121 – Pride and Prejudice (1)
There was cold silence again, but the silence was hotter than anything else. Perhaps Holmes himself felt that way because he was more nervous than ever. It was a simple game of chance, but the lives of his older brother and himself were at stake.
Coincidentally, Holmes himself, like Mr. Moriarty, did not like luck very much. In fact, anyone who loves and trusts their brain will do so.
Luck is good when it helps you, but more often than not, it is a hindrance that hinders no matter how hard you calculate it.
The fact that something seemingly impossible happens with just the simple expression, “I was lucky,” Often seemed like an insult to the intellect.
But at this moment, Holmes had to rely on luck, even if the odds were half the odds. I felt helpless there.
The person I am now can only rely on this luck to protect the people around me, even if it means forcing myself to do so.
However, without showing any signs of it, she silently chose one of her cards on the table with her own hand and turned it over without hesitation to check it. Master Moriarty was staring at her silently as she gestured with her own hands.
The results are out.
He was a club ace.
Only then did Holmes heave a small sigh of relief without realizing it. It felt like my body was losing strength. But he had to come to his senses. She was still in front of Teacher Moriarty, and she couldn’t let the pistol go out of her hand to threaten her teacher.
However, joy was clearly growing in a corner of her heart.
Fortunately, he did it on his own this time. He was able to save Scheringford’s brother. She was sure.
And at the same time, another dark kind of joy was blooming in Holmes without his knowledge. I was a little confused as to why I felt such joy, but I couldn’t think properly in the face of the joy of having accomplished it.
Nevertheless, the joy was clearly present.
That was the joy of Mr. Moriarty’s reaction. Although she was not as good as herself, she was happy to see that she was still important to her teacher.
I did it just in case, but it was the same. And thanks to that, this reckless gamble was able to succeed.
But Holmes could see that her own joy did not simply come from her successful gamble.
And that joy was soon completely shattered.
James Moriarty, who had been quietly checking the results, opened his mouth in a mocking manner.
“You’re lucky, Holmes. “He’s whining like a child, so I guess I’ll just have to rely on luck.”
“… Since I won the bet, I’ll keep my promise. Or not… “You know, right?”
As if provoking, Holmes opened his mouth once again, pressing the muzzle of his gun close to his temple. In fact, in my current state of mind, I was willing to accept it even if I accidentally pulled the trigger right now. Because she had confirmed her partner’s feelings, that was enough for her.
Just as an old fairy, one of my ancestors, wants to be forever imprinted on the person she inspired, I suddenly thought that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to imprint my teacher forever by killing my life in vain right in front of my teacher’s eyes.
It was a stupid, Watson-like idea, but no matter how much Holmes thought about it, he couldn’t rationally elaborate on his momentary impulses.
But her subsequent words from Moriarty plunged her into despair.
“Promise…. It’s a promise……. Well, Holmes, I can’t do anything to you, so I’ll let you go. In the case of Sherringford…… “Yes, we should send it, at least part of it.”
“… What?”
For a moment, I asked like a fool. But Holmes’ own mind instinctively refused to understand the words that came out of the teacher’s mouth.
And Moriarty continued her words, as if teaching his immature student a lesson or savoring his distressed and confused appearance.
“I’m not going to kill you, that’s how it is. I already played along with my immature student’s games. But I won’t give it back in full, Holmes. Because this is discipline for your immature behavior. Still, as a teacher, I’ll be generous and let you choose only the parts that need to be specifically left out. “Left arm and left leg, take your pick.”
“That… What are you talking about! Ji… now!”
“Can’t I choose? Okay, let’s just cut off the left leg. Then choose again, which do you want, right hand or left hand?”
“This…” Can’t you see this? Me… I warned you! I’m really going to shoot, I’m going to shoot! All… Please release Sheringford intact right now! Hurry!”
Faced with an unexpected reaction, Holmes unconsciously raised his voice and waved his pistol as if Moriarty was threatening him once again.
It shouldn’t have been like this.
Just like I did, you must have been afraid of me disappearing and despaired more than anything else.
Because it was a gamble I took based on that belief. And it was a gamble to confirm it.
“Holmes, if you’re going to act like a child, just shoot me. “I won’t stop you.”
“… What?”
“I don’t know how it’s any different from dealing with a brat. They told me to just shoot. “It might be a bit of a hassle to get rid of the corpse, but I have no intention of stopping someone who wants to commit suicide.”
James Moriarty coldly laughed at Holmes himself, as if his initial violent reaction was a hallucination obtained through medicine.
And unlike before, only cold, disinterested gazes were directed at him.
Holmes intuitively realized this. And he barely had to muster up the strength to keep from falling apart.
Because her despair was so deep that it seemed as if it would swallow her up.
I was deceived. I was deceived by that villain.
The detective was able to clearly understand.
He was different from himself! Where did he start acting?
Maybe the initial emotional reaction itself was sincere. But that was just the feeling that everyone instinctively shows when something they cherish is broken.
Holmes finally realized that he was still of little value to his teacher.
He was clearly a very bad child. Rather than being angry at the fact that he couldn’t completely save his brother, he was more angry and despairing about that fact.
But he couldn’t do anything. He could not do anything, his whole body weakened in front of the gaze of Mr. Moriarty, who looked at him coldly and indifferently, as if he did not care whether he died or not.
He slowly approached him as if mocking him, and before he knew it, he couldn’t do anything, even when the pistol was snatched from his hand.
James Moriarty continued his explanation with ridicule, as if disciplining a child playing with a dangerous object, and to push Holmes even further and drive him into despair.
“You are mistaken, Holmes. “It is true that you are my student, my first customer, my first partner, and currently my most enjoyable playmate, but this is the only relationship I have.”
“Ah… no… hey.”
“If you truly thought you could turn the game around with your measly life, you are disappointed this time. If you disappear, I’m sure I’ll be sad and bored for a while. But that’s it. Can’t we find someone to replace you in this wide land?”
No, you can’t do that.
From noble mtl dot com
I only have you, so why are you there?
Holmes was in despair. But the words didn’t come out. I didn’t even have the strength to do that. More than anything, I was afraid that if I said those words, the other person would laugh and deny it.
And at the same time the thought of her Sherringford and her brother occupied her again. Without realizing it, she was about to get down on her knees to pray to him. Because now there was no other way.
However, Holmes could not do that because Moriarty, who noticed this, opened his mouth and glared coldly at her as if he truly despised her.
If he really left me disappointed in myself, I felt like I would really fall apart.
“I don’t like servile people, Holmes. “If you think you can do anything to me with something like that, then I’m completely done with you.”
“Ah… that… That can’t be…… !”
Holmes felt a sense of déjà vu, as if that day from 10 years ago was repeating itself. No, that may actually have been the case.
James Moriarty placed his forehead against the forehead of the girl who was pleading with such despair and anger and whispered.
“But don’t worry too much, disciple. This time, I will only look at your left leg. Tidkin’s Mansion, you know? “You will meet Sherringford again there, at the place where the Suicide Club was held.”
“Everything… you are… He’s a villain… !”
“… Still sentimental. Well, if that’s you, I guess I’ll have to tell you this like a villain.”
Of course, Holmes intended to add something, but Moriarty opened his mouth to further harass and push his prospective detective student.
“Aren’t you curious why they cut off only one leg and spared it? The truth is, Holmes. Sherringford itself was just bait to lure you out, I had no intention of doing anything about it. So keep in mind, the reason your eldest brother lost his leg was because you tried to negotiate with me like a brat.”
“… Thing… lie… don’t do it!”
It was a lie. Of course, both Holmes and Moriarty knew this. Originally, the plan was to kill Sherringford and drive Holmes into despair. However, after seeing his student’s poor attempts, he thought it would be more fun this way, so he changed his method.
But can his good disciple not feel guilty after hearing this? No matter how much you know that the other person is lying, if you hadn’t done something unnecessary, how can you not feel guilty when you see your older brother becoming crippled while holding such thoughts?
Moriarty smiled.
She said harsh things, and I’m sure she might find a replacement someday, but it was true that playing with the student in front of her was more enjoyable than anything else.
Beyond our foreheads touching each other, I could feel my disciple trembling with a variety of complex emotions. Moriarty added with a smile.
“So from next time… Don’t do anything stupid, Holmes. Oh, of course you will always think of me and remember me. Because that is the meaning of your existence. Because you are there to give me pleasure. Understand? “Then the good girl should go quickly to meet her brother, right?”
The disciple did not answer right away. But soon enough, the tremor beyond her forehead was no longer felt, so Moriarty smiled and slowly lifted her forehead away from hers, allowing her to study her student’s expression.
The student who would become a detective had an expression that truly satisfied him.
“Doing something like this… Even though you did this to me… Do you think you’ll be okay? You are… I will definitely send you down to hell…….”
“Everyone said that. Are you really different? “I’m looking forward to it.”
Holmes had to leave Professor Moriarty’s mansion so hurt. And as promised, Sherringford Holmes, his left leg amputated but miraculously alive, was found at Tidkin’s mansion, where a suicide club had been opened.
