Becoming Professor Moriarty's Probability

Chapter 12: The Red Mana League

"Mr. Adler. Do you know what the easiest thing in the world to deduce is?"

It was the morning of the second day since I had taken on the very first request of our little crime consultation charade.

"What is it?"

"It is simply whether someone likes or dislikes you..."

As I was walking down the corridor of the academy with Professor Moriarty, she told me this fact with a smile on her face.

"Why is that?"

"Take a look around."

For a brief moment, I doubted her but following her words, I quietly looked around and could immediately understand the reasoning behind those words of hers.

"...You are certainly right."

Most of the male students in the corridor and half of the female students who were passing by were giving me a look as if they had seen an atrocious bug.

And the remaining half of the female students were avoiding my gaze with their faces blushing.

"The reason you are still alive is probably because you have won over half of the women in London to your side."

"Is that supposed to make sense?"

"Indeed, you are the greatest child actor who has stolen the hearts of women all over Europe."

At first, I thought it was just her making a joke and intended to ignore it, but upon her following words, I found myself unable to do anything but stop in my tracks quietly.

"But I would like to think more highly of your acting skills than the appearance you possess as an actor."

"........."

"You've kept that frightening true nature of yours hidden, until the moment you met me when it finally surfaced."

Professor Moriarty's eyes were once again shining darkly.

"Mr. Adler. But why did you reveal your true nature to a child named Charlotte?"

"...It's a misunderstanding, Professor."

Feeling an inexplicable sense of crisis dawn upon me from her ensuing words, I quickly shook my head in response.

"I have revealed my true nature only to you, Professor."

"Then why is she showing an obsession toward you?"

"Because she is a genius akin to you, Professor. It seems that she has caught the scent of the storm we are about to brew."

At those words, Professor Moriarty, who had habitually been tilting her head to the side, stopped in her tracks and stared straight at me.

"I might need to double as Charlotte's assistant as well. Of course, only if she uncovers my true identity..."

At that moment, as I looked at her and tried to lighten the mood by cracking a joke with a smile...

『Villain Maker』

– Description: Fulfilling the probability of Professor Moriarty's appearance.

– Progress: 10% → 15%

A message suddenly appeared before my eyes.

"...You know that it was a joke, right, Professor?"

Seeing that the eyes of Professor Moriarty, wearing a bright smile, were still as dark as before, I started to explain myself while breaking into a cold sweat.