Chapter 37: Side: “So, why did Holmes die?”
If moving a person’s heart is a miracle,
Then literature is the most powerful miracle of all.
“…Oh, come to think of it, it’s about time for ‘that’ episode of Sherlock Holmes to start serializing.”
“If you mean that episode… ah.”
Sion let out a sigh, as if he had an inkling.
“The Empire is going to get noisy.”
“Half and Half’s president is going to have a tough time….”
Literature has the power to move people’s hearts.
And ‘Sherlock Holmes’ was one of the most powerful works of literature. To honor the original author from my past life, I had decided to play a little trick on the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ being serialized in this world.
“Isn’t it better to reveal in advance that ‘he’s not actually dead’?”
“That wouldn’t be any fun.”
“…Sometimes it’s hard to understand your thoughts, my lord.”
“Honestly, I don’t really get what I was thinking when I wrote this either.”
Understanding the psychology of an author who, after writing such an entertaining piece, decided to end it abruptly because he wasn’t satisfied himself is no easy task.
But that also showed the power of literature to ‘move people’s hearts.’
Conan Doyle went through a lot of trouble for killing Sherlock Holmes. Even the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII, sent him threats opposing Holmes’s demise.
Conan Doyle even said,
[“I wouldn’t have been criticized this much if I had actually killed someone.”]
That’s how hard Conan Doyle suffered for murdering Sherlock Holmes.
So, as a thief who plagiarized his work, I felt it was my duty to respectfully gift the people with that same episode.
“But don’t you think it’ll be fun?”
“Are you saying, my lord, that the fun lies in throwing the Empire into chaos?”
“Well, I guess that could be fun too….”
“…….”
You can’t deny that watching people get so into literature is amusing.
Of course, I’d like them to treat a novel as just a novel…
But seeing people genuinely dive into literature and share those experiences was something you just couldn’t see back in the 21st century.
“Isn’t it kind of cute when people get so wrapped up in literature?”
“Cute…?”
If it’s a ‘miracle’ that can only be experienced in this world, then it’s definitely worth enjoying to the fullest.
As someone who dedicated their life to literature and actually died from overwork, it feels a bit unfair if they don’t immerse themselves completely.
Literature was everything to me.
So, it was a bit childish of me to wish that literature would be everything in their lives too.
“Sion, don’t try to understand it—just feel it with your heart. Isn’t it good when people are totally absorbed in literature?”
“That’s true. It’d also bring us a step closer to your goal, my lord.”
“Right?”
And I had a fun little event lined up for all those eager to see Holmes back. It’s definitely going to be a blast.
* * *
Holmes is dead.
Everyone in the Empire was in shock.
“What, is this really the end? No way, right? There has to be a next episode… Thanks for loving Holmes until now?”
“Can it really end like this? There must be some trick involved! How many times have we fallen for Holmes’s tricks?”
The American psychiatrist Kübler-Ross divided the acceptance of death into five stages. The readers’ reactions to Holmes’s death were no different.
“Holmes… is dead…?”
First stage: Denial.
“Haha, have we been fooled while reading Sherlock Holmes? This time too, he’s probably just playing with the readers to give us a surprise!”
“Right? Holmes couldn’t have died so meaningless! Haha!”
Second stage: Anger.
“What?! Does it make sense to end the story like this? Is that really okay?”
“To kill Holmes?! Damn it, what’s there to look forward to Every week now?”
Third stage: Bargaining.
“Well, wait! Doesn’t Herodotus run a foundation? If the readers pool some money and sponsor a donation, won’t he bring Holmes back to life?”
“Hey, that’s a great idea! But how are we gonna raise the money?”
Fourth stage: Depression.
“Thinking about a week without Holmes just makes me lose my appetite….”
“A world without Holmes isn’t worth living in…!”
And while it should have led to the fifth stage of acceptance—
It wasn’t the readers who were dying, but Holmes. The readers had no intention of accepting such a shockingly abrupt death.
“In that case, let’s storm Half and Half!”
“Right! Let’s invade Half and Half, capture Herodotus, and lock him in a basement to write all day!”
So, the crowds kept looping through the ‘anger’ stage, simmering with rage.
Fortunately, the angry readers didn’t turn into a mob and attack Herodotus. That’s because Herodotus had already prepped for this surge of chaos by boosting security at ‘Half and Half.’
“Um, writer! Is this really okay?”
“Hang in there just a little longer. I promise I’ll sign my next work with Half and Half.”
“…Yes! Even if I get kidnapped by those mobs, I’ll keep the ‘secret’!”
“If you get kidnapped, feel free to leak the manuscript early….”
* * *
“Brother.”
“Oh, brother.”
“Why did you kill Holmes?”
* * *
“Writer?”
“…Yes, Lady.”
“Why did you kill Holmes?”
* * *
“Son.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Why did you kill Holmes?”
* * *
“Writer! The response for this ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is really positive!”
“Yes, President.”
“But why did you kill Holmes?”
* * *
“Mom, did you come to ask why I killed Holmes too?”
“No, I came to share some snacks I got from the merchant guild.”
“Oh, thanks!”
“So, why did you kill Holmes?”
* * *
Everyone who knew my true identity kept asking, ‘Why did you kill Holmes?’
Was this how Conan Doyle felt?
“This is kind of amusing…”
“People are mourning Holmes by wearing black arm bands on their left arms.”
“Isn’t anyone carrying a coffin and holding a funeral?”
“It seems there are plans for that. Some people are collecting funds.”
“Good thing I’m not publishing under my real name.”
Seriously, what a relief.
I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of threats and terror like Conan Doyle.
“Well, this will probably all chill out by tomorrow.”
Imagine if someone owned all the copyrights and trademarks to Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin.
What’s more, this person could ‘alter’ parts of the Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin stories.
No one remembers the original stories, and only this person knows the originals. Wouldn’t it make sense for them to pull off such a ‘prank’?
* * *
As soon as dawn broke, Arthur Taylor rushed to the bookstore.
Today was the release day for ‘Half and Half.’ Luckily, he managed to snag a copy before they all sold out.
He quickly flipped through the pages, checking if ‘Sherlock Holmes’ was included.
“Sigh, just as I thought, no ‘Sherlock Holmes.’ I’ll just have to settle for Arsène Lupin today.”
The serial of his favorite work had ended.
As a reader, it was a bummer, but thankfully there was ‘Arsène Lupin’ to ease his mind.
Thinking that way, he started reading Arsène Lupin.
“…Oh. Oh, oh, oh?! Ha, haha! I knew it!”
He soon began laughing and shouting like a lunatic.
And rightfully so.
“I knew Sherlock Holmes couldn’t have died so pointlessly!”
Sherlock Holmes, thought to be dead, suddenly popped up in the ‘Arsène Lupin’ series.
As Holmes was falling from a waterfall, he noticed something huge and pigeon-like catching him. It was a person flying around, dressed in a triangular outfit made of white cloth and bamboo.
The person introduced himself.
[“Curious why I’m helping you? That’s simple. I’m Lupin. The gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.”]
So he called himself the gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.
Of course, the white hang glider was a blatant rip-off from a detective comic from my past life, but—naturally, no one could point that out.
Thus, Sherlock Holmes made a stunning comeback.
On the next page was an announcement that read:
[‘Sherlock Holmes X Arsène Lupin’ Fan Fiction Contest.]
[We’re looking for writers to create stories in a world where both characters exist.]
Following Homer’s ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ Fan Fiction Contest.
It was the launch of Herodotus’s ‘Sherlock Holmes X Arsène Lupin’ Fan Fiction Contest.
* * *
“You did something interesting, didn’t you?”
“Haha….”
“By reviving Sherlock Holmes in such a flashy way… it makes me look hasty for scolding you on why you killed Holmes, doesn’t it? Sheesh, that was sneaky. Really.”
“I’m sorry, Lady.”
“I’ll forgive you just this once.”
“Thank you.”
Now, even when meeting Lady Es, I no longer felt as nervous as before.
It seems like we’ve gotten closer. Probably.
“Receiving beatification from the church, raising disciples—looks like you’re really enjoying life?”
“Yes. I’m spending my time joyfully.”
“But isn’t this a bit unfair?”
“Yes?”
“I mean—I was the one who won the grand prize at the first contest, right? But the students invited to the Literature Academy are different. That’s not fair!”
“…Well, Lady Es, it must be tough for you to find time—.”
“I have plenty of time now.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve wrapped up the handover. From now on, Idris will handle all the royal duties.”
“…….”
“So—please take care of me now, Teacher.”
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