Becoming Professor Moriarty's Probability

0% After Adler’s disappearance, the strange phenomena that had once terrorised all of Europe began to subside dramatically.

Of course, this was only natural, considering that the one responsible for these occurrences, Professor James Moriarty, had been sealed away, and his subordinate, none other than Lovecraft, had been imprisoned in the basement of a manor on the outskirts of London.

However, even now, years later, London remains a city teeming with innumerable secrets lurking in the shadows.

For instance, the mansion where moaning sounds can be heard every day, but anyone approaching it suddenly remembers something they had forgotten and turns back.

Or the vampires, eyes bloodshot as though driven by someone’s commands, prowling through back alleys, while others of their kind secretly monitor them. Then there are the pale-skinned artificial humans, spotted only amongst golden-haired boys.

Most of these enigmas are nothing more than scars left behind by the now-untraceable Isaac Adler.

“Mama~”

“Hehe, it’s Mama!”

And if one were to point to the largest and most clandestine secret derived from those scars,

“Yes, Mama’s here~”

One might look at a woman waving with a truly motherly smile at two children running towards her, having just left an exclusive private school that only the wealthiest families could afford to enrol in.

“Oh my, she comes to pick up her children herself every single day.”

“Indeed. Considering the sort of people who enrol here, most are far too busy and usually send their staff instead.”

Of course, those who are familiar with Jane Moriarty, a senior professor of Auguste Academy, might question why she was chosen as an example, above countless other secrets and mysteries.

But if they were to learn the truth – known only to a select few, including the famous detective of 221B Baker Street – they might be utterly shocked into changing their perspective.

“But isn’t it a bit tight, financially speaking, even for a senior professor like her, to fund such an exclusive school?”

“That’s what makes it even more genuine, isn’t it? It shows that she’s truly sparing no expense for the sake of her children.”

“Is that so? Haha, how noble of her...”

Whether or not anyone would believe that the professor now embracing her children with a smile brimming with maternal affection is, in truth, the Queen of London’s underworld – nay, all of Europe’s criminal underbelly – is another matter entirely.

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“Hehe. Mama hugged me!”

“Hmph, she hugged me too!”

“Now, now. No fighting, you two.”

Professor Moriarty, who had been holding her children in a warm embrace with a contented smile, suddenly scolded them in a firm tone as soon as they showed signs of bickering.

Of course, despite her reprimand, the corners of her mouth were still curved in a gentle smile.

“Mama always scolds me more!”

“Dummy, she scolded me too, didn’t she?”

“What!”

“You little...”

Knowing full well that their mother wasn’t truly angry, the children pouted and continued their petty squabble.

It was a peaceful, heartwarming scene, one that wouldn’t seem out of place in any happy family.

“Mama, did you tell someone off again today?”

“Hm?”

But suddenly, a discordant note crept into the idyllic picture.

“You smell like red, Mama!”

“Yeah! A red smell!”

The innocent observation from the children made the professor’s eyes falter, a rare crack in her usual composure.

“Mama! Did you punish a bad person again?”

“Or was it a good person this time?”

It was highly unusual for her to react this way, given her unshakable poker face, but the children, oblivious, simply tilted their heads inquisitively, their expressions guileless.

“... Let’s talk about that later, alright?”

Moriarty, staring blankly at her children mimicking her own childhood habits, eventually regained her composure. She patted their curious little heads and spoke softly.

“Anyway, Vincent, Lisa. Nothing happened at school today, right?”

“Uh-huh, something did happen!”

“Yeah, something happened!”

“Oh my, what happened?”

Finally diverting their attention, the children’s eyes sparkled as they eagerly began to speak. Seeing this, Moriarty seemed to relax, her usual calm returning.

“That boy Hans pulled on Lisa’s hair!”

“... What?”

“Yeah! He kept pulling my hair because I’m better at building blocks than him! It hurt so much, but I held it in!”

But the moment her beloved daughter Lisa, with teary eyes, corroborated Vincent’s words, Moriarty’s expression turned cold— icy cold.

“........”

And then came the silence.

“U-Uhm, doesn’t it suddenly feel a bit chilly?”

“Y-Yeah, doesn’t it? How strange...”

As the teachers, who had been standing nearby to see the children off, shuddered and murmured to one another, Moriarty’s previously smiling face had hardened into a chilling mask, and a terrifying mutter escaped her lips.

“That lowly, inferior little brat...”

“Mama, what’s wrong?”

“Mama, are you angry?”

“... Ah.”

Hearing the faint whimper in her children’s voices, Moriarty snapped back to her senses and quickly withdrew the grey mana that had been leaking ominously from her body.

“No, no, it’s nothing. That boy Hans won’t be coming to school anymore starting tomorrow, so don’t worry, alright?”

“Is Hans going to smell red now too?”

“There are plenty of ways to take care of someone without making them smell red, my dear.”

With a vastly different smile than before, she gently stroked her daughter’s head, her gaze softening as she looked at her children, who once again tilted their heads in innocent curiosity.

“But there’s no need for you to learn such things.”

“”......?””

“You just need to grow up healthy and happy.”

With that oddly warm(?) conclusion, Professor Moriarty gently guided her children into the carriage waiting behind them.

“Now, you two head home first. Mama has some matters to take care of.”

“”Okay!””

Watching the children respond cheerfully, she smiled with the most motherly expression she could muster, then added in a quiet voice.

“...And  if anyone ever bothers you, don’t hold back, no matter what.”

“But when we don’t hold back, it smells red!”

“Leave that part to Mama.”

“Mama’s the best!”

“The best!”

As the children raised their arms in triumph from within the carriage, Moriarty waved at them with a fond smile on her face.

“..... Hmph.”

However, as soon as the carriage rumbled away, kicking up a cloud of dust, the saccharine-sweet expression on her face began to fade into a mask of indifference.

“How strange. I was sure I’d erased the scent completely.”

Her face now unreadable, she tilted her head slightly, pulling a small bottle from her coat.

As expected of my children, I suppose.

Though she had not used it for some time since a few years ago, when she had begun applying perfume— thanks to a certain someone. And now, with quiet precision, she summoned her mana, establishing a line of communication with someone.

“Yes, it’s me. Is the body disposal complete?”

- Crackle... Static...

“... Caught by that rookie detective again, you say? Hmph, well, I expected as much.”

- Crackle...

“Make sure to provoke the woman into breaking the agreement first. It’s in your best interest as well, so continue cooperating...”

She paused mid-sentence, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head further in thought.

“... Adler has disappeared?”

Her eyes widened at the news.

“Good grief. I told you not to take your eyes off him, especially now when I’m busy with this little battle of wits against that rookie.”

- Crackle crackle...

“Enough. I don’t need excuses. Instead of wasting time on meaningless explanations, why not focus on finding a solution?”

Moments later, Moriarty’s grey mana began to swirl again, radiating a cold, menacing aura.

“Use any means necessary to bring Adler back to the manor. If things don’t go smoothly, stall for time until I arrive. If he’s managed to break through the barrier, it means he’s regained some degree of power, likely through some means. He won’t be an easy opponent.”

- Crackle...

“But I trust you’ll handle it well. That’s precisely why I made that deal with you, isn’t it?”

Completely ignoring the nearby teachers who were nervously glancing around and trembling, she exuded her lethal aura for a few more moments before cutting the communication line abruptly. Then, in a low voice, she muttered to herself.

“That gloomy little brat, so he finally made his move, huh? I didn’t think he’d still be denying reality after all this time...”

Her gaze drifted toward some distant point, far beyond where she stood.

“... It seems London is about to become interesting again after a long while.”

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Meanwhile,

“... Master, where are you going?”

“.......”

“Weren’t you planning to go straight to Auguste Academy?”

Celestia Moran, who had been walking closely beside Adler, glanced at him sideways, her tone questioning as her master seemed to stray further from their intended path.

“Hmm, who knows?” 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Adler tilted his head nonchalantly, his gaze calm and unaffected.

“It’s been so long since I’ve been outside, I just feel like having a bit more fun before heading over.”

“What? But...”

“That’s alright, isn’t it, Moran?”

As Moran opened her mouth, about to protest against his absurd statement, Adler suddenly leaned in close, causing her to freeze, her words dying on her lips.

“Come to think of it, we really haven’t spent much time alone together, have we?”

“........”

“How about we take this opportunity to enjoy a little intimate trip together?”

His cheeks were flushed, likely from the alcohol, and his lips curved into a sly arc as he softly brushed Moran’s hair with his hand.

“... Fine.”

Moran quietly nodded, a subdued expression on her face, though the atmosphere surrounding her was as unsettling as a feline predator narrowing its eyes— dangerous, predatory, and hard to deal with. She knew this side of Adler well, a side that only emerged when he was drunk.

This works to my advantage anyway...

After all, she herself had been suppressing her true nature for years, playing the role of the obedient daughter in front of him.

“... Hmm, but Moran, I must apologise to you.”

Adler, who had been watching her with an almost amused expression, suddenly shifted his gaze to the side and spoke.

“It seems there’s an uninvited guest trying to interrupt our private little trip.”

“I was already aware. Shall I kill them?”

“No, that won’t do.”

Moran’s expression turned cold as she asked the question, but Adler shook his head gently.

“They’re my beloved underlings, after all.”

“Wh-Who’s your underling, you bastard?!”

“Masterwhereareyougoing?Masterwhereareyougoing?Masterwhereareyougoing?”

As if in response to Adler’s comment, two of his old subordinates emerged from the alley, where they had been hiding.

“A-Anyway, you shouldn’t be here right now! Do you remember the agreement we all made together.......”

“Has Professor Moriarty told you to drag me back home?”

Adler suddenly interrupted, his voice low and smooth, as he began to approach them, his gaze fixed on Princess Clay, who was flanked by vampires.

“You poor things. The professor likely only promised you the chance to meet me more often, didn’t she?”

“T-That’s...”

“I could embrace you right this second, you know.”

Before any of them realised it, Adler was standing right in front of the princess, his golden eyes gleaming as he whispered seductively. Her own eyes wavered, uncertain.

“Y-You say things like that, but you’ve never actually done it!”

“Oh? I haven’t done it with you yet?”

“You did it with that beast over there, though!”

“Hmm, that’s a bit of a racist remark...”

“Shut up! I don’t believe you anymore!!!”

True to her reputation as the fourth smartest woman in London and a dignified noble of the British Empire, Princess Clay managed to break free from Adler’s gaslighting, though not without a trembling voice and teary eyes.

“Masterhatesmenowhe’sabandoningmehedidn’tevenpickmeforthelotteryinyearsit’sriggedthisisalieeverythingisalie...”

“... Haha.”

Next to her, Silver Blaze had also fallen into a despairing, hollow-eyed state, muttering incoherently. Adler, scratching his head awkwardly, suddenly burst into a carefree laugh.

“Looks like it’s time to demonstrate my skills again after so long.”

The next moment, golden mana surged, flooding the morning streets of London in a dazzling burst of light.

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“Ugh...”

My head throbbed, and my entire body ached. Where the hell am I? Don’t tell me this is another case of being drugged, kidnapped, and assaulted?

“......?”

As soon as I regained consciousness, such thoughts flooded my mind, and I opened my eyes— only to be utterly dumbfounded.

“So, s-so this time, you’re really going to do it, right? You will...”

“... Hah, hah.”

For some reason, I was sitting inside a carriage, flanked by Princess Clay – sporting a black eye and looking utterly defeated – and Silver Blaze, who, judging by her flushed face and heavy breathing, seemed to be in some sort of heat. Both were sitting primly on either side of me.

“I, I was a little scared back then... Hic. S-So don’t look at me like that... okay?”

“Hah... Hah...”

“What the hell is going on here?”

I was supposed to be at Auguste Academy by now, but seriously, what the actual hell is this situation?

“We’re currently leaving London and heading towards Dover Harbour, Master.”

“Ah, for fuck’s sake.”