A Mark Left Behind

I could hear my heavy breath as I was running.

I wanted to curse in my head but there simply was no time to curse as the person who was about to catch me neared with ferocity equal to their diligence.

"M-Miss Lestrade could you perhaps leave me be?"

My lungs felt as if they were on fire.

The police officer didn't respond.

"What about a bribe? Would that work in your favor?"

I will not refuse that I have committed atrocities that can never be washed away.

Killing is forbidden.

Taking someone's time and existence is a heresy worth death in my own opinion yet I do not wish to leave behind such a legacy within this world.

Those who have died will never come back.

I sigh within my head.

***

It was right after when God had disappeared and when Miss Holmes had told the being who possessed me of her findings.

Although my head was staring at the sky like some lunatic, Miss Holmes stood quiet. Perhaps as a sign of respect for a person who will soon be in jail.

My heart has still not fully accepted the fact my body had done such atrocious deeds, but I could not just sit still as well.

"Ah, well Miss Holmes."

I started.

In my head, there were not many thoughts, surprisingly.

"Shall we end this Case?"

I could see Dr. Watson as well in the back with a solemn look.

I could not tell if they had noticed any difference in my behavior from the annoying 'Hoho' laugh and the constant smile.

But the words that came out of Miss Holmes was perhaps something I should have expected in hindsight.

"Who are you?"

'Ah…'

Of course.

I should have noticed earlier when trapped inside my own body.

My existence had been rewritten, as I could tell with now two sets of memories within my head.

One was my actions starting from the very beginning.

The other was up to a point where the 'corruption' had changed my actions and were the actions of the 'being'.

It went as far as the case in which the conductor sent his final farewell to the world.

It hadn't spread very far but it enveloped all the time I had with Miss Holmes.

How can I explain this feeling?

A void?

A more fitting word would be 'erasure'.

As if I had never existed.

"I… I am just someone who is cleaning up after the person before myself."

I answered Miss Holmes.

The words of Miss Holmes had sparked my brain with thoughts about 'what if'.

What if the Mad Gods were not here?

Would my life have been easier?

As a butler of Miss Jill, without the Mad Gods in the way and forever living in a state of monotony?

What if the Mad Gods had not sent their 'pieces'?

Would I have not been tricked into signing a contract with God?

Such thoughts kept appearing.

In another world, perhaps such thought had come into fruition and this was the world where I died of natural aging.

But it is not so.

The crimes had been done.

The evidence was found.

And Miss Holmes had uncovered the trail I left behind for her.

With all that needless noise gone, I couldn't help but wonder only one thought.

'What will happen now?'

Like a prisoner in a high level prison, the 'trail' I left behind for Miss Holmes was akin to throwing a piece of bread outside the iron bars.

The guard found it amusing and left it there.

If it were not for that and Miss Holmes picking up what was left behind, I might have died a death I would have regretted for all of eternity.

What came after was simple.

A manhunt ensued.

Within a few minutes Scotland Yard appeared and I ran.

It was easier than I expected and before I knew it, I was only being chased by one person.

Gia Lestrade.

'This white-haired monster…'

That was where I was at the present.

Even though I knew the alleyways of London as if a map was imprinted within my mind, it did little to slow Miss Lestrade down for even a moment.

I could hear her crashing into walls but soon after she would come back with even more anger and determination to catch me.

'How could a person with a nullifying curse gain a superhuman body?'

I had wondered this even when I was captured by her within my regression cycle.

Theoretically, there was nothing that could make a human gain such power unless they were a mana-user. Yet against all odds, the irregularity named 'Gia Lestrade' had a body equal to those superhumans.

"Miss Lestrade, let us make a deal."

Of course, a response did not come.

"If you make this deal, I will end the copycats within London and return the peace it once had!"

The rapid footsteps behind me stopped, and so I took that chance to catch my breath.

"Ha… Ha…"

"Explain."

Miss Lestrade's voice coldly resounded behind me.

"Yes… Just. Just give me a moment, please."

My entire body ached.

"Hah…"

I sighed in relief as cold winter air filled my lungs.

I looked in envy at Miss Lestrade who was perfectly fine. Even her uniform with a hat was in pristine condition although she was chasing me at high speeds.

The amount of close calls were uncountable as at times she would whizz by me into another alley.

Every single time was a close call with death.

"Yes… To explain, currently lunatics around London are killing in acts of revenge and other agenda, correct?"

My finger was pointed up.

"..."

"Ah, well it would be simple to end it. All we would need to do would be to publicly execute Jack the Ripper."

Miss Lestrade's brows came together.

"Is this a ask of suicide? I will happily take you to prison, make you go to trial, and eventually die as you said."

"No no! I don't want to die."

I shook my hands to deter this madwoman away from me.

"We just need another person to do it. After all, Jack the Ripper is an anonymous person so anyone could fill the role."

"But… It could also be you, the actual culprit. Could it not?"

"Who said that I was the actual culprit?"

"..."

"We have evidence of your doing, feigning ignorance will not do you kindly."

"Ah… Haha, I guess that won't work."

The handcuffs she held were gleaming in a silver light.

My tricks were up and my final card was all I had.

I fell backwards.

Miss Lestrade reached for me but was a moment too late.

And I fell into a world of black.

***

Alvis opened his eyes to an embrace of arms.

"Good morning my slave."

Familiar words ringed as Jill the Ripper held him in a princess carry.

"...Hello Miss Jill."

Alvis smiled wryly.

"Although I am indeed the audience now, am I supposed to take my place back as the conductor?"

"...Excuse me?"

Alvis questioned, confused at the strange words that came out of Jill the Ripper's mouth.

"...No, it's nothing."

"...Could I ask, where are we as of the current moment?"

"We are currently in the Garrideb mansion."

"Ah…"

It was almost a sigh but not quite.

'The Garrideb mansion… I ignored Miss Neria due to the 'being' but now it seems not possible to move her into a proper facility even though all the work is done… I'll need to talk to Dr. Frankenstein about moving her.'

"Hm… Well, I suppose this will do as well."

Alvis said.

"Miss Jill, I have to get supplies from within the city."

"Oh? Why is that?"

Jill the Ripper sat on a wooden table, her legs crossed.

"I have a feeling that I know what your plan is, Miss Jill. I simply have to prepare for what we might find there."

Alvis stated, looking at Jill the Ripper's blurred face.

Although imperceivable, Alvis felt that Jill the Ripper was smiling in amusement.

"Is that so? Then, off you go my slave."

Waving her hand, Alvis left the room with his coat.

It was quiet.

The mansion felt as if it stood still in time as no sound could be heard.

Except.

Scratching.

Incessant scratching like a rabid dog begging was heard.

It echoed throughout the halls of the mansion.

However it did not disturb Alvis, rather, he pitied the person who scratched the metal-framed door.

'...Please wait a bit longer, Miss Neria.'

As Alvis headed into the familiar master bedroom and opened the secret passageway, he headed inside the madwoman's lab.

"Oh?"

Dr. Frankenstein turned her head.

Wearing a white lab coat and holding a tube of a strange colored liquid, her face was hidden behind her long hair.

"Hello Dr. Frankenstein."

"..."

The woman stood still, merely watching the man walk as if turned to stone.

"I'm here to make a proposition. It may be something to intrigue you, or you may refuse."

"..."

"Here is my deal. Unlike before where you merely took my blood for testing and hoping for a breakthrough in your immortality potion. This time you may take my entire arm in order to experiment."

The madwoman's lips curved in an upwards motion.

However, Alvis did not look directly at Dr. Frankenstein.

He looked behind her, at 'something else'.

It was right behind Dr. Frankenstein.

"...Are you truly going to give up an entire arm…?"

The voice was slow.

Unbearingly so.

"...Ah, that is of course without conditions."

But even with those words the smile on the woman's face did not cease.

"First, please put Miss Neria within the facility I described to you before, and second… Please help with a small project of mine…"

As a few minutes passed, Alvis left the lab with a neutral face.

'...I suppose it is about time to get the supplies.'

And so, Alvis left the Garrideb mansion and walked for a time before reaching London once more.

***

I could not help but think of my time with 'God' as he lived within me.

I did not notice at first that I had been 'corroded'.

"Hmm…"

It was in the middle of the night so it was alright that I was walking so freely but as a precaution I had also covered my body in crushed mana stones and used the 'magic' that recreated Miss Jill's 'mask' to a lesser degree.

Though I will not get into the specifics, it confuses someone looking at me as if they are looking at someone else.

In other words, it was the perfect disguise.

The breadcrumbs in particular were 'sacrifices' because I had to take control for a brief moment to make evidence of the crimes.

Many times it happens and each time my will changes into 'God's'.

The clear of 'when' I had started to corrode might have even been as early as the first day in which I had arrived into this world.

But…

It truly was strange…

As if the person who had 'corroded' me was not a singular person but rather two.

I set aside my thoughts as I entered a store and took off the mana residue.

"...Oh, it's you."

A smile appeared on my face.

"Hoho, yes. I heard that Miss Holmes has found our tracks. I suppose this one has still not been found?"

Rather, the breadcrumbs I sent to Miss Holmes had not targeted this one. So it was unlikely that she or Scotland Yard would find this one.

It was one of the many 'sacrifices' I took when reigning control for a brief moment.

"Yes… What do you need."

"Just some supplies. Nothing special."

I mimicked the irritating laugh and behavior of 'God' acting as the boss of the criminal organization.

"..."

The old man brought out a fairly large briefcase and two mana stones.

"Hoho, thank you."

"..."

Taking the briefcase and reapplying my disguise, I left the store.

'...Everything is prepared. Now even if we flee to France or some other country it will not matter.'

It was starting to become cold.

October was the month where trees turn into shades of red, orange and yellow.

Yet…

In front of me lies a woman with gray hair and brown eyes.

"...Hello. How may I help you?"

I asked.

'Is she in a daze? Why is she standing in front of me like this?'

"..."

For some reason, she faintly reminded me of Miss Jill and Dr. Frankenstein.

In other words… She was not a person I should interact with if possible.

"Well… Good day."

I swiftly tried to walk past her but her words stopped me in my tracks.

"You're Jack the Ripper, are you not?"

"..."

A thought suddenly appeared within my mind.

'Her eyes are like that of a lizard's…'

Right after that thought, another came into my mind.

'...She must be a mana user.'

It was a thought that came without much deduction.

It might have been because I have surrounded myself with crazy people, but I tell this woman was a danger comparable with Miss Jill.

Unless they had a strange set of skills like Gia Lestrade with a superhuman body and a nullifying curse, the only other possible reason would be 'She is a mana user'.

"My… Miss, what are you talking about? Was it not on the morning news that Jack the Ripper was caught?"

"Merely a ruse in order to calm the common people. I know as a fact that they are currently still trying to find Jack the Ripper."

The woman calmly retorted.

"..."

'...Who is this person?'

At this point, I could no longer call this a world of 'Sherlock Holmes'. But rather a mixing world of all sorts of strange and convoluted stories.

Dr. Frankenstein was one of such people.

Miss Jill another.

Also… If the destination is where I think we will be going, there is another such person.

"Oh? And how might you know that, Miss?"

"..."

"...Scotland Yard is quite easy to gain access to if you know the right set of skills."

She did not elaborate further than that.

'Ah… I was right, she is another crazy like the rest of them.'

"Although this is interesting, may I ask what your name is?"

"...My name…?"

The woman dug through her pockets, bringing out a small paper packet.

Tearing it open, she ate the contents with a satisfied expression.

For some reason my mouth watered looking at that sight.

"My name is Jane Moriarty, pleased to make your acquaintance, Jack the Ripper."

"..."

I took a deep breath.

Satisfying cold air entered my lungs.

"Ah… haha."

It was nervous laughter.

'Why… Why is the final boss of the 'Sherlock Holmes' series in front of me…?'

I couldn't help but sigh deeply within my mind while keeping up my friendly smiling face.

"Yes… Pleased to make your acquaintance as well Miss Moriarty."

Interestingly enough, Miss Moriarty did not wear a coat but rather a formal attire.

This is another reason for my confirmation that she was a mana user.

After all, in this cold weather, who in their right minds would wear such thin clothing?

"Oh? I thought that the other one would also greet me as well. Was I wrong to assume that your other half would be out to greet me?"

'...She might even be more dangerous than Miss Jill.'

"She is quite shy, please excuse her and simply ignore her as if she is not there."

I said, trying to persuade Miss Moriarty to ignore Jill the Ripper who resided in my shadow.

"Hmm… You are quite lucky that I may need something from you, or else you may have ended up dead from the disrespect."

My muscles tensed.

"...That was a joke. Did it ease you?"

It did not.

Instead it made me even more wary.

A strong feeling of deja-vu occurred at me at that moment.

If there were 'types' of people, undoubtedly Miss Jill and Miss Moriarty would fit together in the same box with only their nuances being different.

'...I can't deal with one Miss Jill but now two…?'

I wished to cry right then and there.

"...That was quite the joke Miss Moriarty, may I ask why you seek me out?"

"Do you have a cure for a curse?"

"..."

"A curse? You have one?"

"Rather, Miss Moriarty, why do you think I have the cure to a curse?"

I watched with my mouth gaping as the woman took out another small packet of what seemed to be drugs and ate it in delight.

"No, it is only a question I ask to famous people to see whether or not they have it."

"I see…"

'Gray hair…? No…'

A hypothesis suddenly came to mind like a eureka moment.

"...Miss Moriarty, you possibly weren't the culprit of the fog that clouded the skies of London for a while two years ago, were you?"

"Oh? Your deductive abilities are quite good, yes indeed. That was the moment when I entered London and spread my mana across the sky in hopes that someone could catch me. Do you perhaps have photographic memory of some kind?"

"No… I don't."

'Mana? All of that mana that had spread across London for several consecutive months came from this woman? What kind of incomprehensible being is she?'

At that moment, without a doubt in my list of 'Dangerous Beings', Miss Moriarty shot up to first place with no contender and Miss Jill sat comfortably within second place.

"To me your detective abilities seem to rival that of Charlotte Holmes. Tell me, is my hypothesis true?"

"No, I think of myself as rather ordinary within the detective scene. That moment when I asked you was simply a stroke of luck."

"Then could I assume that I can place the detectives within this city in high regard?"

"I suppose…? After all, within this city lies the August Institute where top-class detectives are born so it would be right to assume that…"

Although I was answering Miss Moriarty's questions in a serious manner, her constant eating of packets of drugs disturbed to no end.

Who in their right minds ate that many drugs in the span of a few minutes?

Is she a drug addict who could only rely on drugs and needed them to function?

"Hmm… I see. It was a pleasure meeting you, Jack the Ripper. We might see each other again some time soon."

"I highly doubt that as the police are chasing my tail as of the moment, but yes… It was a pleasure."

I watched as the final boss who had sporadically appeared before me, leave just as fast.

A certain sense of unease lingered.

However, a cold touch wrapped around my neck.

"..."

To explain further the differences of Miss Jill and Miss Moriarty, if Miss Moriarty is a 'snake', then Miss Jill would be 'emptiness'.

"Do you like her?"

Truly, empty.

"No, Miss Jill. Rather than something like 'fondness' I am much rather wary of that person's skills and power as a mana user."

"Don't you know from the two years you knew me? I wish for a stable life, something as chaotic as that woman would surely disrupt my plans."

'I wonder, how long will it take before I truly figure out these strange people?'

A sigh comes out involuntarily.