Bear School Astartes

Chapter 875: Chapter 858: Abandoned Fortress

When Lann first came to this world, he chose to keep a distance from the group of lumberjacks.

This was because of the special reminder from the Lady of the Lake, which heightened his vigilance upon arrival, and also because he had never seen undead or wandering spirits, the ’features’ of this world.

Thus, caution became his primary concern.

But now, having clarified the origin of the undead and wandering spirits, Lann had no more reservations about taking action.

”This is as it should be.”

The female knight from the Land of Dusk spoke with a scholarly air and an archaic tone, appearing to be one of those elite-educated individuals.

She agreed with Lann’s method of breaking the tension, then distanced herself from Leonard, her hand resting on the large thorn sword at her waist, remaining alert around the corpse carriage.

Leonard did the same.

After Lann sheathed his blade, Leonard looked the Demon Hunter up and down, then nodded subtly.

It seemed he was confirming his judgment.

He had thought before Lann acted that he was a formidable warrior. And after Lann made his move, his judgment was proven correct.

However, his silver mask obscured his face, so aside from a slight nod, Lann could not see any other expressions.

Leonard, as a Goddess Knight, undoubtedly did his best.

After leaving Lann’s side, he engaged in conversations one after another with other warriors and knights in the caravan.

The people of this world are mostly reserved and silent, so they state their stance as soon as they speak.

Therefore, Leonard often completed conversations with a few brief words exchanged with others.

The capabilities of the Mother of Rebirth indeed hold extraordinary appeal for battle-worn warriors.

After all, in combat, the likelihood of getting injured is high.

With good luck and skill, one might only suffer superficial wounds after a fight.

With bad luck and poor skills, one might injure bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

For an ordinary warrior, the longer the battle career, the poorer the physical condition becomes amidst hardship.

And in today’s increasingly chaotic world, everyone wishes to live a little longer.

As Leonard had pointed out, these individuals seem to accept turning into insects for a period, if it means acquiring better bodies later.

The caravan organized by the archbishop indeed contained many skilled individuals.

Leonard reached agreements with several people one after another.

Lann felt that not a few of them were indeed competent.

For instance, a wandering knight wielding a short-handled great axe, the axe faintly exuding a yellow electric glow, appeared quite menacing.

Another knight in peculiar armor, his slender frame covered in armor and shields bristling with spikes, seemed capable of scraping off some flesh by simply walking past him.

A grand convoy marched along the route Lann followed with Fodolink to return.

The Undead Settlement and Profound Church are the two ends of this road.

According to Lann and Leonard’s conversation, this road was originally created to link the two places.

It was a ’funerary path’ specifically constructed for the transportation of undead.

Undead seeking release and repose would go to the Undead Settlement. That village within the Duke of Ulster’s domain has long experience in handling undead, reportedly technology the duke brought from his homeland, Kariem.

They use ceremonial, straightforward methods to execute undead, then transport them along this path to Profound Church.

Profound Church receives them, drains their blood, substantially extends the revival time of the undead, and then buries them in the graveyard beside the church.

The entire process is steeped in ceremonial and religious elements, hoping to provide the undead a final solace.

Until the Profound Saint Elderidge, dispatched by King Losric of Losric as a sage to Profound Church, earned this name, and the road’s reputation began to decline.

But the specifics of what happened, Leonard remained elusive about, unwilling to elaborate.

No one else even seemed aware.

Evidently, it was another significant secret.

Without much disturbance, the convoy returned to the forest where Lann first arrived in this world.

Since it had already been cleared by Fodolink, the convoy did not encounter any wandering spirits.

In the forest, with its complex terrain and limited visibility, the warriors in the convoy began to move around freely, observing from front to back.

Among them, Lann again saw the Goddess named Rosalie, but she retained her sorrowful, despondent, heart dead expression.

Her black casual dress under such an expression appeared more like mourning attire.

Following the convoy, Lann ventured deeper into the forest, as he was previously led directly out by Fodolink.

This forest was exceptionally humid, even forming a pond within the woods like a lake.

Beyond the pond, with Lann’s keen vision, he vaguely noticed some Gothic architectural ruins made of blue bricks and remnants.

”That is the fort ruins of the Falan Undead Team.”

Leonard seemed to still regard Lann as the best recruit for serving the Goddess, so he spoke to him while beside him.

”Famed as the fort of the Lords of Cinder... Hmph. Though only a small part is visible from this angle, the main body of the fort is beneath the cliff over there, very large. What’s visible now is just the roof.”

Lann tilted his head, looking at those ruins with slight nods.

Once again the term ’Lords of Cinder,’ what exactly were they?

And from Leonard’s sarcastic tone, when he spoke of their ’famed’ status, it was evidently in derision.

With a good view, Lann saw across the pond two warriors in heavy armor holding substantial large weapons bowing toward the convoy from afar.

Despite the distance, they might not even be visible to anyone.

”Abandoned fort... Is anyone still inside?”

Lann asked without turning his head.

”Exiles. Knights who committed crimes in Losric City, sent by King Ausloes to this ruin, wearing armor of atonement, guarding the homeland of the Lords of Cinder.”

”Guard?” Lann scratched his forehead, somewhat puzzled.

”Ultimately, is this not an abandoned fort? What is inside worth guarding?”

”Hah, it may be abandoned, but it was the fort of the god-like powerful Lords of Cinder. Although the Falan Undead Team performed the linking of the fire long ago, opportunists are never absent.”

Leonard’s tone was sarcastic towards the Lords of Cinder, yet he did not shy away from acknowledging their strength, even openly admitted it.

While speaking, he raised a gloved hand, pointing across the large pond to the path ahead where their route would lead.

”A group of Mages from Pheim Dragon Academy want to search here for the undead team’s magic. It was a battle spell created by the Crystal Elder for the undead team, their allies.”

”After the Falan Undead Team linked the fire, the Crystal Elder didn’t return to Losric City to find his twin brother, instead stayed here. They were inheritors of the legendary great Mage magic, Big Hat Logan’s magic.”

”Pheim folks have long coveted their knowledge.”