Bear School Astartes

”Is the Athena Temple on the hill within Mogala City being renovated?”

Last night in the room, Lann confirmed with Phoebe, and the little girl nodded seriously with a solemn expression.

”Yes, among those kids just now, one of their fathers was taken to work. It’s said that it could feed their entire family, although everyone thinks that’s an exaggeration.”

”What is the temple being converted into?”

”I don’t know the specifics, but according to him, a lot of weapons were transported in, and there are quite a few Athenian soldiers inside as well.”

Is that a military conversion?

Lann stroked his chin thoughtfully.

This is not considered sacrilege, as the temple has possessed certain military attributes for a long period during the development of civilization, evolving into a fortress by the church era.

And Athena is also a goddess of war; such renovation would not even be criticized by the temple priests.

”Oh, right!” Phoebe suddenly remembered something and immediately told Lann about another thing she had learned in Mogala City.

”Lately, many people are spreading rumors that there is grain outside the city that can be brought in if one is bold enough to try their luck! And it seems like the Athenian soldiers guarding the city gate aren’t contradicting this saying. This has made many people in the city-state quite tempted.”

Probably Icarus wants to expand the scale of mobilizing the masses.

Lann was not surprised by this.

”I also discovered this outside, so there’s no need to elaborate.”

”Huh? Oh...” Phoebe dragged out her voice in disappointment.

Then Lann changed the subject, looking down with interest at the disheartened little girl in the dim light of the olive oil lamp.

”But honestly, I didn’t expect you to get along so well on the first day in a new city... Should I say you have a special gift?”

Phoebe suddenly looked up joyfully, ”You said I have a gift?! Right, right!”

The Demon Hunter scratched his cheek helplessly, ”So you just heard the word ’gift’, right? But I roughly understand what you think... heh, you admire Cassandra and want to become a warrior too, right?”

”Uh-huh, it’s not hopeless. Maybe teaching you a few tricks would be fun.”

Lann chuckled with interest, and Phoebe widened her eyes in delight.

”Get some rest first. Tomorrow I’ll teach you something interesting. Let’s see how well you can endure the training before we talk.”

The little girl jumped up from the straw mat in an instant!

”Just you wait, Lann! I’ll definitely become a warrior like Cassandra too!”

Lann just smiled at this idea without commenting.

Early the next morning, Phoebe left with a small cloth bag. Inside was the food Lann had prepared for her.

According to what the Demon Hunter said yesterday, under such training, the usual Greek diet might not supply enough calories.

Although Phoebe didn’t quite understand what ”calorie deficit” means, she was a very obedient girl, just doing whatever Lann told her.

And as the little girl jogged out of the alley where the inn was located, she was somewhat out of breath, but the frequency and amplitude of her breathing were very strange, completely unlike how one would naturally use their lungs according to human nature.

And during her jogging, the distance between her steps and landings was somewhat unreasonably long.

——[Lonely Shadow Ninja Technique Manual·Light Body Breathing].

This was Lann’s first lesson and was to be a continuous part of the training he devised for Phoebe.

He was curious to see how this little girl in the Ancient Greek world could master the mysterious ninja techniques from the Sengoku Era of East Japan.

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

In the following days, Lann found several routes used by the Spartan Army to transport military provisions outside Megaliss’s city walls, and without exception, he saw the guards easily taken down, along with a chaotic, unhidden transportation scene along these routes.

The clever mercenary had begun to replicate and use his newly improved tactics.

Because of this, Lann also found several small groups of refugees, warning them as he had done before.

But he did not think he truly saved them from being cleaned out by the Spartans.

Because extinguishing fires is never as fast as starting them.

While he quelled one wave of refugees’ hunger for food, Icarus could incite two more!

This is a strategic and tactical advantage where those who rely solely on brute force would be so frustrated they’d want to die and yet be utterly helpless.

On the ninth day of setting foot on the land of Megaliss, Lann again smelled the familiar scent of blood and rotting grain along a low wooded path.

But this time was a bit different.

”Hey! Stand there and don’t move!”

A well-equipped Spartan stood in the middle of the crime scene, drawing a bow and aiming at Lann.

He wore armor that was clearly better than the single-piece bronze breastplate of the regular Spartan citizen.

It seemed to be bronze covered with a layer of lacquered leather, with dazzlingly golden metal shoulder guards on both shoulders.

His tone was unkind and fierce, seemingly certain that Lann was tied to the chaos at the scene.

But before he could utter more threats, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind him.

An athletic and agile woman lightly cleared a path through the shrubbery with a sharp, broken spear and walked out.

”Calm down, Sipidio. He’s my friend, not an Athenian.”

The Spartan named Sipidio did not immediately lower his bow, and his tone was a bit confrontational.

”Are you sure it’s not him, Hawk Trainer? Can you guarantee that?”

”I can guarantee it, so now you can lower your bow.”

After glaring at Lann viciously for a second, the Spartan officer snorted coldly, slowly resetting the bowstring.

Then he walked to the side; it seemed he didn’t want to look in this direction anymore.

Lann, who had made no actions or expressions throughout, now calmly walked toward Cassandra.

”Zeus help me, I was just about to ask for your help, and I didn’t expect to run into you directly... Wait, did you get taller again? Malaka!”

Cassandra approached Lann warmly, hugging him, looking as if they had been apart for a long time.

During the hug, Lann bent down slightly to accommodate her.

”I am indeed still growing. It seems you’ve had a tough time these past days?”

Although they hadn’t known each other for long, Cassandra wasn’t someone who got agitated easily.

”Mental fatigue is harder to endure than physical fatigue.” Cassandra smiled bitterly, lowering her voice.

”The life of the Spartans made me feel at home, but their attitude toward me is very rejecting, because I’m a hyena, a mercenary, and a woman, hovering outside the battlefield... Ugh, the feeling of conflict pulls me apart, making me very tired. Thank you for the hug, it was a rare rest for me these past days.”

”I can see you’re tired,” Lann also lowered his voice. ”If you want to talk about it, I’m here to listen to your troubles these days.”

Cassandra took a deep breath.

”That would be much appreciated.”