Chapter 99: The Baskerville Hound
“Woof woof! Woof woof! Woof woof!”
The barking echoed through the forest, and upon hearing it, the old wolf, who had just been about to pounce, trembled all over and suddenly stopped.
Although that nightmare had happened decades ago, this sound still struck a fear deep in the old wolf’s heart.
Truth be told, he could no longer even rember exactly what had happened to him that day.
The only thing that remained imprinted in his mory was this barking.
The fur on his head had already been burned black, yet at this mont the old wolf had no ti to worry about that.
He even instinctively backed up two steps, his tail subconsciously tucked between his legs———it seed that becoming a werewolf did not co with only advantages.
At least right now, even Levi could clearly see it.
This guy was scared.
“Woof woof……… Grr……………”
The barking began to turn into a growl, which was even more dangerous.
After all, anyone who had owned or seen a dog knew this: if a dog barked loudly at you, it might an nothing.
But if it stared at you while letting out a low growl, that was when you needed to be careful.
The old wolf’s whole body shook violently.
Then, a burst of black mist sprayed out.
Thick, heavy black mist erupted from the necklace tightly clutched in Aurelia’s hand, surging forward like a howling storm, swirling, growing denser and denser.
The surrounding trees shivered in the gale, swaying constantly, producing rustling crashes.
“Grr……………”
Imdiately afterward, a massive creature erged from the black mist.
It was a hound.
A three-headed hound.
Its body was as huge as a bus, and behind it swayed three long tails.
From its three elongated, pointed heads, crimson eyes stared coldly at the old wolf before it, radiating the savage ferocity and brutality of a beast.
“Wow.”
Seeing the monster before him, even Levi couldn’t help but gasp in amazent.
After all, he had seen plenty of hellhounds in movies and gas.
But this was the first ti he had actually witnessed such a legendary being in reality.
“Grr……………”
The three heads, from left, center, and right, all glared at the old wolf simultaneously, emitting deep growls.
The latter trembled, tail tucked, but still forced out pitiful cries.
Just like a wild wolf driven to the wall, struggling desperately in vain.
After a mont of standoff, the old wolf quickly made a decision.
Run!
It leapt up and bolted toward the depths of the forest.
As long as it reached the dense woods, it would be free to leap like a fish in the sea, soar like a bird in the sky!
However, though it was fast, the three-headed hound was faster.
The hound’s left head suddenly lunged forward and clamped down on the old wolf’s leg, yanking it back.
Before the wolf could react, the right head opened wide, biting down on its upper body.
Then, both heads exerted force together, tearing the old wolf cleanly in half.
Imdiately, both heads tilted upward in unison, swallowing the two halves of the wolf’s corpse down into their bellies.
This was truly……………
Levi was deeply shocked at the sight.
He had seen monsters before—like that bat monster, or Little Red Riding Hood.
But compared with this three-headed hound, those two weren’t even on the sa level.
To put it simply, if the bat monster and Little Red Riding Hood were like genetically modified beasts from a monster movie, then this three-headed hound was more like a primordial fiend walking straight out of the Jurassic era.
They simply weren’t in the sa league.
“…Grr……………”
The three-headed hound turned around, one head fixing its gaze on Levi, while the other two focused on Aurelia.
The two of them froze on the spot.
“D-Detective, what should we do now?”
In terms of courage, Aurelia had dared to stab the old wolf directly.
In terms of personality, she had always been aggressive.
But in front of this three-headed hound, Aurelia felt like a helpless little rabbit—weak and powerless.
The fact that she hadn’t sat down and burst into tears already was her last shred of stubbornness.
“You ask ……… who should I ask……… Since it ca out of your necklace, it should listen to you, right………”
Levi’s heart was also pounding, though he had made ready to run at any ti.
Just as he said, the hound had been summoned from Aurelia’s necklace, so it ought to listen to her.
Even if he fled, this hound probably wouldn’t harm Aurelia……… probably?
“…Thump……… Thump……………”
The hound walked step by step toward Aurelia.
The central head lowered itself, sniffing her.
Then the left head did the sa, then the right.
Next, black mist erupted once again from the hound, enveloping it completely.
Aurelia instinctively backed up two steps.
When she focused again, the gigantic three-headed hound had vanished, and in its place………
“Woof, woof woof!”
A palm-sized puppy with only one head, looking like a common mutt, stood wagging its tail happily at Aurelia, tongue sticking out.
“………………………”
The two of them stared at the little dog before them, then exchanged a silent glance.
What now? Just take it back, of course.
The battle had ended, but there were still things to be done.
Upholding his usual attitude of “destroying the corpse and erasing the evidence,” Levi built a bonfire in the forest together with Aurelia, dragging the werewolf’s remains onto it to burn.
This not only destroyed the corpse, but also served as a signal to the people at the manor.
According to Aurelia, once they saw smoke rising from the forest, they would send people to investigate.
And now, all they had to do was wait.
“Crackle, crackle, crackle.”
The two sat by the bonfire, watching the corpse consud by flas, both silent.
Aurelia hugged the little puppy transford from the three-headed hound, stroking its fur, staring at the fire before her for a long ti without speaking.
Levi, too, said nothing.
He knew Aurelia’s feelings must be complicated right now, and……… this was her family’s matter.
He had seen enough already—no need to ddle further.
“Thank you for saving , Detective.”
He didn’t know how much ti had passed when Aurelia suddenly spoke.
Levi had thought she had already fallen asleep.
“No need to thank .
This is my duty.”
Levi replied quietly.
“But, I still can’t imagine………”
Aurelia stretched out her hands, lifting the puppy she held.
“This is the Baskerville Hound?”
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Levi looked at the little black dog and chuckled.
After the old Sir Baskerville had been devoured by the three-headed hound, they had found a diary nearby.
In it was explained the origin of the so-called curse of the “Baskerville Hound.” In truth, this curse was sothing the old Sir Baskerville himself had spread, hoping that future generations, out of fear of it, would act according to his will.
As the victim of the attack, old Sir Baskerville had always believed that the black dog he saw that night was the true culprit behind everything.
But to everyone else……… it was nothing more than a strange curse.
As for why the two later heads of the family had vanished on their thirty-eighth birthdays, that was simpler still.
It was rely because old Sir Baskerville himself had been attacked on his thirty-eighth birthday.
Thus, he would co to take others on their thirty-eighth birthday as well, transforming them into werewolves.
So strictly speaking, this wasn’t really a curse at all………
Aurelia sighed, and Levi didn’t press further.
Although there were still many matters left to settle, at least for now, it all seed more or less over.
“Mr. Levi, does this an that everything is finished now?”
“Pretty much. As far as it looks now, yes.”
Levi glanced at the system task and gave his answer.
If the system said it was complete, then it was complete……… right?
Otherwise, what use was the system?
“Then, will you be leaving here?”
“Yes.”
Now that the matter was resolved, Levi of course had to return and file his report.
“Thank you, Mr. Levi.”
Aurelia lowered her head, holding the puppy.
In the firelight, her expression was hidden.
“If not for you, I don’t know what would have beco of the Baskerville family.”
“This is my duty.”
Levi leaned against a tree trunk, eyes on the bonfire as he replied.
He thought the scene would be perfect for a cigarette to look cool, but after so thought……… he let it go.
“I plan to advance agricultural steam chanization.”
Aurelia’s voice was soft, but firm.
“This is sothing the Delicat Region must do.
Now the entire Empire is pushing forward improvents in this area—we cannot be an exception.
No matter what others think, I will never give up.”
It was clear Aurelia also wanted to contend against the Luddites.
After all, they had already ruined her family to this extent.
If the Empire still practiced extermination of nine generations, who knew what Aurelia might have done.
“You can start with your own lands.”
Levi suggested.
It was just a piece of advice.
“There’s no need to force it on everyone at the beginning.
The Baskerville family must own quite a bit of farmland, right? Start with your own estates.
Once others see the benefits, they’ll be more willing to follow your orders.”
“An excellent suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Levi.”
“No need for thanks, Miss Baskerville.”
“…………… Aurelia.”
“Hm?”
“Just call Aurelia.”
She raised her head, staring at Levi.
Whether it was the firelight or sothing else, her face was flushed red.
Levi looked into those deep blue eyes and, after a pause, smiled slightly.
“Alright then, Miss Aurelia.”
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