Bear School Astartes

”So, Niflgaard has really invaded Sintra?”

In the dean’s office of Airetusa, Lann sat on the mohair chaise lounge where Margaret would relax, inquiring from the female warlock sitting behind the desk.

Lann had just arrived here, but the moment he entered, not seeing Margaret lounging on the mohair chaise lounge, he already had a bad feeling.

Sweeping his gaze around, when he saw Margaret sitting behind the desk, meticulously reviewing and correcting the academy’s administrative documents one by one, he realized that something major had indeed happened.

It’s rare for female warlocks to neglect their appearance, even Tishaya, who could be considered an outlier among them, only fails to cater to the young due to her compulsive habits.

Simply put, even if female warlocks have disheveled hair and clothing, it’s certainly a carefully crafted ’disorder’ that provokes desire and makes people salivate.

Margaret, even more so, is a standout among female warlocks, whether for her natural looks or later attire.

But now, the female warlock behind the desk truly exuded a sense of exhaustion and mental overload.

Lann found this astonishing, knowing well that Margaret was a woman who meticulously groomed herself, both before and after bed.

”How long has it been since you rested?”

The Demon Hunter asked worriedly.

”Since the results of the Battle of Mana reached us until now.”

Margaret put down the quill stiffly, rubbed her face hard with her hand, and sighed.

This was a gesture that would have never been made, even with a knife to her throat, that would ruin her makeup.

”Seven days... I suspect my urine now smells like the potion! Damn it!”

Usually elegant and composed, the female warlock now appeared frantic, to the point of swearing, something Lann had only seen in the Cannibal Race’s camp.

”How is the war faring?”

The dazed mind of Margaret made her think for a moment before finally giving a concrete answer to Lann.

”The rumors are true, Sintra’s main force was defeated by the Niflgaard people at Mana. King East Tursek died on the spot, and Calanthe retreated to Sintra City. Thanks to the walls and enchanted gates, she has held out for... four days; soon it will be the fifth day.”

They’ve reached Sintra City already?

Lann calculated in his mind.

The Niflgaard Empire’s advance was indeed fast and strong. It suited the Niflgaard people’s proud demeanor.

”How did the Niflgaard Army treat the defeated soldiers at Mana?”

Lann tilted his head and asked Margaret a seemingly out-of-the-blue question.

But it was a crucial question because it reflected the behavior style of the Niflgaard Army.

If they left a large number of Sintra prisoners, it would imply they value post-war negotiations and wouldn’t go to extremes on many matters, maintaining a bottom line.

But Margaret’s response disappointed Lann.

”I don’t know, darling... Ah, I don’t know.”

”Just a few decades ago, the existence of the Niflgaard Empire was only spread among the most learned and knowledge-hungry in the North. We know too little about them and have placed too few precautions around them.”

”According to Redania’s strongest spy master, before the Battle of Mana, the Niflgaard people had already positioned a force several times larger than Sintra’s main force there, yet our intelligence failed to even know when they gathered! This led Calanthe to charge right into them!”

”As for the placement of prisoners in the army? That’s even more of a secret.”

Speaking, Margaret propped her elbows on the desk, spreading her hands outward with a sarcastic laugh.

”Let us pray to Meretelli and that Lady of the Lake who makes you work... Pray that the Niflgaard people truly are as civilized and benevolent as they claim in their propaganda.”

Lann turned his head to look at Margaret for a while.

She didn’t even have the energy to use magic cream to cover the dark circles.

Suddenly, Lann rose from the mohair chaise lounge, walked to the back of the desk, and placed his hand on Margaret’s shoulder.

This movement made the female warlock’s body suddenly stiffen.

”You need to rest, Rita.”

After a brief stiffness, Margaret wrapped her arms around Lann’s waist, leaning against his armor.

And didn’t mind she had previously complained about armor being too hard and uncomfortable.

”Hoo~ But I can’t rest, darling.”

After a long exhale, Margaret’s tone became calm and rational, as if the earlier swearing and complaints were a magical illusion.

”The academy and the students still need me. They need me to continue working.”

”The sudden outbreak of war has made every authority in the North sensitive, eager to unite all forces for the strongest counterattack! At this time, any inclination or impropriety in Airetusa’s diplomatic texts would drag us in mercilessly.”

”I can’t let my students be swept up by the authorities’ rhetoric, or tempted by promises of power and money, then foolishly run headlong into the meat grinder!”

”Wizards should pursue magic and progress.”

Margaret’s tone was like proclaiming a kind of declaration.

”We shouldn’t expend energy on the rights struggles and wars of ordinary people. Even if my students are to take that risk, it should be after rational weighing and thinking.”

This was Margaret’s steadfastness.

She cared very much for this academy and the students in it.

Who knows why this flamboyant, lazy and extravagant female warlock has this sense of responsibility, but she does.

”Tishaya hasn’t returned yet?”

”She’s handling local affairs in the palace of Kovir but told me she’ll strive to return as soon as possible.”

”Understood...”

Lann spoke softly.

”Then let me handle it, you go rest.”

”What did you say?” Margaret raised her head, looking up in surprise at Lann, who seemed even larger than the last time they met.

”Administrative and diplomatic documents, right?”

Lann said while starting to organize the pile of texts on Margaret’s desk.

The female warlock was surprised to see these documents, which due to fatigue were placed haphazardly and only she could find order in them, were becoming neat and organized at an incredible speed!

The fluidity of his actions almost made Margaret think Lann was messing them up.

But occasionally a document she corrected peeked out, showing that Lann’s handling was indeed rule-based.

”Find me a sturdy chair to sit on, then you can go to sleep.”

Lann took over the quill in Margaret’s hand, which looked very small in his hands.

”If you’re worried, you can simply proofread it tomorrow.”

Mentos began to enter a work mode in his mind.

And in numerous [Deep Memory Dives], experiences in governing planets and completing star system-level adjustments and notices of the Sons of the Emperor were organized, providing Lann with the most fluent, steady decision-making and phrasing.

In fact, following Margaret’s intent to ’maintain status quo and refrain from expressing’ to complete these texts, to Lann—

He actually felt Margaret handled these ’simple’ tasks quite roughly.