Bear School Astartes

”What the hell? Is Master William against me? This is the second time that I’ve met him and he puts me to sleep.”

Gascogne’s kind-hearted wife, Viola, had cleaned the foul-smelling monster blood off of the Old Hunter while he was asleep, and now she shook her head with a smile.

”It’s not that he’s against you,” Lann said defensively. He was sitting on the steps, having been discussing post-Hunt plans with Gascogne. ”There’s just some things over there that aren’t suitable for someone like you to see.”

”Someone like me?” The Old Hunter raised his head in surprise. ”What’s that supposed to mean?”

Lann scratched his chin, realizing how his words might have been interpreted, as if Master William looked down on Henrik.

But in fact, William putting Henrik to sleep as soon as he entered was actually a form of acknowledgment.

This not-so-alert Old Hunter relied solely on his own hunting experience and skills, not only to have survived this far into the Night of the Hunt but also to protect Gascogne’s family.

All his life, he had hunted too many deep and terrifying beasts in Yarnan.

This endless Night of the Hunt was the pinnacle of his career.

While he himself, due to his unalert state, couldn’t feel how many monsters he had slain during this night,

it was unmistakable; even in Lann’s perception, Henrik was on the verge of achieving Spiritual Vision.

He was so adept at hunting that even when only facing more ordinary monsters, the numbers and the experience ingrained in him silently elevated his ’vision.’

In this situation, having him interact with Master William would almost inevitably lead to Spiritual Vision manifesting in Henrik.

Lann’s Spiritual Vision had grown during his time in Yarnan, but that’s no problem. After all, his journey continues, and he will encounter a variety of strange sights in the future.

The ’nutrition’ from Yarnan will naturally be diluted, unable to make contact with this world.

However, Henrik had previously told the Demon Hunter he was utterly tired of hunting, so for him, having Spiritual Vision would be detrimental.

Getting entangled with Yarnan... It’s a foolish idea for someone seeking a peaceful life in the future.

Lann shook his head, losing interest in the Old Hunter still tangled in his own thoughts.

Originally tied behind his waist, the Alchemy Pouch was now placed on the ground in front of him, as the Demon Hunter reached in, making a series of jingle-clatter noises.

After a long time, Lann began preparing seriously for battle like a proper Demon Hunter.

Magic Potions, bombs, sword oils, and some small tools that might be used in battle were all meticulously organized and placed in the Alchemy Pouch according to habit for easy access.

Battle preparation is usually a necessary process for a Demon Hunter to enhance their fighting condition to its peak.

But Lann’s working environment was completely different from that of a typical Demon Hunter.

The enemies and monsters he faced were undocumented even in the thickest tomes of Ker Morhan.

It’s as if the predecessors, the Demon Hunter Masters, never considered how to efficiently pierce the protective shield effect inherent to an Iso’ creation armor.

The combat style of Demon Hunters, based on understanding monsters for targeted preparations, was ineffective for him.

The enemy’s powers and types were always novel, and battles always occurred suddenly, and having any preparation was unbelievable.

Moreover, Lann’s own skills and technology were quite accomplished, so regular battle preparation seemed less critical.

However, this time, the enemies he faced, conservatively estimated, were...

While thinking this, Lann’s hand in the Alchemy Pouch continued to organize equipment without any pause or hesitation.

He carried on his tasks with steady and precise movements.

Until now, the strongest enemy Lann had theoretically encountered was still the Losric Demon King, Ausloes, from the Flame World.

As a deity among the Fire Gods, after the Wuxin King Gwyn, he managed the Fire Transmission Ceremony using the Kingdom of Losric he established, successfully transmitting fire for tens of thousands of years.

Before its chaos during the end of the flame’s decline, Losric was still the absolute overlord.

Regardless of whether it was under his own orders or the clergy’s independent actions, the White Sect had begun worshiping and promoting him as the Main God among the Fire Gods.

Nevertheless, when Lann unexpectedly encountered him, he had abandoned most of his powers for his dragon transformation experiments and had disturbed his own sanity.

Yet, even so, in that battle, Lann didn’t dare let him touch him even slightly.

Because even crippled and mad, Ausloes’s power was still extremely advanced.

Any small amount of force could penetrate all of Lann’s defensive measures, like resistance couldn’t even come into contact with his power.

Their means were absolutely not on the same level.

Undoubtedly, Ausloes was an exemplary deity.

Even geographically moving to Yarnan World, Lann did not believe he was weaker than any so-called Ancient Gods or High Beings; rather, he would be stronger.

But to cut a long story short, even if Lann once slew Ausloes, that was already a fallen and mad Demon King.

But this time...

Lann, amid the clinking of glass bottles, organized his [battle potion set] together, while placing the [healing potion set] aside.

”So, is this why you can pull out a greatsword from thin air just behind you?”

Gascogne walked over and sat next to Lann, looking at the alchemy pouch with great interest.

Who knows how this guy, with his eyes covered, and without [spiritual vision], sees things.

However, judging by the result, he really does see quite well.

”Your arm is almost entirely stuck in, it’s just a tiny bag...”

Gascogne used his hands to show the size of the alchemy pouch.

This kind of carry-on pouch, similar to a small satchel, allows someone of Lann’s size to stick both hands in, clearly isn’t normal.

”Is this a specialty from your hometown? It looks very convenient.”

”More or less.” Lann raised his eyebrows and smiled, with a hint of jest, ”It’s an expensive kind of specialty, you know.”

”But when we first met, I had the feeling you didn’t seem very wealthy.”

”Inheritance.” Lann first stared blankly, then smiled nonchalantly, ”This is a pouch I inherited from my teacher.”

”Then your teacher must care about you a lot.”

Gascogne naturally speculated.

”It’s not as you think.” Lann shrugged carefreely, his hands not stopping their organizing, ”Anyway, it’s a long story.”

Gascogne didn’t say anything further, the scene momentarily filled only with the sound of Lann organizing the alchemy pouch.

But the silence didn’t last long.

”I heard from Henrik, Lann.” Gascogne didn’t turn his head to look at the Demon Hunter, he just lowered his head, looking at the steps he was sitting on, his tone low and devoid of emotion.

”You asked him what his plans were once this hunting night is over.”

”It was just a casual question.” Lann spoke casually, ”One must consider the future, right.”

”But Lann,” Gascogne said in his low tone, finally turning his head slowly to face the Demon Hunter, ”Before you asked that question... none of us thought about that.”

”It’s like this night is too long, too long for us to have the energy to ponder more.”

Lann’s organizing paused imperceptibly, but he quickly resumed as usual.

”You’re just too tired.” He said in a relaxed tone, offering comforting words, ”When this hunting night is over and you rest well, everything will be past.”

”Will it really be over?” Gascogne immediately retorted, his tone even a bit aggressive, ”We don’t have to do anything, and this night will just pass?”

”...” Lann fell silent, his hand organizing the alchemy pouch also paused. ”Seems like you guessed it.”

”I’m not stupid, Lann.” Gascogne said forcefully, ”You suddenly returned, suddenly asked Henrik about plans after this night... I’m not stupid.”

”What you said makes it sound like Henrik is stupid, haha.” The Demon Hunter laughed aloud.

”He isn’t stupid either.” Gascogne didn’t relax because of Lann’s laughter, he still had a serious expression, ”He’s just more patient than I am, he wants to wait for you to speak up.”

”Lann.” Gascogne said earnestly, ”If we can end this hunting night, we’ll conduct the hunt for that reason, regardless of the monster targeted.”

At such words, Lann suddenly resumed organizing his pack, just like before.

He chuckled softly, ”Yes, ending this night indeed requires hunting a terrifying monster, but... that is my hunt.”

”It’s a hunt that belongs solely to me...”

”Don’t be reckless, now isn’t the time!” Gascogne pressed his hand against Lann’s arm guard.

”Then what is the right time?” Lann smiled and turned to look at where Gascogne’s hand was pressing.

This hunter, once a priest, was now surprised, instinctively withdrawing his hand.

How did Lann’s strength... change compared to before...

No, is this really... a human body?

Gascogne, his eyes covered, had an even keener sense of touch.

He had known before that Lann’s body was unusual, but the degree of change since this meeting, he truly couldn’t comprehend.

Lann’s expression didn’t change; he merely watched Gascogne retract his hand and continued speaking.

”Wait for Viola to wear that beautiful ruby brooch, stepping out at night seeking her husband who won’t return?”

”Or let Olivia and Victoria wait at home, wait for the two adults who left one after the other?”

”Then Henrik arrives only to find an empty, vast home?”