That Butler, Isekaid (Modern!Reader Insert)

That Butler; Bark

Eventually, by order of the Queen, Ciel once again has a job to do as the Queen's watchdog. Bringing all the other servants along in fear of them destroying the manor if left there for too long. With the others thinking this to be a holiday out of town rather than an ordered investigation. In the guise of checking on the Queen's unbuilt resort, in the town of Houndsworth. A run-down area, but with a lot of unpleasant history that the Queen discreetly requested the Phantomhive head to deal with. The ban on animal cruelty had long been issued, however the loophole with the hunting dogs was an unexpected spin on the law.

The people of the town of Houndsworth being very adamant in keeping their dogs. And their own rules. Seems a good third of the village population has shrunk, due to unknown reasons over the past 10 years. Ciel's job for this is to find out why and put an end to it. Sebastian sharing his thoughts on his dislike for mutts, contrary to the other townspeople and his own Master who adore dogs. ______ taking a jab at the butler's distaste for dogs right away as they do...

"Woof"

"That is not amusing Miss/Sir(?) _______"

"Hehe- Sors, I couldn't help it"

Ciel raises an eyebrow at _______'s playful jab, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The tension in the room seems to dissipate, replaced by a lightness that hasn't been present for a while.

"Sebastian, _____, let us not forget the task at hand," Ciel says, his voice composed yet filled with determination. "We are here to investigate the mysterious occurrences in this town, not to engage in banter. We must remain focused."

Sebastian chuckles softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Of course, Young Master. We shall proceed with the utmost professionalism."

_____ pouts playfully, their gaze shifting between Ciel and Sebastian. "Alright, alright. No more dog jokes. I'd be barking up the wrong tree anyways"

"_____, please."

"Ehe!"

Ciel shakes his head at this, of course they'd continue to joke until the last bit. His eyes then narrowing as he contemplates their next move. "We'll start by gathering information from the locals. Sebastian, I want you to discreetly investigate the disappearances, while _____ and I will speak with the village elders and gather any relevant information they may have."

Sebastian bows slightly, his voice filled with unwavering loyalty. "As you wish, Young Master. I too wish to end this as quickly as possible"

"Woof."

"_______-"

The lord of Barymore Castle, the town Mayor, and his maid greet Ciel rather crassly. The lord thinking the earl as some joke, and punishing his maid for even bringing them in. But eventually conversing with Ciel about the Queens plans for the town...

"I am not going to sell this Castle. The curse will only cause outsiders dread and pain, leave lest you become the bad dog the demon hound ends..." Lord Barymore states, ______ raising an eyebrow at this next to the other maid and Sebastian.

"Maybe we aren't communicating well enough? How's this- woof woof bark bark grr"

"How crude, does your Pomeranian have any manners?!"

"I'll take that as a compliment" The (hair color) shrugs, sticking out their tongue in a mocking and playful manner.

Ciel, maintaining a composed exterior, shoots a cold glare at Lord Barymore and his maid, sensing the disdain and animosity in their words. His eyes narrow, his voice laced with controlled fury. "Lord Barymore, I am not here to engage in petty banter or entertain your crude attempts at humor. I have been tasked by the Queen herself to investigate the mysteries surrounding this town, and I expect your full cooperation. Henceforth, provide me with the necessary information and assistance, or face the dire consequences of undermining the Queen's authority."

Lord Barymore's face contorts in frustration, his arrogance momentarily halted by Ciel's unwavering determination. "Very well, Lord Phantomhive. I shall provide you with the information you seek. But remember, the curse that plagues our town is not to be taken lightly. It has claimed the lives of many, including prominent figures who dared to defy it."

Ciel's eyes gleam with a mixture of intrigue and satisfaction, his curiosity piqued by the mention of the curse. "Tell me everything you know about the curse, Lord Barymore. I demand the truth."

"Hmph- I am not the Queen's pet. This town is mine, and soon you shall see the horrors the bad dogs must endure..."

Ciel's eyes narrow further at Lord Barymore's arrogant demeanor, his patience wearing thin. Lord Barymore denies the Queen's orders, but allows Ciel and the rest to stay in the castle. Allowing them to see for themselves the curse of Houndsworth village. Later that night, a victim of said curse had been taken. A man named James apparently broke the 5 dog-only rule of the village. Said that he deserved to die for breaking the rule of the demon hound of Houndsworth. The townspeople are seemingly used to it and easily accept the consequences..

"The demon hound and it's pack had come it seems. Who was the bad dog this time?"

"James sir, he broke the 5 dog only rule and kept a 6th one"

"Then there's nothing we can do. Any new losses?"

"No, we've yet to find Louise still..."

"By now that child could possibly be gone, wait for the next rain."

The people of the village, along with Lord Barymore and his maid Angela walk off to dispose of the body of James. Briefly mentioning the 'new losses' if there were any. Hinting that, not only do 'sinners' of the village get killed, they also get stolen in a sense. ______ narrows their gaze, muttering under their breath how none of this makes sense... "This isn't in the anime- what's with that? Losses? What's going on here...?"

Ciel's eyes narrow in suspicion as he listens to the villagers' conversation about the curse and the "losses" within the town. His mind begins to piece together bits of information, trying to unravel the mystery.

"Seems that this curse holds a deeper and more sinister secret than what meets the eye," _____ muses aloud, their voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Ciel glances at _____, his expression serious. "Indeed,______. Something is not right here. These so-called 'losses' are troubling. We cannot simply brush them aside as mere superstitions."

He turns his attention to Sebastian, his gaze intense. "Sebastian, we must uncover the truth behind these disappearances and the origins of this curse. It seems that there is more to this town than meets the eye. I want you to discreetly investigate further, gather any information you can."

Sebastian bows slightly, a sly smile playing at his lips. "Of course, young master. I shall delve into the mysteries of Houndsworth and uncover the truth, no matter how deeply hidden it may be."

Ciel's eyes flick towards Lord Barymore and his maid, Angela, as they dispose of James's body. He observes them for a moment, his mind contemplating their involvement.

"Lord Barymore and his maid seem to be integral to this curse, ______," Ciel murmurs. "Keep your observations keen and report anything suspicious to me or Sebastian. We cannot afford to let any more lives be claimed by this curse."

_______ leans in closer to Ciel, voice barely above a whisper. "There's something else going on here. This isn't something that happens originally. The villagers accept these disappearances as if they were a regular occurrence. And 'new losses'? sounds like they're expecting more victims."

Ciel's lips tighten into a thin line, his mind working quickly to unravel the mysteries shrouding Houndsworth. "We need to continue our investigation. This curse, these disappearances... there must be a pattern, a reason behind it all. Lord Barymore and his maid, Angela, may hold valuable information."

Sebastian, ever observant, interjects with a calm, calculating tone. "Indeed, Young Master. It would be wise to gather as much information as we can, discreetly. We should keep our ears open for any whispers of the 'new losses' and find out why these 'bad dogs' are targeted."

Ciel nods in agreement, his expression determined. "Very well. We will proceed cautiously and delving deeper into the dark secrets this town holds. We shall unveil the truth behind the curse of Houndsworth, no matter how deep the rabbit hole may go."

With their resolve strengthened, Ciel, _______, and Sebastian continue their investigation, venturing into the shadows to uncover the sinister secrets surrounding Houndsworth and its cursed past...