Forgive your enemies, but remember their nicknames.

–Scottish Proverb

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-Wiiiiing!

Right after Irene Adler collapsed to the floor, an alarm sounded again from the brass horn hanging atop the pillar.

- Lady Norton, Mistress of Green Willow, Down.

The emotionless, cold voice of the Special Maid Corp announced that the villain who dared to commit disrespect in the Forbidden Palace had been punished by the Palace maids and silenced.

The reason I could win the etiquette contest was simple.

Prince, who set the rules of the Forbidden Palace, despised two types of people above all.

First, those who destroy families.

Second, those who do not keep their purity.

Prince Albert hated these two groups terribly, regardless of gender.

The rule was that whether a maid or palace lady, when receiving male guests—even if they were brothers—they must meet only in a special reception room.

And those who did not maintain their purity were forbidden from entering the Forbidden Palace regardless of being royal relatives or foreign dignitaries, male or female.

In reality, Irene Adler, who was unmarried but acted publicly as ‘Lady Norton’, acknowledging an unknown single man and claiming ownership of a handkerchief was considered a severe impudence that damaged reputations.

Though it might not accrue enough penalty for immediate expulsion or permanent ban, it was more than enough reason for the Special Maid Corps to punish her.

“Is it starting again this year?”

“The Mistress of Green Willow had bad luck.”

“Normally, nothing would have happened.”

“I never thought the Standards would suddenly be raised by five levels.”

Meanwhile, the gentlemen and ladies watching the scene at the ball exchanged a few remarks and then returned to their own affairs.

“By the way, when we checked in the Grand Hall, it seemed about Level 2…”

“Now that it’s been raised by 5 levels, it’s Level 7.”

“It’s not going to be easy. That’s a number we only saw when Her Majesty’s foreign royal relatives visited last time.”

“Last year, they managed to hold out until teatime before being expelled, but today it’s already tough.”

“It’s all the Zion Clan’s fault. Those wicked brats.”

The ruthless ball paid no mind to the lady collapsed on the floor, only focusing on cursing the Zion Clan or the raised punishment standards.

They were undoubtedly veterans of the martial world who had experienced the royal court ball several times.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, I quietly looked down at the collapsed Irene Adler, lost in thought for a moment.

I hadn’t had time to investigate the social circle thoroughly to know the celebrities’ names or nicknames, but it seemed Irene Adler was called the Mistress of Green Willow in this world.

When I heard people mention that nickname on the first floor earlier, I thought it referred to an elderly noblewoman, but it was unexpected.

I already sensed when she attacked with a Meteor Hammer that she lacked real combat experience and was not overwhelmingly powerful.

However, I knew well that her true strength was not her enchanting looks, eloquence, or strong Kung-Fu, but her intellect.

She was an opponent who had once bested me before my regression.

Though the royal decree was not stolen in this world, I must not let my guard down.

“Mistress of Green Willow, a moniker derived from the estate’s name. The most ordinary and harmless-sounding name. She must have had her subordinates spread it.”

Just from the moniker, I could tell how skillfully she gave the London socialites only the impression she wanted.

To people, she surely appeared as a wealthy former prima donna living a glamorous life, occasionally hosting splendid balls or tea parties without causing harm.

Who would imagine such a woman to be a poisonous-hearted heretic martial artist who recklessly uses Meteor Hammers without hesitation?

“…Is it alright, Holmes? She seems like the one who handed you the handkerchief at the Debutante Ball last time.”

You have a keen eye to recognize that, correct indeed.

When I whispered this through a Direct Message, Watson brightened and asked again,

“Really?”

An old proverb says a great doctor has the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion, and the hands of a woman. It feels as if this saying exists for you, Watson.

Excited by the sincere compliment, Watson showed no sign of supporting or nursing the fallen person as usual.

That was satisfactory to me. The opponent did not particularly need a doctor’s help and, above all, was a thief who tried to steal the royal decree.

I did not mention it, fearing Watson might behave emotionally against the adjusted rules, but I wanted to prevent her from having a good impression of Irene.

‘Her stealing of the royal decree was probably to hold it as a weakness over me, but what exactly does she want?’

I somewhat understood why she handed me the handkerchief after my performance at the Debutante Ball.

Attracting valuable people as allies was her specialty and almost a hobby.

Besides my Kung-Fu and consulting detective skills, my status as the Heavenly Demon’s successor would also draw attention.

She must have been confident that maintaining a moderately friendly relationship would eventually become a useful connection.

The only question was why Irene Adler went so far as to send maids and thieves to steal the royal decree.

Usually, she would slowly build rapport, then catch one’s weaknesses or emotionally trap someone to offer an irresistible proposal, so why risk exposing her identity by acting so boldly?

’I need to gather more clues…“

Perhaps she expected me to come to her soon with the handkerchief, but when that didn’t happen, she sent a maid to attempt theft while watching me.

‘I also need to find out why she specifically poisoned with only the digestive toxin in the meal.’

I have many questions, but Ms. Adler is a deep thinker, so I must not show any weakness when dealing with her.

Even as I resolved this, I couldn’t suppress my curiosity.

Of course, this was far from romantic interest.

I had never been interested in romance between men and women from the start.

Life is short.

Walking the path of Kung-Fu and sharpening reason to unravel mysteries leaves no time to care about feelings.

However, it was true that I needed to monitor her actions.

‘I don’t know what use she sees in me, but I have many questions about her too.’

Her presence, encountered in the previous world, was a key indicator to understand this world and a clue to track Moriarty’s shadow.

Before my regression, she committed various crimes under Moriarty’s counsel.

In this world too, the fact that Moriarty and she have some connection likely remains unchanged.

In fact, I had been considering one possibility all along.

That Moriarty, like me, crossed into this world retaining memories from before regression.

A few days ago, reviewing how I came to London Murim, I found a couple of clues.

“Hurry and return…”

While strangling me, Moriarty surely said that.

Moreover, just before dying, instead of trying to free my arm that was choking his carotid artery, he strangely reached for the pocket watch that slipped from his pocket.

That fact told me a lot.

My conclusion was that Moriarty had experienced death before.

This is evident because he tried to grasp the pocket watch with clear intent, which was not a natural human reaction at death.

Above all, he uttered the word return.

Though I don’t believe in occultism, having experienced supernatural phenomena myself, I suspect he has gone back to the past at least once.

The pocket watch Moriarty clung to until the last moment must be the item that sends its owner back in time.

Thinking so, I can somewhat understand why I returned to the past.

Though the problem is that I crossed over into another London, not the one I lived in.

‘I must not let my guard down until the truth is revealed.’

The important fact is that he might be roaming this world with past memories and Kung-Fu like me.

Of course, seeing that Watson and I have been safe so far, maybe it was needless worry.

If my concern were true, Moriarty would have come to kill me by any means long ago.

However.

‘Whether Moriarty regressed or not, the fact remains that I must catch him, punish him, and send him to the High Judge in the heavens.’

To end the tiresome feud with my nemesis, I must firmly leash Irene Adler, who might be maintaining some relationship with him.

Given the opponent, I don’t think it will be possible with just one or two attempts.

For now, I should slowly verify what role she plays on the stage of the London martial world.

“By the way, is it alright, Holmes? The lady hasn’t moved since collapsing.”

“Leave her be.”

“Isn’t that too harsh? The marble floor is cold. She’s a rare beauty; if she gets a twisted lip…”

Twisted lip, huh?

Come to think of it, before regression, someone pretended to have Twisted Lip to earn money by begging1.

Maybe I’ll encounter that person in this world too.

“No need to worry, Watson. The lady is fine.”

“Really?!”

“Hey, unknown lady. I saw you hiding detox candy under your tongue earlier.”

When I spoke, Irene Adler’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“……”

“Earlier on the first floor, others said the Mistress of Green Willow, Lady Norton, would perform a special show today. If you keep pretending to be pitiful and collapsed, Her Majesty will be pleased.”

Irene Adler, stubbornly pretending to sleep, stretched and sat up less than three seconds after being threatened.

“Uh, uh-hut…haam.”

Though I didn’t know why she rubbed her eyes sleepily and made a strange moan, her innocent expression looking up at me as if unaware of what happened seemed quite innocent.

“I apologize for the unintended rudeness caused by mistaking you.”

“…Hmm?”

“Ahem. Excuse me. I unintentionally mistook you for someone I know and was rude. I apologize.”

Her eyes were calm, but her voice was short, perhaps because she bit her tongue earlier.

“Not at all. Just be careful next time.”

It was a formidable opponent greeting as if nothing happened.

I responded with a pleasant smile.

I heard Buckingham’s Gentleman Powder has a strong anesthetic effect, yet she endures well.

Neutralizing poison injected through skin or veins, the detox candy hidden in her mouth must be an expensive item.

“Nice to meet you. I am Irene Norton. I hope you remember me.”

“I am Little Heavenly Demon Sherlock Holmes.”

“Jane Watson, Discharged Medical Maiden. Are you feeling unwell anywhere…?”

“Despite appearances, I’m tougher than I look.”

“Ah, yes…”

Ignoring the embarrassed Watson, Irene Adler, a criminal operating as Lady Norton, lifted her skirt hem with both hands and bowed politely.

And as we bowed our heads.

Adler’s hand moved like lightning, pulling out a needle stuck in her neck and throwing it.

-Fwiiish!

‘Eek.’

Thanks to my alertness, I twisted my body slightly to dodge.

-Thud!

The missed poison needle flew and stuck into the nape of an unknown gentleman far away.

A martial artist who could not protect himself from a hidden weapon made the rude mistake of stumbling and falling in the crowded ball.

-Hoo!

-Tatatatat!

Dozens of Special Maid Corps emerged from the floor, firing paralysis needles that instantly turned faces into porcupines, then started hitting their bottoms with large rubber spatulas.

-Slap!

“Aaaah!!”

Screams echoed amid the pleasant tuning of string and wind instruments by the orchestra.

The attendants ignored the noise and weaved through guests distributing short ceremonial swords.

Those who paid attention to such commotion were mostly novices.

Those familiar with the Forbidden Palace’s rules chatted calmly, waiting for the music to start.

“What a terrible person.”

Receiving the wooden sword for the sword dance, my palms were sweating.

“You said ‘Lord Holmes’, right?”

“Lord? That’s an undeserved title for a mere commoner like me.”

Irene Adler still smiled at me with an innocent face as if she knew nothing.

Seeing that expression, I understood.

This woman wasn’t listening to a word I said.

“As I mentioned earlier, I will perform a song later by Her Majesty’s order. I hope it pleases you, Lord. I’m somewhat confident in my musical skills.”

“…I look forward to it.”

Before I finished speaking, a royal attendant approached and bowed to Irene Adler.

“Lady Norton, after the first sword dance, it will be your turn. Please prepare for the vocal performance.”

“Yes. Very well.”

Irene Adler glanced back at Watson and me, smiled slyly, then hurried after the attendant to the waiting room.

Though she showed no hostility or aggression, my whole body sensed a warning, which was quite ominous.

“How should I put it, she’s a somewhat unsettling person.”

Even Watson, clueless about the reason, shivered and wrapped her hands around her shoulders as if feeling chills.

“Exactly.”

Sound Arts?

I had provoked an opponent even more troublesome than the Special Maid Corps maids.

1. TL/N: "The Man with the Twisted Lip" is a Sherlock Holmes short story that centers around the disappearance of Neville St. Clair, a well-to-do businessman, and the subsequent investigation by Holmes and Watson. A key element of the mystery is a disfigured beggar named Hugh Boone, who is found in the same opium den where St. Clair was last seen. ️