Becoming Professor Moriarty's Probability

“Hmm…”

The day after I was suddenly charged with a case involving one of London’s numerous criminal organizations, the Empire of Japan, and a distant ancestor,

“Master, why do you look so troubled?”

“… Moran?”

As I made my way through the back alleys of London, heading to the gang’s hideout to continue my work as an interpreter… Celestia Moran suddenly asked me in a soft voice out of nowhere. It seemed that she had appeared beside me at some point without my knowledge and had been following me for some time.

“How did you get here…?”

“I am basically attached to you 24 hours a day, Master. Especially when you are travelling through such dangerous areas, I stay close to protect you.”

Her words were definitely unsettling. So, I wasn’t able to stop myself from displaying a shocked look.

“Why didn’t I notice you…?”

“Stealth is a very basic skill of an effective sniper.”

“… I see. But isn’t that a bit too much?”

While I was grateful for her efforts to protect me, being under constant surveillance 24/7 was a bit overwhelming.

And, when you thought about it, wasn’t this outright exploitation of a child?

Of course, Moran had matured significantly over the past few months, for some unknown reason. However, it was undeniable that she was still a child.

“You can take it easy from now on.”

“… I don’t think that will be possible.”

So, I stroked her head, her height still shorter than my own, and tried to assuage her to not stalk me all the time. However, that only amounted to her donning a stern expression as she argued,

“Do you know how many threats I’ve eliminated in the past few months?”

“….. What?”

“Enough to reach the triple digits. That means on average, you’ve faced a threat of being assassinated more than once a day.”

Hearing her argument, I felt the air literally being sucked out of my lungs.

“Moran, what are you even talking abo…”

“Of course, I’ve handled everything perfectly on my end. Not to mention that it’s impossible to trace anything that takes place on a foggy London night, so you have nothing to worry about.” Ṛ

Knowing all too well that there was a person who could make the impossible possible, I couldn’t help but feel a chill run along my spine.

“Th-Thank you…”

- Thump…!

I gave up on any notion of lecturing her and just patted her small head, praying with all my heart that Moran would never betray me.

- Swoosh…

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and brought it to her cheek.

“Huh…?”

“… Please stroke me here too.”

Gazing at me for some time, she eventually lowered her eyes and mumbled in a low voice.

Although it felt slightly strange, there was no real reason for me to not grant that request of hers. So, I gently caressed her cheek and she immediately began cutely stomping her feet on the floor while standing with her arms behind her back.

“Hey, by the way.”

Relieved that she still retained some girlish aspects, I finally asked her what I had been curious about.

“Why don’t you call me Dad instead of Master?”

“I thought we had gotten a bit closer, so I’ve been speaking informally…”

A hint of disappointment washed over my eyes as I relayed those words and her eyes immediately started quivering with a hint of confusion of panic.

“Tha-Tha-Thattt… well…”

Finally, after stuttering a great deal, she murmured in a barely audible voice while bowing her head low.

“… That’s because I’m embarrassed.”

I felt calling someone Master should’ve been far more embarrassing than calling them Dad. But to each their own, I suppose.

“Then call me whatever you like.”

“Eh?”

“I’m happy no matter what you call me.”

As I gently caressed her cheek and whispered, her body started shivering for no reason.

“… Moran?”

Even her cheeks turned fiery hot and suddenly I felt something warm sliding down my hand.

“Are you crying?”

- Fwoosh…!

At that moment, as I asked her with a bewildered look on my face, Moran swiftly vanished from my sight like a stealthy ninja.

“What’s going on…”

Did I make a mistake or something?

That seemed possible. She was always a child with numerous scars, both physical and emotional.

I definitely need to apologize properly the next time we meet.

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- Squeak…

“Who’s there?”

A few minutes after that brief incident, as I strenuously pushed the door of the abandoned building aside and entered, a cold voice echoed from inside,

“I am the interpreter.”

“What’s the password?”

“… There isn’t one, right?”

“Yes. Come in.”

Hands raised, I answered the queries of the men I met yesterday while keeping a calm expression. Soon enough, I was given the signal to enter deeper into the hideout.

“You know what you need to do, right?”

“Yes. Interpretation in Asian languages, and you’ve also requested torture services as well, correct?”

“The torture will be handled by u…”

“Even though I might not look much, I’m still a mana user, you know? I can inflict pain several times more dreadful than mere stabs with an iron spike.”

As I spoke with a condescending smile on my face, the displeasure on the men’s faces receded and was soon replaced by surprised expressions.

“A mana user, really?”

“… Why would a bigshot like you take jobs from the underworld?”

“Everyone has their circumstances, right? Let’s protect our personal information, even from fellow criminals.”

To clarify, I was currently here disguised as an interpreter and torture expert commissioned by the professor. To add to that, I was also hiding my identity with a barebone use of disguise magic.

Of course, I only slightly altered my appearance to avoid wasting my mana. Even though the differences are slight, it should be enough to prevent them from recognizing my true identity.

“But doesn’t he look kinda familiar…?”

“Yeah…”

Probably…

“Is it this way?”

“… Yes.”

Passing by the murmuring men, I entered further inside the hideout. Soon enough, the woman from yesterday came into view.

“Ugh…”

She seemed even more haggard than the last time I saw her.

- Swoosh…

With a slightly pitying look, I approached her and leaned in close.

Start acting like you're in pain now.

Whispering in a low voice, I began the process of imprinting a red seal on her lower abdomen.

- Fizzzz…

And from that moment, red sparks zapped throughout her body in irregular arcs.

Quickly.

A bewildered look washed over her face at the magical phenomenon. However, the moment she heard my whisper, she started taking deep breaths and preparing herself.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

Soon, a soul-wrenching scream violently reverberated throughout the room.

“Hmm…”

“Well, he’s certainly earning her keep.”

Her acting was realistic enough that the men watching from behind showed satisfied expressions at my conduct.

“… Gentlemen, please step outside the basement for a moment.”

For some time, I pretended to cast and preserve the spell without rest. Then, pretending to wipe the non-existent sweat off my face with my sleeve, I spoke,

“Impossible…”

“We can’t fully trust you yet…”

“Is that so?”

Faced with the expected resistance, I began whispering in a frigid voice,

“But I believe our deal was already secured by Contract Magic.”

“Still…”

“And this is for your benefit as well.”

If there’s one good thing about living in 19th-century London as a mana user,

“… If you get caught up in the area of effect of my magic while remaining inside the room, you can’t hold me responsible for it. I have already issued my warning.”

“The contract specifies everything in detail, so think carefully…”

It was that you’d be able to tell a fairly convincing lie to anyone ignorant of the aspects of mana.

“… We’ll be back in 20 minutes.”

“By then, you must unearth and deliver new information to us…”

Thus, having eventually succeeded in persuading the men, a triumphant smile tugged my lips as I looked at the woman whose screams had ceased just at that moment.

“Just leave it to me.”

- Creeeak…

As the abandoned mansion’s front door closed, silence settled inside the basement for some time.

Wha-What the...

In that silence, the woman looked at me with a gaze full of suspicion and anxiety before throwing a question at me.

Who are you...?

I scratched my head at the question, pondering for a moment on how to answer.

Wh-Who are you to keep helping me like this...?

I've heard there's no such thing as a selfless act in this world. What exactly do you want from me...?

As her fear grew with my prolonged silence, I finally decided to speak,

Actually...

Then, ceasing her questions, she swallowed dryly and looked up at me.

I am Korean.

Hearing my words, she only directed a confusing look toward me.

No, I meant to say that I am Joseon.

As soon as I hurriedly corrected my statement, her eyes opened wide in shock.

Technically, I'm a mixed-race of Joseon and British but that’s not the point.

Ah...

It's a pleasure to meet a fellow countryman in this faraway land.

Although it was a made-up excuse, I did not lie.

I genuinely was of mixed Korean and British descent, and it was true that I was pleased to meet a distant ancestor in this chaotic world.

Anyway...

As I was about to genuinely communicate with the woman in front of me,

Warning!

– Probability of being Discovered — 75% → 99%

Oh dear.

That ominous warning message tinged in red appeared in front of me.

“What the fuck!”

I was definitely pouring all my remaining mana into blocking the professor’s eavesdropping, so how the hell did this come about?

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“Heh.”

Meanwhile, at that time, at 221B Baker Street,

“Heh-heh, uh-huh-huh-huh…”

“… Holmes?”

There, Rachel Watson, who was just getting ready for work, threw a questioning glance towards her roommate. It was because Charlotte, lounging in her armchair while conducting her usual routine of smoking cigarettes, suddenly started cackling in a sinister tune.

“You’re not smoking opium again, are you?” 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“Uh-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh…”

But, finding something terribly amusing, Charlotte continued to let out a sinister cackle instead of answering Watson. Soon, a low murmur escaped her,

“… So that’s what sister meant.”

“…. What?”

“It’s nothing…”