Bear School Astartes

”I won’t rashly charge into a battlefield, Barnabas.”

Lann spoke calmly, with a tone that detached himself from the situation, making Barnabas feel as if he was facing some ’being’ not of this world.

This is a war that has engulfed the entire Greek world and entangled everyone!

Logically, no one should be able to stay out of this war.

But that’s exactly the tone and expression Lann had.

”Yes, the Delian League led by Athens isn’t a good thing because Athenian democracy is only for its own city-state, just for that small group of citizens within it. Athens is the great slave owner of the Mediterranean, and their civilization and art are built on the exploitation of slaves. And even with the allies within the league, Athens forcibly collects alliance fees to develop itself.”

”But is the Peloponnesian Alliance led by Sparta any good? No, because Sparta itself is the benchmark of classical militarism.”

Barnabas and Phoebe beside him looked blankly at Lann, who was calmly looking at the battlefield and talking.

They couldn’t understand many words in the Demon Hunter’s narrative, but they could vaguely comprehend Lann’s meaning.

That’s why they looked at Lann with even more incredulous eyes.

”In my eyes, this is a war with no sense of justice, a dog-eat-dog fight for dominance over the Greek world.”

The Demon Hunter turned around, leaving the slaughter and roars on the beach behind, looking at the stunned Barnabas and Phoebe.

”Cassandra is my friend, but she has a target and a necessity in participating in this war. She is committed to completing her ’Odyssey’ within this war. And I believe she will complete her journey.”

”But I have no reason to participate, nor do I want to be part of this dog-eat-dog fight. The Spartans and Athenians might bring me joy if I were to interact with them. But once they join the army and become representatives of the hegemony of the two city-states... ha.”

The Demon Hunter let out a chuckle.

”In any case, this is an unjust war.”

”You can call me unfeeling or whatever you like...”

With that, Lann simply left the ship’s side, opened the hatch on the deck by himself, and jumped down into the cabin through the vertical ladder.

”I will not fight in an unjust war, that’s just how I am.”

The hatch closed with a ’snap.’

On the deck, Barnabas and Phoebe stared at each other blankly.

From the direction of the beach, the deafening sounds of battle continued. Yet somehow, the two, one large and one small, felt that the battlefield, significant enough to be remembered in history and poetry, was not as shocking as the still vibrating hatch.

Barnabas’s Adam’s apple rolled in his wrinkled neck.

”Ha, haha...”

He let out a dry, awkward laugh. His one eye trembled as he looked over at Phoebe.

”Is it my imagination?”

”I always feel... he really doesn’t seem like a... ’person’ who lives in this world?”

The usually lively and cheerful little girl was not like her usual self at this moment.

Her expression of calmly nodding made Barnabas feel for the first time... she resembled Lann a bit!

”Who knows, Barnabas? Who can truly know what those universe creators are like?”

”Anyway, I can accept his reason for not wanting to go to the battlefield.”

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

Behind Cassandra, a Spartan soldier without armor picked up a set of aulos. The end of the tubular instrument extending from his mouth was forked, resembling ivory.

He took a deep breath and began to play, a resonant, low drone emanating from the instrument, spreading across the plains.

This clash and confrontation between heavy infantry ended within an hour.

Cassandra’s performance was the most dazzling on the battlefield.

She was glowing with the light of the Divine Artifact, and initially, some self-confident Athenian officers wanted to gut this woman who stepped onto the battlefield and seize the Divine Artifact.

However, after a series of well-armed, robust Athenian officers were slain by Cassandra, these people instead began to avoid the Hawk Trainer.

But hiding was futile, as the glowing broken spear and the burning curved saber blade would still tear through each Athenian officer’s throat on the battlefield.

The death of the command level caused the Athenian soldiers to lose their backbone.

Consequently, they were disadvantaged in the line-up face-off of the heavy infantry, leading to a complete collapse.

The defensive line collapsed, a large number of Athenians abandoned their shields and fled in panic. As the mop-up force, Viotia cavalry charged out from one side, while mountain folk surged from the other side, hurling javelins at the few Athenian troops still holding their ground.

The Spartan ”Blood Wolf,” commanding the battlefield from atop a high cliff, raised his arm and shouted down at the troops below.

”Do you see how these Athenians fear us? The cowardly Pericles has fled into the Parthenon Temple, spending his days with playwrights and philosophers. Because he knows Athenians’ days in Megaliss are numbered, and Athens is the next target we will conquer!”

While the allied forces clamored to celebrate victory, the Spartan soldiers quieted down, that single shout being their only luxury. They lightly planted the butt end of their spears into the ground, drinking quietly from their water bags, a few exchanged whispers in barely audible voices.

Fighting, slaughter, then victory, was viewed as a responsibility, not a contribution, to a Spartan citizen, leaving no reason to celebrate.

A soldier descended from the team surrounding the Spartan Wolf and asked Cassandra: ”Are you that Mercenary?”

Cassandra looked up at him, then nodded.

”The Spartan Wolf is very satisfied with your performance today. After we return to the camp, he requests a meeting with you.” The soldier said.

Cassandra caught a glimpse of Stantor watching her from the corner of her eye, his face dark with anger.

”I will go immediately.”

And on the Adrestia, having witnessed the Spartan Army’s victory and Cassandra’s brilliant performance, Barnabas and Phoebe cheered excitedly, embracing each other.

But soon after, the old man, who had spent most of his life at sea, quickly regained his composure.

”Boys! Rest your rowing arms! Check the sails and ropes! We need to be ready to pick her up and set sail at any moment!”

Phoebe looked at Barnabas, puzzled, and the old man had to offer her another explanation.

”Phoebe, my little mate. You haven’t forgotten why Cassandra came, have you? She took the job to hunt the ’Blood Wolf’ to earn money! Now is her best chance to get close to the target, and once she’s done, we’ll have to make a mad dash from under the Spartans’ noses!”

”But, isn’t he her father?”

”Father? Ha.” Barnabas forced a bitter smile, ”I don’t know what decision Cassandra will ultimately make, but we at least need to be ready to escape.”