Chapter 207: Festival Night (4)
"Vikir should be in the kitchen!"
"What's the point of having a kitchen if you don't have a pimp!"
An extreme case of PIMPY (Please In My Front Yard) as each side tries to get Vikir to join their side.
In this gap between the kitchen faction and the pimping faction, local egoism blossoms beautifully.
"We shouldn't fight."
A man hugged Vikir.
"?"
Vikir frowned.
... Why is this person here now?
A familiar face. He was wearing a vampire costume and a mask, but Vikir could tell by the momentum.
Who else could be of this size and age and exude this much intimidation?
Osiris. Osiris Les Baskervilles.
The head of Baskerville, the iron-blooded swordsman, Hugo's legitimate successor.
He is now hugging Vikir in his witch disguise.
For a moment, Vikir's mind raced with thoughts.
The first thing that came to mind was the cryptic message that Sindiwendi had sent him the other day.
1. The Ten Corpse. Information obtained. Need time to analyze. One month.
2. Night Hound. Two copycats emerge. One for praise. The other, purpose unknown.
3. Osiris of the House of Baskerville. Family crest emptied. Supposedly headed for the Imperial City.
The third entry apparently states that Osiris, the head of the Baskerville family, has emptied his household and is headed for the Imperial City.
Although the exact purpose was unknown.
Meanwhile. Public opinion is up in arms about the masked man who appears out of nowhere and takes Vikir away.
"Who is he? He's very tall."
"Is it Vikir's family?"
"I can't see his face because of the mask."
Most people are curious about Osiris' identity.
However, Osiris took Vikir with him and quickly left the scene.
As if he had no intention of making a scene.
And then. Back behind the tent, Osiris set Vikir down.
"You've gotten a lot prettier since I last saw you, little brother (dongsaeng)."
He said, with a hint of gravity in his voice.
But Vikir's expression remained cold.
"What brings you here, hyung-nim?"
"Hyung-nim? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call me oppa?"
"...According to the traditions of the Academy, it would be correct to call you Unnie."
"It was a joke."
"So was I."
Vikir asked again.
"What brings you here, brother."
"It is the duty of an older brother to come to the rescue when his younger brother is in trouble."
Just then.
"Samchuun!"
A hand shot out from Osiris's back.
Vikir's eyes widened slightly.
He could see the Pomeranian being carried by Osiris. Osiris's broad shoulders and back had been hidden until now.
"Ying-ying-ying-I miss you, Samchun! Why aren't you coming?"
Pomeranian has a sorrowful look on her face as she hugs Vikir and rubs her face.
When Vikir lifted his head, feeling the dampness around his belly, Osiris revealed his purpose for coming.
"Pomeranian has missed you so much. My father has granted me a special vacation. To take Pomeranian to the Academy."
At the words, Vikir doubted his ears. A vacation? Hugo?
Seeing Vikir's puzzled expression, Osiris laughed softly beneath his mask.
"He's got a tight grip on the reins of the family these days."
Osiris's words were surprising.
Mention the Pomeranian's fondness for blood bean chocolate, and the marshland along the Western Front is turned to mush, and cacao plantations take its place.
If the Pomeranian says he wants to spend his summers by the river, the lands along the Southern Front are swept away by silt and rapids and turned into rivers.
The Baskervilles even raided the ruby mines of their ally Morg when Pomeranian showed an interest in jewelry making.
Pomeranian protested that she missed Vikir, and after a long hunger strike that lasted two meals, Hugo granted her a visit.
Of course, this was done in the utmost secrecy, so as not to reveal Vikir's relationship with the family.
And Pomeranian was escorted by Osiris Les Baskervilles himself!
'...What a world.'
Vikir rubbed his forehead at the butterfly effect of the storm he had created.
But at the center of the storm, Pomeranian is just hugging his legs and whimpering for Vikir's amusement.
"Hahaha, our princess is finally showing her smile. Pomeranian has been quite depressed since you disappeared, and the atmosphere in the house hasn't been right for a while. Your father has been so worried about you...."
Osiris looks at Pomeranian with a gentle expression, his expression is also softer than I've ever seen before.
It's as if Baskerville, the iron-blooded swordsman, is changing a little bit due to Pomeranian's appearance.
On the other hand, Osiris was also looking around the Academy's bars as if he had a new appreciation for them.
" ... It's been a long time since I've been here, too. I was once a student at the Academy, and I was in charge of many things as student council president, but now that I've graduated, it's all just a memory."
Muttering to himself, Osiris looked back at Vikir as if suddenly remembering.
"Oh, by the way. On the way here, I saw a pretty girl inside the bar's tent, and she was staring at you. What's your relationship?"
A pretty girl. Osiris would say.
"You mean Student Council President Dolores?"
Vikir asked without thinking.
At that very moment.
...hwadeuljjag!
The area beyond the tent suddenly shook.
Vikir turned to see what it was, and saw the back of Dolores' figure scurrying away.
Dolores hadn't made a move until we started talking about her family, so it's possible she was just passing by and overheard our conversation.
... but why are those ears red?
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
I hadn't said anything bad, I'd just been caught saying something nice, so I didn't think anything would come of it.
Maybe she was offended that I was judging her appearance, but I don't think I need to think about it because it's not going to happen again.
"As for Ms. Dolores, we're not in a relationship, we're just senior and junior."
Vikir cut to the chase, and Osiris cocked his head.
"...Dolores? You mean the lady of the Quovadis? If she is, I recognize her face. I didn't mean Dolores."
"Hmm? Then who were you referring to?"
"I don't know her name, but she was dressed as a yeti."
"...."
"It's a joke."
Clearly, Osiris's personality had changed a lot since I'd last seen him.
Vikir was silent for a moment, wondering if this was another Pomeranian influence.
'perhaps... ... In the face of a wall at the top of the Graduator, regaining one's emotions may be more advantageous for growth. I don't know about Osiris himself, but it must be good for him.'
I had no idea that having a younger sister (actually a niece) in a house full of brothers would have such a profound effect.
Well, aside from that, Osiris gave Vikir a lot of information.
A general overview of what was going on in the family.
"The trade deal you arranged is well underway. It's been in the works since our alliance with Messinadnaro."
The three-way trade between Balak, Baskerville, and Sindiwendy was finally on track.
However, there was one strange thing.
Vikir turned to Osiris.
"House Messinadnaro?"
"That's right. The same family that was outlawed by the Baskervilles."
Osiris seemed to already know about Sindiwendy's past.
Vikir is left to wonder why Sindiwendy, who has a grudge against the Baskervilles, would join forces with them.
Osiris explained again.
"Do you remember the truth commission we created before you entered the Academy? I've been chairing it ever since, and we've re-investigated everything that happened in the past."
Seven families involved in the club burning suspension were disowned.
The misunderstandings and misdeeds between the Baskervilles and the Messinadnaro were also brought to light.
As a result, the Baskervilles have formally apologized to the Messinadnaro and have made restitution.
It was a win-win situation, as many of the old Baskervilles who had participated in the conspiracy were forced to give their heads, and Osiris was able to reorganize the family's order and power structure once more.
In the end, Hugo and Osiris completely overpowered the Senate, led by the Seventh Count, and seized control of the House.
It seemed that Sindiwendy had also been somewhat relieved by this series of events and had joined forces with the Baskervilles.
'Well, that's her own mind.'
...whether she had truly forgiven Baskerville or not, only she would know the exact details.
"Indeed."
Osiris turned to Vikir, as if remembering something.
"I have come to see you today not only to tell you these things."
He pulled something out of his pocket and held it out to Vikir.
"Is this ...?"
Vikir's eyes sparkled as he examined the object.
Osiris tilted his head and said.
"It's an artifact that fell from the spot where Set died. I don't know what it can be used for, so I brought it to you."
When demons die, they drop their artifacts.
Just as Dantalian had dropped the Picaresque Mask, Andromalius would have done the same.
It was a shame I couldn't keep it, but now I have it.
...Sparkle!
A black strange ring appeared in Vikir's hand, shining brightly.
/ Ring
-Finit hic Deus -Off
-Finit hic Deus, the realm of the gods ends here.
It's an orb that contains the skills that Andromalius used to specialize in when he was alive.
It was a covenant-forming ring with the ability to create spaces so secretive that even the eyes of the Rune Gods could not see into it.
The moment he held it in his hand, Vikir couldn't help but think of a clichéd line.
'...You're lucky.'
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om