"Phew... Is this really the end...?" I mumbled while watching the island shrink into the distance from the ship. It seemed Jugglus had heard me.
"What's that? It sounds like you're saying this isn't the end, that you're not satisfied."
"…Oh, I didn't mean it that way."
"Is that so? Then I apologize. I must have misunderstood."
Of course, I was on my guard. Considering the original story, what would happen next was...
"It's a complicated feeling."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
While I'd feel relieved if things went according to the original story, I also wished it wouldn't.
"Sho Yozuki."
Kinichi walked over to me by himself. Even though he wasn't likely to run away, someone should have been keeping an eye on him.
"I won't run away now. More importantly, there's something I need to talk to you about..."
Before he could finish, the ship began to shake. No, the sea itself was shaking.
"Stop the ship!"
"I know without you telling me!" Jugglus shouted back just as loudly as Kinichi.
He operated the remote control to stop the ship. Still, the shaking didn't stop. Kinichi was looking at the surface of the sea. As I did the same, I saw a black shadow in the water. It was getting bigger and bigger.
What emerged from the bottom of the sea was a massive submarine. Its huge body pushed up the surface of the water, creating a large wave. Kinichi gritted his teeth as the submarine surfaced.
"The Vostok...!"
With the appearance of the submarine, everyone had gathered on deck.
"Such a giant submarine..." Aria said, astonished. Everyone else was just as surprised. It was the largest nuclear submarine in history. And it was approaching dangerously close to our ship.
"It's... here..." Kinichi's voice was small. His face was twisted in a pained expression, and his voice was filled with despair.
"K-Kinichi-sama, what is this...?"
"It's a strategic missile-carrying nuclear submarine, once called the Vostok."
"W-Why would such a thing be here...?"
Kinichi answered Kokkoro's question.
"It's simple...!" Taking a breath, Kinichi glared at the submarine and announced, "The Vostok was stolen...! By the 'Professor,' the greatest mind in history!"
"St-Stolen...?!"
"What does that mean...?"
They didn't understand. Yukina and Kokkoro had question marks on their faces. I continued to stare at the submarine. Next to me, Jugglus was also glaring at the man standing on the deck.
"He's here... huh?"
I was shocked. The man was holding a sniper rifle. Before he could even aim, the muzzle was glowing... No, it was an Invisible Bullet shot with a speed that neither I nor Kinichi could even react to.
"Gah...!!"
The bullet had pierced Kinichi's chest. It was an Armor-Piercing bullet that could penetrate a bulletproof vest and a magic barrier. Its power was leagues beyond anything on the market.
"K-Kinichi!" Patra broke free from her restraints and ran toward the fallen Kinichi.
"Senpai...!"
"Don't let your guard down. He's coming...!"
He was wearing a black coat, with a pipe in his right hand and a cane in his left. Unlike my original world, he was a famous person, well-known enough to be in textbooks. Butei, in particular, learned about him first and foremost.
"!!"
Aria was the most shocked of all. "G-Grandpa...?"
Aria's great-grandfather, Sherlock Holmes the First, was there.
"Kinichi! Don't push yourself!" Patra tried to hold Kinichi down as he tried to get up, her face on the verge of tears. But... Kinichi's breathing had somehow returned to normal. He was bleeding, but he didn't seem to be in pain.
"Don't look away...!"
Kinichi's warning came at the same time as...
Snap!
"!!"
We couldn't believe our eyes. The sea froze over in an instant. It was Jeanne's technique... but far more powerful than hers.
"Kokkoro! Heal Kinichi!"
"Y-Yes! Kinichi-sama, please don't move!"
"This is no time for that...!" Kinichi refused Kokkoro's treatment, insisting he couldn't afford to stay down. The "Iu" was a group of lawless superhumans who learned each other's abilities for their own purposes. And the leader, Sherlock Holmes the First, was the ultimate being, who had mastered all of their abilities.
"I deduced that we'd meet again around this time." The great detective floated down from the Vostok's deck onto our ship. "Nice to meet you. I am Sherlock Holmes, the leader of Iu." He introduced himself with a smile, adding that he was also called the "Professor."
"Aria."
Aria, who had been standing there in a daze, flinched.
"Times change, but you remain the same. You're still keeping the hairstyle passed down to the ladies of the Holmes family."
Twin-tails are a Holmes family hairstyle? That's one crazy family. If I didn't think of something random like that, the tension would have crushed me. The person in front of me was a living Heroic Spirit, a being who had transcended his death and acquired even more skills.
Yukina, recognizing him as an enemy, raised Sekkarou, but he said, "If you play with a sharp blade, you'll eventually cut yourself." At his words alone, Yukina's body became as still as if it were in a trance.
"(I can't see... Even with my Spirit Vision, I can't see any openings in this man!)"
"Good girl," Sherlock said, walking past Yukina to stand in front of Aria.
"Aria-kun. You are beautiful. And you are strong. You have the greatest talent in the Holmes family. I'm sure it must have been difficult for you to live in a family that didn't recognize you." Sherlock moved closer to Aria.
"But I can restore your honor. I have come to take you as my successor."
"Ah... ah..." Aria let out a small voice. She wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
"Come, Aria-kun. If it's convenient for you, come. Even if it's not, come." Sherlock extended his hand to Aria.
"If you do, your mother will be saved."
"!"
"I am the leader of Iu. I can immediately clear your mother, Kanae-san, of her false charges."
Aria's eyes widened. It was a dirty but effective tactic. In this confusing situation, he presented a single, clear condition. And it was exactly what Aria wanted more than anything.
Aria's right hand slowly rose. As she shakily held it out, Sherlock was about to grab it when...
"Don't you dare touch Aria!"
I rapidly fired off my Act 3.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Would you mind not interfering?"
"!!"
He easily shot down all of my attacks with Invisible Bullets.
But I didn't stop. I activated my "Night Form" and closed the distance with Sherlock. There was only about two meters between us.
Before I knew it, I was kicked.
"Gah!"
The kick to my stomach was heavy, as if it was returning my own strength to me. I was sent flying onto the frozen sea and slammed onto the hard ice.
"Senpai!"
I heard Yukina scream. From the corner of my eye, I saw her jump from the ship and run toward me.
Crack, crack, crack...
The impact of my fall caused cracks to form in the frozen sea, and it began to melt.
"Damn it...!"
I desperately tried to move, but I fell into the cold sea faster than I could react.
---------
"Senpai!" Yukina jumped from the ship onto the ice to help the easily-defeated Sho.
"Sho...!" Aria also came to her senses and turned to go help, but...
"Now, Aria-kun."
"Ah...!"
Sherlock used Aria's attempt to move to control her movements, as if they were dancing. But for a dance partner, his invitation was far too rude.
A white blade was swung down between Aria and Sherlock. It was Jugglus's sword.
"Hmm... Is this the timing you chose?"
"As expected of the Professor. You saw through everything."
Sherlock casually caught Jugglus's sword with just two fingers. Jugglus wasn't surprised at all, knowing that an attack of this level would be meaningless.
"Hey! What are you doing...!"
"Stay still," Jugglus said.
He easily took Aria back from Sherlock. But this was not an act of kindness. He held Aria by the arm and roughly grabbed her by the back of the neck. That's right, Jugglus had taken Aria hostage.
Sherlock had already predicted Jugglus's move. He remained completely calm, despite having Aria taken back.
"Professor, let's make a deal. Do I need to tell you the terms?"
"Of course. I'd like to hear your deduction," Sherlock said, even though he could deduce everything. He wanted to give Jugglus his moment.
"Professor, you've realized your death is approaching. When you're gone, the criminals who have been quiet will be free to act. If the 'Moderates' and 'Main Faction' fight over your succession, it will cause immense damage. War could even break out depending on who wins. You needed to find a successor urgently."
"Hmm, and?"
Jugglus's gaze fell on Aria.
"That's why you had me help bring this girl out of the island and right in front of you. To make her your successor."
Aria began to understand her situation as he explained it logically.
"But the problem is, Aria H. Kanzaki doesn't have the power to bring all the Iu members together."
"I see. You told me Iu was a group of lawless people," Tsukasa mumbled.
"This girl might be your descendant, but that's not enough to make the lawless obey her. She needs power to make them listen. Professor, if you're going to hand over the leader's seat, doesn't that mean you're also going to hand over the source of that power? The very source of your strength, to this girl," Jugglus said.
At that point, Kinichi and Tsukasa realized what Jugglus was after.
"Jugglus, you...!"
"I see. I get it now."
"Yeah. The 'source of strength' you have. Hand it over to me." Jugglus extended his right hand toward Sherlock.
Sherlock didn't react, and Jugglus laughed. "Don't worry. Even if I become the leader, I won't start a war for no reason."
"I'm afraid that's an impossible request, Jugglus-kun."
"Even if this girl dies?" Jugglus's hand tightened on Aria's throat. Aria, being small, couldn't do anything to escape.
"Even if you get it, that power won't choose you."
"I'll find that out after I get it," Jugglus said, demanding it be handed over first.
"Hmph... that was a good deduction, Jugglus-kun."
At his words, Jugglus braced himself. He realized that the talking was over. Since Sherlock hadn't accepted his demand, it was time for a fight.
Shhh!
Sand began to fall from Patra's minimal clothing.
"Wha-What is this?! Professor, you're controlling my sand...!"
"I'll borrow it for a bit, Patra-kun."
Patra frantically tried to regain control of her sand, but the sand she had used like an extension of her limbs refused to listen to her. She was bound in sand and couldn't move. Her fingers, which had been holding her sword, were forced open, and the sword slipped from her hand.
"Don't do it, Kinichi-kun."
"Gah!"
Kinichi moved, but before he could do anything, a gunshot rang out.
"It seems you can still move, but you're seriously injured. In that state, you can't beat my quick draw. Not even if it's a technique that was once yours."
Sherlock's Invisible Bullet was overwhelmingly faster. The shot destroyed Kinichi's pistol.
"What will you two do?"
"I have no intention of fighting you."
"I know where and who I should be fighting."
Woz and Tsukasa had no intention of fighting. Sherlock walked past them and stood in front of Aria.
"Aria-kun." Sherlock carried Aria in a princess-style hold and flew toward the Vostok.
"Let's go. To your Iu."
"Ah...!"
"Aria-sama!" Kokkoro screamed.
But screaming wouldn't change the situation. Sherlock and Aria both disappeared into the submarine.
---------
"Phew!" I surfaced.
"Senpai!" Yukina called my name, her hands on the edge of the ice. I grabbed her hand and got out of the water.
"Ouch... sorry, I made you worry. More importantly, what about Aria?"
"...She was taken away in the submarine."
I immediately went back to the ship.
"My lord, you're safe...!" Kokkoro greeted me with teary eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sorry..."
Thanks to Kokkoro, Kinichi's injury didn't seem to be too bad. Tsukasa was fiddling with his camera, and Woz was flipping through his book. Jugglus sat there with his elbows on his knees, looking unamused. I listened to what had happened while I was underwater.
"...I see. I'm going to go get Aria right now."
"Yes! Right now—"
"No." I stopped Yukina's words. "I'll go to the submarine alone."
"...Huh?"
"...My lord?"
The two of them sounded confused.
"Kokkoro, I want you to heal Kinichi. Yukina, I'm leaving the Get Machine here, so please go back to the academy island and let Hayate know our location... Is that okay, Jugglus?"
"...Yeah. Do whatever you want."
The original promise was not to rely on Section Six, but Jugglus's plan had been foiled. Jugglus was partly frustrated.
"I will accompany my Demon King."
"Me too. I'll continue to see what you're made of... though you're still not up to par right now," Woz said with a respectful bow, and Tsukasa gave me a sharp look... I think he said something at the end, but I couldn't quite make it out.
Yukina glared at me with clear anger.
"Don't be ridiculous...!"
I understood her anger. But I couldn't risk a full-on charge that could lead to our complete annihilation. This was the enemy's headquarters, and there was no telling what changes would be in store due to this world's influence.
"I'm not being ridiculous. This is the best way—"
Before I could finish, I felt a sharp pain in my cheek.
"Why do you always...! Don't try to fight alone!"
"That's right! Please reconsider why we are here!"
"!"
Their pleas made me realize something important. My plan might have been better in terms of efficiency and roles, but... damn it, I still have a lot to learn.
"I'm sorry, both of you. I want you to fight with me after all."
"Yes!"
"Of course!"
The two of them nodded enthusiastically.
"..."
"...Well, I guess he's just barely passed."
Woz said nothing, and Tsukasa sighed as they watched us.
"What are you going to do, Jugglus?"
"I can't just let them get away with this." Jugglus stood up.
Alright, now we're ready...
"Oh, wait, Kokkoro..."
I couldn't just leave an injured Kinichi behind. I thought it would be better if Kokkoro, our healer, stayed. But...
"Don't worry about me. I don't need any more treatment," Kinichi said with a smile. It didn't seem like he was just trying to be tough.
And so, we all went into the submarine together.
--------------------------------------------
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