Bear School Astartes

On the second day after the cultivation of the [Holy Chant Gland] was completed, Belengar sent an apprentice to the academy to report that he had finished the loose ends of his work and was ready to set off.

Thus, Lann was also prepared to embark.

Now Margaret truly began to immerse herself in managing the daily operations of the academy, which was truly a torment for her dawdling nature.

But there was no choice, since Tishaya had already gone out to work, only she could manage.

Triss held a slightly more special position in the academy.

It seemed that everyone knew Veltrest, despite retaining all her perks and consultative power over the kingdom’s decisions, sent this Magic Consultant to Airetusa for some purpose.

So, this academy which had once instructed Triss, now showed her a kind of ’courtesy’.

Currently, Triss was also taking on the role of a temporary professor for one course at the academy and would occasionally run to Margaret’s principal office.

No one knew what the two were whispering about together.

But for now, Lann felt everything was going just right.

It had been quite some time since he agreed with Vesemir to go to Ker Morhan and acquire more profound knowledge of Demon Hunter Alchemy.

Many things had happened during that period.

He hoped for better luck this time, to chat with that Grandmaster of the Wolf School.

”Where are we headed this time, meow?”

The newly armed Furball adjusted its tiny cat helmet with excitement and climbed onto the back of the Kirin along the exterior cover.

Lann was checking the buckles of the Magic Horse Harness on the Kirin, tightening each belt while answering.

”To a Demon Hunter Castle hidden within the mountains, where there lies deeper knowledge. To become a powerful warrior, one cannot rely solely on brute strength; the mind needs to be armed too.”

Lann didn’t forget Furball’s purpose in becoming his follower cat, so he often engaged in some educational exchanges with the little cat.

The Three-Floral Kitten let out a ’meow’, nodding earnestly.

Becoming an outstanding warrior was Furball’s lifelong dream. Though it had left the dangers of the wild, its daily exercises had never ceased.

It was truly motivated by dreams, diligently working hard with self-awareness.

Such a character gained respect everywhere, not to mention that Furball was exceedingly cute.

So Lann was very attentive to Furball’s training, and Mentos had already established a project through observation, ready to start crafting a training plan for the little cat as soon as the body data was collected.

But the Kirin was something else...

With a ’smack’, Lann’s palm landed on the Kirin’s neck.

Such force didn’t affect the ancient dragon’s body, but the Kirin still sheepishly tilted its head, giving a loud snort.

”Was I talking about you?!”

Lann grumbled in exasperation.

”Both from the same place, one wants to become a fierce warrior, the other wants to grow strong and take on its foes, shouldn’t you be very motivated? Look at what you’ve done!”

The emotions conveyed through the Yakxi Rune variant when the Kirin left with Lann were full of discontent and resentment.

But this ancient dragon appeared to have a nonchalant, forgetful nature, reverting to its happy-go-lucky, blissful self after a few days.

Occasionally driven to work hard, perpetually indulging in enjoyment.

”Until the end, don’t even mention going after that golden lion.” Lann looked at the Kirin, whose head had turned away, skeptically.

”Don’t tell me you can’t even beat Furball?”

”Neigh!”

The Kirin let out a series of cries.

’Are you kidding me?’

Facing a boastful Kirin, Lann sneered.

”Ha, let’s see how bad you get trashed by that golden lion when we return to the New World.”

Lann mounted the horse, pressing his legs against the Kirin’s side, his hands pulling its pale mane.

The Kirin shook its head slightly in displeasure but did not get angry.

This was the method they had agreed upon long before.

Immediately after, the Kirin jumped out from the cave’s mouth facing the sea.

After circling from the sea, they landed on the coast near Gos Velen.

Belengar was already waiting there.

He was holding Bopai, dressed in the basic armor of the Wolf School Demon Hunter.

Most of it was padded armor, with steel plates only on the gloves, knees, and feet to reinforce defense.

The hilt of two-handed swords extended from his shoulders, the steel sword having a disk-shaped pommel, carved with a wolf head.

The silver sword used a three-dimensional carved wolf head as a pommel.

Coupled with the plethora of bottles and jars on Bopai, it was truly the standard equipment of a Demon Hunter.

”Pocket-lining, huh?”

Lann’s voice mingled with the sound of the Kirin’s hooves from the coast.

Belengar turned his head just in time to see the four-meter-long Kirin, clad in equine armor, leaping deftly up from under the earth mound.

Lann looked down at the Old Demon Hunter: ”Another pair of Valerian Steel Swords... Tsk tsk, how extravagant. You’re not even the monster-battling type.”

Originally, Belengar was amazed by Lann’s robust, unfamiliar ’horse’, but he soon snorted coldly.

”I don’t unsheathe my sword to cut people, but it doesn’t stop me from collecting. I’ve already eyed a manor, where I’ll put all my elite gear for display; it’ll be grand.”

Lann clapped his hands on the Kirin’s back.

”Indeed, our Master Belengar is planning to buy a manor, promising to be the first Demon Hunter in history to die of natural causes.”

”Thanks for the good words.”

Belengar also mounted his horse, tossing an egg into Bopai’s mouth, likely picked while knocking bird nests.

A few crunching sounds later, thick egg whites dripped from the horse’s mouth, its long tongue fencing it back in.

Lann bent over, extending a hand from the Kirin to touch his old companion’s mane.

Smooth and glossy, well-nourished.

”You’ve taken great care of it.”

Lann said happily, Bopai nudged up, rubbing Lann’s hand.

”From a warhorse’s standard, Bopai is not young after all these years.”

However, there was no sense of loss in Belengar’s voice.

”Haven’t we been using it differently than a warhorse? A Codwin Warhorse, I intend to leave its legacy at my future manor.”

Lann nodded: ”As a Demon Hunter’s horse, Bopai is considered pretty lucky.”

Lann still remembered his Wolf School friend.

Geralt was said to have replaced countless horses; indeed, every Demon Hunter would change numerous horses during their careers.

After all, they faced ferocious, hungry monsters, which usually found large horses more appealing than Demon Hunters as they had more flesh.

But what made Geralt distinct was... He gave each of his horses the same name.

What a peculiar habit.

Belengar settled in the saddle, they began their journey along the road.

And the Old Demon Hunter’s eyes kept drifting toward Lann’s ’horse’ below him.