmm.”

– Creeeeak…

“Hmm…?”

As I opened my eyes, the heaviness of my eyelids now feeling familiar, I was surprised to see a ceiling I recognized well, causing me to tilt my head in quiet confusion.

“Where am I…?”

Of course, my mind was still foggy, so I couldn’t tell exactly where I was.

“…Ah.”

As I tilted my head with that vague feeling of recognition, memories began flooding back, and I found myself staring blankly.

‘…So I ended up getting devoured after all.’

I clearly remember being in the bathroom about to take a bath when Sharlotte Holmes suddenly barged in.

But after that, my memory gets a bit hazy.

‘…No, not hazy—more like clouded over.’

Actually, it’s not that I don’t remember anything at all.

The fragments of memory starting to surface are of me being devoured like a dog by a sweaty, wild-eyed Sharlotte, that’s all.

“Ugh…”

Recalling those terrifying memories makes my lower abdomen ache.

What if the professor and Sharlotte, having lost all restraint after pouncing on me once, come after me every day?

Maybe my lower half would wear away to nothing?

‘…At least I used contraception.’

My spine is already tingling with dread, but if there’s one consolation, it’s that I definitely used contraception.

The professor may have brutally broken through my magic, but since we’re different species, it would be difficult for her to get pregnant.

And Sharlotte, no matter how smart she is, still lacks sexual knowledge, so she probably didn’t notice the contraceptive magic I cast.

But that’s no reason to feel safe.

I need to urgently move up my plans before they seize their next opportunity.

‘Yes, for that I first need to…’

– Creeeeak…

“……?”

As I was thinking about checking my future plans, the door suddenly opened, drawing my attention.

“Ah.”

And at that moment, I finally realized where I was.

“…Are you awake?”

Zia Lestrade, wearing an apron, was looking at me with a cold expression.

‘I’m screwed.’

Instantly, memories of the unspeakable punishments she inflicted on me a few days ago for breaking our contract began flooding back.

‘What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…’

The feeling of every muscle in my body screaming in pain, like during my military days.

I definitely don’t want to spend another whole day tied up in Lestrade’s yard, going through those terrifying physical drills again.

“Um, excuse me…”

So after desperately racking my brain for a split second, I quietly opened my mouth and muttered:

“Who are you?”

“Excuse me?”

I belatedly remembered that the reason the women who had gathered to defeat Professor Moriarty agreed to a temporary truce was because of my amnesia act.

“I’m… I’m not quite clear on my memories right now…”

“……”

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

If Lestrade still believed that, at least until she realized I wasn’t actually suffering from memory loss, I wouldn’t be punished for breaking the contract, right?

– Slide…

“…Eep.”

Contrary to my hopes, Lestrade silently put her knee on the bed and thrust her face close to mine.

“I’m sorry…!”

Thinking I’d already been found out, I closed my eyes tightly and was about to beg desperately, but.

– Squeeze…

“…..Huh?”

Instead of the expected fist massage, a warm feeling enveloped my body, causing me to open my eyes with a puzzled expression.

“Um…?”

“……..”

Lestrade had embraced me silently and was quietly stroking my back.

“Even in this condition… they did such a thing…”

Then, suddenly flashing a murderous look, she gritted her teeth and muttered.

– Grind…

“Uh, hmm.”

I’m not sure what’s going on, but something seems wrong.

.

.

.

.

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“So, let me get this straight…”

How much time had passed?

“You’re saying you’re my… wife?”

“…Y-yes, that’s right.”

When Adler, sitting on the bed with a blank expression, asked with a slightly surprised look, Lestrade, sitting demurely beside him, quietly nodded and answered.

“B-because of your memory loss, you might not remember… but we’re n-newlyweds.”

“I-it’s hard to believe. That someone as b-beautiful as you is my wife…”

After glancing at her nervously, Adler muttered in a shrinking voice.

“I feel like there must be some misunderstanding…”

“W-what kind of misunderstanding could there be in a marital relationship?”

“Well, for instance. Maybe we’re in a contract marriage or something…”

“N-no, that’s not it!”

Hearing his words, Lestrade suddenly raised her voice to deny it.

“W-we are… genuinely newlyweds.”

“Um…”

“I-I can prove it.”

Then, after hesitating with wavering eyes, she suddenly leaned her head forward.

– Smooch…

A moment later, the officer’s soft lips barely touched Adler’s lips.

“…Mmph.”

“……..”

“D-did you see…?”

Thanks to that, when Adler momentarily wore a blank expression, Lestrade hurriedly pulled her face back, bowed her head deeply, and muttered.

“W-we used to do this kind of skinship naturally, as a matter of course…”

“I-is that so…”

Looking at Adler nervously with her ears turning bright red, she began to whisper in a tiny voice.

“By the way, it’s… it’s your turn now.”

“…Ah.”

And then came the silence.

– Smooch…

“Mmh.”

After hesitating with a dumbfounded expression, Adler finally carefully pressed his lips to hers, causing another moan to escape from Lestrade’s mouth, which was already hot enough.

“T-that’s enough.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“…I-I think that’s sufficient proof, but if you want, we could get a family registry certificate.”

Then, hurriedly pushing Adler away, she spoke with a steaming expression.

“Then couldn’t you have just done that from the beginning?”

“Well… um…”

Lestrade began to stammer after hearing Adler’s pointed question.

“…Oh right, what am I thinking.”

Then she suddenly stood up and, deliberately ignoring Adler’s puzzled gaze, headed out of the room.

‘What on earth is going on…’

Finally dropping his innocent, confused expression, Adler began to look perplexed at Lestrade’s behavior, which was 180 degrees different from how she had treated him before.

‘Did she eat something strange…? Or is she a fake Lestrade? Is that too far-fetched? Then why is she acting like this…’

– Creeeeak…

“…Hup.”

Eventually, after thinking deeply, Adler inhaled sharply as soon as he heard the door opening again and returned to his original bright expression.

“…….”

But that action proved futile as his expression went blank once more.

“I-it’s nothing special.”

– Steam rising…

“I just prepared a simple meal…”

Lestrade had brought a tray with steaming soup and roast chicken, explaining the reason she was wearing an apron as she spoke with a modest expression, her eyes lowered.

“Why, why such…”

“What do you mean, why?”

When Adler asked in a slightly trembling voice, looking at her hands covered in wounds and blisters, Lestrade answered in a low voice, still avoiding his eyes.

“…Because I love you.”

“……..”

“That’s why we got married, right?”

By this point, cold sweat was pouring down Adler’s forehead as he was left speechless.

“Oh, and… there’s something you should know.”

“W-what is it?”

After carefully placing the meal in front of Adler, she hesitantly sat down next to him, leaning against him, and opened her mouth.

“For the time being… please refrain from going outside.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s dangerous outside.”

When Adler tilted his head at those words, Lestrade, glancing at him, carefully placed her hand on his knee.

“I hear there’s an epidemic going around outside. If you go out unnecessarily, your condition might worsen.”

“Um… but it looks like there are a lot of people walking around outside.”

– Swoosh…!

But when Adler said that while looking out the window, she pulled down the curtains with a speed invisible to the eye.

“Anyway, it’s dangerous outside.”

“…Excuse me.”

“Therefore, I, your lawful wife, will protect you.”

She whispered, looking at Adler with a slightly cold expression.

– Tremble tremble tremble…

“…Are you feeling ill?”

From that moment, Adler began to quietly tremble.

“Ah, come to think of it, you lost consciousness with a high fever a few days ago, didn’t you?”

“………”

“That’s probably why your memory isn’t intact.”

Feeling Adler’s forehead, Lestrade momentarily avoided his gaze and began to mutter.

“I-is that really true…”

“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ll be by your side.”

“F-for how long…?”

“What do you mean, for how long? Of course until your memory returns.”

At that declaration, Adler, trying hard to maintain his expression, asked in a small voice.

“W-what if… it doesn’t come back?”

Lestrade stared at Adler for a moment before answering with a gentle smile.

“…Then we’ll create new ones.”

“……..”

“Now, say ‘ah.’ I’ll feed you myself.”

After trying to smile back at her, Adler looked with a pitiful expression at the message floating in the air as he opened his mouth.

[Probability of being ??ed: 100%]

[Ah, mistake.]

[Probability of being ??ed: 100%]

“Ahhh…”

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“…Hah.”

Meanwhile, at 221B Baker Street.

“She’s crossing the line…”

Sharlotte sat in an armchair with a blanket over her belly, listening to classical music said to be good for prenatal education in one ear, while eavesdropping on Adler with the other.

“What is she going on about, that fu—”

She quietly began to raise mana in her body as she tried to get up, but paused for a moment.

“…Ahem.”

Eventually, she quickly withdrew the harsh mana, gently stroked her belly to moderate her language, and began preparing to go out.

“…That bad woman.”