Bear School Astartes

Chapter 17: 17. The Value of ’Safety

Before Lann resolved things with his mentor, Mentos’ primary task was to assist his master’s growth and provide simulation support for the resistance plan.

And after Bordeaux died at Lann’s hands, it didn’t relax but immediately switched to a new operational logic.

Planning for Lann’s future.

Thus, it urged its master that the present priority was to immediately commence training to overcome his own weaknesses.

However, it didn’t anticipate that Lann would do even better than it had planned.

”In the Auridon Lake District, the main monsters inhabiting are Water Ghosts and Swamp Witches. The danger is completely acceptable, making it a more than suitable textbook for technical training.”

”Moreover, this kind of textbook doesn’t require payment, yet the village will pay you for it... Getting a village without a prior contract to initiate a large-scale demon hunting mission, sir, your business mindset is undoubtedly the industry pioneer in this field of Demon Hunters.”

Mentos sincerely praised.

What does it mean to create demand as a first-class businessman? (leans back)

According to Bordeaux’s words and the running around of the past month, the daily life of a Demon Hunter is truly about relying on luck and living from hand to mouth.

Spending all day rushing from one village to the next, hoping to encounter a commission.

But Lann had been in Auridon for just an hour, and the village was already bustling, wanting to empty their coffers to support this demon hunting commission.

Unimaginably, before the young man arrived, the last time Auridon hired a demon hunter to deal with monsters was two generations ago.

”Moreover, the most important thing is... we have gained safe and stable housing and food!”

Mentos’ voice was happier than most times.

Lann also nodded with emotion.

In the eyes of both Mentos and Lann, much of the current predicament stems from the prevailing societal atmosphere of racial hatred.

Even when Demon Hunters stay at an inn that only requires payment, if they stay for more than a couple of days, the innkeeper will call the sheriff without hesitation, claiming there’s a scheming mutant around.

Is a mutant’s money earned through legitimate means?

Kicking out the mutant, or simply killing them and keeping the money? People would even give a thumbs up and say, ”Well done!”

The cleanliness of money is directly related to race.

This kind of thing is senseless, but it happens frequently enough to become a common occurrence here.

So even if willing to pay, finding a safe place to allow Lann to complete and enhance himself peacefully was another matter.

And now in Auridon?

What the village elder eats today, the Demon Hunter eats!

You want to make things difficult for a Demon Hunter? I think it’s you who wants to make things difficult for us in Auridon!

Lann once followed Bordeaux to clear out a ghoul nest in a farmland.

After they did their work, the employer in the village didn’t want to pay the final fee at all, so they simply called in a group of fanatics from the Eternal Fire. Those people wielded swords, hammers, and axes, shouting to purify the mutants.

Bordeaux and Lann had no choice but to turn around and run.

During those days, Bordeaux’s meal standards even dropped to the same level as his apprentice’s.

But now, Lann had created a demand for monster hunting in this village, and had tied this demand to himself.

— Safe!

This is truly safe!

Lann stepped out of the elder’s house and led the two horses he had placed outside the village to an abandoned wooden shed within the village.

The villagers he passed by no longer regarded him with the disdain they would show for a plague. Instead, they were warm and friendly.

They even arranged to help him unload the Bear School Armor that he couldn’t wear at the moment from the horses and move it into the house.

Well, Lann felt that, except for the work that required drawing his sword, he wouldn’t be doing any heavy labor for a while.

His first ten years of education and life had led him to habitually want to express gratitude towards those who helped him, or at least smile and nod.

But before he could act, his rationality stopped him.

The expressionless Lann turned and left.

”Everyone loves money, Mentos,” the young man emphasized once again.

”They don’t like me; it’s just because their future income is tied to me that they have to like me. So I also need to put on an impatient attitude, which will make them even more convinced that their future income will soar. Because that fits their worldview.”

”Is this what’s meant by ’To help the poor, you can’t speak nicely to them’?” Mentos retrieved such a phrase from the corners of Lann’s memory.

Lann neither confirmed nor denied it.

”I used to think that phrase was pure nonsense, an excuse for crude management. But now, to ensure that neither I nor the villagers have the opportunity to hurt each other, I have to practice that phrase. Damn... bullshit!”

Lann asked the villagers about the whereabouts of Old Allen and then turned to leave.

The village was patched together with planks of varying heights, disorderly yet small. It didn’t take Lann long to find the elder digging through dry grass.

”Are you looking for the blacksmith?”

The village elder scratched his neck, noticeably more blackened residue in his nails.

”Sword blades wear, armor needs repair. I don’t know how many monsters I’ll have to kill here, you must arrange a place for me to repair my equipment.”

Lann frowned, his tone cold and impatient.

As he expected, this instead garnered Old Allen’s attention.

”Yes! There is a blacksmith! On the edge of the village, there’s a dry spot specifically cleared for him, though I don’t know if his craftsmanship will meet your standards.”

As Old Allen explained, he led Lann along.

Then, amidst a clattering of iron, they arrived at a furnace beside a sturdy man.

”Are you the discounted demon hunter? It’s all over the village.”

The man’s sweat mixed with grease, forming a reflective sheen on his skin.

He laughed heartily, extending a hand in invitation.

”Come, don’t be shy. See if there’s anything suitable here.”

Seeing his confidence piqued Lann’s curiosity. In this simple blacksmith’s shed, he casually picked up some of the man’s works for inspection.

Mostly farming tools, sickles, and fish spears, with the occasional blank for a Velen Longsword.

Quickly, Lann, who had initially been a bit expectant, put down the samples in his hand.

”...Forget it.”

Though he hadn’t handled many fine swords, just looking at these works...

Dark, chaotically shaped... whether in quenching or forging, there were issues; the Velen Longsword was probably his highest standard.

Lann’s disinterest was apparent, and both the blacksmith and Old Allen noticed.

As a result, the blacksmith was a bit displeased, having some faith in his skills.

The once hearty laughter ceased.

”What? You think there’s something wrong with my craftsmanship?”

Without many words, Lann slowly drew the Bear School Steel Sword from behind.

The moment the bright blade appeared, the blacksmith’s frowning displeasure turned into wide-eyed astonishment.

”Meretelli~ Such an heirloom-level sword!”

The blacksmith exclaimed, incredulously eyeing the young man.

As if unable to believe that someone would wield such a level of precious sword for combat instead of for a collection or inheritance.

Subsequently, he straightforwardly admitted his skills were not qualified to handle this sword.

”Really... I thought my skills were top-notch in Velen, haha.”

The robust man chuckled a bit awkwardly.

He then stated that simple repairs were manageable.

But if there were structural damage, probably only the capital—Gos Velen, or the blacksmith master in the baron’s Crow’s Nest would have the skills sufficient.