Bear School Astartes

Radagast’s method sounded quite simple.

It was to let Lann and the others adapt to the magic in this Dark Forest.

The magic of the Dark Forest is extremely complex, mostly considered as naturally occurring magic.

The earliest inhabitants of this vast forest, including the Woodland Kingdom elves, reside in the northern sections of the Dark Forest.

According to Radagast, the elf race in this world seems quite extraordinary.

They are nearly naturally accompanied by magic.

In the land where they live, even if they do nothing, they will naturally possess the power of magic.

Not to mention, for the defense of the Woodland Kingdom, the elves have independently released a lot of magic.

Adding on the natural power of the Dark Forest itself and that evil, dark old castle.

The magic of the entire forest has now fully become a hybrid, chaotic yet undeniably powerful.

Ordinary means can’t help the newcomers stay clear-headed in this forest.

Even with a wizard guiding the way, it’s certainly not safe.

However, the elves of the Woodland Kingdom, and other indigenous creatures living in the forest, are mostly unaffected by the mixed magic.

Because they have already adapted.

Radagast is on a mission, unable to escort Lann through the forest.

But he thought that letting them stay in the forest for ten days or half a month would likely help them adapt.

As long as they don’t leave the forest, Radagast could look after them during that time.

”Even for the Qilin and Rong Buqiu, oh~”

Radagast walked along, gazing at the tall steed and the cute little cat accompanying Lann, with a look of delight.

The shabby old man showed a girlish side that made Lann and his companions shiver slightly.

Lann hadn’t dealt with Druids before... Are they all like this?

By this point, they had all disembarked from their transportation, Radagast untied his wooden sleigh, and seven or eight large rabbits unfastened their reins as well.

They then hopped away on their own, evidently like skilled workers relaxing after finishing their tasks.

This also indicated that Radagast could influence this nearby land.

”Welcome!”

The Old Wizard opened his arms, and his dirty, ragged brown robe spread with his movement.

”Haha! Welcome to Rossga Castle. It’s been a long time since anyone came here.”

The Qilin’s large hooves stepped onto the soft grass, followed by the human boots and Elu Cat’s paws.

No longer were they in the forest’s sticky, damp humus and rotting leaves, but on lush green grass.

Lann looked around with a smile on his lips.

Calling it a ’castle,’ yet to Lann and his companions, it looked more like a rickety old wooden house.

It stood roughly three stories tall, yet, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, crookedly from the foundation upwards.

The house was crooked, but the smoke rising from the chimney was straight.

The gaps in the door and roof were big enough for birds to fly directly inside... Maybe this was intentionally done by Radagast?

What mattered more to Lann’s senses was the atmosphere here.

Having realized that atmosphere is an external manifestation of certain forces and tendencies in this world, Lann paid more attention to it.

In the Dark Forest, only scant light spots could penetrate through the dense canopy.

The gloomy environment felt oppressive, and the dense vegetation even led to a feeling of oxygen deficiency.

Yet in Radagast’s woodland, this fellow’s unparalleled love for nature showed no signs of forest maintenance.

However, this woodland’s lighting was better than other places.

The ground was fresh, crisp green grass rather than oppressive humus.

Vast warm sunlight beamed down, making the crooked wooden house and its surroundings look like a fairy-tale scene.

Just living here could change the environment... Lann couldn’t help but look at Radagast in a new light.

Following behind the scruffy wizard, the old man’s legs were exceptionally nimble, badly matching his wrinkled old face.

”Are there many wizards like you, Radagast?”

Lann asked casually from behind.

At that time, Radagast was passing by a large tree root, surrounded by large mushrooms with caps, enthusiastically crouching down to tap the caps, producing a muffled ’thump thump’ sound.

”Wizards like me? Let me think...”

Radagast fiddled with the large mushrooms, pondering, Rong Buqiu seemed interested in gathering too, running curiously to watch the mushrooms.

”Ah! Yeah, I remember, there’s only five of us.”

Only five wizards in the whole world?

Lann raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback.

And there are only five wizards, and it takes you a moment to remember... Did the mushrooms rot your brain?

”I wear a brown robe, there’s another in a grey robe, two in blue robes, and the last one in a white robe.”

Seeing Rong Buqiu seemed to like mushrooms, Radagast quickly picked one for the little cat to hold.

Watching the cat hold a mushroom with a cap half its size, Radagast flashed that kind of intoxicated auntie smile again.

”Oh!” As if suddenly understanding Lann’s confusion, Radagast continued to explain.

”We five are legitimate wizards, but don’t think the rest can’t do magic; those humans, elves, and dwarves all know a thing or two, just not enough to be called wizards.”

Lann opened his mouth, then closed it again.

If it weren’t for the unique atmosphere around Rossga Castle in the Dark Forest, he might have doubted the credibility of this wizard, who, just moments ago, clutched his magic staff and chose to knock on the monster instead of casting spells during an attack.

Maybe that’s just his style.

”Ah! Are you all out for a walk?”

After briefly explaining to Lann, Radagast hopped around from the side of the mushroom at the tree root and walked over to ask, bending his head down.

There were three large and two small hedgehogs leisurely walking across the grass in a line.

The hedgehogs, in response to Radagast’s greeting, stood up very human-like and waved back at him.

It seems that many things in this world can gain intelligence.

Even the rabbits pulling Radagast’s cart are like this.

Is it because the Creator God watches over such a prosperous world?

The Demon Hunter walked to the side of the raggedy wizard, while Radagast kept waving at the hedgehogs happily, not once turning to look at him.

”Master Hedgehog,” he tilted his head toward Lann.

”We’re very good friends. Sometimes I give them some fruits as gifts, and in return, they scratch my back. You know, when you get old, it’s hard to reach certain places with stiff limbs.”

”Those spines feel quite nice!”

Lann awkwardly pursed his lips, nodding silently.

Radagast spoke with such a whimsical rhythm, combined with that large patch of bird droppings on the side of his forehead, that to most he’d surely appear a crazy old man.

But luckily, Lann prided himself on having met quite a few slightly mad fellows, so he handled it completely fine.

”Come on, come in quickly, friends.”

In the bright sunshine, stepping on the soft grass, they arrived at Radagast’s wooden hut, where he enthusiastically opened the drafty wooden door and invited them in.

Rong Buqiu, full of curiosity, and still holding that big mushroom, wobbled into the hut.

However, Lann and the Qilin stopped at the doorway.

Their heads—one human, one horse—tilted toward the inside of the door before finally pulling back awkwardly.

”Uh...” Lann scratched his chin, ”Radagast, we don’t seem to fit so well in here. Do you have any magic that could help?”

This wooden hut didn’t hold any hidden secrets; its interior matched perfectly with its crooked exterior.

Due to the overall tilt, the already small space became even more cramped.

The wooden hut was cluttered with various items, herbs prepared by the wizard, and many strange objects.

The few pieces of furniture in the hut were covered with things scattered about.

Several mice were scampering up and down through the maze-like clutter. Considering it was Radagast’s house, Lann chose to see them not as pests, but perhaps friends or pets.

Upon entering, Radagast took off his hat, and three birds flew from the bird nest in his hair, freely finding new perches in the room.

”Magic? Hey, I can’t do magic that’s that convenient!”

The scruffy old man shouted nonchalantly while kindly pushing a chair over for Rong Buqiu.

And he shouted toward the outside.

”Lovely steed, please don’t be impatient. Old Radagast will lay a great, cozy hay bed outside for you!”

So he just doesn’t care about me, huh?

Lann held his forehead.

Fortunately, in the end, Rong Buqiu, who wobbled in holding the big mushroom, didn’t remain inside the hut.

It carried a chair outside to sit together with Lann and the Qilin.

Radagast had no choice, or rather, he simply wanted to be with these novel and adorable creatures he’d never seen before.

So he trotted out too, clicking his pipe, and chatted with his newfound friends.

He took out a basket of apples as a snack.

Meanwhile, Lann was on the side, loosening the magic horse harness from the Qilin amid its grumbling snorts.

”Alright, let’s talk carefully. What kind of accident made you all end up in the middle of the Dark Forest in such confusion?”

Radagast asked, puffing his pipe.

”I’m a wizard, but I’ve never heard of such magic. Transferring people from one place to another out of thin air, that’s truly amazing.”

A wizard saying that magic similar to a ”portal” is amazing—it should feel incongruous.

But Lann, as a traveler who has roamed many worlds, has seen plenty of strange incidences.