Ch.80Chapter 80 – Enforcing Discipline

That Night, at Caroline Augustus Milverton’s Mansion

“Hmm…”

“…What’s wrong?”

“It’s really strange.”

Watson, hiding in the bushes near the estate, opens her eyes drowsily and speaks to Adler who was crouching beside her.

“What is it?”

“The moment I sent the message, would you believe a sending tone rang in what had been a quiet coffee house.”

“…Are we still on that topic?”

Adler chuckles softly and lowers his voice to answer.

“I’m not the only one who can use message magic, Miss Watson. It’s practically a basic skill for magicians these days.”

“Hmm…”

“When you sent your message, a magician who happened to be nearby must have received a message too.”

But when Watson continues to look at him with suspicious eyes, Adler sighs and continues.

“Besides, didn’t you try sending the message several more times?”

“…That’s true.”

“And after that, the message wasn’t received anywhere on my body. So let’s stop with these strange misunderstandings.”

After Adler says this while staring directly at Watson, she finally quietly averts her gaze.

“…I suppose that couldn’t be the case.”

“Why? What were you thinking?”

“Never mind. Just look ahead.”

Adler finally turns his head forward with a slightly relieved expression.

“I thought the time had finally come to use this gun again…”

“…Hmm.”

Hearing Watson’s cold muttering from beside him, Adler forces a smile while breaking into a cold sweat.

“So, what exactly are we doing right now?”

“Pardon?”

He suddenly turns his head in surprise, eyes wide at Watson’s sudden questioning.

“You left behind the maid you spent days charming, and despite boldly claiming you’d break into the house, we’re still sitting in the bushes.”

“There are reasons for all of this.”

“Would you care to explain at least?”

Adler begins explaining with a now composed expression.

“I became friendly with the maid to learn the mansion’s layout and Caroline’s living patterns.”

“…Is that so?”

“After spending several days with her, I was able to figure out the infiltration route and when Caroline falls asleep.”

“Hmm.”

“As a bonus, I discovered that once Caroline falls asleep, she wouldn’t wake up even if someone carried her away, which gives the servants trouble when they need to wake her.”

When he proudly states this, Watson makes a slightly incredulous expression.

“How did you extract such information from a loyal maid who seemed like her right hand?”

“Actually, she wasn’t just a maid. She was quite a renowned assassin in the back alleys.”

“What?!”

“That’s why I didn’t let her come along. Rather than bringing along such a dangerous variable, it’s better to exclude her entirely.”

“………”

“Well, in the end, we’ve eliminated a rather dangerous gatekeeper, so it’s a benefit for us, right?”

Watson’s eyes go blank with disbelief at Adler’s continued explanation.

“We still have some time before Caroline falls asleep. So…”

“…Let’s chat for a bit.”

Her eyes suddenly sharpen.

“Are you suggesting that? That’s quite unexpected.”

“…I’m curious about you, Issac Adler.”

She leans her head slightly toward Adler beside her and begins to whisper in a lowered voice.

“Curious about what?”

“Well, you’re a mystery yourself.”

Her eyes quietly shine in the darkness.

“Judging by your recent actions, which have been evaluated as slightly different, you seem like quite a good person. The testimony from the lady we met during the Blue Carbuncle case confirms this. Not to mention your seemingly pure and bright expressions.”

“Thank you for the compliment…?”

“But you clearly have a duality about you.”

Tension appears on Watson’s face as she says this.

“Sometimes, you look like the most terrifying mastermind in the world. Especially when you smile with your eyes.”

“…Like this?”

“Ugh.”

When Adler deliberately gives her an eye-smile in that situation, Watson shudders and grimaces.

“I can accept that you don’t hesitate to act immorally when necessary.”

“…Have I done that?”

“To be honest, it was none other than you who changed two giants like Sharlotte and the Professor to take this ridiculous bet seriously.”

At her words striking at the core, Adler, who had been smiling with his eyes until then, quietly closes his mouth.

“…It’s as if you’re sitting at the perfect center between good and evil, in perfect neutrality.”

“………”

“I still have no idea which side is the real you.”

And then comes silence.

“Indeed, Miss Watson, having dealt with many people, you have analytical skills no less impressive than Holmes in these matters.”

“Anyone could see these facts! It’s just that everyone ignores them because they’re captivated by your appearance.”

After the brief silence, Adler smiles and speaks, causing Watson to growl, showing her cute canine teeth.

“You’re suspicious, far too suspicious. Even your private life and past are too unclear.”

“…Did you investigate me?”

“Not me, but my partner who unfortunately fell for you did. And unlike Holmes, she’s still struggling to figure you out.”

“That’s a bit scary…”

Adler feels a slight chill and wraps his arms around himself at her words.

“Be honest with me, do you have any friends?”

“…Pardon?”

Watson, who had been watching him from the corner of her eye, raises the corner of her mouth slightly and asks.

“Sharlotte has at least one friend—me. But you don’t seem to have even that minimal relationship?”

“…I have a girlfriend.”

“Not that. Not a romantic relationship, but one built on friendship.”

At this, Adler scratches his head quietly, all traces of humor gone.

“You don’t seem to have any…”

“…I do have some? About three.”

“What kind of people are they?”

“They were all guys I hung out with during my school days.”

“…School days? You hardly ever attend classes at Auguste Academy despite being enrolled.”

“I attended elementary school before coming to Auguste Academy.”

Adler quickly changes his words at Watson’s puzzled voice.

“Do they really exist? These friends?”

“…One was a guy who liked to counsel others.”

“Counseling, that’s good. Although I don’t know much about psychiatry, for patients…”

“But he was problematic because he loved ‘murder games’ too much.”

“…What?”

Watson, who had been nodding quietly, now looks confused at his nostalgic voice.

“There was also a guy who was obsessed with strange hardcore games with no dreams or hopes.”

“……..”

“And surprisingly, I was also friends with a girl who had absolutely no romantic interest in me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Would you believe it was because she was insanely in love with a character from a hero comic?”

Watson, who had been wearing a blank expression, frowns and asks.

“What are hardcore… whatever and hero comics?”

“…Ah.”

“Using your own incomprehensible terminology is practically a precursor to delusional disorder.”

Watson mutters this while looking at Adler with slightly pitying eyes.

“…I thought I was going to learn information about Issac Adler that even Holmes couldn’t discover, but I’ve only realized his mental state is slightly off.”

Adler, who had been staring at her silently, slowly opens his mouth.

“Do you want to know?”

“What?”

“My past.”

At those words, Watson looks at Adler with wide eyes.

“That expression again…”

As she tries to turn away from Adler who starts smiling with his eyes again, she pauses briefly and looks into his eyes.

“………”

Because there was a faint but melancholic emotion in the corners of his eyes.

“I-I’m not particularly interested in hearing it.”

“I see…”

After watching him for a moment, Watson quietly lowers her gaze.

“…Since we have nothing else to do while waiting, I might as well listen.”

“Ah.”

When she mutters as if she has no choice, Adler’s expression brightens considerably.

“Well, where should I begin…”

‘…He does somewhat resemble Neville in his behavior.’

Watson quietly falls into thought as she watches Adler who begins tilting his head with a slightly excited look.

‘Could it be…’

“Ah, yes.”

Just as her eyes were about to sharpen again.

“Let’s start with how I created a love quadrangle at the neighborhood playground when I was five.”

A bright voice escapes from Adler’s mouth.

‘…No, it’s not.’

With suddenly dull eyes, Watson looks at Adler and quietly mutters to herself.

“I was the only boy.”

‘There’s no way Neville could be like this…’

The moon in the night sky was gradually brightening.

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“And that’s how I became interested in programming… I mean, magic from then on.”

“……..”

“Fortunately, it suited me well and I quickly became proficient. I barely made a living with it until I coincidentally enrolled at the company… I mean, Auguste Academy, which was the catalyst for all of this.”

How much time had passed since then.

“That’s my unremarkable life story.”

“Um, well…”

“…Why are you making that expression?”

When Adler, having finished his story, asks Watson with genuine curiosity, she opens her mouth with a pale expression.

“What kind of life have you lived?”

“I wonder? Honestly, I’m not sure myself.”

“Now I understand a little bit why you treat women the way you do…”

“Well, I even had gynophobia back then, haha…”

After briefly examining Adler’s nonchalant expression, Watson mutters in a low voice.

“But I still don’t understand this shameless behavior.”

Then, with a cold gaze, Rachel Watson reveals her lower abdomen.

“…I did it because I wanted to have a normal relationship with you.”

“What did you say?”

Adler, who had been looking at the mark faintly glowing in the dark bushes with a slightly awkward smile, begins to make excuses.

“Apart from being a severe thrill addict who willingly followed me here today, you’re the most normal person among those around me, Miss Watson.”

“…W-what are you saying?”

“Your fondness for gambling is a slight minus point, but that’s a flaw anyone could have.”

Watson tried to refute in surprise, but Adler continued without pause.

“You’re perfect as a friend. Unfortunately, I have to be in a relationship with Miss Lestrade, who dislikes me even more than you do.”

“……….”

“But if I were to have a normal relationship with you, I’m afraid it would become twisted, as it always has.”

“What does that…”

“I want to make normal friends too, Miss Watson. Now that you’ve heard my past, you understand why I dislike becoming close with men.”

At his slightly dejected voice, Watson’s gaze softens a bit.

“…So that’s why you did this?”

“Otherwise, wouldn’t you dislike me romantically?”

“This is the worst.”

“I’ve heard that a lot.”

Despite her comment, Adler smiles and responds.

“Miss Watson.”

“…Yes?”

“You’re the only one who knows my past.”

As he slowly leans his head closer, Watson backs away with a flustered expression.

“Neither Sharlotte nor Professor Moriarty knows. Not even Miss Lestrade, my official girlfriend.”

“Excuse me…?”

But Adler continues to lean forward with an eye-smile.

“Only you…”

“Stop!”

Watson raises her voice slightly without realizing it, then covers her mouth with her hand and looks around.

“…Now I see you’re not pitiful at all. I somewhat understand why you lived such a life.”

“What?”

Watson sighs and begins to scold Adler in a cold voice.

“What did I just do?”

“…Don’t you remember the expression you just made and the words you uttered while leaning your head toward me without any sense of personal space?”

“What about it?”

“This is maddening.”

Finding her words completely ineffective, Watson grabs her forehead and shakes her head.

“Anyway, I look forward to our friendship.”

“………..”

“…Go away.”

When Adler tentatively extends his hand to her, Watson slaps it away with a prim expression.

“I know you’ll backstab me at the last minute again, just like before.”

“Haha…”

“I almost fell for it again…”

As Adler’s awkward smile fades and he hunches his shoulders dejectedly, Watson’s muttering voice quietly trails off.

“I’ve said this many times, but I have Neville. And Sharlotte, who likes you, is my best friend.”

“…I see.”

Once again, a cold voice begins to echo in the bushes.

“So… let’s keep it at friendship.”

“……!”

But Adler’s dejected expression immediately brightens at her slightly softened voice.

“I don’t have any other intentions. I’m just doing this because I feel sorry for you…”

“Hehehe.”

“…Don’t smile like that.”

As he beams happily, Watson turns her gaze away and mutters coldly.

“It’s annoying.”

“I like it though.”

“…Hmph.”

Just as a strange atmosphere was about to form between them.

“Ah, it’s time now.”

Suddenly standing up, Adler’s eyes begin to shine.

“It’s time to enter the mansion.”

“…Hmm.”

Hearing this, Watson lowers her gaze and begins to caress the gun she takes out from her bosom.

“Miss Watson, I’ve been thinking about something.”

“…?”

After wearing a serious expression for a moment, Adler suddenly speaks up.

“I think it’s time for me to abandon my indecisiveness.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“If I keep acting unmanly and my ownership gets transferred to one side, a war will surely break out in London.”

“That’s too self-conscious…”

Watson, who was about to refute with a frown, falls into thought.

“…Actually, it’s not. That’s definitely true.”

She quickly acknowledges the fact with a nod.

“So, I’ve decided.”

Beside her, Adler speaks with a relieved expression.

“Decided what?”

“To participate in the bet too.”

He begins to rummage through his pocket.

“…Come to think of it, why did you join the bet?”

“It seems like the time has come to establish some discipline.”

Taking out a small liquor bottle, he quietly makes his eyes shine.

“And to seduce Caroline as a bonus.”

Then he opens the lid and pours everything inside into his mouth.

“…The worst friend ever.”

Watson watches him with dull eyes and shakes her head as she begins to check her gun.

“Is being handsome everything?”

A small blush appears on Watson’s face as she mutters in a low voice.

“…I still prefer Neville.”

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About 10 minutes later.

– Bang!

A gunshot rang out from Caroline’s mansion.

“…Cough.”

Soon, the sound of labored breathing begins.

“Y-you…”

“……..”

“What are you doing here?”

Caroline, who was somehow lying on the floor bleeding from her leg, looks toward the source of the coughing with a pale expression.

“…Establishing discipline.”

Issac Adler, who had directly intercepted the intruder in her home, was falling sideways with a bullet hole in his chest, speaking in a bright voice.