Bear School Astartes

”Splash,” a burst of water sounded.

From the sky where the cracks intersected like a shattered mirror, Lann was the first to step out.

His boots landed in the lake water that covered the surface, causing ripples among the lotus leaves and flowers floating atop the waters of the Da Gun Temple.

The Demon Hunter took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance of the lotus and the moist air of the lake, making him close his eyes in indulgence.

Then he lay back on the marble ground of the Da Gun Temple, ignoring the lake water.

His silver hair floated in the water like an exotic blooming flower.

Although the Da Gun Temple had no walls and relied solely on a dozen marble pillars to support the dome,

when Lann lay back slightly and turned his head, he could cast his gaze beyond the dome to the sky.

The sun in the sky was warm, dazzling, and stable.

It wouldn’t suddenly extinguish, wouldn’t turn into a bleeding eclipse, and the people living under the sun wouldn’t suddenly have a black hole consuming their humanity.

Having experienced a world where the basic rules were turbulent and almost doomed, Lann now felt relaxed looking at the Magic Middle Ages.

But soon, Lann sensed a subtle movement in the lake water behind him.

Gentle yet powerful waves lifted his back, and Lann instinctively controlled his limbs, cautiously staying still.

The entity behind the waves quickly became tangible, with a touch that was... big and soft, carrying a fresh scent of lake water.

Long, deep green hair floated like it was in the water, drifting into Lann’s view.

Two lake-green arms climbed from behind, wrapping around his chest.

”You seem quite ’thirsty,’ my champion.”

The Lady of the Lake spoke with a teasing tone, her warm breath whispering near Lann’s ear.

The Demon Hunter blinked his eyes.

”I’m indeed a bit thirsty, my lady. But I think what we’re both ’hungry’ for might not mean the same thing right now.”

”Oh? Really?”

Her gentle tone effortlessly toyed with the Demon Hunter.

The hands originally wrapped around his chest started moving—one softly caressing Lann’s face, the other heading downward...

Just then, the meowing of the Elu Cat came from the crack of intersection.

”Boss! Catch it, meow! This can’t get wet!”

Lann immediately became serious and stern, as if responding to Rong Buqiu’s call was a matter of urgency.

He broke free from the embrace of the waves.

Two steps forward, and a large bundle was tossed out from the crack.

The package was light but surprisingly bulky. Lann caught it with both hands.

Inside were items collected by Rong Buqiu, things Lann had never paid much attention to, only regarded as toys for the cat.

Inside were charcoal rosin that ignites upon application, electrifying golden rosin, and pale green rosin picked from Ilyushil.

This rosin can bestow weapons with Magic Power attributes that cause damage.

But according to ’magic’ concepts from the Flame World, Lann thought this rosin might give weapons the ability to damage souls.

Rong Buqiu also gathered some green flowers, moss balls, and similar items.

Following the tossed large package, the somewhat uncontrollable four-legged Qilin was pulled out by Rong Buqiu.

The Three-Floral Kitten struggled to tug at the broad and flowing runic silk cloth on the Qilin while turning to complain to Lann.

”Boss, the Qilin is too lame, meow!”

It’s evident that the Ancient Dragon from the New Continent still hasn’t adapted well to the dizzying feeling of teleportation through the crack.

”Whinny... ugh!”

Before the Qilin could even complete a cry of protest, it made a troubling sound from its throat.

Frightened, Rong Buqiu quickly dodged away from it.

Luckily, this was just a dry heave. Nothing was actually expelled.

Yet one still had to admire the racial elegance of the Qilin, even in such an unelegant action like vomiting.

When the Qilin did it, there was an almost unicorn-like tragic beauty.

This demeanor made the already familiar Rong Buqiu and Lann feel quite awkward, because both knew this Qilin was essentially a lazy and greedy ”study animal.”

Its demeanor was purely a racial talent, a sheer waste upon its being.

But the Lady of the Lake was different.

The Qilin’s appearance seemed to inspire affection in the lady. The waves lifted her bare body as she gently hurried over to pat the Qilin’s back.

Holding the large package, Lann walked a few steps onto Black Seagull Island, placing it on the dry shore.

When he returned, the Qilin already looked back to normal.

The dizziness from teleportation was still dizziness, but with the Ancient Dragon’s physique from the New Continent, its recovery speed was beyond doubt.

Meanwhile, the Lady of the Lake nearby seemed to be rather fond of the touch of the Qilin’s mane and neck.

She stroked the Qilin’s neck with one hand while the other hovered in front of her, her thumb rubbing against her index and middle fingertips, wearing a meaningful smile.

Seeing Lann approach again, the Lady of the Lake teasingly remarked.

”Seems you’ve gained new favor in this new world, my champion?”

On the fingertips of her lake-green skin, there was a smear of sunlight-like warm gold.

Facing a situation akin to ’catching an affair in the act,’ Mr. Lan remained unfazed, having grown much beyond his past self.

”It’s a dangerous and hopeless world, my lady.”

Thanks to the artistic talent seemingly bestowed by the Son of the Emperor, Lann’s expression was flawless at this moment.

With a sense of compassion, and a resolute determination to fight against despair until the end.

This intense emotion was magnified by his face, which, under sunlight, could casually be considered a work of art.

Not saying much, yet as if saying everything.

How to survive in a world of despair, fulfilling his promise with the Lady of the Lake, returning with his friends...

It was just a moment, but it felt like being immersed in an epic tale of adventure.

”You’ve gone through much, Lann.”

The Lady of the Lake no longer dwelled on the golden light on her fingers, extending her hand to Lann. Her smile was as gentle and soothing as the lake water.

And Lann raised the lady’s hand, giving it a light, ceremonial kiss.

”It was promised, my lady.”

Meanwhile, on the Demon Hunter’s retina, the biochemical AI Mentos displayed a caption: ”[Artistic Talent]”

Constantly refreshing with ”+1” afterward.

Clearly, Mentos was highly praising the protagonist’s recent performance.

...At least, that’s what Lann believed.

And Mentos did not refute before being turned off, so Lann deemed his judgment entirely correct.

After returning from the conjunction of the celestial spheres, such exchanges seemed to have become a customary greeting between the Lady of the Lake and Lann.

Only after completing this formality did Lann feel he had indeed finished a mission adventure.

”From the start, this conjunction of the celestial spheres felt abnormal to me.”

The Lady of the Lake sat on her wave-like throne, the foam and deep green hair slightly covering the key parts of her form.

”What kind of world was it exactly?”

Lann narrated his experiences to the Lady of the Lake.

A world not long stabilized, maintaining basic rules with fire, and as the flames waned, heroics with great souls were needed to burn themselves to sustain the fire.

Just hearing it was enough to induce despair.

The Lady of the Lake frowned, lost in thought.

Such a peculiar world, she hadn’t heard much of either.

Lann shook his head, choosing not to elaborate.

Instead, he pointed outside the Da Gun Temple, wanting to discuss a lighter topic.

”It seems these pleasure boats are always abundant.”

Outside the Da Gun Temple on Vizima Lake, there were still many pleasure boats.

These small boats carried one or two noblewomen or wealthy young ladies, accompanied by a knight or a well-dressed nobleman.

”You know the reason, don’t you?”

The Lady of the Lake, seeing Lann did not wish to discuss the previous world further, decided not to press and lightly laughed along with his words.

On her wave-like throne, the lady played with a strand of her long hair, twirling it around her finger.

All the while, her gaze remained on the Demon Hunter.

Lann did not deny this.

”Temeria’s people,”

The Demon Hunter said softly.

For Lann, discerning the relationships was simple, not even taking the time to finish a drink.

”They must have already guessed the fact that my powers are entirely different from those of ordinary Demon Hunters. Besides, I haven’t really taken care to hide the traces of my visits here.”

Lann crossed his arms, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armored plates covering his upper arms.

”If you feel uncomfortable, I can clear things up with Veltrest.”

In truth, the vibrant scene on Vizima Lake was also due to Lann intentionally not revealing the truth.

Because of his... ”demonic” performance on last year’s battlefield of the North-South War, as recorded by Niflgaard people,

Northern Countries would replace ”demon” with ”hero.”

The Demon Hunter, as his most prominent identity, was noticed by many.

And the once-dormant, even disregarded, mutation of Demon Hunters suddenly gained attention again, with interest in restarting research on the human mutation technique jointly created and perfected by the Great Mage Alzur and his mentor and disciples.

There were already enough ambitious individuals, and if Temeria felt they had found a new path without getting involved in those unsavory matters, Lann was glad to see them think outside the box and even make attempts based on such thinking.

”No, it’s not necessary.”

However, the Lady of the Lake lightly smiled and gestured for Lann not to do anything.

”Their presence here has provided me with plenty of amusement.”

”On average, twice a day around Black Seagull Island, there’s the occurrence of young maidens falling into the water, while knights bravely rescue them without hesitation.”

”Additionally, noblewomen’s lovers and husbands meet on boats and loudly declare their names, then proceed to duel for honor.”