Revenge of the Iron-Blooded Sword Hound TL

Chapter 6 The Dogs of the Baskerville Family (3)

John Barrymore.

He is a butler who has been loyal to the Baskerville family for four generations.

"My lord, I will give you the daily report."

And in front of Barrymore sits a middle-aged man with a cold impression.

A blade-like nose bridge, thick beard, and coldly frozen eyes.

Sword Master, Sword Saint, one of the Seven Pillars of National Salvation.

Hugo le Baskerville, the supreme being of the iron-blooded noble Sword Family Baskerville, was looking at Barrymore with an expressionless face.

"The first report is about the bloodshed with the 'Morgue Family' at the Ruby Mine in Red Fang Mountain..."

The Morgue family, famous for magic, is one of the seven meritorious families along with the Baskerville family.

The Baskerville family had recently been in a territorial dispute with the Morgue family, and the problematic area was the prime ruby mine in the west that was subtly overlapping the edges of both their territories.

Eventually, after a long deliberation, Hugo opened his mouth.

"We'll have a chance to discuss that soon. The Morgue side will come to us first."

Hugo waved his hand dismissively.

Barrymore continued his report while reading the atmosphere.

Hugo listened to his report mostly with an indifferent expression, showing little interest.

Occasionally frowning to express annoyance was the extent of his reaction.

Then.

There was a report that made Hugo show a change in expression for the first time.

"...Therefore, the first place in the written test of this Infant Tooth Castle midterm evaluation is Young Master Vikir."

Upon hearing Butler Barrymore's words, Hugo casually stroked his chin once.

Barrymore knew this was a habit Hugo showed when he felt satisfied.

Since it was rare for Hugo to remember the name of a young child in the family, Barrymore's expression also brightened.

Soon, Hugo asked.

"Butler. When is the practical test for the children who entered the Infant Tooth Castle?"

"It's not far off. It starts in five days. Most of the guardian knights of the Infant Tooth Castle have already gone out on business trips to prepare."

"Then the Infant Tooth Castle must be empty."

At those words, Barrymore's expression lifted slightly.

"As a matter of fact, the next news I have to report is about the Infant Tooth Castle, my lord."

"What is it?"

"Well... there's good news and bad news."

"Let's hear the good news first."

As Hugo showed interest, Barrymore's voice gained more strength.

"There was a phenomenon where two suns appeared in the sky above the Infant Tooth Castle."

"Two suns?"

Hugo's eyes widened slightly at those words.

The Baskerville family is quite superstitious.

"Is it an auspicious sign?"

"Well, since two suns appeared, wouldn't it be? There's even a rumor among the family members that a small sun was born to assist the legitimate heir."

"...Hmm. It's not someone playing tricks with mana, is it?"

"At that time, all those skilled enough to play such tricks were out on business trips to prepare for the young masters' practical test."

"Well, then it's not a bad sign. Another sun, huh."

Hugo nodded quietly.

Originally, the appearance of two suns, or colored clouds, has been considered an auspicious sign.

"Whenever mother-of-pearl clouds appeared, good things always happened to the family. Something might happen at the Infant Tooth Castle."

Then Barrymore's expression darkened.

"About that... something did happen."

"Is this the bad news you mentioned earlier? Tell me."

At Hugo's words, Barrymore continued his report with a grave expression.

"There was a big fight among the young masters."

Hugo's expression changed drastically at those words.

"A big fight? How many died?"

"...No one died, but Young Master Highbro's teeth were all damaged, Young Master Middlebro's jawbone was depressed, and Young Master Lowbro's right index finger was severed. Of course, they've all received treatment now and have regained their original health."

"Then it was a small fight. Brothers naturally grow up fighting and hitting each other."

Hugo leaned back in his chair, seemingly relieved.

Then, looking over the report on the triplets, he muttered.

"They're so close to each other, I wouldn't think they'd fight among themselves, would I?"

"That's right. There was friction with another young master."

"What foolish things. Anyone older than them in this family would clearly be stronger. Even mere dogs would gauge whether someone is stronger or weaker before attacking."

As Hugo clicked his tongue, Barrymore corrected his words.

"Well, about that... the young master who did that to Young Masters High, Middle, and Low is younger."

"What? Younger than 9 and a half? Then did the entire 8-year-old class attack them?"

"No. It was one person."

At those words, interest flickered in Hugo's eyes again.

And with Barrymore's subsequent report, that interest deepened.

"The perpetrator was Young Master Vikir, who I mentioned earlier as first place in the written test."

* * *

Vikir van Baskerville. 8 years old this year.

He was summoned by the family head and headed to the lord's chamber lurking in the depths of the main castle.

As he opened the door and entered, he saw the large figure of Hugo le Baskerville.

"Sit down."

Even though he hadn't manifested his aura, the pressure emanating from him was heavy.

Vikir moved carefully, trying not to reveal the mana hidden inside his body.

'I'm confident in hiding mana, at least.'

Warriors who had gone through the confrontation with demon races and the long Age of Destruction were skilled at concealing their presence.

This method of perfectly hiding mana was something that warriors who hadn't experienced the Age of Destruction could never know, even if they were reborn.

This was more a matter of experience than strength.

But even that has its limits, so if he gained more power here, he would inevitably catch Hugo's eye.

'I'll need to find a way to protect myself soon.'

Vikir sat down in the small chair prepared in front, thinking various thoughts to himself.

Hugo opened his mouth.

"You've grown a lot since I last saw you."

Vikir was a bit surprised to hear those words.

His voice, which had always been so sharp it seemed it would cut just by listening, was quite dull today.

And the line itself was strange.

'The pig kids grow so fast, why are these ones always so small and weak every time I see them.'

This was what Hugo used to say whenever he visited the Infant Tooth Castle before the regression.

He who used to look at the children with the eyes of a butcher anxious to sell off his livestock as soon as possible, was now looking at Vikir with an unusually warm gaze.

It was a look as if he was expecting something.

"Hello, Lord."

Vikir greeted cheerfully like a child.

But Hugo seemed displeased at being addressed as 'Lord'.

"Lord? Yes, I am the lord."

He pondered something for a moment, then changed the subject as if giving up.

"I heard you crippled the triplets from the 9-year-old advanced class."

"I understand those brothers received appropriate treatment afterwards."

"I'm not talking about physical disabilities."

Hugo frowned.

"Didn't their hearts become crippled?"

"..."

"I heard that since that day, they eat separately, sleep separately, and barely speak to each other. They were boys whose combined sword technique was excellent when performed simultaneously, but now their relationship has completely fallen apart."

And that's not all. These days, all three of them wet themselves just by making eye contact with him.

A dog that has lost its fighting spirit is useless for all time.

But Vikir didn't bother to voice these thoughts.

He only stated his honest opinion confidently.

"Carrying three shabby swords at once is just heavy and useless, isn't it? A single masterpiece sword carefully forged by a master craftsman is better, right?"

Interest flickered in Hugo's eyes at those words.

"...Well, that's true."

He stroked his chin, looking down at the 8-year-old boy in front of him.

This kid made the corners of his mouth twitch involuntarily just by looking at him.

"But don't you think beating up your older brothers was wrong?"

To Hugo's words, Vikir questioned back as if puzzled.

"Wrong? What did I do wrong?"

"What do you mean, what? Didn't you turn your brothers into a mess?"

At Hugo's question, Vikir tilted his head as if he couldn't understand at all.

"Why is that wrong? I'm stronger, aren't I?"

"...What?"

Vikir drove the final nail towards the blank-faced Hugo.

"How can a strong person do something wrong?"

Respect for the strong. A world where weakness itself is a sin.

Isn't that exactly what the Baskerville family is about?

Eventually.

"..."

The corners of Hugo le Baskerville's mouth began to twitch.

As if he found this small and audacious boy in front of him adorably cute.