Bear School Astartes

Chapter 420: 420. High-Level Vampire

The originally warm and friendly atmosphere of the journey turned icy cold after a single inquiry.

But after the atmosphere turned cold, neither of them made the next move.

The firelight under the pot flickered dimly, and the shadow on the wooden cabin’s wall was clawing fiercely.

The sound of ”gurgling” arose, as the water in the pot was about to boil.

In the silence that was only broken by the sound of boiling water, Regis suddenly chuckled lightly.

”I’ve never met someone as perceptive as you, Lann.”

His voice, like before, carried a soothing deep magnetism.

”Can you tell me? Where did I go wrong?”

Lann’s cat-like eyes opened fully, and in the dim environment, his pupils emitted a luminescent glow.

”You paused when you heard my name. Although you seem to have good control over your body, I still captured that moment... You know me. To be precise, you have heard of my reputation.”

Faced with Lann’s calm statement, Regis’s smile remained gentle.

”The famous ’Hunting Marquis’, your stories are grand and extraordinary. If one has only heard of them, it doesn’t seem too unusual?”

”Perhaps, Regis. Perhaps.”

The Demon Hunter said indifferently, then turned his head to stir the special rations in the pot that had begun softening in the hot water.

”My stories might indeed be exciting and captivating. After all, killing a great nobleman — farmers might not dare to do it but wouldn’t they dare to listen? But there’s a problem... the spread?”

”Princes, nobles, and big merchants have heard of me, that’s not surprising. Because Steza is a noble with both status and lineage, and now I’m also involved in some international business. But a barber-doctor in this desolate graveyard also heard of me?”

”I know another Demon Hunter, he’s a friend of mine. He has a bard companion, famous across nations. They travel and adventure together. That bard set his deeds to catchy ballads, his name is Geralt of Livia. Have you heard of him?”

”Faintly.” Regis nodded, ”I’ve heard a couple of lines from a puppet show about him, something about... hunting the Lamp God, perhaps?”

”Yes, that’s where the problem lies.” Lann pointed to himself.

”I don’t have a famous bard as a travel logbook. Even as well-known as Geralt is, all you’ve heard is a few vague lines. So why would you know my name? From the barber-doctor with a shop in Dillingen?”

”I initially thought you were a spy or scout. Although this route was my last-minute decision, these days, who knows, even innkeepers might moonlight as spies. Running into one on the road isn’t exactly odd. But when I shifted my attention from that herbal scent on you, focusing on you personally...”

Lann lifted the iron pot single-handedly, causing the suppressed flame in the stove to flare up briefly, and the indoor light to brighten momentarily.

Then the Demon Hunter set the iron pot back down, letting it weigh on the stove.

”You have no shadow, Regis. When you helped me move the stove from the distiller earlier, the flames didn’t cast a shadow for you.”

”From my limited perspective...” Lann tilted his head, looking at Regis, who sat against the wall. ”You’re a vampire, a high-level kind, aren’t you?”

”No, no, calling that ’limited’ is an understatement, Lann.”

Regis shifted from sitting against the wall to sitting cross-legged, leaning forward towards Lann, resembling a scholar, intrigued and ready to delve into a discussion.

”Such meticulous observation, untangling causes and effects in a short time, and the ability to eliminate various distractions... I think you excel to the point you should further your studies at Osenford University, Mr. Demon Hunter.”

”Actually...” Lann raised one finger, ”I’m already conducting research, and in my field, I believe I’m more advanced than Osenford University.”

”Oh dear, my apologies for my ignorance.” Regis exclaimed in surprise.

And then, without reservation, he directly answered Lann’s question.

”As you said, I’m a high-ranking vampire. I cast no shadow, am unharmed by sunlight, and unafraid of garlic and stakes... Oh, I almost forgot, you’re a professional Demon Hunter, these myths about us surely don’t need my explanation.”

”Going back to your initial question, you asked me ’how long has it been since I last fed on blood’. My answer is: I can’t remember, it must have been a time far longer than your age... Can you believe if I said so? Oh, better take it down, it’ll burn if we keep it cooking.”

As Regis spoke, he leaned forward, reaching past Lann’s side, to take down the porridge, which had boiled to a thick consistency, from the stove for him.

But unlike the Demon Hunter who used thick leather gloves and handled the pot’s edge.

The high-ranking vampire nonchalantly lifted the pot base to take it down.

The flames licked leisurely over the back of his hand without bending a single hair.

The pot of porridge was placed in front of Lann, and the Demon Hunter, seemingly indifferent to the high-ranking vampire before him, pulled out a wooden spoon and began feeding his hungry frame.

”How curious!” Regis exclaimed, ”I got so close to you just now, yet you didn’t react?”

”Should I have reacted?” Lann responded, ”Or rather, was your action just now meant to provoke?”

Regis paused, then lowered his eyes, his expression turning apologetic.

”No, earlier I just... couldn’t help but be a little curious. After all, in the rumors, both your profession and you yourself are somewhat... In short, please forgive my rudeness.”

”I accept the apology.” The young man said blandly, explaining himself along the way.

”But I wouldn’t draw my sword at you just because you deliberately came too close, or because you’re a high-ranking vampire, Regis.”

”I’ve seen werewolves who’ve hurt people uncontrollably, and later simply kneel to be beheaded when faced with a Demon Hunter. I’ve also seen half-fishmen who can communicate with humans. So what I’m saying is: I won’t go to war with you simply because you look different from me, or because our races are different.”

”Do you understand what I mean?”

”Yes, I completely and utterly understand.” Regis answered sincerely.

He no longer looked at Lann with the intrigued expression akin to reading a Knight’s tale.

Instead, he appeared solemn and rational, because he saw a real, worthy of respect, living human being.