Chapter 88: Do or Die


    Huh.


    When I opened my eyes, the familiar ceiling of the hospital room entered my view.


    Ugh


    Blinking in a daze, I tried to recall myst memory the sensation of being soaked in blood and the warmth of Lestrades soft body.


    Did I lose consciousness in Lestrades arms due to anemia?


    Having a rough idea of why I was brought to the hospital, I tried to sit up silently, but for some reason, my body wouldnt budge.


    Heh, all your efforts are in vain.


    .?


    Youll need at least two more days of rest before that battered body of yours can move again.


    While I wore a puzzled look on my face, a familiar voice suddenly spoke from beside me.


    Princess y?


    Dont look so surprised. Its unsettling.


    Princess Joan y, taking on her human form, was sitting right next to me.


    What are you doing, not being in your cat doll form and everything?


    Ungrateful brat. I have been the one nursing you since you copsed. Youre such a nuisance


    As I cocked my head and asked her a question, Princess y frowned and began to mutter irritably.


    Ah, um.


    Seeing the wet towel in her hand and her swollen fingers, surprisingly, her words seemed to be true.


    Dont look at me with those eyes.


    If you were to die, it wouldplicate my position as I am bound to serve you, so I had no choice but to take care of you. So, stop smiling or Ill gouge those eyes out before you can even blink.


    As I looked at her with renewed curiosity and shed a broad smile at her, she immediately reacted with a fierce reaction.


    Yes, yes.


    Annoying brat.


    Ooof.


    Muttering so, Princess y threw the towel she was holding onto my face and added in a low voice.


    Try not to get beaten up so much from now on.


    I wanted to remove the towel covering my face immediately to see her expression, but I refrained, fearing she might actually gouge out my eyes.


    If you have a subordinate like me, you should keep me by your side, instead of sending me on reconnaissance abruptly


    She really was the perfect definition of a tsundere vampire princess.


    That annoying smile of yours, you should have shown it to that Moran brat instead of me.


    Huh?


    When we came back from scouting, you were on the brink of death, struggling for life, and that kid was so upset, that she cried all night; didnt even sleep a wink that girl.


    Silently, I smiled at Princess y and her cute mannerisms, however, I had no choice but to ask a question, cold sweat pouring down my forehead, upon hearing her words.


    Where is she now?


    She is probably with that talking animal maid you have, their minds already lost in madness, scouring through the back alleys by mobilizing all the demi-humans she has under hermand while swearing to avenge her master you, and screaming that she would join you in death if anything were to happen to you. Or something along those lines, I guess.


    Ah


    Somehow, I felt a shiver run through my body, feeling as though my karma was umting in real-time.


    If even those two, who are especially loyal to me, were to go crazy, then truly, there would be no more path left for me.


    Ill make sure to talk to themter.


    Thank you.


    Hmph.


    As myplexion darkened without me realizing it, the princess nced at me, then muttered quietly and turned her head away with a flick.


    By the way, you guys were the only ones who came looking for me, right?


    Huh? What are you talking about?


    As I raised her favorability a few notches in my mind, I asked out of curiosity, and she answered with an incredulous look on her face.


    There have been over a dozen people visiting you during thest few days.


    What?


    Thats excluding the ones I know the identity of, the ones I have witnessed while watching over you in my cat form.


    She paused for a moment and then started with a deep breath.


    That annoying detective spent the whole of yesterday nursing you with Lestrade before leaving with her head hung low due to a case. Then her assistant snuck into the room like a thieving cat, hit a typewriter for a few times, then left while shaking her head.


    Ah


    Besides them, there was a mysterious woman who was definitely from Bohemia, Romanian renegades who, for some reason, are still atrge in London, the hounds of Mycrony Holmes, Lestrades younger sister, and even Colonel Rose from the back alleys, to whom I once owed a favor


    As she started listing the visitors, some of whom I could guess, the cold sweat dripping down my forehead became a torrent.


    By the way, I didnt count the silhouette with the silk hat and monocle who appeared briefly at the windowte at night and then disappeared, the noblewomen of Londons upper ss who once trembled before my authority, and your ex-girlfriends who came with dead eyes and knives hidden in their bosoms, only to be chased away.


    Im scared, mydy.


    The truly frightening one is none other than you who drove all those people mad.


    As I murmured with a slightly trembling smile, the noble princess looked at me with cold eyes and responded.


    Why do you even do that? Now that I think about it, dont you believe that its a bit too much for you to handle?


    Its still within eptable limits.


    Madman.


    She shook her head in disapproval at my candid response and muttered in a low voice.


    You shouldve just served me and we couldve conquered the world together. It wouldve been far easier.


    ..


    If you wish to change your mind now, youre more than wee. I always have a ce prepared for an escape in America


    Then the noble princess, feigning a frosty smile, leaned closer to me.


    How about it? Just run away and conquer the world with me


    Youve worked hard, so Ill give you a reward.


    Tch.


    Honestly, it was probably the most my heart had wavered sinceing to this world. However, I hid my feelings and replied, and disappointment clouded the noble princesss eyes in response.


    Come, feed.


    Quietly, I loosened my top garment to bare my neck, and the noble princess, her eyes unconsciously glowing red, inched closer to my neck.


    Never mind.


    Huh?


    I have no interest in the nutrient-poor blood of someone who copsed from anemia.


    But just before her fangs could sink into my neck, the noble princess suddenly stood up and began trotting towards a corner of the room, muttering in a low voice.


    Ill eat you when youre a bit tastier, you buffoon.


    Still, you must be low on energy due to taking on your human form for so many days.


    Its none of your business anyway.


    Then, she quietly picked up a cat doll that was lying on the floor.


    I suppose Ill have to endure with this detestable body for a while


    Surely, you didnt unnecessarily share the blood you were digesting with me, right?


    Quiet.


    I watched her, puzzled as to why she avoided facing me. Scratching my head, I suddenly remembered something and asked her a question.


    By the way, the visitors you mentioned, were they the only ones among the people you knew?


    Why do you ask?


    That Did the professor note?


    She then turned her head with a snicker, giving me a sidelong nce.


    Are you talking about your advisor, whom I suspect might be going senile?


    Thats a bit harsh.


    When I retorted with some irritation in my voice, she looked at me with a curious expression and asked.


    Arent you afraid of her?


    Why would I be afraid of the cute Miss Moriarty?


    Its understandable for you to say that, since you havent heard what shes been asking around to girls my age recently.


    You dont mince your words in the absence of the professor now, do you? As a woman, you should respect her privacy.


    What are you talking about? She hasnt left your side for a moment since she entered this room.


    Huh?


    As she silently pointed to my side, I lifted my head with effort to check the spot and then finally realized why my body had been feeling so heavy.


    Ah


    She has been sitting by your side without sleep for days, and finally fell asleep a few moments ago.


    Turning my head, I saw the image of Professor Moriarty hunched over on the bed, her hand on my stomach, activating a restraining spell.


    .


    Yeah.


    Contrary to what Princess y said, she was now staring at me intently with her grey eyes opened wide.


    She really is a strange woman.


    As Princess y, preparing to possess the cat, muttered those words, the atmosphere in the room seemed to turn slightly colder or was it perhaps my imagination? I didnt know for sure.


    See, recently shes been trying makeup techniques that make her look younger


    I dont know what youre about to say, but it might be best to stop.


    Huh?


    Id hate to lose a reliable subordinate just like that.


    Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden


    Professor Moriartys chilly gaze remained as Princess y, turning into red smoke and possessing the cat, closed her eyes and fell asleep.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Mr. Adler.


    Professor.


    An unspecified time passed in between.


    I have two concerns at the moment.


    Is that so?


    After staring into Adlers eyes for seemingly an excruciating eternity, Professor Moriarty silently opened her mouth, and Adler, barely managing to keep his head up, replied with cold sweat seeping out of his forehead.


    That sounds quite interesting. But right now, Im a bit sleepy


    The first concern is that people around me have been increasingly mocking my age.


    Ignoring his attempt to divert the conversation, Professor Moriarty continued with her concerns.


    Its quite strange. Im in my twenties. Not evente twenties, but at the perfect age for marriage ording to the average for British women.


    .


    Theres absolutely no reason for me to be ridiculed for my age. Its the ignorant young ones who


    Have you been wearing makeup?


    Gazing at her nkly, Adler tilted his head and asked in a soft voice.


    So thats why youve been looking more youthfultely.


    Truth be told, youre cute even without putting anything on, Professor.


    Then the professor paused and silently stared at him for a brief moment.


    Lets move on to my second concern.


    As she easily skipped over her first concern, Adler secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.


    Listen to this.


    Yes?


    With a sly smile, the professor then took out a miniature phonograph out of her pocket.


    <b> It seems about time that I take London into my hands.</b>


    <b> Do you realize what youre saying?</b>


    As she caressed the magic stone embedded in the center, the phonograph began to softly y out the conversation he had with Lestrade in the secret hideout a few days ago.


    <b>Step by step, Ill expand my influence, and eventually, even the cute Professor will be in the palm of my hand. After that, Ill mobilize various criminal organizations simultaneously</b>


    That should be good enough.


    At the moment the problematic statement yed, the magic stone along with the phonograph shattered to pieces due to the overwhelming mana that suddenly flooded out of the professor.


    Uh, Professor. That


    During this vacation, Ive endured a great deal, Mr. Adler.


    ..


    Youll have to acknowledge it yourself. Havent you seen with your own eyes how far Ive lowered my pride for the sake of my cute little assistant?


    The professor, flicking away the smoke rising from her hand, tilted her head from side to side in her characteristic manner, and leaned toward Adler.


    Listen.


    The system, which had been silent for a long while despite being summoned multiple times by him to rify the current circumstances, once again appeared in front of Adler.


    Ill give you five minutes, Mr. Adler.


    Right now, youre at the branching point between the ending and the <strong>Hidden Route</strong>.


    Exin within five minutes why you should not be the victim of my perfect crime curse today.


    Beyond the message, Adler gazed at the professor, wearing a frigid smile, and tried to hide the creepiness he felt by forcing a smile of his own.


    By the way, the perfect crimes that my curse allows me tomit involve a variety of types, not just murder, Mr. Adler.


    Choose wisely.


    Then the system message, which had lowered its transparency to naturally obscure the Professors face, sent him onest message before slowly beginning to fade away.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Ah, and theres something Ive been curious about for a long time.


    Yes?


    Thanks to the consideration of the system, Adler soon managed to regain someposure.


    The messages that youve always been checking, the ones floating in mid-air


    Professor Moriartys voice, filled with pure curiosity, burrowed into Adlers ears.


    Are those, by any chance, sent by a woman?


    Adlers mind, which had been racing, suddenly went nk.


    May I have a drink before we talk?


    No.