Becoming Professor Moriarty’s Probability

Chapter 139: A Case of Identity (2)

"Ra, Rachel?"

"I think... I'll head home now, yeah..."

Rachel Watson, gazing at the scene with a blank gaze for some time already, rose from her seat with a dejected expression and headed towards the exit. In her front, the cheerfully smiling Neville couldn’t help but don a puzzled expression at her behaviour, faint anxiety starting to creep into his heart.

"Why, why are you leaving all of a sudden?"

"I've genuinely enjoyed our time together... But we must part here. I'll cherish these memories forever..."

However, Watson merely hastened her steps, a dead look in her eyes, as she left him behind.

"Wait, wait, wait."

"... Ow."

Isaac Adler, who was only accustomed to walking away first in a relationship and not the other way around, was extremely taken aback by this situation.

"Are you… really asking because you don't know?"

Thus, now disguised as Neville, he broke into a cold sweat as he grabbed Watson and questioned her. In response, she finally began muttering with a vacant look in her eyes that seemed to have lost all their light.

"I respect the relationship between you two, that’s why..."

"What?"

"Just think about it for a second. Two men in a remote cottage, one sweating while the other one is gasping with handprints all over his body..."

"Ah."

"And then the gasping man hastily stuffs back the underwear that was sticking out when he saw me, just what kind of situation could this be?"

The faces of the two disguised individuals began to show signs of embarrassment the more they heard her respond.

"You were wearing my underwear...?"

"... A disguise must be perfect. You never know, right? Might just get an underwear check if arrested."

"What the fu..."

Adler, muttering under his breath to the thief disguised as himself, darted a sharp gare towards Lupin. In response, he only got a shy reply filled with embarrassment at the situation at hand.

"Sorry... just wanted to try them on..."

- Badump, badump...

The handprints all over Lupin's body were the results of her persistent demands over the past few days. On the other hand, her flushed face and her ragged gasps were because… while hiding inside the cramped wardrobe, she had tried Adler’s clothes on which awakened her to a brand new fetish.

"... Hmm."

"... This is fucking crazy."

Of course, this absurd reason could not be straightforwardly explained to Watson.

How can I even possibly begin explaining something like this...

For Adler, who had staged this event to create an alibi to avoid suspicion later on, this situation had more or less become a lost cause at this point.

"... Er, Neville."

"Yes?"

"If not that, then perhaps..."

In the next moment, however, Watson confronted Adler, looking troubled and sighing as he racked his brain to get out of this situation, and began questioning him in a frigid tone.

"... Were you forced?”

"Yes?"

"Did Adler forcefully overpower you? And you resisted, leaving him bruised all over..."

While this assumption could have eased the situation somewhat, Adler couldn't bring himself to nod.

"... No."

He could have been a scoundrel who mistreated women, a gigolo infamous all over London— worse, a literal devil even.

However, he could never be the guy who had a sexual preference for the same gender, a guy who would sexually assault another guy. Not even if he was beaten to death would he be willing to admit something so blasphemous.

"It's not that..."

"Then, did you two really consent..."

"That's even further from the truth…”

Just as the situation was about to plunge into complete chaos,

"Calm down, Miss Watson."

Lupin, who had been observing the situation all this time, began her act with a mischievous smile, perfectly imitating Adler's usual demeanour.

"We were just fighting over our pride."

"You two fought... Really?"

"Yes. Isn’t that right, Mr. Neville?"

With a doubtful look, Adler hesitantly nodded at the thief’s suggestion.

"Yes, that's... right."

"... You and Neville?"

Watson stopped in her tracks, looking at them with suspicion.

"Neville is too weak to fight anyone."

"......."

"And you're telling me that this frail man has somehow overwhelmingly beaten you, a vampire?"

"Yes, that's what happened."

As she posed the question in a sharp tone, Lupin responded with the same smile on her face, unperturbed by her words.

"It doesn't add up..."

"The power of love is always great, isn't it?"

"... Yes?"

Hearing that, Watson couldn’t help wearing a puzzled look as she tilted her head to the side.

"I actually planned to kidnap you."

"What?"

In response, Lupin's shocking statement echoed in her ears.

"Why else would Neville fight so desperately with me?"

"Um, but...?"

Watson, an extreme look of confusion on her face, eyed Lupin who was disguised as Adler, and inquired.

"Why me… all of a sudden?"

"Honestly, I was slightly interested in you."

"... Back then, didn’t you say you just wanted to be friends with me?”

"Isn't that one of the common lies men tell to women they're interested in?"

Lupin then took a step closer to her while showing her a sleazy expression.

"Well, I don't really love you like Charlotte or Jane, if I had to be honest."

"........"

"But, men don't always have to be in love to be attracted to a woman now, do they?"

At that appalling remark, Watson backed away with an uncomfortable expression on her face, while Lupin quickened her steps, chasing after the retreating woman.

"Ah."

- Whoosh...!

With a look of amusement, Lupin intercepted her wrist.

"Why not spend just one night with me?"

"What, what are you even saying…?"

"Surely I'm better than such a weakling and coward, aren't I?"

She then whispered, tightening her grip on Watson's wrist.

"A young elite doctor in her early twenties, bold and brave. Honestly, as a man, it's impossible not to have an interest in you."

"Ugh..."

"And I'm curious to see what expression Charlotte would wear when I have you..."

"Stop... please..."

At that moment, as tears began forming in Watson's eyes as she was pushed against the wall,

"Just stay still. It'll be over soon..."

- Slap...!!!

"... Ow."

Adler, who had been leaning in towards Watson, had his head forcefully turned to the side.

"Stop it."

After much contemplation, Neville’s eyes narrowed with a look of resignation in his eyes.

"Rachel is my woman."

Thus, the real Adler, who had been disguised as Neville, spoke those words and stepped forward with a look of self-loathing.

"... Pfft."

Upon seeing that, Lupin almost burst into laughter in the middle of her act— something that would have been a first in her long career.

"So… you're coming out like this...?"

"Darling...?"

"".........""

However, summoning her superhuman patience, she re-engaged in her act, staggering backward as a deep silence began enveloping the living room.

.

.

.

.

.

- Slap, slap, slap...

"... Ugh."

As Lupin continued to receive slaps while held by the collar, she began to mutter in a subdued voice.

"... Because of the contract I made with you, I have no choice but to step back right now."

"Hey, are you crazy?"

Adler urgently whispered into her ear.

"You're going on with an act that hasn't even been agreed upon..."

"... You’ll keep your word, right?”

However, Lupin, having slipped out of his grasp, quietly smirked and whispered in his ear.

"I'll modify the content that’s written in small letters on the back in the meantime.”

"... Huh?"

In the next moment, humming a tune, she silently made her way outside the cottage.

"Hey, my clothes..."

Adler, gazing at his clothes that she was still wearing with a distant look, soon stopped in his tracks.

"........."

Because Rachel Watson, with tearful eyes, had embraced him from behind.

"Neville..."

"Ah, um. So..."

"I love you."

Immediately, an uncomfortable look settled on Adler’s face but Watson's arms around him showed no sign of loosening.

"I love you, I love you, I love you so muuuuuch..."

"........."

"No matter what happens in the future, I will only love you and you only..."

In such a situation, Rachel Watson buried her head in her fiancé's shoulder, whispering words in the voice of your typical lovestruck girl.

"... Hmm?"

But then, her hand accidentally caught a piece of paper in Adler's embrace.

"Neville, what is this...?"

- Rustle...

"... Ah?"

Watson, looking puzzled, carelessly lifted it up.

"........"

And the moment she looked at the content, her gaze became vacant once more.

"Darling...?"

A few days ago, she had sent a marriage registration form. That very same form was now before her, with the addition of the signature of her beloved fiancé.

"... Hehe."

Realising the fact, Watson shifted her gaze downwards and saw her fiancé showing her an awkward look.

"Shall we get married?"

"Ah..."

"That's why I signed it…?"

He mumbled in an embarrassed voice, and then… looked down.

『Lady of London』

Chapter 1 – Complete

Chapter 2 will now begin

As usual, the system message appeared before Adler's eyes.

"... Haa"

"Ehh..."

However, for some reason, as Watson suddenly stuck her mouth into his mouth while holding the marriage registration form, Adler started looking at her with slight fright in his eyes.

『London's Casanova』

– Description: Have Rachel Watson uncover the sham marriage

It was no wonder, as the content of the system message that appeared was particularly shocking among the quests he had faced so far.

- Gulp...

"Darling, I'm feeling a bit hot right now..."

… I just want to return home, please.

.

.

.

.

.

"This must be what Adler always wears..."

Meanwhile, at that moment,

"... Haah."

Lupin, having stepped outside the cottage, buried her head in the clothes she was wearing and trembled all over.

- Creeeak... Squelch...

".......?"

In the next moment, however, Lupin gazed at her surroundings in silence as she heard a strange squelching sound coming from nearby.

"What's that..."

- Gooooooooooo...

"Is it a fire?"

This was because faint black smoke was rising from a bush near the cottage.

"Adleeeeer...!"

".......!?"

Along with the darkness and heat, a suspicious voice reached out, dyeing the air in an ominous hue.