The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 180 Random Defense in the Midterm Exam (2)

Out of the blue, the triplets from Baskerville appeared, and they addressed Vikir with an assertive attitude.

“Hey, commoner. Hurry up and follow us. Since it’s a group test, we need to coordinate in advance.”

Highbro said arrogantly to Vikir.

“….”

Vikir quietly carried all of the triplets’ belongings. He looked like a porter, to say the least.

And just as he was about to follow Highbro.

“Wait a minute, Vikir.”

Someone stood in his way. It was Tudor

He spoke to Vikir in a low voice, filled with anger.

“I’m not trying to disrespect you. I’m just really angry. Can you let me talk to them for a moment?”

“?”

Vikir stood there blankly.

Taking that as permission, Tudor walked up to Highbro and opened his eyes.

In a voice so low that only he could hear it, he said, “Who do you think you are, bossing my friend around? Vikir is not your damn subordinate.”

“Huh?”

“And you guys can carry your luggage yourselves. There’s no distinction between nobles and commoners inside the academy.”

Beneath Tudor’s calm voice, there was a simmering anger.

Highbro turned to Tudor with a bewildered look, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

In the background, Middlebro and Lowbro were also glaring at Tudor.

Then, Sancho stepped up to Tudor.

And next to him, there was Figgy with a determined expression.

Shiver…

Figgy’s two legs were trembling uncontrollably, but he didn’t take a step back.]

Tudor shrugged and stepped closer to Highbro.

“I don’t know what kind of nonsense is going on here, but don’t try to force Vikir into your team. He’s supposed to be in the same group as us.”

“…Who do you think you are to persecute our friend?”

Highbro had a puzzled expression on his face.

But, as is often the case with Baskerville’s hunting dogs, Highbro couldn’t hold back for long.

Sss…

Tudor stopped short, feeling a sharp aura emanating from Highbro.

Tudor was the current top-ranking member of the Cold Department, and he shared the top spot with Bianca.

However, Highbro Baskerville, who was also in the Cold Department Class B, finished second overall, and he wasn’t far behind Tudor or Bianca.

Moreover, behind him were Middlebro, ranked third, and Lowbro, ranked fourth.

On this side were Tudor, the top-ranked member, and Sancho, ranked fifth, along with Figgy, who didn’t have a ranking.

In a head-to-head confrontation, it was an inevitable fact that they were at a disadvantage in terms of overall power.

“…Shall we have a match? Should I defeat you again?”

“…Do you think you know what a real battle is?”

Tudor Donquixote and Highbro Baskerville confronted each other, revealing their intentions.

The confrontation between ‘Tudor Donquixote of the Donquixote Clan’ and ‘Highbro Baskerville of the Iron Blooded Baskerville Clan,’ the empire’s leading spear and sword users, was about to begin.

Then, some sided with Tudor, Sancho, and Figgy.

“Who are you to persecute our friend?”

“It’s not a pretty sight to see you all ganging up on him. Men…”

When Sinclaire and Bianca joined forces, Tudor’s expression brightened.

Sinclaire and Bianca, representing the Hot Department and the Cold Department, respectively, brought tremendous reinforcement to their side.

On the other hand, Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro’s expressions became even more rigid.

“Persecution, you say. We were just…”

“Just…”

“Just…”

The triplets hesitated as if they wanted to say something but ultimately closed their mouths.

“Enough.”

Vikir stepped forward.

Vikir stood behind the Baskerville triplets and spoke.

“I’m not going because I’m being forced. We made the team together because it’s a real alliance.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, they needed my knowledge about monsters, so they suggested forming a team first. This happened a few weeks ago.”

In that case, there’s not much else to say.

Tudor scratched his chin, looking perplexed, and then leaned in closer to Vikir’s ear, whispering,

“Are you really not being harassed or anything like that?”

“No, I’m not. I’m fine.”

“Alright, then. Well, if you ever come across any difficulties, just let me know.”

“Thank you.”

As Vikir nodded, Tudor withdrew with a somewhat disappointed expression.

Sinclaire also fidgeted her fingers as if she was upset.

“Big Brother, are you really in the same group as those people?”

“Yeah.”

“Why? Are you close to them?”

“In a way.”

Vikir’s response left Tudor, Sancho, Figgy, Bianca, and Sinclaire all raising their eyebrows in unison.

As far as they knew, Vikir had never socialized with the Baskerville triplets since he enrolled.

So how did he suddenly become friends with them?

“…Doesn’t look like you’re very close. Are you really not being harassed?”

Watching Vikir, who was carrying the triplets’ luggage like a porter, Tudor mumbled in concern, as if he worried that the vulnerable Vikir might face some trouble.

* * *

Tudor’s intuition was right on the mark. Vikir wasn’t particularly close with the Baskerville triplets. And indeed, there was actual harassment occurring, even though the roles of the instigator and victim was reversed.

In a secluded alley,

“Attention.”

When Vikir finally spoke softly, three immediate responses echoed from below:

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro were on the ground, banging their heads and responding fervently with a concentrated focus.

Vikir’s gaze remained perched on Highbro’s back as he addressed him.

“You.”

Vikir gazed down at Highbro and in an emotionally detached voice, inquired, “What happens to hunting dogs that bare their fangs without their master’s permission?”

“…They get punished.”

Highbro answered in a subservient tone.

What if a hunting dog, in the act of hunting, disregards its master’s command and seizes the prey on its own? Such a hunt is almost guaranteed to fail. For a hunter, a failed hunt does not simply mean missing the prey. A hunter can always become the prey. Therefore, a hunting dog must always unquestionably obey its master’s orders if it doesn’t want to end up as the hunted prey.

Vikir’s gaze descended from Highbro’s trembling back.

“Get up.”

“Getting up!”

“Getting up!”

“Getting up!”

Triplets said in Unison.

“From now on, any fight without permission is strictly prohibited. Even petty arguments. For life.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro fervently responded. Their expressions brightened despite the reprimand. Why? It was because of the final words Vikir had spoken.

‘For life.’

What did those words mean?

‘…He’ll be with us for life!’

They were no longer ‘Baskerville’s Three Spears or Baskerville’s Tridents’ as they had vowed allegiance to Vikir while being recommended to the academy. Their situation had changed drastically from the constant fear of being discarded within their family. With a confirmed master who promised not to abandon them, a dog promised to its owner is bound to become ten times more courageous.

Moreover, witnessing the battle between Madam Eightlegs and Vikir firsthand, they had an idea of Vikir’s true strength.

The triplets were sure.

Their master would one day swallow Baskerville whole. Furthermore, he would place the entire world under his feet. Thus, they willingly pledged their loyalty beneath him, gladly and with joy.

As it is a dog’s fortune to meet a good master, it’s a knight’s fortune to serve a great lord. This was their belief.

Meanwhile,

“I don’t particularly like standing out in people’s eyes. I inadvertently stood out a bit, but it’s troublesome for me,” Vikir admonished the triplets.

The triplets nodded trustingly.

“We’ll handle the midterm exam well on our own.”

“We’ll handle it.”

“We’ll handle it.”

With Vikir as the backline, the triplets would handle everything else. Vikir would stay behind passively, only taking arrow shots when needed. This way, they could achieve decent test scores and stay unnoticed.

Highbro explained everything about the test to Vikir.

“When our 69th team enters the arena, the virtual reality magic circle will activate. The surroundings will transform into a dungeon, and monsters will swarm in. The poison the monsters emit is diluted, but it’s still real, so it’s dangerous to absorb too much. But please don’t worry, my lord. We will protect you like a fortress.”

“Good to know. Have you practiced this before?”

“When my lord left the family, I tried a few times in the family’s training ground. It’s not a very difficult test as long as you hold out as long as possible until the HP you’ve been given drops from 100 to 0. However, it’s a team test, so you have to pay some attention to your teammates’ survival in addition to gaining your own kill and assist points.”

From the moment they were born, the Baskerville hounds have been navigating life and death. So this kind of virtual reality game is just a joke to them.

“Physical damage doesn’t apply until the HP drops from 100 to 0, and poison damage applies from the beginning, right?”

“That’s correct. If any accidents happen, it’s said that the instructors will come directly to the arena after disabling the magic barrier.”

Since the monsters are also created by the professors, it was a test that couldn’t be safer.

“Kill or assist, go wild as much as you want. I won’t move a finger.”

At Vikir’s words, the three brothers, Highbro, Middlebro, and Lowbro, smiled. It felt like watching three puppies given permission to run and play without a care in the world.

And then,

“Beep-beep!”

With a horn sound, the announcement for the next test-takers echoed.

[1st-year team 69! Four 1st-year team 69 students, please proceed to the arena now!]

The assessment for 1st-year students had just begun.