Ch.60Chapter 60 – Deception and Love

“…it’s a miracle that you’re alive.”

This was what Rachel Watson said, averting her gaze after keeping her hand on Adler’s heart for a long time.

“Even setting aside that the nerves and mana circuits in one arm are completely burned, the mana circuits throughout your entire body are hopelessly tangled.”

“So it was as I thought?”

“Surely you’re not going to say you didn’t know. At this point, you’re practically disabled as a magician. Attempting to use mana would cause excruciating pain throughout your body.”

At those words, Issac Adler nodded with a bitter smile.

“If you want to use magic, you’d have to forcibly squeeze out mana through the blockages. That would obviously put tremendous strain on your entire body.”

“………”

“So if you’re going to use magic, you should use a mana amplifier. Actually, it would be best not to use magic at all…”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Wait. I’m not finished yet.”

Rachel Watson’s expression darkened further as she said this.

“The mana circuits are just a small part of your problems.”

“I see.”

“I’d like to go through your physical condition point by point, but that would probably take until sunset.”

Her voice became slightly subdued as she continued.

“This isn’t something that can be fixed by addressing just one issue. From congenital problems you were born with to acquired issues that I can’t even begin to understand how you developed them.”

“………”

“I wanted to say something positive, but as a doctor, I can’t lie to you.”

After pausing briefly to look at Adler, Rachel Watson hesitated, then closed her eyes solemnly and delivered her verdict.

“…Modern medicine cannot fix your body.”

A brief silence followed.

“If you had come a little earlier, I might have been able to do something.”

“……..”

“Your body has weakened to the point where it’s now impossible.”

Watson, who had kept her eyes closed because she couldn’t bear to see Adler’s expression, slightly opened them and continued.

“What on earth have you been doing these past few months?”

To this, Issac Adler replied with a small smile.

“…I’ve been doing the most valuable thing in my life.”

For some reason, his expression seemed far from that of someone who had just received a terminal diagnosis.

“Um…”

After observing him quietly, Watson spoke with uncertainty.

“Did you already know?”

“………”

“That you’re terminally ill?”

Adler quietly nodded in response.

“…Since when?”

“If I had to say, from the beginning.”

It was an answer that needed no verification.

Even the most oblivious person would have some idea that they didn’t have long to live with a body this damaged.

“I… see.”

Suddenly, Watson remembered the harsh words she had said to him earlier.

“So that’s why… those behaviors…”

Thinking about it, she had said similar things when they first met.

Now understanding why Issac Adler had been giving bitter smiles each time, Watson wanted nothing more than to take back those words.

“Isn’t it funny? A boy whom so many people are desperate to kill turns out to be terminally ill.”

But before she could even try, Adler’s subdued voice cut in.

“…Come to think of it, my whole life is ridiculous.”

His eyes looked somewhat sad as he spoke.

“Always having people approach me, yet being unable to open my heart to anyone. Truly the worst, isn’t it?”

Watson hesitated, unable to respond to his demeanor.

“Of course, Sharlotte Holmes was the exception, as I fell for her at first sight.”

“…What?”

“Though my remaining lifespan is short, I’ve decided to devote it all to her.”

Her eyes widened at this.

“You’re in love too, so you understand, right?”

Adler took her hand and began speaking with a serious expression.

“How foolish someone blinded by love can be.”

“…Ah.”

“Becoming a vampire at the cost of half my remaining lifespan wasn’t even a foolish act for someone terminal like me.”

Watson’s face turned slightly pale.

“You…..”

“In a few years, a great threat will engulf London.”

Issac Adler continued, looking straight at her.

“Things may be calm now, but soon numerous strange incidents will occur in succession.”

“………”

“The existence of Gil the Reaper, who is completely untraceable by magical means, already proves this fact.”

His voice became slightly urgent.

“Miss Watson, please tell me.”

“Tell you what…”

“How much time do I have left?”

Rachel Watson’s eyes began to tremble.

“I need to know the exact time limit to make Sharlotte Holmes the hope of London before then.”

“……..”

“Please, Miss Watson.”

After what seemed like an eternity…

“The time you have left is…..”

Watson, looking at Adler with guilt-ridden eyes, spoke with a trembling voice.

“…about one year.”

A heavy atmosphere descended upon the room.

“That’s in your current state, but it will likely worsen as time passes.”

“Hmm.”

“Personally, I’d recommend long-term hospitalization…”

“That would be difficult.”

In that heavy atmosphere, Issac Adler scratched his head and muttered.

“I need at least three years. Five would be ideal.”

“Um…”

“I’ll have to find a way. One year isn’t enough for anything. Fortunately, I have some ideas…”

“Excuse me.”

Watson urgently interrupted him.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but stop it.”

“…Why?”

“Forcibly extending a predetermined lifespan comes with terrible consequences.”

Her expression was deeply distorted.

“Your soul will rot. Do you want to fall into eternal suffering because of one wrong choice?”

“…Yes.”

But Adler’s immediate answer left Watson stunned.

“I broke it, so I should take responsibility.”

“………”

“I’ve only been harsh and pushed that young girl until now. I’ve never properly nurtured her growth. Now I want to focus on the latter.”

Adler’s quiet voice echoed through the room.

“Anyway, I absolutely won’t die until I’ve made her, still inexperienced, the hope of London. I have my ways.”

“Why would you go that far?”

Watson’s voice was heavy as she watched him.

“Because she’s my favorite.”

But Adler’s answer was lighter than ever.

“Well, technically there are two, but anyway.”

He mumbled something else in a small voice afterward, but it no longer reached Watson’s ears.

‘I was completely mistaken.’

Sympathy for the boy sitting before her was welling up in Watson’s heart.

“Then, I’ll be…”

“W-wait a moment.”

But ignoring her, Adler rose from his seat without hesitation.

“Wait, Issac Adler.”

Watson hurriedly stood up and followed him to the exit.

“I’ll help you. I am a doctor after all. You don’t need to do such things…”

“You said it yourself. There’s no way to treat me with modern medicine.”

“…I can at least prevent it from getting worse.”

But Adler just shook his head and began descending the stairs.

“I-I’ll treat you for free. Consider it an apology for my harsh words earlier.”

“I’m honored, but I must decline.”

“Please don’t be like that, Mr. Adler.”

Watson hurriedly followed him and grabbed his arm as he nearly reached the bottom of the stairs.

“…I’ve been misunderstanding you all this time.”

She took him to a corner on the first floor and quietly lowered her gaze as she began to murmur.

“Now I understand why you couldn’t accept women’s feelings, and yet why you opened your heart to Sharlotte.”

“………”

“Please let me help you.”

Adler looked at her with a bitter smile.

“Though I’m busy with hospital work, I can make time once a week…”

“…If you insist, then take this.”

With a sigh, Issac Adler took something out from his pocket.

“What’s this…?”

“A contract.”

As Watson tilted her head, he began to explain.

“I’m not comfortable with a doctor of your caliber working for free.”

“……..”

“Let’s do this properly. I’ll pay you handsomely.”

Watson’s eyes had already softened as she took the contract.

“So this is the kind of person you are.”

“No. I’m not particularly a good person.”

“…My past self makes me ashamed now.”

And the next moment, her signature began to appear at the bottom of the contract.

“I’ll try to make time this weekend.”

“……..”

“According to the contract, it’s once a week, but I think I could manage twice if I make more time.”

After returning the pen to Adler, she bowed with a polite smile.

“Then, I look forward to working with you…”

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– Fzzzzzzz…

“…Hick?”

Suddenly feeling a hot sensation from below, Watson grabbed her lower abdomen and collapsed to the ground.

“W-what is this?”

Her lower abdomen, covered by civilian clothes, was glowing brightly.

“What’s happening…”

When she lifted her clothes slightly with trembling hands, Watson’s eyes became blank.

“I told you I’m not particularly a good person, Miss Watson.”

“………”

“You should have checked the contents of the contract thoroughly.”

Adler’s golden seal was clearly engraved on her lower abdomen.

“Th-this is impossible. I definitely checked it thoroughly from beginning to end…”

“Changing a few words at the moment of signing is child’s play for me.”

“Th-that’s a violation of contract magic. Such tricks shouldn’t be possible…!”

“Shh, people outside might hear us despite the soundproofing.”

After watching in shock, Rachel Watson raised her head with trembling eyes.

“Starting next weekend, come to my secret hideout after your hospital work is done.”

“B-but that day… Neville and I…”

“What does that matter?”

Adler began gently stroking her cheek, whispering in a low voice to Watson who couldn’t move an inch due to some unknown force.

“You belong to me now, not him.”

“…You bastard.”

“Answer me.”

Finally realizing she had been deceived, Watson gritted her teeth and looked up at Adler with hateful eyes.

“Die. Just die-“

“…Answer me.”

But when Adler quietly poked her lower abdomen where the seal was engraved, Watson convulsed as if electrocuted and then replied in a tearful voice.

“…I understand.”

Simultaneously, a message appeared before Adler’s eyes.

[Rachel Watson has become subordinate to you!]

“…I’m sorry, Neville.”

Hearing Watson’s tear-filled voice as she bit her lip tightly, Adler murmured quietly with a liberated expression.

“That’s me, actually.”

Adler’s plan was progressing more smoothly than expected.

.

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“Do you think you can live out your natural life after doing something like this…?”

“…It would be impossible without you.”

“You fucking bastard…”

As I quietly stroked Rachel Watson’s head, she growled at me with tears in her eyes.

“I’ll curse you.”

“Thank you.”

“Ptui.”

And then she spat on my leg.

“No matter what, you can’t have me.”

“I already do, though?”

“Shut up!”

As I scratched my head and said that, Watson shouted in a shrill voice and showed me the back of her hand.

“No matter what you do, this mark won’t fade.”

“……….”

“How un-unfortunate, Mr. Ruffian.”

However, her voice was trembling slightly, unlike her initial confidence.

“Let’s see about that.”

When I leaned in and whispered to her in a cold voice, her body began to tremble despite her glaring eyes.

“Whether that mark will fade or not.”

I wanted to threaten her a bit more, but somehow the situation looked too comical so I stopped.

The height difference was so great that even with her kneeling, I could roughly meet her eyes, which didn’t look very intimidating.

– Poke…

“Uuuugh…..”

Instead, I lightly pressed her lower abdomen, and Watson closed her eyes tightly and convulsed again as she lay on the floor.

“Neville…..”

‘While I need to have a pure romance with Watson as Neville, this can’t be helped…’

Just as I was starting to feel guilty at her pitiful voice, that moment came.

– Ding!

A completely unexpected message appeared before my eyes.

[Hidden Route: ???]

[Progress: 50% -> 80%]

That message instantly cleared my complicated thoughts about how to extend my time limit and how to subjugate the remaining characters.

[Sharlotte Holmes loves you.]

“……Ah.”

The content was so shocking.