Bear School Astartes

"Please forgive me, ma’am. You truly are stunningly beautiful, even when dressed in this warrior’s attire."

Faced with the aggressive, frank, and unpretentious words, the once naive country youth Mr. Lan was now unperturbed.

He casually plucked a small handful of Golden Calendula out of mere gluttony, popped a few into his mouth, and then handed one to the other person.

"But this is my snack, not a tool of courtship... Would you like to try? The flowers in this garden are exceptionally exquisite!"

Sachia seemed indifferent, reaching out to take a Golden Calendula from Lann’s hand and chewing it.

"My name is Sachia," the female warrior said, chewing on the Golden Calendula with great interest, looking at Lann. "Sachia Sase."

Her eyes were fixed on the neckline of Lann’s hooded cloak, where a silver Roaring Bear Head Necklace was faintly visible.

A Demon Hunter?

She thought to herself.

But it could also be an impersonation, especially since the fame of Demon Hunters has surged dramatically compared to before.

A few years back, even someone as noble and knowledgeable as Veltrest had to consult the Royal Advisor to learn anything about these mysterious people.

But now everyone, even the little beggars in the city, know that this group all have cat-like eyes that glow faintly in the dark and a necklace around their necks as a symbol.

Since there are symbols and fame, there are certainly those who imitate and impersonate.

Whether to cover up a sensitive identity or just conveniently fool others for money.

Sachia’s brow furrowed.

She looked at the seemingly oblivious Demon Hunter.

"Educated sir, I’ve introduced myself. Don’t you think you should respond?"

This is a rhetorical question.

"Playing hide-and-seek is hardly the behavior of a principled and respectable person."

"Please forgive me."

Although speaking with an apologetic tone, Lann seemed unfazed.

"But we should both be attracted by the news from the Ponta River Valley, right? Perhaps we’re competitors? It’s no problem to chat now, but as for getting to know each other... Maybe it would be inconvenient to act later on."

"Don’t worry, I have no interest in the bounty offered by Elrand and Yaden. We won’t be competitors."

Sachia said lightly.

Though her tone was light, Lann looked at her somewhat surprised under the hood.

... Does this person not know what ’courtesy’ and ’going through the motions’ mean?

She seems to have taken what I just said seriously?

Low emotional intelligence...

"Why are you reading this book?"

Lann simply changed the subject.

"This book had a market two years ago before the war, but after the North-South war broke out, now the ’Chronicles of the Sintra War’ by Sintra’s former Palace Steward, Hacksaw Lyn, is more authoritative."

To others, this might seem blunt, but to Sachia, who had just been taught a complex reality by the book’s background, it was just right.

Originally decisive and rational, Sachia was suddenly silent under Lann’s questioning.

She frowned and continued speaking.

"I know, reading this book at such a time will basically make all Northern people think I’m denying the war crimes and brutal facts committed by the Niflgaard people."

"But actually, my reading has nothing to do with that. Whether others believe it or not."

"I’m just looking... looking to find a place or system that respects freedom and values every precious life."

"What Niflgaard did in that war was indeed the most vile and bestial behavior, but I am also bothered by the way Northern people treat non-human races..."

At the end, Sachia pouted.

"Ha, I was naively hoping the Niflgaard people would behave better when not in war."

"That might disappoint you, Sachia."

Lann said lightly.

"At least one thing in this book wasn’t wrong; the Niflgaard people indeed don’t oppress non-human races. But the reason... is they exterminated the non-human races in their territory sooner, harsher, and more decisively than the Northern people."

"The last Elf King, Difusov, surrendered and pledged loyalty to the human king Ludovic over four hundred years ago in Toussaint, representing his kin."

"Then during the following year’s celebration, commemorating the victory, the human king ordered the massacre of the elves who had negotiated terms and surrendered for a year."

"According to records, that should have been the last batch of South elves."

Already educated by Lann’s words, Sachia’s original viewpoints and understandings were already shaken, so hearing such matters again made her handle it a bit better than before.

She just closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then dejectedly shook her head and returned to her usual expression.

"Betrayal and using massacre as a war-ending celebration... It’s truly disgusting."

```

"Undeniably," Lann nodded with indifference. "But that’s just the King for you."

After speaking, Lann tilted his head, looking at Sachia with a keen interest from beneath his hood.

"But what intrigues me more is..."

"Sachia, the common warrior or mercenary wouldn’t be troubled by the issues you’re facing now."

Indeed, as soon as he finished speaking, the female warrior, who had been leisurely perched on the gazebo railings reading a book, suddenly turned slightly unnatural.

Although she tried her best to suppress the change in her expression, it seemed insufficient against Lann’s keen observation and emotional insight.

Not only did the subtle muscles in her face tense momentarily, her whole body showed signs of discomfort.

With the sound of metal armor scraping against the ground, Sachia retracted her long legs, which had been casually stretched out, and stood up.

When people experience intense psychological fluctuations, they often use physical actions to ease their tension.

This conspicuous reaction made Lann raise an eyebrow.

It seems this lady is not just an ordinary warrior or mercenary; she has a special status?

What kind of people are ordinary warriors and mercenaries?

Lann meant no disrespect, but generally, these people are not highly educated.

Although they might have broad horizons from seeing much of the world and experiencing brutal battles, some might possess insights refined from life experiences.

However, unquestionably, these insights lack depth. Whether discussing directions or depths, their discussions fall short without educational support.

They think more about how to earn more money and, after gaining more fame, earn even more money.

Those who aspire to "gain more fame and then become a knight or noble" are considered to have higher pursuits and broader horizons among them.

As for idealistic pursuits... most of them remember to pray to the Divine Beings before battles.

The Eternal Fire faith also boasts a group of zealots among warriors; the teachings of the Eternal Fire are their ideals.

So, for someone like Sachia, who "wants to find a place or system that respects freedom and values every person’s precious life"...

Such truly idealistic notions are indeed unlikely to appear among ordinary warriors or mercenaries.

Sachia smoothed her dark golden braid draped over her shoulder and walked out of the gazebo.

While walking, she spoke calmly.

"Thinking about it now, you do make sense. We don’t know each other well, so it’s better if we go our separate ways."

She held the hardcover book in one hand and placed her other hand on the hilt of her knight’s two-handed sword as she headed towards the buildings near the temple.

That should be where Nanik arranged lodgings for outsiders.

Lann did not stop her. He just tilted his head, watching with interest as this apparently not-ordinary female warrior walked away.

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

The dinner at the Meretelli Temple began on time.

It must be reiterated that the Meretelli faith primarily exhibits feminine softness and maternity, so it’s not a particularly strict religion.

There are very few restrictions on the clergy.

Thus, in the main dining hall of this temple, priests, priest apprentices, and those seeking help at the temple who received food and accommodation, all dined together.

Several wooden tables were put together to form a long dining table, which had been used for quite a long time.

The surface was ingrained with grease that had merged with the wood, forming black stains that couldn’t be wiped away unless scraped carefully with a blade, removing even wood shavings.

This line of tables could seat no fewer than thirty people.

There were four such lines of dining tables in the main dining hall.

The priests and guests sat together, and there was no difference in what they ate or used.

Dinner was beet soup with bread, not exquisite but convenient for preparation and consumption.

By the time Lann entered, the main dining hall was already bustling, like any restaurant.

Some people were serving themselves with clay or wooden bowls, while others were already seated at the long tables with their heads down, eating.

A mercenary with greasy, tangled hair stuffed soup-soaked bread into his mouth, complaining that a beer, even a small one, would be nice.

Nanik sat among the priests and priest apprentices, occasionally tapping the heads of young girls gazing at men with a spoon.

She loudly warned them not to let affairs with any of the men here interfere with their usual studies and work and told them to take contraception seriously if they didn’t want to become mothers soon.

Nanik also advised against falling in love easily, cautioning them not to believe sweet nothings those men uttered during the throes of passion.

She had seen too many priest apprentices in this temple who believed and then followed men out, only to lead miserable lives.

This kindly plump lady also warned the men that, while men and women are allowed to enjoy each other in Meretelli’s temple, it must be consensual and unrelated to transactions.

And if a man feels too robust and can’t control himself, she would ensure his lungs would grow hair in his chest cavity.

The warning sent chills down everyone’s spines.