Bear School Astartes

”Defense Team Shield Axe Model One, how about it? Not bad, right?”

Wende continued speaking in that tone that made Lann’s mouth twitch, wanting to tease.

It seems he had given up struggling.

Instead, as if nothing had happened, he began introducing his weaponry to Lann.

”The Shield Axe is a recently emerged innovative hunting weapon. This technology was pioneered by the Dragon-man Race, and most of the craftsmen who can make this equipment are from the Dragon-man Race. Who would have thought that in the New World with inconvenient transport and communication, they could actually make it.”

Wende propped up the ’Great Shield’ at his side, speaking with a bit of emotion and surprise.

However, the leader of the second expedition laughed heartily at this.

”An outstanding craftsman must keep at the forefront of technology! It doesn’t matter if it’s a new continent or an old continent, if there’s technological progress, those who turn a blind eye won’t have the right to stay in this forging district!”

Lann looked at what Wende claimed to be the ’Shield Axe’ propped next to him.

The structure of this great shield was truly breathtaking.

Its thickness was nearly a fist thick, its upright height just a head shorter than Wende’s one-meter-ninety frame, and in width, when Wende carried it on his back, it basically covered his entire body.

And such a massive shield... damn it’s made of pure iron!

A purely steel construct!

Although Lann could tell, this great shield definitely had mechanisms inside and gaps to facilitate their operation. Even so, the weight of this shield must be in the hundreds of kilograms.

The edges of the shield were deliberately made into sharp angles, not quite sharp but similar to a longhorn hammer. The hits it delivered should concentrate forceful blunt impacts.

”Ka-cha, zoom.”

Wende, as if showing Lann, drew a machete from the upper edge of the great shield.

This was the ’sword’ in the great shield, also a pure steel construct, with a blade thickness as wide as two fingers pressed together.

Although called a one-handed sword, it’s uncertain if an ordinary person could even lift it.

But for the Hunters, this weapon is indeed positioned as a one-handed sword.

”You say this is an innovative weapon,” Lann tilted his head and asked.

”Then this shouldn’t be your best weapon, right?”

Wende re-sheathed the machete into the great shield, slung the whole shield axe back over his shoulders, and scratched his head.

”I can’t really say I’m best at anything, I can use a bit of everything. It’s just that encountering a shield axe in the new continent was so unexpected, so I used my first free material and fee chance to get one.”

As he spoke, Wende confidently patted his chest.

”Anyway, in the end, I’ll craft all weapons. After all, as long as you use the right weapon against different monsters, hunting becomes easy.”

”I’m really looking forward to it then.”

Lann chuckled. Such exaggerated average physical fitness, such exaggerated weaponry, and contending with wildly fierce monsters... these three factors combined piqued Lann’s interest in the technology developed in such environments.

Although due to societal trends, the Hunters’ technology here probably isn’t quite effective against humans.

But for dealing with large monsters, it’s likely top-notch effective.

”Alright, when you guys go out hunting, feel free to observe the hunting techniques as long as you want, but first let me finish my jobs, alright?”

The leader of the second expedition stroked his beard, enthusiastically surveying the armor on Lann.

Lann looked at Wende, puzzled.

So the hunter with the effeminate voice raised his left arm, and on his armguard, a winch-equipped, crossbow-like device ’ka-cha’ extended its bow arm.

”This is a grappling hook that everyone on the New Continent Expedition Team must wear,” explained the leader of the second expedition.

”The New World is entirely undeveloped land and ecological environment, making movement very tiring, so I created this device to improve Hunters’ mobility efficiency.”

”It helps with climbing; its thrown hooks can attach to solid surfaces and bring the Hunter over. It can also fire various ammunition.”

As he spoke, he somewhat proudly touched his bald head.

”Haha, but who would have thought that such a small device could be so helpful. Later, when the expedition team tamed flying wyverns and added saddles compatible with the grappling hook, many cable cars we built also became compatible with it.”

”You could say, without a grappling hook, you’d not only find it hard to move in the New World, but many facilities at the base would be unusable too. After all, they’re all fully compatible.”

”And I’m guessing you want to say...” Lann crossed his arms, looking at the bald, muscular man seated on the stool behind the conveyor belt. ”You need to study my armor to see how to pair it with the grappling hook technology here?”

”Uh, saw right through me.” The second expedition leader scratched his head embarrassedly, though he didn’t actually look embarrassed.

”Couldn’t help it, the otherworldly armor technology is right in front of me, there’s always curiosity, isn’t there?”

Lann could fully understand the curiosity bursting forth when encountering new technology within one’s field.

So he patted his left armguard.

”Research is no problem, but we’re about to go hunting; you can’t have me missing an armguard, can you?”

”Ah ha! Contingency plan! That’s not hard.”

The leader of the second expedition propped up his hammer and stood up, taking out a grappling hook device bound with many leather straps.

It seemed to be an external device for someone like Lann, who already had built-in armor.

”Agreed, when you get some rest, let me study your armor.”

As he attached the external device to Lann’s armguard, he confirmed the agreement with Lann.

The Demon Hunter readily agreed.

After all, he also wanted to equip himself with high-efficiency mobility gear. The grappling hook reminded him of that ninja leaping back and forth in the rugged terrain of Iwami.

He didn’t expect to zip around but hoped to at least tackle narrow mountain chasms without having to stare blankly or detour, right?

”Then let’s head out!”

Seeing Lann’s temporary grappling hook was ready, Wende eagerly waved to the leader of the second expedition and walked out of the artisan house.

Lann followed behind him, while Gaffi, the last one, energetically jumped up, waved, then quickly went on all fours, trotting to catch up.

”Let’s head up for a meal first, then we can leave the base directly through the upper gate.”

Wende explained as he walked, calm and unhurried.

Lann followed behind, noncommittal.

”You’re the experienced one here; I’ll follow your lead to get a feel for the place first.”

”I think the Commander-in-Chief has the same idea,” Wende nodded.

”The hunting target is the Great Fierce Jackal Dragon, task difficulty is two stars, clearly meant as a practice drill.”