Chapter 10: The First Request
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Chapter 10: The First Request
“Mr. Adler.”
“Yes, Professor.”
A few hours after the recruitment notice for the ‘Mock Crime Consultation Club’ was posted all over the academy.
“It was I who trusted you and stamped the permit and it was also I who willingly accepted your request and participated in the interviews.”
Professor Moriarty, who had been dealing with the students that had come to the office for interviews with me, spoke to me in a low voice.
“But now, I’m starting to regret that decision.”
As she spoke, she twirled a strand of hair around her finger and turned her gaze forward.
“I’m saying this as I watch those pathetic antics.”
“Eeeek...”
A student seated in front of us was desperately using all their strength to wield mana in the meantime.
“Well, how is it? Isn’t it red enough?”
“Does the student not know the difference between orange and red?”
At Moriarty’s words, who was watching the charade with a bored expression, the student stopped their mana manipulation and started scratching their head.
“I, I tried my best...”
“Next.”
“Tch.”
With that, he received the notification of his failure and stomped out of the office, grumbling under his breath.
“Thanks to that peculiar condition you have set up, the interview room has turned into a mana demonstration site for students aiming for extra points in the club.”
“........”
“How much longer do I have to watch those idiots strain themselves to produce a red mana that surely doesn’t exist in London?”
Professor Moriarty, leaning on her desk with sleepy eyes, throws this question at me while staring at me with an intense gaze.
“Here, have one of these.”
“Mm.”
She seemed quite drained, so I took out a sugar cube from the bag I had confiscated from her due to health concerns and handed it over to her.
“Just wait a little longer. The person I’ve been waiting for will definitely come.”
“Mmm...”The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.
“I’ll give you another sugar cube, so please wait patiently.”
She didn’t seem too satisfied by my proposition, but after I took out one more sugar cube and placed it in her hand, she finally popped it into her mouth and chewed contentedly— nodding her head in the process.
– Eeeek...
Around this time I found myself entranced by a strange feeling, as if I had somehow become her dedicated tamer.
“Ah, hello?”
Before even being told to enter, the door to the interview room opened, and a girl stepped in.
“Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?”
A neat and earnest-looking girl with reddish-brown bobbed hair was timidly posing a question to us.
‘Just as the saying goes, “Speak of the devil and they shall appear.”‘
After briefly observing the student, who looked like a model student to just about anyone, I murmured to myself and wore a satisfied smile.
“I am in the second year, affiliated with the student council. My name is Victoria Spaulding.”
‘I knew she couldn’t resist coming to this place.’
“I look forward to working with you!”
It was because the fourth smartest girl in London, who had her Red-Headed League case stolen by me, had finally appeared before us.
“Professor, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“I told you, didn’t I? When you meet a client for the first time, you should start with an analysis.”
In response to her greeting, I nodded slightly as a gesture of acknowledgment. Then, while Moriarty was still leaning over the book, I tapped her lightly and began to whisper softly into her ears.
“Understanding a client’s information is fundamental for a crime consultant, Professor.”
“...Understood, Mr. Adler.”
At that moment, her eyes began to shine quietly.
“Please take a seat, Senior Spaulding.”
After briefly observing Moriarty’s eyes, which looked as though she had spotted her prey, I shifted my gaze to the girl in front of me.
“The interview will now begin.”
It was time to find another victim to relieve the professor’s boredom along with me.
.
.
.
.
.
“Now, would you first demonstrate your use of mana, Senior?”
“Do... Do I have to?”
The girl, who introduced herself as Victoria Spaulding, threw a slightly bewildered question at Adler’s request.
“You don’t have to, but is there a specific reason why you’re avoiding it?”
“Is there a reason? Student?”
Then Adler, tilting his head to the side asked her another question. Meanwhile, Professor Moriarty at his side, mimicked Adler’s words like a trained parrot.
“I, I’m still not good at handling mana... Hehe.”
“That’s fine. As long as we can see the color, there won’t be a problem.”
“Then... I will try.”
Watching Adler and Moriarty’s expressions, the girl eventually succumbed to their pressure and extended her right hand, beginning to summon her mana.
– Zzzz...
And shortly after, a faint, match-flame-sized, rosy aura began to emanate from her hand.
“As, as you can see... this is my limit.”
“”.........””
“Even if that weren’t the case, now that we know your plan, executing it would be more or less impossible.”
At Adler’s words, Clay scoffed.
“As I said just now, I can simply kill all of you here...”
“If we don’t send a cancellation command, by tomorrow morning, the newspapers will be plastered with articles about you.”
“.........”
But Adler, too, did not back down easily.
“Ah, of course, that is insurance for our lives. We are not exactly forcing you to entrust us with a request. If you choose to leave without doing so, there will be no harm done.
“But let me make this clear now, without our help, your plan is doomed to fail.”
After Adler’s explanation concluded, Professor Moriarty, with a smile lingering on her lips, added some more words to Adler’s claims.
“Because your plan is flawed from the very foundation.”
And then, silence once again began to flow through the room.
“What are you talking about?”
“I will tell you that after you have entrusted us with the request, my dear student.”
At Professor Moriarty’s composed voice Clay, who had been glaring at them with an annoyed expression soon opened her mouth.
“What’s the fee for the request?”
“I have more than enough money so I must receive something special. How about you becoming my familiar, Lady Clay?”
“I’ll take that as you saying you want to die right now.”
“On the contrary, if you are dissatisfied with the results in any way, I will become your servant instead.”
Once again, Clay, who had been sending out ripples through her mana, began to ponder quietly upon hearing that proposal.
“If you write down exactly what you just said in a contract and sign it, then I will specifically entrust you with my request.”
“Very well.”
“Of course, it will be a contract bound by Contract Magic.”
“Naturally, that is how we must proceed.”
When Adler agreed all too easily, Clay looked at him with a momentarily dubious expression, then soon whispered with a chuckle.
“If you’re so keen on becoming my servant, I could make you one right this instant.”
“Rather than just becoming a servant, it would be more certain through a contract.”
“Ha.”
With that, she took out a quill pen from her bosom, murmuring in a soft voice.
“Having the scum of London at my beck and call like a dog could be quite entertaining.”
The criminal consultation contract with Adler and Clay’s signatures was completed a few minutes after that.
.
.
.
.
.
“Well, then... Farewell!”
Clay, who had somehow returned to her usual naive demeanor loudly bid them goodbye as she stepped out of the office.
“...Professor, you must be pleased.”
Finally feeling relaxed, I sighed and quietly spoke to Professor Moriarty, who was sitting beside me.
“Because our first case has finally come to us.”
Our first case, which would later be called the Red Mana League.
“I see.”
Facing that case at last, Professor Moriarty replied with a faint smile and a soft voice.
“I will kill... if you become someone else’s, Adler dear.”
No, it wasn’t a reply; it was a murder threat.
How could someone make such a chilling statement while wearing such a radiant smile?
“Me? Or her?”
“Consider it as both of you dying.”
“...To avoid dying, I suppose we must work hard on this case.”
While having such a thought I too was becoming quite adept at dealing with this kind of situation, which felt rather astonishing to me, to say the least.
“But earlier, why did you grab my hand?”
Professor Moriarty, who seemed to be inwardly smirking, suddenly posed this question.
“Because it would be bad if a pointless fight led to injuries.”
Of course, the one who would be injured from a pointless fight would have been Lady Clay.
Regardless of who she might be, the final boss of this world – whose powers were unknown till now – was not someone that the likes of Joan Clay could best.
I didn’t particularly want to subdue her from the very beginning— the one who would become the professor’s top-tier servant along with me.
“Why are you grinning at me like that?”
“You really are amusing.”
“That kind of gaze is definitely sexual harassment, Professor.”
“Pfft.”
As I was about to stand from my seat, exchanging light banter with Professor Moriarty—
– Creeeak...
“.......?”
As the office door began to open again, I turned my eyes in that direction, wondering if Lady Clay had returned.
“...Ugh.”
I soon spat out a light curse under my breath and froze in place at the scene that registered in my eyes.
“Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?”
Because standing before my eyes, wearing the uniform of the August Detective Academy paired with a cold smile on her cute face, was none other than Charlotte Holmes.
“Mr. Adler.”
Why the hell was she here now, fucking dammit!
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Chapter 10: The First Request
“Mr. Adler.”
“Yes, Professor.”
A few hours after the recruitment notice for the ‘Mock Crime Consultation Club’ was posted all over the academy.
“It was I who trusted you and stamped the permit and it was also I who willingly accepted your request and participated in the interviews.”
Professor Moriarty, who had been dealing with the students that had come to the office for interviews with me, spoke to me in a low voice.
“But now, I’m starting to regret that decision.”
As she spoke, she twirled a strand of hair around her finger and turned her gaze forward.
“I’m saying this as I watch those pathetic antics.”
“Eeeek...”
A student seated in front of us was desperately using all their strength to wield mana in the meantime.
“Well, how is it? Isn’t it red enough?”
“Does the student not know the difference between orange and red?”
At Moriarty’s words, who was watching the charade with a bored expression, the student stopped their mana manipulation and started scratching their head.
“I, I tried my best...”
“Next.”
“Tch.”
With that, he received the notification of his failure and stomped out of the office, grumbling under his breath.
“Thanks to that peculiar condition you have set up, the interview room has turned into a mana demonstration site for students aiming for extra points in the club.”
“........”
“How much longer do I have to watch those idiots strain themselves to produce a red mana that surely doesn’t exist in London?”
Professor Moriarty, leaning on her desk with sleepy eyes, throws this question at me while staring at me with an intense gaze.
“Here, have one of these.”
“Mm.”
She seemed quite drained, so I took out a sugar cube from the bag I had confiscated from her due to health concerns and handed it over to her.
“Just wait a little longer. The person I’ve been waiting for will definitely come.”
“Mmm...”The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.
“I’ll give you another sugar cube, so please wait patiently.”
She didn’t seem too satisfied by my proposition, but after I took out one more sugar cube and placed it in her hand, she finally popped it into her mouth and chewed contentedly— nodding her head in the process.
– Eeeek...
Around this time I found myself entranced by a strange feeling, as if I had somehow become her dedicated tamer.
“Ah, hello?”
Before even being told to enter, the door to the interview room opened, and a girl stepped in.
“Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?”
A neat and earnest-looking girl with reddish-brown bobbed hair was timidly posing a question to us.
‘Just as the saying goes, “Speak of the devil and they shall appear.”‘
After briefly observing the student, who looked like a model student to just about anyone, I murmured to myself and wore a satisfied smile.
“I am in the second year, affiliated with the student council. My name is Victoria Spaulding.”
‘I knew she couldn’t resist coming to this place.’
“I look forward to working with you!”
It was because the fourth smartest girl in London, who had her Red-Headed League case stolen by me, had finally appeared before us.
“Professor, what are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“I told you, didn’t I? When you meet a client for the first time, you should start with an analysis.”
In response to her greeting, I nodded slightly as a gesture of acknowledgment. Then, while Moriarty was still leaning over the book, I tapped her lightly and began to whisper softly into her ears.
“Understanding a client’s information is fundamental for a crime consultant, Professor.”
“...Understood, Mr. Adler.”
At that moment, her eyes began to shine quietly.
“Please take a seat, Senior Spaulding.”
After briefly observing Moriarty’s eyes, which looked as though she had spotted her prey, I shifted my gaze to the girl in front of me.
“The interview will now begin.”
It was time to find another victim to relieve the professor’s boredom along with me.
.
.
.
.
.
“Now, would you first demonstrate your use of mana, Senior?”
“Do... Do I have to?”
The girl, who introduced herself as Victoria Spaulding, threw a slightly bewildered question at Adler’s request.
“You don’t have to, but is there a specific reason why you’re avoiding it?”
“Is there a reason? Student?”
Then Adler, tilting his head to the side asked her another question. Meanwhile, Professor Moriarty at his side, mimicked Adler’s words like a trained parrot.
“I, I’m still not good at handling mana... Hehe.”
“That’s fine. As long as we can see the color, there won’t be a problem.”
“Then... I will try.”
Watching Adler and Moriarty’s expressions, the girl eventually succumbed to their pressure and extended her right hand, beginning to summon her mana.
– Zzzz...
And shortly after, a faint, match-flame-sized, rosy aura began to emanate from her hand.
“As, as you can see... this is my limit.”
“”.........””
“Even if that weren’t the case, now that we know your plan, executing it would be more or less impossible.”
At Adler’s words, Clay scoffed.
“As I said just now, I can simply kill all of you here...”
“If we don’t send a cancellation command, by tomorrow morning, the newspapers will be plastered with articles about you.”
“.........”
But Adler, too, did not back down easily.
“Ah, of course, that is insurance for our lives. We are not exactly forcing you to entrust us with a request. If you choose to leave without doing so, there will be no harm done.
“But let me make this clear now, without our help, your plan is doomed to fail.”
After Adler’s explanation concluded, Professor Moriarty, with a smile lingering on her lips, added some more words to Adler’s claims.
“Because your plan is flawed from the very foundation.”
And then, silence once again began to flow through the room.
“What are you talking about?”
“I will tell you that after you have entrusted us with the request, my dear student.”
At Professor Moriarty’s composed voice Clay, who had been glaring at them with an annoyed expression soon opened her mouth.
“What’s the fee for the request?”
“I have more than enough money so I must receive something special. How about you becoming my familiar, Lady Clay?”
“I’ll take that as you saying you want to die right now.”
“On the contrary, if you are dissatisfied with the results in any way, I will become your servant instead.”
Once again, Clay, who had been sending out ripples through her mana, began to ponder quietly upon hearing that proposal.
“If you write down exactly what you just said in a contract and sign it, then I will specifically entrust you with my request.”
“Very well.”
“Of course, it will be a contract bound by Contract Magic.”
“Naturally, that is how we must proceed.”
When Adler agreed all too easily, Clay looked at him with a momentarily dubious expression, then soon whispered with a chuckle.
“If you’re so keen on becoming my servant, I could make you one right this instant.”
“Rather than just becoming a servant, it would be more certain through a contract.”
“Ha.”
With that, she took out a quill pen from her bosom, murmuring in a soft voice.
“Having the scum of London at my beck and call like a dog could be quite entertaining.”
The criminal consultation contract with Adler and Clay’s signatures was completed a few minutes after that.
.
.
.
.
.
“Well, then... Farewell!”
Clay, who had somehow returned to her usual naive demeanor loudly bid them goodbye as she stepped out of the office.
“...Professor, you must be pleased.”
Finally feeling relaxed, I sighed and quietly spoke to Professor Moriarty, who was sitting beside me.
“Because our first case has finally come to us.”
Our first case, which would later be called the Red Mana League.
“I see.”
Facing that case at last, Professor Moriarty replied with a faint smile and a soft voice.
“I will kill... if you become someone else’s, Adler dear.”
No, it wasn’t a reply; it was a murder threat.
How could someone make such a chilling statement while wearing such a radiant smile?
“Me? Or her?”
“Consider it as both of you dying.”
“...To avoid dying, I suppose we must work hard on this case.”
While having such a thought I too was becoming quite adept at dealing with this kind of situation, which felt rather astonishing to me, to say the least.
“But earlier, why did you grab my hand?”
Professor Moriarty, who seemed to be inwardly smirking, suddenly posed this question.
“Because it would be bad if a pointless fight led to injuries.”
Of course, the one who would be injured from a pointless fight would have been Lady Clay.
Regardless of who she might be, the final boss of this world – whose powers were unknown till now – was not someone that the likes of Joan Clay could best.
I didn’t particularly want to subdue her from the very beginning— the one who would become the professor’s top-tier servant along with me.
“Why are you grinning at me like that?”
“You really are amusing.”
“That kind of gaze is definitely sexual harassment, Professor.”
“Pfft.”
As I was about to stand from my seat, exchanging light banter with Professor Moriarty—
– Creeeak...
“.......?”
As the office door began to open again, I turned my eyes in that direction, wondering if Lady Clay had returned.
“...Ugh.”
I soon spat out a light curse under my breath and froze in place at the scene that registered in my eyes.
“Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?”
Because standing before my eyes, wearing the uniform of the August Detective Academy paired with a cold smile on her cute face, was none other than Charlotte Holmes.
“Mr. Adler.”
Why the hell was she here now, fucking dammit!
Chapter 10: The First RequestMr. Adler.Yes, Professor.A few hours after the recruitment notice for the Mock Crime Consultation Club' was posted all over the academy.It was I who trusted you and stamped the permit and it was also I who willingly accepted your request and participated in the interviews.Professor Moriarty, who had been dealing with the students that had come to the office for interviews with me, spoke to me in a low voice.But now, I'm starting to regret that decision.As she spoke, she twirled a strand of hair around her finger and turned her gaze forward.I'm saying this as I watch those pathetic antics.Eeeek...A student seated in front of us was desperately using all their strength to wield mana in the meantime.Well, how is it? Isn't it red enough?Does the student not know the difference between orange and red?At Moriarty's words, who was watching the charade with a bored expression, the student stopped their mana manipulation and started scratching their head.I, I tried my best...Next.Tch.With that, he received the notification of his failure and stomped out of the office, grumbling under his breath.Thanks to that peculiar condition you have set up, the interview room has turned into a mana demonstration site for students aiming for extra points in the club. ........ How much longer do I have to watch those idiots strain themselves to produce a red mana that surely doesn't exist in London?Professor Moriarty, leaning on her desk with sleepy eyes, throws this question at me while staring at me with an intense gaze.Here, have one of these. Mm.She seemed quite drained, so I took out a sugar cube from the bag I had confiscated from her due to health concerns and handed it over to her.Just wait a little longer. The person I've been waiting for will definitely come.Mmm...The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.I'll give you another sugar cube, so please wait patiently.She didn't seem too satisfied by my proposition, but after I took out one more sugar cube and placed it in her hand, she finally popped it into her mouth and chewed contentedly nodding her head in the process. Eeeek...Around this time I found myself entranced by a strange feeling, as if I had somehow become her dedicated tamer.Ah, hello?Before even being told to enter, the door to the interview room opened, and a girl stepped in.Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?A neat and earnest-looking girl with reddish-brown bobbed hair was timidly posing a question to us.Just as the saying goes, Speak of the devil and they shall appear.After briefly observing the student, who looked like a model student to just about anyone, I murmured to myself and wore a satisfied smile.I am in the second year, affiliated with the student council. My name is Victoria Spaulding.I knew she couldn't resist coming to this place.'I look forward to working with you!It was because the fourth smartest girl in London, who had her Red-Headed League case stolen by me, had finally appeared before us.Professor, what are you doing?Huh?I told you, didn't I? When you meet a client for the first time, you should start with an analysis.In response to her greeting, I nodded slightly as a gesture of acknowledgment. Then, while Moriarty was still leaning over the book, I tapped her lightly and began to whisper softly into her ears.Understanding a client's information is fundamental for a crime consultant, Professor. ...Understood, Mr. Adler.At that moment, her eyes began to shine quietly.Please take a seat, Senior Spaulding.After briefly observing Moriarty's eyes, which looked as though she had spotted her prey, I shifted my gaze to the girl in front of me.The interview will now begin.It was time to find another victim to relieve the professor's boredom along with me......Now, would you first demonstrate your use of mana, Senior? Do... Do I have to?The girl, who introduced herself as Victoria Spaulding, threw a slightly bewildered question at Adler's request.You don't have to, but is there a specific reason why you're avoiding it? Is there a reason? Student?Then Adler, tilting his head to the side asked her another question. Meanwhile, Professor Moriarty at his side, mimicked Adler's words like a trained parrot.I, I'm still not good at handling mana... Hehe. That's fine. As long as we can see the color, there won't be a problem. Then... I will try.Watching Adler and Moriarty's expressions, the girl eventually succumbed to their pressure and extended her right hand, beginning to summon her mana. Zzzz...And shortly after, a faint, match-flame-sized, rosy aura began to emanate from her hand.As, as you can see... this is my limit..........Even if that weren't the case, now that we know your plan, executing it would be more or less impossible.At Adler's words, Clay scoffed.As I said just now, I can simply kill all of you here...If we don't send a cancellation command, by tomorrow morning, the newspapers will be plastered with articles about you..........But Adler, too, did not back down easily.Ah, of course, that is insurance for our lives. We are not exactly forcing you to entrust us with a request. If you choose to leave without doing so, there will be no harm done.But let me make this clear now, without our help, your plan is doomed to fail.After Adler's explanation concluded, Professor Moriarty, with a smile lingering on her lips, added some more words to Adler's claims.Because your plan is flawed from the very foundation.And then, silence once again began to flow through the room.What are you talking about?I will tell you that after you have entrusted us with the request, my dear student.At Professor Moriarty's composed voice Clay, who had been glaring at them with an annoyed expression soon opened her mouth.What's the fee for the request?I have more than enough money so I must receive something special. How about you becoming my familiar, Lady Clay?I'll take that as you saying you want to die right now.On the contrary, if you are dissatisfied with the results in any way, I will become your servant instead.Once again, Clay, who had been sending out ripples through her mana, began to ponder quietly upon hearing that proposal.If you write down exactly what you just said in a contract and sign it, then I will specifically entrust you with my request.Very well.Of course, it will be a contract bound by Contract Magic.Naturally, that is how we must proceed.When Adler agreed all too easily, Clay looked at him with a momentarily dubious expression, then soon whispered with a chuckle.If you're so keen on becoming my servant, I could make you one right this instant.Rather than just becoming a servant, it would be more certain through a contract.Ha.With that, she took out a quill pen from her bosom, murmuring in a soft voice.Having the scum of London at my beck and call like a dog could be quite entertaining.The criminal consultation contract with Adler and Clay's signatures was completed a few minutes after that......Well, then... Farewell!Clay, who had somehow returned to her usual naive demeanor loudly bid them goodbye as she stepped out of the office....Professor, you must be pleased.Finally feeling relaxed, I sighed and quietly spoke to Professor Moriarty, who was sitting beside me.Because our first case has finally come to us.Our first case, which would later be called the Red Mana League.I see.Facing that case at last, Professor Moriarty replied with a faint smile and a soft voice.I will kill... if you become someone else's, Adler dear.No, it wasn't a reply; it was a murder threat.How could someone make such a chilling statement while wearing such a radiant smile?Me? Or her?Consider it as both of you dying....To avoid dying, I suppose we must work hard on this case.While having such a thought I too was becoming quite adept at dealing with this kind of situation, which felt rather astonishing to me, to say the least.But earlier, why did you grab my hand?Professor Moriarty, who seemed to be inwardly smirking, suddenly posed this question.Because it would be bad if a pointless fight led to injuries.Of course, the one who would be injured from a pointless fight would have been Lady Clay.Regardless of who she might be, the final boss of this world whose powers were unknown till now was not someone that the likes of Joan Clay could best. I didn't particularly want to subdue her from the very beginning the one who would become the professor's top-tier servant along with me.Why are you grinning at me like that?You really are amusing.That kind of gaze is definitely sexual harassment, Professor.Pfft.As I was about to stand from my seat, exchanging light banter with Professor Moriarty Creeeak..........?As the office door began to open again, I turned my eyes in that direction, wondering if Lady Clay had returned....Ugh.I soon spat out a light curse under my breath and froze in place at the scene that registered in my eyes.Is this the Mock Crime Consultation Club?Because standing before my eyes, wearing the uniform of the August Detective Academy paired with a cold smile on her cute face, was none other than Charlotte Holmes.Mr. Adler.Why the hell was she here now, fucking dammit!
