The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-117

Chapter 117: Love (1)

The eastern sky began to brighten.

Following Hugo’s orders from the previous night in the Giant banquet hall, Vikir arrived early in the morning at his office.

“Enroll in the academy.”

Hugo still used his straightforward manner of speaking.

A single official document was handed to Vikir.

It was a family newsletter stating that the academy was recruiting new students for the upcoming semester.

Colosseo Academy 20th Year Freshman Enrollment Notice

Application Period: Imperial Year 19, November 4th – Imperial Year 19, November 26th

Duration: 8 semesters (4 years)

Enrollment Date: Imperial Year 20, January 1st.

Colosseo Academy. A large-scale educational institution in the Great Empire Rok.

With over 7,000 students currently enrolled including academy alumni, the total exceeded 20,000.

The number of staff alone was over 4,000, making it a colossal institution.

Many noble families, including the seven major clans that supported the empire, sent new students here every year.

The fact that all young nobles of the empire could enroll here was a lifelong honor, and indeed, the academy’s graduates took pride in working as elite personnel in the imperial family and various high-ranking circles.

Starting from the Emperor of the Great Empire Rok himself, most of the heads of the seven families, along with various millionaires, leaders of large guilds, prominent scholars, and the top figures in politics, law, business, culture, media, academia, and sports all graduated from this institution.

“…”

Vikir stared silently at the official document in front of him.

Students at the academy faced no discrimination during their four years of study, and enrollment and graduation were solely determined by ability.

There was some variation, but most academy students entered at the age of 20 and graduated at 24.

Academy graduates were given the choice to stay in the royal capital and work for the imperial family or return to their original family.

Hugo hoped to return to his hometown after graduating from the academy, and his eldest son, Osiris, had also followed the same path.

And of course, Vikir also planned to follow that route without question.

“I will go.”

Vikir accepted Hugo’s proposal without hesitation.

Even before his return, he had been to the academy.

“…Of course, I wasn’t an enrolled student back then.”

He had followed along as a hunting dog, guarding the new students.

By the way, the academy’s new students at that time were the triplets, Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro.

Hugo nodded and asked Vikir, “Do you have any brothers who would want to go with you?”

The academy had reserved seats for the Baskerville family.

It’s a kind of seed assignment, considering the Baskerville brand and name value, it’s only natural.

Vikir replied without hesitation.

“I want to go with my brothers, Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro.”

He had said the same to Hugo before.

Hugo still seemed surprised but soon understood.

“Among your siblings, they seem the most capable.”

But Vikir wasn’t simply taking the triplets along for that reason.

Naturally, what happened after the Grand banquet came to mind.

“…It was unexpected.”

While Vikir was on his way to his bedroom, the triplets had paid him a visit.

Srrrk-

With expressions that hinted at a strange determination, they drew their swords and blocked Vikir’s path, Vikir had been prepared to kill them, as there were many ways to deal with them this time.

Ways to bury the events of the past as well.

But the triplets had shown a completely unexpected reaction.

…Thump!

All three knelt on their right knees in front of Vikir, bowing their heads.

The tips of their drawn blades were raised to their right insteps, and the handles pointed towards Vikir.

If Vikir simply reached out, their blades would pierce their own insteps.

It was an act of entrusting one’s life to the other, similar to a dog exposing its belly.

“What are you doing?”

Vikir asked with astonishment.

Why were they making an oath like the knights of the empire did when they met their fates?

In response, the triplets said,

“We want to repay our life debt to you.”

“Want to.”

“Want to.”

The reason they gave then and even now was still undeniably unexpected.

Since the age of nine, the triplets had feared Vikir continuously.

That fear was acknowledged when Vikir hunted Cerberus and when he killed the troll single-handedly.

And the last one, was his fight with madam eight legs.

The moment Vikir’s graduator aura exploded towards that giant monster, like death itself.

The triplets’ emotions towards Vikir changed once again.

Awe. Reverence.

A dual emotional reaction that humans feel when encountering an unreachable genius.

On that day, the day they were rescued while riding on the backs of the guardian knights and saw their helpless selves and Vikir’s power burning like the sun, the triplets’ feelings towards Vikir changed once more.

And on that day, the day they barely saved their lives, the three gathered and made a vow.

“From today, we are Vikir’s Three Spears.”

It was a vow to repay the life debt from that day.

Since then, the triplets had never disclosed anything about their feelings towards Vikir.

Two years ago, they had questioned the absurdity of the position Vikir had shown them.

Two years later, when Vikir had returned alive, they had never mentioned the fact that his achievements shown then had not grown at all compared to two years ago.

They knew.

They knew that Vikir was already an Intermediate Gladiator two years ago.

They knew that he had become much stronger in the past two years compared to then.

But even so, they had kept their owner’s secret.

Vikir quietly stroked his chin.

The three brothers, who were born as hunting dogs, needed a master to obey.

They were well aware of their skills and loyalty through their past lives.

And above all, before Vikir’s return, they were the ones who had threatened him and pushed him.

Vikir stopped reminiscing and looked at Hugo.

“Can I bring a few more seeds?

” “Do as you please,” Hugo readily nodded.

Vikir nodded silently.

In the past, Vikir had also lived in the academy as a seed assisting academy students.

Seeds took turns entering the academy each semester to assist the students of their respective families.

However, their role was nothing more than escorting and running errands.

It was a typical squire’s role.

Before his return, Vikir had entered the academy as a seed with High-bro, Middle-bro, and Low-bro.

It was nice to listen to the academy’s classes from behind, but everything else was trivial and tiring.

Errands such as washing clothes, preparing assessment materials, memorizing schedules or menus to inform, sometimes acting as a guard, sometimes resolving various disputes, and even delivering love letters on occasion.

“I received a lot of persecution back then.”

Probably because he had experienced many harsh scenes when he went back home from time to time, his face was filled with scars, and his legs were broken.

So?

When the noble children and young heirs, who had grown up nicely, saw Vikir, who came to play the role of a seed every quarter, they often frowned and showed contempt.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

After all, I ain’t going to the uni to learn something.

Vikir had two reasons for going to the academy.

First, to get away from Hugo’s surveillance and grow stronger.

Second, to deal with the “Black List” that he had written up before returning.

He thought that it might be necessary to wear the mask of the “Night Hunter” that he had sealed away again.

At that moment, Hugo spoke.

“That’s the end of the matter. You can withdraw now.”

After finishing all he had to say, Hugo immediately issued the dismissal order.

But Vikir had one thing left to deal with Hugo.

Instead of retreating, Vikir raised his head towards Hugo.

“Father. There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“……?”

It was unusual for Vikir to ask something first, so Hugo showed interest as well.

After a while, Vikir asked one thing again as if confirming with Hugo.

“Two years ago, due to my disappearance, our family gained significant advantages in negotiations with Morg.”

Hugo nodded in response to Vikir’s straightforward words.

Vikir continued immediately.

“And Father, you said that because of this incident, you would reward me.”

“Yes, I said that I would provide an appropriate reward. We are still discussing it.”

Since the reward Vikir had earned was quite significant, it wouldn’t be a straightforward matter to settle it with a suitable reward.

Therefore, while Hugo was still pondering, Vikir was the one to bring up the topic first.

“I would like to receive that reward now.”

“Oh? Have you come up with something you want?”

Vikir wanting something was also quite rare.

Hugo looked at his son’s face with a raised eyebrow.

Finally, Vikir spoke.

“What I want is for you to answer my question honestly.”

“……?”

Hugo’s brow furrowed slightly.

It could be a request that might be uncomfortable to hear.

Hugo spoke.

“What’s the question?”

“Then, with your permission, I will ask.”

Vikir locked eyes with Hugo and asked with a much more straightforward attitude than Hugo.

“What was the relationship between your deceased first wife, the late Marchioness Roxana, and you?”

Upon hearing this, Hugo’s entire body tensed up.

Could this be the expression of a dragon whose reverse scale had been touched?

Extreme agitation. Hugo was reacting in a way that Vikir had never seen before.

“…What are you trying to do right now?”

Hugo’s voice became extremely cold.

An icy aura, an aura of extreme coldness, emanated slowly from his entire body.

But Vikir remained nonchalant.

Despite the fact that all the intimacy and favorability he had built up until now were plummeting, he showed no sign of movement.

Hugo spoke.

“Leave now.”

“…….”

“Academy enrollment, forget about it. It’s a complete blank slate.”

Hugo clapped his hands.

Reversing a decision based on emotions was something he had never done in his entire life.

But Vikir remained unfazed.

“I understand that the academy enrollment has been canceled.”

“……”

“However, the trade benefits our family gained due to my disappearance two years ago cannot be canceled.”

In other words, he wanted a quick answer.

Hugo expressed his irritation with an expression that Vikir had never seen before.

“What kind of answer do you want to hear, damn it!”

“Just the answer to the question,”

Vikir asked with an unwavering tone.

“How did you feel towards Marchioness Roxana?”

The cheerful face of Pomeranian was floating in Vikir’s mind.

What kind of reaction would Hugo show when he found out about the existence of his granddaughter, whom he didn’t even know existed?

Would he react with disgust and rage like now? There was a high probability.

“…Because he’s an emotionless human being.”

The first wife he had met through a strategic marriage, the daughter who was born from their union and was kidnapped by natives, and the mixed-blood granddaughter born from the natives’ blood.

Vikir had already considered over 365 possible reactions that Hugo might have upon learning about Pomeranian’s existence, and he had taken measures to benefit both himself and Pomeranian in any case.

…But?

What hugo said next, shocked Vikir to the core.

“She was the only woman I ever loved in my entire life.”