171 – Division (3)
Although he was barely able to hide it from reporters always looking for a scoop, he was mainly in charge of London’s Scotland Yard immediately after ‘killing’ the infamous Thames Torso Killer. The police officers brought the unconscious Sherlock Holmes and Jane Watson to the hospital, and they were each placed in a special room for one person.
It was a privilege that would have been difficult for an ordinary police officer to receive, but there was bound to be the invisible influence of Mycroft Holmes.
Fortunately, both people’s lives were not in danger, and both were able to come to their senses after about a day. However, it was Jane Watson who woke up first.
Officially, Jane Watson had no guardian. She didn’t need a guardian to begin with because legally she was an adult, but she didn’t even have any relatives of her own. Miss Watson’s parents had long since passed away when she was young, and her only brother, Henry, had ended his ill-fated life in a nursing ward a few years earlier.
So, it was quite strange for James Moriarty to guard Jane Watson’s hospital room. People who don’t know anything might suspect the relationship between the two, but the strict doctors and nurses at the hospital had no doubts about Moriarty’s words and appearance that he was Miss Watson’s guardian.
Of course, Moriarty himself did not lie. Although there was no legal relationship, Moriarty was apparently her guardian after saving her from Henry Watson. Jane Watson must have thought that way at one time.
The reason he especially guarded Watson’s hospital room first was not simply because the doctor thought she would wake up first.
If I had to define the reason, it was curiosity.
Only after hearing from the doctor that both Holmes and Watson were safe, Moriarty was able to calmly consider what happened there.
Immediately, Moriarty could tell that Miss Watson had done something unusual. The essential purpose of keeping Watson close was because of Holmes, but he also had no choice but to know a lot about Jane Watson.
The most interesting thing among them all was that she was a witch and had an unusual mastery.
Through interactions with the wizard Porok under his command and professors who often studied magic theoretically at universities and were always thirsty for budgets and liked to talk about their research topics, Moriarty was able to learn quite a bit about magic. I also found out that Jane Watson was quite a strong witch.
Professors often boasted that the price was proportional to the qualifications of the wizard and witch.
The magic that sacrifices memories will definitely be powerful. Even when Miss Watson confessed about her childhood trauma, and even when Watson brought up her story just to get closer to Professor Moriarty, Moriarty reflected on her Watson’s qualities.
Holmes, who was reunited at Sweeney’s residence, was covered in blood. Because of that miserable appearance, he was unconsciously unable to control his emotions properly, but fortunately, he soon realized that there were no major injuries.
However, the blood stains were definitely not someone else’s blood. Moriarty could tell that Sweeney had dared to hurt Holmes so badly that he almost killed his student.
But Holmes was alive. Then there was only one conclusion he could draw.
Do you want to thank Watson? It wasn’t like that. Although he was relieved that Holmes was not dead, he was an ungrateful human being.
What captivated him was curiosity. In order to heal someone, something literally close to a miracle, great magic was needed. So what kind of memories did Watson, who woke up again, give in return?
And what happens to the disciple when he finds out, no, Holmes himself already knows it, but when he actually confirms it and faces it?
It was an interesting subject to contemplate, but unfortunately, before the consideration and appreciation could continue, Jane Watson slowly opened her eyes.
Jane Watson thought she woke up in bed as usual. But she soon realized something was wrong.
She was always a deep sleeper, so much so that once she fell asleep, she would not wake up even if someone flipped her over, but she was able to realize that her bed was different from usual. As she slowly blinked, her vision became clearer, revealing an unfamiliar landscape to her.
She was anxious for a moment, but what made her feel a little relieved was that a familiar figure appeared in a corner of her vision.
She realized that she was dressed rather lightly, so she tried to raise her body as if she were embarrassed. But at the same time a terrible feeling came over her.
Then Watson knew that she was in front of Professor Moriarty, but without knowing it, she could not help but gasp for breath like her hysterical wife.
She managed to calm down under the gentle touch of her professor, who seemed to be trying to calm her down, but she beckoned him with her trembling hand, unable to completely shake Watson out of this terrible mood.
“My… My notebook! Please give me my notebook, Professor, I… please!”
“Watson, calm down. You used magic, remember?”
“Ah… !”
It was also like that. Of course she couldn’t answer the professor’s questions. Because she couldn’t remember anything. Only this terrible feeling, the unpleasant sensation that a part of herself had disappeared, told her that what her professor had said was true.
Still, she could be relieved about one thing. She felt like at least her memories of the man in front of her, the man she had a crush on, were intact.
Thank goodness, I’m so glad… Is it?
But it was strange. Because I felt like I had forgotten something equally precious. Moriarty quietly opened her mouth while observing Watson with interest.
“Watson, when is the last date you remember?”
“Yes? All… of course… ….”
But Moriarty smiled inwardly, and Watson could not help but be embarrassed.
Moriarty was able to confirm that the memory of Jane Watson before her eyes had disappeared for about a year. Of course, this was before she met Holmes, and she seemed to have forgotten who she was.
Jane Watson’s gaze at herself was the same as before she knew her own nature.
Thinking about what choice his student would make, Moriarty pretended to comfort Watson.
Jane Watson began to cry without realizing it, even though she was comforted by him because she did not know anything.
“My… Why me?”
“I don’t think it will be too late to think about it once I recover. “If you want, I will send someone later to bring you the diary from your home.”
“Mo… I don’t know, Professor! I need to check my notebook quickly……. “I feel like I’ve forgotten someone who was really, really important to me.”
Unfortunately for her, the reaction of her own disciple Holmes, who came to her senses and heard all this, was calm. Of course, she was only trying to pretend to be calm, but her eyes were shaking, so Moriarty could only shrug her shoulders as if satisfied.
“If you want, I can help you, if you ask me, disciple.”
“… Help, sir?”
“Okay. You feel guilty, right? If you think about it, that’s what Watson did… “It’s because of you.”
With a smile on her lips, Moriarty observed her student. I really enjoyed the way she glared at me as if trying to protect her pride.
That’s why she made her offer once again.
“If you wish, I can help you escape, at least if you find it difficult to face Miss Watson for the time being. Fortunately, they are listening obediently to what I say…… It may be a bit cumbersome, but you can have someone cleverly edit Miss Watson’s diary and other things. If it doesn’t work out, you could say that a fire broke out and everything burned down.”
“There is no need.”
“… Okay? Than before… You’ve grown. “When I was young, I was just a child trying to turn my eyes away from the truth.”
Silence again.
Holmes barely opened his mouth, acting out anger and hatred while trying to hide his complex emotions.
“You are a terrible person.”
“If that makes you feel at ease, feel free to think as you wish.”
It wasn’t like that. No matter how much hatred I spewed out, I couldn’t feel at ease.
“You…” Selfish, terrible… It’s childish again…… “You’re arrogant.”
“… “Holmes, don’t you have a more novel expression?”
Silence.
Moriarty sighed lightly as if he had nothing more to say and stood up to leave the room, leaving his student alone.
As he slowly walked to the door, a voice behind him made him stop without realizing it. But he didn’t rush back.
“Why…” “You saved me, sir?”
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“…… Well, as you said, I guess I acted on a whim because I was a brat.”
Not even he could understand it himself, so Moriarty ran outside, leaving Holmes alone.
She stared at her door for a long time, as if following the figure of her teacher.
But now I know for sure.
Except for the impossible, it was the truth no matter how unethical, terrible, or irrational it was.
Wasn’t it one of the things you learned from that man as a child?
Then what should you do?
Even after realizing this feeling, will she still be able to reveal his identity and move to fall into hell together?
There was a short silence.
However, Holmes soon realized that the premise was wrong from the beginning. Why did he think that proving that this man was a villain and causing his downfall were incompatible with what his own emotions led him to do?
Maybe.
Pretending not to notice for now, she prepares to meet Watson.
