Bear School Astartes

”Wow! A new continent! We’ve arrived!”

Aibo landed on his backside from three meters up, and merely rubbed it a bit before standing up, cheering excitedly. This display made Lann’s eye twitch.

The humans in this world... really only resemble normal humans on the outside, huh?

After cheering, Aibo energetically bounced around and turned to face Lann and Wende, who was being helped up from the ground by Lann.

”We landed safely! Thanks to you all. Now, let’s find the investigation team’s base. We need to hurry; I think everyone else should have arrived already, since they don’t have the same luck as us landing on the back of the Molten Mountain Dragon!”

Landing on the back of a ’live volcano’ doesn’t sound like good luck to me...

Lann grumbled to himself.

But seeing Aibo and Wende’s expressions full of agreement, he started to wonder if maybe he was the one being odd.

”So, Lann, the safety on this route is in your hands! After all, Wende’s equipment is all on the ship, which should have sunk by now, leaving him in nothing but plain clothes.”

Lann glanced at the clothes Wende was wearing.

From an ordinary Warrior’s perspective, this set of clothes known as ’plainwear’ was actually high coverage, well-crafted, and sturdy leather armor.

But considering this world harbors creatures like the Molten Mountain Dragon, complete with common names, scientific names, and species classification, almost like a population.

It’s no wonder Hunters have high requirements for their gear.

”I’ll handle the combat, but tracking traces and finding the route will be up to you both.”

Lann rotated his wrists and shoulders, adjusting his state, while speaking to Aibo and Wende.

The words new continent, and investigation team base sparked a hint of conjecture.

This was likely an advance team sent by humans from this world after discovering the new continent.

These types of roles made Lann initially think of not-so-great notions, but then he considered the cheerful Aibo and the bright and reliable Wende.

Lann shook his head slightly; surely those enthusiasts researching creatures wouldn’t do anything repulsive... hopefully.

Even as he forcibly suppressed his dark guesses, Lann didn’t think he could find the investigation team’s base.

After all, he didn’t know if the traces left by humans living and transporting in this world were the same as those in other worlds.

If glaring traces were right in front of him but unrecognizable, it would be awkward.

”Leave it to us!”

Aibo patted his chest without hesitation and then patted Wende’s shoulder, accepting Lann’s proposal on behalf of them both.

With their duties distributed, Lann placed his left hand on the hilt of the Alon Dite Blade at his waist and began to pave a path through this vast, enormous forest.

They headed southeast because, during the brief flight earlier, Wende had faintly seen a smoke column in that direction.

Unlike the smoke from forest fires, it seemed to be the kind generated during steel smelting.

Using this, Wende confirmed the direction.

The forest was astonishingly large, and the wildlife was impressively diverse.

Lann paved a path in the humid jungle, his Alon Dite blade exceptionally sharp.

Tough yet flexible and moist vines, as well as dry branches and shrubs, were neatly severed at his stroke.

A few sizable flying insects hovered around them for a while.

They had three pairs of wings, with a belly that emitted a soft white luminescence, but as the trio entered their vicinity, the light automatically changed to yellow, like a motion-sensing lamp.

Wondering if there are more color changes.

Aibo whispered with strong excitement.

”Wende, look! It’s the omen dragonflies from the New Continent’s Biological Guide! They really emit different lights depending on the size of the approaching creature! I wonder how they distinguish sizes! Sonic scans? Or pheromones?”

Currently, the jungle wasn’t particularly quiet.

The gentle flapping of insects and birds was made lively by the sheer number of creatures.

Moreover, this forest evidently harbored more than just insects and birds.

After not too long of traversing the dense forest, they first headed south to the coastline.

The dense forest wasn’t as full here due to the sea, with large open areas.

Water from the forest converged into small ponds and streams, gathering across the open land and entering the sea.

A large group of slow-looking herbivorous dragons was eating and drinking here.

Lann froze for a moment upon seeing the group of herbivorous dragons.

After all, this was his first time seeing genuine, moveable dinosaurs.

With four legs on the ground, their highest backs stood about three meters tall. Even as the trio approached them, the herbivorous dragons merely grumbled a few times and lowered their heads to continue eating and drinking, evidently gentle in nature.

Extroverted and with distinct emotions, Aibo became a major channel for Lann to understand this world.

He noticed that when facing these herbivorous dragons, although Aibo observed them with interest, her enthusiasm wasn’t as high as it was for the omen dragonflies.

More inclined to ’let me see how you’re different from those I’ve known before,’ rather than ’wow, I’ve never seen this thing.’

...Seems like dinosaurs are quite common in this world, even prevalent in the old continent?

”It’s better to quickly leave the herbivorous dragons.”

Lann spoke rationally, and Wende also rushed over to drag away Aibo, who was still keen to examine the new continent’s herbivorous dragon teeth.

”Usually, there are predators around herbivores, right? With only me equipped right now, it’s a bit overwhelming. Once Wende goes hunting in the future, won’t you have plenty of opportunities?”

Aibo’s flaw was her enthusiasm reached a near-uncontrollable level, but her virtue was her high actionability and willingness to take advice.

Though her excessive actionability often meant she’d already acted before she listened to others’ advice...

Shortly after the trio left, the open area they had passed erupted in a frenzy of beastly roars.

Mixed with wild growls, it was clear that predators targeting herbivorous dragons were causing the commotion.

Both Wende and Aibo patted their chests, thankful they left early, lest the predator disregarded them as mere strips of meat.

A stampeding herd of frantic herbivorous dragons was something their unequipped selves couldn’t handle.

However, good luck soon arrived.

”Ah! The guide bugs have found something!”

From small cages on Aibo and Wende’s waists, a swarm of firefly-like points of light flew out, settling on the ground before them.

This seemed to be their method for tracking traces.

The fluorescence outlined the shape of wagon tracks.

The trio exchanged glances, all feeling relieved.

But just at this moment, from the nearby dense forest, the sound of something large tearing vines and crashing through branches approached!