Ch.59Chapter 59 – The Boy with a Time Limit

The day after little Miss Moran, whom I’m not even sure when I subjugated, visited my mansion.

“Gulp, gulp…”

“……..”

Sitting leisurely on the sofa in my hideout, I was quietly lost in thought as I watched Moran hurriedly stuffing a sandwich into her mouth.

‘I was surprised at first, but the more I think about it, the more beneficial this is.’

Excluding Professor Moriarty who appeared as the final boss in the game, Celestia Moran is a powerhouse who runs neck and neck with Inspector Lestrade.

Beyond the silent air gun from the original work, her sniping is completely undetectable. Few among the main characters could counter such ability.

“…Hiccup.”

To think that such a formidable powerhouse is now nervously watching my reactions while stuffing a sandwich into her mouth and hiccupping.

Even at this point, when I’ve become unfazed by most things, it feels a bit strange.

– Reach…

“…!”

As I reached my hand forward while thinking this, Moran froze with her eyes wide open.

Perhaps she has trauma from the harsh treatment she’s received? She turns into a frightened rabbit at the slightest unexpected movement.

– Stroke…

Feeling somehow heartbroken, I placed my hand on her messy hair that slightly covered her eyes while giving her a gentle smile.

“…?”

As I gently stroked Moran’s head, she looked up at me with a bewildered expression, her mouth agape.

“A hunting dog hunts best when well-fed.”

Still not accustomed to kind treatment, she began chewing her sandwich again with an awkward expression on her face.

“So, from now on, I’ll punish you if you leave any food.”

I was about to soften at her pitiful appearance, but quickly regained my composure and whispered to her in a low voice.

“You need to grow strong to protect me.”

She will one day become the second most dangerous woman in London, after Professor Moriarty.

‘I need to make her completely obedient to me.’

If I don’t establish a clear hierarchy now, I’ll surely be devoured.

“Your answer?”

“…I understand.”

When I gently lifted her chin as she was munching on her sandwich and asked, Moran answered with a dazed look.

“That’s right.”

“………”

As I stroked her head again with a cold smile, Moran, who had been sitting demurely, closed her eyes and accepted my touch.

‘…Was I always good at this sort of thing?’

“Pfft.”

While I was feeling pleased with myself like a cool-headed animal trainer at her submissive behavior, a sudden mocking laugh came from beside me.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing… it’s just too funny.”

Lady Clay, who was cleaning the floor as ordered, answered my question with a voice tinged with laughter.

“A fellow who confidently set out to train someone is accumulating bad karma in real-time—how could I not laugh?”

“What nonsense is that?”

“Why not just leave it to me?”

Thinking I was doing a fine job of educating her, I said as much, and Joanne Clay whispered with a dark smile.

“Give me just one week, and I can make her kneel perfectly before you…”

“I’ll pass.”

“Fine. Then just live like that and die.”

When I immediately shook my head as her appearance seemed quite suspicious, she sighed deeply and shook her head before resuming her floor cleaning.

“…Anyway, no need to be nice to someone like that.”

She looked quite cute with her pouting lips while muttering, but I shouldn’t be fooled by such appearances.

Despite appearances, she’s the fourth smartest woman in London.

If I carelessly entrusted Moran to her, she might turn her into an ally and attack me instead.

‘There’s still a long way to go…’

Sighing at the situation where I couldn’t relax for even a moment, I removed my hand from Moran’s head and reclined on the sofa with my eyes closed.

– Munch munch…

“…?”

As I remained still, I suddenly felt a ticklish sensation in my ear.

“Blaze?”

Silver Blaze, who had somehow sat down beside me, was nibbling on my ear and wagging her tail.

“Heehee.”

When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Silver Blaze covered my face with her tail, wearing a shy expression.

“…You still smell like Miss Blaze.”

“I-I washed thoroughly with shampoo!”

When I quietly stroked her tail and spoke, her flustered voice was heard.

“I prefer Miss Blaze’s scent over shampoo.”

– Stroke…

Silver Blaze was already in a state of perfect submission to me, so such affectionate treatment was no problem.

Therefore, when I complimented her in a low voice—knowing she probably hadn’t received many compliments in her life—Silver Blaze’s ears and tail slowly drooped.

– Slide…

She, who had been hanging her head, quietly nuzzled her cheek against my chest.

“I’m happy, Master.”

After a moment, Silver Blaze’s quiet voice began to be heard from within my embrace.

“I never knew that a life of subjugation could be this happy.”

“…Is that so?”

“I almost want to tell the humans of London and my fellow Werebeasts about this joy.”

“Uh-oh.”

While I was flustered by her statement that somehow seemed dangerous, Silver Blaze suddenly raised her head and stared at me.

“…But on the other hand, I’m a bit worried.”

“Why?”

Her expression was tinged with anxiety.

I can’t think of anything specific, but why?

“Are you ill, Master?”

As I was scratching my head, Silver Blaze examined my eyes and asked.

“What do you…”

“I’ve lived my whole life in back alleys and racetracks, seeing countless deaths.”

Her eyes had darkened unlike usual.

“I hope it’s just my imagination, but right now, Master is…”

“………”

As her words continued, Lady Clay, who had been cleaning the floor, quietly listened.

“…I’m fine.”

Worried that she might discover my current condition, I hastily interrupted Silver Blaze.

“Demons have countless ways to survive.”

“…Thank goodness.”

When I whispered softly, she finally looked relieved.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“I almost lost my will to live.”

“……..”

“Live long, Master.”

When I asked with a deliberately calm demeanor, an unexpected answer came back.

“Because there’s someone here whose reason for living is you.”

Thanks to that, while I was wearing a blank expression, she pressed her cheek against mine briefly before standing up.

“Little miss~”

“…Yes?”

Silver Blaze, holding Moran’s hand, headed toward the bathroom with the girl who had been looking up at me with a dazed expression.

“”……….””

And then came the silence.

“…You.”

“………”

“Are you sick somewhere?”

In that silence, I quietly sank into thought, ignoring Lady Clay’s voice from beside me.

‘I definitely need to get a thorough examination.’

Suddenly, a rather impressive system message that appeared before my eyes yesterday flashed through my mind.

[Ending 04: Flowers in Your Embrace]

[Condition: Subjugate all main characters within the time limit]

At that time, I was so overjoyed at finally finding a way out of my fate of imprisonment and training that I was jumping around.

But now that the excitement has subsided, aside from the grotesque difficulty level that would be challenging even with ten bodies, something else was bothering me.

“…Within the time limit.”

I wondered what the time limit referred to—could it possibly be the limit of how long this body can endure?

“Hmm…”

I don’t think I’ll die if the time limit passes.

This body is already as good as dead, and I’ve even become a Vampire.

But what if my life force depletes to the point where I can’t move properly?

At that time, wouldn’t a fate of imprisonment and training disguised as nursing await me?

‘…I need to find out.’

If that’s the case, I can’t just stay like this.

I need to get a thorough examination to find out how long my body can last.

The problem is that I can’t get examined by just any doctor.

I need to be examined by a doctor who is not only skilled but also in a social position that I can somewhat control, yet with enough conscience to keep secrets.

If my current physical condition were to leak out, the situation could become quite troublesome.

“…Huh? Where are you going?”

After pondering for a while, I stood up, and Lady Clay frowned and asked.

“I’m going to meet my fiancée.”

When I answered her, whose eyes seemed somewhat worried, the lady’s face grew cold.

“…Trash.”

“Haha.”

The time for normal explanations has already passed, so I’ll have to accept it.

.

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Several hours later, in front of 221B Baker Street.

“What are you doing here?”

“What a coincidence to see you, Miss Watson.”

Rachel Watson, who was quietly about to enter the boarding house, discovers Issac Adler who had approached right in front and frowns deeply.

“What nerve do you have to come here?”

Then, she immediately rebukes him with a cold expression.

“Do you even know what state Sharlotte Holmes has been in because of you?”

“………..”

“Since the Lygate case, she’s become half a recluse. Well, she was already a recluse, but…”

Issac Adler tried to open his mouth to say something, but Watson’s cold voice continued relentlessly.

“The reason I’ve been quiet all this time is because Holmes’ condition had been gradually improving while staying with you. As a doctor who knows the days she spent addicted to drugs and magic stones, I couldn’t deny that.”

“……..”

“But now her condition is serious even though she’s not using any of those things. It’s as if…”

“…I’m ashamed.”

Watson and Adler entered the boarding house.

“…Miss Watson.”

“What?”

“Do you also think that I’m ruining Sharlotte Holmes?”

Watson, who was climbing to the second floor, laughed mockingly at Adler’s words who was following behind her.

“Did you think otherwise?”

“……..”

“You are more stimulating and harmful to her than any drug.”

Her eyes filled with deep disgust.

“And that’s not all. You’re also interfering with my love.”

“That’s…”

“It’s not something a London lady and doctor should say, but.”

At the same time, a chilling voice escaped her lips.

“I wish you would catch a fatal disease and die.”

“………”

“…If you understand, then leave now, and stop tormenting us anymore.”

Nevertheless, when Adler followed her into her room with a bitter smile, Watson said with blazing eyes.

“If you’re looking for Holmes, I’m afraid she’s not here. Seeing that she’s not in her room, she must be out.”

“…Is that so?”

“It’s a good thing. She’s been sitting blankly in her armchair for the past few days. She must have had a change of heart.”

At the same time, she began rummaging through a drawer.

“Anyway, this is my final warning.”

Eventually, she pulled out a gleaming black pistol and growled at Adler while pointing it at him.

“If you don’t leave this place right now…”

“I didn’t come to see Sharlotte.”

“What?”

“I came to see you.”

But at Adler’s statement, she tilted her head and frowned.

“What nonsense is this?”

“I want a thorough examination. As a patient.”

“…Huh?”

When Adler put on a serious expression, her face showed bewilderment.

“How many doctors are there in London?”

“Not many as skilled as you.”

“I don’t know what kind of trick you’re trying to pull, but it would be better for you to just leave…”

“…And you’re the only person I can trust.”

Adler’s eyes, saying this, were quite lifeless.

“I’ve nearly been assassinated several times while getting medical examinations. You’re the only one I can trust for an examination now.”

And then came the silence.

“…How pitiful.”

After pondering for a long time, Watson finally lowered her gun and muttered with a sigh.

“A life where you can’t even get a proper examination from a doctor. Well, it’s all your karma.”

“………”

“…Still, as a doctor, I can’t just ignore this.”

Her voice had softened considerably.

“Sit there. Since this isn’t a hospital, I can’t be thorough, but I can at least check the flow of your mana circuits and blood vessels.”

“…Thank you.”

“But once you’ve had your examination, don’t come back.”

As she took out her doctor’s coat and stethoscope from her bag, she glared at Adler and added.

“And if you have so much time to spare, stop tormenting Holmes too.”

“………”

“You have so many days left to live, shouldn’t you be doing something more productive?”

At those words, Adler simply responded with a quiet smile.

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Just as Rachel Watson’s examination was about to begin.

“………..”

Sharlotte, who had hidden herself in the wardrobe across the room, was quietly watching the scene through a slightly open gap.

“…What are these wounds?”

“Please just ignore those.”

Why was it? The moment she heard Watson and Adler’s conversation from the first floor, Sharlotte had instinctively crawled into the wardrobe.

“Close your eyes and resonate your mana.”

“Like this?”

“Yes, like that…”

Was it because she couldn’t forget the disgraceful behavior she had shown to Adler during the last incident?

Was it embarrassment about the consecutive critical mistakes she had made as a detective?

Or was it that she wanted to escape the situation of facing Adler while harboring strange feelings that were neither organized nor defined?

“…Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

Since Sharlotte herself didn’t know exactly what the reason was, she was just crouched ungracefully in the wardrobe, endlessly watching Adler through the gap where light came in, when it happened.

“Uh… uh…”

It was when cold sweat began to run down Watson’s face as she examined Adler.

“Um, hey.”

“………”

“…Stop joking around and do it properly, will you?”

After watching for a moment, she said to Adler with a slightly trembling voice.

“I am doing it properly.”

However, Adler answered with a quiet smile.

“Why, is the result not good?”

“Uh, well… that is… um…”

Rachel Watson, her face pale, began to stammer as she recalled the harsh words she had just hurled at Adler.

“It’s okay. I know my body well.”

But instead, Issac Adler asked with a gentle tone, reassuring her.

“…I just want to know how much time I have left.”

Watson’s pupils began to shake.

“Two years?”

“………”

“One year? Or perhaps, six months?”

Adler’s cheerful voice echoed throughout the room.

“How much time do I have left?”

“”………..””

“Oh, by the way, this is a secret from Miss Holmes.”

It was a moment when both women’s minds were reeling for different reasons.