Ch.27Chapter 27 – The Speckled Band (2)

One day after Issac Adler disappeared from the hospital room with Lady Roylott.

“……….”

Professor Moriarty arrives at the front gate of the mansion where the Lady resides, stepping out of her carriage and making her way into the garden.

– Grrrr…

– Groooowl…

Suddenly, the growls of beasts begin to echo from all directions.

The place, considered an area to avoid by nearby residents, was a dangerous zone rumored to be home not only to wild beasts but also to supernatural creatures.

“Quiet down.”

But as Professor Moriarty whispers while emitting a pale gray mana, the garden instantly falls silent as if nothing had happened.

– Step, step…

As she surveys the suddenly quieted garden with a cold gaze and begins to walk again, at that very moment.

“Well, look who it is.”

A voice, now all too familiar, comes from in front of her.

“You must be busy preparing for the inspection. What brings you here, Professor?”

“………..”

Upon seeing Sharlotte Holmes, who had already been wandering around the mansion for hours, and Rachel Watson cautiously following beside her, Moriarty’s expression grows even colder.

“What are you doing here yourself?”

“I came to solve a case committed by someone living somewhere out of jealousy.”

Sharlotte answers with a sardonic smile, looking directly into Moriarty’s eyes.

“But I’m quite surprised. You showing up at the scene in person? Why take such a risk after setting all this up?”

“Miss Holmes. Your mana addiction symptoms must still be quite severe.”

Moriarty whispers in a low voice, also looking directly into Sharlotte’s eyes.

“I’m merely a kind and ordinary new professor at the detective academy.”

“I don’t understand how someone who published a binomial theorem paper at such a young age, currently causing a real-time stir in academia, can claim to be ordinary.”

“I don’t particularly want to explain to you why people maintain courtesy and formality. However, that doesn’t justify your delusion that I’m the mastermind behind all this.”

“They say criminals return to the scene of the crime.”

“I’m simply here to retrieve a graduate student who violated their contract. A completely legal and righteous action.”

As their exchange continues, the smiles on both their faces grow increasingly cold.

“Looking at the records of incidents at the academy over the past year, I found that you’re connected to all of them, big or small.”

“That’s because I hold the special position of professor at Auguste Academy.”

“Or perhaps you were the true culprit behind that series of incidents.”

“If you continue to insist on such narrow-minded delusions without any evidence, I’ll have no choice but to take legal action.”

“Do you think you can win?”

“Well, I might be willing to entertain the idea after you’ve received several years of psychiatric treatment and counseling.”

As the conversation begins to heat up, Moriarty turns away first and whispers in a low voice as she walks.

“…I wonder if Adler would be disappointed in you.”

Hearing that pleasant voice, Sharlotte Holmes stops in her tracks.

“…Let’s be reasonable.”

“Over there, Miss Watson, was it? Your partner doesn’t seem to be doing very well…”

“After putting Issac Adler in danger just to beat me.”

Professor Moriarty, who had been speaking in a gentle voice to Watson, who was trembling beside them due to the tension between her and Sharlotte, stops mid-sentence at Sharlotte’s blunt remark.

“Don’t pretend to be close to him now.”

“…Ho, Holmes?”

Sharlotte, emitting faint smoke from her body, walks past her with Watson, who looks stunned at the sight.

“…I’m going to visit Lady Roylott again, so follow me if you want.”

“…………”

And then silence falls.

‘…How unpleasant.’

In the silence, Moriarty’s lips quietly twist as she begins to move forward.

‘It was Adler who ignored my warning and put himself in danger.’

The reason Professor Moriarty took the risk of coming to the scene in person.

It was, of course, because of Adler, who had voluntarily allowed himself to be kidnapped by Lady Roylott last night.

– Tsuzuzu…

In fact, Moriarty was currently quite displeased.

She had intended to pet her sugar, Issac Adler, but this time she might have to punish him depending on the situation.

‘…I need to make it clear who has ownership.’

Perhaps even to the extent of doing something worse.

“Visitors? Sit in the front seats.”

But her resolve shattered the moment Lady Roylott, who had shown no reaction despite Sharlotte Holmes searching the mansion for hours, finally opened her door.

– Lick…

“That’s right.”

Adler, with a collar around his neck, was kneeling and licking milk from Lady Roylott’s hand.

“”………..””

Seeing the bronze-colored mana covering his body, Professor Moriarty and Sharlotte Holmes’ plans quickly began to align.

‘Let’s imprison her.’

‘I must imprison her.’

.

.

.

.

.

“So, you want to talk with my collection.”

Lady Roylott, arrogantly leaning back in her chair with her legs crossed, smiles as she looks at Sharlotte and Professor Moriarty, who are staring at her with dark eyes.

“Well, I can allow it for a moment.”

Issac Adler is pressed close to her side, eyes gently closed as he nuzzles her cheek.

“If you try anything foolish, I’ll make you like this.”

Lady Roylott gently strokes Adler’s head as she rises from her seat, causing Sharlotte and Moriarty’s expressions to darken further.

– Kigigigigik…

In front of them, Lady Roylott begins to twist an iron poker from beside the chair using only her grip strength.

– Clang…

After completely crumpling the iron poker, she drops it on the desk, gently strokes Adler’s chin, and leaves the room.

“”………….””

And silence falls again.

– Kigigik… Kigigiik…..

In that silence, the folded iron poker suddenly begins to shake violently and rises into the air.

– Gigik…gik…

After screaming for a while, surrounded by gray and black mana, the iron poker finally breaks completely in two.

“Wh-what…”

While Watson looks at the significant scene in horror, Adler’s expression remains strangely calm.

“Mr. Adler.”

Of the two women staring intently at him, Sharlotte speaks first.

“I’ve already discovered the truth.”

She says, leaning forward.

“So now, please stop this.”

But Adler merely tilts his head in confusion.

“…It seems I’ll have to share my deduction to change your mind.”

Gritting her teeth briefly at his reaction, Sharlotte takes a deep breath and begins her story.

“Helen Stoner, Lady Roylott’s stepdaughter. The reason she stabbed you was because of Lady Roylott’s brainwashing.”

“…Why do you think that?”

Adler quietly asks.

“The last thing she remembers before going to bed was a low whistling sound and a ‘speckled band’.”

Momentarily taken aback by his voice, Sharlotte’s eyes light up as she begins her explanation.

“While pondering what these might be, I entered Lady Roylott’s room and found a small safe. On top of it was a saucer of milk.”

“……….”

“Strange, isn’t it? The cheetahs and magical beasts she keeps couldn’t possibly be satisfied with such a small bowl of milk.”

Watching her, Adler carefully wipes away the milk on his lips and nods.

“…That’s not the only strange thing. This mansion has ventilation ducts with an unusual structure.”

Briefly showing an upset expression before closing her eyes tightly, Sharlotte continues.

“They seem to have been completed quite recently, but the problem is that they don’t function as ventilation ducts at all.”

“Why not?”

“The ducts connect Lady Roylott’s room and Miss Stoner’s room. Obviously, they can’t provide proper ventilation.”

As he listens to her words for a while, Adler’s eyes slowly narrow.

“And then there’s the long string coming out of the duct exit. Even the bed right next to the duct is fixed in place.”

“……….”

“Miss Stoner said that over the past few days, when she woke up with an ominous feeling, she witnessed something like a string disappearing back into the ventilation duct.”

Tilting her head slightly at his strange reaction, Sharlotte then puts on a serious expression and slams the desk.

“When I put all these facts together, there’s only one answer.”

A moment of silence follows.

“Lady Roylott sent a snake she kept in the safe, feeding it milk, through the ventilation duct into her daughter’s room. And made it bite her.”

In that silence, Sharlotte’s confident voice rings out.

“When Watson examined Miss Stoner, she found she was suffering from high-level hallucinations. The hallucinogenic venom from the snake must have caused that.”

“So Miss Stoner, who had a grudge against me, was bitten by a snake, developed hallucinations, and committed the crime?”

“Exactly.”

Sharlotte declares, crossing her legs and adding:

“For Lady Roylott, London’s finest trainer and magical beast expert, controlling a snake with a whistle would be no problem.”

“Hmm…”

“No objections, right? The secret of the speckled band was a venomous snake with hallucinogenic venom.”

“What about the motive?”

“Lady Roylott discovered ‘for some reason’ that you’re a Vampire and staged all this to obtain you.”

Saying this while briefly glaring at Professor Moriarty.

“She made you think you were in a very dangerous situation where you could be attacked at any time, so you would seek refuge with her, a magical beast expert.”

“………..”

“But, Mr. Adler, I want you to know one thing.”

She then addresses Adler with a serious expression.

“The one who can protect you is not her, but…”

“I’m disappointed.”

“…What?”

At the words that suddenly came from Adler’s mouth, Sharlotte’s eyes widen.

“You’re wrong, Miss Holmes.”

“…Wrong?”

She rises from her seat with an incredulous look, while.

‘…Completely wrong.’

Professor Moriarty, who had been sitting quietly to the side until then, shows a slightly pleased expression.

“Go out and think it through from the beginning. You’ve missed something.”

“But…”

“Miss Holmes, I don’t want to be more disappointed in you.”

The corners of Moriarty’s mouth had risen as she watched Sharlotte squirm.

“If you can’t figure out what’s wrong… I’m afraid I’ll have to end our relationship.”

“I’ll… I’ll investigate again.”

At Adler’s ultimatum, Sharlotte hurriedly rises from her seat.

“Let’s go, Watson.”

“Huh? Oh…”

She grabs Watson’s arm, who had been sitting dazed beside her, and leaves the room with a crazed look in her eyes.

“…You should have just ended it now, Adler.”

After watching her retreating figure with inner satisfaction, Professor Moriarty finally speaks.

“You said that girl is my arch-nemesis, but honestly, I only feel displeasure whenever I see her.”

“……….”

“I don’t know why, though.”

With a faint smile on her lips, she reaches out her hand to Adler.

“I’ve roughly understood your intention. It was clearly to test that ill-mannered girl.”

“………”

“Well then, let’s get going…”

But.

“…Adler?”

For some reason, Issac Adler backs away, avoiding her hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I’m sorry, Professor.”

Professor Moriarty, who had been looking at him with a puzzled expression, freezes at the words that come out of Issac Adler’s mouth.

“You’ve made a fatal mistake too, Professor.”

Was it her imagination?

Adler’s eyes seemed slightly cold.

“Are you… joking, Adler?”

“This is no joke, Professor.”

At this unfamiliar sight, Jane Moriarty blinks and tilts her head.

“It was truly commendable that you approached the client and took on the case while I was unconscious, Professor.”

“……….”

“And it’s also praiseworthy that you didn’t reveal the most important twist to Sharlotte Holmes.”

He whispers to her in a low voice.

“But in the end, Professor, you made the same mistake as Sharlotte Holmes.”

Hearing this, Professor Moriarty stops tilting her head and begins to look dazed.

“I’m disappointed, Professor.”

Adler’s words pierce her like a dagger.

“I can understand Holmes as she’s still an immature girl. But you, Professor…”

“…Adler.”

“Enough, I don’t want to say more.”

Moriarty’s hand reaches out toward Adler, who has risen from his seat, but cuts through empty air.

“Perhaps I misjudged you.”

Just as her gray eyes take in Adler’s face, now clearly showing a cold gaze.

– Adler. Are you finished talking?

Lady Roylott’s gentle voice comes from outside the door.

“…….Yes, mistress.”

Adler responds in an equally gentle voice and then:

“I’ll be going now, Professor Moriarty.”

He looks at her intently, as if saying goodbye, before turning to leave.

“…You might die if you go out.”

“I don’t care.”

Despite Moriarty’s warning in a flat voice, his immediate response:

“I’m the type who doesn’t linger when my disappointment is great.”

“Wait.”

“Please use a good trick when you kill me.”

With his hand on the doorknob, Adler quietly adds:

“Or whisper to me soon that it was just a joke.”

“………..”

“…Professor Moriarty couldn’t possibly not know something this simple, right?”

After saying this and briefly giving an eye-smile, Adler was embraced around the waist by Lady Roylott, who had been waiting outside, and disappeared from the professor’s sight.

“………”

Thus, Jane Moriarty was left alone in the room.

“…Issac.”

Adler’s name, muttered by her after sitting dazed in her seat for a long time, echoed emptily in the room.

.

.

.

.

.

‘…This should be enough.’

To prevent the world’s destruction, I hinted to Holmes and Professor Moriarty that there was a logical inconsistency in this case.

I wanted to tell them exactly what the problem was, but had to refrain when a warning message said the erosion rate would increase.

But there’s no need to worry. Now that they’re aware of the issue, those two should be able to quickly clean up the mess created by the Story Department, which copied an error from the original work and ruined the plot’s coherence.

I can finally relax a bit.

“…Adler.”

“Yes.”

But now that my immediate concern is gone, I’m starting to realize something.

“My dream is to fill this mansion with servants composed of half-blood Vampires.”

“…What?”

Wait, what have I been doing in the name of saving the world?

“Let’s go to the basement.”

[Probability of being ??: 10%->15%]

Can I really handle this?