Rivers and lakes1without a friend is no different from a desert.
–Francis Bacon, 2
“Why do you think so?”
“Well, unless you’re indifferent to losing your head, you can’t just skip the Royal Ball after receiving an invitation.”
Even though it was an obvious statent, Watson was impressed as if she’d heard so remarkable deduction.
“We can’t cause a commotion concerning Her Majesty’s safety, so I don’t intend to attempt an arrest at the palace, but once the dance is over, they must pay for their prank.”
“Isn’t there an option to apprehend them before that? Didn’t you say you knew their identity?”
“Oh, Watson. Don’t be hasty.
The one who ordered the theft of the royal decree doesn’t know that I’ve realized their identity. I believe it’s better to let them remain complacent for now.”
I’m already eager to see how that person will react when they see at the dance.
“Hmm… If you say so, then it must be so.”
Watson couldn’t hide her unease.
Earlier,
I should finish the story I was telling before the royal decree was stolen to lighten the mood.
“Co to think of it, I was about to talk about the invitations earlier.”
“Was it about the different types of invitations?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll check it right away.”
Watson imdiately tore open the two envelopes to check the contents.
“Ah, so that’s what you ant. It seems the invitations determine
how close you can get to Her Majesty.”
Contrary to my concerns, Watson didn’t show much reaction.
“Fifty steps should be enough.”
“Isn’t it a distance where you can
see Her Majesty’s visage? I’m quite satisfied.
Of course, I’m envious that you can hear the royal voice from a re seven steps away.”
“Watson, this is rely-”
“I know. You’re going to play a match of chess with Her Majesty.”
Watson was smiling as if she was content.
I felt sorry for her because the type of invitation was different even though we were attending the ball together, but Watson did not raise any complaints about it.
“This ti, I’m looking forward to not having to do sothing strenuous like a duel and being able to tour Buckingham and enjoy so delicious food.”
“Watson…”
“You don’t have to feel sorry or grateful.
You’re the one who has to play a chess match with Her Majesty, so you’re the one who has it tough.”
Tough indeed.
Considering the opponent, I couldn’t deny it.
I wasn’t entirely without confidence, but duel chess wasn’t my specialty.
If I ended up losing miserably,
I would disappoint Her Majesty.
On the other hand, if I won overwhelmingly, it would cause bigger problems.
Martial artists, regardless of their status, are inherently competitive.
Since Her Majesty suffered a painful defeat to my master, she has been eager to defeat , his disciple, in a chess match.
“Facing soone of high status is never easy.”
“Seeing as how you handled the Ho Secretary and the Postmaster General last ti, it didn’t seem that way.”
“Though that may be so,
Her Majesty is on a different level.”
“I’m surprised you can feel pressure. It’s unexpected.”
“Well, I’m human too, with red blood flowing.”
As I spoke, Watson chuckled softly and nodded.
“As always, I feel guilty for monopolizing such thrilling experiences by your side. If the opportunity arises, I’d like to share this joy with others as well. Although he’s gone now, my brother also used to enjoy these tales of adventure-”
“Wait, what did you just say?”
It seed like an unmissable word was spoken.
“I was saying that I’d like to write about your achievents and serialize them in a magazine.”
“No, I an what you said after that.”
“Oh. You an that my brother greatly enjoyed tales of adventure.”
“…!!”
At that mont, a lightning-like realization pierced through my brain.
I took a step closer to Watson and looked her straight in the eyes.
“Listen carefully, Watson. I’ve thought of a way to find your missing twin brother.”
“Really?!”
I nodded with conviction.
If we use this thod, it might take so ti, but the missing John Watson will definitely respond.
“If I can find my brother, I’m willing to do anything. Please, Hols. What exactly is this thod?”
Watson asked with a noticeably uplifted expression.
She, too, missed her twin brother John Watson as much as I did.
“Ten years ago, right after my brother disappeared, I distributed photos and descriptions everywhere. But the last I heard was a sighting near the outskirts of London. After that, even while attending university in London, I tried to find him but had no luck.”
“You’ve been through a lot during that ti. Don’t worry anymore. If you do exactly as I say, it might take so ti, but we might be able to make your brother co to us.”
Of course, as planned, I continued trying to contact the Afternoon Tea Party to seek information on Watson and Moriarty.
However, this is only possible if we can find out where they are hiding.
Before that, if there’s anything Watson and I can try together, there’s no reason not to start.
“So, what exactly is this brilliant thod you ntioned, Hols?”
“Actually, it’s nothing special. I just thought that if we serialized our story in a magazine, it would naturally catch John Watson’s interest.”
“Hmm? How is that related to my missing brother?”
Watson still seed unconvinced, tilting her head in confusion.
“It’s related to your pen na.”
“Pen na?”
“The na you plan to use when submitting your writing. Surely, you’re not thinking of using your real na, Jane Watson?”
“Oh. Now that you ntion it, I haven’t thought about what na to use yet.”
“There’s no need to worry. Just use the na you normally go by.”
“Normally, you an…?”
Trailing off, Watson stared at with a blank expression for a mont before clapping her hands in realization.
“That’s it! If we continue the serialization under the na John Watson, eventually-”
“Your brother might take an interest and try to find out who the author is. The na John Watson isn’t rare, but if he sees the content and thinks of himself, it might be different.”
“Indeed, with that thod, my brother might co looking for us first.”
Unless Moriarty is openly parading around London as a priest with followers, now that he is in hiding, it’s worth a try.
Initially, preventing Watson’s works, which were a significant aid to my client acquisition and investigative activities before my regression, from being published in this world, was to gain even a slight advantage when cornering Moriarty.
However, after confirming the skills of his right-hand man, Sebastian Moran, and the possibility that Moriarty himself might have attained Rejuvenation, the situation has completely changed.
Simply not having my stories serialized in magazines can’t bridge the power gap between him and .
In other words, if there is a benefit to be gained from Watson serializing our stories in magazines, it is only right to seize it.
“But is it okay to write your na as Sherlock Hols?”
“Of course. Sensitive information, like the client’s na, should obviously be concealed or altered.”
“So, a little fiction mixed with reality.”
“Exactly.”
Watson, eyes sparkling, nodded repeatedly and imdiately pulled out a notebook to start writing.
“Are you already starting?”
“The inspiration won’t stop. I’ve never felt like this even at the university. Ah, I can’t help it. I must procure a typewriter tomorrow.”
Her excited expression as she scribbled reminded of soone.
‘No matter where you are, I will find you. Then we can be friends again.’
I watched Watson engrossed in her writing before heading to bed.
That night, I dreamt for the first ti in a long while.
In my dream, a face I longed to see was smiling at .
The next morning.
After finishing my Breath Control as usual, I stepped out of the bedroom to find Watson clutching a notebook in the living room.
Perhaps because Mrs. Hudson had already discovered her true gender, she had undone the Face-Changing Technique and wasn’t donning the fake mustache either.
“Ah, Hols. You’re up now. Good morning.”
“It seems you haven’t slept a wink.”
Watson looked up at with bloodshot eyes, and long dark circles were visible on her face.
As expected, she had stayed up all night, pondering how to write about my stories.
“I heard you’re going to work later; are you going to be okay?”
“I’m planning to sleep until the evening. There’s no problem.”
Seeing her more animated than usual, I couldn’t help but think of her twin brother.
Both siblings enjoy writing about cases, so it’s clear that the Watson family has a literary streak in their blood.
‘They do resemble each other.’
Before I regressed, I had often comnted on John’s use of emotional descriptions when writing about my exploits.
Looking back now, I regret being overly harsh with him.
In this world, it’s best to let Watson describe as she sees fit, respecting her adaptations without interference.
However, there are a few things that need to be addressed.
“It’s good to be passionate about your manuscript, but don’t forget that you’re still suffering from the ridian blockage disorder.”
I advised Watson with a rather serious expression.
I’m glad she’s engrossed in what she loves, but if her health deteriorates, I won’t have the face to et John later.
It’s important to maintain moderation in everything.
“Thank you for your concern. By the way, there’s sothing I need to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“I’m thinking of writing about the first case we encountered after moving in together for the first manuscript, so if there are parts that need to be fictionalized, let know in advance.”
“Ah, I was thinking that we need to discuss that part anyway.”
I explained to Watson about so information that must be written differently from the actual case.
For example, we need to change the real nas of Hope, who was tricked by Frankenstein and beca a Dead Man, and his lover.
If it’s revealed that the Dead Man used Kung-Fu, several people, including the Ho Secretary, would be in trouble, so this fact must be kept secret.
Watson took out a notebook and began ticulously jotting down every cautionary note I ntioned.
TL/N: Rivers and Lakes, which is the translation for the Sino-Korean word Gangho, refers to the martial world ️
TL/N: The original quote is as follows—A crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures; but conversation and a friend is a help ️
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