Ch.3Chapter 3 – Gray Research (2)

In response to the unexpected statement from the blond male student before her, Moriarty stopped tilting her head and stared at him intently, thinking.

‘How interesting.’

It had been truly a long time.

In this boring world where even committing crimes had become tedious, someone who could make her feel this entertained.

‘What could his objective be?’

The first person to escape her grasp. She had committed an unplanned murder just to see his reaction.

Though it was quite an impulsive decision, since the victim was the dean who always annoyed her, it turned out to be quite a satisfying murder.

‘It seems he’s not completely devoid of fear.’

When he first saw the prepared corpse, there was definitely fear in his eyes.

Judging by that, he was certainly not the same type as her.

However, the expression of the student standing before her now, caressing the mana condenser on the table, was surprisingly composed.

It was like a situation where novice and experienced aspects coexisted.

That too was fascinating to Moriarty.

‘I should talk with him a bit more.’

As a professor, she had no way of knowing what his purpose was or what he was thinking.

But in the current situation, it was clearly the professor who had the upper hand.

It was time to make the most of that advantage to understand the mysterious being before her.

“Why should I?”

“Pardon?”

Moriarty, who had been quietly tilting her head while looking at him, suddenly asked.

“Why should I accept you?”

“Well…”

“I can roughly guess what benefits you’d gain by becoming a graduate student. But what benefit would I get from taking you on as my graduate student?”

It was a statement that was essentially orthodox.

Of course, graduate students are valuable resources for professors.

But in Moriarty’s case, she didn’t feel much need for subordinates.

Due to her innate criminal blood, she had always been alone until now.

She had never even considered having someone by her side.

“If you can’t explain that…”

So, as Moriarty was about to press the student before her…

“…Hmm.”

She suddenly stopped speaking and her eyes lit up as she fell into thought.

‘What has this student been looking at all this time?’

Since declaring his desire to become her graduate student, his gaze had been focused not on her but on empty space.

At first, she thought he might be deliberately avoiding her gaze.

But his pupils were periodically contracting, and his expression showed undisguisable confusion.

It was as if he was reading something in the empty space.

“Student, is there something to read in the empty air?”

“Ah, no?”

“Then why have you been staring blankly at empty space?”

After asking this question due to the strange feeling, she quietly furrowed her brow at the student’s flustered voice.

‘He shouldn’t reveal his hand so soon.’

He was the first oasis she had found in a barren desert.

She wanted to immerse herself in it at least until her thirst was quenched.

“Honestly, it’s difficult for me to accept your proposal right now.”

“…I see.”

“But if you could solve my dilemma, I might consider accepting your proposal.”

However, before diving in, it seemed necessary to determine whether the being before her was truly an oasis or merely a mirage.

“What is it?”

“It’s simple. What should I do now?”

For this purpose, Professor Moriarty began to share her long-standing concern with the student before her.

“Thanks to this cursed talent within me, every crime I commit becomes a perfect crime.”

A deep darkness began to settle in her eyes.

“At first, it was quite fun. It felt like everything was in the palm of my hand.”

“……..”

“But it’s becoming less and less entertaining. It’s like winning a game by cheating.”

“Haven’t you thought about breaking the curse?”

“Of course I have. I’ve tried various actions to break the curse and met many people. But no one has been able to break my curse.”

The student with blond hair was reflected in those eyes filled with deep darkness.

“Except for you, that is.”

The student’s hand holding the mana condenser quietly flinched at those words.

“Honestly, I wanted you to oppose me.”

“………”

“But for some reason, instead of confronting me as a detective, you’re saying you want to join under me.”

The strange current flowing between them was now wildly fluctuating.

“Because of that, I’ve lost my will to live again.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“So let me ask you again.”

To the blond boy who was quietly wiping away cold sweat, the professor asked in a low voice.

“How can I quench this burning thirst?”

A question that could be the final one of the day, depending on the boy’s answer.

“”……….””

As Moriarty finished speaking and stared intently at the student, a chilling silence began to flow.

“So… according to my understanding, Professor, you want to engage in a breathtaking battle of wits with a detective.”

“That’s right.”

“But because of the curse that makes every crime you commit a perfect crime, that can’t happen, and that’s your concern?”

“Exactly.”

As the student who finally broke the silence began to speak, Moriarty tilted her head with a slightly expectant look.

“Hmm…..”

‘Is it beyond him after all?’

But as his words momentarily faltered, Moriarty’s expectant eyes slowly began to cool.

‘…I got unusually excited.’

Because of meeting an anomalous being for the first time, she had been quite excited, unlike her usual self.

But calming down, the person before her was just a student who had just entered the academy.

As long as he wanted to be her assistant rather than a detective, he couldn’t possibly solve her chronic dilemma.

“It’s simple.”

That’s what she thought, but.

“Start criminal consulting.”

“…Criminal consulting?”

After finishing a moment of contemplation and beginning to make a determined expression, the statement that came out of his mouth was.

“If the problem arises because you commit the crimes directly, then wouldn’t it work if the perpetrator wasn’t you but someone else?”

It was a proposal that she found quite attractive and convincing.

“Provide criminal consultation to people who need perfect crimes, using your knowledge.”

“………”

“That’s the only way to quench your thirst, Professor.”

After finishing his words and quietly smiling, he then added as if he had just remembered.

“And that’s why you should take me in.”

Hearing those words, Moriarty burst into laughter for the first time in a long while and thought.

“Just as detectives need assistants, criminal consultants need assistants too.”

“Ha, haha.”

“Isn’t that right, Professor?”

“Ahahahahaha!!”

It seems she had discovered not an oasis, but a vast ocean.

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“Unfortunately, I can’t make you a graduate student right away as a freshman. That would go against procedures.”

“Yes.”

After laughing heartily for a while, Professor Moriarty wiped the tears from her eyes and began to speak again.

“But remember this one thing.”

Her expression, still covered in blood, showed unprecedented favor.

“From this moment on, you are the assistant to Moriarty, the criminal consultant.”

As Moriarty finished speaking and leisurely leaned back in her chair.

[Villain Maker: Professor Moriarty’s Appearance Plausibility Fulfilled]

[Progress 10%]

Once again, an unidentified message appeared before my eyes.

“Ha.”

Looking at the top of the message, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

– You are this world’s plausibility.

– Risk your life to fill in the lacking plausibility and prevent the world’s collapse.

‘Those bastards.’

Were they so upset that I threatened to stop the confirmation even at the risk of my life?

I had become the very ‘plausibility’ of this world.

[Quest List]

– Villain Maker: Fulfill the plausibility of Professor Moriarty’s appearance.

– Love-Hate Relationship: Become Holmes’ ‘that man’.

– Lady of London: Complete one fraudulent marriage with Watson.

– Phantom Thief’s Treasure: Get kidnapped by Arsène Lupin.

– Don’t Move: Receive a confession from Inspector Lestrade.

(Omitted)

The quest list that continued quite long at the bottom was proof of that fact.

I have no idea when I’ll be able to finish all of this.

As I blankly scanned through the vast and difficult quests that seemed overwhelming.

“…Hmm?”

I quietly began to scratch my head at a question that came to mind.

‘Why isn’t Irene Adler here?’

One of the few beings who made Holmes, who had no match as a detective, taste failure. And the only woman Holmes acknowledged. Because of this, she’s a very popular character who is constantly paired with him in derivative works.

All sorts of people existed as quests, but for some reason, her name wasn’t visible in the quest window.

‘Did they forget?’

“Ah, you.”

As I was about to get up from my seat with a slightly uneasy feeling, Professor Moriarty’s voice suddenly came.

‘Right, I’m still in front of this person.’

Although she had just become an ally moments ago, she was someone I could never let my guard down around.

“If you’re going to carry such an important photo with you, be more careful in the future.”

So as I straightened my back tensely, she took out a photo from her pocket and handed it to me.

“…..!?!?”

Taking it reflexively, I couldn’t help but freeze with an astonished expression.

“T-This is…”

A dazzlingly beautiful woman wearing a tiara on her head was crouched down like a dog with a collar around her neck.

And next to her, stepping on her head, was a blond-haired boy who was now my body.

“I think you’re the only man who can put a collar on the neck of the monarch and Grand Duchess of the Kingdom of Bohemia and take her for a walk.”

“…What?”

As I was looking at the image in shock, Professor Moriarty said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Isn’t that right, Adler?”

Wait, what did she just call me?

“Ah.”

Sweating coldly with a sinking feeling, I couldn’t help but close my eyes tightly after reading the very last line of the message that appeared before me.

– We wish you good luck, Issac Adler.

I was Irene Adler.

“But, remember.”

“………..”

“Even a dog will bite its master when cornered.”

In my dazed state, Professor Moriarty’s advice was echoing in my ears.

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Meanwhile, at that time, on the streets of London as the sunset descended.

– Step, step…

A woman who had concealed her appearance with a black robe and mask, yet couldn’t completely hide the antique atmosphere flowing through her body, was hurriedly quickening her steps.

[221B Baker Street]

The old boarding house on Baker Street was coming into her view.