Chapter 165: The Devil''s Foot (3)".... Adler, are you alright?"


    "........"


    Shaking off both the maid and the officer who hurled themselves at him, Adler hastily left the mansion alongside Professor Moriarty.


    "Adler..."


    "I''m fine, Professor."


    "Well, that''s a relief, but..."


    As they brisked through the tranquil street in silence, Adler finally spoke up, murmuring in a small voice. His reply prompted the watchful Professor to speak up as well.


    "Your hands are too damp."


    "......."


    "Is there something troubling you?"Those words uttered, silence settled between the walking duo for some time.


    "I guess I am just feeling a bit tense because of what happened earlier, haha..."


    "Really? You mean to say someone like you who went through so many bizarre incidents… is flustered by a few jumping you?"


    "Professor, the human heart is rtive, not absolute."


    "Indeed, if such insignificant creatures… no, lower lifeforms were to rush at me, I might have reacted the same way."


    "What?"


    The calm in Adler’s voice was gone now, reced with a puzzled note as he directed a confused look toward Professor Moriarty at her remark.


    "... Aren''t you an immortal devil?"


    "Y-Yeah, I guess?”


    "Unless the Vatican intervenes, there’s no dying for you."


    Gently stroking his cheek after seeing the confusion in his eyes, Professor Moriarty exined her stance to Adler.


    "So, from your perspective, a human being who lives such a finite life can only be a lower lifeform, right?”


    "... Is that how it works?"


    "Of course, from my perspective, humans are an inferior species too. After all, there’s no difference between you and me."


    "What do you mean by that?"


    Seeking his agreement while directing a knowing look, Professor Moriarty had to fall silent as only a look of confusion and uncertainty shed on Adler’s face.


    "You can be rather… slow at times."


    "....?"


    "Sometimes you appear omniscient as if you can predict all paths that lead to a definite future, yet at other times, you act like a foolcking even basicmon sense..."


    Soon, she started bobbing her head from side to side.


    "... It''s adorable."


    "Professor."


    Still walking, Adler opened his mouth to speak as he saw her leaning her head against his shoulder.


    "Why are you suddenly leaning on me?"


    Hearing his words, she blinked, regret soon creeping up her face.


    "Sorry..."


    "Do you want to be punished?"


    "... Just let it go this time."


    As she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, acting coy, Adler sighed before stopping.


    "Professor."


    "......?"


    "If I were to say that, I am far more insignificant and inferior than you believe me to be, how would you feel?"


    Upon hearing these words, Professor Moriarty merely tilted her head, a contemting look in her eyes.


    "You are not inferior, not by species, intelligence, or strategic thinking..."


    "... And what if I said my time ising to a close?"


    "Stop talking such nonsense. Why even pose such a hypothesis?"


    Herplexion soon darkened.


    "As someone possessing the power of both a devil and a pure-blooded vampire, I know better than anyone that you can not die."


    "........"


    "Death is something only inferior species experience. Beings like us... like you, transcendental beings, need not worry about such trifling things."


    "Is that so?"


    At her words, which seemed all too certain, a smirk arose on Adler’s face.


    "Then let me change the question. What if I were to disappear suddenly one day..."


    <em>- Rumble...</em>


    "... Oh."


    As he persistently rapid-fired one question after another, out of the blue, the sound of thunder erupted from the skies.


    "........"


    Even until mere moments before, sunny skies ushered over Cornwall. However, it had now be overcast with thick, dark clouds.


    "Is it because of that entity you encounteredst time...?"


    "........"


    "If so, don''t worry. I can handle it."


    In the now-darkened street, Professor Moriarty whispered in a dangerously low voice.


    "They are indeed troublesome creatures, but I can suppress them on my own, so you don''t need to worry about it..."


    "... If my guess is correct, perhaps even you, Professor, might be in danger."


    "What nonsense are you spouting now?"


    "If the identity of the entity we encountered that time is what I suspect it to be..."


    As his words elongated, the Professor''s expression grew increasingly darker.


    "Then, I will protect you."


    ".......?"


    "I have a way."


    With those cheerful whispers, Adler began to drift away from her at a leisurely pace.


    "... Ugh."


    "So cheer up and follow me."


    Quietly observing his departing figure, Professor Moriarty got a sudden tug at her cor and followed Adler.


    "You''re going to protect me?"


    "Who else but me will be willing to protect our adorable Professor?"


    ".......?"


    "I suppose only I must be worthy to protect you, right?"


    At his tant remarks, Moriarty’s eyes grew hazy, her mind in a daze.


    "... It''s the first time anyone''s ever said they would protect me."


    "Haha, is that so?"


    "Yes… Actually, I''ve never once received help from anyone."


    Small murmurs soon leaked out of her lips.


    "I''ve always been alone, after all."


    "......."


    "I hardly knew anyone, even scarce were the people I could confide in.”


    Listening to her murmurs while keeping his silence, Adler suddenly stood on his tiptoes and reached for her cheek, caressing it.


    "Even the sullen professor looks so cute."


    "......"


    "But I prefer the professor who can proudly call herself the Queen of Crimes."


    With a bright smile, he directed a look full of intent at the sullen professor.


    "It''s so nice that such an unapproachable professor is only affectionate with me when we''re alone."


    "........"


    "Professor."


    Then, raising himself further, Adler leaned close to her face.


    "Stick out your tongue."


    "Suddenly... what?"


    "Quickly."


    At his urging, the professor hesitated for a moment, but her eyes soon widened,


    "Adler. There, people areing..."


    "That''s why I''m doing this."


    A low whisper echoed in her ears.


    "I realized that, training you when it’s just the two of us is ultimately pointless."


    "What in hell are you talking about..."


    "To truly call it training, shouldn''t I show that you are mine in front of others too?"


    At his bold statement, the observant professor began to whisper in a retreating voice.


    "But, but... Didn''t you just say you preferred it when it''s just the two of us?"


    "... Shut up, and stick out your tongue. Jane."


    With a cold look, Adler, dropping all formalities,manded her in a dark voice.


    "... Alright."


    "No, you’re doing it wrong."


    The professor, her face red and fidgeting, replied in a barely audible voice. However, Adler shook his head, unsatisfied.


    "... Okay."


    The professor soon corrected herself, yet Adler’s expression still remained as frigid as ever.


    "... Woof."


    "Good girl."


    Finally giving in, Professor Moriarty made a puppy-like noise as she timidlyy on the ground. Satisfied, Adler promptly squatted in front of her.


    "... Hmpph."


    Stroking her chin, Adler abruptly bit the tongue she had stuck out.


    <em>- Brrrr...</em>


    As the passersby began staring at their shameful act, Adler’s lips twitched up and he started pretending to remove Professor Moriarty''s underwear while she trembled in shame.


    "... Haaah."


    "Stay still."


    His sudden action, which went beyond any semnce of shame, caused her to startle up in shock. However, her frantic movements stopped when Adler bit her tongue harshly.


    <em>- Swish, swish...</em>


    In that state, as Adler began to stroke her hair, a resigned look crept up the professor’s face and he let him do as he wished with her.


    "... Phew."


    Nobody knew how much time had passed like that.


    "Do you know, Professor?"


    "........"


    "The passersby might not see your naked body, but the act we just did was clearly visible."


    Rising from his spot, Adler whispered to her in a low voice, her body still lying on the floor.


    "... It''s time to get up."


    <em>- Swish...</em>


    "We need to get out of here. I know we are here to fulfil a client’s request, but something feels off. So, let''s regroup first..."


    Grabbing the cor attached to the professor’s neck, Adler urged her to walk once more.


    "... Eh?"


    However, his momentum didn''tst long.


    "Something''s off..."


    Because no matter how much they sauntered through the road, the scenery did not seem to want to change.


    "... Could it be."


    Cold sweat beaded down Adler’s face, btedly realising that they should have been out of Cornwall by now with how long they had walked.


    "Professor, I think I need your help for a moment..."


    "I, I suddenly feel dizzy..."


    "......?"


    He turned around, but the quietly following Professor Moriarty suddenly staggered and murmured with a pale face.


    "It seems like my mana has gotten unstable again..."


    "........"


    "I might not be able to use magic for a while..."


    For a fleeting moment, she sent a chilling nce at the passersby who were cowering behind Adler for some reason.


    "Damn it. No matter how much we walk, the end doesn''t seem in sight."


    "It''s a strange phenomenon that often urs in Cornwall. How about we take a break?"


    "There happens to be an inn nearby."


    Then, the passersby – her loyal followers in disguise, in reality – began reciting their prepared lines as if reading from a textbook.


    "... Hmm."


    Hearing them, Adler turned his gaze to the inn that had suddenly appeared beside them.


    "We have no choice then."


    <em>- Thump, thump...</em>


    "Let''s rest there for a bit."


    As the professor, whose face flushed like a young girl upon hearing that, was supposed to be unable to use magic, she bowed her head in an attempt to erase the pounding of her heart.


    "Well, I dislike such unclean ces, but there''s no helping it."


    "It''s just a minor anomaly, should probably end soon."


    "It should. Probably..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    That evening at 221B Baker Street,


    "... I beg your pardon?"


    Charlotte Holmes, who had been grinding magic crystals with a haggard expression, responded incredulously to the urgent news she just received.


    "Cornwall has been separated from Britain?"


    "Yes, Detective, you are needed..."


    "... It is indeed surprising, but I am extremely busy at the moment."


    "Just a moment..."


    However, she only muttered indifferently, attempting to end the conversation.


    <em>- Crack...</em>


    "... Ah!?"


    At that exact moment, her hand started to burn with an intense grey light.


    "........"


    Slightly furrowing her brow at the sudden urrence, Charlotte''s expression soon began to harden as she stared at her hand.


    <strong>?Oh dear, Miss Holmes. You poor child.?</strong>


    Although the sender and the purpose remained unclear, the unpleasant grey mana that emanated along with the message was enough for the quick-witted detective to get a rough understanding of the situation.


    "Bloody hell..."


    Just three minutester, a carriage departed from Baker Street, speeding towards Cornwall at full throttle.