Spirit Detective

Ye Yan felt the same regret.

Although this world's On the Origin of Species differed drastically from the original in its central ideas, it was still a book connected to "home."

It was just that Ye Yan couldn't name it.

The reason was simple.

The copy of On the Origin of Species Ye Yan had obtained was pirated. Without the original author's approval, he couldn't spread the knowledge in it and, naturally, couldn't name it.

"If only I could meet this world's Darwin," Ye Yan murmured. "But he was exiled more than twenty years ago. I wonder if he's still alive."

Unlike the Darwin in the original world, this world's Darwin wasn't named Charles, but Bird Darwin.

He published On the Origin of Species in 1858, then was convicted and imprisoned. That same year, he was exiled to Australia with Wallace—known as Australia in the original world.

The Darwin of real history died in 1882. Exiled in this world, he would only have died earlier.

Just then, a voice called to him from within.

"Sir, I am about to disappear. I long to see you one last time, but I cannot find you."

Was Daphne going to disappear?

Ye Yan froze, then hurriedly said goodbye to the Bookhouse.

As Daphne's summoner, Ye Yan shared a natural connection with the girl. She could call to him in his mind.

He had also noticed that the girl's spirit resembled the Cursed Walking Corpses he had encountered. It gave off the same icy aura, only gentler and far less aggressive.

So Daphne's abilities were different from the Walking Corpses'.

Though she couldn't release that frigid aura, she could move through the night and conceal her presence.

By now, night had fallen.

By the time he reached the Unicorn Court, panting for breath, the trial seemed to be over, but the curious crowd still surrounded the girl's spirit, marveling at her.

"It's incredible. This really is the complete spirit of a girl who died twenty years ago." A gentleman's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Simply unbelievable! Even a medium's séances can't accomplish this!"

"Does that mean there's a chance I could see my father?"

A noblewoman's voice brimmed with hope and apprehension. Her powdered face wore a complicated expression.

"Oh... she seems to be disappearing."

Someone suddenly cried out, drawing the attention of those nearby. They soon noticed it too.

"Daphne!"

After finally seeing the daughter she had yearned for, Daphne's mother now faced another farewell. Her eyes reddened, and she couldn't help but weep again.

Daphne's spirit had begun to grow transparent. She couldn't reach out and wipe away her mother's tears, so she could only comfort her with words.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she whipped around toward the courthouse entrance.

"Sir!"

At her call, everyone turned at once.

Dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on him. Ye Yan stopped for a moment, but then steeled himself and stepped forward.

Lestrade, who had stayed there the whole time, saw what was happening and quickly parted the crowd, pulling Ye Yan over.

"Newman, take a look. What's happening to Daphne? Is she... is she going to...?"

Ye Yan understood the detective's unspoken worry, but he couldn't be sure what was happening yet. He would have to speak with Daphne to find out.

"Daphne, are you going back?"

"Yes. I'm returning."

The girl's voice drifted like a sea breeze. "My remains lie buried in the depths of the sea. You summoned my reflection, giving me the chance to take revenge and reclaim the remains my sisters and I left behind in this world."

Her voice was calm, but Ye Yan's heart tightened.

"You are our Shadow Maidens' eternal benefactor, sir." As she spoke, Daphne cupped her hands. Tiny frost crystals formed in the moonlight on her long eyelashes.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.

As it fell, it mingled with the moonlight and crystallized into a mist-veiled pearl.

"Whenever you need my help, please summon me."

Ye Yan carefully took the pearl.

Moonlit halos shimmered across its surface, like a mirage from some unreal world. Without the coolness in his hand, he would have thought it was only an illusion.

"A keepsake from someone who drowned, a girl's sorrowful tear, a gift from the deep sea..."

Daphne spoke into his mind, out of earshot of the others. "At the moment the sun and moon change places, place them upon memories of death. That is the ritual for summoning a Shadow Maiden."

"And this pearl, formed from my tears..." The girl's voice grew fainter and fainter. "Just place it under the moonlight... no other offerings are needed... and I will come when you call..."

With that, Daphne's spirit vanished completely.

In her final moments, she cast a lingering glance at her mother. Then her whole form became a faintly glowing mist and dispersed into the air before the courthouse.

[The dead girl, as a spirit, accused the living in court of murdering her...]

The fifth diary finally reached its conclusion.

[The dead girl finally got her wish.

But she was one of the dead, sleeping in the depths of the sea. Her reflection was destined to endure only through the mercy of a pearl.

She could not remain in this world. She could not covet its warmth.]

[You have successfully written your fifth complete diary and earned the right to name one selected book.]

The incident had finally come to an end. Before Ye Yan could sort through what he had gained that day, Daphne's mother stumbled forward, her trembling hands gripping his sleeve tightly.

"Y-you can summon my daughter again, can't you?" Tears welled in her eyes, and she choked so badly she could barely get the words out.

Ye Yan hesitated, then nodded gently. "Yes, madam."

"Oh, wonderful. Wonderful."

The old woman was so overcome with emotion that she could hardly speak. At last, tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks.

Lestrade's eyes also brightened with delight, but when he looked around and saw the frenzied light suddenly igniting in the onlookers' eyes, his expression changed at once.

"Sir!" A gentleman pushed to the front. "I'll pay you handsomely to summon my father. We must get to the bottom of the family inheritance!"

"No, help me first!" The veiled noblewoman abandoned all pretense of elegance and shoved through the crowd. "Before my fiancé went to sea, he promised..."

"Make way! My son's only been gone a month..."

The crowd surged forward like a tide. Detective Lestrade reacted quickly and grabbed Ye Yan by the arm.

"Quick, move!" he barked under his breath, practically dragging Ye Yan through a side door. Behind them, arguments, shouts, and curses blended into a chaotic sea of noise.

"Hey! Over here!"

Dr. Watson leaned halfway out of a four-wheeled carriage parked at the street corner and waved vigorously.

Ye Yan's eyes lit up as if he'd spotted his savior.

For a man being chased by a crowd, the warm orange glow from the carriage was like a lighthouse in a storm.

"Dr. Watson!"

Taking Watson's arm for support, Ye Yan followed Lestrade into the carriage in one leap.

As Ye Yan panted his way into the carriage, he came face-to-face with Holmes's keen gaze. The famous detective was sizing him up with an almost scrutinizing look.

"Hold on tight, lads!"

Old Jack's booming voice came from outside.

He flicked his whip, and the two chestnut horses sprang into action. Their hooves clattered crisply against the road, and soon the carriage had left the pursuing crowd far behind.

"If you knew to leave the Unicorn Court early, why did you come back, my friend?"

Holmes stared at Ye Yan, his voice so cool it was almost cutting. "Did you not foresee how much trouble would come your way after today?"

"I..."

Ye Yan gripped the handrail to steady himself, unsure what to say.

"Ah, so you truly have no idea."

Holmes shook his head slightly. "Allow me to give you some bad news. After today, the name Spirit Detective will spread across all of Great Britain."