Heavenly Demon Holmes: London’s Subjugation

A duel fought without knowing martial principles is no different from a blind man. Yet to know only martial principles without ever dueling is no more than an intellectual amusement, like Sword Debate Chess.

-Immanuel Kant-

It was less a demand than something she ought to have granted as a matter of course, since she had accepted from the start my proposal that she stake one Ancient Tomb Clan treasure and one Kung-Fu as the wager.

In any case, considering that I had relied on Her Majesty’s favor up to now, and that I would continue to face situations in which I needed her help, there was no need to leave resentment here.

Above all, she was the lawful ruler of the British Empire and a master of the Unrestrained Realm.

I did not think she would cast me aside and turn hostile toward me simply because she had lost a Sword Debate Chess match, when she had watched me closely enough to send even a seven-step invitation to the Royal Palace ball, but one never knows with the hearts of men.

At present, rather than leaving Buckingham at once with Watson, it could be said that soothing the wounded Her Majesty as much as possible was the proper duty of one who had become a Kung-Fuist.

Even if it was I who had caused it, that did not change.

I had heard that in Africa[Namman], there was even a proverb that said, “See play as nothing but play.” If I consoled her with sincerity, Her Majesty would understand me as well, and generously overlook the discourtesy I had committed during the match.

“This Sword Debate Chess match has been a tremendous opportunity for learning to this small detective. Though the wager held a secret any man of the martial world would covet, Your Majesty cherished this small detective and yielded victory, so that I do not know where to put myself. I, Holmes, swears that if there is any way to repay such boundless grace beyond what I can bear, then whatever it may be, I will render humble service with all my might.”

While the three Sword Debate Judges stepped out for a moment, I again retreated to seven paces from Her Majesty (not because I felt any threat to my life at all, but to keep the distance written on the invitation) and spoke to her.

“……”

However, Her Majesty did not answer at all, remaining stiff and unmoving like a marble statue.

The royal attendants and court ladies, sensing that the atmosphere had become strange, began one after another to slip out of the office without a sound.

“……If you are perhaps tired, I shall speak again after you have slept for a while.”

Come to think of it, Her Majesty the Queen had played no less than seven games against me.

Considering that even in an ordinary Sword Debate Chess club, the knights who played against me could not even pass the second game before throwing down their gloves and demanding a life-and-death duel, it was not difficult to imagine how much of her mental strength had been consumed.

‘Remember. Sword Debate Chess is not played in order to win, but in order to make one’s opponent furious. An official tournament match is played twenty times. If you make the enemy angry, victory naturally follows.’

It was a lesson my master gave me when, more than ten years ago, I could not accept the result of a Sword Debate Chess match and challenged it.

I had merely followed my master’s teaching and seized victory without regard for means or method, but in light of the common sense of the martial world, I understood that this style of Sword Debate Chess, because it inflamed the opponent’s emotions, could even lead to bloodshed.

But if one was a master of the Unrestrained Realm, one should be able to govern one’s inner self, distinguish reality from play, and regain composure.

Of course, since Her Majesty was human as well, and would bleed if one pricked a finger with a needle (though a Needle Aura made from Unrestrained Realm internal energy would be required), she would need some time.

For now, there was nothing to do but trust in Her Majesty’s iron will.

And there was nothing to do but pray that Her Majesty, like me in my usual way, was the sort who played a game in order to enjoy the game itself.

“It seems your mental fatigue has built up greatly from the ball and Sword Debate Chess all day, so please sleep deeply, and after you rise, I shall come to see you again.”

“Cough!”

It was then.

I thought Her Majesty had merely coughed, but blood seeped between her lips and ran down her chin.

“……Your Majesty?”

……This feels ominous.

“It is fine. I merely bit my tongue by mistake.”

So it was not mental fatigue that had built up, but an inner demon had entered.

When I looked closely at Her Majesty’s right eye, tiny blood vessels had burst and the white had been stained red.

Whether I looked from above or below, fore or aft, even while performing Lazy Donkey Roll in every direction, it was the early signs of Qi Deviation.

“Whom are you worrying over. I am not a Kung-Fuist so fragile that my heart would weary from a schedule of this degree. If you have something you wish to say, speak it now.”

“……”

If her left eye became stained red as well at this rate, I could not even imagine what would happen.

A case of an Unrestrained Realm Kung-Fuist falling into Qi Deviation might be a dreamlike research subject to scholars of Kung-Fu, but there would be no one who would want to be present where it happened.

With no one watching, would my head not fly off if I wagged my tongue wrongly here.

With Her Majesty’s authority, I began to think that even if she said I won by cowardly trickery and then killed myself because I could not bear the shame, everyone would likely nod and let it pass.

‘Perhaps I went too far.’

No matter that it was during a Sword Debate Chess match, beheading Prince Albert must have provoked Her Majesty’s painful memory beyond measure.

It was certainly worthy of criticism that Her Majesty arbitrarily added the shackle to the match rules that one must move heavy pieces, but even so, I could never say that my actions had followed chivalry.

Of course, that did not mean that I was now replaying the moves I made during the match and regretting them.

To speak frankly, if I had lost the match, it would have resulted in the worst situation, with my life and Watson’s and Mrs. Hudson’s threatened by the Zion Clan.

It was true that I had seized victory by clinging to it, even using killing moves such as the Vagabond Trap that the European Murim Union Sword Debate Chess office and knights tacitly forbade in official tournaments, but even so, I had not broken the official rules.

“Though this small detective committed discourtesy during the match, the fact that Your Majesty did not punish it, and with a broad heart indulged the antics of a late-generation prodigy, is known to all who watched the match in the office.”

But contrary to my belief that the victory I had won in this match was without a single shame under heaven and would be just even in God’s eyes, my lips and tongue, that traitorous flesh, chattered on of their own accord, hurriedly moving as if to save Her Majesty’s face.

Very well. For just this day, I would treat it as though I owed my life to these devils, and bury the truth deep in my breast.

That power was concentrating in my brain, and the Hundred Meetings point was heating up, not because I was desperately circulating energy to raise the ability of flattery, but because I was replaying the match.

What I was doing now was chivalrous conduct itself, helping Her Golden Majesty overcome the inner demon.

If by enduring a momentary shame I could save Her Majesty from Qi Deviation, then it was only right that I do so, as the proper posture of a chivalrous gentleman.

“……Is that truly your honest impression, Little Heavenly Demon.”

For the first time, Her Majesty gave a proper reply.

“It is so. How could this small detective commit the grave sin of Serious Insulting(Betrayal of Master and Lineage) before Your Majesty, who watches over Great Britain, who is the supreme one, the sky, and the sun.”

“Did the Afternoon Tea Party vagrant not poison it in the fifth game?”

Her Majesty’s left eye began to stain red quickly.

The moment I witnessed the white between the corner of her eye and her pupil turn a vivid red, my three-inch tongue began to deploy a Quick Sword.

“In Africa, there is a proverb that says to see play as nothing but play.”

“This is not Africa, but Great Britain.”

“Do not colonies exist even in Africa. Upon the soil of Africa as well, the sun of Great Britain rises. That is to say, the proverb of Africa has also been incorporated as a proverb of Great Britain.”

“Are you trying to teach me now?”

“Not at all, Your Majesty. This small detective merely wished to say that Your Majesty’s glory reaches even the far southern Cape of Good Hope.”

Fortunately, the white of her left eye, which had been stained red, began little by little to return to its original color.

“……I think I know one of your shortcomings.”

Her Majesty spoke while showing a smile for the first time since the match ended.

“Compared to Your Majesty, who is perfect, this small detective has countless shortcomings. If you would give instruction, I shall devote my whole life to making amends, and take small steps toward completion.”

This time, even in the white of her right eye, which had been completely stained red, a little whiteness began to show.

If I mixed and poured out a little more of these words not from my heart, together with respect and loyalty toward the royal house, then Her Majesty should be able to overcome the demonic obstruction.

“You are exceedingly clumsy at flattery. From next time, do not attempt it.”

“……?!”

“Is it something to be so surprised about? You thought me a fool.”

“Not at all……”

Unexpectedly, Her Majesty the Queen had seen through my heart entirely.

That meant that what allowed her to gradually defeat the inner demon and overcome Qi Deviation was not my honeyed words, but the strength of heart she possessed from the beginning.

“I bear the fate of Great Britain. If my heart were shattered merely by losing a Sword Debate Chess match against a late-stage prodigy, would I not have no face when I reunite with Albert.”

“……!!”

For a moment, I had the illusion that I saw a faint silhouette of someone behind Her Majesty.

When I rubbed my eyes, that figure, with a hand resting on the shoulder of Queen Victoria seated in her chair, vanished without a trace.

‘So that was it……’

I had wondered how Her Majesty endured the loneliness of being bound to the supreme throne, and that question had just been answered.

Her Majesty was not alone.

By her side, Prince Albert always remained.

Though his body had departed the world first, his soul must still be living together within the heart of his companion.

For the day when she would one day become one with Prince Albert again, to prepare for the reunion waiting beyond death, Her Majesty must even now be living as she fulfills the mission given to her.

-Phaaah!

At some point, Her Majesty’s two eyes had completely returned to their original color.

Her Majesty the Queen, seated in lotus position, seemed to rise slowly into the air, and from her body a brilliant radiance began to flow.

After the halo of light vanished, from Her Majesty’s body, standing again upon the floor, a noble aura overflowed.

It had not even been a few months since she entered the threshold of the Unrestrained Realm, yet Her Majesty stepped beyond the inner demon and set foot in an even higher realm.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“……Well, is governing one’s heart not the quality of a Kung-Fuist.”

After confirming that the inner demon that had tormented Her Majesty had vanished completely without a trace, I decided to formally apologize to her.

“I have committed a sin deserving death. No matter that it was to win the Sword Debate Chess match, to dare strike the neck of the late Prince Albert—”

“What are you saying.”

“……Pardon?”

“My husband is still alive and well.”

History overturned.

Falling into confusion, I could not say a word, and only blinked my eyes.