Ch.98Chapter 98 – The Adventure of the Three Garydebs (5)

Issac Adler lost his physical freedom at the hands of two women just minutes ago.

– Creeeeak…

“…Mr. Adler?”

As he entered the room, bound tightly with iron chains, Neria Garydeb, who had been sitting glumly on the bed, jumped back in surprise.

“So this child is the wicked wolf who’s been devouring Adler every night.”

“Were you voyeuristically watching that again? You’re truly something else.”

Sharlotte Holmes and Professor Moriarty began their conversation while staring intently at her.

“Unfortunately, my assistant gets stabbed or kidnapped almost every other day. He needs special management.”

“Using Romanian rebels as private soldiers to monitor someone’s every move 24 hours a day isn’t management, Professor—it’s a serious crime.”

“But the number of crimes I’ve prevented from happening to Adler has already reached double digits.”

“That’s…”

“Of course, that’s something you can’t do. Detectives are the type who prefer chasing after crimes that have already occurred with gleeful expressions rather than preventing them beforehand.”

As the women’s voices grew increasingly cold, Adler’s face slowly turned pale as he realized an underwater war was unfolding behind him.

“…You seem to think I’m not making any effort, but that’s a grave miscalculation. If you haven’t noticed that, I don’t wish to exchange any more words with you.”

“You mean those beggar children called the Baker Street Irregulars? Don’t be mistaken. I’ve simply left them alone because they’re not worth countering.”

“Even weak children, when united, become a strong group. Especially a group that knows every inch of London’s complex back alleys, which are practically a labyrinth of supernatural dangers.”

In this situation, Sharlotte and the Professor’s gazes began to grow increasingly hostile.

“As I said before, you have the makings of a criminal. To see you already pioneering child exploitation, something even I haven’t attempted…”

“Providing enough money for a month’s meals and warm blankets just for monitoring one person—how is that child exploitation? Wouldn’t it be more like child welfare?”

“I see now that you’re in no position to criticize me, are you?”

“I didn’t hire thugs with impure intentions like you did. It was all for London’s safety…”

“Um, excuse me…?”

Sure enough, as gray and black mana began to emanate from the two women who were now glaring fiercely at each other—

“Why did you come to my room?”

“”………””

“And why is Mr. Adler tied up…?”

Neria Garydeb, who had been nervously watching them, gathered her courage to interrupt their conversation and ask a question.

“We came to verify something.”

“…It will only take a moment.”

At that, the two women finally stopped arguing and turned their attention back to her.

“Wh-what…?”

“Before that, let me ask you one question.”

Professor Moriarty stepped forward first and asked the girl with a cold smile.

“…Have you ever heard of werewolf legends?”

“……!!!”

The girl froze at those words.

“Wh-what… what do you mean…?”

“Creatures that transform into wolf-like monsters at the sight of moonlight—beings that disappeared after the great monster hunt in the early 1700s.”

“…I-I don’t know anything about that.”

When she responded, clearly terrified, an interesting expression appeared on the Professor’s face.

“Were you taught to deny it whenever wolves are mentioned?”

“………”

“Well, it would be quite troublesome for the rest of the family if it were discovered that there’s a werewolf among them who hasn’t revealed themselves once in the past century.”

The Professor paced around her, muttering in an amused voice.

“Perhaps they could even be eliminated by the government.”

“You didn’t use the term ‘werewolf’ when requesting our services, probably to minimize information leakage.”

“…Excuse me.”

As Adler began to chime in agreement with her, Sharlotte Holmes, who had been quietly listening, frowned and interrupted their conversation.

“Pardon me, but did you say werewolf?”

“That’s right. Didn’t you hear about this before coming here?”

“Sporadic frenzy. Excitement and violent behavior at the sight of blood. Strength that multiplies several times. Doesn’t that give you a clue?”

Professor Moriarty and Adler spoke with slight smiles.

“…Did both of you eat something strange? Or have I been overestimating you?”

Sharlotte, looking at them with half-closed eyes, began to speak in a cold voice.

“Werewolves? That’s absurd.”

“…What are you saying?”

“Logically, they couldn’t possibly remain in England. Werewolves, I mean.”

At that, Adler gestured to himself with a slight smile.

“If Vampires exist, why not werewolves?”

“That was an exceptional case. This is different.”

“How can you be so certain? Do you have evidence?”

“…Of course I do.”

Sharlotte, who firmly denied his words, began searching through her belongings.

“Now, this should make it clear…”

“…Eek.”

The moment she pulled out something silver and shiny from her pocket—

“…Adler?”

– Tremble tremble tremble…

Suddenly turning pale, Issac Adler hurriedly threw himself into Professor Moriarty’s arms and began shaking violently.

“What’s wrong? You’re like a mouse drenched in rain.”

“That’s scary…”

“The silver cross, you mean?”

“…Hold me.”

“Hmm…”

The Professor tilted her head, then patted his back with a slightly satisfied expression, while Sharlotte’s eyes momentarily glazed over as she held the silver cross.

“I failed to consider Mr. Adler’s position.”

“It’s fine, continue what you were doing.”

“…I’ll finish quickly.”

With a slightly darkened voice, she brought the cross to Neria Garydeb.

“How does this feel?”

“……..?”

“No stinging or discomfort?”

When Garydeb shook her head while staring blankly at the cross touching her skin, Sharlotte withdrew it with an expression that suggested she’d expected as much.

– Swoosh…

“I-I’m sorry, Miss Holmes.”

When she slightly extended the cross toward Adler, he began to convulse and whimper, even revealing his black tail.

“Stop that cruel prank.”

“…This could be quite useful.”

“So, what was the purpose of that action?”

While stroking his head to comfort him, the Professor asked in a monotone voice.

“Silver has historically been known as a fatal weakness for both vampires and werewolves. In fact, records show that ‘hunters’ in the 1700s carried bullets or swords made of silver.”

“P-please put that away…”

“As you can see, Adler, a pure-blooded vampire, convulses just at the sight of it.”

Sharlotte continued her explanation in a low voice.

“Yet this supposed werewolf makes direct contact with the cross and remains perfectly fine?”

“Ah…”

“The conclusion is obvious. This person is not a werewolf.”

The girl sitting on the bed opened her mouth with a stunned expression.

“That can’t be… I…”

“Sporadic frenzy. Seizures at the sight of blood.”

Sharlotte naturally interrupted her words.

“There’s one disease that causes symptoms very similar to lycanthropy, though not quite as severe.”

“…What?”

“It’s understandable that you wouldn’t know, having spent your entire life at home. The disease is called…”

Just as she was about to explain in an uncharacteristically kind voice—

“Hydrophobia. A disease with a 100% mortality rate for which no vaccine has yet been developed.”

“It’s also known as rabies. I’ve heard that Dr. Lia Pasteur is currently developing a vaccine…”

“…Is that so? I’ve never heard that term before, but it seems fitting.”

This time, Professor Moriarty and Adler amicably interrupted Sharlotte’s words.

“Hydrophobia…? Rabies…?”

“See, you both knew all along.”

“Your show-off attitude is always amusing to watch.”

“W-what are you all talking about?”

As Sharlotte Holmes muttered with a knowing look, Neria Garydeb asked in a thoroughly confused voice.

“Delirium, hallucinations, seizures. To use Adler’s term, these are the main symptoms of ‘rabies.'”

“B-but…”

“Also, more than half of patients show extreme fear of water. Even when they’re dying of thirst, just the sight of water causes muscle spasms and terrible pain.”

She fell silent at the detailed explanations from Professor Moriarty and Sharlotte.

“…And the same happens when they see blood flowing from a human body.”

“You speak as if from experience?”

Meanwhile, Issac Adler casually posed a question to Sharlotte, who was muttering with tired eyes.

“…’Howling in the Cemetery,’ ‘Reassembled Wolf.’ The culprits in these two recent, low-level cases I solved had hydrophobia.”

“Ah…”

“They were so trivial and boring that Watson gave up writing about them. Still, the knowledge gained from investigating those cases is helpful now.”

As Issac Adler nodded with an understanding expression, Neria Garydeb, who had been trembling with a pale face behind him, opened her mouth.

“So I’m…”

“Someone with rabies who has been deceived into believing she was a werewolf her entire life.”

“………”

“I don’t know why your family lied to you, but it’s truly unfortunate.”

After finishing her words to the girl, Sharlotte Holmes quietly began to move away.

“Now, let’s hear from the two Garydebs who have been lying for over 10 years about why they…”

“Stop.”

But Professor Moriarty stopped her, eyes gleaming.

“Why?”

“It’s premature to draw conclusions.”

At those words, Sharlotte tilted her head as if challenging her to explain.

“As I mentioned earlier, rabies has a 100% mortality rate.”

“……..”

“Most patients die within a week of symptoms appearing. Yet Miss Neria Garydeb has survived for over 10 years.”

As the Professor continued, Sharlotte’s expression gradually soured.

“Moreover, despite the frenzy that accompanies the disease, the aggression this child showed toward Adler was excessive.”

“That could vary between patients…”

“Even in the two cases you encountered, the patients attacked bloodied people to escape their pain, but they didn’t bite and tear at flesh, did they?”

Looking at her with composed eyes, Professor Moriarty whispered softly.

“And you glossed over the abnormal increase in strength during each seizure without explanation?”

“………”

“Can you explain these three points of doubt, Sharlotte Holmes?”

“…What’s your angle?”

“I feel a sense of kinship with you.”

“…How revolting.”

Sharlotte Holmes, who had questioned her with an inexplicable discomfort, stepped back with a nauseated expression.

“And like Adler, I want to see with my own eyes how far an inexperienced person like you can grow.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“…My, was my lie that obvious?”

As an expletive finally escaped her lips, Professor Moriarty’s gaze turned slightly cold.

“It’s because Adler wants it.”

“……..”

“He wants you to become my rival, so I’m sincerely helping him.”

The Professor, moving toward her, whispered again in a dark voice near Sharlotte’s ear.

“…Do you understand, child?”

Hearing those words, Sharlotte quietly bit her lip and clenched her fists.

“The reason Neria Garydeb could survive a disease with 100% mortality for 10 years, the reason she hides inexplicable cruelty within her, and the reason she can exert terrifying strength.”

“…………”

“Try to find out.”

The Professor, who had been looking at her provocatively, quietly withdrew her gaze.

“…Whether you can discover it today or not, I personally have my doubts.”

Then, with a smile in her eyes, she addressed Adler.

“Isn’t that right, Adler?”

A momentary silence fell over the room.

.

.

.

.

.

“Ahaha…”

“What’s with that laugh?”

To the Professor who had directed the question at me, I gave a slightly awkward smile.

“Excuse me.”

“Y-yes?”

With my body uncomfortably bound in iron chains, I quietly sat down next to Miss Garydeb and began to question her.

“Do you meet with your mother often these days?”

“Y-yes… She comes to my room occasionally before bedtime.”

“I see…”

“Somehow, my eyes always close automatically and I fall asleep quickly, but I definitely remember her hand caressing my forehead…”

I was trying to derive the one answer that could explain the points of doubt Professor Moriarty had just raised.

“May I ask your mother’s name?”

“V-Victoria Garydeb… that’s her name.”

“Do you happen to know her maiden name?”

“What? That’s… oh, I remember.”

After pondering my question briefly, she raised her head and answered.

“My mother comes from a noble Swiss family. Because of that, she had a rather unusual surname, which I remember clearly.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I’m certain it was…”

As I watched her with a dry swallow—

“…Frankenstein.”

Hearing the name that confirmed my hypothesis, I couldn’t help but close my eyes tightly.

“Mother’s former name was Victoria Frankenstein.”

‘…Shit.’

Beings whose very existence was a contradiction had built their nest in London and were slowly revealing themselves.

[Erosion Rate: 33% -> 40%]