Ch.241Chapter 241 – The Return of Isaac Adler (2)

– Pazzzzzzz…

“Ah…”

How much time had passed since I was enveloped in a dazzling starlight flash, leaving behind the women of the real world who were desperate to catch me?

“…Where is this?”

When I opened my eyes again, what entered my vision was the space I had dreamed of several times over the past few years.

“The back alley, hideout…”

Yes. Baker Street 221B, the professor’s office was certainly a place I missed, but if there was a place that could be called a “sanctuary,” this would be it.

“I really, really came back…”

Thinking that, I laid down on the sofa with tears welling up in my eyes from the emotion I was feeling after such a long time.

‘…Huh?’

Soon after, I recalled one fact and quietly began to break out in a cold sweat.

‘Come to think of it… this is right in the middle of London, isn’t it?’

If the dreams I’ve been having until now were real, or even if they were all just my hallucinations.

By now, about two years after my disappearance, there would probably be chaos among them.

If I suddenly appeared in the middle of London in such a situation?

‘…Hmm.’

I don’t think I would meet a very good end.

‘First, I need to… move quickly.’

Moreover, this is a space that I and my minions used frequently. That means that Lady Lupin, Silver Blaze, and Moran could barge in at any moment.

So let’s disguise myself first. After a light disguise, I’ll leave London and then spend about a day creating a perfect disguise…

“…!?”

With that thought, as I tried to manipulate mana, I soon found myself staring at both hands with a blank expression.

‘What’s going on?’

Why? No mana is coming out at all. I don’t think it was this bad two years ago. Why?

[Why? Because your mana is depleted, that’s why.]

“System?”

[Your genetic information is the same on both sides, so it doesn’t matter, but your mana was completely consumed two years ago.]

That question was resolved by the timely explanation from System.

[In other words, you’re no different from a completely ordinary person right now.]

“So… I have to live in this demon world London without magic?”

[Well, if you think about it, yes. But you should consider yourself lucky.]

“What do you mean by that?”

[If you had even a little mana left, the professor would have probably barged into the hideout by now.]

At first, I was quite bewildered, but after hearing System’s chilling explanation, I felt relieved that I had at least avoided the worst-case scenario.

However, that doesn’t mean the situation has improved.

“Not turning back into a Vampire… not becoming a Demon… no tail coming out… can’t use magic… how am I supposed to live from now on…”

[It can’t be helped. It took almost all of my power just to restore this body. Stop muttering.]

“…But what did you mean earlier when you said the genetic information is the same? Aren’t my real-world self and this body separate?”

So, while muttering dejectedly, I suddenly became curious and asked a question.

[Actually… the design team didn’t copy your modeling.]

“What? Then…”

[The real-world you is the reincarnation of Issac Adler from this side.]

“…!?”

The next moment, I got an answer from her that I never expected.

“What did you say!?”

[Why else do you think your genetic information would be identical?]

“But I’ve never died, so how?”

[You died once at the hands of the professor about three years ago, right? You reincarnated then and possessed again.]

“Huh…”

[The flow of time between dimensions isn’t always the same. Especially when it comes to soul exchanges…]

I was confused by the sudden revelation about my identity, but there wasn’t time to remain in shock.

[But, is it okay to be asking about such trivial things right now?]

“…No, what do you mean trivial.”

[Your minions could barge in at any moment, you know?]

“Ah.”

Right, whether I was the reincarnation of Issac Adler or not, that wasn’t what was important right now.

Because if I leisurely stayed here having a Q&A session with System and got caught by them, with my special abilities gone now, it’s obvious what would happen to me.

[But, after coming back, are you not going to meet them again?]

“……..”

[It’s not my place to say, but isn’t there no point in coming back if you do this?]

As I was busy packing with that thought, I paused at System’s question and fell into contemplation.

“Of course, that’s true… but there’s something I need to do first.”

The fact that I’ve returned means there’s a chance for ‘anomalies’ to appear again.

In other words, I need to eliminate the root cause before the whole world is in danger again.

Yes, I’m talking about ‘Lovecraft’ who should be somewhere in America by now.

[I’m fine with it… but are you sure? You can’t use magic anymore.]

“…That might actually be advantageous.”

Because my mana has disappeared, my body is temporarily easier to hide from tracking.

And Lovecraft is likely to be off guard, not thinking I could be alive.

So, if there’s an opportunity, this would be the perfect one.

I’ll eradicate the root of evil, and then…

‘…Suddenly appearing would be too much, I guess.’

Let’s try to minimize problems by revealing myself one by one.

Yes, first I’ll meet my most loyal minions to secure minimal protection, then meet Sharlotte Holmes, then the professor, in that order…

[It seems like you’re scheming something, but I’d like to inform you that it’s completely useless.]

“…….”

Thanks to my suddenly awakened survival instinct, I was desperately racking my brain, but I desperately ignored System’s curse-like message and started to move.

“…I missed you, London.”

Despite all the troubles and bad experiences, I headed towards 19th century London, which I hadn’t forgotten once during the past two years.

– Creeeeak…

With a quite pounding heart, I took a step forward.

“…Oh.”

I immediately made eye contact with the ruffians who were occupying the area, and froze on the spot.

– Creeak…

In the silence that followed, the sound of the hideout door automatically closing echoed forlornly through the back alley.

.

.

.

.

.

I was too careless.

“Um, everyone?”

“”……..””

“Can’t we calm down and resolve this through conversation…?”

After being chased by the ruffians for a while, and finally being cornered at the end of the alley, a thought occurred to me.

“He’s got a pretty face…”

“The boss would like him…”

“But, doesn’t he look familiar…?”

“Eek…”

This was none other than the back alleys of London, I should have been more careful.

Even though I was actually a ruler of the back alleys along with the professor, on the outside I was just a former popular child actor.

What should I do? Without magic or the ability to transform into a vampire, there’s no way to escape.

Do I really have to pay with my body…?

“Um… by any chance, is your boss’s gender…..?”

– Grooooowl…

As I was thinking that, hesitating and asking the ruffians in a shrinking voice.

“”…….!?””

Suddenly, the eyes of the ruffians who were cornering me began to widen.

– Thud…

“Gurk…”

“Huh?”

And a moment later, when the ruffians all started to collapse with foam in their mouths, I turned around with a bewildered expression.

– Step, step…

“……???”

Soon, I tilted my head quietly at the appearance of a girl in a black suit that entered my vision.

“Who…?”

“Master…”

“What?”

“Master!!!!!!!”

But how did this happen? That girl, who was emitting an aura almost similar to the professor or Sharlotte Holmes, suddenly started running towards me with a tearful expression.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“I thought you were dead, really dead… hic…”

“What?”

“No matter how much I looked for you… I, I searched the underworld like crazy… sniff…”

“Um…”

“But you weren’t there either… I thought you had completely vanished… uuuu…”

As I was watching her with a blank expression, when the girl who hugged and knocked me over started to burst into tears and lick my face, I became even more blank and mentally asked System.

‘Do you know who she is?’

[Ah, since your demonization is gone, you can now see her true form.]

The answer that came back was quite unexpected.

[She’s your faithful hound and the ruler of the underworld.]

“…What?”

My Poppy was this kind of girl?

I sometimes put a leash on her neck and took her for walks, and even gave her baths?

No wonder people looked at us coldly, I thought they were just afraid of Poppy and let it go.

So what have I been…?

“…Master.”

“Uh, um… what is it?”

“Come to the underworld with me.”

As I was realizing what I had been doing all this time and making a bewildered expression, the girl who was on top of me suddenly brought her face close to mine and started whispering, causing me to quietly break out in a cold sweat.

“I’ll treat you well there. There are too many people trying to hurt you here. Don’t you think so too, Master?”

“Uh…”

“If you stay by my side, you can become a god of the underworld. A god of the underworld. Doesn’t that tempt you? Hm?”

The eyes of Poppy, whom I met after a long time, were not the vibrant, shining eyes they used to be.

“Right, Master?”

They were dull eyes that had lost their light, which I had seen many times in my life.

“Mr. Adler?”

“……..”

“Adler?”

If my most loyal one is like this, what should I do from now on?

“Answer me.”

“…Hiccup.”