Ch.265Side Story – The Adventures of Isaac Adler (3)

– Swoosh…

“That’s strange…? I’m sure I got the ratio right…?”

As my plan to quickly infiltrate the academy after regaining my strength went awry, London was instantly enveloped in the clouds of war.

From now on, all “those women” except for the grateful Moran who helped plan my escape from the beginning, and the inexplicably accompanying Lady Clay and Silver Blaze, will start hunting me down.

In other words, I need to get on a ship and leave England by any means necessary.

“This is… quite troublesome…”

Though a cool breeze blows in from Dover Harbor, my head keeps getting hotter.

France, where Arsène Lupin is lurking and waiting to turn the tables, is obviously out of the question. The German Empire is also concerning as it will soon be engulfed in war.

Going to the Italian peninsula or toward Russia isn’t a good idea either, because the Professor’s tentacles already extend throughout Europe.

And even if that weren’t the case, given my reputation, there are plenty of forces that would try to kidnap me now that I’ve suddenly reappeared in the world, not just the Professor.

But charging back into London would be nothing short of suicide.

“Ugh…”

No matter how much I rack my brain, I can’t come up with a good solution. If I had known this would happen, I should have seduced at least one queen in advance…

‘…Wait, a queen?’

Come to think of it, there is a way. Why didn’t I think of this before?

“If she still likes me, it would be the perfect temporary refuge… but…”

“Master.”

“…Hic.”

Just as I was contemplating this brilliant solution, Moran, who had been quietly holding my luggage beside me, suddenly pokes my side.

Oh no, after all the things I’ve been through these past few years, I’ve become quite sensitive to even such mild stimulation.

“Huh, hic, ugh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“…N-nothing. Why did you call me?”

I didn’t want to show this side of myself in front of Moran, my last and only hope, so I gritted my teeth and endured before asking. Moran points into the distance and whispers:

“Shall I snipe them?”

At those words, I suddenly feel a chill down my spine.

“…They’re already here. Did the Professor never trust us in the first place?”

“Grrrr…”

Sure enough, Lady Clay and Silver Blaze beside me were already on high alert.

Could the Professor have already tracked us here? If so, we essentially have no chance.

“Let me snipe them, Master.”

“…Can you hit them if you shoot?”

But fortunately or unfortunately, the voice coming from beyond the foggy harbor wasn’t the Professor’s.

“I can handle someone like you on my own.”

“The little brat who couldn’t make a peep in front of me has grown up quite a bit.”

Muttering in her characteristically cold, businesslike voice, the one who emerged from the fog was none other than Zia Lestrade.

“…Ah, sadly, it seems certain parts haven’t grown at all.”

– BANG!!!

As soon as Lestrade added those words in an uncharacteristically sarcastic tone, Moran’s gun barrel spits fire.

For Moran, who usually prefers to use only optimized mana to snipe enemies, this was a considerable amount of mana expended, showing that Lestrade’s provocation was quite effective.

“You fucking bitch…”

‘But it’s certainly true… she’s still a kid though.’

Moran, who had grown up quickly, had already caught up to my height and her appearance had matured considerably.

But for some reason, the chest area of her body hadn’t grown at all, which is why “those women” would tease her whenever they saw her.

Anyway, Moran is still a kid, so why do they all want to check her so badly?

‘…Wait, how old is Moran now?’

Suddenly, that thought occurred to me, and as I tried to figure out what year it was, a sudden dizziness came over me.

Come to think of it, what year is it now? How old is Moran? How many years have passed since I returned to this world?

“Urgh…”

“…Are you alright?”

As my head spins from these sudden questions, Moran, who was firing consecutive shots, asks me in a low voice.

“Your skills have improved quite a bit, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Tch…”

I wanted to ask her what year it was, but this didn’t seem like the right situation.

No matter how skilled Moran and my three loyal followers are, Zia Lestrade is one of the officially recognized strongest people in the game.

Of course, the aged Moran is also among the strongest, but that doesn’t mean Lestrade is an easy opponent.

Moreover, isn’t her ability “nullification of all supernatural powers”?

If she’s determined to prevent us from boarding a ship, the Professor might personally lead a second wave, which would be catastrophic.

‘In that case, the way to overcome this obstacle…’

It seems there’s only one way.

‘…But is this really right?’

I should have sobered up from the alcohol within 5 minutes. Somehow the mixture seems a bit off.

No, it must be my imagination. I probably lost my tolerance after not drinking for so long.

– Click…

Thinking this, I took out a bottle from my pocket and, calculating the amount very carefully this time, took a sip.

“…Heh.”

“……?”

I thought I heard a strange laugh escape from Moran’s lips, but I must have misheard?

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As soon as news arrived that Adler had finally broken the “agreement” and attempted to escape, Zia Lestrade had made a firm resolution.

She would bring him back before the women of London, who had just regained peace, safety, and purity, fell into misfortune again.

For her, who had gone so far as to marry that scoundrel solely for the public good, it was only natural.

Of course, there was absolutely no personal motive involved, such as not wanting the child that had recently settled in her womb to grow up without a father—it was purely for the “public good.”

“My, Zia.”

“…Ugh.”

“Aren’t you getting too worked up?”

But Lestrade’s noble(?) resolution was being threatened today, perhaps for the first time in her life.

“I always thought you were prettiest when you smile.”

“S-shut up… you bastard.”

“Though you’re cute when you’re angry too.”

“I said shut up!”

This was because Adler, who had taken something out of his pocket and suddenly reverted to the scoundrel she knew all too well, had dismissed his escorts and was now flirting with Lestrade.

“Do you think I’ll fall for it again?”

But Lestrade wasn’t going to give in so easily.

“After marrying me and taking advantage of me, you went and divorced me on your own, and all you have to say is… such pathetic…!”

Although his smile and eloquence had once captured the hearts of women across Europe, her heart had been thoroughly violated once before, even if it was for the public good.

“Yes, I had vowed to only look at you for the rest of my life. But what could I do when circumstances weren’t favorable?”

“Huh?”

But when Adler responded with such shamelessness, Lestrade was left speechless, staring at him blankly.

“You know what? Although I’ve met many women…”

“I know that all too well…!”

“…You were the first and last one I ever married.”

Adler didn’t miss this opening.

“Am I wrong? You didn’t ‘marry’ Holmes, or even the Professor, did you?”

“……”

“I sincerely wanted to settle down with you.”

This was a statement that would have made Rachel Watson, who was currently picking at her ears in the hospital built with the money she had prepared as a wedding gift for him, faint if she had heard it.

But regardless, the statement itself was true, so Lestrade’s breathing began to calm down.

“But in the end, you betrayed me.”

“Yes, it was due to unavoidable external pressure. I truly regret it. That’s why I’m trying to make everything right now.”

“You’re good with words.”

“So won’t you lend me your strength?”

“Bullshit.”

But Lestrade’s expression remained cold.

“If you help me…”

“I’d rather trust a street dog than you…”

“…I’ll tell you my true name.”

But as Adler, who had somehow approached right in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, whispered this, even Lestrade’s icy expression couldn’t help but waver.

“You know why the battle between the Professor, who has all of Europe in her hands, and Charlotte is still ongoing, right?”

“That’s…”

“It’s because only Charlotte knows my true name.”

That was true.

Adler, who had fully regained the power of the “Great Demon” through a deal with the system, had the strength to face James Moriarty head-on, not just Professor Moriarty.

If only Charlotte Holmes didn’t know his only weakness—his “true name.”

That was why Professor Jane Moriarty, the current strongest being after her father was sealed, had no choice but to make a “grand compromise” with the signatories led by Charlotte Holmes to share Adler.

“I’ll give you my true name, which even the great Professor doesn’t know.”

“……..”

“So help me just this once.”

Therefore, what Adler was proposing now was something that could shake even Lestrade, who pursued the public good.

“T-then…”

“Yes?”

“What about marriage?”

After being dazed for quite some time, Lestrade finally asked in a small voice, and Adler smiled as if wondering what she was talking about.

“What do you mean?”

He carefully embraced Lestrade and whispered in her ear.

“I’ve only ever had one wife in my life.”

Lestrade’s baton, which had been easily deflecting Moran’s mana bullets one after another, slipped from her hand right after that.

“…Actually, I’ve been thinking lately that Adler is pitiful.”

“Yes, he should have just kept raping us instead.”

Meanwhile, muttering from Lady Clay and Silver Blaze could be heard from behind, but the matter had already been decided.

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“…What?”

Several hours later.

“What did you just say?”

Whether exhausted from the ongoing preparations for the royal wedding or for some other reason, the Queen of Bohemia, who had been contemplating by the window with a teacup in hand and a distant look on her face, received unbelievable news.

“That child is coming to me?”

It was intelligence that Issac Adler was heading toward the Austro-Hungarian Empire.