Bear School Astartes

Chapter 346: 346. Priest’s Family

The Gascoigne family’s home is situated beside a wide canal.

Saying it like that might not be very intuitive.

Their windows are adjacent to a canal that’s over three meters wide and over six meters deep, with no cover or railings.

The canal doesn’t seem to be frequently used, its bottom holding only a thin layer of sludge.

Perhaps to make it easier for people to enter the canal, there’s a ladder fixed not far from the Gascoigne family’s window.

Lann couldn’t imagine what state of mind the designer of this architecture had while working?

This isn’t even an era where night lighting is widespread; wouldn’t anyone suddenly stepping off path at night just break their neck?

And it’s right next to the residential area!

”The architecture of Yan’an is very peculiar. They have all sorts of precise instruments, yet their basic designs completely deviate from outside common sense. Maybe it’s because the city is built among mountains, where elevation differences are common. If you can’t adapt to the style here, it won’t be easy to settle down.”

Gascogne explained to the newly arrived outsider.

”But... a canal this deep without any railings? What happens when walking at night?”

”Walking at night?” Gascogne asked with a strange smile, ”After last night, do you still expect anyone in this city to go out at night?”

Lann had no words to counter.

The two walked along the canal for about half a minute, passing several coffins bound with chains before reaching the doors of the Gascoigne’s home.

His home was no different from an ordinary Yan Nan Person’s home.

A thick wooden door, windows secured with sturdy iron bars, wrapped with several circles of iron chains, each chain holding multiple locks.

The feeling of insecurity makes every Yan Nan Person’s house similarly equipped.

At the door, Lann stood aside as Gascogne stepped forward to knock.

In Yan’an, pounding on a door is a highly disliked and unsettling action.

Because that sound involuntarily makes people think of beasts trying to break in at night.

A brown-haired woman came out from inside, draping a red knitted scarf over herself like a shawl.

Slender and beautiful, she formed a striking contrast with the robust Gascogne, yet they fit well together.

Upon seeing Gascogne at the door, she naturally went up to him, seemingly unaffected by the stench of blood on him, and embraced the priest.

Feeling she was holding a living body and not a corpse, she seemed to relax a bit.

This appeared to be a habitual action for them, and after their separation, the woman noticed Lann.

”Hello, Lady Viola.”

Lann greeted politely.

”And this is...?”

The brown-haired woman hesitantly inquired. Gascogne sidestepped to introduce.

”A hapless outsider who just arrived in Yan’an last night and the church probably can’t spare the effort to arrange for him now, so I’m planning to let him rest at home for a while.”

The hostess was indeed as Gascogne had said.

Upon hearing Lann’s current situation, she warmly invited him to stay for a few more days.

”Gascogne only teams up with Uncle Henrik, I always felt the two of them weren’t safe, it’d be better if we had another hunter.”

While leading Lann into the house, Viola cheerfully stated.

”Though I’m not a hunter and don’t know much, it’s easier to manage with more people, right?”

Listening to her words, Gascogne smiled helplessly, removing his wide-brimmed hat and hanging it on the coat hook at the door.

”I’ve told you many times, Viola. There’s no such logic in a hunter’s work.”

But the hostess seemed to have already mastered the permanent skill of old married couples.

She could automatically filter out the words from her husband she didn’t want to hear.

Gascogne could only offer Lann an apologetic smile.

It was a warm little house, evident that Viola had put considerable effort into decorating it.

Sporadic little decorations, spotless cushions and tablecloth, and gleaming glass and tableware...

”Is it Dad back?”

As a voice called out, the sound of two small shoes running across the wooden floor came from inside.

Two little girls rushed from inside to the living room, then suddenly stopped upon seeing the unfamiliar face in the living room, becoming bashful.

Seeming to be twins, the two girls wore similar little shoes and white socks, dressed in simple dresses akin to early female academy uniforms.

They looked very much alike, sweet and docile, and both inherited Viola’s brown hair, only one had a pure white hairband while the other had a vivid red one.

As they passed Lann and spotted Gascogne, the sense of unease from a stranger at home suddenly vanished.

The girl with the red hairband seemed more daring, she didn’t approach the hunter stained with beast blood, merely stood in place and called ”Dad.”

Gascogne didn’t approach them either, just smiling gently and waving, then introduced to Lann.

”My children, twins. The one with the white hairband is the elder sister, Oliveira. The red hairband is the younger, Victoria.”

”They’re both adorable.”

Lann praised, half sincerely and half out of courtesy.

After all, visiting someone’s home obliges one to first compliment their children.

Ignoring the fireworks effect of ’common politeness +1’ that Mentos flashed across his retina.

Lann smiled at the two girls.

However, the elder sister seemed more timid and shy. With both sisters’ faces red, she pulled her younger sister back behind the wall.

Behind Lann, Gascogne had already removed his blood-stained outer garment and thrown it into a basket.

”Better wash up, clean off this blood.”

Lann nodded, considering following local advice might be safer, as he hadn’t sorted out the situation with the beast-affliction yet.

They took turns washing their bodies in the bathroom, with Viola providing Lann a set of Gascogne’s old clothes.

Fortunately, the priest was broad-shouldered, otherwise Lann might not fit.

Gascogne’s hunting outfit was easy to clean, essentially most Yan Nan Hunters chose leather coats because they easily shed stains of viscous blood.

As for Lann’s armor, Viola didn’t have the skills of an armor cleaner—she was a full-time housewife.

Thus, it could only sit there, to be tended to when the Healing Church had the time to establish Lann.

Lann didn’t object, merely nodding and smiling.

Actually, he was inclined to leave Yan’an after a short rest.

The city gave him too many unsettling feelings.

Whether it was the miraculous ”blood healing” or the strange beastly affliction, nothing felt right.

However, since he had promised Gascogne to watch over his family while he went out today to buy incense, delaying for that bit of time shouldn’t matter much.

After washing off the beastly afflicted blood, Viola had already laid out a sumptuous meal on the table.

Due to the hunter’s schedule, she adjusted her cooking habit as a hunter’s wife.

The originally most lavish dinner was now moved to the morning.

By the time Lann emerged from the washroom, the Gascoigne family was already seated at the dining table.

A spot at the table was reserved for him.