Bear School Astartes

In the natural world of the Magic Middle Ages, humans belong to large creatures. Creatures that can grab and fly with people naturally have the strength to kill.

So, from the perspective of a Demon Hunter, Belengar thought this kind of monster should always be treated with caution.

However, Lann, who walked up to him, just shrugged nonchalantly.

"Perhaps it’s because such creatures are too weak in this natural world."

"They’re too weak, so their nature isn’t as fierce and untamable as the monsters back home that can kill. I heard it went pretty smoothly when the Expedition Team was taming them."

Monsters that can kill are already considered threats in the Magic Middle Ages.

But different worlds can’t be generalized.

Evidently, in the natural world of the New Continent, the creatures here have a unique understanding of ’strength’ and ’ecological niche.’

Belengar licked his lips, dry from a sudden sweat.

"Meretelli... are the monsters in this place really that fierce?"

"If they weren’t so fierce, no blacksmith could forge such a vicious sword like [Muddy Stream·Destruction], Belengar."

Lann said with a cheerful laugh.

"Isn’t that why you came here?"

At this point, the shock in the eyes of the Old Demon Hunter regarding the new world gradually faded, replaced by a rather intimidating cold smile: "Hmph, that’s certainly the case."

"But, uh..." After the cold smile, the Old Demon Hunter looked a little puzzled at Lann, who began to remove the armor from his left arm, "What are you preparing to do?"

"Oh, this is for you to use."

The young Demon Hunter spoke nonchalantly as he began to put the left arm armor he had taken off onto Belengar.

"...Wait! What’s going on?"

The Old Demon Hunter’s already long face seemed even longer with his mouth agape in surprise.

And the young Demon Hunter continued to talk after fastening the armor.

"Don’t move around when you’re in the sky, otherwise, if the winged dragon follows your momentum, it’ll fly erratically, and you’ll get very dizzy."

As he spoke, Lann also pulled out a section of the hook lock from the mechanical structure inside the armor, showing it to Belengar.

"The hook lock can extend to a great length. If you get tired of hanging on with one hand up there, you can pull out a long section and wrap it around your foot to stand on."

Belengar blinked, feeling more and more that Lann’s words were off.

But before he could interrupt, he saw the young Demon Hunter skillfully whistle at the last remaining winged dragon on the perch tree.

The trained winged dragon responded by taking flight, gliding close to the ground.

And Lann lifted Belengar’s left hand, already equipped with the armor, pointing it at the sky.

"We’ll follow behind, bye-bye!"

"Wha...!"

Before Belengar could finish his questioning.

With a "click" sound of mechanical engagement, the hook lock was launched out, perfectly catching onto the winged dragon’s saddle.

Taking advantage of the inertia accumulated from low-altitude flight, Belengar was silently taken to the sky by the winged dragon.

Not until he was already tens of meters high did the Old Demon Hunter start to send down intermittent, terrified curses from above.

"Ahhhh Lann! You bastard ahhhh!"

"Don’t shout! Belengar! Stop shouting!"

Meanwhile, Lann, the one being cursed at, yelled instructions without the slightest concern, as if enjoying the spectacle.

"If you shout, you’ll move! If you move, it’ll fly crooked! Stop shouting!"

Watching Aiden and Gerry, who had taken off earlier, flying along with Belengar while enthusiastically guiding him on controlling the winged dragon,

Lann then turned and jumped onto the back of the Qilin.

"Hmm, using animals to fly does seem quite convenient."

On the horse’s back, Tishaya, sitting in front of Lann, nodded with a smile as she looked at the distant Belengar in the sky, evaluating.

Lann took the Rong Buqiu off the Qilin’s head, placing it at the back, then patted the Qilin’s neck, signaling it to set off.

They would head directly south, taking a route that cut vertically through half of the Great Ant Mound Wasteland and the entire Ancient Tree Forest, ultimately reaching the star base on the coastline.

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

By late afternoon approaching evening, the three flying above could already see the coastline of the New Continent.

At first, Belengar was indeed very nervous; after all, even in his most thrilling and dangerous Demon Hunter career, he had never had an ’ascend to the heavens’ experience.

But Aiden and Gerry took good care of him.

Initially, the Old Demon Hunter felt a sense of alienation due to unfamiliarity.

Involuntarily resisting Aiden and Gerry’s interaction.

But such subtle resistance was effectively only noticed by those who are sensitive and attentive.

Gerry had some sense of it but didn’t care, while Aiden completely didn’t notice.

So the two of them very enthusiastically began to guide Belengar on the techniques of controlling the winged dragon’s flight.

Among which Aiden even made a few jokes about Belengar’s learning abilities and flying posture.

Normally, in situations where others are feeling awkward and nervous, such jokes are likely to lead to conflicts and dissatisfaction. It could be said to be almost inevitable.

But Aiden was just so cheerful, and his enthusiasm and friendliness were apparent to all.

When he offered suggestions and guided techniques, it was truly easy to feel his goodwill. Even his jokes couldn’t be taken with any malice.

It’s just like banter among old friends who know each other well.

Even Belengar, who is quite sensitive due to his past experiences, found himself unwittingly laughing at Aiden’s jokes.

Originally resistant and distant, Belengar now found himself happily chatting with the two from the Investigation Team as a guest.

Could this be another angle of being a ’natural tamer of tsundere’?

On another note, from the Great Ant Mound Wasteland to the Ancient Tree Forest.

The New Continent’s astonishingly prosperous ecosystem and the fresh life force permeating every inch of air truly shocked the Old Demon Hunter.

"We’re now on a cleared flight path."

Aiden enthusiastically introduced Belengar.

"Do flights need paths too?" Belengar was now completely comfortable chatting with them, even jokingly said, "Why? Could it be like sailing in a lane, where deviation leads to reefs, or encountering undercurrents?"

"There won’t be reefs or undercurrents, Mr. Belengar," Gerry explained, "but the sky is also monster territory. This flight path was literally ’carved out’ by hunters!"

The heat of the Great Ant Mound Wasteland was long left behind. Hanging under the wing of the pterosaur, Belengar felt only the fresh wind enveloping his entire body.

The sunset bathed the distant sea, turning it into a shimmering patch of fragmented gold.

While beautiful, the scene wasn’t tranquil.

In the dense woods of the Ancient Tree Forest, formed by a super large ancient tree that covers tens of thousands of square kilometers with its roots and branches.

Countless roars explode in the hunt and being hunted.

Unimaginably, Belengar had never thought that he could one day discern the style of roars from monsters.

In the Magic Middle Ages, it’s the rhetoric of the Druids. And Druids have always been considered ’strange hermits living under oak trees’ by the public.

Bold roars, stern roars, eager roars, angry roars... This Ancient Tree Forest constantly showcases New Continent’s greatest feature every moment——

Its thriving life force.

On land, the Qilin and two humans with a cat on its back experienced magic and magnificence of the lush forest.

Though Tishaya had only the magic power stored in her body, she still managed to generate a magic shield in front of the Qilin.

To avoid harm that could occur from the Qilin’s swift speed brushing against tree branches and leaves.

With the speed at which the Qilin followed the pterosaur on the ground, brushing against one tree branch would feel no different from being whipped hard.

The Qilin, being an Ancient Dragon Species, could naturally withstand various effects of its own speed, but its riders could not.

The flying speed of the pterosaur is trustworthy.

While carrying people, it returned to the Star Base in no time.

Headquarters of the New Continent Expedition Team.

The view was still of those rugged yet sturdy, undeniably wild and natural styled buildings.

A giant water wheel constructed below a waterfall allowed humans to utilize natural power, operating the entire base, including large machinery within.

"Lower~ Lower~ Lower steadily! Watch your step!"

Aiden shouted instructions for Belengar’s landing, but the Old Demon Hunter, long detached from such coordinated physical activities, couldn’t accomplish it perfectly.

As he landed, his legs couldn’t keep pace with the body’s forward momentum, sending him tumbling forward.

Just as Belengar himself shut his eyes, bracing for a hard fall.

Aiden smoothly unhooked his own projection hook from the pterosaur and lunged forward to catch Belengar.

The two rolled on the ground, completely dissipating the impact.

"Ha!" Aiden dusted off his armor, laughed as he stood, "I told you, Belengar. With me watching over you, Lann felt confident putting you on the pterosaur. I’m quite skilled!"

The Old Demon Hunter lay on the ground, catching his breath.

This exercise was exceedingly invigorating compared to his recent years of living.

Yet, upon looking up, he saw Aiden and Gerry smilingly bending down and offering their hands.

So the Old Demon Hunter, closing his eyes, took a deep breath, grinned, and took their hands to stand up in one go.

"Yes, quite skilled. But it’s my first flight, what more do you want?"

The Old Demon Hunter mockingly complained.

Meanwhile, a sound of slight electric current in horse hooves approached them suddenly from behind.

The Qilin, carried by rapid winds, casually stopped behind the three as if having just returned from a stroll.

Lann sat in front of Tishaya on horseback, smiling whistled.

"Hey~ Seems flying lifted your spirits, Belengar?"

"Stop giving me that cheeky grin."

Belengar angrily took off his armguard and hurled it at Lann.

But when Lann easily caught it, he found himself unable to resist smiling.

"But you, rascal, were right."

"Oh? What did I say?"

Lann tilted his head, knowingly smiled. Gerry unconsciously moved his gaze away from his face.

The Old Demon Hunter stretched his shoulders and neck, took a deep breath.

"It certainly is a great vacation spot."