C20: Morgue Camille (Part 1)
As the saying goes, when there are ten people, there are ten different lives, and when there are a hundred people, there are a hundred different lives.
The lives of individuals exhibit various forms that cannot be categorized by a single formula.
However...
Within the Baskerville of the Iron Blood Sword Clan, human lives are neatly organized and established as if following a strict formula.
One representative formula is as follows:
Sword Novice = Mage Circle 1
Sword Expert Intermediate = Mage Circle 2
Sword Expert Advanced = Mage Circle 3
Sword Graduate Novice = Mage Circle 4
Sword Graduate Intermediate = Mage Circle 5
Sword Graduate Advanced = Mage Circle 6
Sword Master = Mage Circle 7
It is a substitution of the realm of swordsmanship with the realm of magic.
Furthermore, while others may easily give in to age, the young hunting dogs of Baskerville cannot afford to do so.
They undergo rigorous training that is akin to being on constant alert.
The process of assimilating these training sessions generally shows a sequential and schematic growth pattern.
If we re-establish it as a formula, it would be as follows:
Sword Novice = 15 years old
Sword Expert Intermediate = 18 years old
Sword Expert Advanced = 20 years old
Sword Graduate Novice = 30 years old
Sword Graduate Intermediate = 35 years old
Sword Graduate Advanced = 40 years old
Sword Master = ? years old
The young hunting dogs of Baskerville mostly follow the following formula for their growth.
In Baskerville, young children typically experience their first mana resonance and sensitivity around the age of 7 or 8. At this stage, they can barely concentrate mana in their hands and feel its warmth.
The stage where they can wield mana in their swords and emit an aura comes at around 15 years old. This stage is referred to as Sword Expert Novice.
Furthermore, the swordsmanship supported by mana is also important. Most members of Baskerville learn the Baskerville-style swordsmanship, which is divided into levels such as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and so on.
Starting from Level 1, where they can draw a single line with the tip of their sword, to Level 2, where they can draw two lines, Level 3, 4, 5, and so on, up to the level where they can draw multiple lines.
Considering that most young Baskerville members who reach the Sword Expert Novice stage at 15 years old acquire Level 1 of Baskerville-style swordsmanship, the following formula holds true:
Sword Expert Novice = Baskerville Level 1, one line
Sword Expert Intermediate = Baskerville Level 2, two lines
Sword Expert Advanced = Baskerville Level 3, three lines
Sword Graduate Novice = Baskerville Level 4, four lines
Sword Graduate Intermediate = Baskerville Level 5, five lines
Sword Graduate Advanced = Baskerville Level 6, six lines
Sword Master = Baskerville Level 7, seven lines
However, only those who can master the 5th level or higher of swordsmanship are considered elite among the elites.
This applies only to the successors of the family enemies of the Baskerville.
There is no one who does not know that Hugo Le Baskerville, the family boss, can draw seven teeth now.
And there is no one who does not know that the eldest son of Hugo, who is currently dispatched to a distant place, can draw five teeth, and the second son, who is undergoing closed training, can draw four teeth.
On the other hand, those who bear the surname "Van" and are not recognized as enemies, such as servants or illegitimate children, cannot master swordsmanship of the 5th level or higher, regardless of how much mana they accumulate or how old they are.
Therefore, even if they become graduates of the Sword Graduate level, there is an obvious limit to the number of teeth they can draw.
However, there is no one who complains about this.
None. None. None. None.
The Baskerville's swordsmanship was so great that even mastering the 4th level of swordsmanship was enough to make the world tremble.
...However.
There are exceptions even within this great Baskerville.
Those irregulars who deviate from the standardized progression stages.
The dogs that fall behind because they cannot keep up with the standardized development stages, no matter how much they deviate.
These things were not particularly surprising. They were simply disposed of on-site.
Those who die during training and disappear as practical experience for their siblings, those who die or go missing during missions and remain only as numbers in casualty reports, those who are assassinated according to internal and external relationships within the family, and occasionally those who desert...
The casualties of the Baskerville overflow, but they decrease as the years go by.
Everyone becomes more experienced as they age.
However.
There were very few irregulars who deviated from the standard in a slightly different sense.
Existences within the Baskerville, also known as the genius families, who lead to genius individuals.
Osiris Le Baskerville, the eldest son of Hugo Le Baskerville and the owner of the cow, is one of those individuals.
The small sun that will pull the Baskerville in the future. A presence that everyone gathers to praise as a genius.
There was no doubt that Osiris was the greatest genius in the family until now.
However, recently, a rumor had spread.
A pearl cloud rising in infancy. A small sun that was floating under the sun.
A rumor spread within the family that another genius appeared to succeed Osiris Baskerville, the owner of the cow.
Vikir Van Baskerville. Eight years old.
According to the official recognition by the family boss, Hugo Le Baskerville, this child prodigy has recently reached the rank of "Sword Expert Intermediate," a genius among geniuses.
Swordsmanship skills that can draw two teeth and mana equivalent to the second circle for a magician.
This existence has achieved a level that other siblings can only reach when they are 18 years old, at the young age of eight.
Therefore, even the Baskervilles, who have no interest in their siblings or others, occasionally discussed Vikir when three or more of them gathered.
"...Really? There's a child like that?"
"Which branch is he from? Is he from the Van family? Hm, then it would be impossible to know the source."
"It's worth raising. Otherwise, we should...".
With interest or indifference, sometimes considering their own gains and losses.
That's how Vikir already revealed his sharp fangs.
On the other hand.
"Damn fools."
Meanwhile, Vikir himself, the subject of the rumor, paid no attention to the gaze or reputation of those around him.
He already knew which way the power dynamics and dirty struggles within the family would flow.
How could he not? He had lived his life, changing sides and riding the tide for decades.
...Clank! Thud!
As he watched the dropping haggis on the plate, Vikir thought to himself.
"I tried to show even just two fangs. That should be enough."
Now that he had revealed his true abilities, he would be able to utilize the infrastructure within the family to some extent.
As mentioned before, to truly develop his skills and break free from Hugo's surveillance network, it would be beneficial to gain recognition within certain boundaries.
Vikir sat in a corner of the restaurant, sipping his haggis alone.
With each gulp that passed beyond his throat, through the tangy and pungent meat porridge, Vikir contemplated many thoughts.
First and foremost, his hidden true abilities.
"The officially acknowledged skills are Baskerville Style 2 and Sword Expert Intermediate."
However, Vikir's true power corresponds to Baskerville Style 4, the level of a Sword Graduate.
Thanks to his deep understanding at Mansang School, he was also on the verge of advancing to Sword Graduate Intermediate.
If his swordsmanship continued to progress as it had, breaking through the barrier of Style 5 would not be difficult.
"I'll reach Sword Graduate Advanced before I turn 17."
By then, his swordsmanship would also be comparable to carnivores. It would be different from the regression he was once limited to at Style 4.
Furthermore...
...Squirm!
The spoon that was stirring the haggis suddenly twitched.
It was Baalzepub, the gluttonous fly, hiding in the right wrist artery.
<Baalzepub, the Ravenous Fly> / Dagger
Slot 1: Burn (Kerberos - A+)
Slot 2: Bleeding (Hellhound - B+)
Slot 3: Super Regeneration (Troll - C+)
Baalzepub erased the skill of the rat that was in Slot 3 and took the skill of the troll he had recently killed, filling the empty slot.
The opponent had Bleeding, while Baalzepub had Super Regeneration. It was a truly dreadful combination.
With the addition of this ability, Vikir thought that he would be able to exhibit much stronger power than an ordinary Sword Graduate.
Continuing to eat his haggis, Vikir pondered these thoughts.
Already on his sixth serving, he couldn't help but think that his appetite had unnecessarily increased after absorbing Baalzepub.
And then.
"...Um, excuse me."
At the sound of someone calling from behind, Vikir stopped his contemplation and turned his head.
"Hmm?"
He saw unexpected individuals standing behind him.
The triplets: Highbro Le Baskerville, Middlebro Le Baskerville, and Lowbro Le Baskerville.
These three would later be known as the "Trident of Baskerville" and they were standing behind Vikir.
Vikir furrowed his brow.
"Look at these bastards."
Was there a need to ask about business or anything? He immediately spoke harshly.
As Vikir narrowed his eyes, the triplets instinctively felt fear.
Were there any other creatures in this world as easy to handle as frightened dogs?
As Vikir tightly gripped the spoon that was stirring the haggis, the triplets clapped their hands right away.
"Oh, no! Not that!"
"We just...!"
"About the time when you fought Kerberos and the troll, it was awesome!"
...?
Vikir momentarily didn't understand the situation and had to furrow his brow.
"A multi-directional warfare tactic? Or is it some kind of deception?" he thought.
However, looking at the trio in front of him, who were sending mixed signals, he couldn't see any signs of such advanced psychological warfare.
If he were to meet their gaze silently, he couldn't help but feel a strange atmosphere that wasn't quite familiar.
...Hmph!
Just as Vikir finished preparing to throw a spoon toward the foreheads of these three dogs,
"Lord."
Another voice came from beside him.
When he turned his head, he saw the butler Barrymore standing there in a polite manner.
He appeared without Vikir knowing when. As usual, he approached Vikir with a polite tone and brought up the matter.
"The family boss is looking for you."
Hugo Le Baskerville.
He was currently sitting on the sofa near the window, visibly annoyed.
"Is the butler not here yet?"
In response to Hugo's question about Barrymore, a maid hastily lowered her head.
"I saw him entering the lobby on the first floor just now. Lord Vikir is with him."
"He'll be coming up soon."
Hugo turned his head to the side after shaking his head.
Sitting on the adjacent sofa was a middle-aged man with a well-groomed mustache.
Morg Adolf.
He was a representative of the Morg family, known as a rival magical noble family to the esteemed sword-bearing Baskerville family.
As the younger brother of Morg Lespane, the family head of Morg, he was a key figure in the Morg family who always attended external events as a proxy for the family head.
Adolf raised the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
Then, with a sly smile, he stared at Hugo.
"I hope this year's annual event goes smoothly without any mishaps."
The annual event mentioned by Adolf referred to the friendly competition between the Baskerville and Morg families.
According to the decree of the former emperor, who proclaimed "magic and swords are complementary existences," Baskerville and Morg held joint training once a year.
Although it was a showcase event only for children aged 8 to 15, intended to uphold the dignity of the royal family.
Even so, tensions were high due to the ownership dispute over a newly discovered ruby mine in the neutral territory between the two families.
Amidst such an atmosphere, Adolf, the younger brother of Morg's family head, personally visited.
While the stated purpose of the visit was to promote friendship through the annual event, the true intentions remained to be seen.
Hugo responded indifferently, as if it were of no importance.
"Joint training? Well, there's usually no trouble, so it went by."
"Ha ha ha. Didn't Baskerville and Morgga's children each suffer injuries last year?"
"It was a matter of life and death. They received treatment in time. Can you consider that as a setback?"
Adolf's temples throbbed at Hugo's casual remark.
Adolf, who had briefly shown a smile on his face, cleared his throat a few times and changed the subject.
"Ahem. Hm. Then let's talk about the joint training this time. Oh, by the way!"
Adolf, who seemed to be getting to the point, suddenly remembered something and opened his mouth as if he had just thought of it.
"I heard a story that a supernova appeared in Baskerville. I really want to see it. I have high expectations."
"...Well, we were just summoning it right now."
Hugo replied nonchalantly.
However, Adolf, who had keen observation skills, did not miss the subtle upward movement of Hugo's mouth corner.
'To think that this lizard-like person would react to praise for his child. Something's fishy.'
It was quite surprising. Adolf briefly thought that he should report it to the family boss when he returned and continued speaking.
"A genius who appears once in a hundred years in the staunch Sword Baskerville. It's a great fortune for the Empire."
"It's not something to be overly excited about."
Hugo replied with a formal tone.
However, Adolf's subsequent words were quite provocative.
"Well, you could call this a coincidence. In fact, even in our Morgga family, there is a genius who appears once in a hundred years or so."
Hugo's eyebrows twitched at those words.
Adolf smiled politely and stretched his hand towards the parlor door on one side.
"Hey, Camus. Come in and greet the family boss of Baskerville."
Then, by the power of magic, the door opened by itself.
Following behind the butlers, there was a small girl who entered.
Fiery red hair, eyes that sparkled like rubies.
A cute nose and tightly closed lips, revealing determined and steady teeth, a face that exuded a magical aura.
Camus Morgga.
The 8-year-old girl, without any trace of fear, confidently walked up and stood next to Adolf.
Hugo's brow slightly furrowed.
The supernova of the Morgga family, known to appear once in a hundred years, even within the prestigious magical lineage of Morgga where only magical geniuses gather.
A girl who hears the voices of geniuses, even in the Morgga, known as the magical declaration.
Morgga Camille.
Clutching the hem of her father's cloak and shining her eyes brightly, this innocent appearance could even soften the expression of the mighty Hugo.
However, despite the girl's cuteness, Adolf's statement was quite provocative.
"We also have an 8-year-old genius. Let's see the level of your 8-year-old genius."
The Morgga family had thrown down the gauntlet by challenging their children.
"...Hmph. You think you're something special. Are you trying to fit in with such a petty provocation?"
At the moment when Hugo was about to turn his head, unable to find any worthiness in the confrontation, Camus's bombshell remark immobilized him.
"Sir, is it that thief who stole our Ruby Mine?"
