A Study in Gray · Chapter 14
The Beast of the Baskervilles
Henry
A... thief? Me?
All traces of joviality had vanished from Henry's face.
Professor M
Correct. Though you forget the "petty" part.
After all, you didn't even come up with the idea for this research in the first place.
Henry
...I have no idea what you're accusing me of.
Professor M
Fufu... Is that so?
Henry
Professor.
Do you know why researching the Hound of the Baskervilles was considered such a heinous sin?
Because it was made from human subjects?
No.
That's what the masses think, but I see it differently.
The original creators didn't take one thing into account.
There was one simple solution that they lacked...
The sheer power to silence all dissenters!!!
Professor M
Why, that almost sounds like you're threatening to force my lips shut.
Henry
Haha...
What, you think I can't?
Just watch me. Me, the third-rate magical scholar that everyone mocked... Me, the disgrace of the Baskerville family! Me, me, ME!
I'll show you that I've succeeded where my so-called genius ancestors failed!
Everyone will see the pinnacle of magicology that eclipses the Hound of the Baskervilles! Behold, the Beast of the Baskervilles!
The beast was set loose.
A massive figure sped through the darkness in the raining night.
The beast jumped over the towering Baskerville mansion with ease and landed on the rooftop.
*Thud!* The whole rooftop quaked. The sound of its landing was soon forgotten as the monster let out a spine-chilling roar that echoed throughout the streets of NOA.
GRAAAAAAAAAH!
Even in face of the beast's soul-piercing roar, the Professor remained calm.
She simply brushed off the raindrops that had splattered onto her when it landed, and stared up at it for a few moments.
Then, she finally opened her lips to...
Professor M
*Sigh...*
Henry
...?
Professor M
I expected disappointment, yet I still can't help but sigh.
Henry
What?
Professor M
Mr. Henry... No, Henry.
Did you even spare a single glance at the methods and protocols used for this research?
Henry
What do you mean?
Professor M
If you'd done a proper job of reading them even once...
You wouldn't have created this abject failure.
Henry's face twisted at the Professor's barbs.
Henry
What the hell are you—
Professor M
I thought something was off from the beginning, you see.
Those materials you purchased from the black market.
The order in which the experiments were carried out.
And even the characteristics of your failed creations.
The Professor slowly looked over the beast as he spoke.
Professor M
It all seemed quite familiar.
Henry
...
Professor M
You...
You must have gotten your hands on the Lab Notes for this research.
But those Lab Notes must have been incomplete, I take it?
Henry
...!
Professor M
Ah, now I'm starting to see.
I finally understand why your results were so dismal.
Henry
You dare?!
Professor M
Pathetic. You disgust me.
Your brain was utterly incapable of understanding the true purpose of the original plans.
So all you did was fill in the blanks as you saw fit to.
You didn't consider why the research was conducted.
Instead, you just deluded yourself into thinking that making things bigger, stronger, and more brutal was a sign of progress.
That juvenile mindset is precisely what makes you third-rate to the core.
Henry
...Shut up.
SHUT UP!!!
What the hell do you know about my work?!
Professor M
What do I know, you ask?
A soft smile formed on the Professor's lips as she gazed at the beast.
Professor M
Well, I know why this research was born to begin with.
After all, the initial architect of this research...
...Was me.
Henry
...!
Professor M
That's why I can say that this is a failure.
My visions for the project, and my objective for the research...
Not a single trace of them remain.
You've gutted my original designs and filled it with the inferiority complex of a third-rate magical scholar.
Henry
What?
Professor M
I don't think I can't put up with your revolting creation much longer.
The Professor slowly shifted her gaze from the beast to Henry.
Professor M
Please don't go around telling everyone that this is your masterpiece.
Think of how it might reflect on the original artist's vision and design.
So whether it's you or your botched student project...
I'll be disposing of you two here... permanently.
Henry
...Ha.
Haha...
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
His head bowed down, Henry laughed wildly at length.
Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, the laughter stopped.
Henry
F■■■ you.
F■■■ the original design, f■■■ the original vision, F■■■ ALL OF IT!
What the hell do they matter?
Who gives a shit?!
No trace of composure, feigned or otherwise, remained on Henry's face.
Henry
You'll dispose of me?
What makes you think you can?
Henry scoffed as he pointed towards the beast.
Henry
Can you really do it?
You know who's inside my monster, don't you?
It's the girl you've been trying so hard to save!
Rachel!
Professor M
B-132?
Henry
...!
Professor M
I told you, didn't I?
Such trivial things are of no concern to me.
The Professor stared at the beast, her eyes devoid of emotion.
Professor M
It's not worth my interest.
Henry
Y-you lunatic...
Henry's mouth twisted into an ugly shape.
Henry
Fine.
Then try your best!
Let's see if you can keep up that facade...
...After my beast has torn you to shreds!!
Henry's hand came swinging down...
And in turn, the beast's massive arm was raised into the air.
Its razor-sharp claws gleamed in the rain, honing in on the Professor's head.
Without an inch of hesitation, it swung down, straight on—
*Slam!*
The door to the roof flew open with a bang.
Gwen
*Huff... Huff...*
A-are we late?
The beast's claws stopped inches from the Professor's face.
Unperturbed, the Professor simply turned her head to glance at Gwen and Lily, who'd just arrived.
Professor M
A little later than I'd hoped for.
Lily
We didn't miss the deadline, though.
Professor M
Tsk, tsk.
Nobody likes students who submit their assignment at 11:59 PM when the deadline is 12:00 AM.
Gwen
It's not even 11 PM, though!
Professor M
Fufu.
The Professor's gaze returned to the Monster of the Baskervilles
Professor M
There's a minor interference that requires taking care of...
But all in all, it should suffice.
The Professor elegantly gestured toward the Beast of the Baskervilles.
Professor M
Well, I hope you understand that your assignment is to take that down?
Gwen and Lily stared at the massive beast before them.
After biting down on her lip, Gwen slowly assumed combat stance.
Gwen
Don't worry, Rachel.
We'll get you out of there now.
Henry
What?! How?!
No, no, no! My operation was flawless!
Rachel! That useless brat! You can't make anything good with trash!
I was flawless—Kgh!
Gwen kicked Henry aside, sending him rolling across the rooftop.
Gwen
You're the trash, you scumbag bastard!
Henry
...Pfft.
Gwen
What's so funny?
Henry
Do you truly think you've won, Gwen Lestrade?
As if! You still lose!
You worked oh-so hard to save dear Rachel...
But alas, it's too late!
Henry started maniacally laughing, taunting Gwen.
Henry
That thing is the pinnacle of Baskerville's magicology!
No detective can undo what I've done!
You'd need a god to help you to reverse my work!
Gwen
I don't need a god or even some famous detective to do that.
...Because there are still people trying to save other people.
Gwen took out a blueish ampule and a syringe from her inner pocket.
Henry
W-what is that?
Gwen
It's the cure that Director Stapleton made.
It can't stop Rachel's mutation...
But it can remove the parts that mutated from Rachel.
Henry
Nonsense! That's not possible! The Monster of the Baskervilles is the pinnacle of magicology!
Gwen
Shut it! Then you can call this the invention of a true genius magical scholar who risked his life to save a little girl! A legacy that transcends the pinnacle of magicology!
Gwen approached the limp monster and injected the shot.
She stroked the beast's chin with her hand, wet from the rain.
Gwen
Time to get up, Rachel.
Just then, something beneath the middle of the beast's three heads began to twitch.
It looked like a muscle spasm at first, but it soon turned into the sound of flesh tearing apart.
*Riiip* *Crack*
Fur fell off in clumps while black liquid gushed out, instantly turning into vapor as it came into contact with the rain.
Lily
Boss, are you okay?!
Gwen
I'm fine!
The layer of skin under the beast's mane started crumbling from the inside.
A silhouette of someone's hand could be seen through the crack.
Gwen started pushing away the beast's flesh with her bare hands.
Seeing the hand, Lily approached to help Gwen tear apart the hide and flesh.
Gwen
Just... a little bit more...!
Its hide was thick, and it seemed like the small figure buried inside was drowning.
The two girls were soaked in sweat and rain, but continued digging through the beast's carcass undeterred.
When Gwen and Lily started panting from exhaustion, a purple liquid dripped onto the hide of the monster.
Professor M
You should really learn how to solve things with more than just physical labor, Miss Gwen.
After all, what's the point of hiring an advisor if you don't request her services?
Lily
This smell... Was that a magic extraction reagent?
Professor M
Its primary use is for investigating the magic residue of crime scenes.
It works by vaporizing the magic with the highest concentration on the area of contact.
It can also break magical bonds that have stopped circulating.
The beast's hide split with a loud crackling sound.
Professor M
I suppose I can provide just a bit more assistance.
Gwen and Lily nodded, and the three dug through the split hide and flesh under the rain.
At last, the small body of a child was pulled out.
It was limp, but definitely the body of a human being.
Gwen
...Rachel.
Gwen hugged Rachel's body, covered in black liquid, and wiped the young girl's face.
Rachel's drenched body was small and delicate.
Lily
Is Rachel okay, Boss?
Gwen
I think so. She's breathing, at least.
Lily let out a sigh of relief and dropped to the ground. Gwen stood up with Rachel in her arms.
That was when they heard a desperate scream coming from the other side of the rooftop.
Henry
That's a lie!!!
Henry shouted with a reddened face.
Henry
This can't be...! This isn't real!
No genius would be able to do this!
It doesn't make sense! That's my magnum opus! I devoted my whole life to it!
Professor M
Magnum opus? No, it was merely a knockoff created by a third-rate scholar.
If anything, that cure is the true masterpiece.
Jack Stapleton was truly every bit the genius they said he was.
Henry
I failed...? Again...?
Professor M
Deep down, you knew it all along.
The Professor leaned closer toward Henry.
Professor M
You must've known, since your career in magicology was a string of failures.
Your life's work is child's play in the eyes of a real genius.
Henry
Bullshit! That cure! I must've been the one who came up with it!
Give it back! It's mine! It's my creation...!
As Henry stumbled frantically towards Gwen and Rachel, the Professor emerged in front of him, blocking his path.
Standing in front of the beast's corpse, she leaned over to whisper into Henry's ear.
Professor M
Henry.
I do hope you understood my notes on how the tail functions?
Henry
W-what's that supposed to mean?
Professor M
Fufu... As I suspected, you have no clue at all.
Henry
...?
*Slither*
The sound of something wet slithering across the wet floor could be hear coming from the beast's tail.
Gwen
...Huh?
Lily
Boss, look...!
The snake on the tip of the beast's tail slowly emerged from its slumber.
Professor M
You see, an interesting fact about the chimera's tail is that...
It continues to act independently even after the main body has ceased functioning.
I made sure to leave a note on the very first page of my Lab Notes. Alas, ignorance prevails again.
Henry
What?
Before Henry could speak any further, the snake's giant mouth enveloped him and swallowed him whole.
Gwen
Mr. Henry?!
Lily
Eeek!!!
A pitiful man's hopeless screams echoed across the rainy rooftop before coming to an abrupt halt.
Gwen and Lily, frozen stiff, could only stare in shock.
Professor M
Well, I suppose that solves the mystery of Charles Baskerville's death.
Gwen
Professor! Are you okay?
Professor M
I'm quite fine. How about the two of you? Miss Gwen, Miss Lily.
Lily
I-I'm all right.
The snake, having swallowed Henry's upper body, twitched momentarily before collapsing.
The thud of the snake falling on the rooftop was accompanied by the growing pool of blood flowing between the drops of rain falling from the sky.
The Professor silently stared at the blood flowing under her feet.
It was a completely different place, but it was raining back then too...
There was blood on the ground, dispersing under the rain...
And the whole world was so gray that it felt suffocating.
Nothing had color at all—
Yes. No color, save—
Gwen
What are you thinking about, Professor?
Professor M
Fufu. Oh, it's nothing.
I suppose this marks the end of this case for real, this time.
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