Bear School Astartes

Chapter 874: Chapter 857: Female Knight

It seems that as long as the topic of Goddess Rosalia comes up, Leonard can talk endlessly.

But Lann just nodded towards the Maggot Men in front of the convoy.

”Is what you call a beautiful ’rebirth’ turning into something like that?”

”That’s a part of the rebirthing process.”

Leonard did not shy away nor change the subject. He just shrugged and spoke nonchalantly.

”First, you ’melt’ away the current flesh, so a better one can form in the future. A caterpillar turns into a cocoon, then a butterfly. It’s easy to understand, isn’t it?”

”Those who have already tormented their bodies to the point of wanting rebirth, or are extremely dissatisfied with their current bodies, don’t mind this ’awkward phase.’”

Lann shook his head.

”Then I’ll wait and see. I’m not that dissatisfied with my body right now.”

”The time will come, with life, old age, sickness, and death, haha.”

Leonard chuckled softly, his tone still gentle.

”This world is full of dangers, as long as you’re a warrior, as long as you’re in battle... that day will eventually come.”

He sounded certain.

Considering the uniqueness of this world, that’s probably true.

As long as the undead curse continues to expand its influence, there will be more and more restless souls that can’t be killed but still want to kill others.

The battles will only increase.

”Who knows what the future holds? But right now, I’m more curious about why you’re so eager to preach your goddess to me?”

This question from Lann seemed to hit Leonard’s sore spot.

The masked man, who was previously calm with a noble tone, suddenly fell silent.

Even though he wore a mask, Lann shot him a sidelong glance.

Strong... anger.

This sudden emotion, even with the mask, was keenly felt by Lann.

However, Leonard seemed to believe his mask was sufficient to disguise his emotions in front of Lann, so he lowered his voice, struggling to maintain a tone not much different from before.

”The goddess suffered... no, she met with an unforeseen change. Now she’s isolated, unable to gather even a few loyal warriors since leaving Losric City, and the world is in chaos; it’s exactly the time she needs aid.”

”You seem like a skilled hand.”

Leonard’s words were quite reasonable.

Though Lann found it odd that a ’deity’ would claim to be isolated and in need of warrior servants.

But it’s not impossible; after all, the definition of a god varies in different worlds.

Lacking overwhelming combat strength yet possessing some rare, miraculous trait and being called ’god’ is understandable.

What concerned Lann, however, was Leonard’s account of the goddess’s plight, which matched exactly with Archbishop Klimte’s, a vague ’unforeseen change.’

In a way, it could be considered the ’official declaration.’

Yet through Leonard’s frustrated and barely contained emotions, Lann understood that this account was just that—an account, quite different from reality.

Mother of Rebirth Rosalia... what exactly happened to her?

”In any case, if you’re interested in ’rebirth,’ then become one of ’Rosalia’s Fingers.’”

Leonard finally said softly.

”Just like me, Leonard of the Ring Finger, serving Rosalia.”

It seemed that ’Rosalia’s Fingers’ was the Knight Order’s designation for these Goddess Knights.

But at that moment, amid the silent marching warriors, a cold female voice interjected.

”Extending an invitation to a warrior you met for less than half an hour on the road... indiscriminate recruitment of followers will only bring shame to the goddess’s name, Leonard.”

It was a female warrior walking up to them.

She was clad in armor combining plate and chain mail, with a sizable thorn sword at her waist, nearly as large as an ordinary hand-and-a-half sword.

On her head was not a helmet, but a beautiful ornament made of a white veil and headband.

Though her face beneath the headpiece was also pretty, like most people in this world, it was expressionless and lifeless.

As a Demon Hunter often dealing with silverware, Lann immediately noticed the silver mixed into her armor.

Her headband was made of pure silver.

Honestly, if not for a particular focus on combat scenarios and adversaries, the soft texture of silver isn’t suitable for making weapons.

”Moreover...” the female warrior continued airily. ”This little-known goddess suddenly emerging from Losric City now, her exact status is still uncertain.”

”How dare you question the goddess’s legitimacy?! Sirius of the Land of Dusk!”

This female warrior named Sirius from the Land of Dusk seemed to have provoked Leonard.

His voice, originally soft beneath the silver mask, didn’t become hysterical but did take on a colder edge as it deepened.

Like an inconspicuous knife sharp enough to cut a throat.

”Can’t even the archbishop’s personal escort make you understand the goddess’s noble status?”

”That would be the Archbishop of the Profound Church,”

Sirius supplemented Leonard’s words with her cool voice.

”And it’s well known that ever since the Profound Church housed the remains of the Profound Saint Elderidge ages ago, the bishops haven’t had a good reputation.”

The tension between the two gradually became more intense.

The goddess knight, masked in silver, put her hand on the bizarre weapon at her waist.

It was a peculiar sword with a handle connected to a crescent moon-like curved blade.

Lann couldn’t quite understand why this female knight harbored dissatisfaction towards Leonard and his goddess.

But with the tension reaching this level, Lann did not intend to let things escalate further.

”Shinng!”

Just as the tension between Sirius and Leonard was escalating, a silver light, clear as lake water, sliced between the two like a gentle breeze.

”Roa-uh!”

And after that beautifully curved blade passed between them.

One of the undead bodies piled on the wagon had just opened its dry, twig-like mouth, ready to unleash a primal screech upon regaining life.

But just halfway through that hoarse shout, the light and precise blade plunged into its reclining mouth, stabbing through the back of its head, the tip emerging from the scalp.

The roar and its reborn life ceased in that moment.

The tension between the two was rendered untenable by this blade between them.

With a light ’scritch,’ the tip of Arondight’s sword was gently and slowly withdrawn from the mouth of the corpse, leaving not a trace of blood.

”Regardless.”

Lann sheathed the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, speaking calmly.

”I think, since we’re all working in the convoy, personal grievances should be resolved without affecting the job. What do you two say?”