Chapter 6: The Baskerville Dog (3)
John Barrymore.
He is a butler who has been loyal to the Baskeville family for as many as four generations.
"My lord. I will give you a daily report."
And in front of Barrymore, a middle-aged man.
A sharp nose bridge, a thick beard, and cold eyes.
The Sword Master, the Sword Master, and the Seven Pillars of National Salvation.
'Hugo Le Baskevilles', the most famous swordsman of Baskeville, was looking at Barrymore with an expressionless face.
"This is the first report. Regarding the battle with the 'House of Morgue' in the ruby mines of Red Cane Mountain... ... ."
The Morgue family, famous for their magic, is one of the seven greatest families along with the Baskervilles.
The Baskervilles were recently having a territorial dispute with the Morgue family, over the ruby mines in the west, which subtly straddled the ends of each other's domains.
Eventually, Hugo's mouth opened.
"We will have an opportunity to discuss that soon. Morgue will come first."
Hugo's folded his hands.
Barrymore continued to report.
Hugo looked mostly nonchalant, he listened to his report without much interest.
Occasional frowning to express irritation was the only response.
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At that time.
There was a report that Hugo showed a change in expression for the first time.
"... ... because Master Vikir is ranked number one in the handwriting of this midterm evaluation of early childhood."
Hearing Barrymore's words, Hugo gently stroked his chin.
It was Hugo's habit when he was satisfied, Barrymore knew this from experience.
It's rare for Hugo to remember the name of a child in the family, so Barrymore's expression brightened too.
Soon after, Hugo asked.
"butler. When is the practical test for children?"
"Not long. It starts in five days. Most of the Guardian Knights of Fang Castle have already gone on a trip to prepare."
"Then the Fang castle must have been empty."
At that, Barrymore's expression lifted slightly.
"Even so, the next news I want to report is about Fang Castle, Lord."
"Did something happen?"
"that... ... There are good things and there are bad things."
"Listen to the good stuff first."
When Hugo showed interest, Barrymore's voice picked up a little more force.
"It is said that there was a phenomenon where two suns rose in the sky above Fang Castle."
"Two suns?"
Hearing that, Hugo's eyes widened slightly.
The Baskervilles tend to believed in superstitions.
"Is this an auspicious sign?"
"First of all, since the sun has risen two times, isn't it? There is also a rumor among the Gasols that a little sun was born to assist the children."
"... ... Hmm. Couldn't someone have been playing around with mana?"
"At the time, all those skilled enough to play such pranks were on the trip to prepare for the practical exams for the youngsters."
"Well, then that's not a bad sign. Another sun."
Hugo quietly nodded his head.
Originally, the rising of two suns, namely Chae-un, has been considered an auspicious sign.
"When such things appear clouds rise, good things always happen to the family. I don't know what might happen in the Fang castle."
Then Barrymore's expression darkened.
"That is... ... Something happened."
"Is that the bad news I told you about? tell me."
At Hugo's words, Barrymore continued his report with a calm complexion.
"There was a big fight between the young boys."
At those words, Hugo's expression changed completely.
"A big fight? How many died?"
"... ... No one died, but Master Hivero's teeth were all damaged, Master Mivero's jawbone was caved in, and Master Lovero's right index finger was amputated. Of course, now everyone has been treated and restored to his original health."
"Then it's a small quarrel. Siblings naturally grow up fighting each other."
Hugo seemed relieved and leaned back in his chair.
Then he murmured as he flipped through the reports on the triplets.
"Since we're the only ones that are close to each other, there's no way we could have fought with each other, right?"
"you're right. There was friction with another young boy."
"They are foolish. If the person is older than them, they would definitely be stronger. Even mere bastards will judge whether they are stronger or weaker before attacking you."
Hugo clicked his tongue, and Barrymore corrected him.
"That is... ... The boy who made them like that is younger."
"what? He's younger? So you're saying the whole class of 8-year-olds jumped on them?"
"No. It is only one."
At those words, Hugo's eyes lit up again.
And in Barrymore's report that followed, they got even more excited.
"The 1st place in the written test I mentioned earlier, Master Vikir, was the perpetrator."
Vikir van Baskeville. 8 years old this year.
He received a call from the family head and headed for the family room that was hidden in the depths of the mansion.
When he opened the door and came in, he could see the large stature of Hugo Le Baskevilles.
"Sit down."
Even though he didn't show any particular aura, the momentum radiating from him was heavy.
Vikir moved carefully so as not to reveal the mana hidden in his body.
'I'm confident in hiding mana.'
The warriors who had passed through the confrontation with the demons and the long era of destruction were well versed in hiding their mana.
The way to completely hide mana like this was unknown right now.
It wasn't a matter of strength, it was a matter of skill.
But even that has some limits, and if you have a stronger mana here, you will inevitably stand out in Hugo's eyes.
'I'll have to find a way to show myself sooner or later.'
Vikir sat down on the small chair in front of him, thinking about this and that.
Hugo opened his mouth.
"You've grown a lot while I couldn't see you."
Hearing this, Vikir was a little surprised.
His voice, which was always forged like a blade and seemed like it would be cut just by hearing it, is rather dull today.
And the dialogue itself was also strange.
'Pigs are huge, but why do they always look so small and messy every time I see them?'
Before returning, Hugo, used to say it all the time.
While watching the growth of the livestock, he gave the gaze of an impatient butcher who couldn't sell it quickly, but today he is sending a strangely warm gaze.
It was as if he was expecting something.
"Hello, Patriarch."
Vikir greeted me brightly like a child.
However, Hugo, who is called by the title of 'Patriarch', found it odd.
"My Patriarch? okay. Not even the head of the household."
He thought about something for a while, then changed the topic as if it was over.
He said, "I heard you crippled triplets in your senior class of 9 years old."
"I know that they received appropriate treatment afterwards."
"I'm not talking about physical disabilities."
Hugo frowned.
"Isn't their mind crippled?"
"... ... ."
"Since that day, I heard that they eat separately, sleep separately, and do not mix words properly. The three of them were excellent at teamwork passing the exam at the same time, but now they have completely fallen apart."
Would that be all? These days, all three of them were scared of Vikir.
A dog that has lost its fighting spirit is useless in eternity.
But Vikir didn't bother to say that.
But he's just making a bold statement.
"Wouldn't it be heavy and useless to carry three sloppy swords at once? Rather than a master sword."
Hugo's eyes widen at those words.
"... ... That's right."
He stroked his chin and looks down at the 8-year-old kid in front of him.
If you look at it, the corners of his mouth tickle.
"But don't you think it was wrong to beat up his brothers?"
At Hugo's words, Vikir questioned incredulously.
"Wrong? Why am I wrong?"
"What? Didn't you make your brothers a mess?"
At Hugo's question, Vikir tilted his head as if he couldn't understand at all.
"Why is that wrong? I am stronger"
"... ... what?"
Vikir drove the question back at Hugo, who had a blank expression.
"How can a strong person do something wrong?"
strong self-esteem. A world where weakness is sin.
Wouldn't that be Baskeville?
yet.
"... ... ."
The corners of Hugo Le Baskeville's mouth began to twitch.
As he found the situation in front of him cute.
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