Chapter 142: A Case of Identity (5)

Chapter 142: A Case of Identity (5)"Adler, why have you suddenly changed so?"

"........"

"Don't do something you'll regret..."

"... Haaa."

Dragging Lupin, disguised as Professor Moriarty, into the church by her leash, I couldn’t help but leak out a frustrated sigh when I heard the voice call out to me from behind. Immediately, I turned around and faced the owner of the voice.

"Stop whining."

She opened her mouth briefly, looking at me with what I could only interpret as a blank gaze, before lowering her head with an undeniable gloomy expression.

"Do you think you can behave so recklessly just because we’re already married?” 1

"Ughhh."

I couldn't understand why she was still acting so brazenly when I had already caught her in the act once, quite recently too in fact.

Of course, her disguise and acting were so perfect that I might have been fooled again if the original wielder of this body of mine wasn’t a capable mage.

The truth of the matter was... Lupin could never truly deceive me by disguising herself as the professor.

It's not because of something simple like calling out my given name. That was only good for one-time use, and Lupin herself knew that trick by now.

So then how was I able to discern that this person before me was indeed Lupin?

"Honestly, it's slightly displeasing..."

"What do you want me to do about it, huh?"

The method was quite simple, in truth. I just needed to stand next to the professor and directly sense her mana.

Her mana was so thick and vast that just being near her made one experience a palpable aura of intimidation and oppression.

The effect was intensified in my case as half of her mana had been forcibly grafted onto my body. I was able to feel her aura and sense of intimidation from a few metres away, at least.

"Adler..."

"So, are you going to kill me now? Incinerate me with that greyish mana of yours?”

However, this thief who was sporting a sullen look in front, didn’t give off that feeling in the least.

Just to be sure, I even asked her to call my name again and inched closer to get a direct feel of her mana. The result was a negative, a confirmation of my hypothesis.

"You can't kill me, can you?"

"........"

In other words, this person was definitely not the professor but a mischievous masochistic thief.

She may look pitiful at the moment, but once the sham wedding with Watson was over and we were left all alone... it was more than likely for her to be drooling and trembling with anticipation for what was to come afterwards.

I didn’t even need to experience it directly, just the past experiences were enough for me to picture such an outcome.

"Good girl."

- Swish, swoosh...

Still, I didn't feel like continuing this torment, so I moved closer and carefully started stroking her swollen red cheek with gentle motions.

- Brrrrr...

Immediately, the professor flinched as I reached out, perhaps mistaking my gesture for another slap. Soon, however, she stood still and began accepting my caresses like a little bird.

It feels a bit odd seeing her act like this while maintaining the professor’s appearance...

Jane Moriarty, the most feared individual in all of Britain, was trembling as I stroked her swollen cheek— the thought was enough for me to feel strangely unsettled.

It might sound odd, but the scene evoked a peculiar sense of conquest in my heart.

Indeed, anyone would feel this way if they successfully subdued a being who could erase them from the world with just the snap of a finger.

"Stop complaining and let's get going."

"But, you..."

"Hey."

However, realizing that the professor in front of me was just a masochistic thief, that feeling of thrill quickly shattered into oblivion.

"Haven’t I told you repeatedly to mind your tone and speak appropriately?”

"But you, you..."

As she tried to revert to her previous self once again, I whispered to her in a stern voice, causing her to stutter and speak awkwardly.

"... This is cheating."

"Let's not talk anymore."

"Ugh..."

I had no intention of dancing to her tune, so I mercilessly pulled on the leash. As a result, the thief on the professor’s clothing gritted her teeth and started following me once more.

"If you were really the professor, you would have knocked me down by now."

"... I could never do that."

Glancing over my shoulders to gaze at her, I whispered in a soft tone. A few moments later, she finally responded to my words with a hollow and bleak voice.

"But how did you...?"

"People who wish to marry in secrecy, away from prying eyes, often visit this quiet church."

"Ah..."

Watson, reassured by the nun’s explanation, nodded in understanding.

"Darling, so you came here with the intention to marry me from the start...?"

"Please come this way. You will find a simple bridal dress for you there.”

"Ah?"

"You can't get married in that outfit, can you?"

"Well, that's true. Hehe..."

Following the nun's gesture, she headed towards the vestry attached to the church.

"And the groom, please follow me."

"......."

"The suits are upstairs but you’ll need a key to access them. I have the keys."

"I see..."

As Watson, blushing, stepped into the room, the nun naturally began to lead me upstairs.

"... Stay here."

"Adler..."

Feeling somewhat uneasy about continuously holding Lupin’s leash beside the nun, I tied it around a nearby pillar. The thief hadn’t dropped her acting yet so I wasn’t really able to let her go at the moment.

"Who is that?"

"Ah, she’s the wedding witness."

"........."

Her expression momentarily shifted to one that Professor Moriarty wore just before a kill, suggesting she really had done her research.

"... Hmm?"

As I ascended the stairs, I began to feel a sense of déjà vu and couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

That nun's outfit, where have I seen it before...

It resembled the clothes Charlotte Holmes had worn, disguised as a young nun during the Bohemian Scandal incident.

No, now that I look closely, it was the exact same outfit.

"..... Aren't you coming?"

"Uh."

At that moment, a bone chilling wave started creeping down my spine as I connected all the dots together.

.

.

.

.

.

"Hi~!"

"Uh..."

It wasn't merely due to the perfect coincidence that occurred with the nun in front of me that I got this feeling.

"Is everything going smoothly?"

Lupin, hanging upside down next to the window I was beside, was fiddling with her trademark monocle and whispering into my ear in a hushed voice... that scene was the main perpetrator behind this sudden feeling of dread and horror.

"I'm not sure what you're plotting with the three ladies... But you have a plan, right?"

"........"

"Anyway, hurry up and marry someone, and as per our agreement, let's do an abduction play, shall we?"

If that's the case then...

"Adler..."

Who was the person, tied to the pillar behind me with a leash, calling me in a soulless voice while tenderly touching her swollen, reddened cheek?

Idiot. Fool. Moron.

"......."

From that moment, I began to experience a fear I had never felt before, slowly suffocating me out of all my breath.

"... Eeeeek."

1. Professor Moriarty is referring to the marriage contract that they signed, which technically means he is indeed married to the Professor.