owlsbooks Chapter 178: The Korean Interpreter (2)
Chapter 178: The Korean Interpreter (2)
“Professor...”
“Why, what’s the matter?”
It was the morning of the next day. We left Cornwall, setting out to check out a request that gave a sense of ominous foreboding.
“Do we really need to walk down the street like this...?”
“Let me ask you a counter-question. Is there a reason I shouldn’t maintain such security for an impudent assistant who could disappear any moment, whether willingly or otherwise?”
“Uh, um...”
Gauging the professor’s expression, I finally muttered my complaint in a low voice after much deliberation.
“Still, carrying a minor in your arms under your coat while walking down a busy street in broad daylight... it seems somewhat problematic, doesn’t it?”
“Why would you be a minor? You are clearly an adult.”
“But I am...”
“The legal age of adulthood differs between mana wielders and the general populace. For instance, the general legal age is 21, but for mana wielders, it happens to be exactly your age...”
“... I get it, no need to explain further.”
Fearing that she was about to say something extremely controversial from a 21st-century perspective, I hurriedly tried to cover the professor’s mouth.
“... When they are considered an adult.”
However, the professor inevitably finished speaking and then smiled at me.
“Mana wielders are treated as critical resources. In exchange, they must definitely be registered with the state.”
“Is that so...”
“In fact, I was also registered with the state recently.”
“What?”
“I was observed using mana while saving you from that disgusting murderer.”
“Oh...”
Was she talking about when Jill the Ripper first revealed herself?
Recalling that time, I remembered how she frantically waved a knife around like a raving madwoman.
Considering that, perhaps it was sheer luck that I hadn’t been murdered yet.
“Well, the information isn’t exactly accurate, but I had to pay the fine precisely.”
“... That’s very thorough of you.”
“By the way Adler, something seems off.”
As I casually responded to the professor, she suddenly brightened up and started talking to me.
“You’re also supposed to be British, why is your basic knowledge so lacking?”
“Uh...”
“Could it be that you are not British?”
That penetrating gaze made it seem like she could see through everything, sending shivers down my spine.
“Wh-What are you talking about...?”
“Now that I think about it, your English is slightly odd too. Normally, you speak with a British accent, but sometimes an American accent slips out, and at times, you speak in an accent I’ve never heard before... Sometimes you even use terms I’ve never heard in all my life...”
“... Did I not mention it before? I’m of British-American descent.”
I quickly came up with an excuse to cover for myself, but that only elicited a smile from the professor that sent shivers down my spine. Soon, she spoke up,
“What are you talking about... Adler?”
“What?”
“Well, you are a devil, aren’t you?”
“... Ah.”
That was the moment I knew that I messed up. Sweat drenched my skin at my blunder, while the professor whispered lazily into my ear.
“Seems like the settings you’ve stored in your head keep clashing, hm?”
“Better put them together well. Otherwise, you might really reveal your true identity to that young detective, and that would be a real disaster.”
A more profound chill crawled down my spine, making me shiver uncontrollably.
“Well, I suppose...”
“That aside, could you please release me any time soon...?”
He tried to shake off the chilling feeling with a casual question, but the professor simply tightened her coat around him and whispered in a dangerously low voice.
“Just move your feet.”
“That’s right. As my assistant said, you shouldn’t think of us as just any subcontractor. Given that we hold what you need, and the advantage in strength and abilities, you guys are merely our subordinates, nothing more.”
Sensing the severity of the situation, I activated my vampiric abilities, eyes turning red as a result, and cautioned the man. The professor stroked my head approvingly and drove the point home.
“... My apologies.”
In that moment, the man in the suit, noticing our reactions, soon bowed politely and offered his apologies.
“Given the nature of the matter, we had to be cautious about security. Please be gracious enough to forgive us...”
“Yes, that’s how you should show respect so that we feel inclined to work.”
Finally, with a satisfied expression, the professor began moving forward.
“Gao...”1
I raised my hand in a threatening manner to the man who remained bowing, and then began following behind the professor.
“... Is this the kidnapped Asian?”
“Ugh, uh...”
As we moved into a dimly lit basement, the source of the screams eventually became visible to us.
“That’s right.”
“Judging by her rough state, she’s been toyed with quite a bit, I assume.”
Despite being severely emaciated, the Asian woman had a certain grace to her. Tied to a chair, her head was lowered while her eyes were filled with despair.
“We are quite gentlemanly if we receive proper cooperation.”
“And?”
“Unfortunately, this woman wasn’t very cooperative.”
Watching her with a vacant expression for some time, the professor began examining the woman with interest.
“It would be better if we could communicate, but we must understand the language she speaks.”
“Isn’t she Chinese?”
“Judging by her appearance, it’s certain she’s Asian. However, having dealt with many Chinese myself, I can say... the language this woman is speaking definitely isn’t Chinese.”
Hearing the man’s reasoning, the professor’s eyes gleamed with even more interest.
“I would like to hear what this woman has to say.”
“... Alright. There’s no harm in trying.”
Then, at the professor’s request, the man nodded and removed the gag from the woman’s mouth.
“Ah, ah...”
Then, as she alternated her gaze between the professor and the man, incomprehensible words burst from the lips of the woman, pale with fear and pain.
"These fucking bastards...!"
“... Huh.”
A scent all too familiar to me, one I never imagined I’d encounter in the heart of London, was emanating strongly from the woman.
"You bastards who deserve to be boiled down to the bone... listen carefully!!"
"No matter how much you rant at me like a dog in heat, you won't be able to extract any information from me... Kulluk!"
While listening to her rather fairly archaic swearing, which did not suit her elegant appearance, I struggled to manage my expression.
“Even if we can’t understand the words, we’re not fools who can’t pick up on the nuances...”
- Crunch...!
While looking up at the man who had struck her abdomen, she began shivering momentarily in pain. Soon, however, she bit down fiercely on her tongue to halt her screams which only filled me with a complex set of emotions.
... I can’t believe it’s as I suspected.
The professor standing next to her was observing me with a curious gaze, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Sigh... Get a healing magic circle from the black market. The cheapest one.”
“Yes.”
I never imagined I’d end up consulting a distant ancestor of mine on criminal advice.
“If you don’t want to die, you’d better stay still this time...”
- Sizzzleee...
“... Ughhhhh!”
What am I supposed to do now?
1. This is the expression that Adler doodled on a previous chapter. I will attach the relevant picture in the Notes so that you guys can refresh your mind on it.