NOVEL NEXT Chapter 290
“Professor Van Helsing, do you miss Earth?”
Sherlock Holmes, using the alias Simon Harriet, asked his comrade, Abraham Van Helsing, who had crossed into another world. Van Helsing tilted his head for a moment and replied.
“If there were a way to return, I surely wouldn’t hesitate.”
“Is that so?”
Holmes’s gray eyes sparkled with inspiration. With a face seemingly starved of hope and sharp eyes, this man, known as the greatest detective in history, wasn’t just a detective but a ‘Hero’ wielding a Holy Sword, rampaging through the world. Moriarty, who had fled north and colluded with demons to seize power, was one of their greatest threats.
Van Helsing noticed something unusual in Holmes’s tone and asked.
“Do you have a way, Holmes? I know you also miss the murky atmosphere of London in your own way. If there’s a way to return, wouldn’t you hesitate too?”
“That power lies solely in the hands of James Moriarty.”
“You mean that coffin-shaped contraption.”
Holmes nodded. He still looked furious at the fact that he couldn’t even grasp the truth of magic that Moriarty had achieved.
“A device that can accumulate and release magic, holy power—powers with various names and forms. The possibilities of what can be done through it are endless, but I’m convinced its original purpose is to create a hole between the two worlds.”
“I crossed over here using that means. That makes sense.”
“This power, called magic, has caused this continent to evolve in ways very different from our world,” Holmes explained.
“But as I saw in that wondrous creature I accidentally killed, it’s not as if that power didn’t exist in our world at all. It’s merely a matter of concentration and density. The existence of such a disparity in power between the closely linked worlds means that even a small clash could create a rift between them.”
“Are you saying there could even be osmosis between the two universes?”
“It’s slightly different, but a comparable explanation.”
“Then, Holmes, James Moriarty’s goal was never to use this machine to capture Dracula… ”
“He aimed to open a path into a world where mana exists and utilize the magic of that world. Professor Van Helsing, what do you think about this world? I mean, assuming human nature is roughly similar everywhere, what’s your opinion on the technology and levels of this world?”
“There’s not much to boast about in terms of technology. They still have cannons that seem to belong to the medieval period.”
“In that case, what about the overall capabilities?”
“That’s a tough one. Compared to the world we lived in, this one is just way too different.”
Holmes nodded. The great detective’s eyes sparkled as he slightly shifted the question.
“Can you think of a way to conquer Earth using the resources of this world? I mean, hypothetically speaking, assuming one acted solely with the intent of destroying and acquiring the world, without any moral hesitation.”
“Not difficult at all.”
Van Helsing nodded.
“Europe may seem stable, but it’s like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Even if we could take just a bit of magic from this world, we could spark wars between the great empires and reap enormous benefits.”
“I think so too. It could incite unprecedented warfare and unprecedented slaughter. Now, if we assume Moriarty succeeds in achieving that goal, do you think it’s possible to conquer this world with the resources we’ve brought from our world?”
“That too… seems possible.”
“Exactly. The two worlds have evolved in such fundamentally different ways that it’s become an incredibly tangled relationship where one can’t definitively say which is stronger. In other words, this world isn’t prepared to fight against our world, nor is our world ready to fight against this one. However, if someone capable of understanding the essence of both worlds could wield the weapons of both sides and traverse between the two universes at will…”
“That person would become the conqueror of both worlds.”
“Our opponent is not Count Dracula. Of course, Dracula is powerful, but he appears somewhat weak next to Moriarty. James Moriarty possesses the means to obliterate both worlds and will soon put it into action.”
“Is that why you asked me if I wanted to go home?”
Van Helsing asked, and Holmes nodded.
“That’s right. There is surely a way for us to return home. However, that can only happen when a desperate machine capable of annihilating the humanity of both universes is activated.”
“In that case, I won’t go back to Europe.”
“Neither will I. We must capture Moriarty and eliminate that device forever. I’ve failed far too many times. I dragged what should have ended in London all the way to Reichenbach, and I’ve postponed what I couldn’t finish in Reichenbach to the Imperial Palace of Audrich. Not executing Moriarty and merely banishing him was my great mistake. Rather, I allowed him the opportunity to join forces with Dracula and solidify his ambitions.”
“It’s not your fault. No one could have expected that, despite being an evil Moriarty, he would drink the blood of a vampire king and become a demon.”
“Right. I thought he would at least maintain his pride as a human. But now that I know the enemy shows no mercy, I will take action myself. I hope the power of this ‘Holy Sword’ that reacts to me is sufficient to defeat him. Doctor, please remain in the Empire just in case. I will certainly succeed, but if I fail, then you must finish this matter.”
After saying that, Holmes set off toward the north, to the Demon King’s Castle, to confront James Moriarty.
Rumor has it there was a decisive battle. However, Moriarty survived that fight, and Holmes did not return alive. Van Helsing soon fell into despair, believing the two worlds were about to perish, but surprisingly, even after a long time, no gates opened between the two worlds, nor did the Empire fall to the Demon King’s Army.
Van Helsing lived for many years without knowing what had happened to Holmes. Many years later, over a hundred years later, a wizard from Earth revealed to Watson that “Holmes had disappeared at Reichenbach but later reappeared in front of Watson and spent the rest of his life in London.”
For Van Helsing, who would soon meet his end, it was a final comfort and a precious gift that untangled the knots of frustration.
The current Mage Emperor, Violet Moriarty, also remembered the events of that time.
“Sherlock Holmes charged into the castle and set his sights on my father’s nearly completed machine first.”
At that time, Violet was still not strong enough and tried to stop the incoming Holmes, resulting in her being smashed and thrown to the floor. It was the second greatest humiliation she had experienced in her life.
“James Moriarty tried to stop him, but he couldn’t prevent the blade of the Holy Sword from crazily hacking at the coffin. The machine was destroyed at that moment, but the gate created by the machine was momentarily sustained. My father tried to hurry into it, but Holmes stood in his way. There was a scuffle, and Holmes was pushed back. But through a bizarre coincidence, when my father threw him aside, Sherlock Holmes was sucked into the slowly disappearing gate instead of rolling on the floor.”
“It could have been James’s intention to exclude the Hero from the world.”
The Succubus Queen said cautiously. Violet shook her head.
“Well, if he had the luxury to plan such a thing, my father would have thrown himself in willingly. In any case, Holmes returned home, and my father remained in this world. And since that battle, more than 120 years have passed.”
The expression of the Demon King was unreadable. It was a strangely enigmatic face, neither sentimental nor remorseful.
It was the kind of expression only the emperor of demons could wear, sensing that a conclusion was approaching in some way.
“About five years ago, I came very close to the answer. I nearly succeeded in opening that gate, and it seemed to have actually opened for a moment. I didn’t observe it, but surely a small rift had formed between the two worlds. What passed through there, I’m not entirely sure, nor will I be able to prove it in the future… ”
“Don’t you have an idea of what passed through?”
“Indeed.”
The Mage Emperor nodded.
“That rift was probably too small for any tangible objects to pass through. If my theory is correct, the only thing that could cross that rift was a recently deceased soul. It happens from time to time. When a rift opens between the two worlds, dead souls from that world often come over to ours. However, it was an accident. The souls that cross over, due to the energy that bursts out when the gate collapses, often gain powerful strength as they absorb that energy to form their bodies…”
“Because the energy of a dimension door opened artificially was too powerful, a body with unprecedented strength was formed.”
The Demon King chuckled.
“Isn’t that amusing? Because of my small experiment, my small mistake, I ended up creating my most powerful adversary. The fact that it was that particular individual who crossed over is purely coincidental. It could have been anyone. Someone who would self-destruct in their arrogance with the power they possessed could have come through, yet it happened to be him. It’s that kind of guy who stands so firmly in my way now. And now, he’s leading an assault that might destroy me forever.”
“Your Majesty will not be destroyed.”
“Except for the desire for immortality, my dream is the same as my father’s.”
Violet stood up.
“I will die someday. But when I die, I won’t be the last loser who fell at the hands of the enemy. I will die as the last victor who ruled over both worlds, leaving this realm behind. Prepare yourself, mother. The time is near.”