Bear School Astartes

The rain didn’t last long in Gos Velen.

This city is under the care of female warlocks. Usually, they would create ocean currents to herd fish and increase catches. But when faced with unfavorable weather, these female warlocks would endure until they couldn’t stand it anymore and then cast spells to slightly change the weather.

Of course, it’s mostly just a temporary dispersal of rain; storms and continuous heavy rains would still have to be endured as they are.

Thus, amidst the widespread continuous rain, Gos Velen gained a small patch of clear sky once again thanks to the female warlocks’ mana.

After resting in the academy for two days, Lann finally appeared within the city limits of Gos Velen.

This time, he wasn’t wearing the hooded cloak; his striking silver hair and those characteristic features were displayed openly on the streets.

Lann could keenly sense that many people were watching him—some purely attracted by his beauty, and others not so innocent.

Margaret and Tishaya’s planning was effective.

Lann thought this to himself.

Those not-so-innocent gazes quickly left after confirming his identity.

For intelligence personnel, this is an obvious sign of panic.

Lann discreetly left and came back, although he caused quite a stir along the way and was even entertained by the Sintra royal family.

These spies probably knew Lann had gone out, but they couldn’t precisely know when he left or returned.

Inaccurate intelligence is worse than none; it could be harmful.

No intelligence organization would accept such work outcomes.

The uncertainty about Lann’s whereabouts made many start to panic.

But this was precisely the effect Airetusa and Lann wanted to achieve.

”Hmm...”

Lann stretched his back, bending backward forcefully, and let out a lazy yawn.

”Ged, yes, let’s go find Ged first.”

After two days, instead of feeling rested, Lann felt even more tired.

So the young man took out a piece of bread to chew on as he headed towards the Silver Swan Tavern.

After greeting the innkeeper, Lann easily found Ged.

That guy was arm wrestling with a group of people from Skellige at a table.

Looking at the coins on the table around him, he had already won quite a few rounds.

Upon seeing the young man standing by the wall at the inn’s entrance, the big man who got along well with the Skellige people laughed heartily.

Then he quickly swept the coins on the table into his hand and stood up to leave.

”Had a fun time with you, gentlemen. Your arm strength is impressive, just like your hearty sailing tunes!”

Ged said condescendingly.

Fortunately, though most of the Skellige people often acted as part-time pirates, they were also men who could take defeat.

Though they lost, none felt displeased towards Ged because of it.

”I wasn’t in good form today, bah.”

The Skellige man opposite Ged spat and said.

Ged was indifferent: ”Yes, your form was bad; telling stories of monsters on your island wasted too much of your breath. Frost giants, house-sized sea sirens... those are the real reasons you failed. Rest assured, I will visit the Skellige Islands if I get a chance. If those monsters are as dangerous as you say, I’m sure your noblemen would be willing enough to open their wallets to discuss with a Demon Hunter.”

”... You won; whatever you say goes.”

Though the islander sported a sour face, he still stood up to shake hands with Ged before sitting back down and lifting his drink.

Ged tossed his money pouch in hand a couple of times as he walked towards Lann.

He enthusiastically extended his fist to tap Lann’s arm.

Normally, this gesture was meant to hit the shoulder, but he wasn’t tall enough.

”Haha, buddy! In this city, I’ve heard of your great deeds besides the Hunting Marquis! Staying in the female warlocks’ academy!? Tsk tsk tsk... what man hasn’t dreamed of this? Hey, and it turns out you did it!”

”You make it sound like I’m a wolf among sheep.”

Lann smiled as he also extended his fist to tap Ged’s shoulder, before continuing with his rebuttal.

”Don’t you consider how difficult female warlocks are to deal with? Their personalities and their assertiveness...”

”Oh~” At this point, Ged couldn’t help but shake his head; it appeared he had also interacted with female warlocks before. And his recollections weren’t pleasant. ”Now I feel sympathy for you.”

He glanced at Lann sideways, while the young man merely smiled nonchalantly.

”No, I’m fooling you. I’m having the time of my life in there because I’m more assertive than them.”

Sure enough, after Lann spoke, the veteran from the Bear School’s face immediately darkened like a bear.

-----------------

In the large blacksmith workshop ringing with the ’clang clang’ of metal, the heat was more intense than when Lann had left.

This was because the place had undergone another expansion; with more people attracted by the business of Valerian steel, more blacksmiths joined the work for the sake of gold coins.

More furnaces, more hammers!

The place was filled with muscular figures, sweat glistening with oil, and scorching iron blocks.

On the workshop’s edge was a rest area where blacksmiths took breaks and drank water.

Belengar suspiciously glanced at Lann and Ged behind him.

Although Ged’s expression remained sour, he nodded politely when exchanging glances with Belengar.

While flipping through a stack of parchment, Belengar spoke.

”Another emotional Bear School member. Why do I feel like you’re collecting stamps? Went out once and also met a Griffin School member.”

The old Demon Hunter counted on his fingers towards Lann.

”So now you’ve got friends in all three schools... You want to be the social butterfly among Demon Hunters?”

”Hey! That’s what Geralt from your school taught me! ’To live long, make more friends; who knows when it’ll come in handy’.”

Lann dissatisfiedly shook a finger.

”Isn’t there logic in that?”

Belengar shrugged: ”Say what you will, I’ve never even seen that young man. Whatever you say stays within your words.”

”Also!” On the other side, the dwarf Fergus handed a towel to Yuna, then astonishingly sized up Lann.

”Have you grown taller again? Do humans grow this tall? Lann, tell me the truth, you don’t have a bit of giant...”

Before Fergus could finish, Lann raised a finger towards him.

”Watch your words, Fergus. I haven’t asked you for that vampire bird card yet!”

And so, the dwarf who spoke with abandon very consciously covered his own mouth.

Lann’s physique now showed signs of nearing the human limit, thanks to the constant supplement of special rations. He estimated he’d complete skeletal reinforcement much sooner than expected.

His height now surged beyond two meters, with his physique not losing any proportion but instead appearing well-distributed and powerful, carrying a sense of refined proportional beauty.

Different from common corpulent or bulky figures!

This super-standard physique of Lann made even the others around him appear less well-proportioned.

It’s no wonder Fergus seemed so astounded.

Once he’d blocked the dwarf’s loud mouth, Lann then brought up his explanation of growing again.

Belengar was already used to the uniqueness of Lann, while Yuna and Fergus didn’t understand Demon Hunters, thus having nothing to doubt.