A woman’s grace is a divine gift that sharpens the sword even more.

–Benjamin Disraeli

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“J-Jane Watson greets Sir Newton!!!”

“Ah. The Discharged Medical Maiden. I remember you.”

“I-It is an honor!!!!”

Watson stammered seriously as she faced Sir Newton.

It was almost as if Louise’s way of speaking had rubbed off on her.

“But… Have I ever met Sir Newton before?”

“I was the one who attended the Debutante Ball with Maxwell and Faraday.”

“You mean, you were the one wearing a mask who-”

When Sir Newton nodded, Watson glared at me.

Her eyes seemed to accuse me for not telling her.

Seeing that I was not particularly surprised, she seemed to realize that I had already guessed his identity when I met Sir Newton at the Debutante Ball.

“I didn’t mention it because you didn’t ask.”

“Ugh…”

Watson only asked about the identity of the other two elders I had met face-to-face, so it’s not my responsibility.

“The Fingertips you displayed at the Debutante Ball was not bad.”

“…?!”

It was then that Sir Newton caught attention by mentioning Watson’s skills.

“Judging by your nickname, you were a military medical officer. Where did you sustain the injury on your leg?”

“Y-yes! That’s correct! For your information, I earned a doctorate in Oriental medicine at London University, served as a military medical officer in the 5th Infantry Regiment of Northumberland, was injured in Afghanistan, and was discharged! Currently, I work at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital!!”

Watson, brimming with military discipline, stood at attention like a new recruit and puffed out her chest.

“You must have trained at Enfield Academy. Among the disciples of the Abbess With The Lamp, that friend is known for diligently training juniors.”

“Exactly!!”

Watson answered all questions honestly and wholeheartedly as if she had returned to her days as a military medical officer.

I understand her nervousness, but it’s excessive.

To list off her credentials, which she used while disguised as a man, while wearing a dress.

“…Listen, Watson.”

“Ah…!”

Sir Newton chuckled softly as he saw Watson cover her mouth and jump.

In fact, I understand how Watson feels.

Although just moments ago I was having a childish argument with the monster Louise, who had transformed into someone like his granddaughter, Sir Newton is one of the great martial artists who laid the foundation of modern Kung-Fu.

Such a great man remembered the nickname of a distant junior.

From Watson’s perspective, it was naturally moving.

Moreover, he was widely believed to have been dead for a long time.

As when the ghostly Kung-Fu story about Sir Newton came up, it was said he died over 150 years ago.

A great senior of the martial world, thought to be resting in his grave, was alive and moving before her eyes.

And in an unbelievably vigorous state, even demonstrating his Distinct Kung-Fu.

Meeting face-to-face with a great man born 270 years ago and known only through portraits is indescribable.

Even I, who knew he was alive, could not hide my agitation when facing his unmasked visage.

For Watson, who did not know Sir Newton was alive, it must have been earth-shattering.

‘Good thing I knew beforehand…’

If I hadn’t seen the faces of Thunder and Lightning, Faraday and Maxwell, when they swiftly removed their masks at the last Debutante Ball, I would have continued to believe Sir Newton was dead.

The moment I saw the faces of those two, who were said to have lived out their natural lives and passed on, I speculated that many senior martial artists of The Royal Combat Society might still be alive and active contrary to popular belief.

In a way, it’s natural.

Unlike the world before my reincarnation, this world has Kung-Fu, Elixirs, and various health cultivation techniques.

It’s unlikely that the famous martial elders of this world would have shorter lifespans than the history I’m familiar with.

At the Debutante Ball, Faraday and Maxwell treated Sir Newton with respectful familiarity, and the story about him losing a large sum of money in his youth was a clue that helped me easily deduce his identity.

Though I had been rude to deceive the culprit, it weighed on my mind, so I’m glad I could properly greet him this time.

“Please forget what you just heard!”

“Indeed. A lady’s secrets are precious. It can be said that my appearance is also a secret, so how about we each forget one thing?”

“Watson will never forget Sir Newton’s kindness…! Holmes, what are you doing? Hurry up and express your thanks!”

“……”

I just kept silent.

It was the first time I was dumbfounded listening to Watson.

“…Seems like you lose your mind when you see a famous person. Louise is also a Big Name, so it’s disappointing. Why do you fawn over a useless old man who hasn’t done anything for you…?”

“I’m sorry. I’m easily nervous. I, Holmes, deeply appreciate the teachings and assistance of Great Heroine Louise.”

“As expected, the Little Heavenly Demon knows a thing or two. Louise is happy.”

Louise smiled contentedly.

Fortunately, her mouth, which had been torn earlier, and her yellowed eyes returned to normal, so she looked like the Jane Watson I knew, smiling.

However, one thing had been bothering me since earlier.

Earlier, she spoke as if she was close to the Abbess With The Lamp, Florence Nightingale, and since she called Sir Newton ‘old’, she’s probably not the same 270 years old, but her age and status might rival my master’s.

Moreover, considering that Sir Newton called her ‘Dodgson’ earlier, her identity is probably…

“May I ask why Great Heroine Louise calls Watson ‘older sister’-”

“No! Louise is the eternal lady, or rather, the eternal girl!”

“Bringing up the Divine Comedy there, are you Beatrice of England?”

“Shut up…”

Apparently, bringing up age was a blooper.

If she really is Professor Charles Lutwidge Dodgson1, the Master of Numerology, why does she act like a girl who just passed puberty?

I should know how to handle this.

“I apologize, Sir Newton, Lady Louise. I was excessively nervous and lost my composure.”

“It’s alright. The mistake is that a corpse who should be in the grave crawled out and is walking around fine.”

“”Huaaa, Watshername committed a sin punishable by death!!!““

To say that to a much younger Super Junior, the old man is truly mischievous.

“Please stop, Sir Newton. What will you do if Watson bows with her injured knee?”

“Hahaha. Sorry. I was too playful.”

Though it seemed impudent at first glance, the Etiquette Enforcement Special Maids watching us did not impose any punishments.

A big reason was that Sir Newton himself was not angry, and they seemed to judge this level of interaction as taking jokes as jokes.

“Usually, when an elder in the martial world treats a young person comfortably first, it’s likely because they hope the other won’t feel uncomfortable…”

Since I said it with sufficient reason, I wasn’t worried from the start, and as long as I defend that well, I won’t be expelled from the Palace.

However, if I don’t properly manage the penalty points accumulated from impudence, I could be permanently banned from the Palace, so I must be careful.

Though it’s fine now, considering the upcoming ball, dinner, and tea time with various martial artists, knowing the Special Maid Corps’ judgment criteria is very helpful.

Even though this is a royal ball, many will likely regard me and my master as adversaries to be opposed or defeated, just like at the Debutante Ball.

If they provoke me or insult my master while keeping penalty points within limits, and I retaliate without knowing the standards, I risk suffering one-sided losses.

Of course, it can be resolved if I endure it.

But if I’m branded a coward who silently endures insults, my plans will be ruined.

Having expelled a Zion Clan master from the Palace and revealed the secret of the Indulgence Talisman, I must never let my achievements be undervalued for future activities.

Above all, while I can endure insults to my master, I cannot forgive those who provoke me.

No matter what, I will punish them without accumulating penalty points against me.

“Don’t be too formal, be comfortable. I just came to see the achievements of my juniors. It’s better to think that I, who had been hiding and watching, was rude to you.”

Meanwhile, Sir Newton scratched his head, embarrassed to have been hiding behind the veil of Qi.

“Not at all. I’m just grateful that Sir Newton visited.”

This was an honest feeling.

Thanks to the side effect of the minor meridians opening up, I noticed Sir Newton’s presence, but meeting him helped me correct the mistake of focusing only on the expanded senses and missing the Essence.

The changes from opening the minor meridians were more fundamental.

If I had continued to obsess over the ecstasy given by amplified senses and failed to clearly perceive the function of the opened minor meridians, they would have closed again within days.

Sir Newton is an overwhelming powerhouse who grants enlightenment just by meeting him.

The nickname “White Eyebrow Hermit” was not given without reason.

I never thought the fairy tale of a sage accidentally meeting someone and bestowing them a stroke of fortune would actually happen.

All this happened because I had accumulated merit through my usual righteous deeds.

Surely, the Gods and Saints also bless me, born under the constellation of the great hero.

“Well…how should I say it. I was quite surprised. I thought your master had already opened the Conception and Yang Vessels and minor meridians for you.”

“Right. Louise was also concerned about that.”

Their following questions gave me a clue.

I don’t know what relationship they had with my master.

But judging by their tone, I could tell that they seem to know my master, the Heavenly Demon, quite well.

It bothers me that others might know more about my master’s deeds than I, his successor, does

However, on the other hand, maintaining this connection might provide an opportunity to uncover secrets of the Heavenly Demon I wasn’t aware of.

“…I’m sorry, but I cannot answer anything about my master’s teachings.”

Instead of building rapport by answering honestly, I chose to keep the secret.

There was an important reason why a Baritsu practitioner like me does not open the Conception Vessel and Yang Vessel and the minor meridians like the young disciples of other martial factions or clans.

Even just knowing this secret might let a highly talented martial artist guess the reason, so I absolutely could not answer.

“I was just too curious and asked something unnecessary. That man surely had his reasons. Little Heavenly Demon has no need to worry.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Sir.”

I respectfully bowed with a palm salute.

Looking beside me, Watson had a thoughtful expression.

After hearing the conversation, she seemed curious about my and my master’s Kung-Fu lineage, but unfortunately, I couldn’t satisfy her curiosity today.

Because-

-Knock knock-

“Little Heavenly Demon and Discharged Medical Maiden, please come quickly to the ballroom on the second floor.”

The royal attendant’s message immediately followed the knocking, signaling the start of the ball.

“…Let’s finish the unfinished talk when we have the chance. I’ll give you the item your master entrusted me with then.”

“A letter?”

“Yes.”

If he had something to give, why not give it himself instead of entrusting Sir Fawcett or Sir Newton to deliver it?

“Thank you. I don’t know when, but I will wait.”

“Yes. We’ll meet again if fate allows. Dodgson, if you go around like that, you’ll cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Return to your original form.”

“Why do you keep calling me by my old name…?”

“Lewis.”

“Lewis is a male name!! Louise is Louise!!”

“Sigh… I have no time for this, stop being so bothersome.”

Louise, or rather Dodgson, whined, and Sir Newton, looking annoyed, took out a cloth bundle from his bosom and threw it.

Louise unfolded the thin folded cloth and covered herself with it, hiding the small body that imitated Watson completely.

“Putting the puzzle together looks ugly, so older sisters and brothers, please turn your backs…”

I didn’t quite understand what she meant and stood blankly, when suddenly strange noises began.

-Crack!

-Creak!

-Splat!

While the body covered by the cloth swelled and shrank in a bizarre shape, several red pieces of flesh scattered on the floor.

But soon, the flesh crawled on the floor like it had will, returned to Louise’s body hidden under the cloth without dirtying the carpet.

Can this really be called Kung-Fu?

The shock lasted only a moment.

In less than five seconds, Louise threw off the cloth and transformed into a girl with pink hair.

“……”

“……”

“Wh-what… I told you not to look…sob.”

A small girl looked up at us with a sad face.

Wearing a white and blue skirt and holding a camera in each hand, she looked at me and Watson with a face about to cry.

But my mind could not think of ‘it’ as human.

“…See you again.”

“Thank you!”

There was no time to recover from the awkward atmosphere.

Watson and I both bowed politely and fled the reception room as if escaping.

“For your mental health, forget everything you just saw, Watson.”

“…I won’t be sleeping tonight.”

“Did something happen, you two?”

“Not really.”

“Nothing happened.”

The attendant shook his head, confused, and led us to the second floor.

“It’s fortunate the treatment wasn’t delayed. Her Majesty has exceptional patience, but I recommend not to provoke her.”

“Understood…”

Less than two minutes remained until the ball started.

We hurried up the stairs adorned with portraits of royal family members and reached the second floor.

I briefly felt relieved to barely avoid being late.

As the attendant ahead opened the ballroom door, a familiar villainous face greeted me.

“Oh my.”

Long, smooth flowing hair.

Unusually bright orange eyes.

A mole under the lips.

There stood a seductive woman dressed in luxurious clothes far surpassing the purple dress I had seen before.

“We’re, acquainted, aren’t we?”

Irene Adler.

The culprit who tried to steal the royal decree.

“…Who are you?”

-Snap-

My right hand clenched involuntarily, and the handkerchief I was holding tore under the grip.

1. TL/N: Okay so she isn’t the guy from Jurassic Park ️