Episode 27 Graduater (2)
Truly, Hugo’s office, which he visited after a long time, still exudes a cold and fishy atmosphere.
Dust accumulated in old books, strong cigarette smoke, cooled coffee, and the faint smell of blood.
Like a seasoned hound, Bikir read moods through smell.
Then, a middle-aged man sitting on a chair behind the desk and looking out the window turned to face Bikir.
Hugo Les Baskerville.
Iron-blooded swordsman, the head of the Baskerville family.
His face, which he hadn’t seen in a while, resembled Hugo’s face a little more in his last memory before Vikir’s return.
suddenly. Bikir noticed a relatively recent scar across the bridge of Hugo’s nose.
It was a scar that existed even before the return, but it was not known for what reason, so Vikir stood out in his eyes.
“How are you?”
“hmm.”
Hugo gave a short answer and then nodded.
Bikir continued his casual conversation in a nonchalant tone.
When Vikir asked why he had a scar on the bridge of his nose, Hugo replied as if it was nothing special.
“I got hit by an arrow while subjugating the enemy and the barbarians of Black Mountain.”
Bikir was a little surprised.
There is someone who can wound the world’s Hugo Baskerville with an arrow.
There was no way that Hugo, who had risen to the level of a sword master, would have been hit by a blind arrow, and there must have been a sniper targeting him.
Hugo laughed.
“There’s a woman who shoots a bow well.”
“Did you catch it?”
“I didn’t catch it. But I also carved the same thing on the fox-like face.”
A swordsman like Hugo would have been able to intercept an enemy, no matter how far away, by scattering the aura of the sword’s tip.
Hugo put his hand on the bridge of his nose for a moment to see if the scar that stretched across the bridge of his nose was still throbbing.
Then, after a brief pause, he opened his mouth.
“Anyway. Congratulations on completing your education.”
“thank you.”
“It’s going to be even harder from now on.”
Vikir nodded at Hugo’s words.
As the Guardian Knight Staffordshire Baskerville said at the end of his training, from now on, it’s true.
3 years and 6 months for basic training such as acquisition of combat theory, physical training, and development of the view of the enemy.
3 years and 6 months for actual training such as combat training against real monsters and humans and survival techniques in the wild.
However, the deep and deep floods of the enemy and the Black Mountains, which will be deployed in earnest from now on, is a hell that completely denies all the survival methods that you have experienced and learned so far.
As someone said, you can only survive if you have a good bloodline or you really have to work hard with the determination to die.
‘For the next 21 months, I’ll be put into pioneering work between the enemy and Black Mountain.’
Bikir thought as he recalled his memories before returning.
If it was originally, at this point he becomes an apprentice knight of the ‘Pitbull Knights’ and is sent to the Red and Black Mountains, and then crosses countless lines of fire over the next 21 months.
Like a hunting mixed dog that would be used and discarded a few times, it was immediately put into practice.
……but.
Hugo has made a rather unexpected proposal to Bikir.
“Try to be a member of the House of Representatives.”
It was truly unexpected.
Hugo recommended Bikir to become a civil servant.
Of course, since the entire family is a Baskerville family made up of seasoned warriors, being a civil servant doesn’t mean you can’t fight.
However, among the children of the Baskerville family, those with particularly good numbers and excellent skills often went through a civil service post in the middle and then took a course to change to a military officer.
Hugo’s eldest son and second son were also taking the same course.
“A man must be strong. As with a sword, so with power.”
Vikir nodded at Hugo’s words.
As other consumables die in combat, elites learn about politics and administration both inside and outside the family.
And when the older elite finally pulls out the sword and puts it into action, consumables that have been seasoned through numerous practical experiences will assist him.
Although the elite started a little late, they use consumables like dogs, build up their skills and achievements, and grow into bigger giants through the political and administrative experiences they have learned so far.
‘……And only the elite can learn more than 5 meals of Baskerville.’
This is why consumables are not taught upper level swordsmanship beyond Baskerville’s 5th type.
Arrangements were made so that elites who entered the real battle belatedly could quickly catch up with expendable hounds with little effort.
It can be said that this is in line with the reason why high-ranking officials of the country do not teach the people to write.
“I will follow your word.”
Bikir politely bowed her head.
I tried to get away from Hugo, but on the contrary, I got closer.
However, it didn’t matter much because the hidden skills themselves weren’t that great so far, and this opportunity is rather a good thing for Vikir because he can get closer to the center of power.
Hugo gave a brief explanation of Bikir’s position in the House of Representatives.
“A member of the House of Representatives assists with the administration and legislative judicial affairs of the district within the Baskerville estate, attracts projects for the district, and handles office work. In simple terms, it can be said that he is in charge of the big and small matters within the family.”
A member of the House of Representatives who achieved success here was promoted to a Senator and dealt with matters outside the family, which was not of much interest to the current Bikir.
Slowly –
Hugo opened the drawer and took out several documents.
Deacon Barrymore quickly took up his seal and ink and assisted next to him.
“The position you will assume is the deputy consul of the city of ‘Underdog’.”
If it was an underdog poem, Bikir knew it well.
The busiest town in the vast territory ruled by the Baskervilles. No, it is an area closer to a metropolis rather than a village.
The consul refers to the position in charge of legislation and judiciary here, and the consul is in charge of assisting the consul in various ways.
Bikir said while looking at the contents written on the appointment letter.
“It’s about making and enforcing laws.”
“That’s right. Currently, both the position of consul and vice consul are vacant.”
There was a reason why all the positions of a consul and multiple consuls were vacant.
Originally, the archon of the city of Underdog was Hugo’s second son, and the second son’s maternal relatives, who received the surname of Baskerville, were sub-consuls.
However, now, Hugo’s second son has gone into long-term closed training, and the deputy consuls to replace him have been hardened when they are expelled all at once on charges of bribery.
And Hugo intends to hand over all the rights and duties of those vacancies to Vikir.
“It’s a city that has become Mujugongsan. Can you do it well?”
Bikir nodded.
The deputy consul is usually taken by people in their 30s, but sometimes those called geniuses among geniuses are in their early twenties.
And these young elites were likely to take on important roles representing the family in the future.
‘……For example, entering the academy.’
And after finishing 4 years of mathematics at the academy, returning to the family, he would immediately rise to the position of consul.
Truly an elite course among elites.
What Hugo proposed to Bikir was an unconventional personnel appointment.
“It seems you are giving me too much authority.”
“It’s also a heavy duty.”
Hugo continued with a dry smile.
“Isn’t your achievement at least ten years earlier than the geniuses in your family?
Treatment includes both rights and obligations.
The stronger the power, the heavier the mission.
If you think about it differently, as the mission became heavier, the power became stronger.
“I will try to live up to the expectations of the head of the household.”
Hugo nodded without speaking.
yet.
…earth!
Hugo’s seal was stamped on one of the documents.
With this, Bikir became the de facto consul of the underdog in a large city with a population of 500,000.
‘It’s a good thing.’
Bikir thought.
If you use the power of the subconsul wisely, you can develop your skills much more safely than if you went straight into the real world.
Hidden teeth and claws will be sharpened.
yet. Bikir opened his mouth.
“My lord.”
“……?”
Hugo raises his head.
After the business was over, the interest that had faded returned to a little warmth.
Bikir did not miss that thread of warmth and captured it.
“I’d like to tell you about the old ruby mining case in Morgue River.”
Seven years ago, the eight-year-old Vikir had done something daring against the delegation of the House of Morgue to calm Hugo’s stomach.
At that time, Hugo was obviously satisfied and promised Vikir a reward, but at the time, Vikir did not exactly ask for the type of reward.
And now, Vikir was quite clearly demanding compensation for his actions at that time.
“Can I borrow….”
At those words, Hugo looks a bit troubled.
“Hmm. Yes, that’s right. At that time, I definitely said I would give you a prize. You said you would tell me if there was anything you wanted.”
“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to listen.”
At those words, Hugo’s thick eyebrows twitched.
“It can be difficult.”
He nodded, then took out another document from the drawer and stamped the family head’s seal on it.
“I trust you won’t do anything stupid, son.”
I can’t get used to that bastard’s ‘son’ no matter how many times I hear it.
And in fact, Vikir was more surprised that Hugo readily agreed to his request than the title of son.
‘……It’s a request that I couldn’t even have dared to imagine before the return.’
It is likely that things will go more smoothly than expected.
* * *
Stepping out of the room, Bikir walks down the long hallway.
After that, Deacon Barrymore smiled gently.
“young master.”
“huh.”
“The head of the family cares about you a lot.”
Bikir kept his mouth shut without answering.
Then Deacon Barrymore continued.
“You can tell by looking at the fact that he entrusts you with the position of de facto consul instead of immediately putting him into actual combat.
If you are literally going to raise it as a hound to be used and discarded, you should send it to the battlefield right now and die.
While the hounds are seasoned with death, those who will be masters are armed with ideas and knowledge in a safe place.
And based on the foothold prepared in this way, hunting dogs leap toward the highest level that they cannot dare to approach.
After all, the lower life is dead and even if you wake up, you can’t beat the upper life. Whether it’s Wen or Wu.
It was bittersweet for Bikir, who was desperately feeling it all over again.
“That would be a story when I do well in my duties as sub-consul.”
“If you’re a master, you’re sure to do well. Even if you achieve only acceptable results there, the next academy will surely be the young boy.”
Butler Barrymore noticed that Vikir was also interested in the academy.
…Although he didn’t seem to guess why. On the other hand,
Vikir
recalled in his head the policies and eccentricities of the famous officials he had seen and heard before returning.
Soon, the letter of appointment as subconsul bearing the seal of Hugo Les Baskerville, the lord of Baskerville, the Iron-Blooded Swordsman, slipped into his pocket. “I have to show results quickly.”
There
were infinite ways to be recognized for their abilities and rise to the top in a short period of time.
And Vikir chose one of the most effective and surest ways.
