Iron Blooded Hound

Chapter 115: Hidden Agendas

Set Les Baskervilles. He had been speaking to Vikir in a gentle, pleasant way on account that earlier.

"How is it to be home after a long time? Is it tough to modify? Does your brother assist you?"

"My father and brother are a chunk cold, aren't they, however they're being enormously mild with you, due to the fact you're younger and gifted, and for a person like me who has no expertise, they're like icy...."

"try this, too. It's mainly organized via my favorite chef. It's scrumptious, isn't it? Sturgeon roe baked with cream~"

"I'll come in your room later, so tell me about your revel in inside the depht. I'm susceptible, so I'm usually in the medical or pulmonary training hall. Oh, my training hall is likewise very close to Underdog metropolis, wherein you were the deputy leader!"

"Come to think of it, thanks to you, the town of Underdog became plenty greater peaceful, right? It's a great issue. initially, I need to were there as an deputy... ... i've a susceptible frame and little skills, so it's miles a burden to sit in an important seat."

"it would be first-class to have a brother as succesful as you to assist me run things, haha-"

Seth talks to Vikir constantly for the sake of no longer making him sense awkward.

He even greets the servants who carry him meals one at a time.

A normal half-breed hound might be crushed by using this kindness and friendliness from Set.

So might Vikir before the regression.

but.

The submit-Regression Vikir is specific.

"...."

Vikir stared into Set's face as he spoke softly to him.

For a long time, Set were surprisingly good-hearted and worrying for the people round him.

due to this, he changed into no longer properly-appreciated by means of Hugo or Osiris, and because of this, he changed into always sad and sullen.

the more youthful Vikir, earlier than his regression, had a liking for him.

... but.

Now, as a pro veteran of the Age of Destruction and an iron-blooded hound, Vikir saw Set in a one-of-a-kind light.

'Set Les Baskervilles' became presumably now not human.

Vikir recalled the statistics Sindiwendi had sent him last night.

In reality, he didn't need to bear in mind it.

The stench from Set's mouth had been making him sick to his belly.

The sort of scent that could make even the maximum squeamish Vikir struggle to hold a directly face.

but no person else within the region should odor the stench emanating from Set.

Vikir knew exactly what it turned into.

"It's the odor of a demon."

This excessive stench, a aggregate of soaking intestines and rotting corpses, should only be smelled through hounds from the Age of Destruction.

before my return, i was numb to the odor of the arena as it became so omnipresent, but when I smelled it within the non violent international after my go back, I knew it right now.

Fahrr...

It turned into an unholy fragrance, so foul that even Beelzebub, who lurked within the veins of his arteries, and even the wraith of Madame, who become imprisoned in Beelzebub's orb, were apprehensive.

'Why does Set's frame emit the sort of foul odor?'

Vikir speedy regained his composure.

next, Vikir sipped from his goblet.

The crimson glistening surface meditated the photographs of Hugo, Osiris, and Set.

but.

To Vikir's marvel, there were best reflections in the glass.

Hugo and Osiris. there was no reflection of Set in the glass.

'See?'

Vikir questioned to himself.

Demons. Beings of the demonic realm.

they may be normally divided into demons and beasts.

The difference among the 2 is that demons talk to better demons with spirituality, even as demonic beasts check with monsters.

that is similar to the difference between people and animals.

even as a standard demonic beast may be visible in a reflect and meditated in water..., this was now not the case with demons.

They can't be seen in mirrors or water until they use unique magic to deliberately cover their look.

It's some thing that everybody will study (and pay for costly lessons) inside the Age of Destruction, but for now, no person is aware of.

...except for Vikir, that is.

'You permit your defend down, Set.'

Vikir concept as he drained his glass.

Set had become too boastful to even trouble looking his glass.

He is probably carrying the shell of the second son, however under, he became likely a completely extraordinary individual.

Vikir recalled the stories of these round him approximately Set.

'master Set, he's a great guy. when he turned into younger, he turned into blunt and bloodless, like maximum of the alternative Baskervillians, however on account that... 'that unfortunate incident,' he's changed plenty. I'd say he's emerge as softer.'

'What? The unlucky incident? Oh, through the way, I'm handiest telling you this for grasp Vikir's sake... In reality, master Set once tried suicide, the night he become critically scolded by his grasp for his lack of talent....'

'happily, we stuck him early sufficient to store his life, however he turned into so traumatized by means of it that he's been absolutely gentle and affectionate ever considering the fact that, likely because of that near-demise enjoy....'

as soon as upon a time, Vikir had started a small hearth in Baskerville's extraordinary library.

He had protected it up for the servants after they became restless, and that they have been pleasant to him ever since.

based totally on the statistics he'd gotten from the servants, Vikir reasoned.

'The actual Set possibly died that day, and the ... demon took over the empty shell.'

all at once, any other notion occurred to him.

usually speakme, for demons, the blood of human children is treated as a medicine.

As Sindiwendi's research discovered, the big-scale abduction in Underdog turned into no longer simply centered on abduction.

Orphans have disappeared from severa orphanages and childcare foundations.

They were followed right here and there through formal or informal channels, and then all have been misplaced.

They most effective existed on paper.

Sindiwendi used cash and informants to track down the missing youngsters.

The remaining place that they had in common become the training middle where Set Les Baskervilles become training.

It's a community now not far from the city of Underdog.

"once I took over a childcare basis, I investigated the adoption course of the children inside the call of donations, and that i eventually located out approximately this illegally.

i will see Sindiwendi's face in my head.

Vikir listened very carefully, for this was also the cause why he had been accomplished before his regression.

Demons suck the blood of children.

Vikir, who become serving Set on the time, become accused of being in league with the demons because a large quantity of bones with the blood of younger youngsters had been located within the cellar near his room.

And executed. He regressed.

'perhaps... really perhaps, Hugo is not guilty.'

It became not likely, but not not possible.

Hugo, who knew nothing, might have performed Vikir out of sheer selfishness.

He could have been fooled by means of the conspiracy of his second son, Set.

Vikir concept grimly.

"The question is, how a long way has Set's soul eroded?"

A stench this sturdy approach it's nearly a hundred% ate up.

Set must have harbored quite a few resentment, hatred, inferiority complexes, lack of love, and self-unfavorable emotions towards his father and brother earlier than he died, and that's how you open the door for your soul and invite demons in.

Vikir stroked his chin once.

the belief that the only master he had ever observed before his regression turned into actually the mastermind of the lifeless canine Cooking does no longer shake him.

as an alternative, I felt my blood run cold.

however Set, ignorant of Vikir's mystery, persevered to speak to him in a pleasant manner.

"So, little brother, which of the Knights do you like best? I like the Wolfhounds the first-rate. well, pit bulls and mastiffs are precise, too. Oh, and in my view, I used to just like the Doberman Knights satisfactory while i was a child, they have the good uniforms!"

"...."

"So, now that you're again home, what are you going to do, get into the academy in spite of everything? properly, that's what your brother Osiris did. Or are you going to stay on at Underdog as a Deputy magistrate, I heard your favored citizens were protesting for a everlasting position? maybe we will work collectively when I return to the Justice of the Peace's workplace!"

Set rambled on at the same time as Vikir stabbed a bit of meat along with his fork.

Vikir changed into pretty much to frown at the foul smell from Set's mouth.

"Moderation."

Osiris interrupted Set.

while Set shut up, Osiris spoke in a chilly tone.

"How chatty you are, even though you haven't completed your meal."

"...."

"finish your meal and don't interrupt your brother's meal together with your chatter."

With that, Set shut up and bowed his head.

Vikir turned into eventually freed from the stench of demons on Set's breath.

'It's distinctive seeing you want this.'

Vikir pulled again slightly and watched the relationship among Osiris and Set.

the more youthful Vikir, before the regression, would have understood what had just happened as Osiris persecuting Set.

What had just befell would were seen because the bloodless and boastful firstborn driving a wedge among the opposite middle children.

In fact, the servants around him had been making eye touch, indicating that Osiris had gone too a ways.

They pitied Set, who shook his head in disbelief.

but most effective then did Vikir see the connection between Osiris and Set.

Osiris felt an indescribable soreness and distance from Set, which become why he turned into trying to preserve his other siblings far from him.

that is why he frowned at Set each time he opened his mouth, as if he smelled a horrific smell.

In other words, Osiris's genius instincts and senses are subconsciously disliking Set's demonic nature.

It was the equal with Hugo.

'...So perhaps I, who served beneath Set before my regression, had a chin to appearance true on.'

Vikir grew to become and looked at Osiris.

although bloodless and remote, there was a glimmer of humanity under.

a lot more human than Hugo.

besides, Osiris were looking out for Vikir, a newcomer to the super ceremonial dinner, in his own way.

despite the fact that it became in his very own way.

"Vikir. Knife #three need to not be held to your hand."

"Tilt the plate to the other aspect. Don't make a scraping sound along with your utensils."

"You want to brush up on your aristocratic eating etiquette. Napkins aren't folded in that course."

it is able to appear like a high-pressure lecture, however it's truely just a way to preserve an eye on your more youthful brother to ensure he doesn't make a mistake in the front of your father or different adults in the house.

And there was no reason to be angry because he turned into most effective declaring the things that have been incorrect, and he simplest chose the proper phrases.

If there's something wrong, you just repair it, and Osiris doesn't say a great deal about the development.

Of route, if it were a ordinary child, they would were scared and cowered.

'He's a chunk of a jerk, but... doesn't seem as bad as I idea he changed into.'

no longer so with Vikir.

After 3 scoldings, Vikir confirmed such top desk manners that he didn't want to be scolded anymore.

handiest then did Osiris' lips curl into a mild smile of satisfaction.

"I see. Now there's a bit of the Aristocracy."

The clumsy warmth grows a touch stronger.

* * *

With that, the long meal got here to an stop.

The Baskerville own family's superb feast takes two hours for the appetizers on my own and about five hours for the complete meal.

by the time it become over, it become almost nighttime.

Vikir was approximately to leave the dinner party hall.

"... wait."

Hugo stopped him.

"There's some thing I need to speak to you about, son."

"yes, Father."

Vikir stood upright in front of Hugo.

Hugo stared at him for a moment, then spoke.

"No, no. It's overdue these days, so come lower back tomorrow morning."

"Do you have any in addition engagements after nighttime?"

"No, I don't. I just idea you might be worn-out."

Vikir was surprised again.

despite the fact that he had no plans in a while, Hugo turned into inclined to attend till the next day morning because he was afraid he'd be tired?

This Hugo who only knew his own time?

He changed into the type of man who would switch on the lighting of the whole citadel and rouse all the people from their shut eye at the hours of darkness or sunrise if he needed to.

He might dispose of talking to his son till the morning for dread of his tiredness.

The servants drew the curtains of the western home windows early, as opposed to the japanese ones, for the sun would possibly rise within the west day after today.

Vikir's tongue changed into nevertheless in his cheek.

"...."

Vikir bowed his head, his expression nonchalant.

Then, as Hugo left the dinner party hall, Vikir and Butler Barrymore have been on my own.

Butler Barrymore turned to Vikir with a smirk on his face.

"possibly the Lord is calling to speak about your admission to the Academy. Congratulations in advance, grasp."

"How do you know that?"

Vikir requested, and Butler Barrymore spoke in a tone of fact, as if he had known it would appear.

"because I acquired a letter from the Academy remaining night pronouncing the brand new elegance."

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