Chapter 26: The Graduate (1)

Chapter 26: The Graduate (1)

The number of people being born in Baskerville was still high, and the number of people dying was still high.

The Styx River flowed, the current pushing back the tide.

Seven years had passed since the day of the duel of the two eight-year-olds.

* * *

"This instructor can be an angel or a devil, depending on what you do!"

A short-bearded young hound was shouting in a raspy voice.

His name is Staffordshire Baskerville. Thirty-five years old. He's a veteran knight of the Graduator class.

An outsider, a commoner, not even given the middle name of Van, let alone La, but an upstanding man who had managed to cleanse his bloodline by taking the surname of Baskerville due to his outstanding qualities and straightforward heart.

In particular, his "stabbing fang" swordsmanship is said to have reached the level of the Four Teeth Baskervilles.

Four teeth, drawn to perfection.

If he's this good, he should be able to lead and teach the younger Baskervilles right now.

"Now, for the final exercise, practice makes perfect, as I'm sure you're all well aware!"

Staffordshire glanced at the fifteen- and sixteen-year-old Baskervilles in front of him.

All looked tired and weary. But the chill and poison in their eyes is growing stronger and stronger.

The young Baskervilles here, all fifteen or sixteen years old, are swordsmen who have mastered the Sword Expert junior class, Baskerville One Tooth.

Staffordshire checked the trainees' form, then turned his head again.

In the center of the training grounds that surrounded them, a huge bear stood on two paws.

Weighing in at 800 kilograms and standing three meters tall, there was something else unusual about this giant bear.

It has two sharply curved horns on top of its head.

<Oxbear>

Danger rating: A

Size: 5 meters

Found in: Ridge 7, Red and Black Mountains

-A very large bear with two massive horns.

A carnivorous bear, the strongest terrestrial predator, and a perfect killing machine, it is considered the strongest and pinnacle of the Red and Black Mountains 7th Ridge ecosystem.

A demonic creature with few natural enemies other than its own kind.

The bear carries two massive, curved buffalo horns on its head.

Its entire body is covered in thick muscle, fat, and bristly fur. Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

[grrrr...]

The beast currently on the loose in the performance hall appears to be a sub-adult, not yet fully grown.

It's also been in a cage for a long time, so its nutrition is not very good.

But that also means it's aggressive and nervous.

Staffordshire swung his sword to intimidate Oxbear, while encouraging the younger Baskervilles behind him.

"Now, we just need to do what we've been practicing on the demon's corpse. Last time we practiced on Oxbear's corpse, you all know how tough his hide is, how tight his muscles are, and which parts of his body contain which entrails."

The meek-looking Staffordshire was a different man when he stood before Oxbear.

His eyes glowed with life, and the aura emanating from the tip of his sword was like a giant's grip.

Staffordshire exuded such a terrifying aura that it overwhelmed Oxbear, but he never attacked.

Because it's not his place.

Next.

[Grrrrrr!]

Oxbear charged.

He charged like a buffalo with his two horns.

The young Baskervilles fight back, each according to their own preferences.

Some scattered to the left and right to dodge, while others swung their swords in front of them.

...BANG!

Those who dodge live, and those who meet head-on fall.

Staffordshire continued.

"If someone stronger than you is coming at you head-on, it's natural to dodge. But don't dodge by putting too much distance between you and them, but sneak around them to the side and get in a little attack."

The young hounds' advice continues.

The young hounds' eyes glowed, sucking them in like water.

"Don't be greedy and go for the kill right from the start. It's more likely to be countered. Instead, go for the center of gravity of the body, in this case the right hind leg, so that it's not as fast to move or react."

The young hounds followed their handler's instructions and repeatedly attacked the bear's legs as it stood on its two feet.

That was the common question of all the kids here.

Even the triplets, who had been the most active in this oxbear hunt, had put down their morsels of meat and were now watching.

Vikir Van Baskerville.

A child from outside the family, rumored to be Hugo's illegitimate son.

He hadn't joined the oxbear hunt, but sat alone and still in a remote part of the country.

And at Vikir's feet, a large oxbear lies dead.

A much larger one than the one that had just been killed by the combined efforts of over thirty children.

The young Baskervilles stare at Vikir, awe in their eyes.

"Is he really 15 years old like us?"

"How does he catch an oxbear by himself?"

"From what I've heard, he's already a Sword Expert?"

"He's also drawn three teeth."

"Crazy, he can use the three Baskerville form? That makes him almost like a leader hound!"

Worship of the powerful is common in any group, but it's even more pronounced in the Baskerville family.

But the truth is, Vikir doesn't pay much attention to the rumors.

"Advanced Sword Expert.'

Advanced Sword Expert means that the aura at the tip of a sword has become so dense that it can pass between gas and liquid.

The children of Les Baskervilles usually reach this stage between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, but Vikir is rumored to have achieved it by the age of fifteen.

... but.

Vikir's true hidden power was beyond that of a Graduator Intermediate.

It was a full two levels above Sword Expert, and comparable to Staffordshire, who had been his leader hound.

Moreover, considering the protection of the Styx River and the power of the demonic sword Beelzebub, his actual combat power would be even stronger than this.

If the world knew, it would be shaken to its core.

'...Currently, I've mastered five Baskerville Forms. In terms of swordsmanship alone, he has already surpassed the level before the regression."

He had never mastered a sword technique above the fourth level in his previous life.

Because of this, it would take him a little longer than he had originally planned to become a perfect Graduator Intermediate.

Meanwhile, Vikir closed his eyes and recalled the oxbear he had just killed.

It had been a close call, but the animal had been weakened by years in captivity, and he'd been able to kill it with his hidden skills.

Vikir's mind raced as he tried to figure out how good he was now, and how much he'd lost in comparison to his pre-regression skills.

He couldn't be bothered with the chatter of the Baskervilles' day pups, who were just getting their teeth.

Then.

A topic of conversation caught the attention of even Vikir, who was lost in thought.

A young Baskerville had casually mentioned something.

"... So, in our line, he's going to the Academy?"

The Academy 'Colosseo'

An Imperial compulsory school where the Seven Houses of the Empire send their young heirs to be educated.

Due to the academy's capacity limitations, the number of students admitted is limited to a small number from each family.

Naturally, only the most elite young people from each family are allowed to attend, which is something Vikir was interested in.

Of course, he doesn't have the greed for fame or the desire for education that the other kids do.

"It's a chance to get away from Hugo and improve my skills.

Of course, there's more to it than that. Like paying back a debt from a previous life, or gaining control of a hidden artifact.

As Vikir ponders his next move.

"Young master."

A voice called to him from behind.

An old voice, but still strong. A warm, gentle demeanor.

Butler John Barrymore came to stand at Vikir's side.

He was one of the few people Vikir had ever felt sorry for in his previous life, and Vikir had come to trust him.

Then Butler Barrymore leaned closer to Vikir and whispered.

"My lord wants to see you."

Hugo Les Baskervilles?

It was always unusual for him to seek out his children.

At Vikir's puzzled look, Barrymore smirked and continued.

"I believe he has decided on your position."